32 New Baby Essentials: A Seasoned Moms Shopping List for The First 12 Months

Portable Bassinet – This is #1 for me. With the arrival of baby number three coming for us I have decided I am going to do things a little bit differently this time around! I am actually not going to be setting up a nursery right away for our new daughter. My past experience has taught me that in our home, co-sleeping works best, but I also know that our new little one will be arriving a tad early for medical reasons, therefore I am stuck between the Halo Swivel sleeper and this one that can double as a bedside co-sleeper!

Bassinet Sheet set – Bedding is obviously essential. In my experience, you should have at least 4 sets of sheets to change out. I liked the design on these bassinet sheets, plus they have amazing reviews!

Crib Mattress – With all of the information that we have these days about the risk of SIDS, as well as being more informed regarding the toxins in plastics and synthetic materials, clean bedding has become new age. There are so many options for crib mattresses that are proven to be toxin-free, breathable, and reduce the risk of SIDS. And many different price points to choose from. After lots of digging I came up with this as my top pick for a crib mattress for our little bundle, it is breathable, washable, non-toxic, and hypoallergenic AND it comes with a removable cover! The price point is a little higher, so if you are looking for something that is a little less expensive but still quality that you can trust than this Soybean foam core crib mattress from Sealy may be a great alternative!

Fitted Crib Sheet – A fitted crib sheet and a mattress topper are a definite must-have! This crib sheet from Burts bees is organic cotton and looks just cozy.

Crib Mattress Topper – I am completely in LOVE with this mattress topper made by Holy Lamb Organics. Not only is it 100% organic, it is also hand made in the USA!

Baby Monitor – Baby monitors have advanced so far technologically in the last 10 years! A good monitor with a good range is a necessity for me, as I spend a fair amount of time outside in the yard or in a different area of the house and I may not always hear baby! I really liked this video monitor made by Kodak. What sold me on this one is that it is wifi capable, but it also has a lot of other great features such as temperature and humidity display.

Baby Swing – I did not have one of these for my firstborn, but I had one for my daughter and I will for sure be repurchasing this item for our new baby! It saved me countless days (and nights) as this was my daughter’s favorite place to be! Because she was so content in her swing it allowed me some freedom to fulfill all of my other mom duties!

Travel Essentials

Infant Carseat – You can’t leave the hospital without a car seat! This is for sure a necessity. But with so many on the market, where do you even start. I’ll be honest, the last infant car seat I purchased was in 2008. So I was very overwhelmed when I started researching car seats. I ended up settling for this one made by chico, and I will be purchasing an additional base as well since we have more than one vehicle we drive regularly.

Jogging Stroller – We live in the country. The first infant car seat I bought (in 2008) came with a stroller and I ended up never using it and purchasing a jogging stroller that was able to take on the gravel. This time around I wanted to do it right the first time so I purchased this stroller. I love that it is lightweight and compact and I was sold when I saw that you can purchase car seat adapters for it!

Pack and Play – It is a toss-up as to whether you will use this if you go with the portable bassinet or not, I had a pack and play co-sleeper previously and I loved it! If you do a lot of traveling, especially overnight trips or you are looking for a co-sleeper different then the one I suggested at the top of this list, then something like this pack and play might be the answer!

Carseat Cover – If your new bundle of love is arriving in the fall/winter months like ours is then THIS is an absolute necessity! Gone are the days of heavy blankets over the car seat blowing precariously away in a big gust of wind! Zip your baby in and you are ready to roll!!  

Shopping Cart Cover – This one is a first for me and I’m seriously excited. This thing is so cool and a great way to shield your precious bundle from the shopping cart coodies.

Convertible Crib – As I mentioned earlier, we are not going to be doing a nursery right away. However, when we do transition we will go with a convertible crib such as this one.

Feeding Essentials

Formula Dispenser Machine – Do you remember back when we used to warm the babies bottle running it under hot water or in a kettle on the stove?!? Now you can simplify Night-Time feedings with this Formula Dispenser Machine! How COOL is that?!? I am soooo excited about this little gadget!

Bumbo Floor Seat – The Bumbo seat is an all-time favorite, as it offers good support and it is stable. This was a great way for our family to include the littlest member into family mealtimes. Since I gave away my last one, I am purchasing one and adding a tray to try for Baby girl number 3!

Hook On Chair Counter Seat – Ok, so I did not actually have one of these before now, but when I was growing up my Mom did have a couple of them (the super old fashioned ones)! And I have decided that this is the perfect space-saving solution! Goodbye, big clunky high chair!

Boppy Pillow – Not only did I use this for the baby, but I also used it for myself to assist in nursing those first few weeks after my c-sections. The perfect solution to relieving some of the pressure babies places on your abdomen plus it also assists in helping support the baby as you are both learning the ins and outs of nursing.

Formula Dispenser Machine – Do you remember back when we used to warm the babies bottle running it under hot water or in a kettle on the stove?!? Now you can simplify Night-Time feedings with this Formula Dispenser Machine! How COOL is that?!? I am soooo excited about this little gadget!

Bottle Brush and Basket – These two items are essential when it comes to clean up and sanitation. Bonus, you can use them for more than just baby bottles!

Bottles (if you are not choosing to exclusively breastfeed) – If breastfeeding isn’t your thing (and that is completely ok!!) Than you will definitely need to research what bottles are going to be the best option for your baby! Although I did nurse my first two children, I still supplemented with bottle feeding, this time, I will be exclusively bottle feeding! We are going to start out with these bottles made by NUK as those are what has worked the best for me in the past. However, babies can be unpredictable little buggers sometimes, so being open to change is perfectly ok as well!

Nursing Cover – If you are nursing and always cold like me, then you will love to snuggle your little one for that precious bonding time with one of these nursing ponchos. I LOVE that this is such a versatile and multi-use item. Not only is it a nursing cover, but it also doubles as a car seat, stroller and shopping cart cover!

Gripe Water – A colicky baby makes for some extra long and exhausting days and nights for new moms and dads. Gripe water was my saving grace!

Baby Care Essentials

Cotton Gowns With Mittens – I love love LOVED using these cotton gowns. The ease of not fighting zippers and snaps and wiggly little legs for the middle of the night diaper changes was the greatest thing ever! And the built-in it’s will keep babies razor-sharp little nails at bay!

Onesies -Onesies are one of the number one baby clothing items you will purchase and receive as a gift!

Newborn Swaddler – I did not have one of these before (not sure if they even existed yet.) But I can tell you that I am soooo excited to try it out and see if it trumps mastering the receiving blanket burrito wrap!

Special Baby Blanket – In my house we call them “besties” and it is a tradition that goes back to my second from the oldest sister and we have carried on through our own children. Since Besties are a special blanket I like to find one that is going to be a favorite for years to come. I loved the soft and fuzzy look of this one, as well as the wide range of colors!

Receiving Blankets – Receiving blankets are essential, as I use them to tuck in over the top of the crib sheet where the baby’s sweet little head lies, as well as for swaddling. I would suggest having a couple of packs of receiving blankets such as these.

Spit Rags (burp cloths) – You will be wearing plenty of spit up for the next year even with the use of a spit rag! This is a definite necessity, I would encourage you to make sure you have a couple of packs handy!

Diapers – Oh. My. Gosh. SOOOOO many options. Cloth or disposable? Which brand is the most absorbent? Which is the cleanest? How do you know where to even begin. While I couldn’t tell you the first thing about cloth diapers, I can tell you that I have heard amazing things about the advancements they have made since the days when they were the only option! I myself will be sticking with disposable, and for now, starting with the long term reliable brand of pampers baby dry! LOL!

Diaper rash cream – Diaper rash is inevitable. Especially in those first few BM after delivery. I found that I had the best luck with good old fashioned A&D ointment, as it created a great moisture barrier and made wiping up baby a lot easier!

Pacifiers – My suggestion with Pacifiers is to use the same style nipple you have chosen (or your baby has chosen) as you do for bottles! I had the best luck with this style from NUK with my older two kids, however, AVANT and DR. Browns both have great reviews as well.

Bath Time Essentials

Infant Bath – If you are looking for an alternative to the kitchen sink then an infant bath is a must. With lots of alternatives from a sling-style support system to a plastic mini tub, finding what works best for you should be a breeze! I love this blooming lotus infant bath. If you are looking for something more solid then the fisher price 4 n 1 may be just what you are looking for!

Hooded baby bath towels – I feel like these are a must-have! I feel like 4 is the ideal number of towels to have. This way you can keep a good rotation of clean towels on hand without swimming in a sea of baby towels!!