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With your first child, it’s super easy to get caught up in the registry check-lists, cute little socks and hair bows for days. There is so much out there that it can be hard to figure out exactly what you truly need, and what you can live without. Honestly, after our first I felt a little overwhelmed by some things, and opted to keep things simpler this time around.
We did not have the space to give Lilliana her own nursery, so I truly have kept things very minimalist for her and honestly, it has been refreshing! So if you are feeling a bit overwhelmed and unsure where to start, I am here to help! I have compiled a list of all of the items that I feel we have absolutely needed for our girls. Add these to your Baby Registry and you will be all set (and then add fluff as desired 😉 ).
Side note- we LOVE the Amazon Baby Registry Program! I have used it with both babies and been extremely pleased! We live in a small town without many shopping options, so people love the selection and ability to direct ship! Plus you can find literally anything on Amazon, or add items from external sites, too! They send you an awesome welcome box filled with full-sized products, samples and coupons. And maybe one of my favorite things- once your registry hits a certain amount, you get a discount on diapers for your baby’s first year! They also give a generous registry completion discount to tie up any loose ends before baby comes! We used this discount both times, coupled with gift cards, to buy some of our more expensive items such as the Owlet, our baby monitor, etc.
Anyway, the list… (click each pink link to go to the exact item!). And when you are done, check out my Meal planning hack that has made our life so much easier!
1. Diapers and Wipes
This seems like a no-brainer, but seriously bulk up your registry with these! They are literally the most essential thing you can get! We love Pampers Swaddlers for when they are tiny, but Huggies are good too! I also prefer the Huggies Natural Care wipes, because they are gentle on little bottoms! If you choose the cloth diaper route, I have heard great things about these Mama Koala ones! They are affordable and fit very well!
Edit to add- we also really love Hello Bello and their super convenient bundles with baby number 2!
2. Swaddle Me Velcro Swaddles
These truly are a must-have! Trying to keep a squirmy baby swaddled is tricky. If you are a first time parent that has no clue how to swaddle, even more so! Michael hated trying to get them wrapped properly, and then we had to worry about her working it loose and getting the blanket over her nose and mouth. A friend introduced me to these, and they are a total game changer! Go ahead and stock up on a few packs! We use them every night and every nap!
3. Owlet Smart Sock
I have no idea why I didn’t make this number 1, because it honestly has been my favorite item that we have gotten for our girls. It may be a bit spendy, but it is worth every single penny and then some! I have no idea how people sleep with a newborn without one of these, and it has done wonders for my anxiety. Heck, I didn’t sleep the first few nights even with the Owlet! Not to mention I have several personal friends that have had the Owlet alert them to serious issues with their babies and save their lives. Don’t believe me? Just hop on the reviews! Thousands of SIDS deaths have been prevented. Again, if you are able at all, find a way to get one! Use your completion discount if you do an Amazon registry. Save up gift cards. It will be the best investment that you make for your baby.
4. A Good Video Monitor
While we are talking monitors, another must-have for us! We tried a different brand with Addilyn, and it crapped out on us about a year later. After doing a ton of research, I landed on this Motorola one because it has all of the features that we wanted and great reviews! Some people that use the Owlet don’t use a video monitor, but I would never have been able to move Addilyn out of our room without being able to lay eyes on her. And even with Lilliana in our room, I keep her camera on so that I can see her from our bed in the dark. Night vision is a powerful thing!
5. Baby Sleepers
People love to gift blankets and clothes. It can be easy to wind up with far more than you really need, especially in those newborn days. It was honestly sort of stressful to me with Addilyn, trying to make sure that I got her in every outfit at least once (and grabbed a picture!). In all honesty, if you are anything like us, your baby will spend most of their first months either in swaddles (see number 2!) or in sleepers. Stack your registry with these! Add some staples (Onesies, pants, socks) that can mix and match and a few fun outfits and you really will have all that you need. Go ahead and expect to do laundry almost every day. Babies poop a lot.
6. Boppy
This is one of those things that you will hear people on both sides, but for us it’s a must! Even if you are bottle feeding (it’s absolutely necessary for breastfeeding) you can use this to keep your arm from dying while holding your baby. You can order a cover in all sorts of prints to match just about any nursery, too!
7. White Noise
For as long as I have been with Michael, we have slept with white noise. We were told that it also helps newborns to sleep better because it mimics the womb environment. We have used it with both of our girls from day 1 and it really does help! Simply turning the white noise on signals it is time for rest and helps them switch their gears, but it also gives a little more grace for house noise! This is a tried and true white noise machine (we haven’t had much luck with the “fancy” ones that do ocean waves, etc. It just isn’t the same). When they are teeny tiny, a Baby Shusher is also a game changer! We discovered these at our newborn session for Addie and I had Prime’d one to the house before we left the studio!
8. A Car Seat Cover
Our big world is so germy, and newborns are so teeny tiny. I wanted to do the best I could to protect our girls in any way possible (and discourage strangers from touching!). Not to mention taking your 3 day old into the germ-infested pediatrician’s office! A good carseat cover is the perfect way to do that! We prefer these stretchy ones that can double as nursing covers and make it virtually impossible for unwanted hands to reach in. Grab a couple if you plan to nurse with them- spit up will happen! I have a pretty floral one and a striped one for the hubby!
9. Cloth Diapers
No, I am not telling you to cloth diaper! I don’t have the stomach for that (hey, sister, if you do then go for it!). But let me tell you, boring white cloth diapers are the BEST burp cloths. The cute little ones that they sell in sets are not absorbent, and are usually very small. Your baby will likely launch far more spit than you are prepared for with those. Do yourself a solid and buy a few packs of these.
10. Probiotic Drops
I truly hope that you are lucky enough to not have a colic baby. Unfortunately, there is no way of knowing until you are in the thick of it and totally sleep deprived. We had the hardest time with Addie’s tummy her first few weeks of life. Her Pediatrician suggested getting her on a probiotic to help. Desperate to help her out (and get a few minutes of peace), we ordered these and tried them out. It took about a week to see a major difference, but once they kicked in she was a different baby! She felt better and we felt better. (By the way, they are way cheaper on Amazon than in the store!)
Armed with this knowledge, I went ahead and stocked up on a few bottles to have on hand for Lilliana’s arrival on our registry. Heck, I even used that completion discount to buy a couple more. We started them from the day we came home this time and so far, we haven’t had as many tummy issues! Get a bottle before your babe arrives, just in case!
Other things you will be glad you had on hand:
Gas Drops
Rapid Relief Desitin Rash Cream
Gripe Water
Buckets of Hand Sanitizer!
Baby Bottles (We loved the Dr. Browns for gas reasons. I breastfeed, so bottles are just occasional)
Bottle Brushes
Steam Sterilizer (This one is the best! Super easy and does the trick)
Pacifiers (We like the soothies and NUK pacis!)
Pack N Play (we used one like this with the bassinet built in so that we didn’t need an extra piece of equipment! Addie slept in this the entire time she was in our room)
Backpack Diaper Bag- Sure, the purse styles are cute, but the hands-free is what I fully recommend! We use this one and it has so much space!
I hope that this helped give you some guidance! I made sure that I put anything we used daily on here. If it isn’t on this list, we did not find it absolutely mandatory! Sure, there are all sorts of convenience items but these should cover the necessities to get you by. Good luck, and congratulations!
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