Now that I’m a mom to three, there is a whole list of baby products I wish I had known about back in 2017 when I had my first baby. Actually… or in 2020 when I had my second baby! This time around I knew life would be a little chaotic, so I splurged on some baby things I didn’t want to spend on before. And man oh man do I wish I had bought them years ago!
So which baby products do I wish I had for my first baby? Here’s my list of 14 that I think any first time mom should definitely check out. Consider it a newborn check list of sorts. (Alongside the ultimate baby registry list I put together!) But if I could go back in time to 2017 me, these are the newborn essentials I would mark down as a newborn must have!
14 Baby Products I Wish I Had for my First Baby
Baby Gear
1. A single to double stroller
We knew (or at least hoped) that we were going to have more than one child, so I should have just invested in a single to double stroller then. When we had our second child we purchased this single to double stroller, and I still love it three years later.
2. The bouncer seat
Another thing we did have with our first that has now been through FIVE babies (my oldest two, my sister’s two, and now my third uses it) and is still going strong. We started using this bouncer seat around 5 weeks old with each of them and only stopped when they tried to climb out, around the time they were 7 or 8 months old. I suggest adding the toy bar.
3. A second bassinet for downstairs
With our first we had the HALO Bassinest, which we also used with our second baby. But then with our second we also got an additional bassinet to keep on the first floor of our house. It was so helpful to have a place to put the baby that wasn’t on the floor!
4. Universal cup holder
I’ve used this cup holder on every stroller, wagon, and lawnmower (yes, even the lawnmower) that I have pushed. It is truly universal!
5. Doodle Bug
So that’s not its actual name, but it’s what we call this car seat baby toy that all three of my kids have adored. I don’t know if it’s the face on it, or the music, or the colors, but all three of my kids loved it as a baby!
Nursery + Furniture
6. The Nanit camera system
This is the gold standard of baby monitors, if you ask me. (Here’s my review post of the Nanit camera system!) I looked at the Nanit baby cameras when they came out around the time we had our second child, but I decided to just add onto the monitor we already had. Now that we have the Nanit, I’ll never go back for monitoring sleep!
7. The SNOO
Yes, it’s expensive. But my goodness is it worth it. (I wrote a whole review of the SNOO here.) If you use the SNOO, you probably will also want to read Dr. Karp’s theories in his book. And you will likely also need the sound machine that mimics the SNOO, especially for car rides or if you’re traveling without it. Just trust me on that.
8. A variety of swaddles
You don’t know what your baby is going to like until you try a bunch (and fail with more than a few).
9. The magical baby shushing app
I actually did find this shushing app (called Baby Shusher) when we had our first child, and I still swear by it. It’s the best $3.99 you will spend in the app store. Trust me! If you want a non-phone version, they make a gadget you can stick in your diaper bag.
10. The softest baby pajamas
We found this material for baby pjs when we had our second child (a gift from one of my sisters). It’s still my fabric of choice for hot days (because it’s cool to the touch) or for everyday because it’s so soft!
11. A crib mattress that lasts
I can’t believe how well this crib mattress has held up compared to the other two we have had. It’s incredible! It has been in use for about 5 years now and still looks brand new. It’s totally worth the spend.
Feeding + More
12. My tried and true breast pump
I’ve tried 6 or 7 different pumps at this point, and the number one that you need is less than $30. It’s perfect for traveling! I had it with both of my older kids and am using the same model now, too.
13. A hands free wireless pump
Another breastfeeding-specific gadget, but this time around I have the Elvie as well as a more affordable wireless pump. It isn’t perfect but it’s so helpful to be able to put this on and move around the house at the pace I need to. (Having three kids is exponentially busier than it was with two!)
14. Boppy pillow
Another thing that was on everyone’s newborn must haves list when we had our first daughter back in 2017 is the Boppy pillow. But hear me out… bring it to the hospital in your hospital bag! I used it as a neck pillow when I went in to have our second. It’s SO comfortable as a neck pillow and way better than the hospital pillows!
And another we recently got that I can’t wait to try while traveling- the SlumberPod! It creates a dark environment over the crib so you don’t have to sit in a hotel room in the dark so the baby can sleep.
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