I know when I was pregnant and even to this day, I have kind of had to learn as I go, ask a ton of questions to other moms, and read a lot! I hope this serves as a helpful tool if you are pregnant or have a little one and takes some of the work off your plate. We have enough going on as new mommas, so I want to help in any way possible!
Ansley’s Favorite Baby Items
Now that Ansley is almost 7 months (brb crying!), I thought I would share some of our favorite items from the first 6 months of her life. FYI, it’s a long one, but feel free to skip to the areas that may apply to you. I’ve included big baby must have’s, baby accessories, toys, and breastfeeding/bottle must haves. These have been our favorite items along the way!
*Details below as well as links/pictures to shop*.
Enjoy:)
*Click the images or links below to shop*
Big Baby Musts (first 6 months)
Uppa Baby Vista Stroller/Bassinet and Uppa Baby Mesa Carseat– After doing a lot of research and asking around to my mama friends, we decided on the Vista stroller/bassinet and Mesa car seat. The Vista caught my attention especially because it grows with you as you grow your family. You can attach an extra car seat or toddler seat when you have more than one child, that way you don’t have to buy an extra stroller. I love that the stroller provides a smooth ride for baby and easily rolls and turns with one hand for mama/dad. It is extremely sleek and not too bulky. The basket underneath is such a great size. You don’t even need a buggy when you go to Target ;). We also went with the Uppa Baby Mesa Car seat which easily attaches to the stroller and the car seat base in your car. The car seat is suitable for babies 4-35lbs and up to 32in in height. The headrest also provides extreme support for any side impact collision. We went with the Bryce (white) stroller/bassinet combo and Jordan (Charcoal Grey) car seat—glad we didn’t go with white for the car seat due to blowouts ;). The bassinet also comes with the stroller and is great for walks with baby and/or naps and nighttime sleeping. We used ours mostly for walks around the neighborhood and sleeping while out at playdates.
Carseat/NursingCover– This carseat/nursing cover is a must in my opinion. I mostly have used it to keep distractions at a minimum when we are out and about, so Ansley would sleep (ex: at the gym, store, running errands). It’s also helpful for windy days. If you plan to nurse on the go, it is also helpful to keep the girls covered;).
Baby Bjorn Bouncer– This seat has been super helpful for us. I typically keep this one upstairs near my bathroom to keep Ansley bouncing, while I shower or get ready. It is also great to fold down and bring on the go. Whether you’re going to a mom’s play date or traveling, it folds up really easily. I recommend getting a less expensive toy bar to attach to it like this one. I don’t personally have it, but wish we would have had one.
Mamaroo– We have enjoyed having this downstairs to keep Ansley swinging, while we cook dinner or clean up the kitchen. She would fall asleep in here a lot as a newborn, and now she enjoys reaching for the toys. If this is out of your price range, I would go for something like this swing. My mom has one like this at her house, and Ansley likes it just as much, if not more.
Aden + Anais Velcro Swaddles (0-3mo)- These swaddles were a must for us from when she was born until about 3 months old. So much easier to use than a regular swaddle blanket, especially for middle of the night diaper changes. As soon as she started to break out or roll, we switched her to the Merlin’s Magic Sleep Suit.
Merlin’s Magic Sleep Suit (3-6mo)- Like I mentioned above, once Ansley started to roll and break out of her swaddles, we switched to the Merlin’s. We LOVE this! It was such an easy transition. It keeps her feeling secure like a swaddle, but her arms and legs are not as contained. Once she rolled in this (6 months), we switched to the Nested Bean Sleep Sack.
Boppy Lounger– This was by far one of my best, most used items from when she was born up until probably 4-5 months. We would set this on the counter (never unattended), and she would sleep as a newborn, while I got things done. As she grew, she would just chill in this with toys on the counter until she became more mobile rolling and sitting up. The regular Boppy pillow is also a top recommended product for nursing and support once baby starts to sit up.
Baby Tub– We love this tub. We’ve used it from the time we brought Ansley home from the hospital and still use it at 6 months.
Ubbi Diaper Pail– I have really enjoyed this diaper pail. The top slides open for diapers and keeps the stinky smell contained, so the nursery doesn’t smell bad. It comes in so many colors, and you can also use regular trash bags with this pail, so you don’t have to spend money on special diaper pail trash bags.
Freshly Picked Diaper Bag– I have been extremely happy with this diaper bag. It is very sleek and neutral (great for dad to carry too), comes in many colors and a smaller size as well. It can be worn as a back pack or a crossbody bag. It is a wipeable material and has so many pouches and zipper pockets for not only baby items, but also mom items too (like gum, keys, phone, etc). Two of my favorite parts of this diaper bag is the washable changing pad liner that comes inside and also the insulated bottle pouch to keep your bottles cool.
Hatch Sound Machine– This is an absolute MUST in my opinion. We even kept it in our room before Ansley was born. It has many different sound features (white noise, birds chirping, twinkle twinkle little star, etc) as well as different color night light/lamp settings. We keep ours on white noise, while she sleeps and also use the white light before bed and slowly dim it as she settles down and falls asleep. The sound is also great on this. Oh and best part, you can control it from the app on your phone. It also has controls on the bottom of the sound machine too if you’re not able to use your phone (babysitters, etc).
Hushh Portable Sound Machine– Another favorite! No joke, we have used this thing constantly. We bring it to the gym, road trips, even set it by her if she was napping on her boppy lounger as a baby. It slides right between her leg and the inside of the carseat too. It also stays charged for a long time and helps her sleep on the go and blocks other noise around her. Even if she isn’t sleeping, it helps calm her down.
Sit Me Up Chair– We got this chair probably around 3.5-4 months, as she was able to hold her head up and starting to sit up with assistance. I love that this is multipurpose. It can be used as a play seat with the toy bar or you can remove the toy bar and use the tray for feeding. You can also remove the tray completely for washing. The seat itself also comes out and can easily be thrown in the washing machine (food or blowouts). I also have the Ingenuity 2-1 seat for feeding, since we don’t have a highchair yet, and it works really well too. We keep it on the counter for now.
Monitor– If you notice, I actually didn’t include our monitor on here. Obviously it IS a must have, but I have mixed feelings about monitors. I will say, overall, I have been very happy with our monitor. We have the Halo+. It is pricey. It does have a ton of features, but to be honest, we haven’t used many of them. The battery life is very good. I usually only charge it at night. The part that really stuck out to me with this monitor when registering was that it had the option to use a handheld monitor screen AND access from your phone. However, from my experience, the camera on the phone has a terrible connection, so I just use the monitor screen. We actually moved one of our Wyze Camera’s (originally for the dog) in her room, and it is SO clear. I can see her breathing (plus its SO cheap). I occasionally check this one as a back up. The one downside of the Halo+ is that the camera doesn’t rotate. We purchased the Infant Optics Monitor to keep at my parent’s house which was also highly recommended and is less expensive. This one does not have the phone camera option (some people prefer that anyways). I can tell the quality isn’t as nice as the Halo+, but it does have the option to move/rotate the camera from the monitor screen. I know finding a monitor was a struggle for me, so hopefully this helps narrow down a few options if you’re searching for one! I think both are great options depending on your preferences.
*Click the images or links below to shop*
Baby Accessories
Wipe Dispenser– This is one of those things that is just an added helpful accessory. For me, it has been super helpful because it is annoying and difficult to pull out one wipe at a time while changing a diaper without all of the wipes coming out. This dispenser has an easy push button on top to open/close and also includes a weighed holder inside to allow one wipe to come out at a time! Diaper changing game changer!
Boogie Wipes– If you don’t prefer to squirt saline up your baby’s nose, these natural saline wipes are helpful to clean her nose without being super invasive to get any boogies or crusties out.
Aveeno Baby Body Wash/Lotion– I have found that this is the softest lotion and body wash for Ansley’s dry skin and smells great too! I also love Noodle and Boo baby lotion. It smells amazing, but the Aveeno seems to leave her skin a bit softer.
Dreft Detergent and Stain Spray– We love both of these products. I got a pack of 2 of the laundry detergents, and it has lasted me 6 months even doing laundry just about every day or every couple days. The stain spray is amazing too! You will need a lot of that too ;). Not to mention, it smells like a soft little baby.
Changing Pad Liners– I keep one of these on top of my changing pad cover at all times (on the wipeable side, so it won’t stain). This is awesome, so you don’t have to wash the changing pad cover constantly. It is also great for throwing in a bag for traveling and changing diapers on the go.
Mustela Lotion (good for baby acne)- I have the Mustela Cleansing Water, soap, and lotion. We use the cleansing water for quick clean ups around face/neck area when we don’t give a bath. The cleansing water and lotion are also great for baby acne and dry skin. We recently got the Mustela Soap and use it with this Cradle Cap scrubber in the bath on her scalp.
Stroller Cup Holder/Pouch– This is a game changer for the stroller (any stroller for that matter). It just velcros onto the handles, holds big cups, keys, phones, etc. It also has a zipper pouch for any items you don’t want to fall out.
Car Seat Mirror– I was terrified to drive with Ansley the first month of her life. Having this mirror on the back seat eased my anxiety so much, so that I could see her while driving.
Desitin Diaper Rash Cream– We used this for diaper rashes (we also use A&D..I honestly haven’t seen a huge difference in the two). It even works for the creases that you may forgot about that develop a rash (armpits, neck folds, thigh creases, etc).
Baby Bum Applicator– This may seem a little “extra” for some people, but let me tell you, it is so helpful to not have to get buttery diaper cream on your fingers when you’re changing a diaper. Not to mention, you don’t want to leave your baby on the changing table to go wash your hands after applying the cream. This applicator is so easy and helpful to use and the cream goes on very smoothly. You can easily wipe the applicator off with soap or a tissue after use instead of your hands ;).
Essential’s Kit– The main thing that we use in here are the nail clippers, but it includes a lot of items that are helpful to have on hand like a baby thermometer.
*Click the images or links below to shop*
Baby Toys
Piano Play Mat– Wishing I would have gotten this sooner. We just got it at 6 months, and Ansley loves it! You can use it from newborn on, since the baby can lay down and kick the piano or sit up and hit the piano with their hands. It is very interactive due to its light up and singalong features and is also very easy to move from room to room.
Light Bar Activity Station– This is another item that I wish we would have gotten sooner. It is also very interactive due to its lightup and singalong features.
Sassy Ring-o-links– These are probably are most used, especially for on the go. We attach these to our stroller bar, baby bjorn, mamaroo, etc. You can link them onto anything and the baby can also use them for teething.
Teething Keys– My mom bought these for Ansley to keep at her house and she loves them. They can go in the freezer, so she can suck on them cold to help with teething. They are easy to hold while sucking.
Silicone Teether with Bristles– Ansley loves the ridges on this teething ring. She seems to be able to hold and chew this one super well too, and it is very bendable as well.
Baby Einstein Light Up Musical Toy– Another great light up/musical toy that I wish we would have gotten sooner. It is also easy to grab and the circular button in the middle sings a new song every time you touch it, which keeps baby very entertained.
Donut Play Mat– I loved this one because it matched Ansley’s nursery really well and is just adorable. I set her down on this mat while I am doing things in her nursery like putting away her clothes. She loves pulling on the toys and rolling around on this mat.
*Click the images or links below to shop*
Milk Musts (breast & bottle feeding supplies)
Haaka– If you plan to breastfeed, this is a must, especially in the early days of birth. I would use this on the opposite side that she was nursing to catch the letdown and then switch sides. (It is a lot easier to use early on when she can’t kick it or pull it off). I never had to use my pump until after she was one month old. I would just freeze the milk from the haaka and save that, since we weren’t bottle feeding at that point. (On that note, I recommend introducing bottles around one-two months, once a week or once every couple weeks, if you are nursing. That way, they learn to take a bottle, yet it’s not too early to cause nipple confusion). Now, I use the haaka on one side, while I use the manual pump on the other if I need to quickly pump out milk and don’t want to get out my big pump. Lastly, when you start to cut night feeds, the haaka is helpful to use again while nursing in the morning to catch the letdown after being engorged all the night. This releases milk without signaling your body to produce as much as a pump.
Manual Pump– Having a manual pump is very helpful for quick pumping sessions if you don’t have time to pull out your big pump or if you’re on the go (you don’t need a plug). I have used this in the car and in the middle of the night if she only feeds from one side at a time. I would quickly pump out the other side to avoid engorgement or being lopsided.
Nursing Pads– These are 100% a must, especially in the early days. I still use them to this day just to be safe. No one ever told me how much my boobs would leak once my milk came in and in the months to come while nursing (sorry if that’s TMI, but I would rather know before than not know until it happens). These disposable ones are extremely absorbent and also stick to your bra to stay in place. I also have washable nursing pads (good to have as back up if you run out of the disposable pads).
Sterilizing Bottle Bags– Easy and quick way to sterilize your bottle/pump parts at home or on the go. Just need water and a microwave.
Bottle Scrub Brush– I use this separate bottle scrub brush for baby items to avoid any cross contamination. The bottom piece also comes out to thoroughly clean the nipples of the bottles.
Bottle Cleaning Wipes– These are great for cleaning bottle and pump parts while traveling or on the go if you don’t have access to soap and scrub brush.
Bottle Drying Rack– I have this in white and it is perfect to keep on the counter while your bottle/pumping parts dry (also works really well for wine glasses ;)).
Baby Bottle & Dish Soap– I have always used this dish soap for bottles, pacis, etc. It thoroughly removes any residue from breast milk or formula, is hypoallergenic, pediatrician and dermatologist recommended.
Breastmilk Storage Bags– These are the only breast milk storage bags I have ever used and have been pretty happy with them. I have had a few random leaks, which is probably bound to happen a few times (can always double bag). I just recommend freezing all bags the same way, either all lying flat or all standing up for easier storage.
Nipple Cream– This was helpful in the early days when my milk came in and my nipples were just getting used to breastfeeding. I put it on right after feeding (never before). If you choose not to get cream, you can always rub your remaining breastmilk on your nipples.
Nursing/Pumping Bra– Wish I would have ordered this from the beginning! This is a nursing and pumping bra in one. Let me tell you, having to change from nursing bra into a separate pumping bra is quite annoying. This one is two in one and not to mention, it is extremely comfortable and fits very well!
If you’ve made it this far, thanks for reading :). I hope this has been helpful for you! Keep up the great work, mama! You are not alone, and you’re doing a great job in case you haven’t heard that in a while.
As always, I greatly appreciate when you shop through my links. I allows me to continue sharing even more information with all of you:).
Feel free to reach out or comment below if you have any other questions!
xoxo,
Watson
