What a joy and blessing it is to bring new life into this world. And how overwhelming it can feel at times! I remember feeling this way as I thought through preparing for my first baby last year. Thankfully I can say that we made it through the first six months being reasonably prepared thanks to friends, family, and lots of research. In this post I go through baby products that we found helpful in the first six months of having our son.
There were a lot of things that I ended up adding to my registry and not using anywhere near as much as I would’ve imagined. If there were only three things I could have for my baby other than diapers and wipes I would hands down choose organic sleepers, muslin blankets, and a baby wrap.
My goal with this post is to talk through the things that I found helpful as a first-time Mom and how many of each item I use to cut down on clutter. These recommendations are from my experience only. Everyone will find what works best for them through trial and error. That’s life. I hope that these insights are helpful to you with whatever you choose.
Top Baby Products
I will go through each category of baby products in this order. I think this basically covers all the main things you need. This is not a full list of every baby product I have in my house, but a list of the essentials that I’ve found most helpful to us with our baby.
- Clothes
- Linens
- Gear
- Miscellaneous
- Toys
Clothes
If there is one item that everyone will give you when you are having a baby it is clothing. Understandably so! There are so many sweet outfits and snuggly sleepers to be found, and your baby would look darling in all of them. The problem arises when all the clothes that everyone gives you accumulate into one massive pile that you then have to sort through and store.
Below I have a list of clothing items that are the most practical for your days with a newborn through six months. I keep cute outfits for church and special occasions too, but this is a list of essentials that will serve you every day. I don’t have much experience yet with cloth diapering, but if that is something you are looking into I will leave a good resource here.
Onesies – 6-8 short and/or long sleeves depending on the time of year.
Pants – 4-6 pairs of comfortable baby pants pair perfectly with onesies to make a comfortable outfit for you and your baby.
Sleepers – 4-6 sleepers are all you will need. These are so cozy and perfect for naptime, bedtime, or during the day as well.
Sleep Sack – 2-3 will be plenty to keep around.
Socks – 6 pairs. Many people give mixed reviews on keeping baby socks around because they are easy to lose. I’ve found that using only one kind of socks makes finding a match easy and I wash and dry them in a lingerie bag to keep them together.
Seasonal Layers – This depends on the time of year. Think along the lines of 1 coat, 1-2 zip up jackets, hats, mittens, booties, etc. depending on where you are and how cold it gets.
Linens
These things are essentials just like diapers. I find that using a wash and wear approach can be helpful to cut down on Mt. Laundry while also having what you need on hand.
Crib/Pack N Play Sheets – I keep one on the crib and one washed and ready to go at all times.
Mattress Protector – One on the mattress and one ready to go.
Blankets – 2 warm blankets and 4-6 muslin blankets. I’ve found that the muslin blankets work great as an impromptu nursing cover, play mat, swaddle, or burp cloth. They are great for everything!
Burp Cloths – I suggest 10-12 burp cloths.
Bath Towel and Wash Cloths – 1-2 bath towels is plenty. 4-6 washcloths will keep you well prepared to wipe down your little one.
Liners for Changing Mat – Keep 3 of these on hand. That way you have one in the wash, one in use, and a spare. Things happen.
Nursing Cover – I breastfed my baby. This was very helpful as I figured out nursing discreetly and in public. I would still get one if you plan on pumping.
Wet/Dry Bags – These are super helpful for keeping in the diaper bag for when you are out and about and need a place to put dirty outfits, toys, etc. just throw everything in the wash when you get home!
Gear
These things can take up a lot of extra space around the house, but this is a list of a few things I found especially helpful.
Pack N Play – Forget the bassinet. Our son slept in the bassinet for all of a month before he was too big for it. Save the stress and opt for this more practical albeit less aesthetic option.
Diaper Bag – This is obvious, but it is so nice to have something to bring the essentials in while you are out and about!
Baby Wrap – The Solly wrap and Ring sling were lifesavers for me as I adjusted to having a little one and getting back to normal life. Baby can stay close to you and snuggle while you start a load of laundry or throw dinner in the slow cooker!
Swing – The Momaroo swing was very helpful for me. My son didn’t mind it and I was able to get things done that are much harder with a baby strapped to you – think scrubbing the floors or putting things back in lower cabinets.
Changing table – Yes, you could just change your baby on the bed or floor. We did for a while. I would much rather have to wipe down the changing table at 2 in the morning than change all the sheets on my bed when the inevitable surprise fountain happens. No, you won’t always realize what is happening in time.
Miscellaneous
There are a few miscellaneous baby products that we found helpful throughout the first several months. I like to cut down on lots of random baby products everywhere, but these are things that I genuinely appreciated having around.
Night Light – We started with a dimmable white egg light and have ended up with a red light for night wakings. The red light is much better for your circadian rhythm and I found that we all got better sleep after the change.
Sound Machine – You don’t need anything fancy. My sister bought me a fancy Sound machine and light with a million specs that I don’t know how to use yet.
Video Monitor – Whatever you end up getting, I always recommend that you get a baby monitor without Wi-Fi connection. These are also referred to as closed-circuit monitors. I found a monitor very helpful as I adjusted to laying my son down for naps.
Bathtub/seat – This is an honorable mention. However, I don’t think that you need a baby bathtub, but we were given one and we have used it a lot. It is very easy to give your baby a bath in the sink or in the bathtub with a couple inches of water. We’ve done it this way a lot as well.
Toys:
Contrary to popular belief, you do not need a million toys for your baby. We do take a more minimal approach to toys while also keeping plenty around for our little one. There are plenty of resources on developmentally friendly toys for your baby, and I highly recommend doing your own research to find what works best for your family!
Contrast cards/book – These are very helpful for baby’s development especially in the first few months before they can see color.
Shaker/Rattle Toy – This is fun for when baby starts to hold on to things.
Chew Sticks – These are a lifesaver especially if you have an early teether like we do.
Soft Books – Always a fun option for tummy time!
Touch and Feel Books – These are great especially as your baby gets older and does more independent play.
Of course there are plenty more things that are truly helpful to have as you adjust to having a baby, but this is my list of the most helpful things for me. Do your research and choose what works best for you and your family.
I hope that these insights are helpful to you especially if you are a first-time mom preparing for your baby. There are so many baby products that are marketed to us as moms, things that are genuinely helpful and things that are just rubbish and clutter. The important thing to remember is that your worth as a mom is not defined by the things you have in your home but by the love you pour into caring for your family every day.
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