The Ultimate Baby Essentials Checklist: Must Haves for New Moms (0-12 Months)

MY HONEST REVIEW ON TOP SELLERS + PRODUCTS I’D PERSONALLY RECOMMEND — scroll down for the full list!

I’m sharing my honest review of some of the most highly recommended best-selling baby products on the market today, and if they’re worth the hype!

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I know there is so much information out there on what to buy. I also know I wish I had help narrowing down my options when I was building my baby registry. I’ve spent endless hours on researching safe + low-toxic products for my baby (who has several sensitivities). So after trying several products all across the board; in this post, I’m sharing the ones I personally love, or new products that I’ve been eyeing that I would have found helpful. I tried rounding up every product I could think of when it comes to caring for your little one. You’ll find something for every category.

*This post isn’t to tell you what will be best for you or your baby, as every baby is different and there is no one-size-fits-all. I’m just here to provide insight on products that will (hopefully) help you make the best decision for what works for your family! To make that process just a little easier, I’ve rounded up a detailed list below of my favorite newborn + baby care essentials, such as baby’s sleep + nursery must haves, loungers, travel carriers, etc. These items would also be useful for building a baby registry or gifting at a baby shower. Scroll down to read + tap any image or link below to shop.

THE NEWBORN CHECKLIST

REVIEWING + COMPARING MY FAVORITE PRODUCTS AND BEST SELLERS:

My 17 month old son has extremely sensitive skin + eczema. We always knew his skin was sensitive, but didn’t know about his eczema until learning what laundry detergent + diapers cause rashes. With this said, I’m writing this post—especially keeping in mind parents that are looking for some low-tox alternatives. We are not entirely a non-toxic household, but I do try to give my son the best alternatives for his health that fit within our budget.

DIAPERING

❏ DIAPERS:

🔗 PAMPERS SWADDLERS OR PAMPERS PURE PROTECTION DIAPERS

1) DIAPERS: COMPARING MILLIE MOON | PAMPERS | HONEST | HUGGIES — If you’re building a baby registry, we can assume your guests will most likely gift you tons of newborn diapers, so I’d recommend stocking up on size 1 and size 2 diapers. My current favorite brand to use is Pampers Swaddlers. (We’ve tried Huggies, Huggies Skin Essentials, Millie Moon + Honest Diapers in the past) In my opinion, the Honest diapers were my least favorite as far as fit + leaking goes. It seemed like he leaked through every diaper change. With Huggies, we’ve had some issues with their fit, often finding that he’d leak through, especially if we didn’t size up. PLEASE READ: **With Millie Moon, we originally loved how well they held up, being a great fit with zero leaks, BUT about a month into wearing them, he experienced a chemical burn rash that caused him to bleed, as well as a yeast infection. This in turn ended up triggering his eczema. It wasn’t until another month—and several urgent care visits and rash prescriptions later—that we suspected it could be the diaper. We then switched to Pampers. Surely enough, his rash went away and healed about a week later. P.S. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN TO ALL BABIES. I have friends that swear by Millie Moon. This was our experience and I just wanted to share fellow mamas. You can, of course, do your own research. I didn’t suspect his diaper was the problem until I found reviews on Target.com + reading Google/Reddit about other mom’s experiencing the same issue with Millie Moon. This lead us to trying Pampers. I love the price point, fit, and decent ingredients of the Pampers Swaddlers, it hasn’t been 100% leak-proof. but the accidents are much less frequent in comparison to some other leading brands. I’ve also been eyeing/considering trying Pampers Pure Protection Diapers because I’ve read that their ingredients of this diaper are totally chlorine free [TCF].

☆ MY OVERALL PICK [DIAPERS] — PAMPERS SWADDLERS OR PAMPERS PURE PROTECTION DIAPERS based on experience, fit, ingredience + price point.

❏ WIPES:

🔗 HONEST COMPANY CLEAN WIPES | PAMPERS FREE & GENTLE WIPES

2) WIPES: PAMPERS | HONEST | HUGGIES — We use the Pampers Free & Gentle Wipes for the fact that they’re budget-friendly, they efficiently clean the best, and it has 100% plant-based ingredients, it’s fragrance-free, plastic free and hypoallergenic. We’ve also tried Huggies, Pampers Sensitive, and Honest wipes, but Pampers Free & Gentle has to be my top pick so far, it has a grippy, thicker feel. Pampers Pure Aqua also has similar ingredients, but instead they’re 99% water, and has a thinner, more watery feel for an easy clean up. I really loved the Honest Company Clean Wipes for their clean ingredients + their highly rated, but ultimately find that they can be too expensive to buy them every grocery run. Huggies was just not the best overall, in my opinion.

☆ MY OVERALL PICK [WIPES] — HONEST COMPANY CLEAN WIPES (for its clean ingredients, I trust this company, + it’s top rated on Amazon—4.9 stars) OR PAMPERS FREE & GENTLE WIPES (for price point + plant-based ingredients).

❏ DIAPER BAG:

🔗 LULI BEBE DIAPER BAG |

3) DIAPER BAG: We use the Luli Bebe Monaco Diaper Bag in the color “latte brown” and I loveee it. It is a bit pricey but worth it… in my opinion! I wanted a diaper bag that was cute, could go with anything, but was also functional. It includes a changing pad, stroller straps, a messenger strap, nine pockets, inclusive of the large space for bulky items, plus additional compartments for extra storage.

❏ RASH CREAM + SPATULA:

🔗 BOUDREAUX’S RASH CREAM | BURT’S BEES OINTMENT | BOOGIE TOUCH-FREE SPRAY

3) DIAPER RASH CREAM: MUSTELA | BOOGIE | BOUDREAUX’S | BURT’S BEES — We’ve probably tried almost every diaper rash cream on the market—including both touch-free Mustela Spray + Boogie Spray. I actually loved the Boogie Spray, especially for travel or quick changes. But overall, we religiously use Boudreaux’s Butt Paste most days—their max strength is my favorite, with 40% zinc oxide. We also love using Burt’s Bees Diaper Rash Ointment [also 40% zinc oxide] for overnight diapers or stubborn rashes. The thickness of the Burt’s Bees cream makes it last practically all night. We interchange 2-4 creams depending on the rash.

☆ MY OVERALL PICK [CREAMS] — BOUDREAUX’S BUTT PASTE MAX STRENGTH + BURT’S BEES OINTMENT.

4) DIAPER SPATULA: A non-necessity, but I use this daily! We have 2 of the BUMCO BABY DIAPER SPATULAS (they’re BPA-free). We use one for the diaper station, and one for the diaper bag. It’s great to have a spatula if you don’t want to get your hands dirty every diaper change.

❏ DIAPER PAIL:

UBBI STEEL DIAPER PAIL

5) DIAPER PAIL: DIAPER GENIE vs. UBBI DIAPER PAIL — This item is not an essential, but great if you prefer to keep out odor. We were gifted the Diaper Genie and the Ubbi Diaper Pail, and I prefer the Ubbi Steel Diaper Pail alllll the way. I broke the lid of the Diaper Genie within the first month of using it, and it was so frustrating trying to get the bag out. The Ubbi pail is so much easier to use, and is much sturdier because of the steel. SEE ALSO: DIAPER PAIL BAGS

☆ MY OVERALL PICK [DIAPER PAIL] — UBBI STEEL DIAPER PAIL + BAGS

CHANGING ESSENTIALS

❏ CHANGING PAD:

1) CHANGING PAD: KEEKAROO | SKIPHOP | MUNCHKIN — We own the Keekaroo changing pad and here are my honest thoughts on it: it’s cute yes, but it is so expensive for what you get! I wish we had asked for something more useful. There are more cons than pros. KEEKAROO CONS: My baby was always cold, it’s not intended for liners, it’s not very mobile, AND my baby grew out of it within the first year! I honestly have no idea why it’s so overhyped. KEEKAROO PRO: Easy to wipe clean. That’s really it. The Skip Hop Changing Pad is a fraction of the cost, can also be wiped clean, is just as cute, and it comes with a toy bar + baby mirror. We use the Munchkin Changing Pad and 10/10 recommend it because it’s waterproof, lightweight + mobile, it’s long enough for tall babies, and it’s one of the more affordable options!

☆ MY OVERALL PICK [CHANGING PAD] — MUNCHKIN CHANGING PAD for it’s use, mobility, comfort, and price.

❏ DIAPER ORGANIZER:

2) DIAPER CADDY ORGANIZER: At first, I barely used the caddy considering we have a changing table, but now it has come in handy since we now change baby’s diaper anywhere. We have the Parker Baby Diaper Caddy, and we use it to hold our diapers, wipes, creams, and thermometer (random, I know, but easiest to check his temp when he’s laying still). But if I could go back and pick, I would choose the Blissful Baby Diaper Caddy because they come with such pretty colors + also have great reviews! Both options would work great, and this PeraBella Baby Caddy is so cute, too.

☆ MY OVERALL PICK [DIAPER CADDY] — BLISSFUL BABY DIAPER CADDY

CLOTHING

SHOP MY PICKS: ONESIES | NEWBORN HAND MITTENS | SOCKS

1) ONESIES: I recommend opting for tons of zipper onesies, like this one. The button-down onesies are cute, but can be a pain when you’re tired or in a rush—especially if the buttons don’t snap! Also, I’ve read that organic cotton is a great material for babies, as well as rayon made from bamboo. Of course, I’ll use any onesie that my son can tolerate, but since my son has eczema-prone skin, I’ve become more label-concious.

☆ MY OVERALL PICK [ONESIES] — ORGANIC COTTON ZIPPER ONESIES

SLEEP ESSENTIALS

❏ SLEEP SACK / SWADDLES:

1) SLEEP SACKS / SWADDLES: DREAMLAND BABY | HALO | BABY MERLIN’S SLEEPSUIT — I opted for the sleep sack idea first thing because my son never took to a swaddle blanket. I started out trying the HALO Sleepsack Swaddle, then tried Baby Merlin’s Magic SleepSuit, all of which had raving reviews. But after those didn’t work, we found our holy grail after 2 months… we tried a weighted sack and found the Dreamland Baby Weighted Sleep Sack. I am not suggesting this would be the best option for your baby, I’m just sharing what has worked for us! This helped our baby get longer stretches and he was suddenly an amazing sleeper (besides those dang sleep regressions). We’re still using the Dreamland Baby Sleep Sack and he’s 15 months old. I plan to continue using!

☆ MY OVERALL PICK [SLEEP SACK] — DREAMLAND BABY WEIGHTED SLEEP SACK based off personal experience. [SWADDLE] —

❏ WHITE NOISE MACHINE:

2) SOUND MACHINE: HATCH REST MACHINE vs. DREAMEGG — We have both the Hatch Rest Baby Sound Machine + Amazon’s Dreamegg Portable White Noise Machine. We’ve consistently used the Dreamegg over the Hatch machine. I love that the Dreamegg is portable, and that the battery lasts throughout the night without charging. I do like that the Hatch Rest Machine has a night light, but the cons are 1) it’s not portable, and 2) even after the product purchase, if you want more sounds—you have to buy them, too!

☆ MY OVERALL PICK [NOISE MACHINE] — DREAMEGG WHITE NOISE MACHINE for its price point, ease of use, and it’s small + portable.

❏ MONITOR:

3) BABY MONITOR: NANIT PRO | INFANT OPTICS | MOMCOZY — There are SO many monitors out there! We opted for the no WIFI monitors and have loved it as opposed to ones that are powered by WIFI. The pros are safety, ease of use, and reliability especially when WIFI is iffy. We use the Momcozy Video Baby Monitor and love it, it’s so easy to use. But we also had a similar option on our registry (very highly rated!) that we were eyeing, linked here.

☆ MY OVERALL PICK [MONITOR] — AMAZON INFANT OPTICS BABY MONITOR based on great reviews + no WIFI needed.

SLEEP SPACE

❏ BASSINET + SHEETS:

1) BASSINET: We loved our 4-sided mesh bassinet, it had great reviews! Sides with all mesh was important to me!

☆ MY OVERALL PICK [BASSINET] — AMAZON’S AIRCLUB BEDSIDE BASSINET

❏ CRIB, SHEETS + MATTRESS PROTECTOR:

2) CRIB: We have the Delta Children Skylar 6-in-1 Convertible Crib and have loved it so far! It’s one of the more affordable options! But if I could pick any crib I want, it would be this crib linked here.

3) CRIB MATTRESS: Once we transitioned to a crib, we found t he Newton Baby Crib Mattress, and have loved it because it’s breathable, non-toxic and safe for baby—we’ve been using it since!

4) MATTRESS PROTECTOR: Don’t forget the machine washable Waterproof Mattress Protector! Waterproof Crib Mattress Pad!

NURSERY

❏ ROCKING CHAIR + NURSERY DECOR:

FEEDING

❏ BOTTLES:

1) BOTTLES: Even if you plan to breastfeed, having bottles on hand will be helpful just in case! And if you do plan to breastfeed, feel free to view my blog post: BREASTFEEDING ESSENTIALS FOR A SMOOTHER POSTPARTUM EXPERIENCE”. I breastfed as well as bottle-fed. I’ve tried Philips Avent bottles for a short while, and we enjoyed Dr. Brown’s bottles for a long time. When the flow of the bottle was eventually too slow, so when he was around 7 months old we switched to Lansinoh Bottles and still use them today.

☆ MY OVERALL PICK — DR. BROWN’S ANTI-COLIC BOTTLES for newborns + LANSINOH BOTTLES for 6+ months.

❏ BOTTLE WARMER, WASHER + STERILIZER:

2) BOTTLE WARMER: We have both the GROWNSY Bottle Warmer from Amazon, and the Baby Brezza Bottle Warmer that we keep at my dad’s house. The GROWNSY warmer is an 8-in-1, and can defrost, sterilize, and even heat up baby jars. We love this one for it’s easy use for quick warming. The only thing that differentiates the Baby Brezza is that it’s options are very simple, and it has a “steady warm” option, ensuring it doesn’t burn nutrients out of the milk.

☆ MY OVERALL PICK — GROWNSY BOTTLE WARMER for its many functions, ease of use + price point.

3) BOTTLE WASHER, DRYER & STERILIZER: Final verdict: NON-ESSENTIAL — We have the Dr. Brown’s All in One Sterilizer and Dryer, and I have to say… it is super easy to use, and it’s low maintenance—being that it only has 4 functions/buttons. However, we hardly use it these days. I stopped using this when my son was about 4-6 months. So it was worth it for the time being, but in my opinion, this isn’t a must have like I originally believed it to be.

☆ MY OVERALL PICK — MOMCOZY WASHER, STERILIZER & DRYER

❏ BOTTLE CLEANING:

BOTTLE DISH SOAP + BOTTLE BRUSH | DRYING RACK | PORTABLE WASH BIN

3) BOTTLE DISH SOAP + BRUSH: We’ve tried both Dreft Bottle Soap and Dapple Baby, and LOVE Dapple Baby Bottle Dish Soap for the ingredients, it’s fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, and it’s a clean label brand—their brand has received the top award for purity by the Clean Label Project! For the bottle brush, we use Dr. Brown’s Sponge Bottle Cleaner — it’s top reviewed for cleaning effectiveness.

☆ MY OVERALL PICK [BOTTLE SOAP] — DAPPLE BABY DISH SOAP

4) BOTTLE DRYING RACK — We use the OXO Plastic Tot Drying Rack because it’s functional, space-saving, and is dish washer safe (it has 4.9 stars and 14k reviews on Amazon!). But recently I found the Momcozy DIY Drying Rack and wish I saw this product sooner! It holds up to 18 bottles, but you can DIY it to your own height! It also comes with a detachable drying rack for travel, and it even holds the bottle brush.

☆ MY OVERALL PICK — MOMCOZY DIY DRYING RACK

❏ BURP CLOTHS:

4) BURP CLOTHS: lots and lots of absorbent burp cloths! We had several brands, but our most-used were the 100% Cotton Muslin Burp Cloths + Soft & Plush Organic Burp Cloths, both from Amazon.

☆ MY OVERALL PICK — ORGANIC BURP CLOTHS

❏ PACIFIERS:

5) PACIFIERS: MAM vs. TOMMEE TIPPEE — We’ve tried 2 brands, including the MAM Pacifiers, and our son only took to the Tommee Tippee Silicone Pacifiers, and uses them for sleep to this day. Whatever pacifier you choose, I recommend making sure they’re BPA Free!

☆ MY OVERALL PICK — TOMMEE TIPPEE PACIFIERS based purely on personal experience of what worked for our son.

❏ HIGH CHAIR / SEAT:

6) HIGH CHAIR: We’re using the Graco DuoDiner DLX 6-in1 Highchair and love it. It’s not as aesthetically pleasing as some other products, but it’s easy to use and worth the money since it has 6 growing stages. If I could pick another option, it would be this one here, for it’s high ratings and pretty, clean look!

☆ MY OVERALL PICK — MAXI-COSA MOA 8-IN-1 HIGH CHAIR (based on 8 years of growth phases, reviews + it’s aesthetically pleasing!)

❏ 1ST STAGE FEEDING UTENSILS:

SILICONE BABY BIBS |

BREASTFEEDING + PUMPING

❏ NURSING ESSENTIALS:

❏ PUMPING ESSENTIALS:

BATH + HYGIENE

❏ LOTION, SHAMPOO + BODY WASH:

1) LOTION: I like using the Honest Company’s Face + Body Lotion. If you don’t mind fragrance, I’ve found Noodle & Boo Baby Lotion to be the most raved about!

☆ MY OVERALL PICK — [WITH FRAGRANCE]: NOODLE & BOO BABY LOTION based on non-toxic ingredients + raving reviews. [FRAGRANCE FREE]: ECZEMA LOTION:

2) SHAMPOO + BODY WASH: There is the Honest Company’s Hypoallergenic 2-in-1 Baby Shampoo & Body Wash (it’s also fragrance free). Right now, we’re using the Baby Dove Sensitive Skin Baby Wash since it’s great for baby’s eczema-prone skin.

☆ MY OVERALL PICK [BODY WASH] — DOVE SENSITIVE SKIN BABY WASH

❏ BATH SEAT:

3) BATH SEAT: We used the Angel Care Newborn Bath Seat until he was 6 months old. Then we found the Frida Baby Grow With Me 4-in-1 Bath Tub that will grow with your baby into the toddler stage.

☆ MY OVERALL PICK [BATH SEAT] — FRIDA BABY 4-IN-1 BATH TUB due to the fact it grows with baby.

❏ BATH ACCESSORIES:

4) BATH RINSE CUP: We don’t own one but I wish I had seen this Frida Baby Bath Rinse Cup sooner. This helps with splashing baby in the face and controls the flow of the water.

5) BABY WASH CLOTHS: *Bath tip for mama’s with newborns: keep a wet + warm wash cloth on your baby’s belly while bathing to keep baby warm and prevent fussiness.

☆ MY OVERALL PICK [WASH CLOTHS] — HIPHOP PANDA RAYON MADE FROM BAMBOO WASH CLOTHS.

❏ CRADLE CAP CARE:

CRADLE CAP BRUSH KIT | CRADLE CAP SHAMPOO

6) CRADLE CAP BRUSHES: We didn’t think about this until later and I wish we thought of getting a Cradle Cap Kit sooner. My son’s pediatrican recommended MUSTELA CRADLE CAP SHAMPOO.

BABY CARE + SAFETY

❏ BABY CARE ESSENTIALS:

1) BABY CARE ESSENTIALS KIT: The Frida Baby Essentials Kit includes a Nasal Aspirator, Snotsucker, Nail Files, Windi Gas Relief, Bath Brush + Silicone Case. All of these items are great to have.

2) NAIL CLIPPERS OR an Electric Nail Trimmer: You will need one of these! We own both the Nail Clippers + the electric nail trimmer, but honestly we never really use the electric trimmer. But I will say many other moms rave about the electric trimmer because it can be intimidating clipping a newborn’s nails!

❏ OUTDOOR PROTECTION:

SICK DAY ESSENTIALS + PAIN RELIEF

❏ SICK DAY ESSENTIALS:

1) SICK DAY ESSENTIALS: We have the Frida Baby Cold and Flu Relief Set and it was AMAZING for when our son had a bad cold. It comes with a nasal aspirator, hygiene filter, saline nasal spray, vapor nose wipes and chest rub. We separately own the Frida Baby Snot Sucker, but I don’t really use it honestly, although I know so many people that love it! I prefer using our Nasal Aspirator.

❏ THERMOMETER:

2) THERMOMETER: RECTAL + TOUCH-FREE — We’ve tried probably 6 different thermometers, and we found a winner with the No-Touch Baby Thermometer on Amazon, linked here. Although, they do recommend rectal thermometers for accuracy, especially for babies, I still like to have this on-hand as well.

NON-TOXIC CLEANING + SOAPS

❏ LAUNDRY DETERGENT:

1) BABY LAUNDRY DETERGENT: We make sure ours is a cleaner brand (as opposed to generic), and is fragrance-free and hypoallergenic. I recommend Dr. Bronner’s Detergent or Molly’s Suds or for detergent made without synthetics, especially for newborns. Personally, we use Seventh Generation Free & Clear (it’s fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, and for sensitive skin) and love it for our baby’s sensitive skin.

☆ MY OVERALL PICK [LAUNDRY DETERGENT] — CHARLIE’S SOAP LIQUID DETERGENT OR DR. BRONNER’S DETERGENT

❏ STAIN REMOVAL:

2) STAIN REMOVAL SPRAY: We’ve been using Miss Mouth’s Messy Eater Stain Spray and I’m surprised how well it works. It’s also claimed to be non-toxic as well!

BABY WEARING

TRAVEL SYSTEMS

❏ STROLLER + CAR SEAT:

1) CAR SEAT + STROLLER: NUNA MIXX NEXT vs. CHICCO LE TRAVEL SYSTEM // I can only speak for what I know when it comes to strollers + car seats. We use and LOVE the Chicco LE Modular Travel System. The stroller is perfect size and weight, and easy to navigate. We used it to take Brooks out on trails and it held up great (although that’s not what it’s intended for). We also found the Chicco car seat to be SO easy to get baby in and out of, and the base is SO easy to hook into the car. Once the base is in, the car seat just snaps into it. The Chicco LE Modular System comes with a Stroller, Car Seat + Base in the color Veranda/Grey. We also have the Nuna MIXX Next Stroller that we keep at my dad’s house and love that one too. The Nuna MIXX is GREAT for travel. It’s so lightweight and collapses with the push of a button. It also unfolds when you pull it up. The downside is that—because it’s so lightweight—taking baby out on even slightly rough terrain is unstable (the wheels are small). I’ve also had so many friends recommend the Doona Travel System, it’s also a top seller, so it may be another good one to look into. / MY TOP PICK — CHICCO LE MODULAR TRAVEL SYSTEM for it’s durability, ease of use + positive safety reviews.

❏ DIAPER BAG:

 
 

❏ BABY TRAVEL ESSENTIALS:

LOUNGERS + SWINGS

SHOP MY PICKS: BABY SWING + ROCKER | BABY LOUNGER (the best!) | BABY BOUNCER SEAT | TOY FOR BOUNCER (promotes development + reaching)

PLAY AREA + TUMMY TIME

POSTPARTUM CARE

I hope you found this list to be any help to you or someone you know! If you have any ideas that I should add to this post—any recommendations, questions, or things I should add… please feel free to leave a comment, I’d love to hear what has worked for my fellow mama’s! Xo, Avery

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I poured endless hours into creating this list because I remember how overwhelmed it felt to figure out what I truly needed (and didn’t) as a first-time mom. My hope is that this checklist makes your life a little easier—whether you’re building your registry, preparing for baby’s arrival, or just trying to keep up with each new stage. Every item on this list was carefully considered to be practical, helpful, and worth the space in your home. You’ve got this mama—I’m cheering you on every step of the way!

Please let me know in the comments, or tag me, if this has helped you in any way, or if you have any questions! Xo, Avery

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