As parents we all have our favorite tried and true products that we highly recommend to our friends and family. When I had Isla, I had no idea what baby products I would or wouldn’t like – especially since babies have such new, delicate skin, I knew that I’d want to use products that would be safe and gentle. It was nerve wracking taking recommendations at first, there were so many items available, I found it to be very overwhelming. It was extremely helpful to hear the opinions of other parents and what worked for them so I could try different options and create my own essentials list. Now that I am more experienced, I have a solid list of things I believe are must haves for any parent. Hopefully these are helpful to some other mamas out there!
A GOOD DETERGENT
When I was pregnant with my first daughter, some of the advice I got was to ensure I pre-washed all of her baby clothing. I chose Ivory Snow Stage 1: Newborn Liquid Detergent because I knew it would be gentle on her delicate skin and it is the #1 pediatrician recommended baby detergent on the market. I will say that my must haves list has changed a bit from Isla to Noa, but my love for Ivory Snow remains the same. Not only is it hypoallergenic, so I know it will be gentle, but it handles stains like a boss, (let’s face it babies are MESSY). When I unpacked all of Isla’s baby clothes for Noa her clothing brought back so many great memories. I loved seeing my favourite outfits and I was so impressed with the condition they were still in. I highly recommend adding this to your baby registry or surprising a new mom with this staple – it’s definitely something anyone with a baby will need and use LOTS of!!
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QUALITY FABRICS
Since we’re on the topic of laundry detergent, soft fabrics should also be on your essentials list. When I had Isla, I didn’t really consider the type of fabric I was choosing. I mistakenly focused on the cuteness factor and it led to a lot of unworn clothing, blankets and crib sheets. It wasn’t until we noticed we were always leaning towards certain fabrics, that I realized how silly some options were for babies! My advice would be to choose fabrics that are soft and breathable against that delicate skin.
THICK, NON-ABRASIVE WIPES
You’ll go through a lot of them and because you’ll use them directly on your baby’s skin, gentle baby wipes should be a given for any essentials list. There are many varieties available and I’ve always loved wipes that are thicker, stronger, and hypoallergenic. I also prefer to have my wipes come in a snap close lid. I personally find that the wipes don’t come out of the hard case containers easily and they dry out quickly.
CARRIERS AND WRAPS
Baby Carriers come in all shapes and sizes. I have always found my newborns do the best in a wrap style carrier because of their ease, breathability and lightweight fabric (again with the fabric!!) These carriers are flexible and feel like a second layer of clothing – that’s how close they’ll be to your baby’s newborn skin! This is important when you wear them so frequently! For babies that are a few months old, I prefer more structured carriers because they offer more head support and carry the increasing weight of your little one as they grow.
SLEEP SACKS OR SWADDLES
One of the most dreaded parts of having a new baby is the lack of sleep you will need to adjust to. A full night’s rest is important for our wellbeing and I wanted to encourage healthy sleep habits from the get go. I chose to use weighted sleep sacks with both of my girls and found that they helped my babies sleep more peacefully for a longer period of time. If you haven’t heard of these sleep sacks, they are created to mimic a parent’s touch to help soothe your baby between snuggles.
A BABY MONITOR
With a lot of options on the market, there is a baby monitor for every budget. I have always loved the two-way communication feature and remote camera steering. HD night vision and temperature indicators are super helpful as well. A good baby monitor not only gives you peace of mind, but allows you to see, hear and know your baby is ok.
A LIGHTWEIGHT CAR SEAT
I can’t stress the importance of this one enough. Unless you’re super fit and very strong, a baby plus the weight of a car seat is heavy! There are some crazy light options out there now that rate very high when it comes to safety standards. Do your research and trust me, your back will thank you!
A BACKPACK DIAPER BAG
With so many styles available, you are bound to find something you like. This is one item that will get a ton of use for years to come so quality is important. Babies and stuff go hand in hand and so plenty of pockets are important. I love the backpack styles for comfort and ease.
An essentials list is different for everyone and may change from time to time as you experience and try new products. If you’re like me however, you’ll probably have your must have products that you’ll recommend to EVERYONE! What items are on your baby essentials list?