We have a one year old…..WHERE DID THIS YEAR GO?! Gosh it’s pure insanity and it makes me realize how fast time goes. Everyone who says time gets faster when you get older was 100% RIGHT. It’s true!
Ok back to today’s post.
There are a ton of posts out there sharing what you need for 0-3 months, 3-6 months, etc, etc. And I’ve written some of those before too. But after realizing how much stuff you don’t need or use, I wanted to share the items that are must haves. (I’m going to skip some basics like diapers and wipes.)
These are the things are what I would recommend to anyone who is pregnant with their first child OR is looking to give a gift! You can’t go wrong with any of the below. And you really don’t need much beyond that – less is more and the more you have, the more you won’t use and will need to store. Trust me!
Infant Carseat
Ok so some people don’t buy infant carseats and just move to convertible, but I loved having a small carseat I could bring in and out of the car. We could get her all set inside and then just click it in. Plus it hooked right into our stroller so it was so easy to use when she was little! I highly recommend our Nuna Pipa because it’s super light, very safe, and easy to clean.
Stroller
You’ll need a stroller if you want to walk outside your house 🙂 I’m still obsessed with our Uppababy Vista after a full year. You can read my full review here (one of my most popular posts ever!).
Baby Carriers
Ok so this has two types – soft and structured carriers. When our daughter was super little we loved our Solly Wrap. She was cozy and you could get things done while carrying her around. Being hands free is essential for times baby just wants to be held! Now that she’s bigger we have an Ergobaby and love it! She loves it too and gets super excited when she sees it haha. We use it mainly for hiking and traveling!
Crib
Ok I’m including a crib because you really don’t need a Dockatot, etc. For night sleep, we used the Pack N Play in our room. For naps (and sleep after 4 months), we had our Ikea crib. Naps in the crib were a lifesaver! Plus, anything inclined or fluffy is NOT safe for sleep.
Sound Machine
It’s a MUST – babies love white noise (not quiet!) and you want something that doesn’t turn off or run on a battery. I love the Hatch because I can change it from outside the room and it works as a nightlight for any nighttime feedings or diaper changes.
Monitor
We didn’t get a monitor until we weren’t sharing a room anymore. I did a ton of research and picked the Nanit which we love and would highly recommend. (Subscribe to their email list if you’re interested because they send out coupon codes all the time!) The only “negative” is that it doesn’t have a standalone screen and you have to use an app – but we installed the app on our iPad and leave that with babysitters. We bought the travel stand so we bring it with us whenever we travel and it’s seamless to use then too. At home we have it mounted to the wall which keeps it out of the way of reaching hands!
Board Books
Because they’re perfect for playing alone AND reading together! These also make a great gift if you want to give something that won’t become a broken toy…..Here are some of our favorites:
- Goodnight Moon
- The Runaway Bunny
- Snuggle Puppy
- DADA and MAMA (by Jimmy Fallon!)
Zip Up Onesies & Sleepers
We wear these to bed, or just all day when we’re feeling lazy and want to be cosy! Zippers are *essential* for middle of the night diaper changes.
Some of our favorite brands:
- Hanna Andersson
- Target’s Cloud Island
Cozy Blankets
Little Giraffe makes the SOFTEST blankets ever. We have two and love to cuddle with them! They’re also perfect over strollers or car seats because they keep babies pretty toasty. Holding a newborn in these blankets is pure heaven. And they stay just as soft after you wash them. Now we can sit in her nursery and read cuddled up in these blankets – it’s the best!
Nose Frida
You’re going to think “I would never use that to get snot out of my baby’s nose.” Trust me, YOU WILL! Suction is the BEST thing ever (it’s what they use in a hospital if your baby is extremely congested). We have two Nose Fridas and I always take one with us when we travel. Your baby will get a cold, and you will need this!
A Swaddle
Newborn babies love swaddles – it helps them feel safe and secure and stops their startle reflex. I should have bought the Ollie Swaddle right away instead of wasting time on swaddles that didn’t stay shut. It’s strong but soft!
Sleep Sack
Once your baby can roll you’ll need to ditch the swaddle for safety reasons. Then we moved to a sleep sack! We’ve tried a few and Woolino is our favorite, by far. It’s pricey but soft, breathable, and she won’t grow out of it anytime soon.
OxiClean
There will be blowouts, stains, you name it. Sometimes I would just throw things away (if it was really bad), but OxiClean was my miracle worker for all other stains!
Ok that was a long list! It might seem overwhelming but I really do think these are the things you need. We used all the above time and time again. You will accumulate more (toys, clothes, etc!) but these are the items I would want to have at a moment’s notice.
