Congratulations on becoming a new parent! This is an exciting time filled with joy and wonder as you welcome your newborn into the world. However, it can also be a bit overwhelming and nerve-wracking, especially if you’re a first-time parent.
One of the most important things to prepare for your newborn is having the right essentials on hand. These are items that will make your life as a new parent much easier and help you take care of your little one with ease. In this guide, we’ll go through the essential items every new parent needs to have for their newborn.
Newborn Essentials Checklist
We have officially exited the newborn stage, and while it has been magical watching Mason grow and develop, it was also the hardest three months of our lives! Reflecting back, a few products made the last three months more manageable, and I am excited to share our newborn essentials with all of you finally.
The Magical SNOO Bassinet by Happiest Baby
My only regret with this product is that we didn’t buy it sooner during the initial newborn stage. We got ours at about 6 weeks in. They are recommended for use from birth – 6 months.
Now, I know it may seem insane to spend $1200 on a bassinet but it helped so much and honestly you can’t put a price on sleep as a new parent. I will say we purchased our when it was 35% off and they are frequently running sales of 25-35% off.
For those who are not familiar with the SNOO, it’s an electronic bassinet for newborn – 6 months which rocks and sooth your baby throughout the night. As the baby wakes or cries, the bassinet senses the change and increases sound and movement. Don’t worry, the settings are customizable, and if the baby cries for over 3 months, the bassinet shuts off, indicating it’s time for mom/dad to step in.
One of the biggest concerns (other than the price) that I have heard is whether the child will be able to wean from the SNOO. While Mason is still sleeping in the SNOO at night (and we’re up to 6/7 hour stretched yay), he is sleeping like a champ in his crib at daycare with the assistance of the Magic Merlin Suit so I don’t think the transition to his crib at home will be a problem. The company also has great customer service and sleep experts to help new parents!
The no-risk money-back guarantee really sold us, as well as the resale value on the Facebook marketplace. After 4 weeks, we couldn’t imagine returning it. If buying is not an option, check out their SNOO rental program and their sleep sacks, which can be used without the SNOO.
I decided not to put our monitor as its own item, but we have loved it and the customer support has been great. We got the wall mount set and had it installed in his nursery originally, but moved it to our room and for the newborn stage. The image below was taken in the Nanit monitoring app.
Stroller & Bassinet
This another AMAZING purchase. We took so many trips to Buy Buy Baby and I tried out almost every stroller out there. I also read 10,000 reviews. At the end of the day the UppaBaby Stroller was the only one I liked! I wanted something I could easily maneuver on my own and this one wins in that category.
In terms of the stroller model, we went with the Cruz as we don’t plan to have 2 kids in a stroller at the same time, and it’s been great for us. The other model is the Vista which allows for 2 seats. For the first 2 months, we used the stroller nonstop out, in the house, and for sleeping. Instead of the UppaBaby car seat we got this one, which is only 6 lbs , and we use this adapter (which is so easy to clip in).
We also got the UppaBaby bassinet and when the bedside bassinet we got for our room didn’t work out (not high enough for our bed), Mason slept in the bassinet (in the stroller) in our room for the first 6 weeks (before we bought the SNOO). We also took the stroller/bassinet when traveling and he slept in it so we didn’t have to haul a pack n’play.
I would be remiss if I didn’t also mention that we got the Doona for my husband’s car. It’s a stroller/carseat in one and it’s perfect for traveling! We’ve use it on two trips to visit family and I know we’ll be using this more this year throughout our travels.
An Allstar Carrier
My mom friends make fun of me that I am the carrier queen. I have tried everything on the market and this one is my favorite. When I started a mom group at 4 weeks one girl had this carrier and a week later the rest of us had bought it because it was that good!
It’s a perfect mix between a structured carrier and a soft carrier so you can keep your baby close and snuggly, and it’s super easy to put on. I keep it in the car and use it constantly for quick grocery trips, around the house and errands. I rave about it to everyone!
For longer walks, I love my which has more back support. I also like my and can work at all stages from newborn to toddler. The Moby but rarely use it because it takes too much time to take on and off while out.
Gas Reducing Bottles
Mason was super gasy to the point it interrupted his sleep so we used Dr. Brown’s bottles from the start. After a few weeks we got so annoyed washing all the parts for the bottles we switched to something else for a week.
We were struggling with his gas and after switching back to Dr. Brown’s we saw an immediate improvement so we’ve stuck with them every since. We like the Options+ which have less leaking issues. Also these dishwasher trays for the Dr. Brown’s parts are AMAZING, I wish we knew about these from the beginning.
Baby Brezza Mixer
We explored getting the $200 formula mixer but heard mixed reviews, so we went with this $20 one, and it’s been a godsend. We mix a whole batch of formula with it each night in under 5 minutes and then keep the bottles in the fridge overnight. You can check out this video if you want a more detailed overview of our formula prep, storage, and heating process.
Sound Machine
This sound machine is so good, we bought a backup. The key to the best sound machines (which we learned from our Taking Cara Babies Newborn Sleep Class) is that they should NOT have a timer. You want a sound machine that will run continuously all night.
This one is our favorite and we used it every night until we got the SNOO. Sometimes I would even strap the sound machine to my carrier as I bounced around the kitchen with Mason trying to calm him. I also keep another one in the car for soothing on the go.
Newborn Loungers
When you are in the newborn stage, you need multiple places to “store” your baby haha. You will need your hands and thus need places to set them down. I loved our Boppy Lounger, the nursing pillow which is great for propping them up and the SnuggleMe organic.
I used these to keep Mason on the counter/floor or bed when I got ready, showered or cooked. I used them daily, and he has graduated to two boppy cushions at daycare for more upright seating.
We also loved our MamarRoo. Sadly we got our Mamaroo used (bad call on my part) and it broke after a month and was not repairable. At the time it broke, Mason was bigger and fit more comfortably in our BabyBjorn bouncer, so it worked out well. We got our BabyBjorn for $15 at a thrift shop so be sure to look used for items that don’t have electronics. Based on my experience, I suggest buying new electronic baby items, so you have a warranty and customer support if something goes wrong.
DermaFrida
You all know I love the FridaMom postpartum products, and their FridaBaby products are just as good. This small and inexpensive item is amazing! It literally removed all of Mason’s cradle cap in one sitting. You apply water and baby shampoo/body wash and gently rub on the scalp to remove the cradle cap or dry skin. It’s silicone and soft on their tender skin.
NoseFrida
This product seemed so gross. Mac and I avoided using it for about 6 weeks, but once we tried it, we were sold. It gets out baby boogers so well, and I promise nothing gets in your mouth. When you see the relief for your baby, it’s all worth it. We found it works best if you add a few saline drops to the nose to loosen the mucus.
Cozy Blankets
Besides clothes, blankets are also essential for your newborn. They keep your baby warm and comfortable and can serve as a place for tummy time or a makeshift diaper changing mat. Look for soft, breathable blankets made of materials such as cotton or bamboo.
