Baby Must-Haves, Nice-to-Haves, & Non-Essentials

It's been almost two months since my little wiggler joined our family. I won't sugar coat it - the first week was really hard, the next three were even harder. By the end of the first month, I thought I'd had some things figured out... and then more trials appeared.

But that's life, right?

Before Evie joined our family, I got a lot of really good advice from family, friends, and even random acquaintances of what would help my transition into parenthood be as smooth as possible. A lot of it worked...

And a lot of it didn't.

Based on my experience as a new mother, here are the absolute must-haves, nice-to-haves, and non-essential items that you may wonder if you need before you turn the page into the parenthood chapter of your life.

Baby Must-Haves

• White Noise Machine: If you don't get one of these for a shower, buy it yourself. When your baby cries inconsolably, you don't want to have to then go find one. I love this one from Bed, Bath, & Beyond.

• Swaddle Sack: This is basically a swaddle blanket it for the incompetent (that's me!). I was awful at swaddling when Evie first got here and I didn't have much time to sit and practice. The swaddle sack helps you to swaddle your baby tightly while leaving her legs free to kick and move (which is a safe swaddling practice to avoid giving baby hip problems later in life).
   
• Dermoplast: This is a first aid spray to help healing "down under" especially if you had an episiotomy or tear. I had a third degree so this was a lifeline the first 3 weeks after delivery. Most hospitals will give you this, but if they don't, buy it for yourself.
• Variety of Pacifiers: You never know what baby is going to like - a Soothie or a Nuk pacifier. This is another item you don't want to find yourself without when baby decides to have a meltdown so stock up on a variety until you know what she likes.
• "Easy Access" Robe: For those first few nights at home where baby wakes up every hour and you're just sore from top to bottom. An "easy access" robe isn't the most flattering, but makes nursing much more efficient if you aren't having to worry about all those layers of your cute PJs.
• Cotton disposable nursing pads: I liked these much better than the cotton washable pads you can try. The washable pads always left fuzzies behind which baby wasn't too fond of when she was trying to eat. I still need to try Lily Padz.
• Lanolin Cream: This is another item the hospital should give you, but if they don't, buy it before baby comes. Lanolin cream helps to keep your nipples naturally moist to avoid cracking and bleeding from the uncomfortable sensation that comes when you first start nursing.
• A LOT of stocked diapers and wipes: We purchased over 500 newborn diapers before Evie arrived (much to the shock and mocking of some people). Four weeks into life with a newborn and we had used every single one and had to buy more! That's what happens when your baby decides to be a stinker and waits to piddle until you've switched the diaper under her to a clean one, and then waits again until there's a clean canvas to poop all while you're still wiping!

Baby Nice-to-Haves

• Yoga Ball: In my book, this is essential. But you can also get away with standing up and holding baby while doing very deep, very swaying bounces. It's just very tiring. 

• Bouncer/Baby Swing: Of course you can hold baby whenever she's awake, but a bouncer or swing is nice to have to set your baby down when you need your hands for a quick minute.
• Tuck's Hemorrhoid Wipes: The hospital should give you these. I wouldn't buy more wipes than what they give you. At least for me (with a third degree tear), I stopped using them about a week after I got home from the hospital.
• Nipple Shields: These can be very helpful if you struggle with breastfeeding at the beginning. They can help perk you up so baby has something to latch onto. I made the mistake of using the shields during the entire nursing session because it also reduced the pain. Pretty soon I was bleeding and contaminating Evie's food supply with blood. So beware of using them TOO much, if you decide to use them.
• Liquid Formula (individual bottles): The hospital gave us Similac liquid formula when we left the hospital because they were worried about how much weight Evie was losing (she gained it all back and then some by her 5 day doctor appointment). We keep these on hand and use them for emergencies (no pumped milk available, Evie refuses to nurse via breast for some reason, or even to top her off while we waited for my milk to come in). 

Baby Non-Essentials
I've thought about all of these items for awhile and let's be honest. Nothing is non-essential when it comes to your baby. If it works for you, then it is essential.

What baby items do you consider essential?