Becoming a mom for the first time is an incredible journey filled with joy, excitement, and a fair share (and by that I mean a LOT) of uncertainty. As one of the first among my circle of friends to have a baby, I often find myself navigating unfamiliar territory with little guidance. The thought of bringing our baby boy home after a long delivery process (30+ hours of labor which ended in a c-section) was both thrilling and terrifying.

When we finally got home, it was such a relief that we had everything we needed already set up and ready to go. The last thing I wanted was to have to scramble for essentials while trying to recover and care for a newborn. Having these must-have products on hand has been a game changer for me, both mentally and emotionally. I can’t imagine having to “get as we go” during such a crucial time. So, I wanted to share the products that have truly made a difference during our first month with our baby boy.

I hope these items help someone else as much as they have helped us!

1. Baby lounger: I do not intend for this list to be in any order of importance, but I do think it is appropriate for this to be at the top of the list! You aren’t always going to find the crib or bassinet the most convenient place to set the baby down — this is when your baby lounger comes in handy! We have the DockATot Deluxe+ , although the SnuggleMe Organic Lounger is nearly identical and a bit cheaper.
   
   
2. Bedside bassinet: Having a bassinet next to our bed has made middle of the night feeds and check-ins very easy. If you have an anxious mind like me, the sound of baby grunts and spit up can be scary! Being able to lean over and see baby boy has given me such peace of mind without having to get up out of bed and walk over to the nursery. There are a TON of wonderful options for bedside bassinets.. After some research and recommendations, we went with the HALO BassiNest Swivel Sleeper 3.0. I love that the sides are mesh all the way around so that if his face smushes up against the side at any point during his sleep, there are no suffocation risks.
   
   
3. White noise machine: We want him to associate white noise with sleep, so we turn on a sound machine for bedtime and as many naps as possible throughout the day. I cannot recommend the Hatch Rest Baby Sound Machine enough. It can be controlled from their app on your phone, you can pre-set the noises/music you prefer at custom light settings (or no light at all). It has a charging base that plugs into the wall, but it is cordless in that it can be taken off the base and moved around the house making it super convenient with baby isn’t napping in the nursery. For a portable option, we have loved this one — it gets pretty loud and holds a charge. It has a clip making it easy to attach it to carseat, stroller, etc.
   
   
4. Swaddles: I experimented with at least six different types and brands of swaddles, from high-end to mid-tier to budget-friendly options. To my surprise, our absolute favorites turned out to be the SwaddleMe swaddles, which are among the more affordable! These swaddles come in packs of three and are available in various colorways. They feature a foolproof Velcro design, making them incredibly easy to secure in just a few seconds.
   
   
5. Baby bouncer: Similar to bedside bassinets, there are an overwhelming amount of baby bouncers out there to choose from. It seems the BabyBjorn bouncer is crowd favorite and we can attest to the hype… We use it after feedings during his wake windows to keep him upright while we read a book or go through flash cards. The bouncer has also become an essential part of our nightly bath routine. We place a warmed towel on top to create a cozy “docking station” for when we pull him out of the bath, making the drying-off process much easier.

6. Burp cloths: This may not be the most glamorous item, but you CANNOT have enough of these. Just when you think you’ve purchased enough, think again. I have loved these Yoofoss Muslin Burp Cloths – they are so soft which is perfect for baby’s sensitive skin!

7. Changing pad: My love for home decor really drew me to the beautiful cloth changing pads that sit inside of a rattan basket, but something told me that just wasn’t going to be the smartest option for handling a job that is… well… shitty. Ha! The thought of diapering on fabric just didn’t sit well with the clean freak in me. Now that baby boy is here, I am especially thankful we went with a wipeable option. The Keekaroo Peanut Changer has been a life saver for cleaning up a big mess really quickly. Efficiency is key here, people!

8. Baby bathtub support: Trust me, you’ll appreciate having something besides your own two hands to help hold your baby in the tub. The Angelcare Baby Bath is a great choice —affordable, lightweight, and designed with a slight grip on the back to prevent your baby from sliding around.

9. Baby balms and ointments: We keep multiple Aquaphor Baby Sticks around the house —they’ve been incredibly effective for baby acne, eczema, and rashes. The stick is also super convenient to apply when dealing with a wiggly baby. During diaper changes, we use Aquaphor Balm on Brayer’s butt to reduce friction from the diaper and provide a barrier against wetness. We also love Tubby Todd All Over Ointment and Noodle & Boo Baby Baby Balm for keeping his skin soft and moisturized after bath time; I alternate between the two!

10. Baby monitor: We opted for the Nanit and have loved it! The monitor connects to WiFi, allowing us to watch through the Nanit app. We decided on the floor stand rather than the wall mount for its flexibility, making it easy to reposition as needed. Additionally, we purchased the flex stand, which has been nice for travel and mobility around the house.

11. Baby safe cleaning supplies: Noodle & Boo laundry detergent… Just trust me. A little goes a LONG way, non-toxic, and it smells heavenly. Truly the “baby” scent of my dreams without being too fragrant. Miss Mouth’s Messy Eater Stain Treater is great for spills and stains. Dapple Baby Bottle & Dish Soap as well as the Dapple All Purpose Wipes (I keep these beside his changing station).

12. Pacifiers: Just like with swaddles, we tested various pacifier brands and discovered that he loves BIBS! These pacifiers are lightweight and stay in his mouth much better than some of the heavier ones we tried, which often fell out.

13. Nail trimmer: This electric nail trimmer is far less intimidating than traditional nail scissors and clippers for those tiny fingernails. It includes multiple tips designed to suit different stages of baby’s growth.

14. Stroller fan: If you live somewhere hot, a stroller fan is a must. We’ve already used this more times than we can count.

15. Baby carrier: Another baby item with countless options to choose from is the baby carrier. I received an Artipoppe carrier as a gift (warning: it is pricey), but I absolutely love it. The fabric is soft, it’s comfortable on my back, and it’s so cute. You can take $50 off of your order if you use this link to purchase! You won’t regret it.

16. Formula dispenser: If the possibility of transitioning to formula during your feeding journey is on the table or if you plan to use formula from the beginning, investing in the Baby Brezza is worthwhile. When I made the switch from nursing to formula, this saved us so much hassle. It allows you to prepare bottles with odd numbers of ounces, unlike manually mixing as per the canister instructions, which typically limits you to increments of 2. Since baby’s feeding needs are ever changing as they get older, this has been great to avoid wasting formula. Lastly, using this machine eliminates the bubbles that typically form when you shake water and formula together in a bottle.

17. Baby bottles: We use Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow Anti-Colic Options+ Narrow Baby Bottles. I didn’t bother shopping around for bottles because Dr. Brown’s has stood the test of time and earned its reputation. Even my mom recommended them, as she used them for me when I was a baby. The slow flow nipple design helps minimize gas, and Brayer took to them immediately. We have also loved this bottle drying rack!

18. BabyShusher: Shh’ing gets old after a while so having this little gadget to do it for me has been so nice. I swear it helps soothing go so much quicker too.

19. Paci holder & diaper bag dispenser: These two items have quickly become indispensable in our diaper bag. They’ve come to the rescue when pacifiers have ended up on the floor (aka always). Plus, during those on-the-go diaper changes, having a dedicated place to dispose of dirty diapers is so nice.

20. Diapers: After experimenting with brands like Huggies, Pampers, Honest, and a few others, we found that Coterie diapers are our favorite. I will say, Pampers did a good job of containing everything they needed to (& I have heard this from more than one boy mom that Pampers Swaddlers work well for newborn boys in particular), but Coterie stood out for their softness. Moreover, we felt reassured by their clean ingredients and manufacturing process.

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