Alright mommas, let’s get down to some preparation business! It’s no secret that it is essential that we prepare for our babies with a lot of new products and new knowledge.
Everything from baby-proofing the house…
to decorating the baby room…
and of course, learning the daily challenges of parenting step by step…
amoungst everything else that you will learn in a minute of giving birth.
But honestly, a lot of us over prepare for our babies with a lot of unnecessary products we don’t really need (that society makes us believe we do).
Not only does this consume space,
But it also goes to waste and throws a lot more money down the drain than we need to (especially right now at the start of our parenting!).
I want to clarify a few essentials and a few things that can be put on hold for our babies specifically in the first 2 months of having a newborn. So put your credit card down, lean back (have a sip of that coffee – I got you, girl), and lets talk about a few things you DEFINITELY need and a few things you don’t for the first two months with a newborn!
MUST READ: Your two and only priorities will be feeding and sleep. Up until now, we have shared too much on our blog about breastfeeding (but don’t worry, we will, stay tuned!), but I’ve teamed up today with Alexa over at ThePowerfulMama.com and her honest and real blog post about breastfeeding after giving birth and in the first few months. If you are are new mom, here reading this, you are not alone. Please head over to Alexa’s blog and read her Breastfeeding Troubles blog post here.
So talking about the newborn stage, in the first few months of bringing your newborn home, it’s more about establishing a relationship with your precious newborn, learning how to breastfeed or bottle-feed properly and establishing a successful sleep routine (for both you and baby), rather than going out and buying a zillion products that you think will help you (save that for later on!).
This includes establishing the sleep training methods that fit with you, your lifestyle and your baby. As HotandSourBlog explains, there is many different sleep training techniques that you can use, which you can read more about here. However my #1 recommendation is to find the method that works best for you!
Products You Need in the First 2 Months
1 ♥ Lather Up With Nipple Cream
Alright mama, before we talk about what the babies need, what and who do you think we need to think about first?
YOU
Chances are you’re going to be doing a lot of breastfeeding, and that means it’s an extremely good idea to invest in a nipple cream. Breastfeeding can lead to very dry skin and sores that are very uncomfortable, and a nipple cream can help relieve this pain…
Immensely.
My favorite cream to use is Lansinoh, because it is incredibly soothing, and always helps me feel instant relief. I like to use this everyday after breastfeeding, and I can honestly say it has made my life so much easier. I would highly recommend you give it a try yourself before you even get to the point where you truly need it (because honey, this cream is magic!).
There is also a few others that are recommended by other moms, be sure to check out this amazing mom blogger over at HeySunnyJess for more breastfeeding essentials and tips in her awesome blog post here. She also shares some really heartfelt and valuable information about postpartum care, depression and body acceptance. Be sure to check out her blog out.
2 ♥ Pump It Up With A Breast Pump
Yes let’s talk about breasts again. Let’s face it, if you choose the breastfeeding option, they will be used….
And used, a lot!
A lot of women after giving birth suffer from very painful breasts that are heavy and engorged with breast milk, so using a breast pump is ideal for helping to release this pain quickly. Pumps can also be a very good way to save time by bottling up milk beforehand.
My favorite breast pump to use is Spectra Baby electric pump, as it gets more milk out in literally half the time of a manual, and I don’t have to spend hours doing i! And, not to mention, it’s electric, which means you can sit back, do your nails, and not have to worry about pumping it yourself forever (um, did someone say – serenity?).
For a real and raw experience of what it’s really like in the first few days of giving birth, please go over and check out Jasmine’s blog, themadrediaries, a blog that focuses on motherhood and in particular her blog post about the first few days after birth.
3 ♥ Get Cozy With Cloth Diapers
Obviously, now more than ever is the time to grab all the diapers you can (and hope for the best), but we highly recommend you get cloth diapers instead of disposables.
Why? We actually wrote a blog post in the past about why we love cloth diapers more than any other (which you can read here), that will help you make the right choice about which way to go in your diaper journey.
But honestly, even if you just try these little cloth angels and don’t stick with them, they are going to save you tons of money right now and in the future, and make clean up much easier (so who’s the real winner?).
Our go-to cloth diaper has always been Gro-Via, as it is truly an ‘all-in-one’ diaper, and holds soak unlike any other we’ve ever used (and trust me, my baby are the heaviest soakers around, so this is a dream come true!).
4 ♥ Switch To Gentle Baby Shampoo
Now is also the time to invest in a baby-safe shampoo so that your little one doesn’t have any reactions.
Helpful Tip: One of Zoe’s babies had a terrible reaction (which you can read here) in the past to one of the common ‘baby’ shampoos on the market, and it resulted in bright red skin and hives, and that’s definitely not something any mama wants to see!
For this reason, we’ve done a lot of research, and would highly recommend Mustela Cleansing Gel, as it is safe, effective, and nothing but all natural ingredients! Our babies have not once had a reaction to this brand and that makes me a happy mama!
Sidenote: For cradle cap, Aveda is a popular product used by many moms. You can read more about it via Stephanie’s blog and her article about the First Month With A Newborn. Check it out for her experience with cradle cap and also colic which you will sure encounter in the first few months of having a baby.
5 ♥ Always Use Baby Safe Laundry Detergent
On top of the baby safe shampoo, it’s also time to pick up a safe laundry detergent that they won’t have a reaction to.
And NO, just because a laundry detergent has an image of a baby on it, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s safe for babies. We have written about this in our blog post here.
Babies have such sensitive skin, so we have to be incredibly conservative with what we use on it and on their clothing. Whether it’s cloth diapers or outfits, my go-to detergent for ensuring they are protected and allergen free has always been Tide as it is safe, gentle, but still has the power to fight terrible and heavy stains (100 mom points!).
6 ♥ Find A Comfy Sling
Now that you have a baby, you’re going to take them with you everywhere…unless you get a nanny or have grandma hook you up… Believe it or not, they can get exhausting for you to hold (even when they are such a tiny size and weight), so it’s a good idea for you to get a sling.
And the best part about it is you can use it for much longer than just a month or so, as your baby can fit in there for quite some time (so you’ll be saving all the moolah!).
My favorite sling that I’ve used for all my children is by Keababies, as it is extremely stretchy which compensates for growth, and fits babies of all sizes (even my little boy that came out looking like a football player!).
Sidenote: For some other higher priced gear and equipment you will need, more so from newborn to 6 months, I can’t recommend enough Heather’s amazing mommy blog called Polyglotjot and in particular her blog post about her Baby Favorites: 0-6 Months. Check it out for more things you need!
Products You Don’t Need (Just Yet)
1 ♥ Say No To Baby Shoes
As cute as those little baby shoes are, realistically, your baby isn’t going to use them. Babies don’t start walking for quite some time, and buying shoes right now is pretty much going to be a a waste, as they will quickly outgrow them before even using them.
Instead, just focus on the necessities you really need right now, and save up money for all the cute little things to buy along the way when the time is right!
Amanda from amandasiggins.com totally agrees with me to in her blog post about essentials and non-essentials from a 3x mom (like our very own Zoe here at thinkbaby), unless you are getting professional photos done, baby shoes are simply not needed (yet!). If you still can’t resist buying baby shoes, her advice (and mine) is to just restrain and buy one pair, either white or tan.
2 ♥ Hold Off On The Baby Food
Something that a lot of parents stock up on before bringing home their newborn is baby food. And while this is a good idea quite a ways down the line in the future, this isn’t the biggest priority right now, as babies won’t start eating this food for a while.
I also usually prefer to cook my own baby food anyway and mash myself so I know exactly what’s in it and I can save money as well.
For this, I like to refer to the book, The Big Book of Organic Baby Food by Stephanie Middlberg, as it has all the necessary (and organic) recipes you need for making your own baby food, and I would highly recommend you have a glance yourself as you might be surprised at how handy it is!
Also, when the time does come for baby food, take a look at my friend, dearlovlies blog, as she talks about her favorite go-to baby food products that will be a great help to you!
3 ♥ Find A Changing Table Alternative
I honestly don’t like traditional change tables, I always opt for a change table dresser as it can be later used as a set of drawers for your toddler and adult room. I prefer to invest my money into a good quality baby crib or bassinet or co-sleeper (or even a moses basket if that suits your fancy).
If you can’t afford or don’t have the space for a change table, at least not in the beginning, instead, I always like to use changing pads, as they are cheap, get the job done just as good, and are portable (bazinga!).
So, if you’re considering this, have a look at Crystal baby changing pad, as it is affordable, and extremely easy to use. I can guarantee you will never have to replace this durable little beauty, as I’ve had mine for years!
Overall, there any many different products that you can get and use for your baby, but the best thing to do is start with the basics and gradually add on. I would highly suggest you be on the lookout for these products mentioned above, and ask yourself if it is really necessary right now before you buy it. That will help you to not only save time and space, but make you and your little one happy as well!
