When you first become the parent of a baby, it can be overwhelming! Especially when it comes to what things to have for your little one. You might not know what’s worth it and what’s a complete waste of time and money (hello wipe warmers!).https://amzn.to/3QW0N6j

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Wonder no more. I’ve made a whole list of my absolute baby essentials. You can check out almost all of these product ideas on my Amazon list. And if you’re able to find any or all of these items second-hand, more power to you! I’m a huge believer in thrift shopping so I definitely recommend that (especially for gently-used baby items). If you can’t find them on Facebook Marketplace, Kid-to-Kid, or other similar store, the links are all on my Amazon list. Keep reading and find out why I love these things.

1. IKEA Antilop High Chair + Silicone Cover (Two Options)

Let me tell you a story: my sister-in-law bought a really nice, expensive high chair after her first pregnancy. It was super fancy, difficult to clean, and impossible to move to other places. After a few months, she bought one of these from IKEA for a fraction of the price!

Trust me, it’s so easy to dismantle and take to grandma’s for an evening. It’s easy to clean up, and kids love it.

For years, we only had this high chair without the silicone mat. It was great. But now that we have the cover, I cannot tell you how much it helps with clean up! It’s also really nice to cut on the mat too (even just things like a butter knife cutting banana chunks into small pieces).

2. Silicone Bibs

Speaking of eating, having these silicone bibs is a lifesaver. For our first baby, we had cloth bibs that were simply a nightmare. They got disgusting, had to be washed after every meal or snack, and we were constantly running out of them!

Then we switched to these and voila! They are fabulous. It’s super easy to wipe or rinse them off and they catch so many little pieces of food! Your back will thank you that you don’t have to spend so much time on the floor cleaning up spills.

3. Baby Bouncer

This is a great way for your baby to entertain themselves. It’s also fun for them to sit up before they are old enough to do so.

One added bonus of these bouncers is that they helped our kids so much after eating. Many babies have a little bit of reflux and it does wonders to have them sit up for 20-25 minutes after a feeding to prevent all that milk going to waste as spit up.

4. Muslin Swaddling Blankets

Having blankets that make it easy to swaddle your baby will save you so much time and effort. These blankets are the perfect length and are just the right amount of thickness. I’m a huge believer in swaddling and I’ve seen the difference it makes in baby’s sleep! We take a deep dive to how to help your babies and kids sleep through the night in our Parenting With Peace Course. But trust me when I recommend to swaddle for the first 3 months of your baby’s life (or until they start to roll over).

An added bonus of these is that when it’s very hot outside, you can get the blankets wet and drape them over your baby’s legs or car seat to cool them down a little. We use them when we go boating in the summer for that very thing and it’s so helpful!

5. Car Seat

Screaming babies can be stressful, but exceptionally so when you’re driving in the car and can’t do much to soothe them. So it helps to have a good car seat. I love the ones that have a base and can click easily in your car. The nice thing about these is if you need to go in a different vehicle, you can use a seatbelt to safely secure your little one there too. They are also nice for moving the baby without waking them. For example, if the baby fell asleep on the way to the store, you can start your shopping and move them without waking them up!

6. Car Seat Protector

While we’re on the subject of cars, let’s talk about car seat protectors. This is something I wish I had known about when I had my first kid! They are so so so helpful, I can’t imagine driving without them. Basically this handy gadget goes in between your kid’s car seat and the car, saving it from permanent dent marks, spills of who-knows-what, and crumbs of every shape and size. I also love that they have little pockets on the bottom for your kids to keep things in (see more things like this in 22 Car Essentials For Driving With Kids). These car seat protectors make it infinitely easier to clean your car and to keep it organized too.

7. Sippy Cups

Most of my kids were fine with any type of sippy cup. But my last child was super picky when it came to sippy cups! After much trial and error, I found these amazing ones. I love that they have handles that are easy to hold and they don’t leak.

8. Baby Carrier

There have been so many instances where I wasn’t planning to use this, but needed it. I love this one from Amazon because it has a little seat for the baby (hard to find in other carriers!) but it’s also simple enough to put on yourself. Plus, it’s small and doesn’t take up a ton of space. You can find it plus a ton of other great baby and toddler essentials on our Amazon lists.

9. Breastmilk Storage Bags

If you are nursing and plan to have your baby bottle fed sometimes, you need good breastmilk storage bags. These can also be helpful if you want to save up some milk for future days. These bags are a great price and are sturdy and everything you need.

10. Baby Locks (Two Kinds)

Swipe to see the two types of locks I love. The larger ones are good for certain doors or drawers — we use one of these on our piano. (There were one too many nights one of the kids thought it would be fun to play instead of sleep!) 

The second, smaller type is perfect for cabinet doors. We use ours on our medicine cabinet and the cabinet below the kitchen sink so a wandering toddler doesn’t ingest dishwasher detergent. 

11. Baby Bottles

These are my favorite type of bottles. One lady I really respect only did glass bottles. I wanted to be like her, except I tend to be on the clumsy side! I also encourage my kids to hold their own bottles as early as they can (sweet freedom for the parent!) so I went with these plastic ones. Some people get the bottles with a lot of complicated things but I found those just to make washing them more work. These simpler ones worked for us and I hope they do for you too!

12. Window Shade

Sun protection is something we all generally could be better at. This shade helps when you’re driving at just the right angle that puts the sun right in your baby’s face. I also love that this was easy to install and not easily breakable.

13. Sit n Stand Stroller

One of the best pieces of advice I’ve heard when buying baby goods is to get a stroller that can handle more kids. Even if you don’t plan on having more, it is so nice for carrying stuff! I love this sit ‘n stand one because if my kid is sick of sitting but too tired to walk, they can stand at the back. It really does make a difference! Plus, if you do plan on having multiple kids, a stroller like this can fit at least 3 kids at once! I also prefer a narrow one like this (as opposed to a double stroller) because it’s easier for getting in doorways, loading on buses when we travel, etc.

14. Pack ‘n Play

This is my go to! I didn’t have a pack ‘n play for my first child and boy, do I regret it. We have used it pretty much every single day since my second child was born.

Here are the best things about it:

• It can be a bassinet for a newborn
• It can be a crib for a toddler
• You can fold it up in less than 60 seconds
• Super portable so you can bring it hassle-free to grandma’s or a friend’s
• Easy to set up and move around
• While it’s in bassinet-mode, you can store stuff in the bottom

Just trust me, and make sure you have one of these for when your baby comes.

15. And Baby Makes Three by Dr. John Gottman & Dr. Julie Gottman

Having a little one to take care of changes relationships! It changes things with your partner, your parents, your friends, and even yourself. We talk more about how to keep these relationship changes positive in our  Parenting With Peace Course. The Gottman Institute is one of our favorite resources! They’ve conducted so much good research about what makes healthy, happy relationships. This book takes what they’ve discovered and helps couples preserve intimacy after baby arrives.

16. Nail Clippers

I love this type of nail clippers because they’re easy to hold while clipping little fingernails. I actually even use them on myself too!

Confession: I don’t use nail clippers on newborns because their skin is so connected to their tiny nails that it’s often hard to trim them without accidentally cutting them. With newborns, I bite their nails until they get a little older (usually 2+ weeks).

17. Nursing & Car Seat Cover

I wasted so much time and money on other nursing covers that didn’t work and were such a hassle! This is the kind you want for sure. There’s all-around coverage so you don’t have to worry about a nip-slip while your baby inevitably squirms. I also love that it’s soft and can double as a little blanket, a swaddler to tuck in baby’s arms while they are in the car seat, and a car seat cover if you want to extend that nap they’re enjoying.

18. Outdoor Blanket

One of my favorite cousin-in-laws gave me this for a baby shower gift. Can I say how much I love her for that? An outdoor blanket like this is probably worth its weight in gold. I love that it zips up (took me a few tries to figure out how but it’s been awesome once I figured it out!), has a little pocket on the outside, and can be used by everyone almost anywhere. Want to lie down on the beach? Perfect. Want to set your baby down on the grass? Perfect. Need to protect your trunk while you pick up bricks/bagged dirt/random stuff from a hardware store? Perfect.

Oh and did I mention, it is washable and waterproof? What more could you want?!

19. Medela Pump In Style Breast Pump

Insurance companies usually cover one pump per pregnancy at 100%. If you’re going to get one, I recommend this one! I’ve tried a couple different ones and this one was for sure the best. 

If your baby isn’t here yet, you may even want to buy it before as pumping can help get labor going (only do this if your doctor recommends it).

20. MAM Pacifiers

I’ll say this until I grow hoarse: pacifier shape matters! We tried so hard with the straight green ones that many hospitals give with no success. (Note: those may work for some kids and that is great! But overall the ones that I find most successful for most kids are these MAM pacifiers.) They are inexpensive, and completely life-saving.

21. Pacifier Clips

Speaking of pacifiers, what good is a good binkie if it’s constantly falling to the ground? If you get a good pacifier, you need to get a good pacifier clip. I like these ones because let’s be honest — sometimes fabric ones get nasty after a couple of spit ups!

22. Freezable Teethers (My Favorite Kinds)

I use these non-stop from age 3 months to about 15 months. They are so so soothing for babies who are upset or teething. Even if my little 5 month old isn’t technically getting teeth yet, they still find these cold teethers so freshing! I love that they are also dishwasher safe.

23. Haaka (Silicone Breast Pump)

This thing actually is worth its weight in gold! Because soon it will be saving you all your liquid gold. If you are breastfeeding, you may be shocked at how much let down there is when you first start. Unless you have two kids nursing at the same time, all that milk on the other side is just going to be wasted. But thanks to the Haaka, you can save it! Forget pumping, you can save up a ton by just suctioning this bad boy on your other side. Then just store it in #9 and put it in the freezer. It’s a total win-win.

24. Postpartum Recovery Belt

Ok technically this is more of a postpartum gadget than a baby gadget. However, if there’s one thing I’d love to add to my baby registry, it would be this! It helps so so much. I actually got mine at Target, but this one on Amazon has great reviews.

25. Baby Sling aka Hot Sling

I use this sling every single day with my babies from the first week until they are about 4 months old. It’s so nice to have the baby calm and asleep but still have your hands free! You can buy a Hot Sling online and it’s so worth the price. I am 5′ 2″, wear a size medium/large, and I got the regular. If you are taller than me, I would get the large size as some of my taller friends couldn’t use mine since it was tight for them.

26. Nursing Bra

This bra is a great combination of form and function! You can look great and feel sexy while still having a bra that’s nursing-friendly.

27. Baby Wash + Shampoo

Who doesn’t love Johnson’s head-to-toe baby wash? It smells amazing and gets your baby so clean.

28. Hard Toothbrushes (for scalp scrubbing)

Even the most well-cared for babies can get cradle cap. It just happens sometimes! Luckily a firm toothbrush like this can zap that cradle cap right back into oblivion. Just get some baby soap on there and scrub away.

29. Slip Genie Shelf Liner (for sink baths)

You know how this stuff prevents your spatulas from slipping in the drawer? Well guess what, it can help your baby not slip too! I love bathing my kids in our large, kitchen sink (it’s so much nicer on my back), so I use this liner all the time. It’s great because you can cut it to just the right size, too.

30. White Noise Machine (Plug in OR battery!)

This thing is so so helpful when you want your child to stay asleep longer! It’s the best and you don’t need to worry about keeping the house quiet or someone ringing the doorbell when your baby is asleep. I also love it because since it has batteries, you can use it on-the-go AND you can plug it in when you’re at home (those battery purchases can add up!). We actually have 3 of these at our house, one for each room where our kids sleep.

31. Double Zipper Pajamas

Who wants to be awake longer during a nighttime wake at 2 am? Not me! That’s why I love these zipper pajamas. They have a double zipper so you can do a quick diaper change without waking your baby too much and they’re so cozy. Come to think of it, I wonder if they make these in adult sizes…

Well that’s a wrap! What are your must-have items for babies? Share it in the comments. Happy driving!