12 Things You’ll Be Glad You Bought for the Newborn Stage

Your shopping list shouldn’t be all baby stuff—if you’re giving birth, make sure you stock up on some things to keep yourself comfortable afterward. We swear by this upside-down peri bottle, which is much easier to maneuver than the regular peri bottles we’ve received in the hospital. You can use it to rinse your vaginal area after birth, whether you have a vaginal birth or a C-section. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

This is generally our number one product recommendation for new parents: so simple, but truly so useful. Keep in mind that it should never be used for sleep—it’s a place to let the baby sit during the day while you cook, do laundry, or try to “relax” (we know, pretty much impossible). You can add a toy bar to keep the little one entertained, and if the chair cover gets dirty (which it will, since something about this chair seems to really encourage diaper blowouts), you can just throw it in the wash. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

If you plan to breastfeed, it’s worth stocking up on a few things you might need right away. This cream is basic and not too expensive, and if you have pain or difficulty in those early days at home, you’ll be happy to have it on hand. It soothes cracked skin and doesn’t have to be wiped off before feeding. If you’re lucky enough to never end up needing it, just pass it on to another mom who might. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

This carrier is a happy medium between traditional slings (which can be surprisingly hard to master) and bigger baby carriers that feel too roomy for your newborn. Super-soft and designed to work from day one until around your baby’s first birthday, it’s comfortable and washable too. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

Well, maybe not easy, but easier. Swaddling with a regular blanket can be kind of tricky, so we love these Halo sleepsack swaddles that make it very easy with the use of Velcro. When it’s time to stop swaddling, you can keep using the same sleepsack, just with arms out—then eventually transition to the Velcro-free version. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

Cutting an infant’s nails with a regular old nail clipper can be terrifying. Enter the electric nail file, which gently buffs nails down, no cutting required. This one comes with four different pads (ultra-fine to ultra-gritty) that you can switch out as your baby grows. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

We like to throw a few of these in the diaper bag, in case there’s a poopmergency with no changing table in sight (or even for use on top of public changing tables). But we’ve been known to use them at home, too, if we think a diaper change is going to be especially messy. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

Prepare to spend a lot more money than you probably ever expected on something that looks like cream cheese for your baby’s butt. It may take some trial and error to find the right diaper cream for your kid, but in the face of bad diaper rash, this zinc oxide-based cream has never let us down. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

If you prefer not to apply diaper paste directly with your fingers, you’re not alone. That’s exactly why this diaper cream spatula was invented. Use one end to apply the cream, and the other (which has a suction base) to keep it on the diaper table. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

With the Nanit monitor, you can stream the live feed of your baby’s crib to a phone or tablet (with options for caregivers, grandparents, etc., to stream too), and wake up every morning to a summary of your baby’s sleep…or lack thereof. If your baby’s bassinet or crib is likely to move around a bit during the first year, opt for the floor stand over the wall mount. ($299+, Nanit)

Otherwise known as your one-stop shop for baby and toddler sleep. The Nestig Wave crib is simple, elegant, and designed to adapt to your changing needs. You can use it from day one as a mini crib, then expand it into a full crib, and take the sides off to use it as a toddler bed down the road. The bassinet and crib versions can be built with or without wheels, meaning it’s great if you think you’ll want to move the baby between a few rooms, too. Note that the mini crib is not a standard size, so you may want to pick up some custom sheets as well.($749, Nestig)

First-time parents are often surprised by just how much time they spend washing things: bottles, pump parts, pacifiers, you name it. If you want to cut down on some of the work involved, while still making sure each of those things stays super clean, consider this gadget that can wash, sterilize, and/or dry everything that’s piling up on the side of the sink. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)