Top 9 Products I Recommend
Nursery & Sleep
Sleeping – we purchased a Halo Bassinet and this amazon infant insert but we opt for having Eleanor swaddled in a DockATot in between us in our bed. We relied heavily on our DockATot from day one. We used it day and night. It’s functional, safe, durable, comfy, and easy to travel with. Eleanor loved being swaddled and I tried really hard to learn how to swaddle at the hospital but just couldn’t master it. I found these velcro swaddles on Amazon that worked like a charm. They are affordable and very easy to use.
Crib – We purchased nursery furniture at Pottery Barn when I was 3 months pregnant and the crib was delivered when Eleanor turned 3 months old. It was scheduled to be delivered a month or so before she was born but due to shipping delays, it took 10 months! If you plan on purchasing furniture I’d order it asap. We have the Mid-Century Convertible Crib in the color acorn and absolutely love the look. It’s a 4 in 1 so it will last us years.
Crib Mattress & Bedding – I wanted this mattress because of the breathable technology. I was really paranoid and nervous about her sleeping alone so the Newton mattress really relieved that stress for me. It’s easy to clean too! For bedding, we have this crib sheet.
Changing table/dresser – we have this Mid-Century 6-Drawer Dresser which matches the crib. Color Acorn
Changing pad – linked here
Changing pad cover – linked here
Glider – I feel like I get a lot of use out of ours and we were able to pick the fabric/color from a big selection. Rocking Eleanor while feeding or right after the bath is such a special time for me so I really appreciate this chair.
Pottery Barn chair (similar more affordable option)
Swaddling Blankets – It took us a little to find one that worked for us. Like I mentioned, we were trying to swaddle her in the hospital old fashion way but once we got home we just couldn’t do it, this velcrow swaddle works great! Now that she can roll, we switched to the merlin magic sleepsuit and also use this sleep sack from time to time. We love both!
Sound machine – We have two we use. In her nursery, she has the hatch baby. She seems to really enjoy it and it works with Alexa. It’s a great night light too. For around the house or when we travel, we use this stroller sound machine. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles that the hatch has but it does the job.
Amazon Sound Machine – portable
Lounger – Loved our DockATot things and was probably our most used baby item. It makes it easy to set the baby down next to you while pumping, getting ready or just sitting on the couch. You can put this pretty much anywhere and guarantee your baby will be safe and comfy. I HIGHLY recommend this to everyone! We have two covers so we always have one on it.
Snuggle Me Organic – cheaper opt
Baby Monitor – We have the nanit and have zero complaints. Setup was a breeze and it’s easy to use.
Closet Hangers – we have these nonslip and work for newborn+ sizes.
Wooden Size dividers – arent these so adorable?! These have really helped us stay organized!
Drawer dividers – these honeycomb dividers have made it simple to keep clothes put away and organized. We roll all of her onesies and put one in each slot. We also use them for her socks and headbands.
Humidifier- We use this humidifier every night. So far it’s been great! I’ve also heard great things about this FridaBaby.
Baby Basics
Clothing – This is a tough one for me because everything is so adorable when they are little but they grow out of clothing so fast! My best advice is to only buy a few items. Onesies are the easiest for them to wear and you to manage. Eleanor basically wears onesies every day all day except for special occasions.
Onesie – Our favorite brand is Magnetic Me. The fabric is stretchy yet SOOOO SOFT. We found that Magnetic Me onesies lasted longer because they weren’t stiff cotton. Magnetic closures are key esp during 3 am diaper changes!
Pacifiers – this is another thing that is so specific to each kid! Eleanor uses them but doesn’t have to have one all the time.
Bibs – we keep a bib on Eleanor all day long to catch drool and spit-up so it saves us from having to change her outfit.
Green Sprouts Organic Cotton Muslin Bibs (we mainly use these)
Silicon Bib (great for when they start eating foods)
Fridababy Kit – we have used everything in this Fridababy kit. Nail trimmer/file, windy for gas relief (hugeee help!), bugger sucker, and a soft brush to help cradle cap. This is a must-have for any new parent.
Baby Detergent – we use Dreft
Nail Clippers- NailFrida set
Diaper & Bath
Diaper Bag – I prefer a backpack diaper bag. I have Freshly Picked Diaper Bag in the neutral beige color: Aspen.
Diapers & Wipes – we’ve used them all (pampers, huggies, kirklands, etc..) but really prefer Millie Moon which is sold at Target. They absorb great and fit her just right.
Diaper Trash Can – We use the Ubbi Diaper Pail which is great because it takes regular kitchen-size trashbags.
Diaper Cream – we use the Destin cream which was recommended by our pediatrician. The babybum tool is pretty great. It prevents you from getting it all over.
Baby Bathtub- we use the Skip Hop Moby Smart Sling 3-Stage Tub. It has multiple stages so will last us a while. I also recommend these Baby Bath Kneeler and Elbow Rest Pad Set! Your knees and elbows will thank you!
Baby Wash Cloth – from amazon linked here
Hooded Towel – from amazon linked here
Shampoo, lotion & body wash – we use both Johnson & Johnson & The Honest Company
Feeding / Nursing
Breast Pump – I rented a hospital-grade breast pump but I would also highly recommend getting the Elvie wireless double pump. It’s an expensive purchase but for convenience, the Elvie is worth every penny. I was able to get so many things done with them in my bra rather than having to be sitting and connected to a wall/machine to pump. I got my Elvie pumps through my health insurance which took the price down a little bit.
Elvie (I have this pump)
others people recommend:
Formula Maker- I did a hybrid feeding (Breast + formula) with Eleanor from day one since she had jaundice at the hospital before my milk fully came in and needed to eat. Once we got home, I was a little overwhelmed with all the new mom things going on and heard about the Baby Brezza Formula Pro maker. This is a bold statement but THE BABY BREZZA IS THE BEST baby item on the market. This machine has been such a game-changer for making bottles. You press a button on your phone and within seconds you have a perfect, warm bottle. If you’ve been on the fence about buying it – DO IT! You will thank yourself every day.
Baby Brezza Formula Pro Advanced WiFi Baby Formula Dispenser – (we have this one)
Baby Brezza – without wifi
Nursing Pillow – the Boppy helped so much with feeding! Now I use it to sit her up. You’ll also want to buy a cover.
Nursing Bra/tank top – I really liked the fit and comfort of this Amazon bra and also this bra from Nordstrom. I preferred wearing these Nursing tank tops rather than a nursing bra. They come in a set of 3, long in length, and suck everything in! Great for postpartum 🙂
Bottles –Eleanor wasn’t too picky and we use two different brands. Browns are great for colic but sort of a pain in the neck to clean with all the different parts. Comotomo works well for babies who transition between the bottle and the breast. They have a unique shape and feel that mimics a breast. Like I said, we have both however I prefer the Comotomo bottles because they have fewer parts and are easier to grip/feed/wash.
Comotomo (comes with 3 different stages of nipples so the bottles will last you until 1 yr+)
Bottle Cleaning – we have the Boon Lawn Drying Rack and the Boon Cacti brush set.
Burp Cloths – You need A LOT of these! I feel like there is always spit up everywhere at all times so I keep a couple around all the time. Muslin Burp Cloth (reordered these the most!)
High Chair – we have the Stokke Tripp Trapp Highchair and also this portable high chair from Amazon.
Stroller / Travel Items
Baby carrier – Babybjorn is easy to put on and comfortable for both of us.
Stroller – We did a lot of research – read thousands of reviews, talked with friends, test drove 🙂 and decided to go with the Nuna MIXX stroller. We are pretty much obsessed with it and know so many people rave about this brand. It drives like a dream! It has enhanced suspension for a smoother ride, folds down really easily, a big basket underneath for storage, and a large breathable canopy. The canopy is one of the best features of the Nuna MIXX stroller. The fabric provides a UPF 50+ protection from the sun and due to how far it extends it offers really amazing coverage for your baby.
Nuna MIXX– (we have this in color Caviar)
Other popular strollers:
Doona (all in one system which is great if you travel often)
Car Seat – I’m not the strongest gal around so finding a car seat that was safe but lightweight was my goal. TheNuna PIPA lite lx is the lightest car seat on the market. It’s also convenient since it can attach to the stroller and the look of the car seat is aesthetically pleasing. Here’s the only negative on this particular seat. It’s the ONLY car seat on the market that you cant just strap into the car using a seatbelt, (WHYYYYYYY!) you HAVE to always have the base. We travel a lot and this means every time we travel we have to bring the base with us.
Other popular car seats:
Adjustable Car Mirror – this Munchkin mirror!!! I can see Eleanor perfectly, even when looking through the rearview mirror. Easy to install and it rotates so you can angle it however you need. The image is big, allowing me to see better. I highly recommend it to everyone!
Car Window Shade – I have tinted windows but sometimes I need a little extra shade for her window. I tried a few other options and wish I hadn’t wasted my time, these Munchkin shades are easy to apply. The suction cup is strong but easy to remove. The heat changer is a nice bonus and the button to roll up is a great help.
Stroller Fan – amazon stroller fan
Play
Bouncer/Swing – We have this fisher price swing in the living room and it’s great if you need to get something done around the house. I put Eleanor in the swing while I’m cooking, make a bottle, or just need to give my arms a break. You turn it on and it swings and plays music. It has multiple settings for volume, music, and swing speed. We also have the Nuna Leaf which is great too. However, you have to consistently push it to soothe them so it’s a little challenging to do when you’re trying to get something done.
Activity Mats – these are great for tummy time! Eleanor has the Lovevery Play Gym & Water mat and enjoys them.
Jumper – The Jolly Jumper is one of my 10 ten items because it brings everyone so much joy! Perfect for those months when baby is interested in everything but is not quite mobile yet. We started using this when Eleanor was 4 months old. It took her a few times to figure it out, but soon she was jumping like a pro! She’s almost 5 months now and she uses it twice a day for 20 minutes or so. I love having the stand as opposed to the doorway Jolly Jumper, because we can move it around.