There are so many baby products on the market! And trying to figure out what to buy, what products are the best, which products are the safest, and what to add to the registry can be overwhelming! I don’t think I’m a baby gear expert at all, but I have had 3 babies. And I’ve bought and used a lot of baby products since my oldest was born. So hopefully my insight can help you narrow down what you actually want to prioritize in your budget.
Before We Start
Before I dive into sharing products, I want to share a little reminder:
When I was pregnant with my first baby, I was so stressed about all the baby things I HAD to buy. The commercials, influencers and even friends and family members said I absolutely needed all these items, this item was a lifesaver, or I would regret it if I didn’t get that. A lot of those things were really expensive, and we really didn’t have much money to spend on baby items. It felt really overwhelming for me, on top of the fact that I was going to be a mom. I remember mentioning how I was feeling to my aunt one day (she has 13 awesome kids, so I think she might just be a baby expert). And my aunt told me “All you NEED is a car seat, diapers and wipes, some blankets, and some onesies. Everything else is just for fun.”
I loved this perspective, and I’ve tried to remember this for each of my babies. I didn’t get most of those baby items. And yes, I was jealous and annoyed that I couldn’t afford that $1000 bassinet that is supposed to help them sleep like a log. And thanks to pregnancy hormones, I probably cried about it too. But I got the basics, and a few fun extras, and my babies have all been happy and loved.
So please remember – you do not have to buy any of this. In fact, some of this won’t work for your baby and your family. Don’t use every penny you have to keep up with the mom next door. Do what works for your family, and give your baby all the love you can.
Okay now lets get into it! Here are the baby products I love and recommend to new moms after 3 babies:
Pack N’ Play
We have used a Graco pack n’ play for all three kids. It’s still in great condition. This is what we use while our babies are still in our room. Ours has a bassinet attachment that we used until they outgrew it. There is a changing pad and a mobile as well, but we didn’t really use those. We loved this because it doubles as a bassinet, and we still use it when we travel. And when we traveled with little ones, they were sleeping in a familiar bed. I love baby products that I can use for a long time, and has multiple functions. This one that I linked is a newer version of what we had and is just slightly different than ours. This newer version has the bassinet, a changing pad and a little caddy to hold supplies.
Baby Wrap
My parents had 7 kids, and my dad has always raved about the benefits of baby wearing. I remember him always telling me that “babies love to hear their mom and dads heartbeats.” And it’s so true! Baby wearing has been shown to even reduce crying. And it’s just so nice to be able to hold your baby and have your hands free. And I really feel like some sort of baby carrier is a must have baby product.
I had a structured baby carrier with my first two babies. And those worked great, but I didn’t find them comfortable for newborns. So when my youngest was born, I gifted myself a Solly Baby Wrap, and I fell in love with this wrap. It does take some practice to get the wrapping down. But Solly Baby has video tutorials, and they send a booklet with detailed instructions with your order. It took me 3-4 tries to get the wrapping down. And once I got it, I used it every chance I got.
There are some cheaper options, that have great reviews. I haven’t personally tried them though, so I hesitate to recommend a specific one, but I have heard good things about the Moby Wrap. Ask friends and family what they used, or ask to borrow one to test out first. If you are set on a Solly Baby wrap, but the price feels too out of reach, check sites like Mercari and Poshmark. I have seen used in good condition wraps on there for a great discount!
A Good Blanket
Each of my kids ended up being blanket lovers, so this has been extra important to me. But I really think that a good blanket was essential for each of my newborns. Especially for my babies born in the fall. Babies can’t have loose blankets in their crib. But outside of sleeping, I used a blanket all day long with each baby. Tummy time, the car seat, cuddling, feeding. They always had a blanket nearby. (Maybe that’s why they each still love their blankets). Whether you make one or buy one, a good blanket will be so important.
Velcro Swaddle
Okay, I have to brag for just a second. I am so good at swaddling babies. I learned from Moms On Call, and their method works amazing. But I actually prefer the velcro swaddles. With the swaddle blankets, I always stressed that the swaddle would come undone in the middle of the night, and then they’d have loose blankets in their crib (which is a big no for crib safety). And the velcro swaddles are so easy. They are quick to put back on when you’re changing or feeding at night. We’ve liked the Halo Sleep and Nested Bean brands for our babies. There are so many different brands making these now.
I like to have 2-3 swaddles. One to wear, one as back up and one in the wash. And I just rotate through. Then if there is a blowout in the middle of the night, you’ve got a clean one ready.
Good Pajamas
I don’t know about other moms, but for my newborns, they wore pajamas all day every day for the first 3 months at least. They just seemed so much cozier in them! We had cute outfits for each baby that they’d wear when we went out to church. But other than that, pajamas were our go to. We love the Burts Bees, Carter or Quinn St pajamas. There are options all over, at all different price points. And I’ve found that some brands work better for longer babies, and others are comfier for smaller babies. So find some that work with your price range, baby and climate.
I really hope this helped you shop for your baby, or build your registry. And for the other moms reading this, comment below what you’d recommend for a new baby!
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