Newborn Essentials
I started to write this post when Marigold was an actual newborn, hoping to share it with you when we were actually living that new baby life. Then, a pandemic + 2 kids at home + husband working from home + distance learning + no outside support and here I am with a baby that is half a year old sharing my newborn essentials!
I pretty much started from scratch this time because I gave all our baby stuff away after Bea was born. Many nights of pregnancy insomnia had me scrolling away researching all kinds of new baby products. So much had changed in 3 years! I know how easy it is to get overwhelmed and carried away, and I wanted to keep it simple and keep the “stuff” to a minimum this time, so I broke it down into these categories:
Sleeping
Changing
Resting (the baby, definitely not you)
Bathing
Travelling
Strolling
Carrying
Feeding (if you’re doing any type of bottle feeding)
Let start with the most important one of all….
Sleeping
1. The Snoo (aka a newborn parent’s best friend):
I came across the Snoo on Instagram before I was even pregnant and immediately created a “baby stuff” folder and saved it. I then went on to read everything I could about this miracle bassinet. Every single review and testimony raved about it. And now I know why. The first night I zipped Marigold into the swaddle, turned on the bassinet, turned off the lights and came downstairs 2 mins later RG said to me, “that’s it?!” And ya, that was it!! She fell fast asleep with no Broadway show production like we had to perform for Bea. This bassinet truly was a lifesaver, gently rocking the baby to sleep while playing soothing white noise. If she fussed, it responded by turning up the motion to get her back to sleep. You can also control the motion levels using the app on your phone. It also gave me peace of mind knowing she was safe and securely swaddled on her back. Marigold loved being in her Snoo and was sleeping 5+ hours a night by 4 weeks!! It’s a pricey item for sure, but worth every penny in my opinion. We got ours from West Coast Kids, my favourite place to shop for baby stuff
These are hands-down the softest and coziest baby blankets and the easiest to swaddle with too as they’ve got just the perfect amount of stretch. I also love them for in the stroller, an extra layer for in the car and I kept one on the couch for those heavenly chest sleeps that I miss SO much. I also have a handful of the multi-use bibs which I especially love for bottle-feeding, as they are brilliant at catching all the drips. They are made with organic fabrics and made in Canada!
Marigold at 4 months in her Magic Sleep Suit
3. Baby Merlin Magic Sleep Suit:
Once Marigold had outgrown her Snoo and was getting used to her crib, we used this Magic Sleep Suit for the transition. It really is magical and works by muffling their little startles and twitches that are often the culprit for them waking up prematurely. Marigold smiled so big the first time I put her in it and off to dreamland she went without a fuss! Once she started rolling over we couldn’t use it anymore and just put in her a regular sleep sack.
Changing
I love this product so much we have 3 of them. One at home, one at the cottage and one at my parent’s house. I love it because it’s so easy to clean. All it takes is a good wipe down and you’re done. The safety belt is also a great feature.
2. Prince Lionhead Wipes Warmer:
Ok this is a total luxury item, but who wouldn’t love a nice warm wipe?! Both of my girls got so used to the warm bum wipe, they gave me a look of ‘how dare you?’ when I used a non-warmed one.
After a few epic blowouts I decided to give these a try and we’ve never gone back because since switching WE’VE NEVER HAD ANOTHER ONE. I also love that they’re free of lotions, phthalates, latex and fragrance and the absorbent material is plant derived. 4 packs of wipes come with every bundle and the patterns are super-cute!
Resting
When you have a newborn you quickly learn you need somewhere to put them so you can pee/eat/brush your teeth. This chair is the best of the best for a few reasons. The height can be adjusted, it folds flat making it easy to travel with, it’s super easy to clean and it looks chic and modern unlike a lot of other baby chairs. At 6+ months old Marigold still loves being in this chair so it’s got longevity too.
Bathing
I was super freaked out about bathing both my babes when they were small, so typically that job fell under RG’s jurisdiction. But since he was injured when Marigold was brand new I had to put on my big-girl-postpartum-depends and do it myself. You can get really fancy and modern with baby baths or you can get a simple, inexpensive one that works well. I chose the latter and have been really happy with my Angel Care Baby Bath Support .
HelloBello’s Extra Gentle Shampoo & Body Wash in “Fresh & Clean” scent is my favourite bathing product. It’s free from a lot of chemical ingredients so that makes me feel good about using it on Marigold’s skin. I order one with every other diaper bundle so I’m always well stocked.
Marigold in her UppaBaby Mesa car seat with 7amEnfant Plush Pod to keep her warm
Travelling
All infant seats are heavy and awkward, but this car seat is by far the best one I’ve tried. I love how it easily clicks into the base in the car as well as how effortlessly it pops into the stroller. Marigold had a massive blowout on her first car ride (fun!) and we had to take the whole thing apart down to the frame to clean and disinfect it. Taking it apart and putting it back together was a breeze.
MG was a winter baby so keeping her warm when we took her out was obviously a concern. We used the Plush Pod from 7amEnfant which fit perfectly on our Mesa car seat, keeping Marigold nice and toasty without being too heavy.
Strolling
We call this set up on our UppaBaby Vista “Stadium Seating”
MG in the bassinet and big girl Bea on the piggyback! And check out all that room in the basket!
Arguably the biggest purchase you’ll make will be your stroller. If you’re expecting a baby chances are you’re noticing strollers for the first time and you’ve probably spotted this one on the sidewalk dozens of times, and for good reason. It’s an amazing stroller with so many great features. It’s super customizable and can be set up to suit whatever your needs are. We went with the bassinet and toddler seat set-up and also added the piggy back (or as Bea calls it her “skateboard”). We had rumble seat ready to go as well as soon as Marigold got big enough to sit upright. It’s super easy to adapt the seat configurations and switch them out as needed. I can steer it with one hand and the basket underneath has so much room! I also love how easily the Uppababy Mesa car seat clicks in to the stroller base.
Sometimes you don’t want to pack up the big stroller for a quick trip, and that’s where a stroller like this comes in really handy. I call it the iPhone of strollers. It’s smart and intuitive and super light. I can collapse it or pop it up with one hand. We also got the 6+ pack to adapt it from the bassinet to an upright seat.
Carrying
I was totally freaked out (notice a theme here?) at the idea of using a carrier when Bea was a baby. I never felt like she was safe enough (which I’m sure she was). I had heard from so many people that the only way to manage a toddler and a newborn was by wearing the baby so your hands are free for the toddler. That could not be truer. This carrier is SO easy for me to put on and take off myself. When Marigold was a newborn she would fall asleep within minutes of being put in it. We now use it with her facing outward and she loves it!
Feeding
1. Beaba Ultra Fast Bottle Warmer:
I shared this bottle warmer on my post about breastfeeding/pumping/bottle feeding but figured it was worth mentioning again. It’s a sterilizer as well as a warmer, which is a major plus. If you’ve ever had a hungry baby screaming to be fed, you’ll appreciate how fast this thing works.
2. Philips Avent Natural Glass Bottles:
I love these bottles because they’re glass, easy to clean and Marigold took to them right away with no issues or gassiness. We started at a 0 nipple when she was 10 days old and worked our way up as she got older and needed her milk a little faster.
—
If you’re expecting a baby or in the thick of it with a newborn, I hope you find these recommendations helpful! Working on my next stage of baby essentials now, hoping to get that up before Marigold enters kindergarten.
Big love,
Danielle