Our 25 Baby Must Haves

The first time Jesse and I began looking at baby items for our registry, we felt so overwhelmed! It was so much different from registering from our wedding. We tried to talk to friends and family and see what their favorite products were. We were talking the other day that we didn't really get any one thing that we feel wasn't needed. We use pretty much everything we got, or will use it as she gets older.

We chose to use Babylist for our registry because you can add so items from many stores. Your friends and family can also compare prices from various sites for the same item!

I didn't include everything we put on our registry, just a few things that some people may not include or that we have found extra helpful. We did find we didn't need to register for many clothes, blankets, or toys (just specific ones we may have wanted) as we received nice ones from our showers. Everyone loves buying cute baby things! Also, don't forget to add your furniture, carseat, and strollers to the registry! We had family that purchase most of these bigger ticket items. If you want to see our nursery and furniture, check out this blog post.

Everyday

Swing

We are so glad we asked for a swing with a removable rocker! It is nice to be able to take it places so that she can go where we are without always having to lay on a mat on the floor. They also have them with removable bouncers now too!

Nose Frida

When someone first told me this snot sucking tool should be one of my top items on my registry, I was a little grossed out! I mean, you use your mouth to suck the snot out! But, it has been a life saver! It also isn't as bad as it sounds as there is a filter so no boogies get inside of your mouth...just remember to put the filter in!

Boppy Pillow

I heard the Boppy Pillow was a must have or a waste from so many people. I decided to go ahead and put one on our registry and boy am I glad I did! It is much easier for me to use than a pillow while nursing and it saves my arms from straining to hold her up the whole time. You can also use them for tummy time or propping the baby up.

Activity Mat

This is a must have and make sure it is a colorful one (trust me, your baby will like it better), not a neutral one! It is perfect for tummy time, independent play time, and pretty much anything. You can also get additional things to clip to the side.

Baby Box

We felt funny about saying our baby was napping in a box, but it was really such a great thing to have the first couple of months when she was so little. We could let her take a nap or play in the box and it could easily go into any room we went to . I took a free sleep class online from Baby Box Co and then received the box for free along with some travel size soaps for the hospital.

Mitted Onesies

These are fantastic for so many reasons, especially those first few weeks. One, they protect the baby from scratching their little face when it is still too scary to trim their nails, Two, they keep their hands safely tucked away when germs are around.

Video Camera

We almost didn't put this on our registry, but we both remember our parents making so many home videos that we knew we just had to! It has been so nice to capture sweet moments on something other than our cell phones. We love going back and watching the videos because we and hear her sweet sounds and watch her cute movements.

Baby Carrier

If you want to have your hands free, but still carry your little one around, we found the baby carriers are fantastic. We are excited to be able to get out on walks and hikes using these too! We actually have two different ones: a clip one from Infantino and a Moby. Both are nice to have because they are so different. I like the Moby for around the house and the Infantino one will be easier for hikes or for Jesse to use.

Muslin Swaddle Blankets

You don't really need to put blankets on your registry, but these muslin swaddles are a must! They are soft and breathable and so much easier to wrap than most. They also can be used as burb cloths or a nursing cover.

Diaper Genie

Another item that we heard was either used every day by people or just collected dust. Well we are in the use every day category. It is nice to have a place to put the diapers that is right next to her changing table. It does fill up quickly, but is super convenient.

Crawligator

You might be asking, "What in the world is this?" Let me assure you that it is now Joanna's favorite way to have tummy time now that she can support her head! The Crawligator is a unique device that supports a baby's crawling motion. You place them on their belly on it then roll them around. As they get older, they can push themselves around.

Wubbanub

This was one item we heard that we just HAD to have! If you don't know what they are, you need to. Joanna loves feeling the little animal attached. It has helped us get through a lot of times without tears.

Bedtime

Pack n Play with Bassinet Attachment

We knew we wanted Joanna close by at night, but wanted her to be in her own safe place. We decided to get a Pack N Play because it would serve more purposes than just a sleep environment as she grows older. It is also nice because we can tote it around if we go on vacation and she can still have her cozy bed. We found we didn't need one with all the extra bells and whistles like a changing station.

Owlet Sock Monitor

We actually didn't have this on our registry, but is a product we have loved! It alerts you if your baby's oxygen or heart rate levels drop too low and helps protect against SIDs. We received our with the help of the organization Knox Blocks and my sister.

Tip: Put a sock over the monitor to hold it in place.

Tap Lights

These simple, cheap guys have made our nighttime routine and middle of the night feeding and diaper changes SO much better! Instead of having to turn on a bright lamp or the lights, we just switch one of these on and it keeps Joanna from waking up too much and getting to stimulated. We keep one on her changing table and one on my nightstand.

Velcro Swaddle and Sleep Sacks

Never did we realized how wonderful a velcro swaddle could be until our first week home from the hospital! In the beginning babies still like to feel nice and cozy, but we had trouble with her kicking out of a swaddle blanket while she slept. The velcro helps to keep the babies snug and protect against it getting over their face. We used these from Walmart but I also hear the Ollie Swaddle or Halo Swaddles are nice.

When Joanna was ready to transition and have her arms out, we switched her to sleep sacks. We love the Halo Sleep Sacks and the Burt's Bees wearable blanket. Both help reduce the risk of suffocation and provide her with a cozy, safe blanket.

Wedge Pillow

Jesse came back with this pillow our first day home from the hospital, and I never knew how much I needed it! This is a perfect back saver for those late night nursing sessions! I keep it propped against the headboard behind my pillow so I can just relax against it while I am feeding in the middle of the night.

Sound Machine

This is a secret to a great night's sleep! It helps drown out other noises. We used this one from WalMart.

On the Go

Diaper Backpack

A diaper backpack makes trying to carry everything so much easier! Our diaper backpack has plenty of pockets and space for all the blankets, diapers, and such we need to carry around on when we go out.

Arm and Hammer Diaper Baggies

These bags are great for when you are out and don't want to stink up the bathroom where you are at with that poop diaper! You can also use them for when that poop explosion happens and gets all over baby's clothes (trust me, you won't get out of this!).

Portable Changing Mat

Trust me, you need one of these! A baby doesn't decide to poop in the most convenient places, so having one of these to protect the surface you are changing on or keep the baby off the germ filled changing tables is super helpful.

For Mom

Nursing/Pumping Bra

I knew I was going to need a nice bra that I could nurse and pump in when I started working again. After looking around, I found this bra. I love that you can go from nursing or pumping, to working out, to going to work. The only down side is it is costly. I purchased during their black Friday sale and would purchase again. I also have a couple of cheap ones that I like, but these are by far my favorites that I own.

Haakaa Breast Pump Collector

This handy little pump is a great addition to a regular pump. You can use it to collect letdown on the other side while your baby nurses or throw it in your bag just in case.

Comfy and Cute Nursing Clothes

If you are planning on breastfeeding, owning a few cute nursing outfits is so helpful! They can make nursing more discreet and comfortable. I love Latched Mama clothes (you can get them from their website or used from facebook groups) and Bearsland on Amazon.

Apps

Owlet

This is a must have app if you have the Owlet monitor. It allows you to check in on your baby's vitals from anywhere. There is also the Connected Care app that shows you the sleeping trends of your baby. This can help you determine how to help your baby have the best nights rest!

Glow Baby

I use this app to keep track of how often I feed Joanna, which side I last fed on, and to read some of the articles and keep track of her skills. In the beginning I used it to track poop and pee diapers, but I stopped doing that now that she is a little older. I use the free version.

Kinedu

I currently just use the free version, but there is a lot more with the paid. With the free version, you get a daily activity to try with your baby. This is great when you aren't really sure what all to do with a baby that isn't mobile yet!

The Wonder Weeks ($)

This app is fun and helpful! It lets you know when to expect leaps in your baby's development, what to expect them to be like during those leaps, and the skills they will be able to do soon after finishing the leap. It is nice to know when to expect her to be a little fussier than normal and look forward to new skills (like smiling and laughing!).

Pampers Rewards

This is fantastic if you received Pampers diapers at your shower or buy Pampers. You can earn baby products, diapers and wipes, and enter sweepstakes! I believe Huggies has one too, but we received more Pampers so I stick with this one.

Google Photos

This is currently how I back up all of my cell and computer photos so that they are stored safely on the cloud. It doesn't hurt to have more than one cloud backup either! I always tell my customers to back up their photos in at least 3 locations if possible. Also, don't forget to get them printed!