You do SO much research when you’re pregnant on the best items to register for an purchase for your sweet babe, it’s kind of exhausting. Then that sweet child enters your life and things will never be the same again (so much love). When I came home from the hospital with our daughter, after just about 24 hours with her, I realized all the things I had missed and still needed. Here are the items that I ordered the first week after I gave birth (straight from my Amazon order history!)
*Updated to 9 items
Cotton Nursing Pads
I bought THREE packs of these suckers. I had started with disposable nursing pads since that is what one of my friends used. However, my daughter and I started to get thrush and my skin was sooo much more sensitive from the trapped moisture with the disposable nursing pads. Get the cotton washable ones, ASAP.
How many nursing pads should you get? You might be a mom like me that needs 2 sets a day (4 pads), or you could produce a ton of milk & need 1 set after every feeding (10-12 feedings in the beginning).
Waterproof Boppy Cover
After one destroyed Boppy due to a blow-out-while-nursing, I immediately purchased a waterproof cover and brought out my backup Boppy from my baby shower. Sheesh. No one tells you that newborns poop A LOT right in the middle of nursing.
Flat Cloth Diapers
Speaking of newborns pooping while you nurse them (you finally get the latch correct, everything is going great, WHAM. Poop). I soon realized that I needed to protect myself from the inevitable blowout that my newborn would have while attached to my boob, rendering me helpless for immediate cleanup. I folded one of these Flat Cloth Diaper and placed it around my baby’s bum (especially the side of the diaper resting on me), and would take care of the mess the feeding. LIFESAVER when you’re barely showering as it is.
Gerber Long Sleeved, Snap Front Shirts with Built In Mittens
Oh these little baby shirts, I celebrate thee. This was a tip from my friend who has 4 children, and I’m so grateful! My babies were 8 lbs. 5oz (daughter) & 9 lbs. 6 oz (son) so they pretty much wore 0-3 Months onesies right away. These little shirts are a MUST. They have little mitten covers, and snap in the front so they don’t tug on the umbilical chord. They are amazing for naps & bedtime, when you’re up with the baby every 2-4 hours. I put my babies in these shirts up top, then just a diaper and swaddled with their Aiden + Anais blanket. I didn’t have to mess with onesie snaps or changing the entire outfit if they had a blowout (every. night.). I would just get a new swaddled blanket, diaper change, boom. Back in business.
Little Giraffe Chenille Hooded Towel with Ears
Ok yes, a $40 baby towel seems excessive. This was my “splurge” with my daughter, and she still uses this towel as a 5 year old. She still looks FREAKING ADORABLE in it too. It is made of chenille and so soft, high quality, highly absorbent, and kept her much warmer in winter months than those cheapy thin hooded towels. I love that have pictures of her in this towel for the past three years! It is still in great condition after many many washes.
Diaper Clutch
We lived in a two story house when our daughter was born, and suddenly we realized that there was no “changing station” on the first floor of our house. Bummer! I dedicated a drawer in an armoire for this diaper clutch, wipes, cream, and extra trash bags, making for a perfect stashed away diaper station when we were downstairs. It is easy to clean with a natural cleaning wipe like these from “>Seventh Generation.
When I was pregnant, I didn’t realize the features that a baby bath needed to have. I am known to be frugal (cheap) and picked up the most generic baby bath at Walmart that I could find. Big mistake. Our daughter slid around that thing, bumping her head, and making us both cry MOST bath times. Horrible. I had to have one hand on her to keep her steady while I bathed her with the other, while leaning over the tub. Not fun. I got smart and bought this bath when I was pregnant with my son, and I am in love with it. My son stayed snug & cozy in it’s contoured shape, and was surrounded by warm water. We hung it in the shower with a Command Utility Hooks Value Pack, Medium, White, 6-Hooks (17001-6ES)
Boppy Changing Pad Liners
These also fall in the “lifesaver” category with a newborn. My husband asked while registering, “Why do we need a changing pad liner, for the changing pad cover?” I just shook my head and kept walking. The first night we were home with our baby girl, he soon realized how amazing these suckers are. Our daughter would have a blowout + pee in the middle of a 2 am diaper change, and all I had to do was pick up the liner, set it in the bathroom to rinse out, finish the diaper change, and replace with a clean liner. AMAZING. I didn’t have to take off the entire changing pad cover in order to have a clean space for the next diaper.
PlantFusion Complete Plant-Based Protein Powder, Gluten Free, Vegan, Non-GMO, Packing May Vary, Vanilla, 2 Pound
This one should probable be first. Picture this, you’re baby is here. You aren’t sleeping a whole lot, and you’re not cooking a lot. BUT you need calories, and fast. Especially if you are breastfeeding, you will need to consume at least 1800-2200 calories per day. We lived in a two story house, and the stairs were hard for me after delivery. With the kitchen being on the first floor, I needed fast items that would get me lots of nutrients, protein, & hydration. I sent a text to my friend Lauren McBride of Holistically Fit (check this Momma out, she’s amazing!), and asked her for a dairy free protein recommendation. She sent this Amazon link over and it was a lifesaver! I mixed it with unsweetened almond milk, and it was pretty darn tasty. I have since tried other vegan protein (for the dairy free aspect), and this is BY FAR the best tasting. I felt a huge boost in my energy, I wasn’t constantly starving, my breast milk supply improved, all of which made for a much better wife and mom.
I also highly recommend a baby carrier, here is my experience with a handful of them.
I hope this helps you momma!
OTHER POSTS:
– Nursery Items That are Game Changers
– 7 Things Nurses Taught Me After Giving Birth (that made me a better mom)
– Mom of Two Favorite Stroller, Diaper Bag & Daily Essentials
*I enjoy the Target $1 section, affiliate links help me raid it every once in a while 🙂
