Baby Essentials

That will make your life easier + save your sanity!

I've complied a list of must haves for baby

Of couse you'll come up with your own once you've welcomed

your little bundle of joy home, but I'm mapping out a list of 5

baby items that will help you transition from just you to life with baby.

"What will I Absolutely Need??"

That's a hard one. And the answer varies from family to family. For us (being the third time around) I find that I'm more able, with each new baby, to cut down on items more easily. Apart from the essentials - crib, stroller, carseat etc...here is a list of some commonly overlooked items that will help make your daily lives a bit easier.

Let's start with bedding. After you choose your crib (which, will not house baby alone, realistically for at least 3 - 6 months if you choose to [safely' co-sleep] like I did with all 3. There are many many benefits to this which imo outweigh the cons (I'll do a separate post on this later). You're going to need bedding. Skip the bumper, it's more of a hazard than it is beneficial. If you feel the need, invest in a breathable "mesh" one. I've only ever used this with my first born and though it was amazing, it's definitely something I skipped out on with the other two (even though I still have it should I feel the need.) Here is the one I have:

 
It comes in many different styles and designs to match your theme, so browse and choose wisely, you really don't need more than one. They wash well and dry soo fast, you can just put it back up onto the crib  straight from your washer while you wait for baby's bedtime.

On the topic of bedding, is probably The Most Important bed item. What goes under the sheets to stop blowouts from ruining your expensive mattress? Liners. Get Lots of them. Between bottle spillage, throw up|spit up, poop, pee and the mystery goo - this will be a lifesaver. Cause cleaning a mattress and waiting for it to dry If you can get all the goop out (that will stain and leave ugly water rings) is a CHORE. One that you can avoid by simply investing in mattress protectors and baby bed liners. Head to your nearest Target or Dollar Store. They all carry them (the adult ones). Get 2 for your own mattress (so when one gets soiled, you can toss it in the wash and put on a clean one) and several for baby's (for the same reason but trust, you'll need waaay more here). There are a bunch of companies that sell these. They don't need to be fancy, plain, neutral and waterproof is key. Not much else matters. If it's patterned you'll likely see it through your baby's bedding (which would annoy me since I like to keep themes going) and it can clash with whatever sheet you put on as it will show through. Also, you can opt for the ones that wrap around baby's bed but I find it a bit unnecessary and they tend to be pricier for just one. The packs that simply lay over the mattress and under the sheet stay in place just as well and are easy to remove - those little mattresses can be on the heavy side. And on the days when you have to change the bedding what feels like 700 times, you'll thank me for suggesting these instead:

 
These are the only ones I've ever purchased - I have 4. I can't speak for other brands but these have lasted me through 3 babies with no signs of wear At All. They still look and fucntion like new (little tip: I never run them through the dryer - I always hang dry them) The plus on using these is that they can be used just about everywhere (in a paypen, play yard, on your sofa, under baby when you are soo sleep deprived that laziness sets in and you just want to sit on your bed while changing baby in the middle of the night), fold down flat super easy so it can be kept in a nightstand drawer or livingroom basket of baby items without being soo bulky it takes up much needed space. Also! After delivery, the hospital will provide you with waterproof fabric liners for your hospital bed. I have had a nice nurse give me new wrapped liners to take home. You can request a couple or just snag the ones you've used as they also wash well. Super useful (on a personal level) for your car ride home, your couch and bed and can be used under baby's sheets as added (Free) liners when you're done with them.

This next one is a bit of a luxury item. Growing up in NYC and raising 2 of my littles there, I know how important space saving is. However, with babies come laundry. An Ob-scene amount of laundry. Soo Much fucking laundry. And the more babies you have the more laundry you will have to do. Onsies, outfits, bibs, burp cloths, wraps, slings, socks, hats, mitts...the list goes on. Soo many tiny things to wash. I got lucky and had someone gift me a portable washing machine that I was able to hook up to my kitchen sink where it would fill and drain safely (hire a plumber to make sure your connections are correct if you're a bit leary. Better safe than sorry! I had 2 floods - one resulting in a slip and fall causing me a nasty case of whiplash - before I called one in to help me out). This "little" guy saved my sanity. Of course you'll have to line dry it all but I do that most times anyway even now having a dryer; it keeps items fresh and looking brand new for longer. My boys have had lots of hand me downs this way - saves $. The convinience of being able to wash any and all soiled things immidiately while not having to wrap and lug my fresh little newborn|infant into the freezing cold (2 of the 3 were winter babies) gave me such peace of mind! Alltogether I think it added about $20 extra a month on my electric bill to run. Which is the cost of a run to the laundrymat; saves me the trip and what feels like wasted time just standing around and waiting. Plus, the thought of running my babies things through a random potentially dirty machine grossed me out. And when you spend so much $ on items you love and outfits you adore, you'll be thankful to avoid the possible bleach stains by being able to wash it how you like, in the comfort of your own home.

 
This is the exact one I had. And it was Glorious! I was also able to do my own laundry in this thing as well! Sheets, most blankets and even pillows too. There are lot's of options here, so If you can swing it, do your research and choose which will best fit your space. Tip: Make sure whichever you choose has wheels. Or buy and attach casters|a dollie. The top can double as counter space since this particular model is flat. In my little Brooklyn apt, I had it beside my "island" rolling cart with a large wooden cutting board on top which made it a functional space when not in use (which was hardly ever lol).

After trying to reign in, avoid and clean all the gross baby mess, you'll want to likely figure out a way to keep it all functionally in one space. Or more realistically in a few contained spaces througout your home. I have tried boxes...bags...buckets...and I can only tell you what worked best for me and my situation. My most recent purchase and most loved/useful is this:

 
I keep everything that Magnus needs contained but still accessible to him in here. The older boys have a small trunk [from TJMaxx] that doubles as home decor filled with their livingroom toys (it also locks so little baby hands stay out of it). This is neutral enough and modern enough to fit in with our livingroom decor but also, it's soft. So, if baby topples it over - no harm done! Most of his toys are soft right now or silicone based so it's easy to wash|clean (I'll do another post on baby toys I Love), this basket is Just the right size for most all his toys (actually it's a bit large but that's okay! cause it can be a hamper or even a planter later on), and I love that. I'm leaning towards minimalism these days, so, if ever we get to a point where it begins to overflow, time to purge. I do this with the older boys stuff but somehow it's a bit harder with the baby things...pulls at your maternal heartstrings I suppose lol. In any case, this is what we use in our main living area. And not only does it make clean up a breeze but it comes with a cover (most cute budget friendly ones don't) and that means I don't have to see all the stuff that comes with baby - clutter drives me mad.\

A breast pump. Maybe not overlooked entirely but usually a portable one for your car is. Though the at home units have become more and more portable, they're still bulky and Definitely don't fit in your purse|glove compartment. I won't go into which electric pump is best. There are soo many and that is a personal choice. Also, check with your insurance provider, often times they'll cover 1 of like 10 units per pregnancy - the hospital can help you out with this (they have the forms there). Not all pumps are created equal but they all get the job done. So, don't stress too much about making the right choice. Keep it budget friendly and focus on the "nipple cup" sizing (they all come with at least 3 different attachments, one will be your fit). Suction and intervals can be adjusted with the push of a button or by simply swapping out worn plugs and flow flaps. But! back to my point. I breastfed all 3 of my babies, I strongly believe in them getting that golden goodness as much as possible for as long as possible. My oldest fed for 22 months, my second for only 8 months (due to some issues) then went onto formula and with my last, he made it to a year before naturally weaning himself when we switched to formula. In all situations, one thing remained a constant. Engorgement. It hurts like hell and you'll feel confined by breastfeeding if you don't have access to some sort of relief. With Magnus, I kept a basic portable pump Always in my car. And that helped A LOT. But with him I also discovered the Haakaa! (this is sort of a two part bit). This is the one I have:

The Haakaa is Amazing!!! (Also invest in breast pads!!! I strickly used the Lansinoh brand - they work the Best! They also have tons of breast care items that I Swear by!). Leakage happens, the Haakaa will help! It saved me many a nursing bra, shirt and baby outfit. No one tells you this but when you breastfeed your baby from one boob, the other leaks - A Lot. The Haakaa gently attaches to the breast not in use and catches any milk that comes out (every Drop Counts!). Which you can then freeze and save for later or use as a top off after feeding. It Also is fashioned in a way that allows you to manually pump that side if you choose (which will help to increase your supply). Plus! Plus! Plus! Some versions come with a silicone plug, others with a cap - I've used both with equal success. That option is up to asthetic but with whichever you choose be sure to use it! Though the Haakaa will stand on it's own (some do come with a little stand as well), it's eaily tipped over and you don't want to lose all the milk you worked soo hard to pump because you didn't cap or plug it. The largest I've seen it made is in a 100ml sizing. It's cheap enough to invest in a smaller size while baby is still young and move onto a larger one as the baby gets older or just get the larger one straight out the gate but when starting out the smaller version is easier to manipulate. Just be sure to watch it as you feed, I've had times when I filled it pretty quickly, had to take a break, dump it into a freezer bag and resume.

I hope this list helps you on your journey during motherhood. This was sort of the "boring list" of items you should look into, there are soo many things I haven't touched on and I can already feel this turning into a whole post series; which is exciting! I love sharing my mommyhood finds and treasures with you guys. If it helps even just one person prepare, it makes me a happy blogger for sure.

Welcome to Motherhood + Happy Parenting!