Newborn Essentials

After learning what I used and didn't use the first time around-- I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted to purchase  for baby number 2. I tried to keep it practical and realistic. Obviously all babies are different and there is no telling what one baby might like but, I definitely knew what I liked and wanted. So, I've made a list of the items have have got us through the first 6 weeks of my babies life. Maybe this will help you decide what you want.

Okay, Number 1... Zip up sleepers. Forget the buttons. I mean who really wants to spend extra time fiddling with buttons when you can conveniently just zip it up in 1 second flat. I know I don't. I can't tell you how many times I miss button's Liam (my two year olds) sleepers when he was a newborn.

I've found a great place to get sleepers is Walmart. They have the Garanimals brand for $4.97. I Love the Carter's sleepers but it can be hard to find them in the zipper option. They also run about $8 when you catch a sale one them. I'm not above buying baby clothes second hand. Sometimes goodwill has them for a good price but it's hard to find baby clothes that don't have stains because between spit up and explosive baby poop it's hard to keep those things pristine.

My Babies Taking A Nap
AKA My Favorite time of the day! 

Number 2... I cannot say enough good things about this next item. The Fisher Price Rock n' Play Sleeper is a serious lifesaver. I got mine at Target on clearance with my first son for $34 and this time around I found one new in box on Craigslist for $25. It's portable and folds up nicely for travel to grandma's house and moves easy from room to room. It cradles them so they feel secure and it's also at an incline which helps with my little one's reflux. I swear my babies slept longer in it and it gives me the peace of mind that Ryan won't choke if he's just flat on his back. It also has a vibration setting on it. Our's is the "My Little Snugapuppy" which retails for $79.99 at Toys R Us (as of May 2015). So finding it for $25 was a steal.

Number 3... Sucking boogers out of a nose sounds absolutely disgusting. So a lot of people are put off by the Nose Frida. But, I can tell you that this thing is amazing. No boogers actually get into your mouth at all and there is a filter. It retails for $14.99 at Target. It's very simple. You stick the tube on the baby and suck. It will clear your little ones nose way better than the typical bulb syringe. I've even used it so suck out the extra salvia building in his mouth (due to his Reflux). This could really end up being a life saver. 

Number 4... Something I've always dreaded is clipping babies nails. They are so tiny and it's impossible to get them done at least for me. Even when they get older it's hard to keep their little hands still long enough to cut them. I invested in a "Zoli Buzz B. Nail Trimmer"-- I say invest because it's $35. I know $35 for a nail trimmer? Crazy. I thought so to until I realized how easy it was. It's essentially a nail filer. It comes with different filing disks that coordinate with your child's age. It's super gentle and won't harm your babies skin around the nail. I do Ryan's while he is sleeping and he doesn't even notice.



Number 5... The "My Breast Friend" nursing pillow is another product I don't think I could have been without. Especially during the first weeks of breast feeding. With Liam I had a Boppy pillow. It was great for propping baby up for sitting or tummy time but it always slid down and just wasn't very comfortable for nursing. The Breast Friend pillow has an adjustable strap that you can wrap around you to hold it in place. After having my c-section this was amazing to just strap where it felt comfortable. The pillow it's self is soft but firm so the baby stays in the position you want them in. There is also a handy little pocket where I kept my phone, nipple cream and any other nursing essentials. With the other pillow I found that I had a back ache. The Breast Friend pillow provided the support I needed.

There is so many products out there designed to make you and your newborns life easier. These are the ones I have found to have been super helpful for me. Obviously everyone is different and what I love you may not. It's all about finding what works for you!