Here’s my list of favorite things in these first couple months with our baby birdie. (When she was first born she really looked like a baby bird, a little scrawny and so delicate with the softest peach fuzz covering her skin). These are items that make the shock of caring for a newborn a bit easier. 🙂 I found these types of blog posts to be helpful as we prepared for Sawyer’s arrival and now I know soooo much better what to give as gifts at baby showers.
*I have provided links for most things listed (text in pink). The reason is twofold: 1) so you can easily investigate the product further and 2) for some of these items if you purchase the product from the link I make a very small commission (which I use toward maintaining this blog).
Dapple Pure ‘N’ Clean Bottles & Dishes Liquid: Prevents milk film build-up on bottles and pump parts, and I have found it doubles as a stain treater for baby poop blow outs and spit up. Tip: The pink tub you get from the hospital (the one they bathe the baby in) is great for soaking bottles, pacifiers, pump parts, etc. Fill it with warm water and a couple pumps of Dapple and toss things in throughout the day to soak before sanitizing.
Boon Grass Drying Rack & Accessories: This drying rack is not only cute on your counter but is simply the best for drying all those bottle and pump parts. And I recommend buying the flower or tree attachments that stick up out of the grass for hanging nipples and other small parts. We don’t have a ton of counter space so the ‘grass’ works perfect for us but if you’ve got the space or multiple kiddos, I’d go for the larger size Boon ‘lawn’ drying rack.
California Baby Calendula Everyday Lotion: We took a road trip to Nevada when Sawyer was 6 weeks old. The heat and dry air wreaked havoc on the skin on her face, ears, and scalp causing it to chap and flake. I read that calendula is good for dry skin and eczema and decided to try this lotion. Within a few days Sawyer’s skin improved dramatically. This lotion has lavender which helps to soothe her and smells fantastic. Plus the ingredients are organic, gentle, and rated highly by the Environmental Working Group.
Summer Infant Bath Sponge: Giving a newborn a bath is often a two person job. This bath sponge helps me to give Sawyer baths without Justin’s help. Lay this sponge in the sink or in a baby tub and it helps keep baby more stabilized and secure (newborns are so floppy and slippery when wet!). It’s comfy for baby and I think its a big part of why Sawyer typically enjoys bath time. In a pinch I also used this sponge in the big tub when we were staying at my parents house and it worked great.
Babyganics Alcohol-Free Foaming Hand Sanitizer: Can’t say enough good things about this hand sanitizer. Absorbs quickly and doesn’t dry out your hands or leave them feeling sticky. We keep the larger pump bottle at the changing table and the ‘on-the-go’ bottles are perfect for the diaper bag and kept in various places throughout the house.
Reusable Extra Large Bamboo Changing Pad Liners: I did not know how explosive newborn baby poops are and that baby girls can spray pee all over the place. Lovely. Oh yes and lots of spit up. These liners help protect your cute changing pad covers from all these bodily functions and are much easier to wash than constantly changing the cover. In line with necessities for the changing table, Justin feels it’s imperative I recommend a wipes dispenser. We have the Oxo Tot Perfect Pull Wipes Dispenser which uses a weighted plate to help make grabbing a wipe easy peasy, which you are thankful for when you’re trying to keep your baby’s feet out of her poo.
Zip Up Footed Pajamas with Foldover Cuffs: My neighbor emphasized to me that I had to get plenty of footed pajamas that zip up (much easier than snaps) and have fold over cuffs to keep the baby from scratching up their sweet little face with their tiny razor fingernails. I couldn’t agree more that these types of jammies are a lifesaver, especially in the first several weeks when you are so tired and bleary eyed trying to change the baby in the middle of the night. Get any brand you like. The Carter’s brand fits Sawyer well and is inexpensive, especially if you find a sale.
Sleep Gowns: These also help those middle of the night diaper changes go more smoothly. They key to helping baby get back to sleep after a feeding and change is to disturb/stimulate them as little as possible. Sleep gowns can easily and quickly be pulled up and down over baby’s legs. They can also be a little cooler for summer months. If you’re worried about baby’s feet getting cold, I recommend these knotted baby gowns by Candy Kirby. They come in the most adorable colors and nicest fabrics.
Halo Sleep Sack Swaddle (or Summer Infant Swaddle Me): Loved these – again for the reason that they allowed us to disturb Sawyer as little as possible and they were easier for our tired brains to figure out than swaddling with a blanket. The Halo swaddle allows you to swaddle with arms in or out, which is great because some babies like Sawyer really like to have their hands/arms free.
Little Unicorn Muslin Swaddles (or Aden + Anais): Almost every mom I talked to said I had to get Aden & Anais swaddles and they are right. The muslin cotton material is breathable and flexible, making for easier and tighter swaddling. I am also so in love with the Little Unicorn swaddles. The patterns are beautiful (love using ours for Sawyer’s monthly photos) and they just introduced organic fabrics to their line.
Baby Faces Book: Even though it’s important for her development, reading to Sawyer right now is a pretty lackluster experience as she generally shows little interest in the photos or words. The first time I showed her this Baby Faces book (probably around 4 weeks) she actually focused on the photographed baby faces. Turns out studying people’s faces is a favorite activity of newborns.
LAX Extra Long Iphone Cord: Not an item for baby but sure makes parents’ lives easier. We received this as a gift (thank you Marissa!) and we still consider it one of the best gifts ever! You take so many photos/videos and do so much FaceTime, texting, chatting on the phone, and social media posting in those first weeks. Plus you are typically isolated on the couch or in bed for long periods of time nursing or cuddling a sleepy baby, so it is especially convenient to have this charging cord. (Note, the link provided is for iPhone/iPad but they make cords for other devices as well)
Now that Sawyer is more interactive and awake, I’d love recommendations for baby gear that is helpful for 2-4 months.
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