EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR YOUR BABY, and SOME THINGS YOU DON’T… BUT YOU’LL WANT!
So, you found out that you’re pregnant– congratulations Mama! It’s a whirlwind of emotions, and a blunt realization that you have so many things to think about and prepare for. But the last thing you need is endless hours of research to ensure you get all the best things for your new little bundle of joy. So don’t you worry one little bit, because I did all the work for you. I put all those sleepless nights to good use (thanks again pregnancy hormones!) and spent countless hours combing through every product in every brand until I had the perfect list of everything I’d ever need. So, let’s get started Mamas…
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When looking for a crib there are a couple of considerations to take into account. One, I like to choose cribs that grow with your child so that you are not buying a separate toddler bed and bumpers to boot– just make sure to buy the conversion kit when you purchase the crib (don’t wait 2 years and run the risk of it being unavailable!). Secondly, is it greenguard gold certified? Simply put, this means that the manufacturer uses low chemical emission materials to make the crib, so it keeps their room as healthy as possible.
Keep in mind, babies turn into little beavers when they’re teething, and that’s why you need these crib rail covers! I was so happy to have them, especially when I went to go wash them and realized they had temporarily yellowed from how often my little one had her mouth on them. Totally saved my crib rails, and kept my crib looking like new.
Next, you’ll need a mattress, it should be firm for newborns, and a little softer for toddlers, so why not go with a mattress that has the best of both worlds? This one is reversible so that once your toddler is ready for a softer mattress all you have to do is flip it over and voila–you’ve avoided the cost of buying multiple mattresses. Plus, on top of being made in America, made of organic cotton, it’s also Green Guard Gold Certified, and CertiPUR-US certified, so you can rest assured that you’re giving your baby the best and your baby can well… rest easy.
One thing you may not think of right off the bat is that you will need a waterproof mattress cover, because well… accidents happen (no matter how hard we all wish they wouldn’t). I chose this cover because it doesn’t change the feel of the mattress, add too much thickness, and it’s made in the United States with GOTS organic cotton so there’s less chance your sensitive newborn will have a reaction to the fabric.
When choosing your crib sheets, besides being adorable, you want to make sure that they are as soft and as non-allergenic as possible. That being said, you really can’t go wrong with these crib sheets from Burts Bees, because they are not only GOTS certified organic, but they come in a large range of designs to fit any nursery’s decor. I highly recommend getting a couple of sheets for those middle of the night accidents we all dread, plus you’ll never have to be without sheets while doing laundry.
There are so many adorable mobiles out there, and it’s one of the more personal choices since you want it to match your nursery’s theme, but if you don’t want to go on a mobile manhunt, here are a few that stood out as particularly cute. Just remember that your baby’s eyesight and depth perception are not fully developed for a while, so when choosing a mobile it’s best to choose a high-contrast mobile that is easy for them to see, will keep their attention, and lull those precious eyes to dreamland.
Now I chose to go with a dresser instead of a changing table, since she would eventually use a dresser and a changing table is just one more thing you have to worry about getting rid of or selling at a later date. We put a changing pad on top, and that was that. The keekaroo (in my opinion) is totally worth the money because you can clean and sanitize it without having to throw anything in the washer (things that you now won’t have for a couple hours while you wait for them to wash and dry). I found myself cleaning mine once or twice a day whether it be an accident or food debris that followed you around the house, and I just can’t imagine how often I would have had to be without it while it was getting a much needed bath.
There’s nothing particularly exciting about choosing a diaper pail, but we found the diaper genie to be a very good choice as it was easy to use, the refill bags can be found virtually anywhere, and it has a slot to insert a deodorizing packet, which believe me you want.
Whether you choose Pampers, Huggies, Luvs, Honest Co., or some other brand of diapers, you might as well make your life a little easier by signing up for the Amazon diaper subscription. This diaper subscription allows you to save money, and have regular deliveries made, so that you never have to make an emergency trip to the supermarket in the middle of the night for diapers.
One of the better features I found in a wipe warmer was a light so that you can do nighttime changes without having to turn on any bright lights that wake you or your baby up further. You just press the button and the light automatically shuts off 10 minutes later.
If there is one thing I learned about baby monitors, you should make it the last thing you purchase right before the baby is born, because most of them only come with a one year warranty and there’s a very good chance that yours will start to malfunction around that time, and you want it to be covered if it does. That being said, we decided on this highly rated baby monitor because it had excellent video that monitors the whole room, you can zoom in on an area, you can talk to your baby through it, see the nursery temperature, and it has the ability to turn off the battery running low beeping.
When choosing a humidifier for a nursery it’s always best to go with a cool mist one, and while they have them in all sorts of fun animal shapes, I chose one that doubled as a night light projecting stars all over the ceiling. I mean, why not buy something that serves multiple purposes, especially when your little one will love falling asleep under the stars. It also has a slot for scent pads so you can send your baby to dreamland with relaxing lavender oil, or help them breathe easier with eucalyptus.
Another thing you can buy as a combo is a sound machine and night light. One of the most popular choices is the Hatch which has a lot of nice features including different colors which are all dimmable and can be turned off, and sounds that range from nursery songs, to nature sounds, to white noise.
Our Boppy pillow was great for breastfeeding, especially since my dear daughter was more of a grazer than a guzzler when it came to feeding, so it would take forever to get her happily hydrated and the Boppy pillow saved my arms a lot of pain. It also worked well for tummy time as she didn’t like being completely flat on the floor due to acid reflux. The Boppy comes in all sorts of cute colors and designs so you’re sure to find one that matches your vibe.
When buying a breastfeeding cover, I figured it might as well double as a car seat cover too right?! That’s what makes these covers so great, they are so soft, so cute, come in plenty of pretty designs, and work double duty so you have less things to carry around– and believe me you’ll have enough to carry around.
You always want to know what your little munchkin is up to in the backseat so you can make sure they are happy and safe, and that’s why having a baby car mirror is essential. If you want a simple mirror the Shynerk one is large and easy to use as it just hooks right onto the car seat head in front of them – they’re never out of view, you simply glance back at the mirror. However, if you want an even safer option, the Feisike version is an actual camera and comes with a display monitor for your dashboard so you can see your baby at all times right in front of you. Isn’t technology just bananas these days?!
When picking out a stroller and car seat I found it incredibly handy to have the all in one travel version versus a separate stroller and carseat (and did you know that not all car seats are made for newborns AND your growing baby so you might have to buy two?!). So, we bought the stroller carseat combo that had a newborn insert and then just ordered ourselves a second car seat base for my husbands car so that in case of emergency we both had a way of transporting her in a hurry. Also, something I didn’t know until I was given the grand tour of the BuyBuy Baby stroller department was that car seats expire, so even if I didn’t buy from them I was warned to always check the manufacturer’s expiration date on the carseat to make sure that my baby would be protected by strong new materials in the event of a crash. Just a little word to the wise Mamas.
With a highchair the most important things to look for are, is it comfortable, and is it easily washable because after your baby gets done with it you’re going to wish you invested money in Bounty paper towels and Lysol stock. This 6 in 1 highchair by Graco is the perfect choice because it is super easy to wipe down, doesn’t stain, comes with a plush infant insert, reclines, and will grow with your child until they’re 60 pounds!
Sure, you’ll probably be given a manual nasal aspirator at the hospital, but I’m telling you, an electric nasal aspirator saved me so much time and “suffering” (whether it’s you trying and failing to get it all out, or your baby screaming that they don’t like the big bulky thing being shoved up their nose when they already can’t breathe), trust me you’ll want it! This particular one has lights and music to keep your baby a mesmerized, happy camper.
The only considerations I gave to a diaper bag was did it have large, easy to use compartments, and would my husband actually be caught dead wearing it. Technically, this is a diaper backpack, but it’s large, cute, and gender neutral enough that your man won’t have a problem wearing it around either.
There are basically two types of baby bath tubs, one is adorable and fits into your kitchen sink, and one is a miniature bathtub that you can place on a counter, floor, or in your actual tub. It’s all about preference, but I will say that the miniature plastic tub that’s listed here grows more with your child because it has an adjustable bump on the bottom that holds your little newborn, infant, or toddler up just right.
The whole point of a bassinet is to keep your baby close to you during those first few delicate months of life, and this highly rated Halo bedside bassinet is perfect for just that. It’s designed so that you don’t even have to stand up to get your little one for those frequent nighttime feedings, because the side pushes down for easy access at any level with an adjustable post height as well. The Halo also has soothing vibrations and sounds to lull your baby to sleep and keep them asleep longer. It also comes with storage compartments on either side so you can keep all the essentials at hand instead of running to the nursery for provisions.
My little one practically lived in her Baby Bjorn bouncer for the first six months of her life, it was a comfortable place for her to hang out because it can be adjusted to recline at several levels, I felt safe leaving her there for a moment because she was safely harnessed in, it is super light and easy to transport throughout the house or to travel with, and anytime she got a little fussy the bouncing was a great distraction that calmed her back down. In fact, it was because of this Baby Bjorn bouncer that I decided not to list something like a Doc A Tot (which we had but never really used) because this served as a lounger and bouncer for us (have I mentioned I love things that do double duty?). It’s also the optimal choice for babies who have acid reflux because they aren’t laying completely flat, and the slight elevation keeps acid reflux in check.
There’s a reason this activity mat is so highly rated, it’s because it has everything you need at a really great price. My little one loved kicking and pressing the light up piano, listening to the songs, swatting for toys, staring at herself in the mirror, and shaking/biting the maracas. We even kept the piano all through her toddler years because of how much she loved the songs.
When your little one decides it’s time to start practicing their walking skills, you want those first wobbles to be in a walker so they don’t take any unnecessary tumbles. This walker has toys that they can play with when they’re not scooting around, and an automatic wheel lock to prevent your baby from taking a spill down the stairs as well.
By now, you know that I am all about things that do double duty, so a jumper that doubles as an activity center was the perfect match for me. This highly rated jumper has three height adjustments to grow with your little acrobat, exciting music and lights to get your baby moving, and has a lot of fun toys to spin, push, twist and reach for. You want thirty minutes of uninterrupted time to make dinner while knowing your baby is safe and happy? Well here it is…
I can’t tell you how many times my baby swing saved me from a full on meltdown (and I’m not just talking about the baby). There was always something I needed done around the house, or I just couldn’t rock her myself anymore without my arms falling off, and I would just put her down in the swing, turn on the mobile and lullabies, and watch her magically settle down. I now had time to cook, do laundry, pay bills, and once the swing worked its magic and put her back to sleep in the middle of the night, I got to go back to sleep too. This one is by far superior to other baby swings because it has 6 speeds, swings 2 different directions, has 3 different positions, it reclines, it has lovely lullabies, plush toys are attached to it, the mobile spins in circles, it’s machine washable… need I say more?
When it comes to choosing pacifiers, the first thing to know is that babies seem to have some strong opinions about which pacifiers they like and which they don’t. Our daughter was no different, and I personally went through six brands of pacifiers before I found one that would please our little princess. That being said, what works for one doesn’t work for all, and that is why I have a few selections for you. They are all highly rated and safe, it’ll just be a matter of preference on you and your babies behalf.
Speaking of pacifiers, trust me when I say that eventually your little genius will figure out a fun new game and it’s called “Throw the Pacifier and Make Mommy Go Get It”… it will be endlessly fascinating for them, endlessly frustrating for you, and that is why I highly encourage you to buy pacifier clips. You just attach the pacifier to one end and attach the other end to your babies clothes and voila, you no longer have to play fetch for your babies amusement… that is unless you want to. These particular ones are made of food grade silicone and act as another great teether as well.
You are going to want a range of teethers for your growing babe to munch on since the teething process is a long two+ years. Some will be cute and some will be functional, but what matters is what you are putting into your babies mouth. That is why my first choice is always Sophie the Giraffe, it is made in France (where they have higher standards for what they put into things) with all natural rubber, so you know exactly what your little one is getting into. I also loved the fruit pacifiers which are a great way to safely introduce your little one to fruit before they are actually ready for solids, and whether they are cold or frozen it helps their sore little gums feel better.
While I love the cute little bibs with decorative patterns, I couldn’t stand the added laundry and constant battle of permanent food stains if I didn’t get to them in time. So these silicone bibs are perfect because you just have to rinse them off or slap them in the dishwasher and let a machine do all the work– because don’t we already have enough to do Mamas?
A swaddled baby is a happy baby, but when that swaddle comes off in the middle of the night, you’ll both be unhappy, so why not avoid all the fuss and get a swaddle that velcro’s shut. Your baby will be comfy cosy all night long, and so will you when you don’t have to get out of bed to re-swaddle your little angel.
Your babies hair is angelically soft and oh so cute, so make sure to take good care of it by using this brush and comb set made of all natural wood and super soft goat hair.
After your bouncing baby gets mobile, you are going to need a way to keep them safe and happy while playing, and this super sturdy playpen is a great way to do it. This playpen can be arranged several ways, can use less panels if desired, is super easy to keep clean, folds up for compact storage, and even has a couple of toys and goal built in to it for added fun.
While sitting on the floor may not be the same hardship for tiny humans as it is for adults, you will both thoroughly appreciate a nice thick memory foam play mat beneath you to keep you both comfortable during those long play sessions. These play mats are so comfortable and cute
There is nothing cuter than seeing your little one happily rocking away on a lamb or horsey and this one is super cute and durable, and will make your little tyke a very happy camper.
Once your little one happily transitions into their big kid bath, you will need to cover up that hard bathtub spout with something a little more textured and rubbery in case of bumps and falls, and this cute little whale is just the way to do it.
I seriously can’t say enough good things about the Vornadobaby Sensa heater for the nursery (or really any room your rugrat will be running around in). It remains cool to the touch so it can never burn your baby like other space heaters, it comes with a crib sensor so it keeps your baby comfortable at a steady temperature all day and night, the buttons can be locked from curious fingers, it automatically turns off if covered with anything or tipped over, and the cord can be wrapped up and stored underneath it.
If you don’t have central air conditioning or in wall units, it’s important to have a portable air conditioner for those days when temperatures rise to dangerous levels that you can’t let your little one sleep in. Technically, any old air conditioner will do, however after ninja sneaking into my little ones room several times a night to adjust the temperature so she didn’t wake up too cold or too hot, we decided to get the LG air conditioner that you can control with your phone.
