Hey Mama!
I know the amount of newborn baby products and brands out there can be absolutely overwhelming. Many of them are really just preference based and what works for your lifestyle/ budget. I mean I still don’t even have the best idea as to which exact products are “the best”. However, I hope that I can provide some additional insight into what products worked for me and my baby.
Here are my top 10 newborn (0-3 month) products that I purchased for my baby and what I would recommend to new mommas to add to their baby registries. For my newborn checklist click here.
FYI- With many of the options I list below you can always find a lightly used version instead of paying full price. Many parents only use some baby products the first few months and then resell it. I have seen baby swings, baby loungers, bassinets, strollers, and rocking chairs on Face Book Market Place and Offer Up at budget friendly prices.
Travel Car System
If you are someone who is constantly on the go then a travel car system (stroller + car seat combo) is what you need. The most convenient stroller currently on the market is the Doona Car Seat and Stroller. It is an all in one travel system perfect to be out and about with your little one. The Doona converts from a car seat to a stroller almost instantly. It is super compact and honestly my husband and I absolutely love it! We have brought the Doona with us to the airport, to the mall, and even to Disney! We love the convenience of this stroller/ carrier. It is especially great when I am out by myself with my baby. It makes traveling so much EASIER! We always get questions on the stroller and people are always super impressed with how compact and convenient it is.
The major cons are the price, the weight capacity, and storage space. The Doona is a bit pricey. It is in the $500 range and that’s not including other accessories. However, this may be justified by the fact that it’s a car seat and stroller so you are getting a two in one combo. There is no extra storage space (you will have to purchase that separately). The other con is that the weight capacity is 35 pounds. Once your baby is about a year old you will have to get a new stroller and car seat. Although if you plan to have more kids this may be worth the investment.
Bassinet
A bassinet is a great compact sleep space for your baby. The smaller foot print allows you to have your baby sleep in the same room as you. It is definitely nice to have your baby near by especially if you are nursing or tending to your baby throughout the night.
There are plenty of great bassinets out there at different price points. The bassinet that worked for me was the Halo Bassinest Swivel Sleeper. I chose this bassinet specifically because it has a 360 degree swivel function, mesh sides, and a lowering side wall. I wanted something that would be convenient for me to nurse throughout the night. The lowering side wall was great for taking baby in and out of the bassinet. I am short (5’1) so this feature was also great for that reason lol. The swivel feature was nice because it allowed me to move the bassinet around for me to freely get in and out of bed. Overall this was a nice bassinet option.
My only complaint would be that the legs are really wide ( it can possibly pose a tripping hazard? lol) and it is a bit heavy so it is definitely a stationary bassinet.
Portable Breast Pump
LET ME TELL YOUUUUU a portable breast pump is a GAME CHANGER.
Okay, so this is not a NEED, but OMG this will CHANGE your life if you are breast feeding and pumping. Many other breast pumps are heavy, bulky, require you to be plugged into the machine, or use a special bra to hold the pumps in place, etc. Its just A LOT… Just to make it simple— you are STUCK to this machine and basically can’t really MOVE.
A portable breast pump allows you to be FREE! You can MOVE! You do not have to stay stuck sitting in one place. If your baby is crying you can pump and attend to them. If you are at a family party, you can stick the pump in your bra and not miss out. You can pump WHILE DRIVING. This is the ULTIMATE PORTABLE PUMP.
Currently there are two portable breast pumps out in the market – the Elvie or the Willow. You can’t go wrong with either one. The major con is the price tag. It is pricey, I will admit that, but OMG is it worth the investment!
Baby PJ’s with Zippers
The baby pj’s with buttons are adorable, SUURREE, but try putting together all of the buttons in the middle of the night when you are just trying to change your baby’s pamper, put them back to bed, and then go back to sleep yourself….
It’s TERRIBLE.
Save your money.
Resist the urge to buy the cute pj’s with buttons— it’s not worth the headache.
Sleepsack/ Swaddles
According to best safe sleep practices it is recommended to not put your baby to sleep with a blanket or anything else in the crib/ bassinet. A sleepsack is a great option because it basically is a safe wearable blanket for your baby to sleep in.
A swaddle is a wearable blanket that is tight enough where your baby’s arms are close to their sides. A swaddle worked great with my baby because it helped minimize the newborn startle reflex and helped her sleep and stay asleep. The swaddles with a zipper or velcro are the easiest to work with. I personally loved the Halo brand, but you can find another brand that works for your baby. Some babies like to sleep with their arms up, so the Love to Dream swaddle would be a great option as well.
Sound Machine
We used the sound machine as part of our baby’s night time routine. A sound machine helps prepare a calm environment for baby to sleep. It blocks out any outside noise that may interrupt your baby’s sleep. A sound machine that has white noise, a heart beat sound, or similar sounds is said to mimics the loud noises in the womb which also helps sooth baby. We loved the Hatch Baby sound machine because it is portable, can be used with and without a plug, it is bluetooth compatible to an app on your phone, and it is also a night light/ dimmer. We literally use this every single day! (Shoot I even think I like it for myself hahaha).
Nursing Pillow
If you are breast feeding — a pillow designed for breastfeeding will make your breastfeeding journey a little easier. Or you can always use a regular pillow, but one designed specifically for nursing is going to be more comfortable and get the job done more efficiently.
I used the Boppy nursing pillow and I primarily used this to help prop my baby up to breast feed. It just made it more comfortable for her and for me. You can also use it to help your baby to do tummy time as well. I know there is another pillow called, My Breast Friend. Apparently, this one straps around your waist to keep it in place and make it easier to breast feed. Frida Mom just came out with their own as well. The Boppy worked out great for me though.
Baby Lounger
A baby lounger is great option to put your baby in when you need some place to set them in. You must supervise them at all times. It is not recommended for them to sleep in these (although it happens).
The Snuggle Me and Doc- A – Tot both have sides that “hug” your baby and helps sooth and calm them. However, the Doc- A – Tot is EXPENSIVE. The Snuggle Me is middle of the road in terms of price. The Boppy Lounger was the cheapest option of the three. It doesn’t have the “hugging” sides, but it props your baby up.
I used both the Snuggle Me and Boppy Lounger, but my baby honestly like the Boppy lounger the best.
She loved it because since she was propped up and not necessarily lying flat on her back she was able to see what’s going on and feel part of the party lol. However, this is all based on your baby’s preference, so see what works best for your baby.
Baby Swing
Any swing is great to help soothe your baby and works as a great option as a place to set them in other than the bassinet or lounger.
The Mama Roo infant seat bounces up and down and sways from side to side to mimic the way parents rock to comfort their babies. I used the Mama Roo for my baby and overall it was a good baby “swing or bouncer” whatever you want to call it lol. It did the job and even came with a bluetooth connectivity that paired with the Mama Roo app on my phone to control the settings. The Mama Roo is compact and aesthetically pleasing which are nice features.
My daughter liked it, but I don’t think she loved it. There are some moms who SWEAR by the Mama Roo swing, but I don’t think my daughter loved it as much as other babies. The Mama Roo is pricey— but its up to you if you feel like it would be worth it.
Regardless, a swing is on my top 10 list. It is one of the first things I used for my newborn and it was a great place to put her in when I had to do something. It also kept her entertained and for the most part chill.
Pacifier
Last on my list is a pacifier! My baby loved the Wubbanub (Advent pacifier) and BIBS pacifier. My daughter doesn’t use a pacifier all day only to sooth and put her sleep. Other than that she can care less for them. However, for sleep this was a huge help! If you are planning to use a pacifier for your baby buy a couple different ones (don’t go crazy though lol) and see which one your baby prefers.
AND THAT WAS MY TOP 10 RECOMMENDATIONS! Is there an item NOT listed here that was a game changer for you? Share below!
