New Baby Necessities

My kids are over five years apart. By the time I got pregnant with my second, I didn’t have much baby stuff left. Thankfully, I have a wonderful network of mom-friends who supplied me with maternity clothes, baby clothes, and baby items. Even though it was offered, I declined a baby shower, due to pregnancy issues such as gestational diabetes and a few other health concerns which arose. Today, baby and I are in good health.

When thought of what I needed, I created a shopping list, which became a baby registry list. I wanted to keep it basic, populating it with necessities. Now that it’s been several weeks, I can say that everything on this list (whether gifted to me or purchased) have proven to be very useful! Below are a few of the items from my list.

Please note: The following section contains affiliate links. Westside Mommy is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Boppy

I have some friends who can feed their kid anywhere, anytime, without the aid of anything. I wish I could do the same, but I cannot. I still love the Boppy for nursing. Other styles have come out since the original, but I still love the OG version.

Burp Cloths

A kid’s gotta eat, right? So it’s no denying you will need burp cloths. They come in all shapes, sizes, and absorbency levels.

Favorite Burp Cloth: Adan & Anais

The aden by aden + Anais Burpy Bib offers great coverage, is absorbent, dries quickly, and can also be used as a bib. There are plenty of designs to choose from, including this adorable Disney one.

Best Value and Performance: green sprouts Muslin Burp Cloths made from Organic Cotton

The green sprouts Muslin Burp Cloths made from Organic Cotton are basic, functional, and practical. They are large and shaped for shoulder comfort. Made from organic muslin, it’s earth-friendly and doesn’t contain azo-dyes and formaldehyde.

Bottles

I wish my kid was a champ when it comes to breastfeeding, but she’s not. That means a lot of pumping and bottle feeding. My hospital sent me home with a bunch of Medela breast milk items and accessories, which have been helpful and great. What I love is that the bottles are compatible with the Evenflo Breast Pump, which I am currently using. The nipples that came with the disposable formulas we used in the hospital are also compatible with the bottles as well.

When my baby’s milk or formula consumption increases, I will use large Avent Baby Bottles. I like Avent bottles, mainly because I used them for my first child and they worked out fine.

Bottle Drying Rack: Boon Sprig Countertop Drying Rack

This drying rack was a nice surprise. I put it on my baby registry because it looked cute and had a lot of good reviews. The varying heights and widths of the “leaves” allow bottles and pumping accessories of various sizes a nice place to park after washing.

Sling or Carrier

I wrote an article awhile back about baby-wearing and compiled a list of some reader’s favorite baby carriers. They still hold true today, and it’s an essential for newborns. I used my sling for the lactation consulting appointments and baby appointments in the first few weeks already.

Swaddle Blankets

My first kid didn’t sleep well unless we swaddled her well in the Miracle Blanket. My second kid likes her arms loose and only likes her bottom half swaddled. My husband likes using the aden + anais Classic Swaddle Baby Blanket, but my mom prefers the classic cotton receiving blankets, like those made by Gerber.

Tiny Love Meadow Days Take Along Mobile

With my first kid, I had this massive musical mobile that attached to her crib. This time around, I wanted something small and easy to transport. A mobile mobile, if you will. I’m able to move this from the bassinet to the stroller, to the crib. Versatility is key!

Air Purifier

I’m a big proponent for air purifiers, especially as an L.A. resident. The wildfires a few years ago prompted me to write an article about them. I bought the Winix brand air purifier for my older daughter’s room, and for this baby, I put this little Levoit brand air purifier on the list, mainly because it’s compact and quiet.