Our Baby Essentials: Mom of 5 and Mom of 3

Lauren:
If you’ve been following my posts the last few weeks, you know that I teamed up with my friend Heather for a short series on postpartum encouragement. Our desire was to encourage and inspire moms in this sweet but challenging season of transition after having a baby. It was so neat to work together and see what the Lord brought to the surface as we shared from our unique perspectives.

Heather focused on how to prepare for the postpartum period spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. I shared on basic postpartum changes, why we need to plan for a season of rest, and then compiled a list of my helpful postpartum resources. You can find links to all these posts at the bottom of this post!

Now as a little “bonus”, we’re sharing some of our favorite baby items here in this post. With eight kiddos between us, we’ve figured out what our “must-haves” are and what we can live without. Baby essentials will vary by person, of course, but we hope this will give you some ideas if you’re pregnant or looking to bless an expectant mom. Baby items can pile up quickly and there can be a lot of pressure to buy all the latest new things, but you really can keep it simple when it comes to babies!

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Heather:
When Lauren suggested we do a little bonus post to top off our postpartum mini series, I was completely on board! I’ve talked to so many mamas-to-be who are overwhelmed trying to put together a baby registry because of the (literally) thousands of items available. I hope these suggestions from us will give you a helpful starting place! 

CLOTHING

ONESIES OR ONE PIECE OUTFITS

Heather:
With each child I’ve moved more and more to using mostly onesies or one piece outfits (like rompers or sleepers) for the first few months of life. They’re so practical since babies generally need to be changed more often due to, well, baby messes (if you know what I mean).

MUSLIN SWADDLE BLANKETS

Heather:
Someone gifted me two Aden and Anais swaddle blankets before our first baby, and they’ve been a staple ever since. They’re a bit bigger than other baby blankets, so they stay wrapped more easily and can double as a nursing cover. There are a couple of other brands that now carry similar ones that I love.

BOOTIES OR SLIPPERS

Lauren:
I tried so many kinds of tiny baby socks with my first baby and very few of them stayed on her feet. Sleepers are great for keeping little feet warm, especially in the colder months, but for other outfits, I love booties or slippers. When I was expecting Nora, my sister gave me a pair of Doudou et Compagnie hand-me-down booties and I fell in love with them. Nora wore them all the time and because of their neutral color, they matched with nearly everything. They have an elastic ankle so they fit snugly but comfortably, are high quality, and completely adorable. Find them here or on Ebay. And these Carter’s booties are similar!

SLEEP

PACK N’PLAY

Heather:
We’ve used a Pack ‘N Play for all of our kids instead of a regular crib. This has come in handy in the midst of several moves and a good bit of traveling. Even if you have a regular crib for everyday use, it’s really helpful to keep one on hand for overnight stays or road trips. 

ZIPADEE-ZIP TRANSITION SWADDLE

Lauren:
These things are amazing. I am a big fan of swaddles and sleepsacks, but when Nora outgrew swaddling, she wasn’t quite ready to be completely hands-free in a sleep sack. This transition swaddle was a lifesaver. It gives babies the comfort of a swaddle but is perfect for when they start to roll over because they are able to safely roll over, push up, and use their arms. It’s also really great for babies who have outgrown swaddling but still have a startle reflex that wakes them up. Learn more here.

SOUND MACHINE

Lauren:
A sound machine is so helpful when you are bringing a baby into a home and need to muffle some of the noise. Newborns will usually sleep through just about anything those first few months, but after that, a sound machine is essential in our home! I find that they are also a helpful sleep cue, as the baby learns to associate hearing the sound machine with sleep.

BABY MONITOR

Lauren:
I know there are much snazzier baby monitors out there, but this kind has done the job for us since our first baby, so we’ve stuck with it! Maybe we’ll upgrade to something fancier next time around. I really just like being able to hear baby when they are sleeping upstairs especially over the noise of other kiddos, the dishwasher humming away, or if we’re outside on the porch.

BATH TIME

GENTLE BABY PRODUCTS

Lauren:
One whiff of these lavender vanilla baby products and I’m instantly drawn back into Nora’s newborn days. These products are gentle on delicate baby skin and naturally scented with plant extract and essential oils. The balm is amazing for diaper rash. And confession, I might have used the lotion more than Nora ever did… it is just so moisturizing and and the scent is so calming.

OTHER BABY GEAR

BABY CARRIERS

Lauren:
I love wearing my babies, especially in those snuggly newborn days. I really like using a Boba wrap (very similar to a Moby wrap) for the first few months or so. Solly Baby wraps are similar and available in the prettiest patterns. A friend loaned me her Solly when Nora was born and I appreciated that they are a lighter weight fabric, which is so nice for summer babies (or just those postpartum “hot flashes”!). Once my babies are around five months, I find that a sturdier carrier like an Ergo provides more support for my back and shoulders with a heavier baby. Plus, Elijah enjoys wearing our babies in the Ergo. (Keep an eye out for a great deals on used Ergo baby carriers on Facebook Marketplace!)

As you’re figuring out what kind of carrier works well for you and your baby, ask around to see if you can try out carriers your friends or family already own.

Heather:
I’ve always wanted to try a baby wrap, but to be honest, got a little intimidated by the process. So when I saw this Konny baby carrier, I thought it was worth a try! It carries the baby similar to a wrap, but you slip it over your head. I love how lightweight it is, too.

BUMBO SEAT

Heather:
A Bumbo seat really comes in handy once babies start getting a bit mobile, and you want to keep them near you while you fold laundry or make dinner. They’re easy to move around the house with you or pop in the car when you go to someone else’s house. 

BANDANA BIBS

Heather:
These bandana bibs often work far better than other bibs, because they have little gathers that catch the drool and spit up before it runs unto their clothing. They also come in so many cute patterns! 

BOUNCER SEAT

Lauren:
With each baby, I’ve found it helpful to have a specific seat or bouncer to place the baby, especially in our main living area. This bouncer fit the bill as its smaller profile worked well in our tiny townhome when Nora was born.

STROLLER

Lauren:
I’ve really enjoyed having a stroller that coordinates with the baby’s car seat. Especially with a newborn, it’s so nice to simply lock their car seat right into the stroller and avoid wrangling a tiny baby into stroller straps. From walks in the neighborhood, to browsing the library, to providing a “seat” for Nora at church, our stroller is a super helpful baby item that we will get years of use from.

FUN BASKETS FOR ORGANIZING

Heather:
This isn’t exactly a baby item, but these baskets have been a life-saver. I wasn’t sure exactly how to organize a fifth child’s belongings without buying a whole new dresser (especially all the baby odds and ends), and baskets have become my new best friend. They keep all the baby’s things from getting mixed in with the other kiddos stuff, and stay easily accessible in a cute way.

Well, that’s a wrap, friends! We hope you’ve been encouraged through this little series on postpartum encouragement, as well as some of our baby essentials. What are some items you would add to this list? Let us know in the comments below!

PIN FOR LATER

READ LAUREN’S POSTPARTUM POSTS:

PART 1 : Understanding basic postpartum changes
PART 2: Planning for a season of slowing down
PART 3: Postpartum essentials (all the links and resources!)

READ HEATHER’S POSTPARTUM POSTS:

PART 1: Spiritual preparation
PART 2: Mental preparation
PART 3: Emotional preparation

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