As a first time mom all the baby products on the market can be overwhelming. You don't want to overbuy, but you also don't want to be without. It can be difficult differentiating between products that sound useful vs products that are useful.
When I was pregnant with little Luna, I set up an Amazon Baby Registry. Personally, I felt that it was the easiest most convenient registry. I could literally add anything I could think of. I found that store specific registries tend to limit your options. Amazon also provides you with popular items and categories to give your registry a jump start. Everyday felt like Christmas. We had Luna's baby shower gifts arriving at our doorstep daily.
With over 100 gifts, I've narrowed the list to the top 10 newborn items you will need or that will make your life so much easier!
1. The Owlet Smart Sock
The Owlet Smart Sock has to be my number 1 newborn item. For a first time mom like me, the owlet sock gives me peace of mind at night or during nap time. The owlet sock is designed to tell you your baby's heart rate and oxygen level. If for any reason your baby's levels are abnormal, it will alert you similar to an alarm.
The Owlet Sock reminds me a lot of Luna's time in the NICU. Luna was in the NICU for about 3 days where she was hooked up to machines that also tracked her oxygen and heart rate levels.
At a time where SIDS is common. Having the owlet sock on my baby anytime she's asleep gives me reassurance and peace of mind. The price tag is on the high-end, but I feel this is one of those moments where peace of mind is truly priceless.
What's also nice about the Owlet Sock is that the app is extremely user friendly. I love the app because if I run to the restroom, I can pull up the app on my phone and check on my baby. It gives me flexibility. Now, don't get me wrong, I still have my eyes on her like a hawk. If you've had kids before you know what I'm talking about: the constant checking on their tummies to make sure you see movement or putting your finger under their nose.
2. The Boppy Newborn Lounger
One of our most used items is our Boppy. We love that thing! It's so convenient; we literally take it everywhere.
When visiting our parents for the day, we make sure to bring Luna's boppy. Bringing the boppy with us avoids laying her down on the couch, carrying her the entire time or having her sit in her stroller. This way Luna always has her own little comfortable place to sit.
When at home, we keep our boppy downstairs for the same reason, but also to have her nearby while we're cooking, eating or cleaning. Personally, when she was a newborn, we would place the boppy on our kitchen island while we cooked, so she wouldn't be alone in our living room.
We also place the boppy on our kitchen table. I think Luna senses how comfortable we are every time we sit down to eat. It never fails. My food is halfway to my mouth when she starts crying. Parents, you know what I'm talking about. It's been nice to put the boppy on our dinner table, so she can accompany us while we eat. This has helped my husband and I sit through a dinner together without our food getting cold.
3. Baby Delight Dreamer Bassinet and Side Sleeper
An item we also use daily is our Baby Delight side sleeper. We personally do not co-sleep, so it was important to have a convenient and safe place for Luna to sleep.
What's neat about our Baby Delight is the ability to unzip and lower the side closest to your bed. It also has adjustable heights to meet your needs and breathable mesh all around.
Having a baby delight allows her to sleep in a safe place while still being and feeling close to us. Not to mention, when she's crying in the middle of the night, it's nice to just reach over and pop her pacifier back in.
4. Hatch Rest Sound Machine
While I was pregnant, I had taken a newborn sleep training course, Taking Cara Babies. In that course I learned the importance of mimicking the womb environment for your newborn.
One of the ways you can mimic the environment of your womb is by playing sounds. Your baby was accustomed to whooshing sounds for close to 10 months, so sleeping in a complete quiet room may feel unusual to your newborn.
The Hatch Rest Sound Machine comes with many different light colors and sounds. You can also choose to turn the light off, to create a dark room. We usually turn the Hatch light on for nighttime feeds. It gives you the perfect amount of light, so you do not have to turn on your lamp and risk waking up your baby or spouse.
One of my favorite things about the Hatch is their App. It is very user friendly, and it allows you to adjust the sounds, volume, and light from your phone. Trust me, this comes in handy!
5. Yogasleep Portable Sound Machine
Another baby item that has helped us from headaches is a portable sound machine. We have a portable sound machine that hooks up to Luna's stroller. Any time we're on the go, you bet that her portable sound machine is on.
It has helped stop her crying at doctors appointments, walks and car rides. Something about the white nose soothes her. Again, you're recreating the sound of the womb... on the go! It's a cheap price to pay for a quiet car ride.
6. Doona Car Seat Stroller
I must admit this one is one of our more boujee purchases. The Doona stroller was our highest ticketed registry item, but I feel that it is worth every penny.
Our Doona is a 2-in-1 Stroller. It serves as a car seat, and with a click of a button, the legs and wheels come out converting into a stroller. I must admit, it has felt so nice not having to carry a heavy carseat everywhere we go. It's also nice to know that I'll never forget her stroller because if you know me, I forget everything!
Another positive to the Doona is space. Since it is a 2-in-1, I don't have to make space in my trunk for a stroller. No matter where we are, we have convenience at our fingertips with just a click of a button.
7. Bath Tub with Holes
Another newborn item we use frequently is her bathtub. Little Luna loves her bath time.
After hearing mold horror stories, it was important that I find the right bathtub. We decided to go with a baby bath tub with holes to make sure water doesn't get captured on the plastic. We chose the Angelcare Baby Bath Support. I've seen too many photos and videos online of baby bath tubs that grew mold in all the cracks and crevices that are hard to dry off.
8. NoseFrida
Okay, here is where it gets a little nasty. If you haven't heard, the NoseFrida is a tube you put into your baby's nostril and you suck on the other end. I must admit, it's pretty disgusting, but nevertheless, useful!
Luna has always been very congested, so it's important we take out her boogers daily. The Frida has helped her feel and breathe comfortably. I do have to thank my husband for that because I am not coming near that thing. No thank you! After all, I did carry her for 9 months, so sucking out boogers was obviously his assigned duty.
9. Mini-fridge for upstairs
This item is one I had never seen on any list. It didn't even cross my mind that we'd need a mini-fridge. After going up and down the stairs every 2-3 hours, we decided to purchase a mini-fridge about two days in. With having a two-story house, it has made night time feeds so much easier!
Not to mention, if you have a c-section like me, it is not recommended to go up and down stairs. A short walk to the mini-fridge in your bedroom is much easier than going up and down a flight of stairs.
Now as Luna is almost 3 months, we typically fill two big bottles with milk right before bed, and just store them in the mini-fridge. That way we don't have to pour water or powder while we are half asleep in the middle of the night.
10. Baby Swaddles
The last item you should consider adding to your registry are baby swaddles.
We personally prefer swaddle blankets vs velcro swaddles. There was something about the velcro swaddles that didn't make us feel good. They looked painful and tight.
We have at least 4 baby swaddle blankets. You know, because of poop, throw up, pee and all that good stuff. At first it may seem that your baby doesn't like to be swaddled, but I think it genuinely helps them with their sleep.
Luna used to kick and fuss anytime she was swaddled, but the more we swaddled her, the more we realized how much she liked it. Not to mention, this is another way to recreate the tightness of the womb.
Baby swaddles also prevent you from wanting to cover them in blankets while they sleep, which we now know is deemed as unsafe. The baby swaddle blanket is nice and tight and creates the perfect warmth for your baby. No blankets necessary!
There you have it friends, my top ten baby items you'll want to purchase. Be sure to add these items to your registry. They are newborn must-haves! Also, share the knowledge. Share down below what your newborn must-haves are.
Xoxo, Mars
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