Beyond the Basics: Tried & True Must Haves for a Newborn Baby

No one likes to waste their time and money on products that they don't need. Having a newborn leaves you with even less time to spend trying and buying things. You may also have just one parent working while the other is on maternity leave, or now spending money on childcare. Here is what I've found to be the best products for the care of a new baby.

The First Start Sterilizer has a large enough basket to sterilize 5 bottles and their accessories, as well as other small items like spoons, pacifiers, teethers and small toys. Be sure to check the labels on other items to see if they can withstand the heat of a sterilizer.

Aden & Anais is known for their muslin swaddle blankets. The blankets are large enough to swaddle even larger/older babies, yet thin enough that you do not have to worry about them becoming a breathing obstruction. They are perfect for swaddling a newborn. Due to the risk of SIDS, babies are not supposed to wear blankets at night. A swaddler, when worn correctly, is tucked in and under baby so that it cannot get near their mouth and nose. Once baby starts to turn over and move around more, a sleepsack is recommended instead of a swaddler at bedtime. But don't worry, you'll still be able to use these blankets. Because they are so thin, they can even be used to cover the babies' legs to protect them from the Summertime sun. I keep one in the basket of my stroller year round.

Clouds & Stars makes the most amazing product. While sitting in the waiting room of my obstetrician a mama told me about their Zipper sheets. I didn't know this at the time, but when baby spits up in the crib, you have to take the entire mattress out of the crib to get the sheet off and a new one on. This is even more difficult if you have a mobile or crib bumpers on, because they will have to come off first too. It's an extremely cumbersome and time consuming job. Not with the Clouds & Stars Zipper Sheets. You put the Zipper Sheet Base on like a regular sheet, but when it comes time to change it, you just unzip the top of the sheet and zip a new one on. It's ingenious.

Nosefrida is a Swedish contraption used to remove mucus from your baby's tiny nostrils. I never have any luck getting anything out using the nasal aspirator, so when my baby was congested I gave Nosefrida a try. It took several attempts after watching YouTube videos demonstrating how to use it, but I was able to extract some serious mucus and as disgusting as it sounds, visibly see the results of my efforts. When your baby is sick you want to be able to feel like you're doing things that relieve them and make them a little better. Nosefrida definitely helped.

While babysitting my nephew I wound up getting a virus. I spent a week afterwards laid up with a very high fever and aching all over. Apparently, in between diaper changes I did not wash my hands well enough along the way, and must have at some point touched & then eaten something. I know - Gross! But let my experience be a cautionary tale for you. Now that I'm a mom, I'm vigilant about washing my hands between changes. So much so that my hands were getting chapped and cracking. I was using Bath & Bodyworks anti-bacterial soap until I discovered the Lysol Automatic Soap Dispenser. Just wave your hand under the dispenser and anti-bacterial foaming soap comes out. I'm able to turn on my faucet with my wrist and all traces of germs are gone. You can buy this in the big box stores (photo was taken of it at one) where the dispenser is sold with several refills.

When your little one gets his or her first bought of illness and the coughs sound like the barking of a seal, you will be glad that you have a Vicks Starry Night Cold Mist Humidifier. While humidifiers are sold as either warm or cold mist, cold mist is better for the treatment of coughs and colds. The Vicks Starry Night Cold Mist Humidifier also projects stars on the ceiling and the lights change color throughout. Be sure to also purchase additional filters to have on hand between illnesses, and the Vicks Vapor insert. You will feel the Vicks action breaking up the congestion so that your baby will be better in no time.

If you have a newborn chances are you are not getting enough sleep. While your baby will probably be getting up all hours of night for extra cuddles or a feeding, using Pampers Baby Dry means that you won't have to fully wake your baby to change a diaper in the middle of the night. They will last for 12 hours without having to change baby. These are recommended for nighttime wear only. I also suggest that in the morning when you change baby's diaper you also use a moist wipe to wipe any traces of urine off of your baby's skin.