Newborn Essentials

I wanted to share my top newborn essentials. As you all know, I've had two girls, so this is from experience after having two kids.

After having two babies, I truly believe that every baby is different. Some things that were vital with our first, were not needed at all with our second. Every baby is literally born with their own personality, and what works for one might not work for another.

Newborn Essentials

Swaddle

One essential in my opinion is a swaddle. We used it with both kids. We've used two different types:

1. Muslin Swaddle – Just a large piece of fabric that you wrap the baby in. We used this only with our first and it worked really well. It's also more budget-friendly and very versatile—you can use it as a swaddle, a breastfeeding cover, or even as a light blanket.
2. ErgoPouch Cocoon Swaddle – With our second, we transitioned to this. It has zips and is very user-friendly. Unlike the muslin swaddle, which takes some practice to get right (and needs to be wrapped tightly for it to be effective), this one is super easy to use.

The purpose of a swaddle is to help babies with their startle reflex, so they don’t wake themselves up by flailing their arms. This helps them get longer stretches of sleep.

Sound/White Noise Machine

A sound machine or white noise machine is a must-have!

• For newborns, it helps calm them by mimicking the sounds from the womb.
• As they get older, it helps block out household noises so they can sleep better.
• It's also great if you have other kids in the house—if your baby is crying, the sound machine helps keep your baby asleep.

Dummy/Pacifier

Babies have a natural need for sucking, and a dummy helps satisfy that.

• If they don’t use a dummy, they’ll use you—especially if you’re breastfeeding.
• I learned this the hard way with our first, who was on me 24/7. The dummy was a lifesaver because it allowed others to help soothe her, giving me a break.
• It worked well for the first few months (up to about 2-3 months for both my kids).

Changing Table

I didn’t buy a changing table with our first, but I did with our second, and it was life-changing!

• Yes, you can change your baby on the floor, but in the middle of the night, a changing table makes things so much easier.
• It saves your back and keeps everything organized.

Baby Capsule (Car Seat + Carrier in One)

A baby capsule is a game-changer!

• It acts as a car seat, and you can simply move it from the car to the stroller without waking the baby.
• Newborns sleep a lot, so avoiding unnecessary movement is key.
• I can't imagine having to take a sleeping baby out of the car seat and move them into a stroller—it just makes life so much easier.

Zip-Up Onesies

If you're buying newborn clothes, get onesies with zips!

• Avoid the ones with snap buttons—they're a nightmare for night changes.
• Zips make it so much faster and ensure there are no gaps where they can get cold.

Baby Bath Seat

A baby bath seat is a must for safe and easy bath time.

• You can place it in a small baby tub or directly in your regular bathtub.
• It makes bathing easier, especially for first-time moms.
• Newborns are tiny and slippery, so having that support gives you peace of mind.

Baby Playmat/Gym

• It gives them a safe place to play.
• Even when they start rolling, they can still use it to interact with hanging toys.
• It’s also portable, so you can move it around the house with you.

Baby Monitor

This one is personal preference, but I highly recommend it!

• If your house is noisy or big, it helps ensure you don’t miss your baby waking up.
• Even in a small house, things like running water or cooking sounds can drown out baby noises.
• I use a video monitor, which gives me peace of mind so I don’t have to constantly check on them.

Microwave Sterilizer

Whether you're breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, a microwave steam sterilizer is amazing!

• It’s affordable and much easier than electric sterilizers.
• I personally don’t like using chemical sterilizers (like Milton tablets) because I worry about residue.
• With the microwave sterilizer, you just add water, pop in the bottles or breast pump parts, and microwave—it’s that easy!

I hope you found this helpful.