I can’t believe we just celebrated our second child’s first birthday. Cue all the emotions. When I was pregnant with my first baby, I remember researching a ton on what we would need for a newborn. I just wanted to find a list with no “fluff” on what we would truly need in the first year of life. I wanted to hear from real parents who have been through the newborn stage, experienced the sleepless nights, poopy diapers and rawness of this age. I wanted advice from other moms on what I truly needed. So my goal is to shed some light and tips on our most used & essential baby items for the first year of life.
Keep in mind that every baby is different. What seemed like an essential with my babies, might not be the case with your own child. Now that we have a toddler and a one year old, I feel like I’ve gotten a good grip on what our essentials really are, and thought it would be helpful to share my master list.
Thank you to Posh Peanuts for collaborating with me on this post! Of course, all opinions are my own!
Big Ticket Items
Crib/bassinet
This one is obvious, but you need a place for your baby to sleep. Our crib & bassinet was made by my father in law, so fortunately I never needed to add this onto my registry. If I didn’t have a crib already, I would pick something like this. There are many different sleeping options such as a bassinet, Moses basket or co-sleeper. Some parents even use a pack N play that has a removable bassinet feature. These are all great for the first few months of life to keep them close for those middle of the night feedings. You really just need a flat, safe surface for sleep with minimal things that could obtrude their airway. We transferred both babies to a crib at about roughly 3.5 months for night-time sleep. They were already taking some naps in the crib throughout the day, so it made the transition less difficult. If you aren’t doing a full nursery room, or just don’t have a ton of space you could also do a cute mini crib like this one.
Car Seat
They won’t let you leave the hospital (for good reason) without this item. I highly recommend this infant car seat which will last until they outgrow it (30 lb. or 30 inches tall). This car seat has the best reviews, is easy to transfer in and out of the car and is one of the safest (and cutest) car seats on the market. Audrey has outgrown her infant seat and JW is almost there too, we went with this convertible carseat.
Comfy Chair
This probably should be number one on the list since it is our most used item by far! A great comfy chair is SO worth the investment. We use it for nursing, rocking, reading book, lounging and late night feedings. I recommend picking a rocking chair/glider that isn’t only meant for nurseries, but one that will transition into other rooms when your kids are older. Choose a chair that is comfortable, can rock & recline instead of the uncomfortable nursery gliders… trust me, you’ll thank me later!
Related: After Birth Must Haves- The Un-Glamorous List of Postpartum Essentials
Swing
This swing was a total lifesaver for us. You can’t always be holding the baby, so this was a safe place to put the baby down & helped soothe both babies when they were little. In the words of my husband when I asked him our most essential baby items, he said “for sure the swing, that thing saved our bacon.” Haha! I’d have to agree!
Stroller
I really enjoyed the stroller we chose. We chose this one because it had three real tire wheels, was so easy to manage (I could close it with one hand!) compact, and it was highly recommended to us. Originally, we were going to get this jogging stroller recommended by my running friends. But since neither of us are huge runners or go off-roading all that much we chose one similar, but way less bulky. The only downside I would say is that you need to get a car seat adapter to make sure the Chicco car seat we got can click into it easily. My brother and sister in-law actually got the travel system that went with their car seat and they love it. I still love our stroller, but a travel system like this one, built for the specific car seat you buy, might be the way to go.
Baby Monitor
I really wanted a video monitor that would allow me to see and hear the baby in the nursery. We have enjoyed this one that we could check in on our phone from anywhere and check on the baby. Love the feature and that it matches his nursery so well.
Related: Baby Boy Mountain Theme Nursery
Less expensive necessities
Baby Bibs
With our first child, we didn’t end up using many bibs or burp clothes since she hardly ever spit up or drooled. We found out the second time around, that these bandana bibs are a necessity for our baby that drooled a lot. It was so much easier to trade out a bib instead of an entire outfit! You can use these for feeding time or just during the day to catch drool or spit up. These bibs come in several different prints and patterns and are great quality. Posh Peanuts also has adorable delivery robes and matching swaddles, too!
Simple high chair
At around 6 months when the kids are old enough to sit up on their own, I loved having the kids join us at the dinner table. This high chair is very minimalist & I loved how simple & easy it is to clean/wipe down
Nursing cover/car seat cover
I love this nursing cover because it covers well, is super soft, and comes in trendy patterns. It also has multiple uses and can be used as a car seat cover, scarf or stroller cart cover! I chose this brand because it was super comfy, stretchy and breathable. This is a must have item for busy moms who need to nurse on the go!
Activity Gym
We used this activity gym with both babies all the time. We made sure to get one that would work for a girl AND a boy. Glad we did! 😉 We got a ton of use out of this play mat for tummy time and discovery/play time. This is also where she first rolled over! For when they get a little older and can sit up, this bouncer is the best one for some fun entertainment.
Nursing Pillow
These pillows are a must have for new parents. I actually had two different kinds that I used. I used this one the most during the first few months when she was so small. The harder cushion and back support helped when I was nursing in different rooms around my house. Even family members were putting it to use to hold or bottle feed the baby. However, I did find that I used this one most often while breastfeeding in my rocking chair. I kept it within arms reach. It helps to position the baby correctly to latch on and nurse. It also comes in handy for bottle-feeding or to set behind them when they are learning to sit up.
Baby Carrier/Wrap
These wraps are a must have if you would like to hold your baby close while having your hands free or are busy wrangling other little children. The first few months of life truly are the “fourth trimester”- where the new baby is still used to all of the comforts of the womb (muffled sounds, voices and movement). Most babies like to be comforted with being held tightly and enjoy the same movements as when they were in the womb. These wrap carriers are so convenient (just watch a YouTube video to know how to tie them) when they are little. It came in handy when I needed to get things done but the baby didn’t want to be put down. It also helped sooth her during those cranky nights around 8pm when most babies have their fussy period. Once they get a bit bigger and can support their head, I would recommend getting a structured carrier like this one that allows them to face out and adds more support.
Sound Machine
Like I mentioned earlier, most babies love the sound of the womb and that was definitely the case with Audrey. This sound machine was a life saver to help promote sleep and minimize the noise going on in the rest of our house! We use this for every nap and at night. They also have this portable one that you can take with you in the car or hook onto your stroller when they need to nap on the go. Genius!
Related: The Truths About Breastfeeding
Breast Pump/Bottles
When I needed to pump, I used this breast pump and stored the milk in these containers until she needed a bottle. When buying bottles, I would just register for 1-2 brands to try. Get the 5 oz ones first and see which nipple the baby will take. Once breastfeeding was established, we introduced the bottle around 1-2 months of age about once a week. That way they could get used to it for when I wasn’t around for a nursing session. Both babies liked these bottles and they were actually the first ones we introduced, so that was a huge win!
Changing pad/Wipeable cover
Chances are, you’ll be changing a lot of diapers in that first year of life and beyond. This changing pad and wipeable cover were so simple to use and keep clean. We put the pad on a changing table (or you could did a dresser that is the right height) for a quick diaper change. Make sure you get one that is easily wipeable!
Diaper Bag
We used this one with our first, but opted for a more masculine gray back pack the second time around. This will be one of your most used accessories for a while! I love that you can wear it as a back pack and it doesn’t look like your typical diaper bag. It comes with a changing pad a lots of extra space for things like diapers/wipes, rash cream, snacks, toys, etc. Very trendy and functional.
Infant Bath
There are so many fancy newborn baths and seats, but I discovered that all you really need is a soft cushy sponge to lay them on when they can’t sit up on their own. We really enjoyed this infant sponge bather and it is super cheap and easy to wring out and keep clean. When she was able to sit up and didn’t like laying down to bathe, we used a bath seat similar to this one.
Body wash/shampoo
We really like this gentle organic shampoo/body wash. I would stick to one similar to keep their delicate skin hydrated and soft. Also, make sure not to bathe them too often (especially in the winter time!) or it will dry out their sensitive skin.
Zipper Onesies
We love these cotton zippered sleep and plays. These are basically pajamas, but during the first couple of months they practically live and play in them (hence the name). These are definitely a must have. Make sure you get the ones with zippers as they are much easier and quicker than snaps!
Nose Frida
A necessary purchase for when your child gets their first cold. These work WAY better than the bulbs that come in those safety kits. At first, these seem super weird! I totally get it. I assure you the filter works and when you hear your baby breath more comfortably and aren’t struggling to breastfeed you will know the importance of this item. Get some saline solution and then clear out their tiny little passage ways!
Related: What I’m (Really) Packing in my Hospital Bag
Where to start a baby registry
If you have a baby shower coming up or are needing to set up a baby registry for your new blessing, I would check out different registry options and see who gives the best incentives. I decided to register through Target and Amazon. They give great completion discounts closer to the due date. If you register through Amazon, you get a free welcome package just for adding items to each category! Click the link to Shop Amazon – Create an Amazon Baby Registry and receive your free welcome box! The welcome box I received was filled with a swaddle blanket, sample diapers/wipes/body wash and nursing pads, etc. I especially love registering through Amazon because it allows long distance friends and family to send shower gifts with free shipping if they are Prime members. Click here to register and get your free welcome box!
Related: How to Survive the Newborn Stage
Hope this master list of our most used baby essentials from 0-12 months is helpful to you as you start out on your parenting journey! If you have other children, I’d love to know what you found useful during their first year of life. Let’s help each other out, parent to parent!
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