Sharing my favorite 10 Newborn Baby Must Haves to get you through the first few months with a new baby in 2024!
Below I’m sharing all of my favorite newborn baby must haves as a third time mom! Some of the items below are new to me with this third baby, but many of them I have used with all three of my babies! I’m sharing lots of details on my personal experiences with these newborn essentials so you can hear first hand why they are worth getting! You really don’t need too much for a newborn…but these are the top 10 newborn baby must haves I recommend starting with.
MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUT ALL OF MY PREGNANCY MUST-HAVES AS WELL AS OUR BABY BOY’S NURSERY AND NURSERY MUST-HAVES!
SHOP ALL NEWBORN BABY MUST HAVES:
1. Car Seat
Obviously a car seat is an important baby must-have, but there are a lot of options out there! I heard about the Doona Car Seat / Stroller system while I was pregnant with our third baby, and while it looked amazing, I wasn’t sure if the high price was worth it. I thought about it for a while, did some research, and ultimately decided to try it out. My reasoning was that with this pregnancy, because I have two other boys (ages 4 and 6), I wanted to invest in items that would really help with convenience to make things a little easier for me.
The appeal about the Doona car seat is that it quickly transforms into a stroller! So you don’t have to worry about carrying the heavy car seat around. Even on short walks that can be a big pain and can hurt your neck/back…also no fun when you’re trying to chase your other kids around! They do make small, lightweight car seat strollers that you can buy to go with other car seats, but I just knew that I wouldn’t use that as much because of the extra step to get the separate stroller part out of the trunk. It might sound silly but those little tasks add up so anything I can do to simplify my day with a newborn is worth it to me!
After using the Doona Car Seat Stroller for over a month now, I can say that it was totally worth the price!! The car seat itself is really nice (and comes with newborn inserts) and has great safety ratings. But it has been so nice to transform it into a stroller for quick trips into a store, or while dropping the kids off at school.
Keep in mind, it is not intended to be your only stroller though. It is great for quick trips to and from the car or while at the airport, but I would not recommend using it for walks. It is also heavier than other infant car seats so can be harder to carry up stairs or in and out of the house.
Overall the Doona Car Seat has been worth it for us and I’m glad we invested in it! I also wanted to share that I got a great deal on it from Good Buy Gear! Good Buy Gear is a website that sells gently used and “open box” baby gear at discounted prices, and I was able to get the Doona for $70 off of retail in brand new condition! Definitely check this website out if you are looking to save money on baby items!
For a less expensive option, I really like the Chicco Keyfit 30 Infant Car Seat and used it for my first two babies. You can buy a car seat attachment to use it with most strollers, or a small light-weight stroller base to use with the car seat.
2. Baby Carrier
I’ve always loved baby wearing, but have gotten even more into it this time with our third baby! It’s so convenient to use a baby carrier when I’m trying to get things done around the house, make dinner, or hang out with my two older boys. Especially when the baby needs to take a nap and doesn’t want to be put down. I even nurse him in the carrier!
There are also many benefits for baby wearing, for both mom and baby:
- Babies are calmer and cry less
- Babies are more receptive to learning and are more alert
- It facilitates bonding
- Easy to nurse discreetly and promotes breastfeeding rates and goals
- Makes it easier for parents to complete daily activities
- May help alleviate postpartum depression
- Decreases risk of SIDS and flat-head syndrome
- Improves overall maternal physical health
There are two different baby carrier types that I like to use for different reasons, and I’ll share my favorites below –
Baby Wrap Carrier
I love to use baby wrap carriers, especially during the fourth trimester period! They are so comfortable and my newborn loves to feel swaddled and close to me. He always falls asleep immediately when I wrap him up in one. I mainly wear mine around the house and it can almost function like a shirt. You can practice skin to skin with your baby while wearing one and they are easy to nurse in as well. I also love how they are thin and comfortable so I can sit with it on, keeping my baby close, while still having both hands free to get some work done.
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My favorite baby wrap carrier is the Solly Baby Wrap. The modal material is sooo soft and comfortable! I love how thin the fabric is, while also still being supportive, so it does not feel bulky and really feels like wearing a super soft shirt. The Solly Baby Wraps also come in so many cute colors and prints! The Solly Wrap works with newborns and babies from 7 – 25 lbs. Solly Baby also offers other products like crib sheets, pajamas and swaddles in the same super soft material.
Structured Baby Carrier
I like to use more of a structured baby carrier when I am going on walks or doing something more active. The Ergobaby Embrace Carrier is more structured than a baby wrap carrier but is still sooo comfortable to wear and works really well with my newborn. I love the soft knit material, but it also comes in a cooling mesh version which would be great for warmer weather. It is super easy to put on and my baby loves it. I also love that it can be used in a few different ways – baby can be facing in (towards your chest) or facing out. The Embrace Carrier works with newborns and babies from 7 – 25 lbs.
3. Baby Lounger
I used a baby lounger for the first time with my second son and it was such a game changer! Babies love the feeling of being snuggled and secure while sleeping. Follow safe sleep practices and always use supervised. There are two different baby loungers that I love to use –
I really love the Snuggle Me Organic Baby Lounger for the first few months with a newborn because it really hugs and cushions them.
Once the baby is a few months older, I prefer the Dock A Tot lounger because it is a little roomier so they can look around.
4. Bassinet
There has been a lot of research done that it is important for your baby to sleep in the same room as you for at least the first few months (preferably 6-12 months). If you are not co-sleeping, a bassinet is a must for the first 3 months.
Newton just came out with a new bassinet featuring their 100% breathable and washable mattress! We have a Newton mattress in our baby’s crib because it is the safest option, especially if you have a baby that likes to roll over and sleep on their stomach. The Newton Bassinet is a great option to use in your bedroom to keep baby close to your bed.
5. Baby Bouncer
It’s really nice to have one or two of these bouncers around the house so you have a safe spot to set the baby when you need it. I use mine in the Living Room while I’m folding laundry, in the bathroom while I’m taking a shower, in the Kitchen while I’m making dinner…a baby bouncer is really helpful to have! And once your baby gets a little older and more alert, they love to look around and watch you, so it is nice to have something that props them up a bit so they can see.
This Baby Bjorn bouncer is so popular right now! It’s comfortable and fun for your baby, and has a simple aesthetic design that looks great in any room. You can also attach a toy bar for your baby to look at and play with.
6. Lots of Soft Burp Cloths and Washcloths
You really can’t have too many burp cloths and washcloths around with a newborn…especially if you have one that likes to spit up like mine, haha. I try to keep them all around the house, in my purse, in the car…just in case I need one to clean something up. I am loving these Kyte Baby burp cloths!! They are kind of a splurge but soo nice and soft and absorbant, and a great size. Keep an eye out for a sale to stock up on these!
For a similar and more affordable option, I love these bamboo washcloths from Amazon. They have the same soft feel as the back side of the Kyte Baby burp cloths but are much less expensive (they are a smaller size though). But they are great for throwing in your purse.
These organic muslin burp cloths are also a great deal if you are looking for something larger.
7. Swaddles and Blankets
Swaddles and baby blankets are another item that you can’t really have too many of! I keep these all over the house too, have one in my diaper bag, and a few in the car. You can use them to cover up while nursing, as a car seat cover to block the sun or wind, to keep baby warm on a walk in the stroller, and of course to swaddle.
I really love these stretchy and soft swaddle blankets from Kyte Baby! I feel like because they are so stretchy, you can really wrap them around your baby well to tightly swaddle them – perfect if you have an escape artist baby.
These organic cotton swaddles are great basics to have on hand and come in great colors.
I also love these Halo Sleep Sack Swaddles for newborns!! I always bring them to the hospital and use them at bedtime for the first few months (basically until baby can roll over). They are really easy to use and keep baby wrapped up through the night.
8. Cozy Outfits
Sticking with the cozy soft theme here…i definitely stocked up on cozy outfits for this baby! I just love all of the soft bamboo and modal fabric options! I’ve also been loving knotted gowns. They are perfect for bedtime and easy diaper changes with a newborn.
Little Sleepies makes super cute and soft pj’s, and I love that they make sizes for the whole family so you can all match! They come in bright, colorful, and fun prints that your kids will love.
I also love all of the Kyte Baby footies and gowns. They are made out of super soft bamboo fabric and come in some really pretty neutral colors.
If you are looking for a thicker, warmer material, I love Colored Organics and Loved Baby; both made with soft organic cotton fabrics (that are easy to wash and care for).
9. Diapers and Wipes
I did a lot of research on diapers before having our third baby. It was important to me to find a non-toxic diaper option that also worked well and held in leaks. I had heard so many great things about Coterie Diapers so decided to give them a try! They are pretty expensive, compared to other brands, but they are non-toxic, fragrance free, really soft and sooo absorbent! I do feel like we go through less of them because they hold in so much (I rarely have to change him overnight which is so nice). I also love that they have a monthly auto-ship subscription so I don’t have to worry about running out.
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I’ve heard great things about the Coterie Wipes as well but haven’t tried them yet. I did add them to my order this month so will report back on if I like them! I’ve been using Water Wipes lately and honestly don’t love them so am looking for a replacement. I love that the Water Wipes are non-toxic and fragrance free but they are pretty thin and small so I feel like we go through so many for each diaper change.
10. Nursing Pillow
If you are planning to breastfeed, a nursing pillow is really helpful to have to support your newborn. I always bring mine to the hospital, and use it all the time when I’m nursing on the couch, or in bed at night. It definitely helps to have something to prop your arms up on so they don’t get so tired.
SHOP ALL NEWBORN BABY MUST HAVES:
What were some of your Newborn Baby Must Haves?! Let me know in the comments below!
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