As a mom to two wonderful children, Liam and Emily, I quickly learned that the must-have products that saved my sanity during those crucial first three months varied significantly between my two little ones.
Here, I share my personal essentials that made all the difference in navigating the early days of parenthood without losing my mind 🙂
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Baby Carrier:
Having relied heavily on a carrier with both my children, the necessity of it became more apparent with my second child, Emily.
It enabled me to attend to Liam, my eldest, while also caring for my newborn. Whether I was keeping up with Liam at the park or juggling tasks at home, the carrier provided invaluable support and convenience.
In the initial three months, I relied on a Moby wrap carrier, appreciating its benefits such as its snug fit, which offered security for my newborn, and its adaptability to different carrying positions as they grew.
The wrap’s soft fabric ensured both their comfort and my ease of use, making it an essential tool during that crucial bonding period.
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Diaper Bin:
I know that opinions on the utility of a diaper bin vary, and many moms regret purchasing it, but it proved invaluable to me.
The diaper bin was a godsend during the early days with Liam, who seemed to have an endless supply of dirty diapers, often needing a change after every feeding.
However, with Emily, who didn’t require as many diaper changes, the bin was still handy but not as essential. It saved me countless trips to the outside trash bin and kept our living space clean and odor-free.
White Noise Machine:
While Liam slept through anything and everything (like my husband), Emily proved to be a light sleeper like me.
A white noise machine quickly transitioned from a nice-to-have to a must-have item in our household. Its soothing sounds created a calming sleep environment, ensuring that my little one stayed asleep longer and allowing me to catch some much-needed rest as well.
Breast Pump:
With both of my children, a breast pump was essential for maintaining my milk supply and allowing me the flexibility to pump and store milk for times when I couldn’t be with my babies.
With Liam, a regular breast pump was enough. I used the same pump for both of them – the Medela Pump in Style Breast Pump. It worked like a charm, I just swapped out the parts when needed.
But with Emily, I also used a portable pump and it was a game-changer. It offered the flexibility to pump on-the-go and made it much easier to manage pumping while still being available for Liam. The Momcozy was perfect for that reason.
Swaddle Blankets:
While Liam resisted being swaddled, and untill this day hate blankets of any sort, Emily took comfort in the snug embrace of swaddle blankets. These soft, breathable wraps not only helped soothe my little one to sleep but also provided a sense of security during those early weeks of adjustment.
Experimenting with different swaddle blankets for Liam, from traditional muslin wraps (that I mastered the technique) to velcro and zipper swaddles, led me to try a range of options with Emily as well.
While she slept soundly with each type, I found the zipper swaddle to be particularly convenient for quick changes during those late-night wake-ups.
Remember, there’s no universal manual for parenting—just a lot of trial and error. So be prepared with all the essentials, and in the worst case, you won’t use them with your first baby; perhaps they’ll be more useful with the second.
For the complete list of items I’ve used and loved with both my babies check out my post about The Ultimate Baby Registry List.
Tell me, what is your must have newborn product?
