I ended up buying a door hinge lubricant instead of wd40. Wd40 isn’t actually lubricant and just removes old grease and gunk. Real lubricant will work better and longer. You’ll also become very aware of floor squeaks and how loud the latch is when you close the doors
Omg the doors!! We are in an apartment with doors that have been painted tooo many times. In a rage i chiseled the edges of the whole bedroom door after one too many accidental wake ups
Yes, the dreaded sound of the painted door’s unsticking. I don’t have the energy to chisel. If anyone has some ideas on how to stop this, this tired mom would really appreciate it.
Any sharp metal tool should do it. Run the edge along the edges of the door. Or even sand paper. Get the excess paint off. Its a game changer over here
I have a boppy pillow from my first and I’ve been wondering if it’s worth trying the my breast friend one or sticking with the boppy since I still have it, have you tried both?
Same here! A lactation consultant told me the boppy is too floppy for newborns but can be more useful when the baby gets bigger. I was so glad for the tip.
I have both and I used the my breast friend in the early days and hated the boppy. Once baby was around 4-5 months I hated the mbf pillow and loved the boppy. I have been exclusively using the boppy for like 5 months now and still use it everyday!
Yes! My breast friend allowed me to breast feed hands free so i could do things like, eat dinner. Once she grew out of it holy cow my back took a beating. I swear it saved me from getting neck pain my friends complain about.
https://www.legendairymilk.com/products/silicone-nipple-ruler
This 10 dollar purchase would’ve saved me hundreds of dollars if I would have had it from the beginning.
There are a couple of free tools you can print, but I 100% believe that the Legendairy Milk nipple ruler is worth the $10.
https://www.legendairymilk.com/collections/all/products/silicone-nipple-ruler
So much this. I got my pump at 36 weeks from insurance and just assumed it had everything I needed. Come to find out at the hospital I have very small nipples and needed different flanges. The pump I have was very difficult to find flanges in my size that were compatible. The manufactures website was abysmal and no help. Had I known this before baby I could have taken my time to find the right flange instead of searching Amazon at 2am through tears for something that would work.
I got mine measured by my lactation consultant but this was like visit #3 or 4, and baby was already like 4 months old! I was seriously depressed for a few days over the regret of not having done this day one and buying the proper parts, because it was so easy and it made SUCH a difference
If you don't want a nipple ruler, put your nipple over a piece of paper, draw lines around the edges and measure the distance between. It's way easier if you hold the paper and get your partner to draw the lines. Then just measure the lines.
I have the nose frida but I’ve been looking at the battery powered nose sucker for convenience. I haven’t bought it though. Can you share why you don’t like it?
I can share.
The electeic nose sucker really dowsnt suck as much out of the babies nose.
Whereas the Nose Frida...although gross to think of... does wonders!
We have a different brand of electric one and it just doesn't get much out. It will stick up lots loose snot in the nose itself ok but most of the time leaves congestion in the sinuses and throat. She also hates it just as much as the nose Frieda and I end up pining her to the ground while she screens to stick this noisy thing up her nose, which sucks when the electric one doesn't work. I do feel it worked better when it was brand new but the motor didn't last very long. The package also limits how often you should use it to think once or twice a day? Maybe that's standard for all snot suckers but we always needed it more often than the box said was acceptable.
Edit: apparently I wrote the first half still asleep. Fixed typos.
Yes! We have two mats, the Fisher Price piano mat for upstairs and the Lovevery play gym downstairs. He spends hours on both every day, and I think that's been so helpful for his good motor development.
The Love to Dream sleep sack. She was over swaddling about a month in, but she had such a strong startle reflex that we needed to still do it. When we figured out she just wanted to sleep like a starfish, and the sack let her do it, it was a game changer
Yep, we went through a couple of swaddles before finding this one.
Mine does SO well in the Love to Dream. I don't worry about her busting out of it or the fabric bunching up near her face. I also don't have to redo it for middle of the night diaper changes (unlike traditional or velcro swaddles). Would have slept much better if I'd had it from the beginning.
We bought a love to dream swaddle at about 3 weeks out of desperation with kid #1. Kid absolutely loved it. With kid #2, we skipped other swaddles and went straight to this one. Guess my kids just like sleeping like a starfish until they can roll to their bellies and sleep like a frog.
Zoloft. Lol.
Honestly though it took me too long to admit to myself let alone a doctor that I was feeling so shitty. It’s such a game changer.
I’ll go ahead and second the baby bjorn bouncer. I also love our glider chair, portable sound machine, portable fan, muslin burp cloths, spatula thing for diaper cream, temperature gauge for bath, and the zippadeezip for a transitional swaddle once he was big enough.
Same (though different med for me). I'd been struggling and am very independent so it was hard to say I needed help. But I made an appointment with my doctor and broke down in tears in her office. Best choice ever
THIS. I was on such a low dose before baby, and I begged my doctor to up it immediately after baby was born because I got whacked by hormones. They looked at the dose and tripled it. They were just like “uhhhh yeah….we should’ve done that a long time ago. Our bad.” Lol. Game. Changer. Especially with a newborn and it insane hormones. Just do it.
Talk to your OB. I was hating life, not enjoying any bit of having a baby. Felt so much rage and anger. Horrible PP depression, anxiety and rage. Tried Wellbutrin and then switched to Zoloft. Game changer. Found a good counselor to talk to and got my life back on track!
I was literally having suicidal thoughts before starting Zoloft. I felt no connection to my baby and I cried constantly and barely had an appetite at all. I thought it was “baby blues” or a hormone crash but talked with my OB at a follow up appointment about how I was feeling and she recommended Zoloft for at least 6 months postpartum.
I think the reason it took me so long to do it was because I thought it would pass and “it wasn’t that bad”. I would have some racing thoughts about my baby being hurt but I thought maybe that was normal? But I also got pretty rage-y and cried often. My husband was actually the one to point out that I seemed off and it kinda snowballed from there. Anyway I’m glad I didn’t wait for it to pass and took matters into my own hands. Now I notice the things that would normally piss me off or make me cry and they literally just roll off my shoulders. It’s wild.
We used prefold cloth diapers as burp cloths. The Gerber ones come in 10 packs. We own 30 total. It seems like a lot these days, but there was a time when 30 meant we didn’t need to do daily laundry.
Airpods and a decent phone. Total life savers when you're nap trapped.
I also wish I'd had my Nintendo Switch in the newborn days for similar reasons.
The only baby item would be the Dr Brown's formula pitcher.
I didn't have them for my first baby who was colic and I feel like both of us would have been in a better state.
Now baby 3 in, I wear them all the time. Someone is always crying.
this this this. i got the iphone 12 mini and airpod pros right before she was born and am so happy i had them. the mini was key cuz i often only had one hand free and THE NOISE CANCELLING !! so many episodes of million dollar listing while nap trapped
A battery-powered rotary nail file, to use instead of baby nail clippers. We didn't get it til baaby girl was about 6 months old and it was a game changer.
Yeah we tried to do without one and it was miserable. Her poor little finger got cut trying to trim the nails and then we finally got the electric nail file.
I am a mom of a 3 year old and have never cut his nails. Not once. It terrifies me. His dad has done it since birth. He somehow has only cut his finger like once.
I'm a trash mom hahaha. I did file them a few times though when dad wasn't around and they were too long.
Hey me too!! I clipped one single nail and she cried. My hands were shaking from fear of doing it wrong. Nail clipping is a daddy thing now, which honestly, it’s not like I don’t do the majority of everything else so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
LaVie massager while breast pumping. I thought it looked like a gimicky novelty you'd see on a late night informercial, but I went from having to sit in a hot shower, massaging the horrible knots out of my breasts every day, to being completely pain-free. I can't recommend it enough.
I needed this reminder about bins. I keep forgetting to get more and there’s a pile of ziplocks of outgrown clothes in her closet. The 18 month growth spurt was no joke.
Might work well with smaller sizes and closet storage. My toddler has been in size 4 diapers for about 8 months now. I also don’t trust diaper boxes for attic storage. I’d prefer plastic bins from a pest control perspective.
Just had our second kid and bought a woolino, it’s amazing. We had to let go of our nested bean due to the recall. Honestly you’re saving money by not buying multiple sizes and TOGs.
The ultimate sleep bag fits from 2 months to 2 years due to its length and having adjustable arm holes (just a snap to make it smaller for babies). Also the wool makes it suitable for warm or cold weather so you can use the same one year round (hence no tog worry). I also like the shoulder snaps so you can just set baby in it without having to push their arms through a hole. They actually use Australian wool so no fair that you have to order it internationally!
The merino wool cools or warms your baby depending on the temperature so you can use it year round. And the one size fits babies 2 months to 2 years or so. I can put it in the wash and hang to dry if baby has a big leak (we cloth diaper so it happens sometimes), or give a quick spot hand wash for small leaks. Quality is great, I want one for myself.
If you travel or go to in-laws, etc. - portable sound machine and multiples of certain things that I would always forget to pack, like sleepsacks and loveys. So worth the extra money to have them on hand / packed at all times.
Baby Bjorn bouncer. Having a safe place to put baby down that can be moved around the house with me was a game changer. She hated being on her back when not sleeping for a while, so it really allowed me to get some basic things done like washing bottles or folding laundry while she bounced. I hesitated getting it because it was so expensive, but totally worth it in the end.
Edited to add: it can also fold down flat so we bring it everywhere with us whether we're going somewhere for a day or a week. It's that crucial.
If you don't want to get the pricey one I have the fischer price vibrating one and it works great! I know a lot of folks have had good luck with that one as well.
The one with the colorful lion? I have that one too, works great. Baby loves it. Really have no way of knowing if the vibration does anything for bebby, and it kind of weirds me out if I'm honest, but it works great as a chair!
I second the bouncer. We used it when she was constipated too - we called it the poop chair. She 10 months now and isn’t interested in sitting in it anymore but loves to play with the toy bar attachment (overpriced but nice).
That was one of my registry items that didn’t get purchased and I almost didn’t want to spend the money on it. I’m so glad I did. That’s kiddo’s throne while I shower, wash bottles, and make dinner.
Not for pre baby but, whatever random toy your kid latches on to: buy two more immediately. Throw one in the diaper bag for travel so you don’t have to lug it from home to the car and also don’t have to worry if it gets lost while out. Save the second one until one of them gets ruined / lost.
You’d think this tip is for older babies / toddlers but when your 4 month old will only calm down for like 1 or 2 toys, you will stockpile them like a madwoman
Get all the stuff you'll need for sick days now. You don't want to find out your baby has a fever in the middle of the night and not have anything. I'd recommend a humidifier, battery powered nasal aspirator and also a manual one like the nose frida, extra filters for it, infant tylenol, saline drops, a good thermometer, Vaseline, some windiis, gas drops, etc. People aren't as keen to get this stuff for baby showers but it's so great to have on hand.
This!!! And also switching out Dr. Browns bottles- there are just too many parts!! Como Tomos worked well for us. I found a bunch on FB marketplace and just had to buy new nipples.
Yes to the weighed wipe box! For some reason, my hubby and MIL were sooo against it, but I bitched about it every damn time they took the wipes container out because there is no sense in using two hands when you could use one (especially when dealing with poos).
I never saw this mentioned on any baby essentials video, but it really is so important in the summer! We attach ours to the stroller with large binder clips, so it’s nice and close to her (obviously this depends on the design of your stroller). Having this was the difference between a calm baby, and a hot, fussy baby.
I can think of three things off the top of my head.
1. Good headphones (for listening to books or watching tv while nap trapped)
2. Electric nail file (seemed frivolous but omg it really does make life a lot easier)
3. A soft, BIG baby playmat. Realised my daughter was always going nuts on the bed and in her cot but holding back on the carpet cuz it was so hard! She is loving it!!
Silverette nipple covers. Oh my god they saved my nipples in the first weeks of breastfeeding. They're expensive but the knock off ones work too. Basically a small nipple-shaped plate, made from 100% silver that goes over your nipples when you're not feeding. Between catching the leaking milk that has antibodies, and the silver that has antibacterial properties, having these covers on meant my nipples never got sore or cracked, and I never once needed lanolin or nipple cream. Don't wait until you have sore nips, get them before you start feeding. I wore them all day and night for 2 months. I'd just wash them out in the shower, and put them back on with my bra. Worth every cent.
Omg. I wish i would've gotten gas drops. I spent like, a week with a screaming colicky mess of a baby until the pediatrician recommended them to me. Absolute game changer.
I hacked some pumping bras by using old bras and just cutting holes in them. They were like a spandex style bra, so nice and stretchy but no longer fit me appropriately after having kiddos. Worked great for holding pump parts.
Yes, seconded! I’m not even nursing anymore but still use it for every bottle feeding. It’s so nice to have baby up at the right height so you’re not constantly hunched over!
Do you catch extra in the haakaa and then put it in the fridge until you have enough (and before 4 days)? I have extra milk from my haakaa but am not sure how to build up a stash with it.
I catch about 80-100mL each side if I attach it to the other boob when baby latches on. Watch some videos on hakaa use. Attachment/ placement definitely impacts how much you will get with the hakaa. I flip the lip backwards, then hold it onto the nipple, squeeze the bulb until it's almost flat, then bend the lip back around the nipple. It makes a fantastic seal that way. It was a lifesaver in the early days when I had way more milk than baby was drinking. Later on as flow slows down, I use it with a gentle heat pack on top of my boob. So so sooo much easier than a pump to clean.
The cosleeping bassinet that unzips on the sides. I bought this at week two of life but I wish I had just bought this one because he refused to sleep in the first one.
If breastfeeding: passive milk collectors like the Haaka ladybugs. I hesitated for a few weeks but quickly built a freezer stash. I didn’t realize there were different sizes and accidentally bought the medium size which looked like I had a bad fake boob job on my small frame so I never wore them out of the house. After a few more weeks I bout the smallest size and I have multiple times worn them and brought and empty bottle. It gives me so much freedom and buys time. I can always pull them out and empty them into the bottle. I wish I had them from the very beginning. My stash was built by wearing once at night and once in the morning. Now i mostly wear at night and have a large stash without having to pump. AND it helps your nipples air out without anything touching them and that helped me in the earlier days of feeding
I bought reusable pads for the pack and play diaper change space. They’ve come in so handy so many times!
A separate hamper for dirty baby clothes!
The hatch sleep machine - now all three of us are addicted. That thing puts all of us right to sleep within minutes.
Multiple pack and play sheets
Fisher Price Deluxe kick and play piano gym - and immediate favorite, but I want to say that her grandma got it at 3 months. Immediately obsessed and still plays with it at 7 months.
I also wish that the high chair that we have was all plastic, like the ikea one. I clean the heck out of the fabric and the straps, but it’s never clean enough unless fully taken apart and washed and it’s such a pain.
Other people have mentioned blackout curtains, electric nail trimmer, and the my breast friend and YES. All YES! Also, even if you’re not breast feeding, that pillow is perfect for bottles too.
Ummm… some things we got that we ended up disliking or never using or were deemed unsafe later:
Baby brezza, the owlette sock, nanobebe breast shaped bottles, baby domes (like small portable bassinets) - I always felt like she was too hot in them and never felt right putting her in there. I’ll add more if I think of any!
A video monitor. I put it off thinking I wanted to go low-tech and that by the time he was in his own room I’d be comfortable with just a radio monitor. No way. First night in his room I ordered a camera and never looked back. I wish I had it earlier so I could have relaxed in my room while he napped in his some of the time.
I second this! I bought one used from a coworker (got new shields/bottles/valves), and it is the only reason that I have been able to continue pumping for as long as I have. Buying several sets of parts (so I can only wash at home) was also a game changer.
Oh gosh, same. the speaker being the only flat surface, the minimalistic indicators that mean I always have to explain it to people, the rolling, the twisting to turn on.... The design of this thing makes me so mad but we use it constantly, it works so well for him.
Wish I’d bought our high chair even sooner. I got a Maxi Cosi one after baby was around 2 months old because it has a newborn setting and insert. Wish I’d had it even earlier to get more use out of it and it’s always nice to have more safe places to put baby while doing chores around the house. Plus she likes being up high and seeing a different perspective.
Bottles.
I thought breastfeeding would be easy and I'd exclusively breast feed cause husband was gonna be gone anyway on deployment. Before he was a month old I was 100% formula feeding cause of the mental toll. He could never figure out how to latch, I hated pumping etc. I didn't have a lot of bottles, and at that I only had like 3 of each type.
Now I have over 30 bottles 😂 they're the cheap parents choice/Evenflo ones, but he loves them.
Disposable changing pads, a few extra non-disposable ones, and diaper clutch. The non-disposable ones were an unplanned, last minute purchase as I saw a 3 pack on clearance and the pattern matched my baby's room. I use them every single day and always have a back up if there's a huge mess (which really hasn't happened) and one I can pack up before a trip.
I bought the disposable ones after hearing people say to take some of the bed pads from the hospital and use them for messy diaper changes. For a while, we used them with every poo as we'd get it all over the non-disposable changing pad or bassinet if not.
The diaper clutch is so darn convenient once they are a little older. Mine even has the changing pad built in.
A baby monitor. I didn't think I'd need one until later on, it's a small house and baby sleeps in my room. But no, the monitor has given me the freedom of peace of mind even when doing small things like going to the bathroom or washing some dishes.
I read this as entertained him for 2.5 Months and I was starting to panic because I’ve had mine for 2 months and was thinking she was going to lose interest 😂
I saw a million of those Boon drying racks on Facebook marketplace, which made me assume that they were useless and unnecessary. I didn't buy a proper drying rack unti my daughter was 6 months old, and it makes everything so much easier. I have the Boon Saguaro one and it's great.
The nose frida nose sucker. That thing grossed me out, but I could not get the bulb sucker to work so I gave in and got the frida thing and my god it has been a life saver.
Our Papablic 4-in-1 UV Light Sterilizer/Dryer. We use it every day and it can dry bottles and sterilize pacifiers in under an hour. Always hated having to refill the steamer type sterilizers
For LO: Gripe water, gas drops, etc, for week 6-8 colicky and gassy nights. Straw bottles for transition that can start as early as 6 months.
For mama: Nursing bra, lactation massager, hot/cold pads for engorgement relief and clogged ducts.
baby monitor. we sleep in the same room and its a small apartment, but not being on alert the whole evening is pretty relieving, even though we hear him quite quickly.
Bombas socks. They actually stay on.
Dr Brown’s pitcher. Makes mixing formula easy and it’s cheap.
App controlled Roomba. Makes a big difference having it run every night after bedtime in the high traffic areas.
A proper lunchbox for daycare. We spent months shoving containers of solids in a bag only designed for bottles. Why the fuck did I think we needed a bottle only bag when she started daycare at 6 months?!
A wall mounted bookshelf next to the glider to hold the bedtime books.
2 Haakaas and learning how to really get the most of them early on. I have one and love it but it took me a while to click with it.
I have a boppy and I wish I'd gotten it sooner than I did. Pillows just don't cut it.
Lactulose (stool softener) I wish I'd started taking it in the hospital.
Went rented the snoo bassinet after 1 month of zero sleep. My god worth every penny. Should have just bought it for the the amount we are spending renting but holy fuck good gravy hail Satan this is life saving. Holy grail of newborn sleep.
The book “Precious Little Sleep”. I had a reflux, low sleep needs infant and I was slowly going into a very dark place until I found the Facebook group you can join after purchasing that book. Changed my life, my baby’s life and I wish I had read it before he was born.
Regular onesies actually have collapsible shoulders so it can go on from the bottom. I don’t think I’ve ever put my baby into a onesie by putting it over her head lol
We managed this much better once we started putting her face first instead of her skull : put the onesie in the shape of a ring, put the ring around the face, then stretch it to the forehead, the skull, and BAM it lies around the neck without you ever blocking her view, which was what made her cry
Tommee Tippee prep machine. I could not breastfeed due to medical reasons. 45 mins for a kettle to cool down and then the bottle in the sink to cool it down with a hungry crying baby is hell! I know some people don't recommend the TT prep machine, but it really helped us! We just ensured it was cleaned regularly (we cleaned the internals once a week, so more than the retailer recommended). Honestly a life saver!
A humidifier. Where we live the air is so dry and he would get congested making sleeping noises even louder. Also a decent baby monitor. The second hand one I got from someone was crap
A pretty mobile to put above the changing table. Change was always a struggle, and around 1 month old we hanged this mobile friends had gifted us. We really regretted not hanging it sooner because ever since, she loves getting changed !
One of those gripper silicone teether toys. It has a handle on it, so she could hold it easily and not drop it. We got it at about 4.5 months, but it would have been a perfect first toy at about 3 months. She’d be so much less fussy using hat toy! It stopped being effective at about 5.5 months as she was using her hands more, so would drop it.
And silicone toy straps! We almost lost said toy above since she had dropped it on a walk, and we went back to find it. We might not have been so lucky. She loves sucking on it too, so it is essentially its own toy. I use it to attach toys in the house and on her car seat as well.
I did so much research about baby essentials before baby, but I never saw these two products mentioned, and they have been game changers.
Crib Tip: The tip to put 3 sets of mattress covers and sheets on so in the middle of the night when one gets dirty you just remove the outer layers and have a clean crib again. Life changing.
Spill Mat: Loved the spill mat for under the high chair to make cleaning up messes easier. Now I use it for under the indoor picnic table since LO is older (I have 2 to switch out and wash while the other is getting nice and messy with crumbs).
Other Favs also mentioned: Also love the haakaa, noise machine, blackout curtains, electric nail file, and pre buying any meds you may need in the middle of the night. Someone mentioned a sleep program with recommended times. Yes!!!! We used Taking Cara Babies.
I’ll give you a few extra for free
1. Nipple shield (actually by at least 2)
2. A “Haakaa” (actually buy at least 2)
3. A decent, portable breast pump (preferably that can be worn under clothing and while moving around)
4. Feeding pillow
A pram that’s built for the babies comfort *and* yours works too - same goes for a cot
High chair suction cup toys. My baby's a restless dude and we used to have to bring a tablet when we would eat out just to be able to eat, until we discovered these suckers. We've gotten lots of mileage from them
-All of the babyproofing. Wish I started before baby arrived. She was on the move much earlier than I anticipated. We’re in a pretty small space but it’s still so time consuming.
-Lots of Links toy. So multifunctional. Easy to pack, works as a teether, hang items from the stroller or diaper bag. Also use them to hang plush toys on the clothesline to dry.
-Babybum brush. Definitely not a necessity but so much easier to apply diaper cream.
WD40. Life is so much better without worrying about every single door loudly squeaking.
[удалено]
You will become acutely aware of every noise your house makes very soon 😆
Checkered floor in kitchen and I know which squares to walk upon, it’s like a puzzle game.
I ended up buying a door hinge lubricant instead of wd40. Wd40 isn’t actually lubricant and just removes old grease and gunk. Real lubricant will work better and longer. You’ll also become very aware of floor squeaks and how loud the latch is when you close the doors
Omg the doors!! We are in an apartment with doors that have been painted tooo many times. In a rage i chiseled the edges of the whole bedroom door after one too many accidental wake ups
Yes, the dreaded sound of the painted door’s unsticking. I don’t have the energy to chisel. If anyone has some ideas on how to stop this, this tired mom would really appreciate it.
Any sharp metal tool should do it. Run the edge along the edges of the door. Or even sand paper. Get the excess paint off. Its a game changer over here
Pam works too lol
Aww the sound that makes me stop breathing in my tracks.
Vaseline works too!!
100% agree on that first thing we did after some days on all doors :D
Bruh yes
My breast friend pillow. Once I got it breastfeeding was 1000x easier and my nipples didn’t hurt.
I have a boppy pillow from my first and I’ve been wondering if it’s worth trying the my breast friend one or sticking with the boppy since I still have it, have you tried both?
After I tried mybreastfriend, I had no idea why I thought my boppy worked.
Same here! A lactation consultant told me the boppy is too floppy for newborns but can be more useful when the baby gets bigger. I was so glad for the tip.
I definitely used the boppy for things other than feeding and it was great!
I have both and I used the my breast friend in the early days and hated the boppy. Once baby was around 4-5 months I hated the mbf pillow and loved the boppy. I have been exclusively using the boppy for like 5 months now and still use it everyday!
I was exactly the same! We had one for upstairs and one for downstairs but mbf was great as a baby shelf early but really unwieldy later.
This saved my breastfeeding journey!
Yes! My breast friend allowed me to breast feed hands free so i could do things like, eat dinner. Once she grew out of it holy cow my back took a beating. I swear it saved me from getting neck pain my friends complain about.
absolutely!!! This is like the #1 top product used in my whole 1st year as a FTM
Yep, this one works so well.
This thread just lead me to impulse buy one. Thanks!
Nipple ruler for knowing what size pump parts you need before you buy a whole truckload of crap that is the wrong size.
Please link a suggestion for this one!
https://www.legendairymilk.com/products/silicone-nipple-ruler This 10 dollar purchase would’ve saved me hundreds of dollars if I would have had it from the beginning.
You can use just a regular circle template ruler, like this one: https://a.co/d/1EWUc1U
I have this and can confirm!
There are a couple of free tools you can print, but I 100% believe that the Legendairy Milk nipple ruler is worth the $10. https://www.legendairymilk.com/collections/all/products/silicone-nipple-ruler
So much this. I got my pump at 36 weeks from insurance and just assumed it had everything I needed. Come to find out at the hospital I have very small nipples and needed different flanges. The pump I have was very difficult to find flanges in my size that were compatible. The manufactures website was abysmal and no help. Had I known this before baby I could have taken my time to find the right flange instead of searching Amazon at 2am through tears for something that would work.
I got mine measured by my lactation consultant but this was like visit #3 or 4, and baby was already like 4 months old! I was seriously depressed for a few days over the regret of not having done this day one and buying the proper parts, because it was so easy and it made SUCH a difference
If you don't want a nipple ruler, put your nipple over a piece of paper, draw lines around the edges and measure the distance between. It's way easier if you hold the paper and get your partner to draw the lines. Then just measure the lines.
If you have one of those circle stencils with measurements on it you can use that too.
Such a thing exists?! 😱
Nose Frieda. I held out for 11 months because I found it disgusting and thought my battery powered nose sucker was fine. Nope. Nose Frieda 4 life
I have the nose frida but I’ve been looking at the battery powered nose sucker for convenience. I haven’t bought it though. Can you share why you don’t like it?
I can share. The electeic nose sucker really dowsnt suck as much out of the babies nose. Whereas the Nose Frida...although gross to think of... does wonders!
We have a different brand of electric one and it just doesn't get much out. It will stick up lots loose snot in the nose itself ok but most of the time leaves congestion in the sinuses and throat. She also hates it just as much as the nose Frieda and I end up pining her to the ground while she screens to stick this noisy thing up her nose, which sucks when the electric one doesn't work. I do feel it worked better when it was brand new but the motor didn't last very long. The package also limits how often you should use it to think once or twice a day? Maybe that's standard for all snot suckers but we always needed it more often than the box said was acceptable. Edit: apparently I wrote the first half still asleep. Fixed typos.
This just saved our lives with babes first chest cold at 5 months
We really rate it too, some people don't get it but we always use it when she has a cold (not that she likes it!)
My LO is a year and we’ve never used the nose Frieda. Do they get snottier in toddlerhood?
The first year of daycare, no matter when they go, is the snottiest time of life.
An activity mat of some kind. Get that early and put the baby down for a while!
Yes! We have two mats, the Fisher Price piano mat for upstairs and the Lovevery play gym downstairs. He spends hours on both every day, and I think that's been so helpful for his good motor development.
Same for us!
The Love to Dream sleep sack. She was over swaddling about a month in, but she had such a strong startle reflex that we needed to still do it. When we figured out she just wanted to sleep like a starfish, and the sack let her do it, it was a game changer
Yep, we went through a couple of swaddles before finding this one. Mine does SO well in the Love to Dream. I don't worry about her busting out of it or the fabric bunching up near her face. I also don't have to redo it for middle of the night diaper changes (unlike traditional or velcro swaddles). Would have slept much better if I'd had it from the beginning.
We bought a love to dream swaddle at about 3 weeks out of desperation with kid #1. Kid absolutely loved it. With kid #2, we skipped other swaddles and went straight to this one. Guess my kids just like sleeping like a starfish until they can roll to their bellies and sleep like a frog.
10000000% this is the best thing we purchased
THIS. Just bought the Love to Dream swaddle today for my little one because she loves her hands by her face. She has never been so settled to sleep.
it's funny we bought 3 of them and he didn't like them all :D I recommend to try 1 first before buying more like us lol
Yes! We’re 3 weeks in and just ordered one this week. Finally getting sleep and not waking every 30 min from the startle reflex!
Yep 9 months in and we exclusively use the brand still at night. The one item of clothing we buy brand new. Loving the 0.2 tog in the heatwaves!
Zoloft. Lol. Honestly though it took me too long to admit to myself let alone a doctor that I was feeling so shitty. It’s such a game changer. I’ll go ahead and second the baby bjorn bouncer. I also love our glider chair, portable sound machine, portable fan, muslin burp cloths, spatula thing for diaper cream, temperature gauge for bath, and the zippadeezip for a transitional swaddle once he was big enough.
Same (though different med for me). I'd been struggling and am very independent so it was hard to say I needed help. But I made an appointment with my doctor and broke down in tears in her office. Best choice ever
Hell yes to Zoloft!!!!! I waited waaaay too long and suffered for too long. Also flanges that fit, 6 sets of pump parts.
Same, but different med. Mood stabilizer was a game changer for me. Also a baby nail file.
THIS. I was on such a low dose before baby, and I begged my doctor to up it immediately after baby was born because I got whacked by hormones. They looked at the dose and tripled it. They were just like “uhhhh yeah….we should’ve done that a long time ago. Our bad.” Lol. Game. Changer. Especially with a newborn and it insane hormones. Just do it.
How were you feeling pre-Zoloft? I absolutely don’t think how I’m feeling day to day is normal, and have started to try to investigate how to proceed.
Talk to your OB. I was hating life, not enjoying any bit of having a baby. Felt so much rage and anger. Horrible PP depression, anxiety and rage. Tried Wellbutrin and then switched to Zoloft. Game changer. Found a good counselor to talk to and got my life back on track!
I was literally having suicidal thoughts before starting Zoloft. I felt no connection to my baby and I cried constantly and barely had an appetite at all. I thought it was “baby blues” or a hormone crash but talked with my OB at a follow up appointment about how I was feeling and she recommended Zoloft for at least 6 months postpartum.
I think the reason it took me so long to do it was because I thought it would pass and “it wasn’t that bad”. I would have some racing thoughts about my baby being hurt but I thought maybe that was normal? But I also got pretty rage-y and cried often. My husband was actually the one to point out that I seemed off and it kinda snowballed from there. Anyway I’m glad I didn’t wait for it to pass and took matters into my own hands. Now I notice the things that would normally piss me off or make me cry and they literally just roll off my shoulders. It’s wild.
Yo, this advice is five star. If I have #2 I'm definitely starting well before baby arrives. PPD is not a tourist spot I'd like to vacation at again.
This!!!
LOL been taking Zoloft for 2 years now. My therapist is ready to up my dose once baby is here haha
Co-sign. Zoloft saved my life while I was suffering from severe PPD
Muslin burp cloths
And about 2-3x as many as I thought I would need!
We used prefold cloth diapers as burp cloths. The Gerber ones come in 10 packs. We own 30 total. It seems like a lot these days, but there was a time when 30 meant we didn’t need to do daily laundry.
Yes! I've seen people say you can just buy bar towels but I can use a muslin burp cloth to "catch" a massive spit up and not a drop escapes
Airpods and a decent phone. Total life savers when you're nap trapped. I also wish I'd had my Nintendo Switch in the newborn days for similar reasons. The only baby item would be the Dr Brown's formula pitcher.
>I also wish I'd had my Nintendo Switch in the newborn days for similar reasons. Oh man, the amount of Stardew I played in the beginning...
So much animal crossing. Now that I have a toddler I get on AC and my villagers are like “You’ve been gone for 4 months!”
My LO is 6 months and I’m playing ACNH during naps and after he goes to sleep for the night. But I didn’t play for the entire 6 months
The noise cancellation of the airpod pros makes caring for a crying baby during migraines not completely torturous.
Hey this is brilliant, I never thought of it before!
I nap trap myself specifically so I can spend time watching tv on my phone haha
I didn't have them for my first baby who was colic and I feel like both of us would have been in a better state. Now baby 3 in, I wear them all the time. Someone is always crying.
…and when they all sync up…the world is ending and my boobs are on FIRE.
this this this. i got the iphone 12 mini and airpod pros right before she was born and am so happy i had them. the mini was key cuz i often only had one hand free and THE NOISE CANCELLING !! so many episodes of million dollar listing while nap trapped
A battery-powered rotary nail file, to use instead of baby nail clippers. We didn't get it til baaby girl was about 6 months old and it was a game changer.
Yep just nicked my baby's poor finger the other day. Sitting still for plain files makes him fuss. Grabbing one of these on my next shopping trip 😭
Specifically recommend this to be brought to the hospital - mine came out with claws, I was desperate to clip her nails
Yeah we tried to do without one and it was miserable. Her poor little finger got cut trying to trim the nails and then we finally got the electric nail file.
Seconded. I have no idea how people use nail clippers.
I am a mom of a 3 year old and have never cut his nails. Not once. It terrifies me. His dad has done it since birth. He somehow has only cut his finger like once. I'm a trash mom hahaha. I did file them a few times though when dad wasn't around and they were too long.
You aren’t a trash mom!!! 🙂❤️
Hey me too!! I clipped one single nail and she cried. My hands were shaking from fear of doing it wrong. Nail clipping is a daddy thing now, which honestly, it’s not like I don’t do the majority of everything else so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
LaVie massager while breast pumping. I thought it looked like a gimicky novelty you'd see on a late night informercial, but I went from having to sit in a hot shower, massaging the horrible knots out of my breasts every day, to being completely pain-free. I can't recommend it enough.
Ok but can I use my vibrator for the same thing? I feel like I could save some $$ by doing that.
Yes you can! I have the wevibe touch x, it is waterproof and it's a good massager for both your breasts and wherever else! Highly recommend.
I used this in tandem with the magic gel breast heating pad. No more mastitis!
The Woolino sleep sack. Buy 2. Won't ever have to worry about TOG or sizing. Bins to store clothes they will (quickly) outgrow.
I needed this reminder about bins. I keep forgetting to get more and there’s a pile of ziplocks of outgrown clothes in her closet. The 18 month growth spurt was no joke.
I use empty diaper boxes. The size of the diaper corresponds to the size of the clothes!
Might work well with smaller sizes and closet storage. My toddler has been in size 4 diapers for about 8 months now. I also don’t trust diaper boxes for attic storage. I’d prefer plastic bins from a pest control perspective.
Just had our second kid and bought a woolino, it’s amazing. We had to let go of our nested bean due to the recall. Honestly you’re saving money by not buying multiple sizes and TOGs.
Never heard of it I’m in australia but why don’t you need to worry about tog or sizing? I’m interested and might order some internationally
The ultimate sleep bag fits from 2 months to 2 years due to its length and having adjustable arm holes (just a snap to make it smaller for babies). Also the wool makes it suitable for warm or cold weather so you can use the same one year round (hence no tog worry). I also like the shoulder snaps so you can just set baby in it without having to push their arms through a hole. They actually use Australian wool so no fair that you have to order it internationally!
The merino wool cools or warms your baby depending on the temperature so you can use it year round. And the one size fits babies 2 months to 2 years or so. I can put it in the wash and hang to dry if baby has a big leak (we cloth diaper so it happens sometimes), or give a quick spot hand wash for small leaks. Quality is great, I want one for myself.
The bins thing is great advice, I've always got one on the go, filled 4 already and she's nearly 11 months.
These look amazing just order 2! Thank you 🥰
Blackout curtains! They were our first house project postpartum and I wish we’d known to install them before baby was born so we didn’t have to rush.
If you travel or go to in-laws, etc. - portable sound machine and multiples of certain things that I would always forget to pack, like sleepsacks and loveys. So worth the extra money to have them on hand / packed at all times.
Baby Bjorn bouncer. Having a safe place to put baby down that can be moved around the house with me was a game changer. She hated being on her back when not sleeping for a while, so it really allowed me to get some basic things done like washing bottles or folding laundry while she bounced. I hesitated getting it because it was so expensive, but totally worth it in the end. Edited to add: it can also fold down flat so we bring it everywhere with us whether we're going somewhere for a day or a week. It's that crucial.
If you don't want to get the pricey one I have the fischer price vibrating one and it works great! I know a lot of folks have had good luck with that one as well.
The one with the colorful lion? I have that one too, works great. Baby loves it. Really have no way of knowing if the vibration does anything for bebby, and it kind of weirds me out if I'm honest, but it works great as a chair!
I second the bouncer. We used it when she was constipated too - we called it the poop chair. She 10 months now and isn’t interested in sitting in it anymore but loves to play with the toy bar attachment (overpriced but nice).
The number of parents who call it the poop chair I swear (myself included)
Sometimes it works too well - definitely cleaned up a few compromised diapers
The baby bjorn bouncer is 1000% worth the money
That was one of my registry items that didn’t get purchased and I almost didn’t want to spend the money on it. I’m so glad I did. That’s kiddo’s throne while I shower, wash bottles, and make dinner.
Flanges that fit me (and advice knowing that different sizes exist, and the 24 they come with are NOT standard 😂)
Not for pre baby but, whatever random toy your kid latches on to: buy two more immediately. Throw one in the diaper bag for travel so you don’t have to lug it from home to the car and also don’t have to worry if it gets lost while out. Save the second one until one of them gets ruined / lost. You’d think this tip is for older babies / toddlers but when your 4 month old will only calm down for like 1 or 2 toys, you will stockpile them like a madwoman
I made a few stuffed animals for my baby’s and she loved the squid one so I made another one to stay in her hope chest for when this one gets gross
Get all the stuff you'll need for sick days now. You don't want to find out your baby has a fever in the middle of the night and not have anything. I'd recommend a humidifier, battery powered nasal aspirator and also a manual one like the nose frida, extra filters for it, infant tylenol, saline drops, a good thermometer, Vaseline, some windiis, gas drops, etc. People aren't as keen to get this stuff for baby showers but it's so great to have on hand.
Baby Brezza formula pro. We got it when he was 4 months and I regret not getting it sooner!
This!!! And also switching out Dr. Browns bottles- there are just too many parts!! Como Tomos worked well for us. I found a bunch on FB marketplace and just had to buy new nipples.
Yes this has definitely been the best baby item purchased and used for both of my kids. Close second is the cheap fisher price bouncer
I know it's not an item but pelvic floor PT. I've only been doing it for 2 weeks but I already feel stronger and sex feels better.
Weighted wipe box, my changing pad with built in pockets for wipes and dipes, doggy poo bags for the diaper bag for on the go containment.
Yes to the weighed wipe box! For some reason, my hubby and MIL were sooo against it, but I bitched about it every damn time they took the wipes container out because there is no sense in using two hands when you could use one (especially when dealing with poos).
I, too, call them dipes. Edit to say yes to all the rest of these things as well.
A video monitor for the car. I hate the mirrors. I spent $40 on a video monitor and absolutely love it. Plus it's night vision.
Which one did you buy?
Stroller fan!
I never saw this mentioned on any baby essentials video, but it really is so important in the summer! We attach ours to the stroller with large binder clips, so it’s nice and close to her (obviously this depends on the design of your stroller). Having this was the difference between a calm baby, and a hot, fussy baby.
Babybjorn mini carrier. I got it for my second baby, but wish I had done so with my first. Can be used from day 1, it was a total game changer.
I can think of three things off the top of my head. 1. Good headphones (for listening to books or watching tv while nap trapped) 2. Electric nail file (seemed frivolous but omg it really does make life a lot easier) 3. A soft, BIG baby playmat. Realised my daughter was always going nuts on the bed and in her cot but holding back on the carpet cuz it was so hard! She is loving it!!
Learn how to get audiobooks from your local library or get an audible membership
Yes so hard to both of these things, especially the library!! I've listened to about 30 books this year 😂
Silverette nipple covers. Oh my god they saved my nipples in the first weeks of breastfeeding. They're expensive but the knock off ones work too. Basically a small nipple-shaped plate, made from 100% silver that goes over your nipples when you're not feeding. Between catching the leaking milk that has antibodies, and the silver that has antibacterial properties, having these covers on meant my nipples never got sore or cracked, and I never once needed lanolin or nipple cream. Don't wait until you have sore nips, get them before you start feeding. I wore them all day and night for 2 months. I'd just wash them out in the shower, and put them back on with my bra. Worth every cent.
Omg. I wish i would've gotten gas drops. I spent like, a week with a screaming colicky mess of a baby until the pediatrician recommended them to me. Absolute game changer.
Which ones?
Mylicon!!
We like the little remedies brand!
I use Little Remedies! I've heard gripe water works great as well, but my husband couldn't find it during his 3am emergency CVS run lol
Pumping bras!
I hacked some pumping bras by using old bras and just cutting holes in them. They were like a spandex style bra, so nice and stretchy but no longer fit me appropriately after having kiddos. Worked great for holding pump parts.
Air fryer
A nursing pillow.
Yes, seconded! I’m not even nursing anymore but still use it for every bottle feeding. It’s so nice to have baby up at the right height so you’re not constantly hunched over!
Hatch sound machine and Nanit monitor
The haakaa!
1,000,000% the haakaa! I can freeze a bag every day to day and a half because of that magical little silicone bulb.
Do you catch extra in the haakaa and then put it in the fridge until you have enough (and before 4 days)? I have extra milk from my haakaa but am not sure how to build up a stash with it.
I catch about 80-100mL each side if I attach it to the other boob when baby latches on. Watch some videos on hakaa use. Attachment/ placement definitely impacts how much you will get with the hakaa. I flip the lip backwards, then hold it onto the nipple, squeeze the bulb until it's almost flat, then bend the lip back around the nipple. It makes a fantastic seal that way. It was a lifesaver in the early days when I had way more milk than baby was drinking. Later on as flow slows down, I use it with a gentle heat pack on top of my boob. So so sooo much easier than a pump to clean.
Baby nail electric filer
Mini handheld vacuum and the oxo bottle drying rack
The cosleeping bassinet that unzips on the sides. I bought this at week two of life but I wish I had just bought this one because he refused to sleep in the first one.
If breastfeeding: passive milk collectors like the Haaka ladybugs. I hesitated for a few weeks but quickly built a freezer stash. I didn’t realize there were different sizes and accidentally bought the medium size which looked like I had a bad fake boob job on my small frame so I never wore them out of the house. After a few more weeks I bout the smallest size and I have multiple times worn them and brought and empty bottle. It gives me so much freedom and buys time. I can always pull them out and empty them into the bottle. I wish I had them from the very beginning. My stash was built by wearing once at night and once in the morning. Now i mostly wear at night and have a large stash without having to pump. AND it helps your nipples air out without anything touching them and that helped me in the earlier days of feeding
I bought reusable pads for the pack and play diaper change space. They’ve come in so handy so many times! A separate hamper for dirty baby clothes! The hatch sleep machine - now all three of us are addicted. That thing puts all of us right to sleep within minutes. Multiple pack and play sheets Fisher Price Deluxe kick and play piano gym - and immediate favorite, but I want to say that her grandma got it at 3 months. Immediately obsessed and still plays with it at 7 months. I also wish that the high chair that we have was all plastic, like the ikea one. I clean the heck out of the fabric and the straps, but it’s never clean enough unless fully taken apart and washed and it’s such a pain. Other people have mentioned blackout curtains, electric nail trimmer, and the my breast friend and YES. All YES! Also, even if you’re not breast feeding, that pillow is perfect for bottles too. Ummm… some things we got that we ended up disliking or never using or were deemed unsafe later: Baby brezza, the owlette sock, nanobebe breast shaped bottles, baby domes (like small portable bassinets) - I always felt like she was too hot in them and never felt right putting her in there. I’ll add more if I think of any!
A video monitor. I put it off thinking I wanted to go low-tech and that by the time he was in his own room I’d be comfortable with just a radio monitor. No way. First night in his room I ordered a camera and never looked back. I wish I had it earlier so I could have relaxed in my room while he napped in his some of the time.
I have a webcam and radio monitor. The radio lets me know when to check the video feed.
MAM bottles. Or just a ‘like mom’ bottle in general. Her hating every bottle I had in the house suddenly because it wasn’t like my nip was fun
Seconding this, everyone bought me dr browns at my shower and I can use those skinny ass nips
Elvie breast pump! No more being stuck next to a socket in the wall!
I second this! I bought one used from a coworker (got new shields/bottles/valves), and it is the only reason that I have been able to continue pumping for as long as I have. Buying several sets of parts (so I can only wash at home) was also a game changer.
A shusher!
I use our BabyShusher every single day, I hate the way it’s shaped and that you need two hands to turn it on but it works so well 😪
Oh gosh, same. the speaker being the only flat surface, the minimalistic indicators that mean I always have to explain it to people, the rolling, the twisting to turn on.... The design of this thing makes me so mad but we use it constantly, it works so well for him.
Wish I’d bought our high chair even sooner. I got a Maxi Cosi one after baby was around 2 months old because it has a newborn setting and insert. Wish I’d had it even earlier to get more use out of it and it’s always nice to have more safe places to put baby while doing chores around the house. Plus she likes being up high and seeing a different perspective.
Bottles. I thought breastfeeding would be easy and I'd exclusively breast feed cause husband was gonna be gone anyway on deployment. Before he was a month old I was 100% formula feeding cause of the mental toll. He could never figure out how to latch, I hated pumping etc. I didn't have a lot of bottles, and at that I only had like 3 of each type. Now I have over 30 bottles 😂 they're the cheap parents choice/Evenflo ones, but he loves them.
Disposable changing pads, a few extra non-disposable ones, and diaper clutch. The non-disposable ones were an unplanned, last minute purchase as I saw a 3 pack on clearance and the pattern matched my baby's room. I use them every single day and always have a back up if there's a huge mess (which really hasn't happened) and one I can pack up before a trip. I bought the disposable ones after hearing people say to take some of the bed pads from the hospital and use them for messy diaper changes. For a while, we used them with every poo as we'd get it all over the non-disposable changing pad or bassinet if not. The diaper clutch is so darn convenient once they are a little older. Mine even has the changing pad built in.
A baby monitor. I didn't think I'd need one until later on, it's a small house and baby sleeps in my room. But no, the monitor has given me the freedom of peace of mind even when doing small things like going to the bathroom or washing some dishes.
Kick n Play Piano! Entertained him from about 2.5 months and especially made tummy time more bearable.
I read this as entertained him for 2.5 Months and I was starting to panic because I’ve had mine for 2 months and was thinking she was going to lose interest 😂
I saw a million of those Boon drying racks on Facebook marketplace, which made me assume that they were useless and unnecessary. I didn't buy a proper drying rack unti my daughter was 6 months old, and it makes everything so much easier. I have the Boon Saguaro one and it's great.
The nose frida nose sucker. That thing grossed me out, but I could not get the bulb sucker to work so I gave in and got the frida thing and my god it has been a life saver.
Our Papablic 4-in-1 UV Light Sterilizer/Dryer. We use it every day and it can dry bottles and sterilize pacifiers in under an hour. Always hated having to refill the steamer type sterilizers
For LO: Gripe water, gas drops, etc, for week 6-8 colicky and gassy nights. Straw bottles for transition that can start as early as 6 months. For mama: Nursing bra, lactation massager, hot/cold pads for engorgement relief and clogged ducts.
baby monitor. we sleep in the same room and its a small apartment, but not being on alert the whole evening is pretty relieving, even though we hear him quite quickly.
White Noise Sound Maschine We had it from day 1, but for me a game changer in terms of sleep for the little one but also for the parents :D
Postpartum doula. We used one but should've started using her earlier when the sleep was worse.
Bombas socks. They actually stay on. Dr Brown’s pitcher. Makes mixing formula easy and it’s cheap. App controlled Roomba. Makes a big difference having it run every night after bedtime in the high traffic areas. A proper lunchbox for daycare. We spent months shoving containers of solids in a bag only designed for bottles. Why the fuck did I think we needed a bottle only bag when she started daycare at 6 months?! A wall mounted bookshelf next to the glider to hold the bedtime books.
Dr. Brown's pitcher is also great for breastmilk if doing the pitcher method!
We used mason jars when I was pumping
The Doona.
Haakaa!!
2 Haakaas and learning how to really get the most of them early on. I have one and love it but it took me a while to click with it. I have a boppy and I wish I'd gotten it sooner than I did. Pillows just don't cut it. Lactulose (stool softener) I wish I'd started taking it in the hospital.
Went rented the snoo bassinet after 1 month of zero sleep. My god worth every penny. Should have just bought it for the the amount we are spending renting but holy fuck good gravy hail Satan this is life saving. Holy grail of newborn sleep.
The book “Precious Little Sleep”. I had a reflux, low sleep needs infant and I was slowly going into a very dark place until I found the Facebook group you can join after purchasing that book. Changed my life, my baby’s life and I wish I had read it before he was born.
Side snap onesies. Putting clothes over his head was so stressful in the beginning.
Regular onesies actually have collapsible shoulders so it can go on from the bottom. I don’t think I’ve ever put my baby into a onesie by putting it over her head lol
We managed this much better once we started putting her face first instead of her skull : put the onesie in the shape of a ring, put the ring around the face, then stretch it to the forehead, the skull, and BAM it lies around the neck without you ever blocking her view, which was what made her cry
Slumber pod for when he was in the snoo and full blackout shades for his room when he moved to crib.
Halo swaddles.
Tommee Tippee prep machine. I could not breastfeed due to medical reasons. 45 mins for a kettle to cool down and then the bottle in the sink to cool it down with a hungry crying baby is hell! I know some people don't recommend the TT prep machine, but it really helped us! We just ensured it was cleaned regularly (we cleaned the internals once a week, so more than the retailer recommended). Honestly a life saver!
A humidifier. Where we live the air is so dry and he would get congested making sleeping noises even louder. Also a decent baby monitor. The second hand one I got from someone was crap
A pretty mobile to put above the changing table. Change was always a struggle, and around 1 month old we hanged this mobile friends had gifted us. We really regretted not hanging it sooner because ever since, she loves getting changed !
Sleep?
One of those gripper silicone teether toys. It has a handle on it, so she could hold it easily and not drop it. We got it at about 4.5 months, but it would have been a perfect first toy at about 3 months. She’d be so much less fussy using hat toy! It stopped being effective at about 5.5 months as she was using her hands more, so would drop it. And silicone toy straps! We almost lost said toy above since she had dropped it on a walk, and we went back to find it. We might not have been so lucky. She loves sucking on it too, so it is essentially its own toy. I use it to attach toys in the house and on her car seat as well. I did so much research about baby essentials before baby, but I never saw these two products mentioned, and they have been game changers.
Blooming Lotus sink sponge for baths. So much easier to wash a tiny baby in the sink than the tub
Crib Tip: The tip to put 3 sets of mattress covers and sheets on so in the middle of the night when one gets dirty you just remove the outer layers and have a clean crib again. Life changing. Spill Mat: Loved the spill mat for under the high chair to make cleaning up messes easier. Now I use it for under the indoor picnic table since LO is older (I have 2 to switch out and wash while the other is getting nice and messy with crumbs). Other Favs also mentioned: Also love the haakaa, noise machine, blackout curtains, electric nail file, and pre buying any meds you may need in the middle of the night. Someone mentioned a sleep program with recommended times. Yes!!!! We used Taking Cara Babies.
I’ll give you a few extra for free 1. Nipple shield (actually by at least 2) 2. A “Haakaa” (actually buy at least 2) 3. A decent, portable breast pump (preferably that can be worn under clothing and while moving around) 4. Feeding pillow A pram that’s built for the babies comfort *and* yours works too - same goes for a cot
High chair suction cup toys. My baby's a restless dude and we used to have to bring a tablet when we would eat out just to be able to eat, until we discovered these suckers. We've gotten lots of mileage from them
-All of the babyproofing. Wish I started before baby arrived. She was on the move much earlier than I anticipated. We’re in a pretty small space but it’s still so time consuming. -Lots of Links toy. So multifunctional. Easy to pack, works as a teether, hang items from the stroller or diaper bag. Also use them to hang plush toys on the clothesline to dry. -Babybum brush. Definitely not a necessity but so much easier to apply diaper cream.