The 5 Baby Products You Need
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Becoming a parent can be overwhelming in many ways. As a maternal infant registered nurse & mother I have learned a thing or two about the must-have baby products. With so many options available in the market, it can be overwhelming to decide what to buy. In this blog post I will dive into what baby products you actually need…
The 5 baby products you need belong to categories and aren’t as straightforward as you might think:
Yourself
Bed
Breast/Bottle
Diaper
Transportation
In reality baby products should always make your life easier because being a parent is hard enough. This list is made to give you options! And this list also solidifies that the most important baby product is…YOU.
#1 Baby Product You Need: Yourself
Yes you heard that correctly. This baby product cannot be purchased and it’s 100% irreplaceable. It’s YOU. You are the most important part in your baby’s safety, attachment, development, security & beyond.
My best advice is: never let anyone convince you that your baby does not need you. No baby product can replace you and that’s an amazing tool to have!
#2 Baby Product You Need: Bed
The next important baby product is somewhere safe for baby to sleep! Notice how I didn’t JUST say crib? There are various safe places for a baby to sleep.
A crib is one–please keep in mind that this will be the most foreign to them. Babies (newborns especially) are used to your warmth, touch and sound. So, not liking the crib is NORMAL.
A bassinet is another option. And the same thing goes here…newborns and most babies aren’t used to this environment! So they may not enjoy the transition at first.
Co-sleeping with you in bed. Yes I said it. Using the ‘safe sleep seven’ guidelines to safely co-sleep with your baby is another option. This option is not for everyone but it’s a great way to maximize your sleep as a new parent.
A floor bed is one of my favorite options. This is what we eventually used with my daughter and it has been an incredible experience.
You can simply put a mattress on the ground in the middle of the room (tilting it up when it’s not in use to allow the bottom to air our/not mold). Or you can buy a bedframe! Just be sure the slats are no larger than 2 3/8 inch in width. More blog posts on this topic to come….
exact floor bed we have in my daughters room & love
We used an Ikea mattress with our bedframe and it’s worked perfectly. Visit my Instagram highlights to shop our entire floorbed setup!
#3 Baby Product You Need: Breast/Bottle
This baby product is vital in nourishing your baby. Everyone should be able to feed their babies HOWEVER they want. Without any outside influence. Deciding whether that’s a breast, or bottle, or both is important.
If you’re choosing to breastfeed your baby and want to prepare or need support (both of which I recommend)...take a breastfeeding course! I have a GREAT ONE that helps you establish your milk supply & prepares you for the newborn feeding stages. I also offer 1:1 lactation support, reach out here.
Not all baby bottles are created equal: here are some of my favorites.
#4 Baby Product You Need: Diapers
This baby product will probably be used quite a bit! You can choose between cloth or disposable options. Each has their pros and cons!
My favorite disposable diaper brands are: Millie Moon & Kirkland. I’ve tried every disposable baby diaper on the market and I can confidently state most of the extremely expensive diapers ARE NOT worth the price. And huggies diapers (sorry) tend to give infants horrible rashes.
Here are some of my favorite cloth diapers:
#5 Baby Product You Need: Transportation
The most important baby product you need to transport your baby safely is a carseat. That is, if you plan on driving with them. Learning how to properly use and install your car seat BEFORE baby arrives is VITAL. Your car seats manual or the company’s website is the best tool for learning safety features and installation.
Please avoid purchasing car seats online that are not approved for safe use. If you are in the United States visible labels are required that state ‘This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft’ [faa.gov website].
Here are my favorite car seats:
Strollers are an amazing baby product for transportation as well. They are not always necessary when a baby is small. Most strollers aren’t safe for newborns without an infant car seat or bassinet attachment being used.
Here are my favorite strollers:
My favorite baby product for transportation is a baby carrier! Especially when the baby is small. Especially when you have other littles running around. Especially if you want them to nap well and feel safe/secure.
Can you tell it’s my favorite? It’s foolproof and works every time. Here are some of my favorite baby carriers:
Less is more when it comes to what baby products you actually need.
In conclusion, these are the baby products that are essential and can make your life as a parent a little bit easier. However, it is important to note that every baby is different, and what works for one may not work for another. Therefore, it is crucial to do your research and choose products that suit your needs and your baby's needs.
And always remember…the most important part is YOU.
Visit the blog to read more about baby products, breastfeeding advice/support, parenting hacks and more!