Are you a first time parent and have no idea what baby essentials are worth investing your money on? These are the tested and approved baby essentials you need to know about.
Hey Guys! I wanted to share some baby essentials that I found to be worth every penny! The reason for writing this is because I know as a first-time parent, knowing exactly what you NEED can be very overwhelming.
I remember sitting there and making a HUGE list of so many things I thought I needed. And of course, as a first-time mum I purchased every baby item you can think of, a lot of which was a complete waste of money. Just to let you know, some of these items I actually didn’t even get before Ayah was born. Which is why I titled this page ‘baby essentials’ because I realised how much they were needed after she was born. Below I will go through 7 must-have baby essential items that I absolutely loved and highlight some of their pros and cons. Just an FYI, all these are baby essentials that can be used in your baby’s first year. I hope you find this helpful!
This post is all about 7 must-have baby essentials every first time parent NEEDS to know about!
Must-Have Baby Essentials
1. Swaddles
Pros:
- Better sleep – it makes them feel like they’re back in the womb
- Protects them against their natural startle
- Sleep position – swaddling will mean that you will be putting your little one down on their back, which is the recommended sleep position for babies
Cons:
- Once your baby starts to become a bit more active they will start to fight the swaddle and eventually come out of it.
- You will have to get them out of sleeping in a swaddle once they start to show signs of rolling to avoid SIDS even if their ‘moro reflex’ still hasn’t gone. This overall means that you will have to teach them to get used to sleeping without the swaddle. However, I have found the BEST way to transition out of the swaddle and that is using the MAGIC SLEEPSUIT. It is literally magic, no joke! It will help to muffle the startles which means it will help them get used to sleeping without a swaddle and make it easier to transition to a normal sleep bag. You can thank me later x
2. Prep machine
The Tommee Tippee prep machine is by far the best invention. I stopped breastfeeding after 2 weeks and so my husband and I had to go downstairs every 2 hours to make Ayah her milk, which took forever to cool down. After going online, we came across this incredible invention. It made it so much easier for us as we did not have to keep going downstairs. However, the best part in my opinion is that it made a bottle in 2 minutes and at the perfect temperature so less crying. It was a win win.
Pros:
- Makes milk in 2 minutes
- You do not have to wait for the milk to cool down
- Hot shot of water at the beginning which helps to kill the bacteria in the milk powder
Cons:
- The filter needs changing every 3 months
- When the tank is empty and you refill it, it can take a minute or two to refill.
3. Nose aspirator
The NoseFrida nose aspirator is probably one of my most favourite baby essential (I still use it now when Ayah is unwell and she is currently 15 months). A congestion is common among babies which can be really uncomfortable for them. After speaking to so many mums on instagram, this was the most recommended. The nose aspirator gets all the mucus out as you are basically sucking out their mucus – which is why it is so effective. However, I can assure you it does NOT go inside your mouth hahaha.
Pros:
- Baby will feel more comfortable
- It will help them sleep better at night
Cons:
- Filter needs changing after every use (the one I linked already comes with filters but every time you use it, you need to replace it with a new one)
4. SnuzPod
This side bed crib was kindly gifted by my lovely friends and i absolutely loved it! It is an essential to have a side bed crib when your little one is still a newborn for safety reasons. Your newborn sleeping next to you in the bed can cause SIDS! However, having a side bed crib allows you to sleep next to your baby safely. Everyone has different opinions about where a newborn should sleep and if its okay to co sleep or not and how long for. I am here just to give you the safest recommendation and this crib was definitely safe.
Pros:
- Air flow vent which regulates temperature
- Breathable mattress which includes a washable mesh cover
- Adjustable in height to match the same level as your bed
- Has a reflux incline to help soothe baby’s reflux symptoms
Cons:
- Very uncomfortable to rock. It doesn’t rock from the side you’re on. You have to be standing up or near the end of the crib to rock it
- Very heavy so it is not easy to lift and move around
- If you have a bed frame that sticks out further away from the mattress then you will have a gap between the crib and the bed
5. White Noise Machine
Having a white noise machine is a huge baby essential for me, however everyone has different opinions about this and I will highlight the pros and cons of this. Firstly I want to explain why it is such an essential and I recommend this to every mum out there. My daughter has never been a good sleeper, she is a year old and still isn’t a good sleeper.
However, when I first introduced a white noise machine when she was 1 week old we saw a HUGE difference in how long she slept for. My daughter is an extremely light sleeper and white noise really helped to slightly block out any noise and help her get into deep sleep which meant she slept for longer stretches. Also, we have tried one of the most recommended white noise machines – which is really pricey – and it would turn off in the middle of the night even after charging it for 2-3 hours. However, the one I have linked is super affordable and the charge lasts all night when charged for like an hour or so, which is why out of all the white noise machines I chose this one to share with you all.
Pros:
- Helps your baby sleep better at night
- Calms baby down during those fussy phases
- Can block out household noise
- The one I linked has different sounds ranging from hushing, white noise, ocean sounds, heartbeat (which mimics mothers heart and this can be very comforting for baby) and more!
- Its portable ! So you can take it out with you and attach it on the pram etc
Cons:
- They can become very reliant on it to sleep. However, in my opinion a baby will always become ‘reliant’ on something whether that is a dummy, being fed to sleep, rocked to sleep, or sleeping with white noise.
- If it does not have enough charge and turns off in the middle of the night, your little one will wake up. My best advice is that when it does turn off make sure you get up straight away and put it on charge to switch it back on before they realise. It does take them a while to realise but as long as you charge it then you wouldn’t have this problem – this is why the one I’ve linked is so much better than the Marpac Hushh that is so recommended (I have no idea why its highly recommended – so many people I know have had the same experience as I did which was it kept turning off in the middle of the night)
6. Tommee Tippee Electric Steriliser
The reason why I am recommending the electric steriliser instead of the microwave one is because of how big it is. It fits 6 bottles, and if you are like me and have so many baby bottles then this is the one for you! All you need to do is fill it with 80ml of cold water and you pop in the bottles (it can also fit in other baby stuff e.g. dummies, breast pump and other baby accessories) and it fully sterilises in just 5 minutes!
Pros:
- Fits in 6 bottles
- Fits other baby accessories
- Sterilises in 5 minutes
- Easy to navigate – one button start and automatically stops after 5 minutes
Cons:
- Slightly big – if you don’t have any space at all in your kitchen then you may need to bring it in and out from a storage place
7. Electric Nail File
All I can say is that whoever invented this electric nail file for babies is an absolute genius! After a few weeks of Ayah’s birth, I decided it was time to cut her nails. And let me tell you it took me a while to actually sit there and start cutting her nails. Any first time parent would tell you how scary it is to cut their small nails. When I learnt about this electric nail filer, I ordered it without any hesitation. It comes with 5 filers and they are all made specifically for different age groups. As their nails get stronger, the filer gets more rough to be strong enough to trim the nails! It literally takes about 3 minutes or even less to file their nails, it is that amazing and fast.
Pros:
- It is safe & super gentle on delicate nail beds and cuticles
- Suitable for newborn to 12 months. It has different filers and they are all for different age groups. The device comes with a manual that tells you which colour is for which age group.
Below you will find all the essential items I used during Ayah’s newborn and infant stage.
All items are listed below! I know you will love them as much as I did!
![baby essentials first 3 months](https://i0.wp.com/lotsoflovemariam.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/baby-essentials-.png?resize=1100%2C1556&ssl=1)
Portable White Noise Machine | SnuzPod 4 Baby Bedside Crib | Baby Swaddle Blanket | Nosefrida Baby Nasal Aspirator With Filters | Bepanthen Nappy Care Ointment | Tommee Tippee Electric Steam Steriliser | Tommee Tippee GroEgg2 Digital Colour Changing Room Thermometer And Night light | Shnuggle Baby Bath | Tommee Tippee Healthcare Kit for Baby | Pampers Size 1 New Baby Baby Nappies | Tommee Tippee Newborn Dummy | WaterWipes Baby Wipes | Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep Machine | Electric Nail File Drill for Baby
4moms rockaRoo Rocker / Ickle Bubba Stomp V3, All-in-one Travel System / Hauck Dream N Play Water blue / BABYBJÖRN Baby Carrier Mini / HelloBaby HB32 Wireless Video Baby Monitor with Digital Camera
This post was all about the 7 must-have baby essentials that every parent needs in the first year! I hope you found this useful.
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