Essential Baby Products and Tips
This guide will provide 10 essential products that you need for your new baby. You can buy them yourself or you can put them on your baby shower registry list! Preparing for a new baby is such an exciting experience! And marketers are trying to convince you there are hundreds of things you “must have” for your new baby. There are so many things every year that make me raise an eyebrow. But if you really want to be prepared, then take a look at the items in this article. You’ll see that things aren’t as complicated as they seem.
For a complete list of everything you need for your baby in the first year, download The Ultimate Shopping List for Baby’s First Year. It has literally every single thing you need to buy, from feeding to safety, organization, clothing, and on-the-go. There are lots of tips too, particularly helpful for first-time moms.
Essential Baby Products and Tips – Life With a Newborn
Each family is different, and you may find it necessary to get other things that are not on this list. But I will tell you about my favorite products that I used a lot for both of my babies. When your baby comes, you will be thankful for having these essentials ready.
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Related: High-Interest Baby and Toddler Books
What Baby Needs
Newborns don’t need much, but they do have sensitive skin, gassy tummies, and stuffy noses because of leftover fluid from the womb. They also need to be fed (no news there, I hope) and they love to be carried. A lot!
So read on for some products to help your baby adjust to their new life on earth. Some important criteria for me when choosing these products were, whenever possible:
- organic plant-derived products
- rated 1 in the EWG’s Safe Cosmetics Database
- no parabens
- no artificial fragrance
- no triclosan
- BPA-free
Related: Baby and Toddler Toys
Prevent Diaper Rash
If I tell you my newborn never had a diaper rash, you may not believe me. But it’s the truth! I credit the Angel Baby Organic Diaper Balm for this. It is a little grainy, so you have to dissolve it between your fingers before you apply it, and it is a little greasy on the skin, but I was very pleased with it. It left the skin soft, and it prevented and calmed irritation. This is by far the best bottom cream I tried.
Bathtime
As far as baby shampoo, I bought the Earth Mama Simply Non-Scents Baby Wash when my baby was little. However, this shampoo is Castile-based, so it is not tear-free! Make sure it doesn’t get in the baby’s eye. Otherwise, this shampoo is very gentle and pure.
When my baby started being more active in the tub, splashing and playing in the water, I switched to a tear-free shampoo. Although this is not what I used a few years ago for my babies, I recently discovered and absolutely love the Babo Botanicals line of shampoos. This is what I use now for my kids’ hair. They have an extra gentle formula for babies that is also tear-free. This shampoo is EWG certified.
Skincare
Most babies do not need lotion every day or after every bath. I rarely used any lotion on my baby’s skin, except for the winter months, when both my kids had extra dry skin. If your baby’s skin is dry or you like applying lotion, you can try the Earth Mama Baby Lotion. I bought the fragrance-free version.
Before your baby is 6 months old, do your best to protect the baby from the sun with clothing. After that, use sunscreen on exposed skin. The criteria for classifying the best and safest sunscreens for children changes and improves frequently. What I used for my babies is no longer considered the best option.
There are many sunscreens on the market now that are safe for our babies. It’s just a matter of checking them on the EWG’s Guide to Sunscreens website for updated ratings. Every year they review and rate multiple sunscreens and give a breakdown of all the ingredients and their safety levels.
There are a few brands that we used and liked. They are Earth Mama, Badger Baby, Thinkbaby, Adorable Baby, and California Baby. All of these consistently score well on the EWG’s Guide to Sunscreens for safety.
Gassy Tummies
Those poor newborn tummies are so gassy! Some gas relief drops certainly help. Our pediatrician recommended Little Remedies Gas Relief Drops and we loved them – the bottle comes with a drop dispenser which I was not crazy about. I used a syringe instead, which you can get from other products.
Alternatives
The main ingredient in the Pediacare Gas Relief Drops is simethicone. If you prefer to avoid it, I also used and really liked Colic Calm and Tummy Calm. These are homeopathic drops, free of chemicals. They worked really well for us and I used them for a long time.
Warning
The Colic Calm drops are dark brown, almost black, and will stain clothes, so you have to be careful when you use them. You can have a washcloth or paper towel handy every time you administer the drops to your baby.
Stuffy Nose
You will get a bulb syringe to suction your baby’s nose and the one we got from the hospital worked great for us. I didn’t get the fancy ones you can find on the market. But you can try them if they appeal to you.
One thing that I found useful was the sterile saline nasal mist. I used the Little Remedies for Noses Sterile Saline Mist (make sure it’s the one that says “safe for newborns”). It is a non-medicated mist that moisturizes little nostrils and helps to decongest them. Seven years later, we are still using this spray when my kids have colds.
I cannot recommend the plastic bottle. We tried it and it was more of a hassle. I prefer the metal bottle, with the spray nozzle. It is a lot easier to use. You use this whenever the baby has a stuffy nose, but also to clean the nose every now and then, for example after a bath.
Vitamin D
Your pediatrician will surely remind you to give your baby vitamin D supplements. Our pediatrician recommended Carlson Super Daily D3 for Baby and I was very happy. They were easy to administer and my babies took them well.
Carrying Baby
Babies loved being carried, being as close to your body as possible. I will recommend two baby carriers here. If you think one is not your style, then you can try the other one. I had the Baby Bjorn with my first baby and the Boba Wrap with my second. My first choice would be the wrap. But the Baby Bjorn is also very practical and you can use it the longest. You may get the wrap and decide to get the Baby Bjorn carrier anyway for when your child is older.
The Boba Wrap
I absolutely loved the Boba Wrap! And so did my second baby. I carried him around the house, and everywhere I went. It is basically a long piece of fabric that you wrap around yourself and tuck your baby in it.
What I chose – The clear winner!
There are many brands, but I liked this one the best. I tried many brands in the store, I also ordered some online, and tried them on at home, but ended up returning them. The Boba wrap was the best! I wish I had known about it for my first baby. I bought the plain, grey one because it matched all my clothes and accessories. But if you have a better sense of fashion, you can get creative and order a cute color or pattern. There is plenty to choose from.
Why I like it
The Boba wrap is cotton with a touch of spandex, so it is stretchy. In fact, compared to other wraps, it had the perfect amount of stretch. I found other wraps to be too stretchy or too stiff. the Boba was perfect!
The fabric in the Boba wrap is not too thick and not too heavy. I had my baby in the summer, so I mostly wore a tank top and the Boba wrap over it, which doubled as a t-shirt.
In addition, the wrap supports the baby incredibly well, up to 35 lbs (15.8 kg).
Many other wraps that I tried had long ends that dragged behind me. However, the Boba Wrap is just the right length, such that no ends flap behind you or in front. You just finish wrapping in the front and tuck the ends under your baby’s bottom, so there is nothing hanging in the front or back.
Also, price-wise the Boba wrap was right in the middle.
*Boppy also makes a wrap now. It wasn’t available when I had my babies. If you try it, please let me know how you like it.
How to use it
You can find YouTube videos that teach you step-by-step how to wrap the Boba. This is a helpful video.
TIP
Here is an example of other uses for your Boba wrap. When my baby was two months old, we went to the zoo. At feeding time, I turned him on his side, put him at the breast and he ate in peace and total privacy as we continued to walk around to view the animals. How cool is that! Have I mentioned how much I loved my wrap? 🙂
The Baby Bjorn Carrier One
There are several styles of carriers that Baby Bjorn makes, and I chose the Baby Carrier One.
Why I like it
The reasons why I went with the Baby Carrier One model as opposed to other brands, or even other models made by Baby Bjorn, are simple. This one:
- is certified hip-healthy by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute
- has the most carrying positions
- holds baby from birth up to 33 lbs or 3 years
- is washable
- has a sporty look
The carrier has a zipper under the baby’s legs for you to adjust the width of the “seat”, so that your baby has the correct position of the hips.
You can wear your baby in the front or on your back, facing you or facing out. That’s four carrying positions! In addition, the straps of the carrier easily adjust to any body size and shape, so both my husband and I were able to use it.
The belt and the straps are padded and, out of all the carriers that I tried, the Baby Carrier One was the most comfortable and the most forgiving on my back.
The quality of the Baby Bjorn Carrier One is so solid! I was really impressed with how easily I could snap my baby in and out. It also felt very secure.
Accessories
This is an expensive, otherwise durable carrier, and it is a good idea to take good care of it, especially if you want to pass it on to another family. (P.S. We didn’t.)
Teething Bib
It is worth getting a teething bib that you attach to the flap of the carrier. My baby chewed through the fabric of the flap and exposed the foam underneath. I did buy the bib eventually, but I wish I had gotten it sooner because the flap was ruined.
Teething Pads
They now make teething pads for the straps as well. If you know your child is a chewer, like my daughter was, then it is worth investing in a pair. I had a pair of bulky ones from a different brand and they worked alright, but the Baby Bjorn ones look thinner and I would definitely get these now.
Milk Bottle
At one point or another, you will need a milk bottle for your baby. The two water bottles that I recommend are glass and stainless steel respectively. I always try to avoid plastics, especially for products that I buy for my kids. Even though most baby plastic bottles don’t use BPA anymore, they’ve had to replace Bisphenol A with other types of Bisphenol (which are not yet studied for safety) in order to make the plastic malleable. So I think it’s best to avoid all kinds of plastic when possible, especially if it will be in contact with milk or other foods and it will get in the baby’s mouth.
The two bottles I recommend are the Lifefactory glass bottle and the Pura stainless steel bottle.
Lifefactory Glass Bottle
I really wanted a glass bottle for my babies. I found the Lifefactory glass bottle. I was very pleased with it and my first baby took to it really well. My second… not so much. It was a struggle to get him to like any bottle (plastic, glass… Yes, I even tried plastic with my son.) After a few months, he accepted the glass bottle. Whew! I was glad he chose the bottle that I felt was safest for him.
Why I like it
The first thing I liked about the Lifefactory bottle is that it’s made of glass. It is a little on the heavy side, but I still preferred it to the plastic ones.
The bottle is wrapped in a medical-grade silicone sleeve that comes in different colors. Don’t get too excited about that, you only need one bottle. Unless it breaks. There is no need to take the sleeve off when you wash the bottle.
What you are getting
This bottle comes in two different sizes:
- 4 oz bottle, recommended for babies up to six months – comes with a stage 1 silicone nipple, or
- 9 oz bottle, for babies six months and older – comes with a stage 2 silicone nipple
Accessories
Here are some extra things that you’ll be needing for the Lifefactory bottle.
Nipples
As your baby grows, you will need to change the size of the nipple.
- Stage 1 nipple is for babies 0-3 months.
- Stage 2 nipple is for babies 3-6 months.
- Stage 3 nipple is for babies 6+ months.
The nipples come in packs of two, and I found that having one pack is enough.
Sippy Caps
Once your baby outgrows the nipple and learns to drink from a sippy, you can purchase sippy caps for your Lifefactory glass bottle. How cool is that! No need to buy multiple bottles. They come in packs of two, in colors matching the sleeve of the bottle, and they are made of BPA-free plastic. My kids used their bottles until they were six! You really get your money’s worth from them!
The one thing I will say about the sippy caps is that they come with a silicone insert that is supposed to control the flow of liquid. I never quite figured out how to put it in correctly, and I ended up just throwing it out. My kids were pretty good about regulating the flow of milk themselves. If you figure out how the insert works, please let me know in the comments!
Caps
In addition to the bottle, the nipple, and the sippy cap, you will need a cap to cover the bottle when you store unfinished milk in the refrigerator. Just take the nipple or the sippy cap off and cover the bottle tightly to prevent bacteria from getting in. The cap also comes in handy when you leave the house and you don’t want spilled milk in your bag.
Pura Kiki Stainless Steel Milk Bottle
This bottle is very lightweight, so it’s a good option if you are worried about the weight of the glass Lifefactory bottle.
The bottles come in three sizes, 5 oz, 9 oz, and 11 oz. The 9 oz bottle is insulated and specifically designed for colicky babies. The bottles are stainless steel and they come with a vented silicone nipple. They have a silicone sleeve, which helps the baby hold the bottle better.
Pura Kiki 5 oz.
Pura Kiki 9 oz.
Pura Kiki 11 oz.
Why I like the Pura Kiki bottles
These bottles are not only safe, but they grow with your child. As your child grows, you can simply swap the silicone nipple for a sippy spout, then for a straw, and finally for a sports cap. They all fit on the same bottle. It’s amazing! Your child can really use this bottle for YEARS!
They also come in really cool colors. Check them out!
Here are the individual sipper spout, straw, and sports cap that you can get separately.
Accessories
When your baby outgrows the newborn silicone nipple, it’s easy to replace it with a larger one, suitable for babies over 6 months. I also like that you can get a silicone travel cover for the Pura baby bottle.
Other accessories that are available for the Pura bottles are bottle bumpers if you want to protect the bottom of the bottle from scratches or dents, but also to make it less slippery. And if you get bored by the color of the silicone sleeve or your child grows and has a favorite color, then you can change the silicone sleeve on the bottle.
And finally, another thing that you can get for these bottles is a universal lid that seals the bottle to make it leak-proof.
Breast Pump
For my recommendation on the best breast pump to have, please read at the bottom of this article, where I write in detail about the type of pump and accessories you need, as well as ways to save on the cost of the pump.
Final Thoughts
We are all so excited to have a new baby! And aren’t we all up for a little shopping therapy, especially when we feel justified for it? And those baby clothes and toys are so darn cute!
But honestly, babies require so little in terms of things and a lot more when it comes to love and attention. So don’t rush to clutter your home with baby items. Simply enjoy and have patience. In the meantime, I hope these essential baby products and tips are helpful to you.
Love every moment with your baby!
Let me know how these products work out for you and if there are others you found really useful. I would love to hear from you. Leave your comments below.
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