The Ultimate Checklist for Baby Must-haves

Ikea Antilop High Chair

Hands down the best high chair I’ve tried. It’s simple, easy to clean, very light, and cheap ($29.99). It doesn’t get much better than that. We have 3 of these (one for our house and 2 for our parents’ homes). Amazon even sells a silicone placemat for it.

If you don’t have an Ikea near you, this Evenflo Convertible High Chair is a comparable option.

Medela Portable Breast Pump

I loved this breast pump mainly because it gave me the option to do tasks around the house or take care of my baby while pumping. I just put it in a fanny pack or tucked it into my sweatshirt pocket and could move around freely (it comes with a battery pack for AA batteries). It also comes with a power adaptor if you prefer to plug it in.

*Note: Most insurances cover a breast pump! Check with your insurance before purchasing one.

Baby Brezza Baby Bottle Sterilizer and Dryer

I pumped A LOT while also nursing my first child. This sterilizer and dryer made it so much easier for me to keep up with the cleaning and drying of all the bottles and pump parts. I didn’t have to buy extra pump parts since I always had a set ready to go.

Lansinoh Breastmilk Storage Bags

I found it helpful to build a freezer supply of breastmilk in case I had to be away from my baby. These are easy to use and can be attached to most pumps if you choose to pump directly into the bag.

Lansinoh Baby Bottles

My second baby struggles with bottles for several reasons, but I found that these Lansinoh baby bottles were a great fit for her. This pack comes with all the bottles you will need – 3 5-ounce bottles and 3 8-ounce bottles. Your baby may also need a faster-flowing nipple once they are older. I now use the fast-flow nipples with my baby.

Philips AVENT Drying Rack

This was useful before we purchased the Baby Brezza Bottle Sterilizer and Dryer. It’s easy to clean and doesn’t take up a lot of counter space. We take this one with us when we travel.

Elvie Curve Wearable Breast Pump

I used the Haakaa at the beginning with my first baby, and I loved it. However, when my baby became more mobile, she kicked it off all the time. The Elvie Curve fits right into my bra while I am nursing to catch the let-down.

Earth Mama Organic Nipple Butter

This is a must! My nipples never got sore because I started using this at the hospital after every nursing session. Don’t skip it – you’ll thank yourself later!

Boppy Nursing Pillow

This will help your posture while nursing, as well as keep your baby comfortable. This pillow allows you to use many different nursing positions. You can also use this when holding the baby in general – it helps support them without straining your arms. Your baby will also be able to use this when they are older to lean back in (this is how I taught my babies how to hold their own bottles while feeding). Your baby can use this for tummy time and for practicing how to sit up.

Snap Muslin Cotton Bibs

These bibs are large, absorbent, and have snaps. I got these when I had my second baby because the Velcro ones I used for my first baby were no longer holding up. I highly recommend getting 2 packs.

*Tip: I also used burp cloths when I had my first baby, but I haven’t even touched them with my second – I just use bibs. If you feel like you’d like to have burp cloths on hand, these Muslin burp cloths are good quality.

Leakproof Water Bottle

Breastfeeding makes you so thirsty! It’s also important to stay hydrated to keep up with your milk supply. l like this one because it holds 32oz and it’s leakproof (I would always keep my water bottle on the couch with me while nursing, so this was important).

Silicone Suction Bowls

I still use these with my 8-month-old. They stay on the tray (most of the time), and you can easily store leftovers with the cover.

Silicone Suction Plates With Lids

These are super helpful when we go out to restaurants or have to pack food in general. I pack my baby their food and the 3 dividers prevent it from mixing together. The lids are a must!

Munchkin Baby Spoons

My toddler even uses these. They are inexpensive and come in a pack of 12. Both sets of grandparents have a couple at their homes, and we keep one in our diaper bag. One less thing to pack when heading out of the house!

Long-Sleeve Waterproof Bibs

I love giving my baby the freedom to eat on her own, but it sure gets messy! These make cleaning up so much easier. I clean them right in the kitchen sink and let them air dry – which is why I recommend this 4-pack.

Silicone Baby Bib

These bibs are the best! They catch almost anything when your baby eats and they’re super easy to clean.

OXO Silicone Self-Feeder

My baby has used this SO much. Before she was ready to start solids, I would put fruit in this self-feeder and she would love getting all the juice out. Even when my baby wasn’t ready to have meals with us, she was still able to sit in her high chair with this self-feeder.

Cooler Bag

I like this one because it’s not just for bottles. As your baby grows, you can use it to pack their solid food.

Contoured Changing Pad

I bought the Ikea Hemnes 3-drawer dresser that I know will grow with my kids and I put this changing pad on it. It comes with a strap you can attach to the dresser so it doesn’t slide off. We also kept a second one downstairs for the first 3-4 months for easier diaper changes.

Changing Pad Covers

I recommend having at least 2 changing pad covers.

Quilted Waterproof Changing Pad Liners

These are extremely useful for the newborn stage. Without getting into too much detail, diaper changes can get pretty messy. Whenever my baby had a blowout on the changing pad, I was able to slide these liners out from underneath them while still keeping the changing pad and cover clean. I washed the liner by hand right after and it was good as new. If you’d rather have disposable liners, you can get these disposable pads.

Boudreaux’s Butt Paste

This is the only diaper cream I use. It has healed diaper rashes in one or two days. I also love the flip top because I can easily open it with one hand while I have my other hand on my baby.

Diaper Cream Spatula

This seemed like a silly idea to me, but it’s amazing. I don’t want to have to wipe my hands in the middle of a diaper change, so I use this spatula to slap some butt paste on my baby’s bum and wipe the excess off on the diaper. This makes it easy to apply butt paste for every diaper change, therefore, minimizing the risk of a diaper rash.

Pampers Diapers

These are so soft and they smell good. I always use the weight ranges as an estimate for when to move my baby to the next size.

*Tip: If you notice your baby keeps leaking through their diapers, it may mean they are ready to move up a size.

Pampers Sensitive Baby Wipes

These wipes are soft and gentle for your baby’s buh-bum (as my 2-year-old calls it).

Baby Wipes Dispenser

The thing you never knew you needed. Again, I’m all about making my life easier and this wipe dispenser does just that. It lets you pull out one wipe at a time with one hand. I keep one next to my changing pad and one next to my baby’s high chair for quick clean-ups.

Dekor Plus Diaper Pail

We keep this in the nursery next to the changing pad. It does a good job hiding odors, and I love the economical refill bags it uses. There’s no preset bag size – if you find that it’s getting smelly, you can remove the bag without having to waste it.

Lollipop Smart Baby Monitor

We tried several baby monitors and this one worked the best with our Mesh Wifi System. Other baby monitors were not compatible with it and had slow loading times. We have one of these in each of our girls’ rooms and each of them is connected to its own access point on our Mesh Wifi System, which makes loading both live streams super fast and clear. This baby monitor also allows us to view both our girls’ rooms on one screen and has a background sound feature that lets us hear them without having to keep our phone screen on or while we are using our phones. It’s also available in turquoise.

Graco Pack ‘n Play

We have 3 of these that we have rotated between our house and our parent’s homes. This one is simple and it’s all you need. It includes the raised bassinet for when they are young. Once they can sit up, you just lower the mattress.

Pack ‘n Play Fitted Sheets

I recommend getting at least 2 or 3 of these.

Pack ‘n Play Waterproof Cover

You only need 2 of these. They protect the mattress if anything goes through the fitted sheet.

Convertible Crib

Make sure the crib you choose has an adjustable mattress support base. Once your baby learns new skills like sitting or standing up, you’ll need to lower the base.

Foam Crib Mattress

Foam crib mattresses are light and easy to lift when changing sheets.

Crib Fitted Sheets

I would have at least 2 fitted sheets. Remember to practice safe sleep and not give your baby a blanket until they are between 12 and 18 months old.

Waterproof Mattress Pad

These pads protect the mattress from anything that goes through the sheets.

Dohm Sound Machine

I was so skeptical of sound machines when I was pregnant with my first baby, but they are a definite must-have. It helps the baby fall asleep (the sound resembles the sounds they hear in the womb) and stay asleep. My 2-year-old still uses one to help drown out any noise in the house while she is sleeping (you’ll want this if you’re welcoming another baby into your family!). If you will often be on the go with your baby, you can also get a travel sound machine that can be clipped right to the stroller or carrier.

Cotton Wearable Sleep Sack

These sleep sacks are perfect for in-between seasons. If your baby is still being swaddled, you can use this adjustable sleep sack. I love this micro-fleece sleep sack for colder months, and this micro-fleece adjustable sleep sack for when the baby still needs swaddling (remember to stop swaddling when the baby can roll over).

Rechargeable & Dimmable Nightlight

I used this SO much with both of my babies, and I still do. You can adjust the brightness by just touching the top of the light. I used it every time I breastfed during the night to keep a sleepy environment for my baby (also without waking my husband). I now keep it in the nursery for times when I need to check in on my daughter. I even brought this to the hospital with me when I gave birth to my second baby because I hated the fluorescent lights in the room while I nursed at night!

Peg Perego YPSI Travel System

We are super pleased with this stroller and infant carrier travel system. It’s easy to fold the stroller with one hand, and the quality of the wheels makes it ride smoothly. It’s also an Italian brand that adds a load leg to the infant carrier base for extra safety. We also chose this travel system because you can easily convert it from a single stroller to a double stroller with the double adapters and companion seat.

Whatever stroller you decide to get, I recommend you get a travel system that grows with your baby.

Evenflo Revolve 360

When your baby grows out of the infant carrier, I highly recommend this convertible car seat. Right now, I have two of these for my girls in a sedan and I don’t know what I would do without it. You can spin it towards you so it’s easier to put in your child. When they are ready to be front-facing, you just turn the seat the other way.

Rear Facing Car Mirror

If you can, it’s safer to keep your child rear-facing for as long as possible. Having a mirror helps you see what they are up to while in the back seat.

Diaper Bag

This diaper bag has plenty of room without being too bulky. I love that it has 2 water bottle pockets on the side, as well as space in the insulated compartment for 3 bottles. This one also has stroller straps.

Mesh Zipper Waterproof Organizer Bags

I’ve used these for storing extra diapers, clothes, toys, and snacks. They easily fit in the diaper bag, and can also be stored in your car or packed in your suitcase for travel. It makes finding things in the diaper bag a whole lot easier.

Reusable Ice Sheet

We still use these ice sheets whenever we want to pack milk or food in the diaper bag. You can cut them to the size you need, and they fit perfectly in small spaces. They’re much better than hard ice packs that take up a lot of room.

BabyBjörn Bouncer Bliss

This is a place where you can sit your newborn while you get things done. You can give them a toy or teether to play with while they are in this bouncer. It holds a maximum weight of 29 lbs, so they will be able to use this for a long time. This is where my 8-month-old still drinks her bottles. A definite must-have.

Boba Baby Wrap Carrier

Although this carrier can hold babies who are up to 35 lbs, I mainly used this one for the first 4-5 months with both my babies.

Moby Ring Sling

This carrier can hold babies who are up to 33 lbs. I preferred using this one when my baby could support her own head. I even used it with my 1-year-old when I was pregnant since it allows you to carry them on your hip. I found this carrier very useful when we traveled since it’s also lightweight and easy to store.

Ergobaby Embrace Wrap

This carrier is very comfortable if you are going walking or hiking and can hold up to 25 lbs.

Skip Hop Bathtub

You can use this bathtub on your kitchen counter when your baby is a newborn, and you can put it in your bathtub when they’re more mobile.

Bamboo Hooded Bath Towels

These hooded towels are so soft and the perfect size for babies.

Bath Rinser

Perfect for rinsing your baby during their bath.

Frida Baby 3-Step Cradle Cap System

I used this with my second baby and she never got cradle cap.

Microfiber Fleece Washcloths

These are incredibly soft.

Mold-Free Bath Toys

These bath toys don’t have a hole for water to get trapped in. These spinners are also great for distracting your baby while you clean them and can also be used outside of the bathtub.

Non-Slip Bathtub Mat

When your baby is old enough to sit up, I recommend using a non-slip bathtub mat. This has prevented so many slips between my two babies.

Digital Rectal Thermometer

When your baby is very young, the pediatrician will ask you for a rectal temperature reading when they have a fever. I like this one because it has a stopper to prevent it from being inserted too far.

Forehead Thermometer

You’ll need one of these when your baby gets a little older.

Frida Baby Nasal Aspirator

It may seem gross, but this is a definite must. Don’t forget to replace the filters often to avoid any unwanted substances in your own mouth!

Frida Baby Electic Aspirator

Using the nasal aspirator too much can dry out your baby’s nose. Also, they typically hate using it. When they have very runny noses, I use this electric aspirator to help clean them up without bothering them too much.

Nasal Aspirator Bulb

You may be asking yourself how many nasal aspirators I’m going to recommend, but the fact is, boogers and snot come in many different consistencies and you need the right tool for the job! We have a couple at home and one in the diaper bag for emergencies. Stuffy and runny noses can prevent your baby from sleeping well, so don’t forget to make sure they are comfortable.

Frida Baby 3-in-1 Nose, Nail + Ear Picker

This is for cleaning all those nooks and crannies. I have used this often to easily get dried boogers out of my toddler’s nose (sorry for the details).

Itzy Ritzy Natural Pacifiers

I like these for newborns and babies up to 6 months of age. Once they are older than 6 months, I like these Itzy Ritzy Silicone Pacifiers.

Nuby Silicone Teether

I always have one of these in my freezer for when my baby is fussy. It helps soothe their gums when they are teething (which, if you ask me, seems to be all the time). I also like these Ice Gel Teether Keys, these beaded teether rings, and this textured silicone teether. When shopping for teethers, make sure to purchase some that are easy for your baby to hold.

Brush and Comb

The soft-bristled brush is perfect for baby hair and the comb is great for when your baby has a little more hair.

Crane Cool Mist Humidifier

As soon as my kids show signs of congestion, I put this humidifier in their room. It helps them sleep and prevents their nasal passages from getting too dry. I love this one because its 1-gallon tank lasts all night.

Ikea Hemnes 3-Drawer Dresser

You’ll need a dresser to store all those little (but abundant) baby clothes and diapering essentials. This one is simple, easy to clean (yes, I’ve cleaned numbers twos off the front of the drawers), and it comfortably fits a changing pad.

Swivel Recliner Rocking Chair

This is perfect for feeding the baby or reading them a book before naptime or bedtime. I love that our chair rocks and swivels.

Hamper

I recommend putting a laundry basket or hamper next to your baby’s changing pad.

Toy Storage Organizer

I love this toy storage because it keeps toys organized and allows my daughter to pick her toys independently.

Mobile

I don’t recommend hanging a mobile above your baby’s crib for 2 reasons – it’s not safe (they could pull it down or it could fall) and it will distract them from sleeping. Instead, hang a mobile above your changing pad! Whenever my baby is super fidgety and isn’t in the mood for a diaper change (which is always), I give the mobile a pat and encourage her to look up. This keeps her distracted enough for me to get the job done.

Short-Sleeve Onesies

I used these to add a layer underneath my baby’s outfit during colder months. They’re also great as pajamas for those in between months.

Footed Pajamas

My babies lived in these. They’re comfortable, easy to change diapers in, and can be used for sleep or play. These have a double zipper that makes your life easier when changing diapers!

Drool Bibs

My baby still goes through 4 or 5 of these every day!

Sock Ons

These kept my baby’s socks on so well. Something you didn’t know you needed.

Baby Booties

A must-have for colder months.

Flappy the Elephant Singing Animal

Both my babies loved watching this singing elephant. It entertained them during tummy time and any other time they played on their own. It encourages them to interact with the songs and when the elephant plays hide and seek.

Skip Hop Activity Center

Another great toy that your baby can play with while moving their legs and feet. The toys can be removed if it is too busy for your baby. This activity center can also be turned into a table when your baby grows.

Sit-To-Stand Learning Walker

Your baby can start using this as soon as they learn to sit up. Even if they are not completely independent while sitting, you can put the Boppy Nursing Pillow around them to protect them from any falls while they play. As your baby learns to stand, they can use this to cruise around.

Fisher-Price Kick & Play Piano Mat

Your baby will become more aware of their legs and feet with this kick-and-play piano mat. The toy bar can also be moved to give them more room when they are able to sit up while playing the piano.

The Play Gym by Lovevery

Your baby can use this right away. It’s a safe place for them to practice tummy time. All the cards and accessories can be attached and moved to different spots to encourage your baby to practice new skills.

LeapFrog Learning Center

This is a great activity table that will encourage your baby to discover by touching, poking, and sliding. Your baby will be able to practice pulling themselves up and standing with this table.

Tissue Box Toy

This tissue box toy is great because it encourages the baby to discover and explore. The manipulation of these different materials and objects also helps your child develop their fine motor skills.

Some other great sensory toys are crinkly baby paper, these textured balls, or this rattle and teether toy.