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Our Top 10 Baby Items for Your Baby Registry
So you just had a baby – or maybe you’re about to – and you’re wondering, what the heck do I buy? There are so many options, how do I choose? What do I actually need?
Let’s be clear here – you really don’t NEED anything beyond diapers, food, and clothes for a baby. Advertisements are going to make you think you need that Pee Pee Teepee – but secret’s out – you don’t. As a mom of a now-toddler, I’m going to fill you in on the products that we loved and didn’t love – the ones I recommend and the ones I don’t. That way you’ll have some actual mom perspective on what you actually could use as you venture into momhood (or dadhood)!
The following list is also great for parents of a colicky baby – recommended from yours truly, the mother of a colicky baby!
What Baby Essentials Do I Need to Buy?
Keep reading to find out the best baby products to buy for your baby. We give honest reviews on the items that can help make the transition to take care of a baby much easier. Scroll down to read our honest baby product reviews, including the best products for a colicky baby. Stay tuned for part 2 on baby items you can skip on your registry!
Add These Items to Your Baby Registry:
Swaddle Me Original
Not every baby will like being swaddled, and it’s easy to go the folded blanket route instead of dishing out money on a Velcro swaddle. We started out just using blankets ourselves but found we needed a tighter fit that was easier to quickly put the baby in. So many naps were saved thanks to the Swaddle Me Original. With it’s easy to fold and unfold structure, and snug fit, this is easily one of the best swaddles available.
We ended up buying 4 of them, we loved them so much! The only downside is that the Velcro can be kind of loud, so if you need to adjust while baby is asleep, it can be kind of risky. But it was definitely one of our favorites and what we recommend to friends!
We later tried the Magic Merlin when we were transitioning out of the swaddle and while it was funny to see little N looking like a marshmallow man, we really only got a handful of uses out of it. I would save your money and look for other solutions outside of the Magic Merlin (which tends to get pretty hot and restrictive). Take a look at Milestones and Motherhood for some great information on swaddles and the Magic Merlin and how they may possibly affect baby’s development.
Kyte Baby Sleep Sack
The Kyte Baby Sleep Sack is absolutely one of our favorite sleep sacks on the market. It is unbelievably soft – I wish I could have an adult-sized blanket made from this material! Baby N loved the feel of this so much, he would just grab it and rub his face in it. The bamboo material is also pretty cool, so on warmer days we didn’t worry about him being too hot, but it was also warm enough to keep him comfortable in the winter.
The price is a little steep, I admit – but if I could go back in time I would buy 10 of these (updating to add that as of 2022 we own 3 of these). They hold up really well and they really are the most comfortable sleep sack on the market.
The other sleep sack we tried out was the Nested Bean. It was alright but I think the weight of the egg bothered our little guy more than it helped. It certainly was an odd sleep sack to wear while sleeping and as soon as we got it, he started sleeping on his stomach, which meant having to figure out how to zip him up backwards in the sack so he wouldn’t be sleeping on the egg side. I think it was a little too overwhelming for us.
4moms mamaRoo 4 Baby Swing
I was hesitant at first to buy the mamaRoo swing and it actually took me a few weeks to make the plunge but after dealing with a colicky, unhappy baby for 2 months, I knew I had to try everything. We started out with a Graco swing that moved back and forth but then a friend recommended the mamaRoo, which moved in motions more similar to a parent’s swaying.
The mamaRoo was such a lifesaver – I was finally able to put little N down and get stuff done. I was able to eat, clean, or even just breathe for a moment while he gently swayed up and down, side to side. This swing has different settings and can even connect to music, if that’s your thing.
4moms Pack n Play
Continuing on the 4moms train for a moment, another product we enjoyed was the 4moms Pack n Play. With a newborn bassinet and changing pad insert, we were able to use this for the first few weeks of baby N’s life. I have such strong memories of putting him down in this bassinet in our room those first few days at home. And the changing pad made middle of the night changes so easy. There’s also an extra you can buy to hang on the side of the pack n play to hold your diaper changing necessities, so you have everything right nearby.
We still use this pack n play for traveling and it’s so easy to fold and pack away – it just takes one motion and you’re all good to go. I would recommend adding a pack n play to your list if you’re considering being on the go with your little one, as well as if you want a container that you can move around the house as needed. It’s really helpful for creating safe spaces for little ones to hang out and play.
Haaka Silicone Pump
I had no idea about the Haaka before I was pregnant. I wouldn’t have known that I needed this until someone showed up to my baby shower with this as a gift. This is useful if you’re planning to breastfeed. You can use it to relieve pressure, or even catch a letdown on one side while baby nurses on the other. And when you’re breastfeeding you know that every drop of breastmilk is liquid gold! You cannot ignore this product if you’re breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed – this is a must have breastfeeding item!
Boba Air Baby Carrier
Slings and baby carriers are so useful as a modern parent in this busy world. You have to be able to get things done and that means that sometimes you need a little support growing some extra hands! I know I purchased so many different kinds of slings and carriers when little N was born and tested out which one worked best for our family.
I really enjoyed the Boba line of carriers and slings and found that the Boba Air was perfect for long walks and hikes and basically any extended amount of time that I needed N strapped to me. It has a little hood attached to shield baby from the elements and it folds so easily into a little pocket that it’s great for traveling with. It’s also very lightweight and both mom and dad can wear it! This carrier can be used up to 45 lbs and I plan to continue to use it with N for as long as possible.
EZ Blackout Curtains
This recommendation might be a bit controversial and it’s also a very personal decision. Through our journey learning N’s sleep needs, we discovered that darkness was needed for him to get adequate rest. His mind was just so busy discovering everything that we had to help him wind down from it all. We went through so many options trying to make his room dark enough – tried black paper, tried black blinds, tried paper+blinds+blackout curtains. Nothing seemed to really block the light.
It also started to feel like a cave in his nursery since we couldn’t take down all of our layers every day to let the sun in. Then we found EZ Blackout Curtains and we can’t believe we didn’t bite the bullet earlier. These curtains are more like shades that velcro to your windows. They are so easy to apply and easy to remove – and they cover so much light without overheating the room in the summer.
Gerber Cloth Diapers
*Don’t skip!* If you want a multipurpose, neutral, easy to use item – Gerber Cloth Diapers are it. And no, I’m not including them on here for actual diapering – though you can use them for that. My sister-in-law gifted us these cloth diapers when we told her how often we got peed on while changing diapers! They are great to grab and cover while you’re doing your diaper duty and they are so absorbent and wide that you don’t have to worry about getting pee-soaked. They also work great as burp cloths and fold over your shoulder so well.
Bandana Bibs
Bandana bibs are so cute but they’re also surprisingly really functional as well! When a baby is teething, they produce a ridiculous amount of saliva that ends up – you guessed it – drooled all over. Bandana bibs are a perfect addition to an outfit to soak up that drool without looking completely out of place.
Something to know about teething drool is that it can cause a rash on baby’s skin, so these bibs really help to keep baby dry during this already difficult time! I certainly wouldn’t have thought to include this on my list but they truly proved so useful once the drooling started.
Electric Nail File
Definitely don’t roll your eyes at this product recommendation! It may seem easy to pass by thinking oh I don’t need that but trust me – with a squirmy or even a fussy baby, the last thing you want to try to do is cut the tiny nails on their fingers with a regular nail clipper! This electric nail file comes with multiple heads for different ages, so you can even use the file on yourself to make extra use of your money.
Best Products for a Colicky Baby
- EZ Blackout Curtains
- Hatch White Noise Machine
- Boba Air Baby Carrier
- mamaRoo Baby Swing
- Culturelle Probiotic Drops
Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for part 2 where we outline some of the baby products you can just skip for now. Remember to subscribe to the blog so you don’t miss out on the next update!
[…] If you’re looking for other must have baby items to purchase for an expectant parent, check out this list of best baby items for 2021. […]