We don’t have a lot of stuffff, but what we do have serves a purpose in our home. All the baby essentials listed here are things I find 100% meaningful and genuinely worth the cost! So lemme share with you how this first time mom gets down! ❤️
Baby Essentials for Feeding & Nursing:
Breast Pump: Even if you plan on solely breastfeeding, it’s a good idea to have a breast pump because there will be days when you’ll have an oversupply of milk and you will want to save that precious milk and store it for later.
Tip: Check with your insurance company before purchasing a pump. Many insurance companies will supply you with one! I linked in the title the exact breast pump that our insurance company provided. It works great!
Cosomotom Baby Bottle: Cosomotom bottles are a favorite for many moms!
Dr. Browns Baby Bottle Warmer: This is a great bottle warmer. All you need to do is fill its reservoir with water and add a timer for 3-5 minutes, and voilà, your mother-milk is ready!
Breast Milk Storage Bags: Storage bags with the twist cap work best!
Baby Bottle Brush: If you are frequently bottle-feeding your baby, you will want a quality bottle brush.
Baby Bottle Drying Rack: This item is not essential, but if you are primarily bottle feeding, then owning a drying rack can make the cleaning task more manageable. As of right now, I don’t own a baby drying rack but I linked the one that I want to eventually purchase! I think it’s super adorable, and I’ve seen it at several friends’ homes.
TOYS & PLAY:
Infant to Toddler Rocker Chair: We absolutely love this rocker! Naomi rocks away in this chair as we sing, dance, laugh, read, and babble. I returned several chairs before landing on this one.
BABY PLAY MAT: We spend a couple of hours every day giggling, rolling around, and just being merry on this playmat. It also makes for a great yoga mat for mom! I wish I could recommend the brand we have but sadly our playmat has started to peel after only a few months. On to another search for a peel-free, non-toxic, waterproof, easy to assemble, and cute design baby mat- is that too much to ask for? 🙂
Boppy Pillow: Although I didn’t use the boppy pillow for nursing, I am finding it helpful now to prop Naomi up to practice sitting and crawling. The boppy provides perfect support for several different positions. We also found a neutral linen boppy cover on Etsy which just makes my heart happy.
Mushie Stacking Cups Toy: I could name a handful of toys that Naomi semi enjoys, but let me just list the ones that truly keep her attention. The best part about these stacking cups is that she’s improving her motor and problem-solving skills.
Banana Teething Tooth Brush: Naomi really likes this thing! And apparently, most other babies do, too 🙂
Indestructible Books: Love these books for babies! Reading books at this age is less about the words and more about how it tastes and feels! Naomi literally tries to gobble it up! Thankfully they are chew-proof, rip-proof, non-toxic, and 100% washable! win-win-win!
Multicultural Books: I’ve been on the hunt for multicultural board books (if you have any recommendations, please send them my way). This is my favorite right now!
Baby Essentials For Sleep:
White Noise Machine: We’re a little late to the game on the white noise machine (cough, cough first-time mom🙋🏼♀️), but we started using it with Naomi at 4.5 months, and holy moly, it makes all the difference.
Now, My husband and I can cook, clean, listen to music, talk, eat, shower….be normal humans, all while baby stays asleep (until she doesn’t 🙂 )
Frigg Pacifiers: These are the only pacifiers we own, and they are just stinking adorable. They are made in Denmark, so of course, they are quality material (free of BPA, PVC, and phthalates ) and beautifully designed. I love the neutral colors. They blend beautifully with baby soft skin.
Video Baby Monitor: A baby monitor is a must-have. I like this one because it’s an affordable price, has a zoom lens, and just gets the job done. (2020 Award Winner)
Portable Blackout Curtain Shade with Suction Cups: I was reluctant to buy blackout curtains because I like a zen bedroom with some sunshine peeking through in the morning. Still, the infant sleep experts recommend a completely dark room for best sleep, so I gave in and purchased these curtains. They do give us an extra 30 mins of sleep every morning #winning.
I particularly like these ones because they don’t require a rod to hang them; instead, they have suction cups (that actually stick). Also, the curtains are portable, so we can take them when we are traveling.
Baby Essentials For Travel:
Boba Baby Carrier Classic 4GS: Babywearing is what I have enjoyed the most about mommy & baby time. The first carrier I purchased was the Solly wrap which I LOVED during the newborn phase. Still, as Naomi started getting bigger, we had to find something with more support. The boba carrier checks all the boxes for us. It has a lovely snug fit, looks cute, and has excellent support for baby.
Naomi falls asleep within minutes when I put her in this thing, seriously… it’s magical. I want to also mention that I prefer the boba carrier over the ergo baby during this 3-6 month phase because it has more support for baby. Naomi looked like she was slouching when I tried the ergo baby. I think the ergo is more suitable for 6 months+ babies.
Chicco NextFit Sport Convertible Car Seat: We recently upgraded to a convertible car seat. We purchased the Chicco NextFit Sport Convertible Car Seat. I appreciate the fact it has 9 different height positions as baby grows, and it fits in our small car nicely. Little Naomi was honestly not a fan of her infant car seat for those first handfuls of months, so I am super pleased with this new purchase. Happy baby = happy mama.
I found this website very helpful when comparing different convertible car seats.
Car Window Shade: I’m still on the hunt for the perfect car window shade to fit our small car, but in the meantime, I found a decent one at target. Just know- you’ll want this on your baby essential’s checklist.
Baby Car Mirror: I returned a few others before landing on this mirror. I like that it’s easy to adjust the position and it stays in place.
Travel Bag (Aka Diaper Bag): If you are a trendy mom then you’ll likely find a bag that is super duper cute and has all the perfect little compartments for all things baby. But if you are anything like me, and land more on the frugal (not so trendy) side, you can just use any large bag, backpack, or tote. It does the job just fine!
Clothing:
Organic Cotton Bodysuits from Etsy: Okay, I am genuinely obsessed with this Etsy shop!!! A friend gifted these funky bodysuits to us, and now it’s all we use for sleeping and chilling around the house. I like that it doesn’t have any buttons or zippers in the front, so it doesn’t hurt the baby’s skin when doing tummy time. It’s made with thick material so you can be rest assured baby is warm & cozy, especially during the winter months.
The sizes run bigger, which I like because baby Naomi is all chunk. I especially love the pants, like love, love, LOVE them, they are stretchy, and expandable so nothing restricts her waist area. Little Naomi can breathe and let that baby belly hang out.
Kyte Bamboo Body Suits: I love these basic bamboo bodysuits. They are super soft, stretchy, and breathable. I’m all about soft and comfortable clothing. Can you tell?? 🙂 The short sleeve ones a good for combatting summer heat, and the long sleeve bodysuits are perfect for layering up during the winter months.
These Classic Booties: I tried several booties from amazon and returned them all because they just didn’t measure up to these classic booties (you can see them in the pic below.) They are cool in the summer, and warm in the winter.
Baby Socks: These are the only socks that don’t fall off Naomi’s feet, so I’m a fan!
Cozy Knit Beanie from Etsy: Simply the cutest beanie in the world. I can’t walk out of the house without someone commenting on how darling the beanie is…not the baby, but the beanie! It’s that cute!
Baby Care Supplies:
Baby Bath: This is one of my favorite items on the list! I started using one of those cheap Walmart baby baths that someone gave me when Naomi was first born, but then I found this gem online, and it has upgraded our whole bathing experience.
Naomi can lounge and be comfortable without needing me to support her head the whole time. We also get to take our baths together, which is THE absolute best!
Baby Body Soap: We are currently using the honest brand. I have used a couple of different organic soaps and I haven’t noticed much of a difference. I mainly look for products that are fragrance-free, natural, and have the least amount of ingredients.
Mustela Cradle Cap Foam Shampoo: Little Naomi had a moderate case of cradle cap. At one point, she was even losing her hair because of it (tear). I used this french product for 2 months, and the cradle cap went away with some careful scrubbing. My only regret is not using it sooner when I first started noticing she had something going on with her skin.
Organic Unrefined Virgin Coconut Oil: We use coconut oil instead of baby lotion. I lather her up in coconut oil every night after her bath, and she smells so delicious! I don’t recommend buying it on Amazon, though. I’d go to your local grocery store instead.
Also, don’t fall for the expensive products labeled as coconut oil “for skin and hair.” Just go down the baking aisle and look for Organic Unrefined Virgin Coconut Oil. You’ll save money that way.
Skip Hop Diaper Pail: I did a lot of research on diaper pails, and I landed on this fantastic Skip Hop Diaper Pail. I tried to like the diaper genie everyone swears by, but I couldn’t bear using those bright orange bags. I also knew I wouldn’t be able to keep up with purchasing them. So I returned it and got myself a Skip Hop Diaper Pail, and I’m very pleased with it.
What I like about this one is you can use regular trash bags. I also appreciate the built-in storage compartment.
NOSEFRIDA: How could I not add this nose sucker? As disgusting as it may sound, it is a baby essential! We use this thing all the time.
Baby Finger Nail Clippers and/or Electric Nail File: Some parents prefer baby-safe electric nail files over nail clippers. Just a matter of preference.
Baby Thermometer: A baby thermometer is one of those first aid items every family needs to own. I have a cheap one right now, but I want to upgrade to a nicer one (send your recommendations my way if you have one you like!)
BLANKETS: Blankets, Blankets, Blankets. I don’t think a mama can have enough of these. Muslin Blankets are the best!
Muslin Burp Cloths: I have several different brands of burp cloths, but my favorite is the organic muslin cotton cloths, they are very soft. I also use these to clean baby’s gums.
Baby Laundry Detergent: We use the seventh generation sensitive skin baby brand.
Diapers: This is an obvious must-have. I am currently in the process of trying out several different brands of diapers, I have yet to find my favorite brand, but once I do I will update this post with the winner.
Update: Huggies and Kirkland Brand from Costco are the winners!
Unscented Water Wipes: Unscented water wipes just make the most sense for the baby! Actually, I don’t see the purpose in ever using fragranced wipes (yuck, chemicals).
What this MAMA is currently loving:
Mother milk tea and Fenugreek herb to keep milk supply up!
Whole Brain Child Book– OK, I am in looooove with this parenting book. It’s all about the child’s brain and how it’s wired! It’s truly helped me to better understand my little one. I wish for every mama to read this book!
This Website outlines all the developmental milestones for each baby stage.
Qeepsake App: This app texts you questions about your child and then mails you a book of all your memories & pictures for you to cherish forever.
Magnetic Dry Erase Calendar for the refrigerator. Love me a good organization tool!
This Zucchini bread recipe is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!
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Fabulous Finds for 6-9 month baby (including starting solids + baby proofing your home)