After our first baby, we got rid of most everything once she grew out of it. We gave them to friends who were pregnant and needed them before we did.

Having said that, we are pregnant again (yay!) and looking to restock only our most favorite items that we know we can’t live without. The first time around, we ended up with so many things we didn’t even use. This time, we know what we need and we’re excited to have a much shorter shopping list this time!

Here’s our new list:

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Bottles – Philips Avent bottles are what we chose last time and our daughter LOVED them. Unfortunately, we bought waaay too many. If you plan to breastfeed on demand, you really don’t need that many bottles. And if breastfeeding doesn’t work out for you, you can always buy more. This starter kit is really everything you need if you plan to breastfeed.

Breast shields for breast pump – If you plan to breastfeed, the right size breast shield for your pump is a necessity. Yes, ladies, size does matter here! Without the correct size, you may not be able to pump as much as you could have and it could be super uncomfortable to boot! Breast pumps normally include the Medium size shields, but Medela, for example, has sizes Small – XLarge.

Breast milk bags – If you plan to breastfeed, then breast milk bags to store your pumped milk are a MUST. And the Lansinoh brand never let me down. I made the mistake of trying another brand once, and they leaked. These ones never leaked.

Hands-free pumping bra – If you plan to breastfeed, I highly recommend a hands-free pumping bra – even if you don’t plan to pump much! I tried holding the pumps in place once, and it was just such a waste of energy. Don’t start pumping without one!

Infant Swing – Really, any infant swing is a must for us. This was one place we could put baby where she would easily chill and/or fall asleep. I would make sure to choose one that has an AC adapter to plug in as you will go through a ton of D batteries for the ones that require them.

 

Infant Bouncer – Another great place to put a baby is in a bouncer. My daughter loved watching me work off my post-pregnancy pounds (well, some of them, at least) from her bouncer. Note that this is different from a “jumper/exersaucer” which is more like a saucer-shaped play top that the child sits in the middle of and can use to push herself off the ground a little. My daughter hated that one, so we won’t be getting one this time around. Jumpers also take up a LOT of room and I would much rather have the swing!

  

Rock N Play – Oh man. This was a lifesaver. My daughter REFUSED to sleep in her bassinet for the first three weeks after we brought her home. So, we got, like, ZERO sleep during that time. Finally, I saw in one of my pregnancy groups someone recommend a Rock N Play to someone else, so I sent my dear husband to Toys R Us at 8pm at night to get one. This was probably the best full-price purchase we ever made! She slept at least 4-8 hours straight every night in that thing. It just seems to be so much more comfortable for them! Update: Unfortunately, it seems that most (if not all) of these have been recalled. However, I do still recommend an inclined sleeper of some kind if you can find one.

Pack N Play – Another absolute necessity. This was a great transition crib for us (between Rock N Play and crib) and the “crib” that we took on any trips. to We didn’t end up using the bassinet or changing insert very much, so unless you don’t have enough room for a changing table in your home, I would say you don’t need them. My daughter didn’t really take to this as a “play yard” – I think she honestly thought she was in jail and would scream. So, if you plan to use it often for that, I would recommend keeping this in mind.

White Noise – Our daughter is almost 2 and a half now and she still sleeps with white noise. It has been an amazing way to help her sleep. Turn that noise on, and she immediately gets into “sleepy-mode”. And since our house is a bit small with tile floors, the white noise ensures that we don’t have to tiptoe around the house whenever she is sleeping. I like the travel one for when she stays at Grandma’s and the projector one is great if you have a child that would benefit from the images on the ceiling.

 

Bibs – Lots and lots of plain cheap bibs. These are great for spit-up and drool. Get them in colors to match outfits. I prefer the plain colored ones without words as those don’t “match” as well and they clean easier. They are also much cheaper.

  

Bib-On Bibs – Our 2.5 year old is still using these. They are incredible and absolutely indispensable when your child starts eating real food. They cover everything and are machine washable! We hated the other plastic bibs or the ones with “catchers” on them – they didn’t work and they were a PITA to clean. But these ones are AWESOME! You only need like 2 or 3, honestly. They really stand the test of time.

Infant Tub – Bathing a baby without one of these is actually pretty difficult. They are pretty cheap and they grow out of them fast, so even if you pick one you don’t like, it will probably still work. We’re trying a different one this time!

  

Miracle Blanket Swaddle – This swaddle was the best for our little Houdini. She fought swaddling for a while, so we were convinced she didn’t like it. But once she was successfully swaddled with one of these, she LOVED it and slept 8 hours at 2 months old. No joke.

  

Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit – When your baby starts to roll over, you can no longer swaddle. For a baby that sleeps best when swaddled, this is a horrible transition period for the sleepy mom and this can happen as early as 4 months. This is where Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit comes in. There are 3-6 month sizes and 6-9 month sizes. It’s perfect for when you are transitioning to a crib too! What this thing does is makes your child still feel all cozy like a swaddle, but doesn’t allow her to roll over – or even really move, for that matter. The sleep you will enjoy after trying this is worth its weight in gold. And seeing your child wearing one of these is probably one of the funniest things you’ll see (think of the Stay Puff marshmallow man or the little kid in The Christmas Story – hah!). Trust me, it’s worth the price!

   

Boppy Pillow – Even if you don’t plan to breastfeed, I recommend one of these. It’s a must for breastfeeding, but also for sitting your infant up or doing tummy time. Seriously – a very versatile pillow that you will love.

   

Sit-Me-Up Floor Seat – When your child can her head up, this seat is a must. My daughter liked it a WHOLE lot more than the Bumbo. Loved it, actually. For places to put your baby (which, you will find, are really important), this one is truly great.

Play Mat – Another great place to put your baby and keep her busy for quite a while.

Foam Squares – If you have hard floors, these are a must for babies. They are great for under a play mat or for a play area.

Angelcare Sound Monitor – We haven’t yet found a video monitor that we like, but we LOVE this sound monitor. The great thing about it is that I was able to manipulate the settings enough that my daughter’s white noise did not catch the monitor, but she did. This was very important as while we wanted her to sleep with white noise, we did not want to try to sleep listening to white noise through the speaker.

Britax Travel System – I prefer Britax, but really any infant travel system is great. We got the B-Agile/B-Safe system and really liked it. It was perfect and not the most expensive system. The most important thing here is the infant car seat. Yes, your child will grow out of the convenience of it pretty quickly (it gets very heavy to carry), but the convenience in the beginning is worth it. I probably wouldn’t have left the house if I had to transfer a tiny sleeping infant from my arms, to a carseat, to a stroller and back again on 2 hours sleep. Looking back, this is the one item that I would recommend you splurge on if you have the funds. Find a stroller you LOVE because you will be using for a few years!

Changing pad and cover – A changing table is not an absolute necessity if you don’t have room. A changing pad can be placed on a wide dresser and then on the floor when your baby gets too wiggly.

Onesies – Yes, the tiny outfits are absolutely adorable, but they are a pain when you need to change 10 diapers a day. Onesies to the rescue! Get a bunch. Chances are, for each size, you will only use 2-5 actual outfits before 12 months. Unless you plan to take an adorable photo of your baby each day for your followers on Instagram. I can’t help you there.

WubbaNubs – Strangely enough, my daughter didn’t really like sucking on these pacifiers after 5 months or so, but she started sticking her fingers in them to help her sleep. She still does. It’s a strange security thing, I know – BUT if your baby likes these pacifiers, the little animals help them stay in when they are too young to put them back in.

Receiving blankets – These can be used for anything. Changing pads, burp cloths, nursing covers – you name it! Get a bunch!

Waterproof crib mattress cover – Our new baby will be able to use the same crib mattress as our daughter because of these. Worth it!

 

Camisoles – If you plan to breastfeed, I recommend getting a bunch of cheap camisoles. You wear them under your tops so you can use the “two shirt method” when breastfeeding in public. You lift up your top, pull your breast out of the top of the cami, and feed. Almost no skin is showing this way. My daughter hated being covered, so this was my option. Turns out, it’s a lot more subtle than using a nursing cover. Most people didn’t even realize I was breastfeeding – they thought I was just holding a sleeping baby.

Crib – If you don’t have one already, this is one item you will definitely need. You can get convertible ones that can convert into a toddler bed, but sometimes saving the money now and just going from crib to twin bed might work best for you (as it did for us).

And that’s my list! If I think of anything else, I will be sure to add it! Happy mothering!