Top 10 baby items moms and dads want

Do you have a new mom or soon-to-be parents in your life? Shopping for ideas can be overwhelming, so I’m sharing my new mom (and Dad) must-haves today.

There are so many things on the market for new parents today, so much of it unnecessary. I remember walking into the baby stores for the first time, becoming quickly overwhelmed and thinking, “Do I really need all of this?” I wish I could tell my former self, “No, you don’t.” You really have to think before you buy. Is this really something I need, or am I wasting my money to help make someone else rich? No matter what, I’m sure everybody makes purchases they later regret and everyone’s list will undoubtedly be different, but here are the items that I couldn’t live without. 

1) A Great Travel System

This is the one item you will probably get the most use out of, and choose carefully because you’ll likely have it from the baby’s birth to age four. That doesn’t mean you need to overspend. I loved our Chicco travel system. Worked great and very affordable.

2) Video Monitor

New parent, or seasoned parent, the video monitor is one thing you can’t go without. It offers peace of mind for parents who want to keep a watchful eye on their precious little ones through the night. I use our video baby monitor to keep an eye on the playroom when I need to cook dinner upstairs. It is an investment, but a good one that you’ll get plenty of use from.

3) A Rocking Bassinet

You never knew tired before you brought home a newborn. I absolutely loved my Bassinet. You can have it be stationary or rocking. It’s nice to have that choice in one item, and it also features a mobile and soothing sounds and vibrations but my favorite feature? The storage at the bottom. For us, this doubled as a changing table in our bedroom.

4) Baby Swing

This may be the best invention ever. Babies love swinging, and mamas need a break sometimes! My kids both loved the swing and when you’re by yourself with an infant and you need to go to the bathroom, cook dinner or simply need a breather, the swing helps you get it done. I love this Cradle Swing because it can be plugged into the wall. You can also use batteries, if you so choose.

5) Bottle Warmer

Some moms don’t feel as though a warm bottle is necessary but I think it’s soothing for infants – at least in the beginning and especially during the winter months. Our Day and Night bottle warmer from The First Years doesn’t owe us anything. It’s seen use through two kids and it still works perfectly.

6) Bottles

Speaking of feeding the baby, we also love Born Free bottles. For Ryan we used both glass bottles and BPA free plastic bottles and I have to say that I prefer the plastic. They are lighter, easier to carry – and easier for baby to hold when the time comes and you don’t have to worry about them breaking. Both have a great venting system to prevent gas. I recommend purchasing the 9oz bottles. It’s overkill in the beginning, but baby will grow into them fast.

7) A Good Diaper Bag

I have had about 7 or 8 diaper bags since Emma came along and I have learned that the largest bag isn’t always the best because it will become cumbersome to carry. It’s all in how organized the bag is. A great medium-size bag with lots of compartments and pockets is what you want because this will serve double-duty as your handbag and you’ll want to be able to find things fast. I love this diaper bag because it has lots of room, pockets and essentials like stroller clips, but it’s also a cute handbag!

8) Car Mirror

When a child is rear-facing (the recommendation is up to 2 years now), it is nice to have a mirror facing the baby so that you can have an eye on him in the car at a glance at your rearview mirror. When our old one cracked, I bought one like this Britax mirror that was nice and large.

9) Moby Wrap

I never really carried my babies all that much because of back pain, but I have heard such great things about the Moby wrap that I had to mention it here. I am told it distributes the weight so well that there is no added pressure on your back, somehow. If I were to register for a baby, I would definitely put this on there.

10) Swaddle Blankets

Neither of my babies liked to be swaddled, but it helped them to have a more restful night sleeping. Swaddling makes baby feel secure like in the womb and I loved the HALO Sleepsack blankets because the velcro made it a cinch for us to do quickly. I have opinions on what to wait on and what you should never buy, but more on that later.

These are my personal opinions. Your may differ and that’s okay. Affiliate links are used above.