• Home
  • About
    • Contributors
    • Disclosure Policy
  • Green Your Life
  • Contact
  • Advertising

Live Renewed

Live with Compassion. Care for Creation. Impact your World!

  • Green Living
  • Family & Children
  • Impact Your World
  • Simple Living
  • Renew Your Life

My Essential Baby Gear for the Newborn Stage

August 28, 2012 By Emily McClements
Thank you for supporting this site with purchases made through links in this post.

Ready to remove toxic cleaners from your home? Find out how!

Essential Baby Gear for the Newborn Stage

My baby, Blair, is now 10 weeks old, and with her being my third babe, I think I finally have a pretty good handle on the essentials that make these newborn days just a little bit easier for me.

I have to be honest, I know this isn’t true for everyone, but I absolutely love the newborn stage. I love them all small, and snugly, and sleepy. And it is such a short stage and goes by more quickly with each baby that we’ve added to our family, so I want to cherish it as much as I can.

I guess I’m lucky because I’ve had pretty easy babies, and Blair has definitely been the easiest of all. It remains to be seen if that’s more her personality, or if it’s just the product of being the third child.

I’m not a fan of having lots of baby gear, and even though she’s an easy baby, there are still several things that I feel like I couldn’t live without during this newborn stage. These are the things that I have found to be essential and what has worked for me. If these items don’t fit well with your life, then pass them up, and find the things that make your life with your little one easiest for you.

My Essential Baby Gear for the Newborn Stage

Essential Baby Gear for the Newborn Stage

Blueberry picking with Blair in the Baby Hawk.

Moby Wrap & Baby Hawk

I couldn’t choose just one, but basically a baby carrier of this type is one thing I would not go without. These make the biggest difference in making the newborn stage easy for me.

Baby is tired and needs to sleep, but you need to get stuff done – put them in the baby carrier instead of rocking them to sleep, baby is fussy and colicky – put them in the baby carrier and they will calm right down.

You need to run errands, or want to go out and do stuff like go blueberry picking, go to the beach, or to the park with your kids but you’re not sure what to do with your baby, or want to keep nosy people from getting in the baby’s face – put them in the carrier and you will almost forget that they are there with you – except for the curious look that you get from strangers who haven’t seen this type of baby carrier before.

These baby carriers are so perfect for every situation with a new baby, if you can only get one item on this whole list, get a baby carrier – you will not regret it! I’ll also be sharing more about babywearing with a newborn soon!

Nursing nightgown

This is one you want to have on hand as soon as the baby is born. I put mine on right after Blair was born and it’s so nice that it covers everything up while still being super comfortable and making nursing easily accessible.

If you’re having a hospital birth, you definitely want to take a nursing nightgown with you to the hospital, they are so much more comfy, and flattering for pictures, than those ugly, scratchy hospital gowns! I have two and still sleep in them, just because they’re so easy for nighttime nursing.

Bravado Nursing Tanks

These are absolutely essential for wearing during the early days and weeks when you are nursing on and off all day long. You can get cheaper ones at Target and they are okay, but I love my Bravado ones because they have a built-in bra and are much more supportive and don’t give me the uni-boob look like the ones with just a shelf bra do. They are well worth the price in my opinion, because I basically wear one every single day for at least a year.

I prefer nursing tanks over nursing bras because they cover up your tummy and back love-handles while your nursing, (or am I the only one that has those?) They easily latch and unlatch with just one hand for when you’re holding the baby and they’re squirmy and fussy because they want to Eat. Right. Now. Get several tanks in neutral colors and wear them under everything.

 

Essential Baby Gear for the Newborn Stage

My daughter took this picture during the early weeks

My Brest Friend Nursing Pillow

This was a new one for me this time around. I had previously used a Boppy nursing pillow, but after Blair was born I couldn’t find it  (I must have lent it to someone, but I can’t remember who). Anyway, I bought a My Brest Friend pillow used because I had heard good things about them, and yes, it is so much better.

It provides more support for my arms, holds the baby right up at the breast without sliding down, and also supports my back. I usually have a really hard time with a having a sore back for the first few months, but the My Brest Friend Pillow has totally eliminated that.

Newborn size cloth diapers

It may seem like a waste of money to buy the newborn size of cloth diapers because they are so small and can only be worn for anywhere from a few weeks to two months, depending on how fast your baby grows. But, if you want to cloth diaper your baby from the beginning, you’ll definitely want to invest in some newborn sized diapers.

I have found that the one-size diapers just don’t fit well until the baby is at least 10 pounds. When they are first born their thighs are so skinny and newborn diapers are designed to fit their skinny thighs, and fit below their umbilical cord. We’ll talk more about cloth diapering a newborn next week and I’ll share what kind of diapers I recommend.

Muslin blankets

These are also a new thing that I’ve had with Blair that I didn’t with my others and really wish I would have. They are just the softest blankets and a great for everything from swaddling to using as a lightweight nursing cover.

I use mine most often, though, as a burp cloth, and they have pretty much completely replaced traditional diaper style burp cloths for me. They are bigger, so they cover more of your body helping to keep spit-up on the blanket and not on your clothes, and they’re also big enough that they don’t get completely soaked with one round of spitting up, so you can use them throughout the day before they need to be washed.

Essential Baby Gear for the Newborn Stage

Bouncy seat

Sometimes though, you do need to set the baby down, and sometimes they even like to sit down and watch the world around them. You could lay your baby on the floor, but with two (sometimes wild) older siblings and a big dog, I don’t feel super comfortable with that (not because the dog will do anything to the baby, but mostly because my floor usually has at least a fine dusting of dog hair on it).

The bouncy chair is perfect because it doesn’t take up a lot of space the way a swing does, doesn’t require batteries, and you can easily move it from room to room to keep the baby close to where you are. You don’t need a fancy bouncy chair with lots of toys attached either. My babies have been perfectly happy to watch the ceiling fan spin around, or just to watch their older siblings – they are the most entertaining.

And here are a few more things that I know are not exactly essential, but are still really nice to have.

Essential Baby Gear for the Newborn Stage

Nursing at the Beach on Vacation!

Nursing cover

You can use a blanket, but I really love my nursing cover because it has the curved open neckline at the top that makes it easy to see my baby, and help her latch on, while still keeping covered up. In the early days of nursing it can be a little tricky to get the baby latched on correctly, and I find that trying to keep a blanket covering me while also needing both hands to help my baby latch on, can be quite difficult.

With my oldest daughter I pumped a lot and would usually give her a bottle when out in public because I didn’t feel so comfortable nursing, but with my son, and now Blair, I haven’t pumped at all – I just use my nursing cover and nurse wherever I need to, feeling confident that I’m covered up.

Bassinet or Co-Sleeper

It is our preference that our babies sleep in our room until they are around six months old. I would really love to have one of the bedside co-sleepers, but we were given a bassinet from my in-laws and have used that with all our babies and it works fine for us.

It makes nighttime nursing so much easier because I don’t have to get up and go in the other room when the babe wakes up and wants to eat. We put the baby down to sleep for her naps in her bassinet, and when she first goes to sleep at night she sleeps in it, until she wakes up and then she sleeps in bed with me for the rest of the night so I can nurse her as needed.

So, those are my essential items for the newborn stage. Again, they may not be for everyone, but they’ve worked for me! And as with most things, if you can buy any of these things used, borrow them from a friend, or get them as hand-me-downs – go for it! They may be essential, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to buy them new!

What would you add to, or take away from, my list?

Green Leaf Living

This post is brought to you by our August sponsor Green Leaf Living. They feature handmade bath, beauty, and green living products including hard lotion bars, laundry soap, wool dryer balls and reusable cotton sandwich and snack bags! Check out Green Leaf Living to see all of their great products, and don’t forget to enter the giveaway to win your own solid lotion bar and lip balm from Green Leaf Living this week!

If you’d like to learn more about living green and living frugally I’d love to have you as a Live Renewed reader! You can subscribe, either by email or in a reader, to get the latest posts, ideas and inspiration for living frugally green. You can also connect with me on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest!

*Disclosure – There are affiliate links in this post.  If you make a purchase through one of my links, I’ll receive a small commission. Thanks for supporting Live Renewed!

13 CommentsFiled Under: Family & Children, Green Living Tagged With: baby, cloth diapers, family

natural remedies for baby blues8 Natural Remedies for Postpartum Baby Blues Default ThumbnailTaking off the Baby Weight Are you intrigued by the idea of using cloth diapers for your baby? Are you unsure how cloth diaper would fit into your daily routine, or how you would realistically use them day to day? This post walks you though the ins and outs of using cloth diapers in your daily life.How to Use Cloth Diapers in Your Daily Life Default ThumbnailJune’s Change Challenge – Frugally Green Baby Care

Comments

  1. Danielle says

    August 28, 2012 at 7:12 pm

    I completely agree with all of your essentials! Great List! And SUPER adorable baby girl! 🙂

    Danielle

    Reply
  2. Southern Gal says

    August 28, 2012 at 7:40 pm

    My daughter just had her second baby last month and uses almost everything you’ve listed here. I made her a nursing cover with boning in the front for the curve. And the newborn cloth diapers are definitely a must. She used prefolds and the newborn covers worked beautifully with them. I think you’ve covered it all well.

    Reply
  3. Kate E. says

    August 28, 2012 at 9:16 pm

    I love my Moby wrap until they are about 6 months old. Then they get to heavy for me to carry around all of the time! (I’ve bought a different type of wrap to try for after that–similar to mei tei.) Its also nice to not have to haul their car seat everywhere. I hate trying to carry the car seat and lug a diaper bag, not to mention I have two other little hands I’m supposed to be holding. 🙂 I think I’d add a breast pump to my list of essentials. I love nursing, but its nice to have the pump if baby refuses to eat (one of my kids did for a few days because of a sore throat) or if you have any feeding issues.

    Reply
  4. Amanda says

    August 29, 2012 at 12:33 pm

    Thanks for the list! I’m expecting my first, and a lot of these are things I’ve already decided I need. I’m doing my research because I hate having too much stuff!

    Reply
  5. kristen says

    August 29, 2012 at 2:09 pm

    I have a month old 11lb baby and have tried the moby wrap (handme down) but its fleece and crazzzzy hot…..ne suggestions for carriers? With the moby I feel like he doesn’t have enough support….and any brand reccomendations? Is pricer really better here? Thanks!!!(its our first so totally new to all of this!) Thanks for this post!

    Reply
    • Emily @ Live Renewed says

      August 29, 2012 at 4:50 pm

      Thanks for your question Kristen! The Moby Wrap can get really hot, so when we’re outside (like when we were blueberry picking) I prefer the Baby Hawk because it’s more open on the sides and back. It can still get really hot wearing your baby though – they are little furnaces! I’m planning to do a babywearing with a newborn post in the next week or two (hopefully including some videos – so be on the lookout for that!
      ~Emily

      Reply
  6. joanna @ I won't be a hoarder too says

    August 29, 2012 at 2:49 pm

    I’m really curious about the cloth diapers. Since you are very careful not to endorse brands (yay! that’s a good thing in my eyes), are there any features that are good/bad? There are so many kinds nowadays I wouldn’t even know where to start. Thanks in advance!

    Reply
    • Emily @ Live Renewed says

      August 29, 2012 at 4:52 pm

      Glad you found what you were looking for Joanna! I also wanted to let you know that I’m planning to do a post on cloth diapering a newborn in the next week or two (and I probably will be recommending some brands just because they’re what I’ve found to work best for me!) 🙂 And yes, there are so many different styles/brands that it can be overwhelming! Please let me know if you have any more questions, I’d be more than happy to answer them for you.

      Reply
  7. joanna @ I won't be a hoarder too says

    August 29, 2012 at 2:51 pm

    just found your “cloth diaper basics” post. Got all the info I need, thanks!

    Reply
  8. Shiree says

    August 29, 2012 at 4:14 pm

    I agree with your list. And I LOVE your cute baby’s name. It was in the running for my last daughter but didn’t quite fit her personality.

    Reply
    • Emily @ Live Renewed says

      August 29, 2012 at 4:53 pm

      Thanks Shiree! It’s a family name – my grandmother’s maiden name, and my father’s (who passed away in April) middle name – she was named after them!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Tips for Surviving the Newborn Stage says:
    September 10, 2012 at 6:27 am

    […] I shared my choices for essential gear for the newborn stage, and while all of those things do help to make my life with a newborn easier, after having three […]

    Reply
  2. How To Begin Cloth Diapering a Newborn says:
    September 12, 2012 at 6:32 am

    […] talked about this in my essential gear for the newborn stage, but if you’re planning to cloth diaper a newborn, I highly recommend that you get newborn […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

My Book: Get started with a green and healthier life today!

Green Your Life is Now Available!

FREE Green Cleaning Guide!

Get your Free Green Cleaning Guide!

Popular Posts!

An Intentional Summer Plan and Routine for Kids
How to Completely Clear Off Your Kitchen Counters

Join me on Facebook!

FREE Green Cleaning Guide!

Get your Free Green Cleaning Guide!

Join me on Pinterest!

Copyright © 2023 Live Renewed · Custom Design by Simply Designs

Copyright © 2023 Live Renewed · Graphic Design By: Creative Kristi Designs · Log in

Privacy Policy
Ready to remove toxic cleaners from your home?
Get your FREE Guide to 5 Non-Toxic Cleaners and get started with green and natural cleaning today!
Your information will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party.