It can be overwhelming being a new mom. There are so many things to prepare for and so many new things to learn. I’m pretty sure that I’m not the only mama that did a ton of research before having my first baby. It can be challenging to find time to read a lot of indepth reviews, not to mention confusing. That’s why I’ve made this super practical list of baby products we actually used! Baby G recently turned one! His first year went by so fast. Below is a list of baby products we used practically every day. Take a look, you may want to consider adding some to your baby registry or buying some for yourself.
This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures here.
Baby Bjorn Carrier
I loved the Bjorn when he was a newborn. It was easy to put on by myself and comfortable to wear. As a newborn, they sleep all the time, so this allowed me to multi-task like a pro even when he wanted to be close by.
Aden and Anias Sleep Blankets
For the first few months, I swaddled my daughter, but Baby G would have none of that. Of course it’s not safe to use a loose blanket in a bassinet or crib, so I found that sleep blankets were the best option for keeping him warm. Aden and Anias has different levels of thickness for their blankets so some that were better for warmer climates like Houston and others that were thicker and better for a Canadian winter. The other big plus about a sleep blanket is that it prevents the baby/toddler from trying to climb out of the crib. They have enough room to move around even crawl or stand up, but not to lift their leg. Saweet huh!
Monkey Butt
This product was hard to find in Canada, at least for a decent price, but we would buy it from the states and bring it back with us. It’s great for diaper rash!
Diaper Genie
We have used two different versions of these and prefer the XXX model. It’s so convenient to have this right next to your changing station and it really does keep the bad smell out of the room.
Skip Hop Duo Signature Diaper Bag
I’m pretty picky about diaper bags. Given that it often becomes the family purse holding my husband’s wallet and cell phone, my stuff, my daughter’s drink and snack PLUS all things baby it’s critical to get one that works for all of our needs. Additionally, we travel by air quite a bit, so I need one that can carry a lot, is well organized so that you can easily find things in a pinch, and is not so big that you get a back ache carrying it. The Skip Hop Duo Signature bag fit the bill. Unfortunately, it was the third diaper bag I purchased. Wish I had found it sooner!
Medella Bottles
I loved these bottles because they worked for both breast milk and formula. I could use them with the pump and/or mix formula in them.
PinkPancake Design Burp Cloths
Baby G was a spit up baby. It was frequent and often until he was 8 or 9 months old!!! We needed plenty of burp clothes. I loved the design that you could throw over your shoulder. PinkPancake makes custom bibs, bandanas, and burp cloths for babies. They can be feminine or masculine and make really great presents. Check out these cute designs by Pink Pancake Designs by clicking on the pic to the right or the link at the bottom of the post.
Evenflo Exersaucer Triple Fun Active Learning Center, Life in the Amazon
This is a great place to put baby when you need to cook or fold clothes, type an email etc. Fortunately, Baby G loved his! His older sister did too!!! This particular model kept his interest for many months. He was fully entertained and curious when spending time in the exersaucer.
City Select Stroller
We bought this before Little Miss E was born. The flexibility of this stroller is HUGE! We could use it with the baby bucket car seat, as a stroller for one child, or a stroller to carry both kids. It’s not too wide so you can get it through regular doors and take it into stores etc.
Medella Quick Clean Micro- Steam Bags
I loved this as a way to clean the baby bottles. Just put a little water in and put it in the microwave and voila, your bottles are sterilized and safe for your baby!
Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor with Interchangeable Optical Lens
Once baby is old enough to be in his own room, the video monitor helped give me peace of mind. It’s not only a transition for baby to go into their own room, but also for mom and dad who are used to checking in on him/her. The video monitor allowed me to easily check in, especially if he let out a cry or murmur of any sort. I purchased this one based on the number of positive reviews on Amazon and have been very happy with it!
Munchkin Warm Glow Wipe Warmer
For winter or cold climates like Canada, the wiper warmer is such a nice piece of equipment to use. Instead of wiping your baby’s bum with a cold wipe and risking startling the baby, the warm wipe is a gentler way to clean up.
Munchkin Nursery Projector and Sound System
This is something we used in the new born phase through the toddler years. We’ve tried two different brands and love the Munchkin machine most. It’s great at providing a wide variety of background noises for the baby, drowning out other sounds in the home, and has a projector function that casts moving images on the wall or ceiling.
Baby Einstein Sea Dreams Soother
Baby G love love loves his Aquarium. As early as 3 months old, he learned to turn it on with his foot and now, at a year, he’ll wake up in the middle of the night, sit up and turn it on. It helps to soothe him, but does not require our involvement when he needs it.
Hon
est Company Hair and Body Wash
This is a great product to use for bath time for the newest of babies. We use it for both our baby and our three year old. Not only does it smell good and is effective, but it is also does not use harsh chemicals. Check out my post here regarding safe and healthy products for body and home.
Ok Mama, I hope this list gave you a since of some really practical things you can have on hand for your baby’s first year! Like I said earlier, there’s a lot of information out there and it can be overwhelming. If you have any questions about any of these products, feel free to reach out to me Melissa {at} ourhappyhive.com, I’d be happy to share my experience with you.
Shop the Post
- BABYBJORN Baby Carrier Original, Black, Cotton
- aden + anais sleeping bag, high seas- whales, XL
- Baby Anti-Monkey Butt Cream, 3 Ounce
- Playtex Diaper Genie Complete Diaper Pail with Odor Lock Technology, White
- Skip Hop Duo Signature Carry All Travel Diaper Bag Tote with Multipockets, One Size, Grey Feather
- Medela Breastmilk Bottle Set – 5 oz – 3 ct
- PinkPancake Designs Burpclothes
- Evenflo Exersaucer Triple Fun Active Learning Center, Life in the Amazon
- Baby Jogger 2016 City Select Single Stroller – Onyx
- Medela Quick Clean Micro-Steam Bags, 5 Count
- Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor with Interchangeable Optical Lens
- Munchkin Warm Glow Wipe Warmer – Green by Munchkin
- Munchkin Nursery Projector and Sound System, White
- Baby Einstein Sea Dreams Soother
- Honest Perfectly Gentle Hypoallergenic Shampoo and Body Wash with Naturally Derived Botanicals, Sweet Orange Vanilla, 10 Fluid Ounce
Note: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. For more information, see my disclosures here.
What a great list of products for a baby’s first year. I’ll admit that I didn’t use a lot of these with my son, but wish I had known about the swaddles. I could never get him swaddled in a blanket.
We loved the swaddles with my daughter, but my son just wasn’t into it! Oh well, what works for one doesn’t necessarily work with the other.
I think our best product we have is the stroller, the baby carrier and a hiking carrier! Other than that we could acutally live without. We are a big hikers thats why! And ofcourse a music box for the hike!
We used the hiking carrier too, but once the baby got bigger. We aren’t huge hikers, so didn’t use it as often. Thanks for chiming in!
I agree with so many of these! I haven’t used a wipe warmer before, but just about everything else, yes.
Thanks Betty!
Oh my gosh, I LOVED those Aiden & Anias sleep sacks. They were so wonderful and cool for the summer months for my daughter!
Yes! They have different varieties, so some are thinner and great for the summer months while others are thicker and perfect for the winter months!