Gearing up for baby! My recommendations - including what is great to get second hand

I've had a few friends ask me for my baby gear thoughts over the years, and I've been slowly adding them to a google doc. I thought I'd make a post so anyone could benefit from my hindsight! We have 2 kids, Everett (6) and Margo (18 months) and I've learned a lot, especially after kid #2. Buckle up because this is LONG.

General thoughts... things you won't use very long are great to find second hand! And that way you can sell it or give it away and not have to store it. For example: bouncer chair (we loved the baby bjorn, great up till like 8 months), crib, bassinet/pack n play, play mat, infant car seat, swing (although I would recommend a bouncer over a swing), changing table (we just use a dresser with a pad on top), baby carriers... my favorite carrier for when they are little is the baby ktan (up to 5 months or so) and the baby bjorn more structured carrier when they are 6 months and up. Carriers are SO expensive new and quite cheap on Facebook marketplace! I have found that after giving something away, it finds its way back to me if I need it, or it finds its way to another friend. Or something else I need finds its way to me.

Other big ticket thoughts: This chair changed my life. My sister got a killer deal on it used for me! I will never go back to a non power chair!

A bassinet that can rock a bit manually is a good option for the first couple months! A friend got this one and loved it! I clued into that too late with Margo. Margo’s bassinet (we used one that connects to a pack n play) could move a tiny and that helped but this would’ve been better. 

Pack n play - we bought this one this time around. The 4moms Breeze is similar, that brand pops up more often on FB Marketplace. Our old one was really hard to set up/pack up. And it didn't have a bassinet. This one does both! Be warned it's bigger than the standard pack n play and uses bigger sheets and mattress pad

Stroller - we consult Wire Cutter for everything and they have a great article for full sized strollers. I suggest trying a few out at Target or Nordstrom. I had an old Baby Jogger Wire Cutter pick from Everett’s day that had a bassinet that could click into it, and the car seat (we had a Graco) could also click in but they no longer recommend that one since they don't make it anymore. I stuck with it for Margo only because we already had it, but the bassinet was killing me taking up my entire trunk space! If I could have started over, I would have gotten the UPPAbaby Minu V3 (Wire Cutter's travel stroller pick) since you don't need a separate bassinet, it packs down super small, and you can also click a carseat into it. It's pricey but not as much as the other full size UPPAbaby strollers and still does the job. They say it isn't great if you want to use it for running though, and you can't attach another seat for an older child like some of the full sized ones, FYI. I keep my stroller in the back of my car and having it fold up small is a game changer. With Ev being so much older, I didn't want to bother with a double. Strollers often come up second hand on FB Marketplace and I would keep an eye for sure but new is nice. Make sure to put it on your registry as a group gift and then later you can use your discount to purchase it! Same for a car seat that is compatible.

We didn't have a great way to install a mirror in the car and it was always in the way where we had to put it for Everett, so we got this camera for Margo!! It's been WAY better than a mirror. If you want a mirror, get one that lights up.

I use these liners on top of the changing pad. So absorbent, way better than using just a sheet. 

I love the OXO wipes dispenser, it makes it easy to pull the wipes with one hand!! Kirkland wipes are my fav. I like the Pampers sensitive wipes too.

Diapers! Pampers swaddlers ALL DAY! I got a box this big of newborn size and it lasted almost 3 weeks which is how long Margo needed them until she sized up. Don’t let whoever throws you a shower have the people bring random diapers. It’s too hard to store that many at once. Have them do a diaper fund instead.

We only use aquaphor for diaper cream, never needed anything else. I keep tiny ones for the backpack.

Diaper caddy! I like the option of pockets on the outside.

Monitor - we have the older model of this one and it's still great!

Bath stuff - rags, foldable tub, towels (skip the infant ones and go for toddler ones), rinser, I like Aveeno soap with a pump (always think of things that are easier with one hand!!!) and this lotion. BEST clippers! (nail buffer didn't work great for us) Cute brush and comb.

Clothes - Everett used newborn size for about a month, Margo about 3 weeks. Similar for diapers. They were both around 8lbs when they were born. I pretty much only put them in footie jammies the first month! Get them in every size!!! And the 5 pack is great, you'll go through them all. If you don't have a washer and dryer in unit, get even more! If you want onesies, I much prefer the kimono style onesies for newborn and 0-3... I went back to the regular ones when Margo was a bit older like 6 months. You'll want baby hats. I also like rompers for when they get a bit older. 

Babies are always kicking their socks off... these booties stay on a bit better! You still will want some tiny socks though. But honestly just using footed sleepers is easier than dealing with socks. 

Burp cloths with different colors/patterns help you keep straight what is clean/dirty.

I love these swaddle blankets. Everett still sleeps with one of his! But for wrapping baby up for sleeping I prefer a velcro swaddle. We were not great at wrapping up a traditional swaddle and these we much preferred! I even brought a couple to the hospital for Margo. After 2 months or so you switch to sleep sacks. I would splurge for these!! Otherwise you need a million sleep sacks in different weights and sizes and no one has space for that! I have gotten a couple off of Poshmark about half off :)

Sound machines! This one in the bedroom and this one on the go. I took the portable one to the hospital and kept it in the car for a while!! There is a popular one out there that is a sound machine/light combo called the Hatch. We had it for a while with Ev but it's too high pitched for me, the others have a better brown noise.

I like this egg light with a dock. Also brought it to the hospital! It gets really dim, perfect for the middle of the night. The nurses in the hospital thought I was a genius.

Nursing tops for the hospital and after. I preferred switching to a normal shirt with a pull aside nursing bra a few weeks in but the tanks are really nice for at first. (I have lots of advice for what to bring to the hospital, I have a feeling that will be a separate blog post) Bring a cardigan to put over, I was always a bit cold in the hospital. I have other bras I like better for during the day/out and about but I hate dealing with clips at night. 

Bottles! These are the BEST! They are from the parent company of Lansinoh, and have a slow flow nipple which helps with going back and forth with breastfeeding (even if you don't end up breastfeeding they work well!). They are glass so they don’t fly around in the dishwasher. I recommend starting a bottle around 2 weeks and keep offering one every couple of days. You have to pump each time you do a bottle which is annoying. I've been using my hand pump the most lately (fits onto the bottles above!!). Although at work I use my wall pump (plugs in). In the hospital if you need to pump after giving birth (I did with Everett and wasn't mentally prepared) they might lend you a wall pump, or they might give you a hand pump. Pumping is a big learning curve and I recommend getting familiar with whatever one you are going to get before baby arrives!

You're bound to have to hand wash some bottles/parts, pump parts, and this rack is the best. Bottle brush is helpful too! You're supposed to sterilize once a day at first. I like this soap for handwashing.

I needed this pillow in order to breastfeed and would have been lost without it! I brought it to the hospital with me with for Margo and it was a game changer! I like it for on the couch, but in the recliner in the nursery I use the boppy and that works well there. Often cheap on marketplace. Extra covers! PS This is my fav nipple cream! Make sure to use these or these in your bra or the cream leaves stains... and they'll help when your milk comes in and you leak. 

I like these milk catchers to help build a stash (you put it on the side you already fed off of first thing in the morning and you can start getting a bit extra milk to freeze in bags).

I also love this breastfeeding cover for out and about. 

Diaper bag! This is a tough one! Think lots of pockets and a zipper you can close with one hand. Although more pockets isn’t always helpful because when you start filling the little pockets, it can eat into the main space of the bag and it gets weird. I have tried a few bags and settled on this one! I like having the crossbody strap for when I’m changing a diaper in a public bathroom and there is nowhere to set the diaper bag down. I also like that it can be worn as a backpack.  

For the diaper bag, I keep little trash bags in a dispenser for when there’s a dirty diaper or clothes get dirty! I like the refill bags from the same brand. 

You'll want a thermometer! And a nose aspirator! Use these drops with the aspirator. Really helps. We also use a humidifier. We like how this one shuts off automatically. 

BEST bibs! Although you don't need to start solids till about 6 months. High chair info!

Handprints that are not messy! Frame option.

Pacifiers are tough because you never know which ones they'll take… we had good success with these and we like these clips!

 

Tummy time option!

Ev loved this thing when he was teething. Strap it to anywhere with these.

Babes need vitamin D drops if they are breast fed. I didn't know that till later!

Laundry detergent! And best stain remover.

I was starving and thirsty at every moment with the breastfeeding! I recommend these clear cups so that your husband can tell when your water is low and refill you. One for by the couch, in the kitchen, by your bed. These are my fav snacks right now! Oats are good for milk supply, bring them to the hospital!

If you made it this far, congrats!!!!!!!!!!