Calling all to-be mamas + new mamas! My hope with this blog post is to HELP you enter the world of motherhood & babies with all of the resources and recommendations that you could need. I know for me, it can be super overwhelming as a first time pregnant gal/new mama when building a registry & doing research on what your little one may or may not need. I never even knew about some of this stuff until now! There truly is such a learning curve. The truth is, we are living in a world where the options are endless for pretty much anything – and while that’s amazing and so helpful, it can also be really confusing and overwhelming.

So, I thought it would be super helpful to build a “masterlist” of alllllll the newborn/infant/new mama must-haves…by compiling REAL recommendations, from REAL mamas in my community. All of these recommendations came from our community – and I couldn’t believe the response when I made the call-outs for these category recommendations. It’s an amazing thing when women come together to help one another. Thank you to everyone who took the time to contribute. We built this list together, and it’s going to help so many mamas!

Selflishly, this has helped me *SO* incredibly much when building my registry. It’s definitely an ongoing process, but this definitely helped guide some of my decisions, and provided me so much research & insight into what we really may need. And I’ve learned that the truth is, we may not know what we or our baby really needs, until they are here with us. Every baby is different. So take your time & don’t feel pressured to get one of everything right away. You will always have what your baby needs most – and that’s love & attention. The rest can be built overtime.

Personally, I am using Babylist to create my registry and I have LOVED it so far. The website, the platform, the registry builder – is all so educational, review driven & organized. I highly recommend using Babylist to build your registry…you can literally add any product from any website to your registry! (not sponsored – just truly so grateful for the platform!)

Before we get into all of the recommendations category-by-category, remember: this is a list made by moms for moms. ALL types of moms. This doesn’t sway one way in any category. It’s inclusive for every type of mama. Whether you breastfeed, or formula feed. Whether you believe in the Snoo, or not. (haha) And so on! I took every single recommendation into consideration, tallied the amount of times it was recommended, and built the lists from there.

If you are currently a new mama or seasoned mama going through this list, sure…you may not agree with some of these products or methods! And that’s okay – but my goal with this was to give options for everyone. Your baby may not like cold wipes & need a wipe warmer, while some babies might not. Just be open to learn & respect each mamas different needs & preferences. I hope y’all enjoy this, and I hope this HELPS! Happy registry building! xo

Also PS – I quickly learned that SO many baby items are SO expensive! Don’t forget about Facebook marketplace & other resale platforms to get deals on gently used items from other mamas!

Strollers

MOST RECOMMENDED: UPPAbaby Vista V2 Stella Stroller with Bassinet (this had *overwhelmingly* more recommendations than the rest! Multiple moms said it was worth the splurge.)
– Nuna DEMI Grow Stroller
– Mockingbird Single-To-Double Stroller
– Baby Jogger City Select Modular Travel System
– Doona Car Seat & Stroller Combo
– Graco Modes Nest Travel System
– Bugaboo Donkey (great for two children)
– Chicco Bravo Travel System
– Evenflo Pivot Modular Travel System
Jogging Strollers:
– BOB Gear Revolution Jogging Stroller
– Graco Modes Jogger Travel System
– Guava Crossover Stroller
– Bumbleride Speed Jogging Stroller

Carseats

– UPPAbaby MESA Infant Car Seat for Vista
– Nuna PIPA Infant Car Seat or Nuna PIPA Lite
– Doona Car Seat
– Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat
– BRITAX Infant Car Seat
– Graco Infant Car Seat

Baby Carriers

– Baby Bjorn Mini (top infant recommendation by far! 7-25 lbs)
– Baby Bjorn Carrier One Air (8-33 lbs)
– Ergobaby 360 Baby Carrier
– Baby Tula Free-To-Grow Carrier
– Solly Baby Wrap
– Boba Bay Wrap Carrier
– Baby K’Tan Wrap Carrier
– Lillebaby Carrier

Breast Pumps

*lots of mamas recommended investing in two pumps. A wearable/cordless option for convenient/casual pumping, and a more hospital-grade, heavy duty pump for exclusive pumpers or stationary pumping.

Willow Wearable Breast Pump (wearable)
Elvie/Elvie Stride (wearable)
Spectra S1 (rechargeable/portable/hospital grade)
Spectra 9 (mini + portable, great for travel & on the go)
Spectra S2 (hospital grade, needs an outlet nearby)
Spectra Synergy Gold Double Pump (the newest spectra)
Medela Max Flow Double Pump (battery pack portable option)
Hakka Manual Pump (manual breast pump to catch the letdown from the breast not pumping)

Bottles

*lots of mamas said that it (understandably) completely depends on your babies preferences. It was recommended to not spend a lot of $$$ investing in one type of bottle, but maybe start with a few different types to see what your baby takes/prefers the most.

– Dr. Browns (by far the most recommended)
– Comotomo (and these different nipples for different stages)
– Avent Glass Natural Bottles
– Mam Anti-Colic Bottles
– Nuk Natural Glass Bottles
– Tommee Tippee Bottles
– Evenflo Bottles

Bassinets

*Big tie here between the Snoo & Halo Swivel. Most mamas who have had both recommended to start with the Halo (a fraction of the price of the Snoo) – and to move on/try the Snoo only if needed.

– Halo Swivel
– Snoo Smart Sleeper
– Baby Delight Bedside Sleeper
– 4Moms MamaRoo Sleep Bassinet
– Lotus Travel Bassinet

Bouncer/Swings

– 4Moms Mamaroo
– Baby Bjorn Bouncer
– Graco Sense To Sooth Swing
– Graco Gliding Swing
– Fisher Price See & Soothe Bouncer
– Munchkin Bluetooth Enabled Baby Swing

Pacifiers

*like the bottles, lots of mamas recommended to not invest in one type of pacifier. Start with a variety & invest in the ones your baby loves the most.

– Philips Avent Soothies
– Bibs
– Ryan & Rose
– Nuk
– Mam
– Tommy Tippee
– Wubbanub

Nursing/Nursery Chairs

biggest takeaway here: the brand is entirely up to you, but most mamas recommended a glider/recliner combo, or a glider with an ottoman!

– Paxton Manual & Power Swivel Glider Recliner
– Babyletto Kiwi Power Recliner
– Oilo Flynn Recliner & Swivel Glider (this is the one we ordered!)
– Babyletto Kiwi Glider/Recliner
– Carter’s by Davinci Arlo Recliner & Swivel Glider
– Dream Swivel & Reclining Chair

Diapers/Diaper Pail

Diapers:
– Pampers Swaddlers
– Huggies Little Snugglers
– Kirkland Diapers (Costco brand)
– Pampers Pure
– Honest
– Hello Bello
– Coterie
– Water Wipes

Pails:
– Ubbi Pail (number one recommendation by far)
– Dekor Diaper Pail
– Munchkin Pail

Travel Gear/Pack N’ Plays

– Slumber Pod Privacy Canopy (recommend by SO many mamas!)
– 4Moms Portable Playhard with Removable Bassinet
– Graco Pack N’ Play with Portable Bassinet
– Guava Lotus Pack N’ Play
– Hush Portable Sound Machine
– Fisher Price On-The-Go Baby Dome (great for beach/outdoors)
– Travel Baby Monitor
– Shynerk Baby Car Mirror

Baby Sleepwear

*biggest takeaway here was to avoid buttons/snaps for easy middle-of-the-night changes! Zippers, double zippers, tie bottoms & magnetics are the way to go.

– Kyte Baby (most recommended)
– Magnetic Me Onesies
– Cloud Island Jammies at Target
– Nested Bean
– Little Sleepies
– Halo Sleep Sack
– Burts Bees Baby
– Bonds Wondersuits
– Merlin’s Magic Sleep Suit (3-6 months)
– Ollie Swaddle
– Angel Dear Onesies

Feeding Accessories

– Hakka Manual Pump
– Baby Brezza One Step Sterilizer Dryer
– Baby Brezza Formula Pro Advanced (it’s like a Keurig for formula!)
– Baby Brezza Bottle Warmer
– Boon’s Grass Dry Rack
– Cactus Bottle Brush
– My Breast Friend Nursing Pillow
– Boppy Pillow
– Elvie Catch Secure Milk Collection Cups
– Nipple Shields

Nursery Must-Haves

– Hatch Sound Machine + Nightlight
– Keekaroo Wipeable Changing Pad
– Hatch Grow Smart Changing Pad
– Humidifier (lots of people recommended the Canopy + Frida Baby)
– Black-Out Curtains
– Munchkin Warm Glow Wipe Warmer
– Jolywell Nightlight Portable/Dimmable Nightlight
– Baby Shusher

Baby Monitors

– Nanit (most recommended!)
– Baby Sense (also comes with a split screen option for two babies)
– Vava
– Motorola
– Lollipop
– Vtech
– Owelet
– Infant Optics

Health/Wellness

– Frida Baby Windi
– Frida Baby Nose Sucker
– Frida Baby Saline Snot Spray
– Wellements Baby Bundle
– Frida Baby Nail Clipper
– Wellements Gripe Water
– MediFrida Accu-dose Pacifier
– Wearable Baby Nail File
– Frida Baby 3-in-1 Thermometer
– Frida Baby Basics Kit
– Owelet Dream Sock
– Tubby Tod All Over Ointment
– Frida Baby SkinSoother

Bath

– Tubby Tod Products (by far the most recommended bath products!)
– Tubby Tod Newborn Gift Set
– Angelcare Baby Bath
– Munchkin Sit & Soak
– Duckie Temperature Sensor Thermometer
– Honest Brand Newborn Baby Arrival Essentials
– Blooming Bath Baby Bath Pad
– 4Moms Temperature Controlled Newborn/Infant Tub
– Skip Hop Bathtub with Sling
– Noodle & Boo Essential Bath Care Kit
– PB Kids Faux Fur Baby Hooded Towel
– Shampoo Rinser

Swaddles/Blankets

– Copperpearl
– Halo Sleepsack Velcro Swaddle
– Aden + Anais Muslin Blankets
– Freshly Picked Swaddles
– Caden Lane Swaddles
– Ollie Swaddles
– Nested Bean
– Lou Lou Company
– Halo Sleep Swaddles
– SwaddleMe
– Love to Dream

Loungers

– Dock-A-Tot
– SnuggleMe Organic Lounger
– Lulyboo Indoor/Outdoor Cuddle + Play Lounger

Toys/Tummy Time

– Lovery Newborn Toy Subscription Box (ships every 2 months with sensory toys for your babe!)
– Lovery Play Gym/Tummy Time Mat
– Tummy Time Llama
– Skip Hop Activity Gym

Baby Mattress

– Newton Breathable Mattress (pretty much everyone said this!)
– Eco Classica
– Naturepedic
– Graco

Nursing Must-Haves

– Haakaa Manual Pump
– Nipple Shields (silverette + lansinoh)
– Nipple Pads
– Nipple Cream (earth mama, lanolin)
– Lansinoh Cold Packs
– Boppy Nursing Pillow
– Nursing Bra (bravado, kindred, auden, hofish)
– Breast Friend Pillow
– Pumping Pal Flanges
– Burts Bees Burp Cloths
– Copper Pearl Burp Cloths
– Frida Mom Breast Kit
– LaVie Vibrating Massagers
– Legendary Pumping Spray

Sleep Training/Parenting Resources

– Moms On Call
– Taking Cara Babies
– Tinyhood Online Parenting Classes