10 Baby Must-Haves For New Moms

The best part of having a baby—aside from, you know, having the baby—are the gifts. Especially gifts that are delivered to your doorstep. It's so exciting to receive something other than bills in the mail, isn't it? That's why I was so excited when Playtex sent me some of my favourite baby products again! *fist pump* 

As a to-be second-time mom, I think I have a better understanding of what I really need this time around. Okay, let me rephrase that, "What I really want this time around..." Because let's be honest: all a baby really needs is food, shelter, and love. I've never been one for clutter or useless gadgets and personally think it can be pretty overwhelming for new moms to figure out "What are the basics?" 

Here is my list of the basics that all new moms should consider:

10. A BABY CARRIER

I bought an expensive stroller (second hand) and found I never used it. I much preferred the compact and cozy nature of carrying my baby (bonus: it's good exercise and great for bonding). So invest in a carrier that fits you and your lifestyle. 

9. A SNOT SUCKER

Yep, that's right. There are various brands that will achieve the same goal, and you'll thank me later when both you and your baby are sleeping better because they can breathe!

8. DIAPER GENIE ELITE & PORTABLE DIAPER BAG DISPENSER

Babies poo a lot. And it's best if you don't have to keep smelling their diapers. So this is why I love my Diaper Genie Elite and Portable Diaper Bag Dispenser. Whether I'm at home or out and about, I don't have to worry about lingering poo smell. Need I say more?

7. A BREAST PUMP

If you're breastfeeding, this is a worthwhile investment (and check your benefits plan, cuz some companies even cover the cost). There are many different kinds, so do your research and choose the one that best suits your feeding needs (manual? electric? double electric?) I have a single electric pump and it's great if you're planning on pumping 1-2 times a day just to build up a stockpile of frozen milk. 

6. A WHITE NOISE MACHINE

I love, love, love our white noise machine. It has a few different sound options that play all night long (this is key) and it generally just helps dampen other noises around the house that might wake our son.

5.  ORTHOPRO/BINKY SILICONE PACIFIER

To be honest, Cole didn't use a soother for a very long period of time at all, but when he did use one it was always the Playtex OrthoPro or the Binky pacifier. They're designed to be most like the mother's breast, so my son took to it quite quickly, which was awesome!

4. STOCKPILE OF FROZEN MEALS

If you can arrange this before the baby is born you'll be a very happy and well-fed mama, and you'll thank me a thousand times over. It is so nice not to have to worry about cooking in the first few after you bring your baby home. You'll be so focused on keeping this tiny little creature alive that you might forget that you also need nourishment. So if you can swing it, do some cooking beforehand or throw a "frozen dinner baby shower" where everyone invited brings you a frozen meal that they cooked themselves (store-bought pizzas don't count!) Haha.

3. PLAYTEX BOTTLE AND NIPPLE GIFT SET FOR NEWBORNS

There are so many different bottles out there, and even though my son was attached to my boob 90% of the time, I would give him a bottle of pumped milk when I wanted to escape the house for a few hours. I've always liked the Playtex Nurser Drop-Ins Liners due to the sheer simplicity, and their VentAire bottles are also great because of they way they are designed to help reduce gas. A less gassy baby is a happy baby, believe me!

Another great product to consider is the Playtex Bottle Nipple Gift Set. This set allows you to skip the trial and error of finding a bottle that works for your baby. As we all know, each baby is unique and has their own set of likes and dislikes. The set has four different types of nipples for you to choose from. A one-stop shop. Done.

2. A CAMERA

Whether you use your phone or a fancy shmansy DSLR, if you have a baby — you need a camera. And you need to take a minimum of 100 photos a day and post them all to Facebook (kidding...please don't do that, or you might lose friends). But seriously, the first year goes by so quickly (and you're in such a fog for the first little while) that it's nice to have a reminder of those early days when they were oh-so-little. Eeek. I'm getting excited again just thinking about it!

1. A HEALTHY MOTHER

What? Yes, that's right ladies. YOU NEED TO LOOK AFTER YOURSELVES. You can have the greatest gadgets and the cutest baby clothes, but all of that is useless if you're not looking after yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally. So please, remember to eat healthy meals to nourish yourself and your baby. Remember to talk to someone if you think you might be suffering from postpartum depression. And remember to relax, get fresh air, and enjoy the time with your new baby. It's okay not to get ANYTHING DONE IN A DAY for the first little while. You're keeping a child alive. That is a fantastic accomplishment in itself!