Picture a baby growing inside the womb. What a miracle! I remember being pregnant just the other day, and now I get to hold in my arms a precious baby girl and go over newborn essentials (0-3 MONTHS) with you like clothing, carriers, bathing, nursing, baby care, and more!
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If you’re new here… welcome! My name is Carmen, and I’m a mom to my sweet baby girl Abigail and an awesome son named Saul. All I can say is that parenthood is a wild ride, it’s like I know what to expect, but I dont at the same time since every child tends to be slightly different. Also, the huge gap between them made me feel like a new mom all over again.
Newborn Essentials and must-haves
I consider ourselves beyond blessed to be in the 21st century and have many “convenience” items to help us in our daily lives. Of course, this can be both good and bad, but the last thing I want is for you to feel overwhelmed (like I was), so I hope this post helps you research what to purchase once your baby arrives.
Baby Clothing
Let’s start with baby clothes. Clothing must-haves for newborns are onesies, footed pajamas, layette sets, or a collection of clothing and accessories for a new baby. Of course, it is always good to look at what you gathered at your baby shower (you’d be surprised how much clothing you get) then buy what is missing.
Baby Clothing Essentials include:
- “take home” outfit
- swadling blankets
- one–piece outfits (long or short-sleeved)
- onesies
- sleeping gowns (preferably with zipper)
- pairs of socks or booties
- hats (seasonally appropriate)
- cotton bibs or burp cloths
Pro Tip: Most newborn outfits have built-in hand covers, so skip buying hand mittens.
My recommendation is to ask family for hand-me-downs, buy gently used from a garage sale, or through an App like OfferUp. All I did was enter “baby girl clothes 0-3 months” in the OfferUp search bar then select a bundle to interact with the seller. I’ve found baby girl layette sets and bundles at a fraction of the price I would pay at the store. I like this option because buying second-hand is generally more economical and sustainable than buying new.
BLANKETS/SWADDLESHave you heard that swaddled babies are happier babies? That’s because swaddling reminds the baby of the womb where they lived all warm, snug, and cozy for nine months. So I ordered the most wonderful lavender color blanket on Amazon that is versatile and multi-functional, how I like it! This blanket is made of 100% organic cotton, breathable and cool for keeping the body temperature regulated, while big enough for swaddling and soothing the baby to a long and restful sleep.
I kid you not when I say that this has been our go-to blanket for trips, errands, and breastfeeding. It has been used as a bottle holder, diaper change mat, including a sunshade. It’s been helpful and fits wonderfully as an essential in my books! I also tried two other swaddle sacks as part of a baby girl bundle on OfferUp, and those are okay, I feel they grow out of them more quickly, and I wouldn’t personally purchase one at retail price.
Pro Tip: A swaddle is simply a blanket, but people try to put fancy names on things. You can buy one or not it’s your choice. 🙂
Nursery
It is beautiful to see nursery rooms all decorated on social media. While it might be fun to do, I know that not all of us have the space or money for a full-blown nursery, it is a little sad, but it can actually be a good thing– we dont have to worry about filling it with more things. See, the things we buy actually require our attention and care and sometimes consume us. So my advice is to be mindful and not fall into the trap of consumerism.
In our home, we have limited space, so we are either making the most of what we have or buying multi-functional pieces for small spaces. For example, my brother was kind enough to offer a crib; instead, he gifted us a bassinet. It has an integrated basket underneath that we use for additional storage space and fits nicely next to the bed for easy access to the baby.
NURSERY ESSENTIALS
In this category, I will go over ideas for night lights, sleep soothers, and storage & organization that worked for us. But, again, we like to maximize space and keep things simple.
I learned that having a nighttime routine for our baby is a great idea to better sleep. To help the baby transition to nighttime with ease, we like to set the ambiance in the room. For example, try dimming the room or using warm light from a lamp or closet light. I reused these LED Flameless Candles I had from my Home Birth experience. Since they are battery-operated, you can leave them during the night, especially the newborn stage when babies tend to wake up more frequently.
Currently, sleep soothers or white noise machines are on the rise. These little machines can help provide a soothing atmosphere for babies to fall asleep. I was thinking of purchasing one; however, I used a portable air conditioner, as silly as this may sound! Since my baby girl was born during warmer months and needed to maintain a cool temperature in our room, we used the portable air conditioner’s fan noise as a sleep soother. 😉
Pro Tip: An Amazon Echo Smart Speaker or something similar can provide white noise and other soothing sounds.
We couldn’t purchase fancy diaper changing tables, so we used our bed and protected the comforter with absorbent underpads. (I also had these from my Home Birth) They are the same ones used for incontinence for adults or pets. You can buy absorbent underpads in disposable and reusable based on your preference.
We used a diaper caddy organizer to store all of the baby’s nursery essentials in one place for the organization. Then, when it was time for a diaper change, everything was easily accessible. You can also utilize a basket or organization bin if you want.
For storing baby clothes, you can make some space in an armoire, buy plastic drawers, or if you’re into DIY projects, how about making a baby closet out of a bookshelf and shower rod like this one.
car seats & Strollers
This category is one of the most important because the hospital will require you to have a car seat to be discharged. So even if you have your baby at home in about a week or so, you will need a car seat to take the baby to their first pediatric appointment.
My favorite brand for car seats is Graco because they have been the most trusted company for over 65 years. The best thing is all of their car seats go from car to stroller with ease for on-the-go families. I have used Graco for both of my children and attest to the safety and quality of their products.
It wasn’t until my baby girl was three months that I came across the Doona Car Seat & Stroller. When my husband first told me about it, I looked at the price tag ($650) and said, “No thanks! I’ll pass”. But, a few weeks later, I realized that the Doona is not only practical for daily life but a lifesaver travel system!
What I like most about the Doona Car Seat & Stroller because it is fully integrated and transforms from car seat to stroller in seconds (perfect for travel). It also comes with removable soft padding that snuggles your newborn baby perfectly like no other car seat.
Pro Tip: You may find a used Doona in great condition through the OfferUp app.
diapering
Huggies or Pampers? Disposable or cloth diapers? Whatever your choice, diapers are a must on the shopping list.
I went with the Huggies Special Delivery diapers and Huggies Natural Care Baby Wipes because they are both hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, and safe for sensitive skin.
I recommend you select the subscribe and save option on Amazon, so you never run out. Amazon also reminds you of the next shipment if you need to skip a delivery or modify the diaper size.
Pro Tip: Purchase the smaller packs of the newborn size and stock up on Size 1 diapers instead.
These are my go-to products, and I can’t recommend them enough. The last picture is PurO3 fully ozonated oil that our doctor recommended for diaper rash, but you can also try it for other skin problems like ringworm and eczema. This product is made of 100% organic oils and no harsh chemicals–one more reason to add to newborn essentials!
bathing
I think bath time is so much fun because most babies love to play and splash in the water, but most importantly, it relaxes them for bedtime. If you’re a mom, you know the feeling! 😉
I purchased this bath support because it was lightweight and functionaL; baby loved it, but unfortunately, I didn’t read that it was only for 0-6 months and up to 20lbs, so after seven months, I could no longer use it because my baby girl was more active and starting to sit unsupported which made the bath support unstable. I would suggest something like the first picture below the Grow-With-Me Bath Tub or something similar.
If you asked me what shampoo to buy for bath time, I would say Dr. Bronners fragrance-free in a heartbeat. This shampoo/cleanser is pure castile soap, hypoallergenic, and all-natural for the body and the planet. A little of this soap goes a long way.
The last picture is a hooded bath towel and washcloth set. This towel is larger and 2x thicker than most hooded bath towels for infants. After a few washes, the other ones get rough, but this is a luxury soft bamboo material with a lifetime replacement guarantee. Worth every penny!
feeding
The topic of feeding is complex because every birth and newborn experience is different. Women are designed for breastfeeding, but not all can accomplish this endeavor; numerous things interfere with breastfeeding success.
My goal was to breastfeed for at least a year with my second baby, but I quickly realized that I had a low-milk supply and found myself searching for the best formula and baby bottles. If you are NOT breastfeeding, I recommend Phillips Avent Natural Baby Bottles. The baby bottle gift set linked below comes with replacement nipples to keep up with your baby’s growth and different flow rate needs. I also love the curved bottle brush that comes with the gift set. If you are doing a combination of bottle and breast or considering re-lactation, please read my breastfeeding journey post here.
When preparing formula, the Baby Brezza water warmer has been a game-changer for us. Some people will say that formula does not need to be warmed, but I prefer to give my baby warm milk because it is easier to digest. I also think about how breastmilk is naturally given to them at body temperature. The Baby Brezza has a room temperature and body temperature setting that you can use based on your preference.
I like to store formula powder in the OXO Formula Dispenser at home and on the go. I also purchased a stainless steel Thermo bottle that keeps water warm for a few hours while I’m running errands. These newborn essentials have been super handy to prepare a bottle in seconds.
baby care
This section will provide a list of items you can buy, you may not need all of these, but at least you can decide what and when to buy them. I include pictures of the ones I personally love and use.
- Baby Monitors
- Thermometer
- Pacifiers
- Nasal Aspirators
- Humidifiers
- Lotions
- Baby Grooming Kit
- Nail Trimmer (absolutely love the nail file below)
Activity & gear
During the first three months of life, I feel time should be spent bonding and nurturing babies, making them feel safe and protected, and trying to mimic the womb as much as possible by cradling, swaddling, and rocking them gently.
The carrier that helped me bond with my baby girl is the Baby K’tan Wrap. I enjoyed having her close to me and seeing her fall asleep. In addition, the wrap gave me a hands-free experience to wash baby bottles or clean up the house.
Doctors and professionals recommend tummy time for development and strength. So, I recommend starting tummy time with the baby lying face down on your chest and gradually transferring them to the bed and playmat.
This post covered budget-friendly newborn essentials (0-3 months) that I personally used and feel are a must-have during those first three months of life. If you liked any of the ideas, please tag me on Instagram.
I conclude this post with this thought: As a mom/parent, you are given the ability to make the best decision for your children. Therefore, do everything in love so you will not regret anything.
♥ Blessings!
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