I can’t believe that Raylee is past the newborn stage. She is now over three months old, which means I’m past the “fourth trimester.” Those first three months with a new baby are hard. Lack of sleep, the shrill sound of cries, the poop-filled diapers … having a newborn is a big adjustment. But there are items that help.
We found these ten items to be incredibly helpful during that newborn stage. I’d consider them must-haves for any parent with a baby!
Newborn Must-Haves
This baby carrier is very easy to put on once you know what you are doing. They have lots of videos online to show you how to do different positions. Travis and I used this a lot when we would go places and Raylee would get fussy. It’s great for carrying her around at the grocery store or in a restaurant. As a newborn, she basically always fell asleep in this thing! She was safe and warm up against my chest — her favorite way to fall asleep. The great thing about having a good baby carrier is that you can still use your hands to do things — like eat!
Oh man, this stuff was a life-saver! I am so very thankful that another mama recommended this stuff to us. That first month especially, Raylee would scream and we couldn’t seem to calm her down. We think she had gas that just wouldn’t release. Poor thing! This all-natural remedy really did work for us. We used a syringe, which comes in the package, and dropped it into her mouth. Thankfully, she loved the taste of it and easily took it. It helped really quickly and she was asleep pretty quickly — what a relief! I love this stuff so much I plan to buy it as a gift for every expecting mama I know!
After about a week, Raylee just became too strong for the muslin swaddle blankets that we were using. She would wiggle her way out pretty quickly, which meant waking up. These swaddle blankets that have velcro on them are perfect! We wrap her up in them, secure them with the velcro, and she sleeps so much better! Sometimes, she even falls asleep as soon as we tighten her into one. I love that she can’t wiggle out, because with the blankets I would be up all night checking to make sure it wasn’t covering her mouth or nose. These stay in place all night long, so I can actually sleep too!
I realize everyone has their favorite type of diapers. We have tried every brand out there. We got a package of each brand as gifts before Raylee was born. After trying them all, we love Pampers the best! I love that they have an indicator line that is yellow. When the line turns blue, you know the diaper is wet! It makes it so easy! I also love that they are soft and fit well. Another great thing about going with Pampers diapers is they have a reward system. Anytime you purchase diapers or wipes, you can plug in the reward code on their app and earn points. Eventually you can exchange your points for things like coupons.
Whatever you do, don’t buy the pajamas onesies that button all the way down the front. Nobody has time for that! Especially at 2 a.m., when all you want to do is go back to bed! I love these little zip-up onesies. Raylee looks so cute and cuddly in them. I don’t have to worry about her getting cold, nor do I have to keep putting her socks back on. It’s easy to zip them up or down for diaper changes.
We tried about five different bottles, and the Dr. Brown’s bottles were Raylee’s favorite. She seemed to take them better than any other. They include a vent system (the green tube inside) that reduces air bubble oxidation. That means these bottles are known for reducing colic, spit-up, and gas. That was really important for us since Raylee seemed to have trouble passing gas (which is why we needed the gripe water!).
Once Raylee got old enough to actually notice things and be entertained, she loved sitting in this bouncer seat. It plays music, vibrates, and has toys hanging from the top. She loves looking at the toys. She can sit in it for a long time and be happy. I think it’s adorable! They have a less girly version too.
I first tried this baby wash from Grove Collaborative, and we fell in love! The lavender and meadowsweet one is the best smell ever! Now, it’s all we use. They have other options too like ones for moisturizing, ones for sensitive skin, and plant based ones. They also have sunscreen and other products, but I haven’t tried those just yet.
My cousin told me about this app, and I’m so glad she did. This app tracks your baby’s mental developments based on their due date. Each development is called a “leap” and the app shows when the leaps begin and end. Each leap is explained so you can see how your baby is developing. It’s really interesting. I also love seeing a calendar that shows when she’s likely to be fussy due to the leaps she’s experiencing.
Another cousin got his toy for her baby and as soon as I saw it, I went online and bought one myself! Raylee got into a stage where she was constantly chewing on her hands. She couldn’t hold any teething toys yet because she hadn’t learned to grasp, hold things, or bring things to her mouth yet. This little mitten attaches to the baby’s hand. It’s made of a crinkly material that Raylee loves. She likes chewing on it, and it keeps her from putting her fingers too far down her throat and gagging herself. (No one wants to hear their baby gagging!)
These were our favorite items for Raylee’s first three months of life. Most of them we are still using! Do you use any of these items?
What items would you consider must-haves for the newborn stage?
Check out some of my other posts: