Baby Must Haves

I was recently helping a friend with her registry and racked my brain for everything baby related I have used in the first ten months of Shelby's life. Here's my list of must-haves, nice-to-haves and things I didn't use or need. I thought I'd repost it here so I can remember it. So... here is my exhaustive list of all things baby!

Newborn Items
Layette

• A couple of packs of diapers in newborn and size one. I liked Pampers for when Shelby was tiny but recently switched to generic
• Wipes – I love the Sam’s/Costco generic brand big box
• Onesies – long and short sleeve or cotton footie sleepers. I like Carter’s brand because they run true to size
• Socks- I love Trumpette or any kind of cute shoe sock.
• One or two pairs of mitts to prevent face scratching
• Wash cloths or cloth diapers for wiping up drool, spit ups, etc.
• Aden + Anais swaddle blankets – love these
  

Feeding

• Medela Pump in Style pump
• Medela freezing and storage set (box of 12 smaller bottles for pumping)
• Medela pump and save bags
• Nursing pads
• Bottle brush
• Microwave steam sterilizer
• Bottle drying rack
• Bottles – DON’T get a bunch of one kind until you figure out what kind of bottle she will take. I spent a ton of money on different bottles before finding one that Shelby would take. She finally ended up with Dr. Browns bottles.
• Nursing bras – I like the Target brand. Get the kind with NO underwire and get about three or four.
  

Infant Care

• Infant tub – I have The First Years tub
• A couple of hooded towels and packs of wash cloths
• Mylicon gas drops
• Infant Tylenol and Motrin – generic/Target brand is OK
• Enfamil D Vi Sol
• Digital rectal thermometer
• Nasal aspirator – I LOVE this thing called Baby Comfy Nose – so much better than the bulb – you can get it on Amazon. The hospital will probably give you a regular bulb aspirator
• Saline drops
• Diaper cream, baby wash and lotion – I like Aveeno because Shelby has sensitive skin
• Aquaphor ointment
• Nail clippers
• Baby Vicks
• Brush and comb set
• Hand sanitizer and hand soap
• Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier
  

Other Gear

• Graco SnugRide infant carrier plus an extra base or two
• Bouncy seat
• Baby size clothes hangers – one or two packs
• Baby monitor – an inexpensive one is OK. You don’t need a video monitor. We just use ours when we are downstairs – we do not even use it upstairs because we just keep our doors open. I got the Fisher Price one with a nightlight and plug in receivers so we don’t burn through batteries
• A changing mat or kit – you can just keep this inside a regular tote bag instead of getting a special diaper bag. I thought most of the diaper bags were ugly and felt cheap. You can get a cute tote bag or personalized bag instead of the limited choice of diaper bags available
• Stroller Frame – get this instead of a travel system or large stroller. You just sit the infant carrier in it and it is SO much easier to fold up and transport than a full size stroller
• Crib sheets – two or three at most
• Waterproof crib mattress cover
• Boppy pillow – I did not really use it for nursing, I more used it for a place to sit Shelby beside me on the couch, although you should not leave them unattended in it
• My Breast Friend – a lot of my friends have this brand of nursing pillow and love it

Feeding Items for Six Months+

• Fresh Baby So Easy Baby Food kit (if you make your own food)
• Especially for Baby freezer food tray set
• You don’t need a special baby food making appliance – if you have a food processor that will do just fine
• Munchkin suction bowl set with lids
• Bumkins waterproof bibs
• Gerber soft bite spoons
• Sippy cups – same with bottles - you might have to try a bunch before finding one she likes. Shelby ended up liking the cheap Take and Toss brand
• High chair – get one with the least amount of padding possible, because it will just get gross. If space is at a premium, I’d recommend to just get a booster seat that straps to a dining chair. I have the Svan highchair.

Nice to Have Items, But Not Necessary

• Swing - see if you can borrow this from someone - some babies do not like swings and you really don't use it much after they are out of newborn stage. The Fisher Price Papasan swing is very popular
• Exersaucer or Jumperoo for when they are about 5 months+
• Nursing cover
• Itzbeen Baby Care Timer – I loved this thing, especially in the early days when you are focused on keeping track of how many poos they have, how long they nurse, etc.
• Sling or carrier – Ergo is the best brand – better for your back that the Bjorn, although some babies do not like slings, so it’s not a must have
• Crib mobile
• Crib mirror
• Tummy time “gym” or play mat (with little dangly toys that hang down from arches)
• Combo shopping cart/high chair cover for outings once they can sit up on their own
• Fleece Halo sleep sacks
• Car mirrors

Items for Later On ...

• Umbrella or lightweight stroller for when she is old enough to sit up – I LOVE my Maclaren – I keep this in my car for errands, mall walks etc.
• Jog stroller if you do a lot of outdoor walking on uneven surfaces – I LOVE my Joovy Zoom
• Pack N Play – get the biggest one you can get if you plan to use it for a while as a travel crib
• Britax carseat(s) for when they are out of the infant carrier – Britax is the most highly rated brand, but they are expensive - wait for a sale to buy
• Leap Frog musical table – every baby loves this thing for some reason
• Safety items like baby gate, outlet covers, cabinet locks, etc. Don’t go crazy buying this stuff until you figure out what you need and where you need it
• Small toys like teethers, rattles, clip on toys, etc.
• Books – only get board books for now. They will rip/eat regular page books

Things I didn't need

• Nice clothing – people will buy you lots of clothes. Babies mostly wear jammies the first six months anyway. You won’t need a lot of nice outfits at first. I like Carter's play wear for everyday wear - tunics and leggings are my favorite
• Receiving blankets – too small for swaddling
• Other blankets – nice to have for the stroller or car seat if it’s chilly, but not necessary for sleeping
• Changing table or pad – if you have a guest bed in the baby’s room, just put a towel and waterproof pad down and change on that.
• Diaper Genie or wipes warmer – not necessary! I just got a small covered trash can at Ikea
• Bumbo – we barely used this
• Bottle warmer
• Shoes – they do not need shoes until they can walk!