Month One Favorites

After surviving our first month of parenthood (whew!), I thought it might be helpful to all of you future and new parents, or friends and family who are just looking to spoil a new little addition, to share my list of must-haves for baby's first month. Obviously, everyone has their own favorites, but these are a few that we wouldn't be able to get by without. Enjoy!

Boppy Nursing Pillow // I'm not sure how nursing mothers used to get by without this awesome pillow. A back saver for sure! An extra shopping tip: There are all kinds of fun nursing pillow covers to peruse on Etsy, so don't think you are limited to the two options carried in stores.

Aden & Anais Muslin Swaddle Blankets and Burp Cloths // Soft, breathable, absorbant, and lightweight for summer. A little spendy, but well worth it. We use these on a daily basis.

Fisher-Price Rock'N'Play // This is one of the few 'baby gear' items that T & I knew we wanted before Baby C's arrival. He loves to sleep or sit in the Rock'N'Play during the day after eating (it has a slight incline that helps to prevent spitting up after eating), or when I need to get some work done around the house, and he doesn't want to lay flat on his back. There are many different designs available depending on where you shop.

Pampers Swaddlers Diapers & Pampers Sensitive Wipes // I did a lot of reading on other 'Mom' blogs before Baby C's arrival, and these diapers and wipes were far and away the favorite of other moms for newborns. While I haven't tried any other brand of diapers yet, I will vouch for the wipes. They are infinitely softer than the other popular baby brand Huggies. In case you are trying to plan ahead and stock up for your own baby's arrival, we have averaged about 60 diapers a week in baby's first month.

Aquaphor, Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder, Medela Nipple Cream // Some of the essentials that I wasn't prepared with, but needed during that first week. Baby C started peeling skin after his first bath at home...like full body getting new skin. I had Aveeno Baby Lotion all ready to go, but it just wasn't getting the job done (works great now that C's a little older). Aquaphor to the rescue! A definite must have for new baby skin. Baby Powder. This would probably be an obvious must have to a second time parent, but for me, not so much. As I mentioned earlier, we burn through about 60 diapers a week. That's a lot of wiping, and wet baby tush. The baby powder helps to dry out the moisture left behind from wiping, and helps prevent baby's bottom from sticking to the diaper. Medela Nipple Cream. Confession - this was NOT in my hospital bag, and definitely needed to be (thank you nurses for bringing me a sample!). The first several days of breastfeeding was hard enough before my milk 'came in' as they say. This cream helped to provide some relief until my body adjusted. NOTE: I did have the Lansinoh brand nipple cream all ready to go at home. After trying both brands, I prefer the Medela brand as it has a more 'lotion-like' consistency that is easy to wipe away, while the Lansinoh brand is more like a paste and leaves a sticky residue behind that is hard to wipe off your hands after applying.

Britax B-Safe Infant Car Seat and Sun & Bug Cover // We chose this Britax car seat after reading many reviews and hearing from other parents how much they prefer the Britax car seats over other brands. As a bonus, there is a attachment available so we can use this car seat with our stroller. The Sun/Bug/(Stranger) cover has been a lifesaver. No mayflies or Mosquitos can get through to our baby! It's made from a breathable mesh, and fits perfectly over our car seat when out for walks, or around strangers we don't want touching the baby. 

Halo SleepSacks & Longsleeve Onesies // With all the information out there about the risk of SIDS when sleeping with a blanket, the sleep sack is a great alternative that keeps baby all snugly and warm, but still let's him kick his feet around. We pair the sleep sack with a longsleeve onesie at night to keep Baby C's arms and hands (which he likes to bust out of the swaddle) warm in this air conditioned summer.

Gerber Flatfold Cloth Diapers // No, I'm not so granola that I'm using cloth diapers. Contrarily, I am using these for just about everything else. Nursing pillow spill catcher, changing pad liner, extra burp cloth...there are no limits to my imagination.

BOB Revolution Stroller // This baby is the best of the best when it comes to strolling. A splurge, yes. Made to last, most definitely. The large jogging bike-style wheels make the ride super smooth, not to mention opening up the option to explore all kinds of terrains. A tip: I was able to get this stroller in a bundle package with the car seat and stroller adaptor via Amazon for MUCH more reasonable than some other popular baby stores had it listed. Lesson: Look in person, but price check online before buying those big ticket items in store. Our savings are in the hundreds.

I'd love to hear what your favorites are!