1. Swing -- Our swing was a lifesaver for the first 3 months, but especially the first 2 months. Newborns love constant movement and the swing provides that for your baby without you having to sway back and forth for hours. Grayson would be very unhappy and once you stuck him in the swing, he was content and/or he would fall asleep. It was a nice break for those fussy days!
http://www.target.com/p/graco-glider-petite-lx-gliding-swing/-/A-14777247#prodSlot=medium_1_17&term=swing
2. Play mat -- Once Grayson hit the 1 month mark, he wanted more stimulation. The play mat was perfect for that! It's bright and colorful and gives him plenty to occupy himself with. He loves to kick around on the play mat and swat at the different objects. I can lay him on his play mat and he is content for a long period of time. This has been really helpful when I want to get things done around the house!
3. Sleep Sack -- A friend recently let us borrow a few of these and they are quickly becoming a favorite. The sleep sacks are perfect for preventing something bad happening to your baby with his/her blanket. Babies, especially Grayson, tend to pull a blanket over their heads and faces which is definitely a safety hazard. These sleep sacks act like blankets but are more form fitting and keep the baby warm and safe.
4. Gas drops -- I never knew how much gas affects a baby until I had a gassy newborn who was miserable. The gas drops were especially helpful for us the first month when Grayson was extremely uncomfortable due to gas. I believe that they helped provide him some relief and he loved the taste. (He would stop crying every time I gave him the gas drops!)
http://www.target.com/p/hyland-s-baby-gas-drops-1-oz/-/A-15730951#prodSlot=medium_1_2&term=gas+drops
5. Vaseline -- Because I had a winter baby, he suffered badly from chapped lips. His poor little lips would get ridiculously chapped the first 2 months and gobs of straight up Vaseline was the only thing that really helped. Also, if you have a little boy, you need a bunch of this stuff for about a month following his circumcision.
6. Rock 'N' Play -- This is one of my top baby essentials for newborns. My mother-in-law gave us a Rock 'N' Play that she already had just in case we were interested in it and little did I realize how much Grayson would use it. He has slept in this thing almost every night since he was born minus the nights he refused to be put down and slept in my arms. Grayson loves that it is enclosed and isn't as wide open as a crib or bassinet (giving him that swaddle feel). The Rock 'N' Play fits right next to our bed and doesn't take up much room. You can rock it back and forth, hence the name, to calm your baby while still being half asleep (which I consider a perk!). It's also portable, so you can bring it on-the-go. I love it and so does Grayson!
http://www.target.com/p/fisher-price-newborn-rock-n-play-sleeper/-/A-15263603?lnk=Rec|pdp|top_sellers|plph1
7. Sleepers -- I had always heard that onesies were a baby staple, but being that Grayson was born in January, most onesies still required pants and socks. Do you have any idea how hard it is to put 3 different clothing items on a newborn?! Grayson hated and I mean hated to have his clothes changed. I soon discovered that I loved sleepers and especially sleepers that had zippers instead of buttons. They are quick, easy, one piece, warm, and don't upset your baby as much as pulling a onesie over his/her head does. Grayson wore mostly sleepers for his first 2 months!
8. Burp clothes -- Boy, does my child know how to spit up! The pediatrician even called him a "happy spitter-upper" because he spits up so much, but still gains weight and doesn't have acid reflux (thankfully). Burp clothes are an essential in our house. They are stationed everywhere throughout the house and in the diaper bag. You just can't have enough especially if your child is anything like mine.
http://www.target.com/p/burp-cloth-set-just-one-you/-/A-16639733#prodSlot=medium_1_1&term=burp+cloths
9. Pacifier -- I was one of those parents who was kind of anti-pacifier before my child was actually born. It took less than a week for me to go back on that! One of the only skills that newborns actually have straight out of the womb is sucking. They suck for comfort and stimulation. It's actually good for newborns to practice that skill. A pacifier is great to do just that -- pacify your child. Grayson is not dependent on a pacifier, but it sure is nice to have sometimes! We use the pacifier to comfort him, hold him off if he's hungry and I can't quite feed him yet, help him sleep, and keep him content if he's getting fussy. If he starts to cry in a public place, I pull that paci out and it quickly soothes him. The pacifier is something I always check to make sure I have before I leave the house. Grayson also prefers the soothie pacifiers which I found out this weekend are actually more safe, so that's a perk!
http://www.target.com/p/philips-avent-bpa-free-soothie-pacifier-0-3-months-green-2-pack/-/A-13956486#prodSlot=medium_1_1&term=pacifier
10. Britax stroller and car seat -- This travel system is a big ticket item (thankfully we received it as a gift), but I believe it's worth the money. It is one of the safest travel systems out there and it is so convenient and easy to use. I prefer the travel system, so that you can pop the infant carrier in the stroller quickly without having to disturb your child. The stroller is light and easy to transport. It folds up in one quick movement. The car seat is also excellent and very good quality. This travel system is perfect for a mother on-the-go. I can get Grayson in and out of the car by myself without a lot of stress and struggle.
http://www.target.com/p/2014-britax-b-agile-travel-system/-/A-15067950#prodSlot=medium_1_2
Having a newborn is tough and requires a lot of adjusting. I hope this list helps any mothers who currently have a newborn or who are currently expecting and overwhelmed by all the options out there. And if it doesn't, find whatever works best for you and your child! At the end of the day, if you have a healthy and happy baby, you are doing something right! :)
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