As a mom of two, the second time around has definitely been easier. That doesn’t mean easy – just easier. I think one of the reasons why it has been is because I knew what products I liked and didn’t like and had a bit of a system that I already felt comfortable with. Fortunately for me, it has been a similar experience as far as products go. I truly believe in the following products because they really helped me in those first 4 weeks – twice now.
Every mom and experience is 100% different, but this is what worked for me. And I have a good feeling that a lot of moms would agree with most, if not all of the below.
If you’re putting together your registry or just saving for the future, I hope that this gives you an idea of the products you will need and use immediately.
NOTE: This post contains affiliate links, which means that I’ll receive a commission if you purchase from this link. This will not change or increase the cost of your purchase. This extra income provides for my family and keeps The Friendly Fig running strong.
— Diapers. I bought a small package of NB diapers (just in case) and took a ton from the hospital, too. You’ll need plenty of size 1 diapers, so you could totally just start there and wait until baby is born to grab NB if necessary. Or if you cloth diaper, then grab your favorite brand + inserts.
— Wipes. Pick a brand and see what works for your family. Or choose reusable, if you are going that route.
— Diaper rash cream. I don’t believe my girls had any rashes in the very beginning, but it was good to have on hand, just in case. We use this brand.
— Sleepers. I have to say that my girls pretty much lived in sleepers for the first few months, to be honest. I think that is largely in part because they were born in cooler weather. Pants and a printed onesie sometimes, but rarely. Zip-up sleepers are super cozy, easy to put on and off, and great for nighttime diaper changes. However, I also love the button-up sleepers during the winter because then her chest isn’t totally exposed during changes. So we have both! You can find them online of course, but also check your local kids consignment/thrift shop!
— Long-sleeve bodysuits with mittens. For the first couple weeks, these are great so baby doesn’t scratch up their soft face with their razor-sharp nails. Mittens are useless – grab the bodysuits with attached mittens. Trust me.
— Short-sleeve bodysuits. These are good for warm-weather babies or to layer during cold months.
— Bassinet. We went the bassinet route to have our girls next to our bed for the first couple months – this one. You can skip this if you are going straight for crib.
— SnuggleMe. I only had this with my second, but it was a game-changer and a great option to put baby in a safe place while she was resting, napping, or taking in the sights.
— Carseat & base. Can’t leave the hospital without them.
— Cloth baby carrier. I didn’t once use the stroller in the first few weeks because I loved my soft baby carrier so much. This is perfect for getting baby out of the house, while you’re tidying, or prepping food. It was even more useful the second time around when I was busy with my toddler and needed two hands.
— Burp cloths. And lots of them. You are going to blow through these during the day – spit up, milk dribbles, you name it. These are THE BEST and cheapest option.
— Swaddle blankets. Grab a pack and use to swaddle baby, as a nursing cover, as a tummy-time mat over a soft place on the floor, etc. SO MANY USES. And my toddler is still attached to hers, so you really get your money’s worth. I really like Margaux and May and Aden & Anais.
— Hat. One or two is enough to cover those little ears in cool weather.
— Pacifiers. Not everyone will agree, but we decided to use pacifiers to soothe and very happy we did with both girls. We love Wubbanub and BIBS.
— Bibs. Pick a brand you like and know that you’ll be getting your use out of them. Just a tip – I found that the small newborn ones just simply didn’t last me, so I went straight to using the bandana bibs with my second and they work fine. And I know they will grow with her through the months.
— Tub. Unless you have a good sink for newborn baths, you might want a smaller tub for your baby’s first bath and beyond.
— Gentle shampoo. I like the Hello Bello brand.
— Infant formula. If you are breastfeeding, you can skip. However, I breastfed/pumped and I still had some on hand just in case, and I am glad I did because with Willow, my milk took some time to come in and I had to use a small syringe to give her formula to supplement in the first 48 hours. Same goes for Fiona.
— Bottles. May or may not need based on what you are doing, but I liked having them so I could pump and my husband would feed every once in a while. Buy the largest size, since the small ones don’t last very long.
— Pump. If you plan on pumping. Make sure you call your insurance company because you may be eligible for a free one!
— White noise machine. We used this one from day one and swear by it. It was a great way to cancel out any noise that could disrupt sleep and make baby feel safe.
I hope this was helpful – I know that I read countless posts like this while registering for the first time. Good luck, mama.
If you are interested in seeing what else we use for both of our babes, check out my Amazon storefront. Lots of great newborn items, toddler toys, mealtime essentials, etc.
xx bianca
