My 5 Must-Have Baby Products
Being a new mom is overwhelming as it is but add in the wide variety of baby products available these days and it takes the overwhelm to a whole new level. Let me help you narrow it down. It’s no coincidence that 4 of the 5 of these items revolve around sleep – this mama LOVES her sleep!
These are my tried-and-true, ride or die baby products. I’ve used all of these products with both kids, and they are my favorite gifts to give a new mama or recommend to a pregnant friend.
Dockatot
I’m pretty sure this was the first baby product I ever purchased (besides clothes of course!) and it was definitely an investment. BUT, it has been worth every penny for us. Both babies have used it for months each and it’s still in great shape to use again if another baby is in our future down the road.
My favorite thing about the Dockatot (or something similar) is that it keeps their sleep environment similar*. We took it with us when we traveled with our then 3 month old son, we brought it over to grandparents’ houses for naps, even used it on the couch as a safe place to lay the baby.
*Follow Dockatot guidelines for safe use. We felt comfortable having our kids sleep in it, but do what’s best for you!
The Ollie Swaddle
If you take one piece of advice from this, it’s that you don’t need a billion inexpensive swaddles. You need one or two GREAT swaddles. We got gifted so many swaddles at our baby shower and I made the mistake of washing them all so I couldn’t exchange for something else. We only used the Ollie Swaddle (a gift to myself!). It was so easy to use, great for us as new parents. Another go-to baby shower gift!
Dohm Sound Machine (and Rohm)
Ok, so this is more of a two-fer, as in two different sound machines by the same brand. We swear by the Dohm Sound Machine. (Make sure to get the one with 2 speed settings!). It honestly helped my husband and I sleep just as much as it helped the baby. In fact, we almost bought one for our room once we moved my son into his nursery at night. It was one of my first purchases for baby #2!
Now the Rohm Sound Machine is basically the portable version and it’s AMAZING! It’s small, efficient, and charges quickly with a USB. We take this thing everywhere. It’s the one product I wish I had with my firstborn but didn’t get ‘til my second. It was easily the most commented on baby item we had when out & about – at the doctor’s office, in the grocery store, you name it. Everyone wanted to know about it. You need it! (It also makes a great baby shower gift!)
Moms on Call
Moms on Call was a GAME CHANGER as a new mom. (I know there are tons of courses out there – find the one that works best for you.) But for me, as a brand-new mama with a small business to run, I needed to find something that helped me get into a good routine with feeding, napping and everything in between. MOC came highly recommended to me and after using it with my first baby, I knew I would follow their plans for every child after.
It’s essentially an eat, play, sleep routine that starts from birth and beyond. I purchased their book on my iPhone in a moment of sleep-deprived frustration and I binge read the whole thing. They have a helpful app you can download that will guide you through the schedule and even send you reminders on when to feed, nap, etc. You definitely need the book though!
Haakaa Silicone Breast Pump
I highly recommend the Haakaa to every nursing mama. It’s so easy to use once you get the hang of it and is an easy way to start a milk stash without getting out your giant pump. All you do is suction it to the side you aren’t nursing on and boom! Done! I really despised pumping with my second for some reason, so having the Haakaa handy for nursing sessions was perfect. Bonus – you can order it on Amazon during a late-night nursing sesh (though I recommend just ordering pre-baby!)
*photo from @haakaausa on Instagram
Have you used any of these before? What would you add to the list? Comment below and let me know! It’s always fun learning about different products on the market.
