Are you wondering what you need to buy for your newborn and why you need it? I've got you covered. This is my ultimate newborn checklist and what you will need the first 6 months!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of UPPAbaby. The opinions and text are all mine.
The first six months of life with a newborn can be so demanding, rewarding and exhilarating at times. I, for one, have felt very overwhelmed when it came time to build our registry.
I had so many mama friends that were recommending different things and for different reasons. Some of my more conservative friends told me there wasn't much that I really needed. Others, sent me lists so long I needed hours to review everything.
There are so many decisions you are going to be making every single minute of every single day. I thought it would be helpful for me to create a comprehensive list of my first 6-month must haves and tell you *why* I love them!
I will also get into why we use the carseat and stroller system we have now specifically, and how I've never looked back. You will find the entire newborn checklist towards the bottom of this post with links to each product's Amazon page!
Let's first get into why I am so obsessed with the greatness that is the UPPAbaby VISTA stroller system...!
I've done many, many hours of stroller research, I'll be the first to admit. There is a fine line between being informed and overanalyzing, and I teeter totter constantly.
I was so darn gracious that Tim's best friend bought us the City Mini stroller we had on our registry.
What a darn dream. Tim and I have already talked about baby #2 about 3000 times since Sophie was born (and while I was pregnant.)
We have also discussed that we'd most likely like to have our children very close together in ages. I can only imagine how much of a dream it will be to have the ability to have both Sophie and our next babe together in a stroller (that isn't 3 feet wide to boot!)
There are a lot of strollers on the market with the capability of fitting two children, but I love how I can position them vertically instead of next to one another. It will make getting through doorways and nap times MUCH easier.
There are about a million reasons why I love the UPPAbaby VISTA. I've already mentioned that the main reason I wanted it was because of its ability to transform into a 2-baby holding stroller while remaining sleek in looks & size.
Other incredible features include but are not limited to:
Being able to click in your carseat and/or a bassinet!
You can have your child facing forwards OR parent-facing.
The extra sunshade is wonderful, and there is never any blinding sun in her eyes (the bassinet has a sunshade, too!)
The shock absorption is top notch. All of our stroller rides are nice and smooth. It's easy to turn, go up and down hills, over bumpy patches, curbs, etc.
The seat adjustment is very smooth and easy. You can have them facing you (backwards) in a completely seated (90 degree) angel if you want.
This was a game changer for me because sometimes I'd be taking a walk and wouldn't want her to get too relaxed and be lulled to sleep by the motion of the stroller.
It also made it so much easier to interact with her on the-go. We almost exclusively use the parent-facing functionality so I can look at her!
Let's also take a second and chat about infant carseats. There are so many out there on the market. A lot of them are very heavy, which is great in my opinion, because that means they are *quite* sturdy.
The reason I say the MESA isn't necessarily the lightest is because it has integrated features that make it easy and intuitive for parents to use (i.e. SIP headrest adjustment and harness straps are integrated/built-in vs. others!)
It makes them more difficult to lug around, but I am okay with making that sacrifice if it means that my little one is very well protected.
Needless to say, the UPPAbaby MESA Carseat (Henry + Jordan models) are one of THREE carseats currently on the market that passes our country's flammability standards (by using merino wool fabric) and aren't sprayed with toxic flame retardants.
UPPAbaby was actually the first brand to create a naturally fire-retardant carseat. Why should we care about this? Well for one, these flame retardants are capable of having an effect on the development of our children.
How? They can tamper with their hormonal, developmental, reproductive, neurological and immune systems.
Isn't it so awesome that you can get all matchy-matchy with your carseat and stroller as well? I'm completely neurotic in every way when it comes to things looking nice and put together so this was a huge bonus for me.
The carseat itself has lights indicating whether or not you are using it correctly. If you have attached the base properly, the light will flash green. The adjustable headrest is perfect for keeping their heads stationary if you ever experience a collision, accident or unnecessarily bumpy turbulence.
I have also noticed that Sophie does not get terribly sweaty sitting in her carseat like she used to in her other infant seat. The moisture wicking fabric is truly breathable, and I cannot wait to utilize this bad boy in the summer months.
The carseat coupled up with the stroller delivers an ultimate experience full of comfort, performance, convenience and freaking STYLE, am I right?
I'm not sure there is any more that I can ask for. Wait, UPPAbaby- can you start designing cars maybe? I bet those would be phenomenal!
A newborn checklist: the first 6 months!
I've made a list of items that I think will make your first 6 months a lot more comfortable. Sure, I don't think you really NEED all of these things. After all, what more does a baby need than a boob/bottle and some diapers?
However, these are the items I used religiously as I settled into being a new mama. If you have any questions about anything, please don't hesitate to ask me.
I absolutely love connecting with other mamas and chatting about all the things! Without further ado, let's get to this list!
Sleep Essentials
This thing is a game changer. It holds charge for 8 hours, and when Sophie was a newborn, she would constantly be napping on-the-go in the car / in her carseat or stroller. We'd tie this thing on whatever she was sleeping in and voila!
The best noise machine on the market. I learned from our sleep consultant there are only three manufacturers who produce TRUE white noise machines that aren't actually stimulating to brain waves, and this is one of them. This stayed at our house wherever she'd sleep overnight.
Baby Monitor (No Wi-Fi! capabilities!)
I absolutely love this monitor because you are able to use it without Wi-Fi if you choose to. We've never used the Wi-Fi simply because I like to limit the amount of EMF radiation in our home, especially in the nursery where she spends so much time.
Sophie was a swaddle escape artist, but we realized very early on that she did indeed sleep better tightly swaddled. This was the only swaddle she didn't manage to bust out of. It was a game changer for us!
After Sophie started rolling over consistently, we knew we had to transition her out of the swaddle. We started with this one because it kept her feeling somewhat secure but allowed her to use her hands and more easily lift up her head if she was rolling over onto her tummy.
After a few weeks in the Love to Dream Swaddle, Sophie went into this wearable blanket. It kept her warmer during the cold months, and we were still able to incorporate this step into her bedtime routine.Pacifiers
I recommend getting a few different kinds of pacifiers because what your baby likes / dislikes is going to be different than what other mamas swear by.
Sophie never took to a pacifier really. She found her fingers very early on and to this day, just chews on pacifiers. A LOT of babies love them though, and they can be a real game changer for self-soothing.
MAM Pacifier
I found this was the best way to utilize a little bit of soft light during middle of the night feedings or when getting her up from a nap. Because the light source is coming from a salt lamp and not harsh light because it doesn't negatively impact baby's or your sleep patterns.
I will go into further detail about why I love these so much in my sleep training post but to keep things simple, I'll say this. You want their nursery / sleep space to be pitch black during naps / nighttime sleep. We owned blackout curtains, but there was still a generous amount of light coming through. This will make their sleeping environment like a cave. Careful while you walk!
Rock 'n Play
Sophie took the majority of her daytime naps at home in her rock n' play before we transitioned her to the nursery. I love how light it is and portable! It nestles their little bodies perfectly and if you are swaddling them tight, too, they are going to feel great in here!
Deluxe Pack 'n Play (with bassinet attachment)
We co-slept with Sophie in our room the first few months. She wasn't in our bed with us, but I had her within arms reach next to our bed in the bassinet attachment of a pack n' play. It's great because you don't need to buy a separate bassinet and when it's time, you simply remove the bassinet attachment and you have a play yard / portable crib available.
A white noise app for your phone Download the "White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds" app for your phone. If you're in a pinch and have forgotten your portable white noise machine / something isn't working, this will save your butt. I like to use the "brown noise" function and even use it for myself sometimes.
Yes, this has a price tag. I highly, highly, highly recommend it though. If your babe is used to sleeping with total darkness, this will be your best friend on vacations or if you are putting them to sleep in a pack n' play at a friend's or relative's home. It makes their sleep environment completely pitch black (trust me, I've crawled inside and tested it myself!)
Travel
UPPAbaby VISTA I think I've blabbed a fair share about how much I love my stroller. Get all the deets at the top of this post 😉
UPPAbaby MESA Carseat As I mentioned, this free from flame retardants carseat is the real deal. It's completely breathable, sturdy and easy on the eyes. I cannot wait to use it for my second babe.
These are great for car naps or naps on the go in the carseat. They can also double-up as a nursing cover if you want to get a little privacy and are breastfeeding. I have two just in case!
If your stroller doesn't have a built in cup holder / storage area, I recommend grabbing a caddy. I throw my keys, cell phone, sunglasses, water bottle, etc. in here.
Feeding & Supplies
I love how large these burp cloths are. Sophie was a spit-up machine (and still is sometimes), so we'd always make sure to have these in her diaper bag if we were on the go. I'd even always have one tied around her carseat handle just in case.
If you want to pump with both of your hands free, this is the way to do it. I love this bra so much, and it's completely adjustable- you don't need to worry about getting the right size!
This is the pump I chose to use after much research and chatter with other mamas. I love the different settings and how it's compatible with so many different parts and accessories.
These are perfect if you are planning to build a freezer stash!
I've included a storage container for them below that forces them to freeze flat for easier storage!
>
The first few months, Sophie was too small to nurse on the Boppy. The brest friend came everywhere with us. I got two so I could have one in the car since we were on the go a lot, and I'd leave one at home.
After Sophie was about 2 or 3 months old, we transitioned to the boppie. It's great because you can prop them up so many ways on it and use it as a nursing pillow but also for tummy time, sitting with back support, etc.
Miscellaneous
During the newborn stage, this would be the only thing I could use to get Sophie calm or to nap at times. If she was napping in here, I'd always make sure I was nearby to monitor. There's no such thing as a sleep crutch during the first few months. She let me know very clearly when it was time to transition out. The very thing that used to soothe her and let her sleep long was now interrupting her sleep, so the transition out was smooth and easy.
My favorite on-the-go carrier! I also used this around the house a lot as Sophie got older because she wouldn't really sleep in it. It's a bit more sturdy and will keep your babe in a more steady position than a sling carrier or wrap.
I love this sling because I would even use it for nursing or when I wanted Sophie to sleep on me. It was great for relaxing on the couch at home because she could settle into a more relaxed position than in the Ergo.
Diapering & Bath Items
We tried several eco-friendly diapers before transitioning to cloth. These are by far our favorite for Sophie. For the first 6 months, she'd have A LOT of blowouts. Her blowouts tended to go up the back and out, and these diapers were the best at containing them. The absorption is awesome on them, too!
Cloth Diapers
I will write an entirely separate post dedicated to transitioning from disposable to cloth diapers. I will chat about why we did it, which brands were our favorite and why, how to maintain proper care of your cloth diapers, proper usage, washing routines and general upkeep, etc.
We've exclusively used water wipes and for good reason. They are so gentle on our babies' sensitive bottoms, and I love the clean 2-ingredient long list. I highly recommend them!
I can fit all 22 of our cloth diapers on this rack. It's very light weight and easy to put together and take down. I like to take it outside and leave it in the sun, too.
A game changer for cloth diapering. When you are spraying any waste off into the toilet, you'll get some splash back (sometimes right in the face!) To protect yourself, you clip the diaper into this contraption, and you are kept SAFE. Less mess is a win!
I really wanted to find a non-toxic diaper cream that worked well, and this one is my favorite so far. Their entire product line is great, but their diaper cream is really top notch. I love the consistency, and it combats redness very quickly.
Body Oil
This is an oil we rub all over her belly every night and any drier areas. I love that it's made with all natural ingredients- it's so gentle and hydrating.
Burt's Bees Multipurpose Ointment
A great all purpose ointment. We use it for especially dry areas that need some extra TLC after the body oil.
Organic Bamboo Baby Washcloths
These are very soft washcloths that we have been using during bath time since day one. I highly recommend them!
We love and STILL use this bath tub. We were using it over the kitchen sink up until she was about 6 months old. We transitioned it upstairs into the main bath tub and have simply flipped it around so she is sitting and not reclining back.
We have a few of these, and they are so darn soft and perfect for after bath time.
We have found these nail clippers to be very effective. Usually, I'll do her nails / toes while she is in the bathtub and nice and relaxed. The first few weeks, we'd exclusively use the file.
This thermometer is AWESOME. I love that I don't have to stick anything inside anywhere, haha.
In my opinion, this is one of the best diapers bags you can get at such a low price point. My only complaint is that I can't open it well with one hand, but otherwise it's amazing. It has so many different compartments, and it's really easy to get organized with it.
Diaper Changing Pad
When you are on the go and need to change a diaper, you are going to want to create as clean of a changing environment as possible, and this is the way to do it. I love this thing because you can store diaper cream, wipes in it, etc. It's also very long and wide (once completely unfolded) so it's perfect as they become bigger and older, too.
Clothes, Etc.
Sophie lived in these onesies the first few months. It was summer when she was born, so she was either exclusively in a diaper or wearing one of these soft, organic onesies.
We have (3) warmer blankets that also double up as swaddles the first few months. These are a great option to use and throw over them in their carseat/stroller, too!
Make sure you have a few varieties of swaddle blankets. We stuck to our Ollie once we got it, but we didn't discover it until she was about 8 weeks old. We also used swaddle blankets if it was in the wash.
Well, that's a wrap! Those are my first six months must-haves and needs, and I hope you absolutely love them.
Please reach out to me directly with any questions about any items on this newborn checklist.
Happy shopping!
JC says
Guessing this has not been updated recently given that the rock n play has been recalled because it’s dangerous. Your website seems to be popular. Would you consider taking it off of your list of recommended products?