DISCLOSURE: THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING I GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH MY LINKS, AT NO COST TO YOU.
In honor of just having had my second baby, I’m going to be writing the next few articles centered around things you will definitely need with a newborn and things that you can do without.
This is something I am super passionate about in my practice as a postpartum nurse and as a mom trying to provide for my family. I always tell my patients if something is labeled for babies or weddings it is going to cost you 10x more and then I usually proceed to inform people about more cost-effective options or products that I found useful so they don’t waste their money. Everything I suggest is something I personally own and have given to friends and family as gifts. I will go ahead and start by saying that what I am about to tell you and recommend is my opinion and should not be taken as medical advice. You should consult a qualified medical professional before making any decisions related to your health.
Okay, now that that’s out of the way…
6 things I consider a must have as a mom of two and postpartum nurse.
1. Rectal Thermometer
https://amzn.to/43klSNL
It is super important to have a rectal thermometer because this is the most accurate and recommended way to check an infant’s temperature. I know that this can make lots of people nervous but it is necessary to make sure your baby gets treatment at the temperature your doctor recommends. The thermometer I use and buy for people is the Frida Baby rectal thermometer. I love this particular thermometer because it has a short flexible tip and rounded wide base so you can’t insert too far and cause damage which I know made me nervous!
2. Haakaa Silicone Baby Aspirator
https://amzn.to/3XnAB6Z
I recommend having a nasal suction for, not if but when, your child gets sick. I don’t recommend suctioning the nose frequently (it can cause irritation that causes more congestion) but it is nice to have for those deep stubborn boogies since your kid cannot blow their nose yet. I specifically only recommend the Haakaa silicone baby nasal aspirator. I love this bulb suction because the tip is small enough for those tiny baby noses so it causes less irritation. I also appreciate that it is clear so you can see how dirty or clean it is. Plus, you can see when you get that boogie instead of guessing whether it came out or not. My absolute favorite part is that it comes apart! I am self-diagnosed OCD and the blubs that don’t come apart drive me insane! I want to be able to take it apart and clean the bulb suction very well, which I can with this one!
3. Frida Baby the 3 Step Cradle Cap System
https://amzn.to/3QELHAG
Baby’s tend to get cradle cap. Maybe it isn’t right away but at some point, most children will get this dry skin on their heads. Both of my children go through spells where it gets better then worse again. I tried what felt like everything to improve my first son’s cradle cap but nothing worked. I tried the Frida Baby 3 step cradle cap system once and immediately saw significant improvement. First you lather with a soft sponge, then you scrub with the brush to loosen and finally, lift the flakes away with the comb. I will admit the sponge for step one fell off after just two uses but I can easily lather with a rag or my hand. I like the fact it has a little stand that is included. It is great for storage and it helps it dry out and stay clean. I love this system and recommend it to anyone struggling to treat cradle cap in their child.
4. Bath Kneeler
https://amzn.to/4bme4wY
I know I said this post was about must haves with a newborn and people are going to tell me you don’t need this. However, I consider this a must have. I tried giving my son baths with nothing under my knees, then towels until I broke down and purchased a bath kneeler. It is so much more comfortable! I struggled with joint pain at the end of pregnancy and it continued into postpartum so protecting my knees was important to me. I also enjoy that since I was using less towels, I was doing less laundry! This particular bath kneeler is the one I use and can speak to its good quality but there are plenty of other options and some even less expensive. I personally don’t use the elbow pads but they are just as soft as the knee pads and have small places to hold bath toys. The bonus is that it velcros together and fits nicely under my sink when not in use which is a must since my bathroom is tiny!
5. Burp Cloths
https://amzn.to/3QKj5pU
With my first child I needed burp cloths pretty infrequently but I still needed them. He didn’t spit up a lot but there was the occasional reflux. We used them mainly when we were giving him medicine if he was sick. This second kiddo… I need 3-5 burp cloths a day. They need to be stashed in every room and car. I tried every burp cloth I have ever been given or bought however, the only one I would buy again would be a muslin burp cloth. Someone gave me these and I am in love! They are significantly more absorbent than some of the more expensive popular burp cloths and they are very affordable. If having natural fibers for your child is important to you, they are 100% cotton. If you are like me, you enjoy buying cute things for your children, these burp cloths come in cute patterns or basic colors so they are adorable and functional! They also make muslin bibs that are nice since they stay on your child but I don’t consider them a must have since a burp cloth pretty much does the same thing.
6. Munchkin Arm and Hammer Diaper Bag Dispenser
https://amzn.to/41fa7pa
Once again, people are going to say this is not a must have but once again I feel like I must have them. I feel that diaper bags are a must have because your child WILL poop when you are out and about and it WILL go up their back at some point. You could use grocery bags but they often have holes in them, you have to remember to bring some, and they do not contain the smell as well as diaper bags/poop bags. When your child has a dirty diaper and there isn’t a trashcan around you will need to put the diaper somewhere. You aren’t going to want to smell that diaper the whole way in your car and these diaper bags are great at containing smell! Don’t judge but, I have definitely found a dirty diaper in one of these bags weeks after it was changed and had no idea I had forgotten because it didn’t smell! I also use them to put soiled clothes in so it doesn’t get on other items in the diaper bag or car. Be careful to make sure you check it is a diaper and not clothes when you throw them away because I have thrown an outfit assuming it was a diaper. The Munchkin diaper bag dispenser and bags is nice because it has a hook. I hook it to my diaper bag so I always have some. My kids pull all the bags out regularly and I love that this dispenser has a knob on the bottom to roll them back in! And best of all, the dispenser and the refill bags are crazy affordable!
I hope you found this helpful with all the choice overload nowadays! If you decide that any of these products are something you need, I hope you enjoy them much as I do! Leave your opinions in the comment section so I can make sure I am recommending good products and I would love to hear if they helped you too!
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