Baby Essentials 0-6 Months

Posted byBecca TurnerPosted inFamily, MotherhoodTags:, , , ,

I made a list for some friends when they told me they were expecting . These are some of the essentials that we used for Ellis the first six months of his life. I also included a lot of postpartum items for new mama’s. These are by no means essential for every family since every new family is different. These are just the items that got us through. This list is detailed because if you know me, you know that I find comfort in the details of preparing for something new. I hope this is helpful for you or someone you know prepares to become a new parent.

*Second Baby Edit* We have reused a lot of these things now that Aiden is almost 6 months. I have edited the things that I changed or added for the second child.

0-3 months

  • Some basics
    • Pack n play/ bassinet for beside bed. We used the bassinet.
    • Crib for when you want them out of your room
    • Changing station (either on a dresser or a table)
    • Diaper caddies for wherever you are likely to change a diaper if not in the bedroom. 
      • *Second Baby Edit* Instead of a diaper caddy we used a rolling cart to stock with diapers, wipes, burp rags, diaper rash cream, paci, etc.
    • Diaper bag
    • Baby monitor. We love this one because it is not dependent on wifi! We also got these ones with wifi and have moved them around the house depending on where baby is. 
    • Stroller/ Travel system/ Car seat
    • Stroller fan (by far the most powerful and log lasting portable fan outthere)
      • *Second Baby Edit* We bought a second one for both kids so they both had one during the hot summer months.
    • Diaper Pale
      • *Second Baby Edit* If you have a two-story house I would definitely consider buying a cheap diaper pale to keep one on the first floor. We got one second-hand for downstairs. It helped since we had two in diapers.
    • Car seat cover
    • Pacifiers- I recommend introducing whatever paci you want your little one to love first. We use the mam pacifiers, but they are not as cute or neutral, but he won’t take any other brands. I love the idea of the silicone ryan and rose brand. They are a teether and paci ( Ellis uses his mam as both anyway, but that poses its own problems). I believe they are easier to clean as well.  
    • **Boy specific** Pee Pee Teepees You will thank me later. (be ready to be peed on so many times in the beginning. Right when you open the diaper put one of these on his penis and it will keep it warm so it doesn’t feel the urge to pee every time you open the diaper. They do grow out of this after about a month!
      • *Second Baby Edit* We didn’t use these at all. We just were more experienced this go around.
  • Very few newborn clothes and diapers. ( Ellis was 8lbs and 13 oz and still wore newborn clothes and diapers at least the first 2 weeks)
  • A lot of 0-3 month clothes ( feel like we were in this size for a while)
  • 1 diapers
  • Swaddles
    • We used the swaddleme swaddle 0-3 month. These worked wonders for us and it was so easy to use. We bought the bigger swaddle when he got older, but started breaking loose before we could get good use of them. Don’t buy bigger ones until you get there just in case they roll over before. 
    • The love to dream swaddle was not used as much. We only used this one during naps if he needed something to help him fall asleep. 
    • You could just use muslin cloth to swaddle, but I never was great at wrapping those. Plus, for me it would have been a pain to re-swaddle those in the middle of the night.
  • Clothes
    • So lots of stretchy clothing. Even in the summertime Ellis wore long sleeves inside because postpartum I was extremely hot with all the hormones and the air was on full blast all summer. So long sleeves and stretchy pants for him.
    • Onesies
    • Zipper pjs (don’t do the cute button pjs until they sleep through the night because you will hate buttoning them back up at 3 am!)
    • Hand mittens (we didn’t use these a ton, but I did use them when his nails got long and I was too afraid to clip them. I would put it off until the last moment)
    • Any fun outfits you want to take pictures in. ( Anything like jeans I would put him in for the picture and then immediately put him back into the soft stretchy pants) 
    • Socks. Lots of socks. You will lose a lot of matches in the laundry to just have a lot. 
  • Toys
    • Really doesn’t need a lot of toys until they can grab things around 3 months 
    • This piano toy we got late in the game, but I so wish we would have used it sooner. IT IS AMAZING. This one is the same concept and my friend loves hers. 
    • We also had this activity center that he liked around the 2-3 month mark . Really any activity center would work. They say the black and white is the best if you can find one that is a lot of black and white. 
    • Rattle toys 
    • These toys were great. This was the first set of “toys” I bought Ellis and they were perfect for when he started getting interested in them. 
      • *Second Baby Edit* we still use all of these toys for Aiden.
  • Baby “containers”. We survived the newborn stage with these!
    • Swing. Any swing that adjusts the speed and goes by itself. They are life savers. We were given one and we loved it!
    • *Second Baby Edit* BAby containers also saved us with 2 kiddos.
    • Bouncer
      • We kept this in our room and when he would wake up in the morning  I would lay down in bed while I put him in his bouncer beside the bed so I could watch him. We had this one.
    • Boppy Lounger
      • This is by far the best. We bought one ourselves as we got closer to our due date when I had heard of how amazing it. If you get nothing else, get this. 
      • *Second Baby Edit* This is now recalled so use it at your own risk.
    • Sit me up chair
  • Functional things.
    • Medicines to have on hand:
      • Tylenol (after the doctor says you can give it to them)
      • Gas drops
      • Gripe water
      • Saline drops ( for some reason I was so afraid to use these when he was sick.  You just drop  little drops into their nose and it clears their sinuses right up! Don’t be afraid to use them!)
      • Triple Paste Diaper rash cream – We barely used the butt paste that everyone tells you about. We used this and it gets rid of any redness within hours of you using it. Amazing. It is pricey but we still have the same container from when he was born. Get a smaller tube for diaper bag.
      • Frida nose sucker ( We used this just a couple of times. It is harder to use as they are more able to move their hands. Easier when you have another person to help.)
      • Bulb nose suction from hospital. ( This is old faithful. We used this more than the Frida.)
      • *Second Baby Edit* Electric nose aspirator .
    • Nail clippers/file
      • Nail file. JUST BUY THIS ONE. Don’t even worry yourself about the clippers. I literally bought 3 pair and I cut his poor little fingers every time. These are so much easier and they are so calm with them and it is so wonderful. 
      • I used these as well, but if I could do it over I would not even use them.
    • Bath time
      • Frida silicone bath brush ( got rid of cradle cap, but also got rid of his newborn hair haha) 
      • This brush is nice to scrub all over too 
      • Tub
        • So we used this baby tub at first when he was little little because it was easier to hold him while in, but it became difficult to clean afterward. We put it on the bathroom counter after filling it in the tub so we didn’t have to bend over the tub. Not sure if I will use it again with a second baby. 
          • *Second Baby Edit* We didn’t use this the second time. We used this sink bath for about three months.
        • After about 2 months we switched to this one tub support. So much easier to clean after. He is almost 8 months and it is still being used at each bath time.
      • Towels
        • Fluffier the better. They are so cold when coming out of the bath if you can get them into a fluffy towel it will be the best. We have thinner ones, but I hate using them. 
      • Wash clothes
    • Shoes
      • Unless you really want them to use shoes, don’t bother. Just make sure they have socks on when you leave. 
      • If you do get shoes for an extra layer to keep them warm, get some that velcro. We bought these shoes around 3 months and they were easy ones to put on him if we wanted him to have shoes on.
    • Bibs
      • The bandana bibs are perfect when they start to drool. There are so many colors to match whatever outfit they have on. Here are some of the bandana ones we have, but any you can find are great!
      • You don’t need the silicone ones until they start trying food around 4 months (if purees) or 6 months (solid food). 
    • Burp rags
      • BUY A TON. I underestimated how many burp cloths we would go through. Now Ellis spits up a lot, but I know a lot of babies do so just stock up. On average we would go through at least 5 a day if not more.
        • The majority of ours are these target burp rags, but really any and all would work. 
    • Blankets
      • Everyone told us we would get too many blankets. I actually liked having a lot of blankets because I used them so much. We would use them to put on the floor, to cover him in his boppy lounger, cover him in the car seat, to put in our lap when we thought he was going to have a blowout. We just used them a lot.
        • Flannel- We had some like these. 
          • Muslin- Really any brand
        • Fluffy ones- We got a lot of these as gifts from marshalls and TJ Maxx. Love them.

3-6 months

  • Clothing (Really you will just know what size they are and will probably be at this point. Buy what you need)
    • Footie pjs
    • Onesies
    • Soft pants
    • Sleep Sack (When they start breaking out of the swaddle or when they can roll over)
      • We only really use Carter’s sleep sacks and they work well! There are so many options. Just get a really warm one for winter and a thinner one for warmer days. I would have 4 total on hand. 
  • Toys
    • BEST TOY EVER (at least for this age range) this is perfect to have on hand when out and about. 
    • Jumparoo– I like the jumperoo instead of a jumper that goes on the door because it gives them something besides jumping to do. There are many great options. Choose the one you like the look of the most. (Ellis is 8 months and we still use it and have been for 4 months. ) 
    • Any light up small toys. They love them. 
    • Crinkle books. These are perfect for the car seat. 
    • TEETHERS. All and any teethers. 
  • “Containers”
    • The inglesina chair is the bomb. End of story. Buy it. He sits in it at the table while  I am in the kitchen. He plays with toys while we ate at dinner as well. It is also a portable high chair when you bring them anywhere and you want them to sit a t a table with you. 
    • High chair for when you start eating real food. ( If you can get the ikea one. I don’t have it, but I wish I did! So easy to clean!)
    • Jumparoo 

Nursing/ Feeding

  • Bottles
    • We like the avent ones the most, but we tried the Como Tomo, the Tommee Tippee ones as well, but ended up just using the avent ones after a while. 
    • *Second Baby Edit* We have only used the Avent brand with Aiden and they work great.
    • Whatever bottles your pump brand is. I used a lot of medela ones just because that is the pump I have. 
  • Bottle brushes
  • After speaking with a lactation consultant, then breast shields if you have issues with latch. 
  • Boppy Pillow– I really only used mine in the beginning while getting used to it then I stopped after a while. I pulled it back out when Ellis was learning to sit up by himself because you can set it around them while they learn to balance. 
  • Sterilizing bags– These are easier than boiling things!

Mama

  • Postpartum
    • A little basket that fits on the back of the toilet for each bathroom in the house. Fill it with these things: (if you need to know why you need these please ask a mom friend. These are essential if you give birth vaginally or if you had any tearing. )
      • Tucks
      • Dermaplast
      • Squirt bottle I used these ones, but I hear these are awesome: peri bottle (definitely trying this one next kid)
      • *Second Baby Edit* I tried the Peri Bottle this time and it was a lot more convenient.
      • Pads– Get a pack of really thick and long ones, then slowly lower the thickness as the bleeding gets lighter. I bought too many big ones and needed more middle-thickness ones. 
      • Disposable underwear/ adult diapers (in the first week or two depending on bleeding level)

PRO TIP: When you have to poop the first time, spray your butt with the dermoplast and that will help it not sting as bad. It will hurt ,but that will help. Same if peeing stings down there. Spray the dermoplast first then pee. 

  • Clothing: The comfier the better. If breastfeeding a lot of button tops
    • Nursing bras/ tank tops
    • Very loose pants ( leggings are fine but sweat pants/ loose joggers are better comfort level.
    • A robe is essential. In the beginning, you might just go topless for a while! So a robe covers you up for the rare moments you are not breastfeeding (if you are breastfeeding). 
  • Water bottle- You will be so thirsty. I just started this, but wish I did it earlier on. Before bed, fill a gallon water jug with filtered water or use a filter pitcher and then pour water in your water bottle throughout the next day. 
  • Breastfeeding
    •  A pump and all the accessories to it ( case, tubing, bottles, flanges, etc)
    • Haaka- Literally so good for the beginning when your breasts are leaking milk all over. You can catch 3oz just by putting it on while you nurse/ pump on the other side! 
    • *Second Baby Edit* I used the Elvie Curve with Aiden and I liked it a lot more than the Haaka.
    • Supplements
      • Sunflower Lecithin  ( at least once a day, but if you feel a clogged duct, three times a day). It helps your ducts drain the milk faster. 
      • Probiotic that helps prevent mastitis.
      • Your prenatal vitamins
    • Vibrating de-clogger (this is great for when pumping or in the shower trying to unclog ducts)
    • *Second Baby Edit* I bought these this time. I like them a lot. Really nice for when you have to pump in the middle of the night.
    • Breast heating pads (this helps if you have any clogged ducts as well or just before you nurse to help the milk flow better)
    • Disposable breast pads ( use these for a few months until you are past getting a lot of clogged ducts/ your milk is way established. Helps prevent the spread of bacteria. )
    • Washable breast pads 
    • Ask your doctor to prescribe you “all-purpose nipple cream” use this right away if your nipples bleed or crack at all. This will help prevent bacteria from coming in and forming mastitis. It is pricey but can prevent mastitis and soothe hurting nipples. 
    • Lanolin (general nipple cream) A lot of people use other kinds this one was fine. 
    • Milk storage bags. 
    • Pump parts wash/ soak soap (you literally soak them for 5 minutes and it is clean. No scrubbing. ) I really only used this if I just finished using the pump parts and I rinsed them well. 

I hope that this can be a helpful guide to any new mamas ( and daddies) out there. Remember to soak in all the baby cuddles. They don’t stay that little long.

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