Here we are at two months postpartum (almost!) and I cannot believe how quickly it flies by. Even with sitting in the house basically every single day, the time has still just flown by, and Charlie is starting to smile, really lift his head and I can SEE how much his head has grown! I forgot how wild and rewarding it is to watch your baby grow and learn new skills.
When I was a first time mom after having Hudson, I definitely went overboard with the amount of things that I filled our home with for Hudson. We had bouncers, swings, toys he couldn’t play with for at least 6 months, and all I felt was overwhelmed by so much unnecessary stuff. This time around I really wanted to do things differently, and consciously buy each item, and set up our home in a very efficient but minimalist way. Every baby item I purchased I did extensive research on, and I can honestly say that having a clutter-free home with really great baby products has made postpartum SO MUCH SMOOTHER for us over here. The only thing we ended up ordering after I delivered was a few newborn pieces of clothing because he was too small for 0-3 month clothes, but everything else we had ready to go! I wanted to create this somewhat bare bones list of products from buybuyBABY – the main place we picked up all of our baby needs from, including all of the things we actually use every single day, that I truly recommend for your baby! I know in these times it is hard to get into a store, and they have really quick online shipping as well, but once stores re-open I would also suggest getting in to their store to test all of the products out. They have awesome displays set up so you can try out different strollers and car seats, and really use everything before you commit to buying it. It makes life so much easier. So here goes with my list!
1. A carseat cover: I never purchased one of these with Hudson, but wow is it such a game changer. It basically keeps things dark for your baby if they are napping in the stroller or carseat, keeps sun out of their eyes, keeps them protected from the wind and germs and basically just gives everyone peace of mind when out and about. We use ours every day.
2. MESA infant car seat: We got this car seat because it fits with our stroller. It has been so nice being able to use it right from the car into our stroller base without waking up Charlie. It clicks in and out very easily.
3. A wrap carrier: I am such a huge fan of baby wearing. Whether you have a fussy baby or a toddler you need to chase, it makes that 4th trimester so much easier. There’s a ton of carrier options out there – I love the ergobaby brand, but I also love Solly and Wild Bird as well.
4. Phillips Avent binkies: Charlie has a hard time taking a binkie because of his tongue and lip tie (now healed, but he still isn’t great at taking one) but for both of my boys, this kind of binkie worked the best. Please do yourself a favor and bring one to the hospital when you have your baby just in case!
5. Peanut changing pad: This changing pad is LIFE CHANGING. With Hudson I would constantly have to change out the sheet on top if it got peed on, but for this one you simply wipe it down. It is so headache free!
6. Breastmilk storage bags: If you plan on breastfeeding, do not forget to pick up storage bags to freeze your extra milk! When I had Hudson I did not realize people did this, and I froze no milk! This time around I have a nice milk stash in our freezer.
7. SwaddleMe swaddlers: These are a game changer for sleep – once babies can move around a bit more, they bust out of their swaddle which effects their sleep. Having them securely velcroed in makes a huge difference. I forgot to bring one to the hospital with Charlie, and regretted it so much!
8. Medela Freestyle Flex pump: This pump has been so convenient, it charges with a USB charger so you can charge on the go, and it weighs under a pound so I can toss it in my bag for long car rides.
9. Organic Cotton wash cloths: Definitely make sure to have nice, soft wash cloths on-hand for when you come home from the hospital. I used these for Charlies first bath, and I still use them to wash him.
10. Washable Nursing Pads: Nursing pads in general are a must if you are breastfeeding, because leaking is real. I opt for these reuse-able ones, because they are more sturdy then the throw-away kind, and I love that I can just toss them in the wash! They absorb really well, and the shape of them is really natural so you can’t tell they are in my bra at all.
1. Hatch rest + sound machine: This sound machine has been incredible for feedings at night – not only does it have a ton of options for different sounds, but it also has a light on it that is nice and dim. It is bright enough that I can get up and see in the middle of the night, but not so bright that it wakes Charlie up out of his sleepy state.
2. A cute towel or bath robe: A hooded towel or robe is a must for keeping Charlie nice and cozy and warm after a bath. I love this cute fox one!
3. HALO swivel bassinet: After a lot of research, I picked this bassinet. I bought the most basic version of it without any vibrations or movement, because I have been working hard on getting Charlie comfortable with lying flat and still, to avoid movement dependency which Hudson did have for a while. He always needed to be rocked! I’ve heard really mixed reviews from all of you via DM’s, but for us, this bassinet has been nothing but amazing. I really love how it swivels over my bed, making it so easy to grab Charlie and feed him in the middle of the night. It is really sturdy, and also has a sleek look to it that fits into the aesthetic of our bedroom.
4. UPPAbaby Vista: I’ll be sharing a more in-depth review of our stroller soon, but for now I’ll only say that we’re super happy with our pick. We love that it’s a double stroller, but not bulky or wide.
5. Baby Bath: I used this same bath with both boys, and I love it for a few reasons. First off, it grows with baby. You can use it from day 1, and it works all the way until they can sit up in the tub. It drains itself really easily because of the holes in it, and they also do not slip out of it because of the material it’s made out of. In my opinion, it’s the best tub out there for babies!
6. Burts Bees Shampoo and Wash: This is the wash I use for Charlie, and I love how gentle it is on his skin and how delicious it smells!
7. Baby Bjorn bouncer: When it comes to baby toys, this was the only one I picked up. It serves every purpose – I like that it bounces, but that they propel themselves to move, so they are not just aimlessly sitting in one spot being rocked. In the beginning I think it was a bit hard having no automatic rocker like the one we would put Hudson in, but I can tell you now two months in that getting Charlie accustomed to not being rocked has made him much less high maintenance. The bouncer has an attachment you can add when they’re a bit older to keep them entertained while they bounce.
8. Activity Gym: Tummy time can easily just be done on a blanket, but I do like to use an activity gym, because I find it is designed to keep baby more preoccupied while they learn new skills. I love the wood look of this one.
9. Boppy Pillow: I love how multi-faceted the uses of this pillow are. I use it to breastfeed, but we also use it for tummy time to prop Charlie up, and we sit him in it as well. I would say it is not 100% necessary to have, but it’s useful and we definitely pick it up every day.
Thanks to buybuyBABY for sponsoring this post! As always, all opinions are my own!