HEY MAMAS! I am so excited to finally share all about my newborn essential picks for months 0-4! I’ve (admittedly) been trying to get this post up for weeks (slash months) but this motherhood thing is proving to be all-consuming. So sometimes my plans never quite happen as expected. This magical time is requiring all of me but it’s also afforded me the chance to really think about all my baby must-haves. Anything that is functional and practical was key for us during this time – it was straight up survival mode!

Below I’ve linked some of my favorite products on the market for newborns, best part is most of them are Amazon Prime so I got you covered when you needed them like, YESTERDAY!

PS- In case you missed it, read Luca’s birth story here and check out my New Mama Must-Haves post for my picks for essentials that made ME feel human again!

If you have an older baby check out my Baby Must-Haves for 6-12 Months!

Newborn Essentials: Sleep

SnuggleMe Organic

(Pictured Below) My NUMBER ONE newborn essential!! No joke, this lounger is the BOMB you guys! Its patented sling design gently “hugs” your baby so they feel safe and cozy. During those first few newborn months, the whole idea is to recreate the atmosphere inside the womb, and the SnuggleMe, in my opinion, is the best lounger on the market to do that. Plus it’s made in the US using organic materials, can’t go wrong! As a newborn Luca slept in the SnuggleMe at night in our bed and I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

They now have a few different color options for the covers, they’re all earthy tones and I want every single one! We have the natural, the “Skye” (light blue) and the “Ember” (burnt orange). We also grabbed the Puddle Pad because Luca spits up constantly! I definitely recommend investing in at least two covers so you can swap them out when one gets dirty! (Amazon, $139.95)

Love to Dream Swaddle Original

(Pictured Above) We tried so many different swaddles and Luca would either break free or not sleep at all. It wasn’t until we tried this “arms-up” method that he (and I) began sleeping a little better. We used this swaddle for nighttime and I would recommend purchasing two to three. I also loved that middle of the night diaper changes were a breeze with the dual zipper feature. They make different sizes and options for older babies as well! (Amazon 34.95)

Miracle Blanket Swaddle

I didn’t discover this literal miracle blanket until month two, but next time I will use it from the start! I thought that Luca did not like being swaddled arms down until I tried this blanket. He LOVED it! However, he did not like being swaddled like this and inside the SunggleMe, so I used this swaddle *only* for day-time naps and laid Luca flat in the bassinet. Like the other swaddle, I purchased two! (Amazon $29.95)

Halo Bassinest

A friend recommended this bassinet to us and I was so happy with it! We used it in our room for naps until he outgrew it at about 4.5 months. It has a very functional and user-friendly design; it swivels, vibrates and can play music and one side can push down for easy access during nighttime sleep. Full disclosure: night time didn’t work for me because with the c-section recovery I found it very hard to reach over and pick him up out of a bassinet. But it really was a lifesaver for his naps! (Amazon $299)

Hush Portable Sound Machine

Pre-baby I didn’t really think of this as an “essential” but IT IS. Give my baby all the WHITE NOISE. Again the idea is to mimic the womb, which was a very loud place. I let it run the entire time he sleeps whether for naps or nighttime. The other idea is that if the baby wakes the noise is familiar and will gently soothe him back to sleep. We use the white noise or ocean waves option and BONUS- it also helps my husband and I fall asleep! (Amazon $29)

Wubbanub

Luca rarely took a pacifier but around 3 months I introduced the Wubbanub and it was a total game changer! He was just starting to grab objects and he loved holding onto the animal part while sucking the pacifier. I put this in the sleep category because he really only takes it when he’s tired and trying to fall asleep, it has seriously been a lifesaver though! (Amazon $16.95)

I will add that items like the Rock N’ Play, Fisher-Price Swing, Momaroo and Pack N’ Play are essentials for so many mamas but my son wanted nothing to do with them! Lucky me!!

Newborn Essentials: Play/Lounge/Travel

Boppy lounger (pictured above)

Luca literally lived in this for the first 4 months of his life! You have to go to the bathroom or make a quick cup of coffee? Put him down while getting the bath ready? It was the perfect spot to put him down AND keep him close. Of course, once he started to roll we retired the lounger! (Amazon $29.99)

Activity Center/Play Mat

We’ve tried out a few and this one, though simple, is by far his favorite. We started using it when he was about 6 weeks old, at first we laid him in the boppy lounger under the arch and he was able to reach the toys that way. He’s always loved looking at himself in the mirror too and still gets excited when the music comes on! (Amazon $39.99)

Fisher-Price Sit Me Up Chair

We didn’t start this until around 3.5/4 months when Luca’s had head control became stronger. Now he loves it! The chair is colorful and can occupy him with the little toys that come attached. It also folds down flat making it super portable which I love! This Boppy chair is even more portable, we bring this to restaurants or over my parent’s house for dinner, both will be suitable to use for at least up to a year. (Amazon $26.49)

Peg Perego High Chair

I know I know, a highchair on a newborn essentials list? BUT, I am putting ours in the lounge category because this high chair is the bomb and was perfect when it came to having Luca lounge in the kitchen with us while we were cooking or doing dishes. The seat reclines almost all the way flat and there are buckles to hold the baby in so he just kicked back and relaxed! (Amazon $299)

Nuna Pipa Carseat

I love this car seat for its safety and simplicity. Bonus that it is also one of the lightest on the market and has won awards for being made of clean/green materials, just like the Uppababy Mesa ($299) (that was my second choice). I love the added support of the metal bar that extends down to the floor from the base (see the photo below), it takes two seconds for the seat to click into the base and not going to lie, I just think it’s a good looking car seat! We pair it with our Silver Cross stroller, which I purchased at a local baby store, but I also like the Nuna Demi stroller! (Nordstrom $299)

Newborn Essentials: General Care

Pampers Pure Diapers

We tried a few brands early on including Honest Co. and Parasol but Pampers Pure won out for us. I noticed redness/irritation on his baby skin with the Parasol and the Honest Co. were just not sturdy enough although I liked the cute prints! Pampers to me are the softest and held in his explosive poops much better than the other two – yayyy to fewer blowouts, right!? (Amazon, $63/198 count)

Water Wipes

Made of 99% water these are my wipes of choice! They are super soft clean really well. They’re also perfect for wiping poo and spit up off your clothes before they go in the wash #multitasker (Amazon $31.29/540 count)

Beauty Counter Balm

We haven’t had to use this much but Luca has a couple of minor eczema patches on his shoulders and this calmed his skin right down! His eczema is very mild, no redness just rough skin. I love Beauty Counter because no questions asked, every ingredient is clean and you can trust it, especially on your babe! If you purchase, you can choose me as your consultant! (Beauty Counter $22)

Burt’s Bees baby powder or California Baby Organic baby powder

I use these organic powders to dry off his diaper area so he doesn’t go into the fresh diaper wet at all. If there’s any redness in his rolls this calms it right down and heals it up in a matter of hours. BONUS- powder is also a lifesaver at the beach! It dries away the clamminess and makes the sand fall right off their skin (and yours!!)! (Amazon $21/3-pack)

Oogiebear Nose Cleaner and the FridababyNoseFrida Nasal Aspirator

I recommend getting both of these for different reasons. The Oogiebear is great for scooping out boogers right at the opening of the baby’s nostrils and the nasal aspirator is great for when the baby gets a stuffy nose or for sucking out those really stubborn, sticky boogers that won’t budge! (Amazon, both are under $20)

Fisher Price 4-in-1 Sling ‘n Seat Tub

For the first month or so we gave Luca sponge baths right on the kitchen counter (read: umbilical cord took forever to fall off LOL). But after month one he was in this bathtub, we put it right in our bathtub and it’s super quick and easy to wash him. The sling part of it allows him to relax in a reclined position while we wash him all up. And then when he’s older it comes with a seat so he can sit up, and eventually, that comes out as well and he can sit in the tub itself. I also like that it comes with little bath toys for him! We use Tubby Todd shampoo and body wash – the bottle is lasting forever! And we also love this accessory and this towel which comes in 40 different options (all under $15)! (Amazon, $32)

Newborn Essentials: Gas Help

The first three months of Luca’s life were filled with tummy issues. We went through those first few months just surviving day to day, waiting for him to fall asleep so the crying would stop. I don’t like using the term colic because I don’t believe it has an actual definition. Instead, I attribute Luca’s newborn fussiness to gas and bowel issues, call it a mother’s intuition. He was rarely comfortable or happy and visibly had the hardest time pooping or passing gas. The items below are some things that helped us survive the early days with a gassy baby and yes, were absolute ESSENTIALS for us!

Gripe Water

We used gripe water on Luca quite frequently as a newborn. It helps with hiccups as well as general gassiness. The main ingredients are ginger and fennel, which are both safe for newborns.  Luca actually loved the taste of this and would immediately calm down upon putting the syringe in his mouth. (Amazon, $7)

Mommy’s Bliss Infant Gas Drops

We tried everything to help relieve Luca’s gas – burping, bicycle kicks, tummy/back massage etc. but when those things didn’t work it was straight to gas drops! The main ingredient in gas drops is Simethicone which is considered safe for newborns by the FDA. It works by combining lots of small gas bubble into one large one which makes it easier to pass. These drops worked wonders for us! (Amazon, $5)

Gerber Soothe Probiotic Drops

We started Luca on probiotic drops around 2 weeks old and around the same time I stopped eating dairy. The results were not immediate, and I’ll never know if it was the drops or me cutting dairy for sure, but I do think these helped to soothe his belly and promote healthy gut flora. (Amazon, $16.99)

Fridababy Windi

When you have to help your baby poop! Sounds gross but these things were lifesavers. Luca would scream, cry and grunt trying to poop in those early days (I cried too) and the Windii helped so much.  It helped released the gas pressure in his poor tummy and usually the poo would just pour out (great visual for you lol)! (Amazon, $32/40 count)

Miscellaneous Newborn Essentials

‘Baby Tracker’ App

Highly recommend this app which you can download from the app store! It helped me track Luca’s eating and sleeping habits as well as diaper changes. I stopped using two months because it got to be a little much. Not only that but I got to know his habits well enough that I didn’t need to track anymore.

Puracy 3-pack Hand Sanitizer

Luca was born in the winter right at the height of flu season which was pretty stressful. Hand sanitizer is a must regardless of the time of year you have a newborn. But we were extra careful because of the winter sicknesses. Both Alex and I used it regularly. I also had no problem letting our visitors know they had to wash their hands and use the sanitizer before touching Luca. (Amazon, $15/3-pack)

Loved Baby organic cotton footie PJs or bodysuit or short-sleeve kimono

Luca lived in these onesies for the first four months! I love the quality and color options, also another organic, US brand! And size up because they run small! (Amazon, $25 (footies))

Aden + Anais Muslin Blankets

I loved this lightweight option (still do) for keeping Luca warm and cozy in the stroller or during supervised naps. The material is perfect for summer, I also love Mebie Baby for muslin blankets.

Organic Cotton Burp Cloths and Bibs

Luca was (still is) a spitter/puker (his aunties gave him the nickname “Luca Puka,” poor kid). Needless to say, I had a wash going every day with all the burp cloths and bibs we’d go through. These are my absolute favorites – muslin and organic cotton. I haven’t counted but we have at least 20! (Amazon, $21.99/3-pack)

Newborn Toys

We loved these various toys listed below (and still do!!). Both Sophies are for sure a must, something about the rubber or maybe all the appendages sticking out, but once Luca started grabbing this was the toy he went for most followed by anything O-Ball or that made the crinkle noise like Freddie the Firefly!!

If you’re looking for more activities to do with your newborn, I wrote a whole post filled with ideas, CLICK HERE!

Shop All Newborn Essentials

I hope this post was helpful! Here are all items listed above, you got this mama!