Post Date + Last Edited: March 6, 2025

TAP HERE TO SHOP ALL BABY ESSENTIALS ON MY AMAZON

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With so many baby products on the market, I know that it’s so easy to feel overwhelmed as you prepare for baby to arrive. To make that process just a little easier, I’ve rounded up a detailed list below of my favorite newborn 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.

Chicco Corso LE Stroller System and Car Seat

THE NEWBORN ESSENTIALS CHECKLIST

REVIEWING + COMPARING MY FAVORITE PRODUCTS AND BEST SELLERS:

DIAPER + CHANGING ESSENTIALS

1) DIAPERS: Stock up on newborn, size 1 and size 2 diapers. My current favorite brand to use is Pampers (I’ve tried Huggies Skin Essentials, Millie Moon + Honest Diapers in the past) but I love the price point, fit, and ingredients (totally chlorine free [TCF] + fragrance free) of the Pampers Pure Protection Diapers. We’ve had the least amount of accidents and diaper rashes in these diapers, and my son has very sensitive skin. Millie Moon held up great for overnight diapers, but my baby had a severe rash using those diapers. The Honest Diapers (in my opinion) did not hold up very well. / SHOP MY TOP PICK — PAMPERS PURE PROTECTION DIAPERS

2) WIPES: We use the Pampers Free & Gentle Wipes for their efficiency, price point and fair ingredients (plant-based, fragrance-free, and hypoallergenic). We’ve also tried Huggies, Honest Wipes + every other Pampers wipes, but this one is my TOP PICK (for price point) — 1) PAMPERS FREE & GENTLE WIPES (for price point) + 2) HONEST COMPANY CLEAN WIPES (for ingredients + TOP RATED)

3) DIAPER RASH CREAM: We’ve probably tried every diaper rash cream on the market—including Touch-Free Mustela Spray + Boogie Spray (love for easy use), but we love and religiously use Boudreaux’s Butt Paste most days [max strength is my favorite one, with 40% zinc oxide] + Burt’s Bees Diaper Rash Ointment [also 40% zinc oxide] at night—the thickness of the cream makes it last almost all night. / TOP PICK — BOUDREAUX’S BUTT PASTE MAX STRENGTH

4) DIAPER PAIL: This item is totally unessential, 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 all the way. It’s so much easier to use, and I broke the lid of the Diaper Genie within the first month of using. / TOP PICK — UBBI DIAPER PAIL

5) DIAPER SPATULA: We have 2 of the Bumco Baby Diaper Spatulas (BPA-Free!), it’s great if you don’t want to get your hands dirty! / TOP PICK — BUMCO DIAPER SPATULA

6) DIAPER CADDY ORGANIZER: This is a total non-essential, but it is so nice to have. Since we had a nursery changing station, we didn’t use the caddy as much until our son grew out of his Keekaroo changing pad. Now, we change his diaper anywhere and this diaper caddy has been amazing for that. We use the Parker Baby Diaper Caddy, and we use it to hold all of the diapers, wipes, creams, and thermometer. 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. / TOP PICK — BLISSFUL BABY DIAPER CADDY

SLEEP ESSENTIALS

1) SLEEP SACKS OR SWADDLES: 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! / TOP PICK — DREAMLAND BABY SLEEP SACK (based off personal experience)

2) 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. / TOP PICK — Organic Cotton Zipper Onesies

3) SOUND MACHINE: We have both the Hatch Rest Baby Sound Machine + Amazon’s Dreamegg Portable White Noise Machine. I’m impressed that the Dreamegg’s battery lasts throughout the night without charging! / TOP PICK — DREAMEGG WHITE NOISE MACHINE (for price point + ease of use)

4) BABY MONITOR: 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. / TOP PICK — AMAZON INFANT OPTICS BABY MONITOR (for reviews + no WIFI needed)

SLEEP SPACE

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

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 the 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 Crib Mattress Pad! Trustttt me, it will come in handy.

CLICK HERE TO SHOP NURSERY DECOR ON MY AMAZON

NURSERY ROOM

FEEDING + BOTTLES + PACIFIER

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, check out my blog post: BREASTFEEDING ESSENTIALS FOR A SMOOTHER POSTPARTUM EXPERIENCE”. I breastfed as well as bottle-fed. I’ve tried Philips Avent bottles, and we enjoyed Dr. Brown’s for a long time. The flow of the bottle was eventually too slow, when he was around 7 months old, so we switched to Lansinoh Bottles and never looked back! / MY TOP PICK (for newborns) — DR. BROWN’S ANTI-COLIC BOTTLES

2) 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 TOP PICK — ORGANIC BURP CLOTHS

3) PACIFIERS: 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! / TOP PICK — TOMMEE TIPPEE PACIFIERS (based on personal experience)

4) 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 great thing that’s different about Baby Brezza is that is has a “quick warm” and a “steady warm” option, ensuring it doesn’t burn nutrients out of the milk. / MY TOP PICK — GROWNSY BOTTLE WARMER (for it’s many functions)

5) BOTTLE STERILIZER: We have the Dr. Brown’s All in One Sterilizer and Dryer, and I have to say… it is super easy to use, it’s low maintenance with 4 functions. 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.

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

CLICK HERE TO READ “BREASTFEEDING ESSENTIALS” BLOG POST

TAP TO SHOP BREASTFEEDING ESSENTIALS ON MY AMAZON

BABY CARE + SAFETY

BABY CARE ESSENTIALS KIT | NAIL CLIPPERS / ELECTRIC TRIMMER | SUCTION RESCUE DEVICE | FURNITURE CORNER GUARDS

1) BABY 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. We own the Frida Baby Snot Sucker, but I prefer using our Nasal Aspirator.

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

MEDICINE + SICK DAY ESSENTIALS

3) 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 prefer using our Nasal Aspirator.

4) THERMOMETER: We’ve tried probably 6 different thermometers, and we found a winner with this No-Touch Baby Thermometer on Amazon, linked here. Although, they do recommend rectal thermometers for the most accuracy, especially for babies.

LAUNDRY + NON-TOXIC CLEANING

BABY LAUNDRY DETERGENT | NON-TOXIC STAIN REMOVAL | BOTTLE DISH SOAP + BOTTLE BRUSH | BOTTLE DRYING RACK | ALL PURPOSE WIPES

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 (fragrance free) and love it for our baby’s sensitive skin.

2) STAIN REMOVAL SPRAY (Non-toxic pick): We’ve used Miss Mouth’s Messy Eater Stain Spray and I’m surprised how well it works.

3) BOTTLE DISH SOAP + BRUSH: We’ve tried both Dreft and Dapple Baby, and LOVE Dapple Baby Bottle Dish Soap for the ingredients, it’s fragrance-free, hypoallergenic + 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.

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!)

BATH SUPPLIES + HYGIENE

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! / TOP PICK — NOODLE & BOO BABY LOTION (based on ingredients + raving reviews)

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.

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 TOP PICK — FRIDA BABY 4-IN-1 BATH TUB (for the growing stages of baby)

4) CRADLE CAP BRUSHES: We didn’t think about this until later and I wish we thought of getting a Cradle Cap Kit sooner.

5) 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.

6) 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 TOP PICK — HIPHOP PANDA RAYON MADE FROM BAMBOO WASH CLOTHS.

TRAVEL SYSTEMS

PORTABLE CHANGING PAD | FORMULA POWDER CONTAINER | WATERPROOF WET BAGS | TOILETRY BAGS FOR MOM + BABY

1) CAR SEAT + STROLLER: We use and LOVE the Chicco LE Modular Travel System. It comes with a Stroller, Infant Car Seat + Base in the color Veranda/Grey. We also have the Nuna MIXX Stroller that we keep at my dad’s house and love that one too. The Chicco Travel System is a great bet if you’re looking for both the stroller and car seat. We also found the car seat to be SO easy to get baby in and out of. / MY TOP PICK — CHICCO LE MODULAR TRAVEL SYSTEM (has both stroller + car seat)

DIAPER BAG PACKING:

OUTDOOR PROTECTION

SWIM DIAPERS | SUNSCREEN | BABY INSECT REPELLENT LOTION | SPF SUN HAT

BABY LOUNGING

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

PLAY + TUMMY TIME

I hope you found this list to be any help to you or someone you know that is getting ready for baby’s arrival. If you have any other questions, ideas, or recomendations, feel free to leave a comment! Xo, Avery

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