The following is a copy of post from our Facebook.
It truly demonstrated to me the concept of “Sharing Wisdom” so I had to copy it here on our blog. Please feel free to read it though and continue to comment or add your thoughts:
We’ve been talking about how much “stuff” people get when they’re expecting a baby and how much of it is just clutter and unnecessary. We want to put together a list of 5 essential items that are really useful. A car seat is a given. What other 5 items? Will you share your list?
My top pick that I think has to be on any list is a baby carrier to wear your baby.
What would be on your list if you had to limit it to 5 items?
- Emily Montague A rock n play saved our lives. It was the only thing kolby would sleep in for a bit. It’s portable so I was able to shower without him leaving my sight.
- Nyssa McCraven I second the rock n play! It was my bff with my kiddos!
- Lindsay Michelle Moffet Baby carrier for sure. I have a few styles (ring sling, moby wrap, ergo). Cloth diapers. Bibs for drool. A chair to set him in while I cook. A nightlight for nighttime feedings and diaper changes. It’s crazy how much “stuff” we end up with though, and how little of it we actually need.
- Haley Munson Baby carrier or wearer.
- Swaddlers.
- Diapers
- Wipes
- Pacifiers
- Emily Coe My list too!
- Melvyn Manapsal
- Breast pump and baby bottles. We own 2 comotomo silicone bottles.
- Baby carrier to wear baby in. We have a Moby Wrap, Ergo, and a Lille.
- Cloth diapers and portable changing pad.
- Baby blankets. Swaddles and receiving blankets are light and can double as burp rags.
- Baby sized nail clippers.
- Maryanne Warner Baby carrier, burp rags, breast pads- washable ones, breast pump, rocking chair.
- Kirsty Miller Baby carrier (wrap for newborns then soft structured carriers were what I did)
- Swaddle blankets
- A bouncer / rocker for naps and fussy time
- Boppy pillow or similar for nursing
- Baby hats
- Jessie Chandler
- A good nipple salve. I swear by The Honest Company organic nipple balm. This works for my nipples, and now it works better than desitin for diaper rash.
- Plain cotton diaper clothes or flannel receiving blankets, as burp clothes, or any kind of clean up cloth, or to lay down under baby during diaper changes.
- Baby carrier. Ergo is my favorite so far.
- Baby nail clippers, thermometer.
- Warm sleep sacks. (Halo are our favorite).
- Lindsey Garcia -Carrier (Boba wrap when little, then Lillebaby)
- Nose Frida
- Bouncy seat for when I needed a shower or while cooking (we loved the Baby Bjorn Bouncer)
- Video monitor (we cosleep but those times when I can escape for a bit, I love being able to keep an eye on him. Love our Infant Optics)
- Zipper pajamas. So much easier than snaps when it’s 2am and dark and baby needs their diaper changed!
- Stephanie McAnulty
- Baby carrier, swing or bouncer, boppy (or similar) pillow, breast pump and supplies, and a rocking chair.
- There are a lot of little things that we also found useful. But some things you use for such a short time, then your closets start to overflow!
- Laura Sinkbeil
- Good stroller, good camera for catching those smiles, bouncy chair, sleep sacks, weleda diaper cream (infant tylenol and saline spray are right up there)
- Jessica Decker
- I second Weleda diaper cream – it’s magic!
- My brestfriend nursing pillow
- Cloth diapers (bum genius) and cloth wipes
- Ergo carrier
- BoB stroller for getting outside for fresh air and exercise
- Benand Jennita
- Walton Cozy seat like a bouncer and receiving blankets are the top of the list. Also a good hat, either cozy for winter or a sun hat. Frankincense essential oil!
- Chelsea Mercado
- Lots of burp clothes, velcro swaddlers, gripe water, boppy pillow, zipper pajamas!
- Tiffany Jackson
- Miner A sponge to lay baby on for baths, a bouncer to lay baby in when you aren’t holding her, a baby Bjorn or something along that line, a crib, plenty of blankets….receiving, etc.
- Beth Anne Barnes
- Boob
- Boob
- Water
- Couch
- Snacks
- Sophie Grow
- Muslin swaddles.
- Sadie Hartshorn
- Strowbridge Carrier
- Boppy
- Lanolin
- Nursing bras
- DocATot
- Tera Meola
- Baby carrier (I use mei Tei for infant, then an ergo)
- Prefold cloth diapers (double as burp rags!) and wool wrap covers
- Reusable nursing pads (especially convenient if you cloth diaper!)
- 15 short sleeve white onesies & sleepers (I really think a baby needs no other clothing than this for at least the first 6 months)
- This is a new one…..Blooming Bath! I’ve always been a sink bather with a towel, but my Mom bought me a blooming bath and I loooooooooooove it!
- Bryanna Sarnowski
- Ergo, clothing, frankincense oil, coconut oil, diapers, maybe a swing or bouncer, but can do without if we are down to the basics. Cloths for spit up and snot.
- Elle Bublitz
- I tell people the only thing you have to have (besides a car seat if you’re driving them home) is a comfortable place to nurse or feed the baby. And lots of water. Stay hydrated!!
- Katie Traynor-Weder
- 5! That’s tough. 5 things for the mama and 5 things for baby. For Mom-
- Elomi Nursing bra.
- Nursing pads.
- Comfortable clothing.
- Comfortable place to nurse, rocker or glider.
- I went and had a mani and pedi before my youngest was born. Not something I normally do. But it was nice to be pampered before his arrival.
- For the Baby.
- Bassinet or crib.
- My favorite Diaper bag has been Skip Hop brand.
- Stroller snap and go by Baby Trend.
- Pump and storage bags.
- Advent Bottles
- 5! That’s tough. 5 things for the mama and 5 things for baby. For Mom-
- Micki Harbach-Bachand
- Breast feeding pillow
- Diapers
- Carrier
- Bibs
- Washcloths to clean bum
- Amber Grinden
- The ability to swaddle onowledge and blanket i like the muslin ones and if you dont know how ask every nurse at the hospital until you master it:) avent bottles diapers and wipes so many you dont have to think of them for several months and a bouncy seat those are my necessities
- Marit Bovbjerg
- But not all babies like being swaddled, so I’m not sure that should go on an essentials list ahead of time. Moby wrap or ergo carrier, a really good pump, good nursing bras, one of those waterproof-but-still-really-soft-cloth blankets/pads (a big one), and some kind of diapers. So a diaper pail & covers if you’re using cloth, or whatever it is you’d need for disposables.
- Kelly Skaer Boppy
- Nursing pads
- Sports bras
- Diapers
- PJ’s
- Michelle Williams
- Onaka Carrier (and clothes that can zip over baby in it), exercise ball for bouncing baby, baby swing for rocking baby, comfy nursing clothes (I’ve been living in long sleeve vnecks, nursing sleep bras, and cozy pants), washer and dryer (so much laundry!)
- Two additional things that were key for the first month are cloth diaper service and firm nursing pillow My list didn’t include diapers or baby clothes but those are also kind of necessary.
- Annie R Snyder
- Baby carrier
- King size bed
- Diapers
- Wipes
- Babysitters
- Linda Strader
- Definitely a baby carrier. So so so helpful. (I made myself a sling. ) 2. A bouncy chair, one for the bathroom and one for the kitchen. 3. Soft fabric waterproof pad for under the mattress, under the fitted sheet. That way I only had to change the sheet, and not have to launder the mattress cover too every time it was peed on or whatever. (Came in handy in later years too, when kids were sick and wouldn’t always make it out of bed in time to puke. I was strictly NO BRA at home (I had all kinds of trouble early on and bras turned out to be the culprit) but leaking in those early months was an issue so for outings 4. soft stretchy “sports” bras and nursing pads. 5. A comfy recliner. When the babies were really little it was often easier for me to nurse and sleep at the same time in the recliner. Good for naps too!
- Ashley Jones
- Instant Pot!! (I don’t think anyone at the Birth Center would be surprised that I recommend this.) Get it before the baby arrives to help stock up the freezer!
- A diaper backpack. Don’t have to worry about it sliding off or putting too much weight on one shoulder.
- Carseat is obvious, but I would recommend investing in a “travel system” with a lightweight collapsible stroller that works with or without the carseat.
- Earth Momma Angel Baby Nipple butter and reusable pads.
- Burp cloths. Ones that curve around your neck are a bonus.
- Not essential but great to have: Goumikids Goumiboots Velcro booties. They are pricey, but they actually stay on the baby’s feet so you don’t loose them like socks or shoes!