My Hospital, Registry, and Nursery Must-Haves
I remember being pregnant with Jaxon, sitting at my computer and making a baby registry, and feeling so dang stressed. There is just SO MUCH gear out there and I kept wondering, what out of this stuff do I actually NEED? How do I know which of these nightlights, sound machines, baby monitors is the best fit for us? It was an overwhelming feeling, and now 3 months into life with baby Jax, I can’t help but want to share what use the most (and what was helpful in the hospital) in hopes that I can help even one first time momma find her way.
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THINGS TO TAKE WITH YOU TO THE HOSPITAL
The Frida Postpartum Kit is expensive but worth it. The peri bottle is way better than the one they gave me at the hospital and I would 100% recommend it/taking it with you. I LOVED the disposable shorts in this pack. I just wore them a couple of times with a reusable pad and they were way comfier than adult diapers LOL.
A warm robe that you don’t mind getting dirty. It was nice to be able to put this on and off when breastfeeding/when I was cold. I also used it as a soft blanket to wrap Jaxon in during skin to skin time.
Soft, fuzzy socks with grips on the bottom.
Portable sound machine. We were in the hospital for two nights and one of the nights Jaxon was particularly fussy. We turned on the sound machine and put it next to him and it helped soothe him.
Sleeping mask!!! I love this one because it is SO SOFT and I feel like the raised edges give your place for your eyes to fit and it actually blocks out the light. I continued to use it when I came home and had to get up at 5:00 am to feed Jax and the Portland sun is already coming up.
Things I took with me that I didn’t end up using:
A nightlight. The nurses turned on the light near the door every time they came in and it provided enough light for me to see.
Nursing/delivery gown and pajamas. I just wore the wrap hospital gown they provided and it ended up working really great for easy breastfeeding access and skin-to-skin time (also, no risk of ruining something I just bought)
Pads/diapers/witch hazel pads/etc - My hospital provided these for me, but it might be worth asking your doctor what is included post-delivery.
A cute come-home outfit. LOL YALL the day Jaxon got to come home it was cold and rainy and I was in some real pain so I just wore these incredibly soft Kindred Bravely pants and a sweatshirt.
THINGS TO HAVE ONCE YOU GET HOME
Nipple hot/ice packs. My nipples were so sore and hurt after feeding. I like these because you can freeze them or the microwave (for heat) and they fit in my bra perfectly. Just make sure to read the instructions to keep from burning yourself.
Ameda ComfortGel Soothing Breastfeeding Pad - it will take some time for your nipples to get used to breastfeeding. These are so, so soothing.
Nipple Balm. You’re gonna want it I promise.
Bamboo Nursing Pads. I used these so much when I got home. From putting in your bra to keep from leaking in public, to using as a way to help clean up milk that overflows after feeding, these are so soft and so easy to throw in the washing machine.
Buy a couple of Haakaas. Just TRUST ME on this. They really are worth with their weight in gold. I use one on the opposite boob while I feed Jax and it has helped me get a little extra stash without having to pump/do any extra work - AND it’s hands-free!
A storage system to store your extra breast milk. I have the Medela Pump in Style pump (side note: did you know that you can typically get a free pump through your insurance? all you have to do is call and ask which ones they have available!) and this kit has been a lifesaver to organize my extra milk (from the haakaa!) in the fridge. I love that you change the label on the lid with what day the milk will stay good in the fridge before it needs to be transferred to the freezer (also, SO HELPFUL when it comes to dad knowing which milk to use first when mom is napping LOL) + it comes with freezer bags to get you started.
I also bought this frozen milk organizer. It has been super nice to have because it makes the bags flat and our freezer is pretty small so it allows me one specific place to store the milk without it getting lost in a deep crevis of the freezer.
Friday Mom Breast Care Kit - A friend bought this for me and I was so glad to have it throughout my breastfeeding journey. The massage was a GAME CHANGER when I got Mastitis and I love that the heating packs cover your whole breast, should you run into clogged ducts.
REGISTRY MUST-HAVES
Keekaroo Peanut Changing Pad - I LOVE THIS CHANGING PAD. It is beautiful, matches our nurse perfectly, and cleans up so easily. 100% worth the money.
Eufy Security Pro Baby Monitor and Camera - Between the two of us, Jeremy is the one I put in charge of researching electronics. He decided this is the camera we wanted based on a few things: it doesn’t use wifi so if the internet goes down it will still work. This essentially means no one can get into your monitor and see your baby/house. It also makes it SO EASY to travel with because I’m not dependent on wifi for it to work. Most importantly, the picture quality is SO great (and in color!!), you can move the camera and zoom with the monitor, and it plays music!
This diaper bag with a portable crib: We have a couple of different diaper bags we use depending on how big of an outing/trip we are going on, but for bigger trips/going somewhere you might want to sit the baby down this bag is SO GOOD. Some of my favorite parts of the bag include the portable crib (when I flew across the country with Jax, I used this in the airport during our layover and it was an amazing way to let him stretch out/kick around after being held the whole first flight), the insulated bottle holders to keep milk fresh, SO many pockets inside for organizing, and the straps to attach it to the stroller if you need to!
Baby Nail File Kit: You know I can’t make a list of must-haves without mentioned this baby nail file. Cutting Jaxons nails was SO STRESSFUL for me and this takes all the stress out. I typically do this after I feed him when he is content and just hanging, and he has no idea anything is even happening. Truly the best invention.
BABYBJÖRN Bouncer: Listen y’all, I was not convinced my baby needed a $200 chair, but after getting one second-hand I’m 100% convinced we could not live without this thing. Jax didn’t start using it until he was a little bigger, but he LOVES hanging out in this chair - and he can already bounce himself with his kicks, which is just the cherry on top. We use it every day (with plenty of floor time, of course) and the best part is he will be able to use it as it gets bigger. PLUS it folds up so small for storage and is so, so easy to travel with.
Beco Gemini Baby Carrier: Jeremy was SO EXCITED to have a baby carrier, and we really like this one. The use of this carrier has slowed down a bit since we moved to Texas (don’t want Jax to get too hot) but I know we will continue the use of this baby once it cools down outside. One tip I would say for this brand is to NOT get the black one. It tends to show any and all fuzz and I wish we would have gotten a lighter color.
embe Starter Swaddle - I cannot say enough good things about this swaddle. I found blanket swaddling SO HARD and couldn’t ever quite get it right. This swaddle makes it so much easier to get the baby swaddled while also giving their legs enough room to protect their hips from hip dysplasia.
Boppy Feeding Pillow - I love this pillow because it is so multi-functional. You can use it as a nursing pillow, but I love it to prop Jaxon up in when we are all hanging out. It also works great as a way to practice tummy time that doesn’t have Jax flat on his stomach.
We bought this cover and I love that you can use it on either side to give it different looks!
Stokke Flexi Baby Bath - I like this bathtub because you can use it as a set or take the white plastic part out and hook it directly onto the sink while they are super little. Jax stays put with a little support and I can quickly get him clean this way.
Snuggle Me Organic: We had a friend lend us one of these and I am so thankful she did. We find it very useful to use when Jax is hanging out in the living room with us and doesn’t want to be laying on his blanket.
Adaptive Sound Machine: We use this sound machine every night. It truly does help drown out the sound to keep Jax asleep through all the noise and can get SUPER loud, which I appreciate when we have others over. I also like the fact that it doesn’t look very “baby”-ish and can be used in an adult’s room down the line.
We also have a portable sound machine, which is so nice to be able to hook it onto the car seat, stroller, or bassinet while lil man is sleeping.
VAVA Home VA-CL006 Night Light - Another item that we use every single night. I LOVE that this nightlight has two different settings, is super easy to turn on and off + change lighting levels with just touching it, and can move around the room with you. Definitely a top buy for us.
Ubbi Steel Diaper Pail - Some people don’t think that the diaper pail is necessary but we really love ours. While I wish you could open it with your foot, sliding the top is not that big of a deal. Plus, it matches the rest of our nursery, is so pretty, and keeps the odors at bay.
Baby Fan - we use this on the stroller, when we’re hanging outside, and even on the side of his crib when we lived in Portland because our house didn’t have a ceiling fan.
Burp Cloths: I put these on my registry because I figured I’d use them, but I actually ended up needing more than I thought because, well, babies spit up a lot lol. I have these, which are so soft and gentle on little man’s face, and also a set of microfiber cloths for bathtime. We go through them really fast and I would suggest having 5-10 for when you get home.
Frida Baby 3-step Cradle Cap System - Jaxon had a bit of cradle cap when he was super little and this + the Tubby Todd system below has cleared it up again and again.
Tubby Todd Regulars Bundle - I do a lot of product photography for Tubby Todd, but even if I didn’t I would suggest this kit 100%. Using their three-step system has helped Jaxon cradle cap clear up and BONUS all the ingredients are clean and safe for us to use all over our little dude.
Fridababy NoseFrida Nasal Aspirator: The hospital did send us home with a little nose bulb, but sometimes those lil boogers are so stubborn! This nasal aspirator has worked super well for any and all boogers that are super stubborn.
Babylist bottle + pacifier box: I truly cannot recommend these boxes enough. When I got pregnant multiple people told me not to buy a bunch of the same bottle because babies will switch up which one they like. Jax is exclusively breastfed and (thank goodness) will take a bottle, but at 3 months old he has already gone through phases where he liked each bottle in the box more than the others, and I’m so thankful that we had the option to switch it up to keep him fed.
Last, but certainly not least, a rocking chair. This is a big purchase that both Jeremy and I were not thrilled about spending a bunch of money on, but please hear me when I tell you I LIVE in this thing. We went with the Babyletto Kiwi Glider Recliner and between night feeds, rocking Jax to sleep, and sitting in it when he needs a contact nap, I love this chair and it was 100% worth it.
A few things I learned/would recommend when considering a chair for babys room:
Buy something that once your baby grows out of you can use in a different room
We went with the electric recline option because the loud noise and jerkiness of an arm pull (not to mention having to reach over and find it while holding a baby) would definitely wake him up when trying to move him to the crib (often when you look at this feature in chairs it makes the price SKYROCKET. I love the Babyletto because this wasn’t the case)
Make sure and pay attention to the material. While leather would be easy to clean, I wanted a cloth chair but made sure to get something with a resistant material because there WILL be spit-up
If you go to test/sit in chairs, make sure you put your arms up as if you are holding a baby. Some chairs are not super-wide and would not be comfortable to hold the baby in.
WHEW — I think that’s about it when it comes to baby gear we love and have used repeatedly since having Jaxon 3 months ago. While having all the things for the baby is great, I hope you know that you truly don’t need a ton of stuff. As long as the baby is fed and clean and loved, they’re gonna be just fine. We feel grateful to have friends and family to help provide us with things for our little guy, but no matter what, you’re gonna do/are doing great, mama. All my love, truly truly.
