Newborn Baby Essentials in the 1st Month for New Moms

Sleeping

• Bassinet (may not need crib right away)
• You may not even use your baby’s new crib right away, especially if baby is sleeping in your bedroom with you. A bassinet or Pack n’ Play with newborn sleeper is a safe place for baby. Plus, it takes up less space than a crib, so you can easily keep it beside your bed at night.
• Baby monitor
• A baby monitor is useful if your baby is sleeping in another room and you need to get things done in other parts of your house. A video monitor is especially helpful to keep an eye on your little one.
• White noise machine
• A white noise machine is great at blocking out noises during naptime, especially if you have other kids in the house playing and making noise.

Diapering

• Several large boxes of diapers and wipes
• Stocking up on several large boxes of diapers and wipes (and in various sizes) will come in handy so you don’t have to venture out to the store with your new little one.

Bath



• Baby bath
• Baby baths are convenient when your newborn is still so little. You can even use some styles in the kitchen sink!—that way you’re not kneeling and bending over a bathtub.
• Wash cloths and sponges
• Wash clothes and sponges are useful when giving your newborn a gentle bath. These are great for carefully cleaning around your baby’s umbilical cord stump (since it shouldn’t be submerged in water just yet).

Feeding

• Bottle warmer
• If you are bottle feeding, a bottle warmer will safely warm formula or frozen breastmilk (if you’re keeping a stash!).
• Bottle brush
• Regular sponges just won’t cut it. Grab a bottle brush or two to use solely for cleaning your baby’s bottles. You can run the bottle brushes through the dishwasher, too.
• Different types of bottles
• Before you buy a whole set of one type of bottle, keep in mind the possibility that your baby may prefer one type over another. Find out which one they like first, and then stock up on those.
• Nursing pillow
• A nursing pillow can ease Mom’s tired arms during nursing sessions. They’re also useful while bottle feeding. Another bonus is that a nursing pillow can be used for tummy time!

Health



• Thermometer
• Keep a thermometer on hand to check baby’s temperature if they seem sick. If you use it rectally, be sure to mark it so that it’s only used for that purpose. I recommend NOT using pacifier thermometers since they just aren’t accurate.
• Nail clippers
• Baby’s nails can be sharp! If you keep them trimmed, you can also ditch the newborn scratch mittens. Some pediatricians recommend not using baby mittens at all, as it prevents them from exploring their environment through sense of touch. A soft nail file also works if you’re nervous about using clippers.

Essentials for Mom

Snacks

• Granola Bars
• Granola bars are great for on-the-go or when you’re feeling hungry during middle of the night feeds—breastfeeding can you make you ravenous!
• Chocolate covered blueberries
• If you need a quick pick me up try Brookside’s dark chocolate covered blueberries. They’re delicious enough to make the essentials list. 

Post-partum Clothing

• High rise leggings or bike shorts
• Brands like Blanqi make excellent maternity and postpartum leggings and bike shorts. They’re also ultra-high rise that also doubles as coverage if you’re breastfeeding!
• Nursing Bras and underwear
• Kindred Bravely makes amazingly soft nursing bras that you can wear all night and day. They also make underwear and reusable nursing pads!
• Post-partum tummy band
• Some moms swear by postpartum tummy bands to aid with helping your uterus shrink back down after delivery. There are also C-section bands that help with healing after your C-section. Check with your insurance company as some insurances cover these products!

Post-partum Care Products

• Peri bottle
• The hospital should offer you a peri bottle for postpartum care (ask for one if you do not get one). Don’t forget to take that bad boy with you! You’ll likely continue bleeding for a few weeks after delivery, and this little gadget continues to be super useful. Did you forget it at the hospital? No worries! The brand, Frida Mom, sold at Target, makes them too!
• Witch hazel pads
• Witch hazel pads are wonderful for cleaning up “down there” after delivery and aid in the healing process.

Nursing

• Nursing pads
• As your milk supply establishes you might find that you’re leaking anywhere and everywhere! Nursing pads will help to keep you and your bra nice and dry.
• Cooling gel pads
• Nursing can make you sore at first; cooling gel pads can offer relief in between nursing sessions.
• Nipple cream
• Nipple cream is essential during those first few weeks of breastfeeding. It can prevent dry and cracked nipples, which are super painful!

Entertainment/Relaxation



• A good show
• Find a good show to watch on your favorite streaming service to help pass the time during long feeding sessions or to help keep you awake while nursing. 
• Podcasts/Audio Books
• Finding a podcast or audio book that you love is also a great way to relax when you’re kicking back with your little one.

Essentials for Dad

Caring for baby

• Tactical baby carrier
• There are a lot of products out there geared towards baby and mom, but we can’t forget about Dad! There are some awesome “tactical” baby gear products out there that can help him feel like a cool dad—‘cuz he is!
• “Flexible” diaper bag
• A lot of diaper bags are very feminine looking. Dad may be grateful to have a simple and classic diaper bag that he won’t mind carrying around.

Making Memories

• Instant-print camera
• Chances are, you’ve been snapping so many pictures of your precious little one with your phone. But now that you’re busy with a little one, you probably won’t find much time to get them printed. An instant-print camera like Fujifilm Instax Mini or a good old Polaroid camera can give you instant photos and memories of this time in your life to cherish forever. 
• Don’t forget professional newborn photos! As your New England newborn photographer, I’d love to help you capture beautiful and timeless images for wall art, albums, and announcements. The quick-print ones are fun and handy for everyday moments, but professional images will intricately capture the tiniest details you never want to forget—and they’ll last a lifetime! Get in touch with The Newborn Lady to learn more and book a session.

A Sweet Ride

• Strollers
• Give Mom a break, and take your new bundle of joy for a ride. (Dad, you know you want to go off-roading!) Even if you won’t necessarily be jogging, jogging strollers are excellent for smooth all-terrain walks outside. Some jogging stroller favorites include B.O.B. and Bumbleride, which also offer options like newborn inserts so your little one can enjoy a stroller ride from day one.

Diaper Duty

• Diaper cream and diaper wand
• You’ll be doing a lot of diaper changes over the next few years, and a diaper wand helps spreading around diaper cream a breeze!

Mr. Fix-it



• Tool-kit
• A drill kit and other tools will be really useful (and necessary) when putting together baby furniture like cribs and other nursery items—or hanging beautiful newborn portraits!
• Baby proofing kit
• Your little one may not be on the move yet, but you can prepare for the future by getting a baby proofing kit ready to keep baby safe once they’re mobile and curious!