The very first Mother’s Day as a new mama may be one of the most important and memorable. There are so many special milestones in the first year with baby, like first words, first steps, and each month’s birthday, but the first Mother’s Day is a unique milestone because it’s all about celebrating MOM!
If you’re stumped about what to get an expecting or new mom for Mother’s Day, look no further! I’ve teamed up with L.A. Parent magazine to share top gift ideas from the National Parenting Product Awards, which features the best family products tested and rated by real mothers! The NAPPA Awards work closely with L.A. Parent magazine to provide their readers with unique and quality gift ideas, and we think these are the very best for new mamas!! The NAPPA Awards has been celebrating the best in family products for 32 years, and L.A. Parent has been a part of the Los Angeles community for 42 years, so you can trust their tips and guidance as you navigate your parenting journey!
L.A. Parent magazine works closely with NAAPA Awards to feature the best products for parents! Here, I’m wearing the award-winning Cloud Robe by Bumpsuit, which we think is a top Mother’s Day gift idea!
Below, I’ve outlined our top Mother’s Day gift ideas that have been recognized by NAAPA as best products for parents! You also can watch me demonstrate these products live on TV on KTLA Morning News in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 21, 2022 at 9:45 a.m.!! If you don’t live in Los Angeles, the show is streaming online at ktla.com!
6 Award-Winning Mother’s Day Gift Ideas For New Moms:
This buttery soft robe does just as its name suggests –- mamas feel like they are lounging on a cloud! Designed and sold by Bumpsuit, the new maternity fashion brand beloved by celebrities, the Cloud Robe’s super soft brushed jersey material gently stretches with the body to maintain max fit and support throughout women’s different stages of pregnancy and beyond. The design is elegant yet simple and comes in a timeless beautiful ivory shade. The fabric holds its shape and quality even after washing! What I love most about this robe is that all mama’s will love it no matter where they are in their prenatal or postpartum journey. Help mama lounge while still feeling chic and comfy in this gorgeous robe!
Treat mama-to-be to an at-home spa day with these luxurious, all-natural, pregnancy-safe bath soak sachets to help relax tired muscles and moisturize dry skin. Think of it like taking an elevated Epsom salt bath, with bonus itchy belly relief! Use 1 sachet to soak swollen feet or 1-2 sachets for full body bath. Deeply calming botanicals like French lavender and chamomile mingle with rolled oats and pure Epsom salt for the ultimate self-care treat. Pair this soak with the Cloud Robe above for a wonderful pampering gift!
Now mamas can easily and safely share their music with their babies with Mbrio – the only patented innovation that uses mom’s own earbuds to share music with baby in the womb! They’re so easy to use – just pop your earbuds into the adapters, clip them to your waistband and feel baby move! Made from medical-grade silicone and independently tested, Mbrio’s adapters are safe for baby’s ears, skin-safe, comfortable and ultra-lightweight. Prenatal music is important, because it soothes baby, helps with bonding, stimulates movement and stimulates baby’s brain and memory! This may be the coolest gift on this list! I wish I would have had these when I was pregnant!
Every mom needs a great diaper bag, and this backpack is the perfect stylish bag that can be carried for any occasion — family outings, work functions and travels! For families that travel, the bag’s backside has a zipper pocket with an opening on the top and bottom, to be used as a sleeve to fit through luggage handles. The spacious main compartment has five pockets for maximum organization, and a separate opening for a fully padded laptop sleeve. The D-rings at the back of the backpack allows the bag to be attached to a stroller using the TWELVElittle Stroller Clip Set (sold separately). Made with functional water-resistant materials and vegan leather trim, this bag will hold up throughout all your children’s diaper years and beyond.
Kyte Baby has long been a favorite clothing brand of mine for my babies because of its super soft, comfy materials and variety of colors. This super cozy Sleep Bag from Kyte Baby is the perfect gift to help both mama and baby get sleep — because when baby sleeps, mama sleeps!! The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies do not sleep with blankets, so this Sleep Bag is like a wearable blanket to keep your baby cozy and comfortable all night long! The 97% bamboo rayon fabric is breathable and buttery soft to the touch. This Sleep Bag also features a J-shaped double zipper, which makes it easy for mom to take on and off and during middle-of-the-night diaper changes. Kyte Baby’s sleep bag also comes in three different fabric warmth levels, so you can ensure baby’s temperature is comfortable all night. Kyte Baby uses the TOG rating system for measuring fabric warmth for parents to simply select which sleep bag their baby needs based on the typical temperature in their nursery. If you’re confused on what TOG to choose, don’t worry, Kyte Baby’s website helps guide you through it!
A crib mattress is probably one of the most useful products a mom can have for baby, and the SleepOvation Baby mattress is probably the safest and most comfortably designed baby mattress on the market! SleepOvation’s mattress is designed to combat plagiocephaly (flat head syndrome) with its patented design that reduces pressure on the head while keeping the spine correctly aligned. It comes with a removable and washable cover, and the interior mattress core has built-in air channels to increase breathability, while also providing temperature regulation. What’s amazing about this mattress is that it’s a 2-stage design providing use for both newborn and toddler phases! After your baby’s first birthday, simply turn the mattress over for a softer mattress that insures proper spine alignment. The toddler side also features a waterproof backing that helps keep those leaky diapers contained. One of the things I love most for mom is how lightweight this mattress is! Most crib mattresses are big and bulky, which makes it complicated to change crib sheets. This mattress is much easier for mom to maneuver, which is a big relief when doing laundry!
These aren’t the only great gift ideas for mom! The NAPPA Awards features so many great Mother’s Day gift ideas, and they’re constantly updating their site with new winners, so check back often! Take a look at the NAPPA Awards website and let me know your favorite products! https://www.nappaawards.com/
And, be sure to check out L.A. Parent magazine for additional parenting resources, like family-friendly activities, events and travel destinations, along with community news and parenting advice! https://www.laparent.com/
Mamas! Let me know which of these 6 products you’d like to receive for Mother’s Day in the comments below!
Connect with me on Instagram and TikTok for more family-friendly ideas and content!
AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of this post contains affiliate links for the products I use and LOVE. If you take action on these links (like clicking, buying, etc.), I may receive compensation at no cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own, and I’ll only recommend what I truly love. For more information about affiliates and your privacy, view our Terms & Conditions page here.
The baby product industry is always working to convince us that we need MORE STUFF, so I’m determined to keep our approach as minimalist as possible. With all the options out there, it can be easy to get overwhelmed guessing what you truly need in your diaper bag – for baby and mom! Rather than carry half the nursery with me “just in case,” I personally prefer to stick to just the essentials.
Here’s what’s important when shopping for a diaper bag:
Backpack style – Only once did I attempt to carry a large shoulder bag with me when out with the babies, and it was so challenging! Backpacks keep your hands free and the bag off the dirty ground – especially important when changing diapers in public restrooms!
Pockets! And more pockets! – Staying organized on-the-go is necessary when you’re quickly trying to clean up a mess or wipe a runny nose. Sometimes, you only have one hand to quickly grab a wipe! Pockets provide a place for everything, so you’re not digging toward the bottom of your bag for the loose hand sanitizer, sunscreen or whatever it may be.
Just big enough for a small laptop – Our family loves traveling and I’ve even brought the babies with me on work trips. In my opinion, there’s nothing more annoying than carrying additional bags through the airport when you also have kids in tow, so having a diaper bag that’s large enough for a small laptop – but no larger – is ideal.
Chic – As someone who considers herself a “cool mom,” there’s nothing more annoying to me than an item that screams baby. Like, I want carry a diaper bag, but I don’t want to look like I’m carrying a diaper bag. I like that the two bags I have can also function as stylish backpacks without looking like I’m carrying a pack of baby wipes with me.
Quality – This bag will go everywhere with you for a couple years, so you want it to be durable.
This was the bag I had on my baby registry, and it has been such a wondeful gift! This Freshly Picked diaper bag has survived almost three years of baby and toddler craziness. I’ve brought this bag everywhere with me, and I really don’t see why a mama would need any other bag. In addition to the zipper closure, it has a flap that goes over the top, which is so handy when you only have one hand to close your bag and go! Because its black vegan leather, the bag can be dressed up and doesn’t stand out when I’ve had to take it to more formal occasions. I’ve brought this bag with me to present at work conferences! Bonus: It comes with a portable changing pad, so you don’t have to buy a separate one!
Y’all, I am so obsessed with this Cleobella bag that I’ll probably continue to carry it as a chic travel backpack even when we’re out of the baby stage. I got this diaper bag after having my second baby, Lucy. I’d been carrying the Freshly Picked bag for the last 2.5 years and was ready for a change. I’ve been gravitating toward more neutrals since having a girl, and I think the moccasin color is perfect for spring and summer. The leather is so soft, and there’s so many pockets and compartments inside making it so easy to stay organized. I love that it also comes with a long shoulder strap to wear as a cross body. The braided detailing is very stylish. When my mother and husband first saw it, they did not think it was a diaper bag – WIN!
For diaper changes on-the-go, an easy-to-clean portable changing pad is vital. I like this portable changing pad from Amazon because its small and thin, so it doesn’t take up too much space in my diaper bag.
I love these aden + anais Muslin Blankets because they are multifunctional while being beautiful and long-lasting. I use these as a nursing cover, a swaddle for baby, a blanket for baby to wrap up in or lie down on, or to cover dirty surfaces baby may touch, like a grocery cart. They come in several beautiful colors and patterns that are easily washable. I like that they can cover a large surface while still being able to fold small to fit in my bag.
My favorite burp cloths are by KiddyStar, because they are thick and hold their shape. I’ve ended up with spit up all over me when using other brands’ thin, short, floppy burp cloths.
I carry these Munchkin Diaper Bag Refills in case I have to change a yucky diaper on-the-go and there’s no where to dispose the diaper. Believe me, you don’t want to have to keep an exposed yucky diaper in your beautiful new diaper bag or inside your car – ewwww!
Spit-ups and blow-outs are just a part of everyday life when you have a baby, so always keep an extra change of clothes for baby in your bag. I especially like to have Kyte Baby Footies, because they’re sooooo soft and fold up really small inside your bag! They come in so many colors, so when you’re making your baby registry, register for a bunch!
After trying every brand of diaper out there, Huggies Diapers seem to be the best at keeping blow-outs at bay – very important when you’re out and about with baby! We also use Huggies Natural Care Wipes.
I always keep an extra teething toy or two in my bag to give something “new” to the baby that she’s currently not playing with in her stroller. It helps when she’s starting to get bored and fussy. I like these natural wooden teething rings because they’re non-toxic and have fashionable neutral colors.
After carrying around my heavy wallet for a year with my firstborn, I finally wised up and got this cute, slim wristlet wallet from Cuyana. This wristlet has been so handy, especially when traveling. I keep my diaper bag on my back and this wallet around my wrist as I’m going through the airport and have to consistently pull out ID’s, tickets, credit card, etc. I also like this for quick errands when I don’t want to carry my diaper bag to the store. Now, I don’t need to transfer my wallet to another bag, because this wristlet does it all. It also has a pocket big enough for my iPhone 12 Pro Max. Cuyana has become one of my favorite leather goods brands. It’s such good quality at a perfect price point. And, the brand works to be as sustainable as possible.
I’ve owned several pairs of Quay Sunglasses, and these are my newest pair. I like that they’re fashionable, good quality, and at a good price point, so I don’t feel guilty buying a couple new trendy pairs at a time to try.
Other items that I always keep in my diaper bag include disinfecting wipes (to wipe down yucky surfaces), hand sanitizer, chapstick or lip color, and snacks for my toddler and me.
Our matching outfits:
While I have you, let’s talk about how cute these matching mommy-and-me dresses are from Cleobella. My mother and I used to wear matching dresses and jumpers back in the ’90s, so when I found out I was having a daughter, I got so excited for our future matching outfits! The main difference is that my mother actually used to sew our dresses back in the day, and since I’m no seamstress, it makes my heart so happy that Cleobella sells these adorable dresses. I’m wearing the Magdalena Mini Dress in natural and Lucy is wearing the Littles Magdalena Dress in natural.
I hope this post was helpful for new mamas trying to plan outings with their littles or for experienced mamas looking to revamp their diaper bag! Comment in the posts below or let me know on Instagram!
AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of this post contains affiliate links for the products I use and LOVE. If you take action on these links (like clicking, buying, etc.), I may receive compensation at no cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own, and I’ll only recommend what I truly love.
Wow, we’ve moved past the newborn stage already! Lucy is changing so much every week! With all the recent baby changes, we’ve also had to make some changes to the products and toys we’re regularly using. Below, I’ve listed all of our favorite products we’re currently using – everything from nap time to playtime!
(PS – If you’d like to see my ultimate baby registry list, which includes TONS of great products to use for baby the first 4 months, click here.)
Lucy’s starting to get busier and mommy still needs to do chores around the house, which is why the Skip Hop Activity Center is perfect for both of us! We did not have this activity center for Landon when he was a baby, and I wish we had! I truly think its helping with Lucy’s development, in addition to keeping her busy! She’s been able to practice keeping her head and body steady and getting her legs strong while standing. I love seeing how her interactions with the toys changes week over week. She used to just stare at the toys while I played with them, and now she plays the piano, pushes the spinner and moves the beads along the wire. Love it!
This was a leftover item from when Landon was a baby, and I honestly wasn’t sure if we’d use it for Lucy. At dinnertime, Lucy started getting bored sitting in her bouncer while we were all dining at the table, so we started placing this Summer Infant 3-Stage Super Seat on the dinner table so she could sit and join us. She loves it! She feels a part of our family dinner while also having the option to play with toys in front of her.
We were gifted a 14×14 Little Giraffe Baby Blanket when Landon was born and its such a soft, sweet blanket, but I didn’t think much of it than that. Starting around 8 months, Landon really grew attached to it, and now it’s his lovey, known as “B,” that he MUST have when he sleeps. I thought it was so sweet that I had to get one for Lucy. I introduced it to her as a lovey at 4 months to encourage self-soothing and help her sleep longer stretches at night. It’s a beautiful little blanket and such amazing quality. I recommend adding this to your registry or gifting it to any of your new mommy friends! If not used for lovey, it’s a nice blanket to put over baby in the stroller and car seat.
Lucy has a couple silicone and wooden baby teethers that she likes to chew on, and I love that they come in muted colors and don’t look super baby-ish. We took a trip to Palm Springs this past month, and it felt good hanging out around the resort with these toys rather than something bright, loud and colorful that would distract the other guests (and me!) from an adult vacation.
Lucy’s transitioned out of her Love To Dream Swaddle and moved on to the Halo Sleepsack Swaddle, which seems to be much easier for her to roll around in. We also use the non-swaddle version of the Halo Sleepsack for naps. We’ll be using these sleepsacks until she’s old enough to sleep with a blanket, so its a very good investment to have a couple on hand!
These Kyte Baby Footies are sooooo buttery soft and come in so many beautiful colors! These are the best rompers to have baby in all day that look fashionable without looking like PJ’s. Plus, they’re made with bamboo, so they’re organic, natural, hypoallergenic and eco friendly!! They’re a little pricey per one footie, so make sure these are on your baby registry. They also make for an awesome baby gift!
We were gifted this Soft Interactive Baby Book when Landon was born, and it was one of his favorites for over a year. The same is now true with Lucy. She loves to grab on to the book’s different elements and feel the different fabrics. I love that it’s soft, so it’s light and easy to throw in my diaper bag to take on-the-go.
Lucy’s now spending nights and naps in her crib, and I love the Babyletto Hudson Crib because it’s so aesthetically pleasing to the eye – it’s perfect for our modern home decor! It’s also Greenguard Gold Certified and made with sustainably sourced wood (who doesn’t desire more clean products, especially for baby?!). We used the same crib for Landon for 2 years and will use it for Lucy even longer, because we’ll convert it to a toddler bed when she’s ready.
My mama friends and I agree that this Little Unicorn Waterproof Blanket is the best for outdoor adventures and playdates with your little ones. This blanket has become especially essential for our family during COVID when all of our activities were moved outside. We use this at our mommy-and-me class, at the beach and when we take big brother to the local playground. I love that it’s so easy to clean and waterproof – perfect for all the messes! It folds so easily and has a shoulder strap, which is necessary when you’re wrangling two kiddos! It also comes in a variety of sweet patters. We have the tropical leaf pattern.
These are the products that we are currently using ALL THE TIME that were not on my master baby registry list! Is there anything I missed? I’m always down to add a new baby product to our routine to make life easier! Let me know your favorite baby products by connecting with me on Instagram.
XO, Maggie
AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of this post contains affiliate links for the products I use and LOVE. If you take action on these links (like clicking, buying, etc.), I may receive compensation at no cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own, and I’ll only recommend what I truly love.
Now that I’ve had two VERY different babies, I feel that I have a good idea of the most essential baby products every mom needs to add to their registry. When making my registry, I attempted my best to be as minimalist as possible with both babies. I hate clutter, and I didn’t want excess baby stuff around the house. With that said, it can be really hard to predict all your baby’s preferences before they are born, and sometimes you end up buying a couple of versions of an item when one doesn’t work out (for example, I tried wayyy too many varieties of swaddles until I found one that worked for us).
Below is a master list of the best baby products I’ve used for both my babies. Plus, I provided a detailed list with product descriptions below that. In my opinion, this list includes the most vital items to add to your registry and covers all the gear and products you’ll need for the first 3-4 months. I also have a list of best postpartum products for C-section and breastfeeding moms that I’ll share soon, so be on the lookout!
OK, moms and dads, this is may be one of the most important items on your registry. Don’t overlook it and don’t roll your eyes like I did when I saw this stroller’s price tag. The UPPAbaby VISTA is everything you need and more for your first baby AND your second baby. That was the selling point for me. I felt pretty certain that I wanted a second baby fairly soon after my first, and the VISTA is perfect for two children. Currently, my 3 month old rides in the stroller and my toddler likes to ride on the UPPAbaby VISTA PiggyBack Ride-Along Board. He’ll also ride in the stroller on a rare occasion, but he is so busy and independent that the ride-along board is genius! The stroller is durable with a smooth ride, has a large basket to carry EVERYTHING underneath and works perfectly with the UPPAbaby MESA Infant Car Seat. OK, so I’ll admit that I actually started resenting the VISTA 8 months into my first baby. It started feeling big and unnecessary, and we never liked taking it on an airplane, so I started using a small jogging stroller to primarily get around with Landon. It sat in our garage for a bit. But, now that we have a newborn, it’s all we’ve used for the last 3 months, and I know we’ll continue to use it to push around two children at once. I’m SO HAPPY we have this stroller!!
For those of you who travel a lot, in and out of Ubers, or don’t feel like reinstalling the car seat every time you change cars, this stroller + car seat duo is for you. I know some moms that use this as their primary stroller and infant car seat, but that didn’t work for us because I now need a stroller that carries two at a time and also one with more storage capacity. I also don’t think the “ride” is smooth enough for long excursions. But, this stroller is genius. I took it on a work trip when I had to be in and out of taxis and Ubers, and the ease of folding up the wheels and converting the stroller to a car seat convinced me there is no need for any other travel stroller until your baby outgrows this one around 1 year old.
Lucy lived in her Solly Baby wrap the first 3 months
My second baby, Lucy, lived in the Solly wrap for her first three months. There was a bit of a learning curve to get the super long piece of fabric tied into a tight, comfy wrap, but it was totally worth it, because I don’t know what I would have done if she wasn’t in that wrap. She loved being super close to mom as I did chores around the house, cooked dinner and put my first baby to bed.
This carrier is best for longterm wear and grows with your baby until the toddler years. I’ve used the Ergobaby for long walks and hikes where a stroller was too difficult to bring or when baby just didn’t want to be anywhere else but on me. And, unlike the Solly, my husband will wear it!
I think the bassinet is one of the hardest things to buy. A baby’s sleep is so unpredictable for the first few months and every baby is different. I did not know this until my first was born. I borrowed the Halo bassinet from a friend, and I’m so glad I borrowed instead of purchased, because he may have only slept in it two or three nights. He hated being anywhere other than my chest the first two months, and after that, he was always in the DockATot (more on that below) or trying to sleep on his tummy. I ended up putting him in the crib un-swaddled really early compared to most babies. For my second baby, I didn’t want to invest in an expensive bassinet until after she was born and I knew what sort of sleeper she was. Instead, I purchased the Design Dua Moses basket to get us started. Yes, it’s not necessarily cheap, but it doesn’t have the shocking price tag like the Snoo or Halo. I figured that even if she never slept in it once, at least it looked cute for me to take pictures of her in (crazy mom here). Since it was an attractive basket, I also knew we also could use it for storing stuffed animals or toys. Plus, she could use it for her baby dolls when she’s older. Well, she turned out to be a decent sleeper for a newborn and she actually slept in it for a few weeks! But, I still moved her out of it and into her crib early, because I figured I wanted to get her used to the crib while she was sleeping well. It now holds all her stuffed animals.
My first baby hated being swaddled, but maybe that’s because we never tried the Love to Dream swaddle, which leaves their arms in the natural up position. Lucy would calm down immediately when putting her in this swaddle. I also bought the next version up where you can remove the arms for when baby starts rolling. My first baby woke up every couple of hours, but Lucy has done 8 hours straight in the Love to Dream swaddle! Plus, I love how babies look like super cute little burritos in it!
I love the Hatch sound machine and night light and currently use it for our infant Lucy. I love that I can control the light color and brightness, plus the sound and volume all from my phone. I use it to play a lullaby as we’re getting ready for bed, then switch to white noise when it’s time for lights out. I used a different sound machine and separate night light for Landon when he was a baby, and while it was just OKAY, this has all the bells and whistles. It’s great for when they get older and you want to help them understand when it’s okay to get out of bed by changing the light from red to green. I’ve heard so many sleep success stories from mommies who’ve used this!
We traveled with both of our babies fairly soon after they were born, so we needed a travel crib. This Lotus Travel Crib by Guava Family is so easy to use. It folds into an easy-to-carry bag and pops out for easy set-up. I know some moms who use this in their home as a space to contain their crawling baby, too. It’s worth the price tag for how convenient and easy it is to use, plus, it looks good!
For my first baby, we used Fisher Price’s Rock ‘n Play, but that product was recalled before Lucy was born. That was okay with me, because Landon never really liked sitting in there for long anyway. He didn’t like looking up at the sky and would get bored. I decided a bouncer would be better for Lucy, and after looking into options, this Fisher Price Deluxe Bouncer seemed like the perfect fit. The price was right AND it offered some entertainment with the dangling animals above her head – which she stares at and tries to reach for ALL the time. I considered something a bit more pleasing to the eye, like Babybjorn, but I learned my lesson the first time with a place for baby to sit that didn’t have any entertaining attachments to it. Baby gets bored! And, I need a safe place for baby to sit while I try to cook dinner, get dressed, chase the toddler, etc. The other bouncer options out there are so expensive and didn’t feel worth it for doing the same thing as Fisher Price’s bouncer. Plus, babies only use it for a few months!
Baby naps ALL the time, and you need places for those impromptu naps other than the bassinet or crib. I absolutely LOVE the DockATot and tell all my friends what a lifesaver it was for my first baby. If Landon wasn’t on my chest, he would ONLY sleep in the DockATot for his first few months of life. I know, technically, this is against the safe sleeping rules. But, we were just trying to survive, y’all! Plus, I slept in the same room as him and was awake every couple of hours, anyway. Lucy loved taking naps in it as I did chores around the house by her. The material is high quality, it’s durable, washable, easy on the eyes, and it fits most babies through 8 months. This is a product I don’t know what we would have done without.
Both of my babies spent so much time in the Boppy Newborn Lounger. You may wonder why you’d need another lounger when I already recommended the DockATot, but like I said previously, you’ll want places to sit baby around the house. It’s much easier than hauling loungers up and down the stairs or into different rooms. We always kept this on our couch and its where I sat baby in between feeds and while watching TV when I was recovering from my C-section. It’s cozy for baby and easy for mama to wipe clean.
We loved this Skip Hop play gym for both of our babies. It’s affordable and easy to look at with neutral colors. It’s where both of my babies rolled over for the first time. Lucy loves laying there and grabbing the toys. I considered getting a more expensive play gym for Lucy, but I’m glad I didn’t spend the money since I already had this one. These things take up space, and once baby can crawl and pull up, they like finding other things around the house to explore (Stairs! Cabinets! Drawers! And all the other hazards that will drive you crazy – LOL!). My goal is to have less baby stuff or things I can resell. I can’t imagine play gyms being easy to resell after a baby spits up on and destroys it for 6 months.
If you have any desire to breastfeed, do yourself a big favor and get this Boppy nursing pillow. I exclusively breastfed both my babies, and this pillow made it so much easier for me and baby to comfortably and successfully do it. And, when I say I EXCLUSIVELY breastfed, I mean we used NO BOTTLES. That’s right, my babies spent a huge chunk of their first few months camped out on this pillow, and it saved my shoulders and back. I used this for Landon until he was about 9 months and big enough to where I didn’t really need the extra support, and I’m still using it for Lucy at 3.5 months.
I was gifted TONS of different burp cloths with my first baby, and after experimenting with all of them, these were the ones I kept going back to. I even bought more of them, so I didn’t have to keep washing them as often, even though I had tons of other different burp clothes in baby’s dresser. You don’t have to spend time unfolding them while rushing to clean up a spit-up disaster, they’re durable and soft. Star rating: 10+!
My first baby spit up so much after every feeding, and my second baby is a major drooler. These organic KeaBabies drool bibs are perfect to catch all the yucky so you’re not changing baby’s outfit 10 times a day! And, they are so soft and cute!
Since exclusively breastfeeding both babies, that means I do a lot of nursing in public. Obviously, I’m all for the #NormalizeBreastfeeding movement, but there are some times and places you just don’t want to accidentally expose yourself (like at a football watching party with your husband’s guy friends). I preferred these cute, soft, Aden + Anais swaddles to cover myself and baby, because they’re so handy when out and about. I’ve also used them as a blanket for baby to lay on, to cover baby’s stroller, and to wipe up major diaper blow-outs or spit-up messes. They also keep their shape after washing. I had some swaddle blankets with my first baby that did not. Bonus: They come in lots of sweet patterns and colors.
The Haakaa is so helpful while breastfeeding, especially for the first couple of months. By using the Haakaa, I was able to establish a good milk supply, plus save TONS of milk without having to hook myself up to an electronic pump (some moms prefer not to use an electric pump until after regular nursing has been established with baby). I’d put the Haakaa on one breast while baby nursed from the other, and I’d make 2-6 ounces of milk to save. If I didn’t have the Haakaa, I’d have soaked nursing pads and burp cloths – and wasted liquid gold (aka breastmilk)! I was able to store so much milk in the freezer with my first baby that I never even used an electronic pump. As I mentioned above, I exclusively breastfed, so I didn’t need to pump while baby drank from bottle. I stored my milk in the Lansinoh Breastmilk Storage Bags, which are easy to store because they lay flat on top of each other.
I know I needed a backpack instead of a shoulder bag, because my pre-baby shoulder-strap purse was already hurting my neck and shoulders with all the stuff I carry around – there was no way I could carry around all the baby stuff on my shoulder. Plus, a backpack keeps hands free – great for shopping, throwing stuff in your car, and when you need to pick up your toddler who’s running away from you! This backpack is so pretty – just like a designer purse. I’ve had it for almost three years now, and it’s held up SO WELL. And, it carries so much stuff that I take it EVERYWHERE. I even put my laptop in it when we travel!
I never knew how handy these would be! Get these Munchkin changing pad liners, so you’re not constantly washing hard-to-clean items or items you just don’t want to remove from their designated spots, like the changing pad cover, DockATot, etc. I even kept one of these downstairs on the couch to change baby’s diaper to keep me from going upstairs to our official changing station.
I really dislike the name of this product LOL but it does the job! I especially loved the soft straps for Landon when he started getting really squirmy around 5-6 months. Imagine trying to change a baby’s poopy diaper while they’re trying to touch their butt or roll over – yikes! This saves you! I bought the recommended PooPoose Changing Pad Cover in varsity grey.
I’m about to drop some realness on y’all… ALL diaper pails stink. There is no magic way to keep your diaper pail from stinking with the amount of wetness and funk that sits in a pail, even a stainless steel one. But, this Ubbi diaper pail does a pretty darn good job. We had ours for almost 2 years before it started stinking so bad that there was no saving it. That was 1.5 years after putting the really gross poopy diapers in there that you’ll soon discover after introducing your baby to solids. We bought a fresh, new Ubbi pail, and I’ve learned you can make yours last even longer by changing the bag every other day, adding the Ubbi Odor Absorbing Gels and bagging the super stinky poopy diapers in Munchkin Arm and Hammer Diaper Bags prior to putting in the Ubbi pail. All I can say is, best wishes on your poop diaper journey!
I never knew how vital this OXO Tot wipe dispenser would be! It sure comes in handy when you’re juggling holding baby’s legs, dropping the diaper in the diaper pail, and need to pull more wipes to clean the yucky – all while attempting not to get poop everywhere! Get this!
Y’all, I really wanted to be Ms. Organic Mommy and use all the best “environmentally better” diapers. I tried them ALL for both my babies and none compare to Huggies Little Snugglers, especially for the 0-3 months stage. These are the only diapers I’ve found that limit blow-outs. You may think you want to use the organic brands, or even reusable diapers (seriously, good for you, I commend you…), but after you’ve ruined enough clothes and touched enough poop, you’ll want to switch to these.
The Angelcare baby bathtub is such a simple and easy tub that we used for both babies. It’s inexpensive, but it’s held up so well! The colors haven’t faded and there’s no gross mold or any other residue left behind on the tub, unlike some of our other bath toys. Both my babies have loved bath time and never complained being in this tub. After bath, we store this under our sink, but we used to hang it behind the bathroom door in our old house. I really don’t think you need anything fancy for baby’s first bathtub. Get one that’s safe and easy to store, like the Angelcare!
Pottery Barn Gingham Towel & Washcloths Set can be personalized!
It was tough to choose my favorite baby towel and washcloths, because we received several as gifts that are all great and functional. However, I chose Pottery Barn’s gingham baby hooded towel and washcloth as my #1 choice because of the thick and soft material. It really held up after numerous washes. Plus, you can personalize it! My second favorite hooded baby towels are the super soft aden + anais Classic Hooded Baby Bath Towels, because they also are thick and hold up very well. I wash my babies’ bath towels more than my own because there always seems to be some sort of spit-up or poopy accident right before or after bath!
I underestimated how much I’d love a good rinse cup. This Skip Hop Moby Rise Cup keeps the water out of my babies’ eyes and makes it so easy to wash their hair tear-free. Now that Landon is older, he loves using it to help give baby a bath.
All new mamas worry about their babies’ sensitive newborn skin and want to choose the most delicate, natural products. I love Noodle & Boo’s 2-in-1 Shampoo & Body Wash and Lotion because it checks all the boxes: non-toxic, plant-based, dermatologist tested, hypoallergenic, made in USA… AND it has a light irresistible newborn baby scent that will make you want to double you baby’s kisses post bath time.
This SmartNoggin rattle encourages development in multiple ways, and both of my babies loved it. They love feeling the different textures, tracking the light and looking in the mirror at the bottom of the rattle. Since they liked it so much, I also would use it to encourage tummy time. I’d set it in front of them while on their tummies to look at.
Most any silicon teether will do, but I like that this one was large enough to where I didn’t lose it and the fact that it was a gender neutral cactus. It just felt very “LA” (LOL!) and didn’t scream “baby!” like many other crazy primary colored teethers.
This Baby Einstein book block is a great starter set to introduce your babies to reading and baby basics – colors, shapes, animals and such. I started reading immediately with both of my babies, and I’m so happy that Landon LOVES and interacts with his books at 2.5 years old.
Whew! That’s a lot of gear for baby! Did I forget anything that you other mamas found vital for your newborn baby? Let me know by emailing me here or connect with me on Instagram.
XO, Maggie
AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of this post contains affiliate links for the products I use and LOVE. If you take action on these links (like clicking, buying, etc.), I may receive compensation at no cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own, and I’ll only recommend what I truly love.
wearing one of her 
, 
and 
He’ll also ride in the stroller on a rare occasion, but he is so busy and independent that the ride-along board is genius! The stroller is durable with a smooth ride, has a large basket to carry EVERYTHING underneath and works perfectly with the 
OK, so I’ll admit that I actually started resenting the VISTA 8 months into my first baby. It started feeling big and unnecessary, and we never liked taking it on an airplane, so I started using a small jogging stroller to primarily get around with Landon. It sat in our garage for a bit. But, now that we have a newborn, it’s all we’ve used for the last 3 months, and I know we’ll continue to use it to push around two children at once. I’m SO HAPPY we have this stroller!!
, which are easy to store because they lay flat on top of each other.
in varsity grey.
and bagging the super stinky poopy diapers in 
prior to putting in the Ubbi pail. All I can say is, best wishes on your poop diaper journey!
y own because there always seems to be some sort of spit-up or poopy accident right before or after bath!
Maggie Jackson 