5 Newborn Baby Must-Have Essentials

As soon as my pregnancy test proved I was pregnant, I started shopping. I didn't even know if I was having a boy or girl, I just wanted to buy things. The problem is, I bought a ton of stuff I didn't really need and found out the hard way that there was items I should have bought that I didn't. Eventually, through trial and error, I found the best baby essential must-haves for Moms of newborns. Now, everyone wants me to come to their baby showers or help them with their registry.

Get the Items You Really Need

First-time Moms have many things to do when they're expecting a newborn. One of the most important to-do items is to make sure they have the best newborn baby essentials at home waiting for their bundle of joy to come home. With so many options available online and in stores, it can be overwhelming for first-time mothers to find the high-quality products they need and want. We've made it easier for Moms to shop for newborns by gathering 5 newborn baby essentials every first time Mom needs.

It's not necessary to buy the exact items I've listed below, but you should make sure you have each of the categories covered. Feel free to browse around and make decisions that are right for you and your budget.

If you know anyone that has a toddler or young child, you've probably already heard how amazing swaddling can be. What you probably don't know is some receiving blankets are better for swaddling then others. I received dozens of blankets for my daughter as a newborn. Most of these blankets we didn't use right away. She was a summer baby and it was hot. However, I quickly feel in love with thin, large receiving blankets. I didn't know it at the time, but these blankets were made of muslin material. Not only is it easy to work with, but it's simply to clean and won't irritate baby's sensitive skin.

Muslin Baby Blankets are Best for Swaddling

The best blankets for swaddling are Bamboo Muslin Swaddle products. Receiving blankets made of bamboo Muslin material are large enough to swaddle a baby are multi-purpose too. Not only can you use the lightweight blanket to wrap your newborn up like a burrito, but you can use it as a nursing cover or changing pad too. The hypoallergenic material is lightweight, soft, and easy to wash too.

• Swaddled babies should sleep on their back
• Swaddling is said to provide newborns with comforts of being in utero
• Babies are born with a startle reflex - swaddling helps reduce its effects
• Most newborns outgrow swaddling by 4 to 5 months of age
• It's vital new Moms swaddle newborns correctly

Did you know some strollers are designed to grow with your baby? I surely didn't know this when I was shopping for a stroller the first time. I knew I needed an infant car seat and a stroller. I didn't even know you could buy travel systems to include all of these features for one price. But, it's true you can.

To make things even more complicated, I wanted a stroller that would fit my lifestyle. I wanted to go on long walks and be able to keep my hands-free. Eventually, someone introduced me to pram strollers. I didn't think my budget would allow for this type of stroller, but I was wrong. It took a bit of research to find the right stroller, but I'm so glad I spent the time doing that. Now, you don't have to spend time researching it. You can take my recommendation.

Pram Strollers are Amazing for City Life and Busy Moms

Living in the city with a newborn is easy when you have the right stroller. Pram strollers are unique because they are convertible and allow for easy infant car seat transfers. The all-terrain wheels on this newborn carriage can easily handle going over sidewalk curbs and in and out of buildings.

When not in use the stroller is compact and easy to store. When in use, a Pram stroller has a ton of storage options too, so you can lessen your load and travel with baby in style.

Forget the traditional diaper bags and opt for a diaper bag backpack instead. I went through dozens of diaper bags when my daughter was young. Everything was so bulky and heavy. It drove me crazy. Eventually, I ended up keeping one in the car, one in my husband's car, and one at daycare. But, if I had a diaper bag backpack, life would have been so much easier.

Diaper Bag Backpacks Let You Go Handsfree

Diaper bag backpacks are ideal for traveling and offer large storage capacities. With a backpack diaper bag, Mom or Dad can easily carry everything baby needs for the day. The backpacks offer stylish options, multiple pockets for easy organization, and many are available in waterproof material. The straps of the bookbag easily hang on a Pram strollers handlebars too.

Keep scrolling to check out the diaper bag video below. You won't believe how many things a Mom can fit in this bag. And, the best part is that you don't have to manage carrying baby, a bulky diaper bag, and your regular purse too.

Instead, use the space in the bag to maximize your organization skills and make the Mom life a little bit easier every day. Not to mention, Dad probably won't mind wearing the backpack either.

Whether you're breastfeeding or plan on feeding your newborn with formula, you'll need quite a few bottles. How many bottles you'll need depends on how often you're going to feed your newborn. Some Moms and pediatricians recommend feeding on demand while others will swear by set schedules. It's a personal choice for every Mom and could even vary from child to child depending on circumstance. I breastfed for six months, but still needed bottles for my husband and babysitter to feed the baby while I was working.

The best plan is to choose a beginner set with about a dozen bottles inside. Newborns don't drink big bottles at first, so the small four or five oz. bottles are a wise choice. These sets include a variety of sizes and nipples, which allows Mom and baby to decide what feeding options work best.

There are many different bottle choices on the market. Not only are the types of bottles different, but there's many nipple types to choose from too. Many first timers like the convenience and options offered by beginner sets that include a little bit of everything. For first time Moms, it's a great idea to invest in anti-colic, air-free options because it can help improve baby's digestion and decrease gas.

Another newborn baby essential is burp clothes. I had nieces and nephews before my daughter was born, but didn't add any burp cloths to my registry. Thankfully, my great-aunt gifted me some amazing bamboo burp cloths. I hadn't planned to breastfeed and ended up falling in love with the idea shortly after my daughter was born. Of course, since I wasn't planning to do it, I hadn't done any research or prepped myself for what that meant once she was here. Soon, I learned that a breastfed baby has a sensitive stomach, and burp cloths came in very handy.

Bamboo burp cloths are great options for Mom and baby because they're extremely absorbent and made of organic materials. The hypoallergenic design of the material is safe to use on baby's gentle skin and Moms too. I've had eczema since I was a child and the burp cloths didn't bother me at all. Even on direct skin contact, neither she or I had any reactions to the material. Babies with skin sensitivities or eczema will enjoy the softness of this material burp cloth.

If you're feeling crafty, you may want to make your own baby burp cloths. There's many tutorials online, so it's easy to find one that fits your skill level. I'm partial to the YouTube video below because the finished product is cute and easy to repurpose when baby no longer needs it.

There you have it. With these 5 newborn baby essentials, you'll be ready to handle city life with a newborn baby like a veteran Mom.