10 Newborn Must-Haves I Actually Use

Becoming a new mom is overwhelming — there are so many baby products out there —and honestly, most of them you don’t even need.

After a first few weeks of A LOT of trial and error, I found a handful of products that truly made my life easier. These are the items I actually used daily and would recommend to any new mom.

1.) A Good Swaddle

The type of swaddle you need depends entirely on your baby.

Our son loves having his hands up by his face, so we went with the Love to Dream swaddle — and it has been amazing. Bonus: it makes them look like a tiny starfish

If your baby is okay with their arms down (and isn’t a professional escape artist like mine), a Velcro sleep sack is a great option. We loved the Halo swaddle…. until he figured out how to break free.

2.) A Reliable White Noise Machine

I fully believe you should raise your baby however you want — but for your own sanity, don’t tiptoe around a sleeping baby.

It wasn’t silent in the womb, and it doesn’t need to be silent now.

The Hatch Baby Sound Machine helps block background noise while mimicking the womb, which can help your baby sleep longer and more soundly.

3.) A Portable Changing Pad

You’ll use this way more than you expect — especially for those middle-of-the-night diaper changes or when you’re not in the nursery.

I also love keeping one in the car because diaper emergencies don’t wait for changing table availability.

4.) A Good Burp Cloth (Or 10)

Spit-up happens… a lot.

Having soft, absorbent burp cloths everywhere saves your clothes, your couch, and your sanity. There is not a single room in our home that doesn’t have at least a few of these lying around.

5.) A Safe Place to Set Baby Down

Sometimes you just need a safe spot to put your baby while you eat, shower, or get things done.

I loved having this portable bassinet since we could move it around the house. I had a lot of anxiety putting my baby down to sleep where I couldn’t see him, so this gave me peace of mind knowing I could always keep an eye on him.

6.) A Diaper Caddy

Having diapers, wipes, and creams all in one place makes diaper changes so much easier— especially when you’re exhausted.

I carried this thing everywhere, especially in those early postpartum days. I even kept things like ibuprofen, Tylenol, and my water bottle in it.

7.) A Comfortable Nursing Pillow

If you’re breastfeeding, this can make a huge difference in comfort for both you and your baby.

There are a lot of fancy, expensive options out there, but you don’t need anything fancy.. I love that this one has a removable cover and can also be used later for tummy time.

8.) A Wearable Breast Pump

Being able to move around while pumping is a game-changer, especially when you have a newborn.

That being said — every woman is different. What worked for me might not work for you.

I personally had great output with my wearable pump (even better than my Spectra), and it was much more affordable than other options on the market.

9.) A Night Light for Late-Night Feeds

You do not want to turn on bright lights on at 2 am.

A soft night light keeps things calm and helps your baby stay sleepy. I use it for middle-of-the-night diaper changes and also used it while we were in the hospital so I didn’t have to turn on the bright overhead lights.

10.) A Simple Baby Carrier

In those early weeks, your baby will want to be held… a lot.

A simple carrier lets you keep your hands free while still comforting them. It’s one of those things you don’t realize you need until you really need it.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need everything on the market to be a great mom — but having the right products can make those early weeks so much easier.

If you’re building your baby registry or just trying to survive the newborn stage, these are a great place to start.

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