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Top 10 Newborn Essentials

Posted on August 29, 2020August 29, 2020 by jennifer froese
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Evelyn officially just turned 6 months old last week, and it is giving me all the feels ❤️ The newborn days are definitely hard, but they really do go by so fast. It’s true what they say, babies don’t keep. You’ll find yourself wishing you could be transported back in time to enjoy those newborn snuggles just a little while longer. To hold your tiny newborn baby just a little tighter, and smell that newborn smell just one last time. Below I’ve listed my top 10 newborn essentials that made the first couple of months a little bit easier.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Top 10 Newborn Essentials

As a general life philosophy, I like to keep things simple. I’m not really one for excess gear and gadgets, but these are things I wholeheartedly recommend as newborn essentials for anyone caring for a new baby. As a type 5 personality on the Enneagram, research is something that I often spend a lot of time on. This was especially true when it came to preparing to have a baby.

We created a registry on Amazon and one on Babylist which made the whole process as painless as possible. Based on all of my reading, research, and experience, here are the newborn essentials that were most important and useful to me during those difficult yet amazing and fleeting newborn days. 

Top 10 Newborn Essentials

So without further ado, these are my Top 10 Newborn Essentials:

1. Baby Wrap

I have a few different baby wraps and carriers, but the Solly wrap was definitely my favorite during the newborn days. A few other great options are the Boba wrap, Moby wrap, and baby K’tan.

The fabric of the Solly wrap is buttery soft and so comfy for you and baby. It can be a little bit tricky to get the hang of it at first since it’s a single piece of long fabric that you wrap and tie around yourself before you put your baby in. The thing that helped me the most was to watch a few different videos. And then I always put Evelyn into the wrap in front of a mirror. You’ll get the hang of it after a time or two! The weight limit of the Solly is 25 pounds.

I loved wearing Evelyn in this wrap, and it’s not an accident that it’s #1 on my list of newborn essentials. I don’t think I could have gotten by without it. I remember telling my husband, “I love snuggling with her, but I love getting stuff done too.”

Newborn Essentials - Solly Wrap
Newborn Essentials - Solly Wrap

I did try my ring sling when Evie was a newborn. When I had her in the ring sling, it really didn’t feel like it had enough head/neck support. I didn’t feel comfortable with her in the ring sling unless I was cradling her head with my hand to keep it up while she was in it. Now that she’s older and has great head/neck control, my WildBird ring slings are definitely my favorite!

2. SnuggleMe Organic Lounger

We received a SnuggleMe Organic lounger with a linen cover as a shower gift and it was probably one of my favorite newborn items! If I had to pick only a couple of newborn essentials (instead of 10), this would be one of them.

I could put Evelyn in the SnuggleMe on our bed while doing laundry, or on the kitchen counter while cooking or doing dishes, etc. She always seemed to calm right down when we put her in there. I’ve also seen some pictures with a SnuggleMe in a Moses basket (so cute!), and I’m sure that the basket makes it even easier to move the SnuggleMe around the house with you.

Newborn Essentials - SnuggleMe Organic
Newborn Essentials - SnuggleMe Organic
Newborn Essentials - SnuggleMe Organic

From the SnuggleMeOrganic website – “The next best thing to being held in your arms. The Snuggle Me® Lounger is a unique lounging pad designed to hug your baby’s full body. This snuggling sensation is highly effective at calming and comforting your baby when you need extra support.”

I didn’t put Evelyn in the lounger unless I was right there next to her. And I definitely didn’t let her sleep overnight in it (see the AAP recommendations for safe sleep). She had reflux for the first couple of months, and one time she spit up quite a lot but she wasn’t able to turn her head to the side while she was in the SnuggleMe, and she started choking a little bit. Luckily I was right next to her and was able to scoop her up, but it was still scary!

3. Bedside Bassinet

This BabyDelight bedside bassinet was a lifesaver! I had to have a c-section because Evelyn was breech. Having her right next to me helped me heal during the first couple of weeks since I didn’t have to move around so much. Evie was actually still sleeping in this bassinet next to me up until recently! Now that she’s sleeping through the night, we transitioned her to her own crib in her nursery a couple of weeks ago.

Newborn Essentials - Baby Delight Bedside Bassinet

I also added one of these baby-safe crib mirrors. It’s actually reversible and the other side has high-contrast black and white pictures which can help encourage visual development.

This bassinet is designed so that you can zip down one side and push it right up against your bed as a co-sleeper. The bassinet comes with one waterproof bassinet sheet, but I would definitely recommend having some extra waterproof fitted sheets on hand because of all the spit up you will probably be dealing with. Just make sure that they fit snugly around the mattress with no loose fabric! The weight limit for the BabyDelight bassinet is 18lbs.

4. Halo Sleepsack Swaddle

This Halo Sleepsack Swaddle is definitely a must-have newborn essential. Babies are born with a natural startle reflex, and they can wake themselves up with their own arm movements if they aren’t swaddled. Swaddling babies for the first few months helps them sleep better, and that means you might sleep better too! As you can see, Evelyn loved to have her hands up by her face when she was swaddled and it was super easy to do that with the velcro flaps.

Newborn Essentials - Halo Sleepsack Swaddle

I had the hardest time swaddling Evelyn with an actual swaddle blanket. All those tucks and folds were just a little too much for me. Plus, I was always nervous about the swaddle coming undone at night and covering her face. This Halo Sleepsack Swaddle was so easy to use. And the one we got zipped up from the bottom (even when the baby was swaddled) which helped make nighttime diaper changes a breeze. We bought a second one because it seemed like one was always in the wash and it wasn’t dry in time for bedtime.

Newborn Essentials - Halo Sleepsack Swaddle

5. Sound Machine

We received this Hatch Rest Sound Machine/Night Light as a shower gift and I love it! It helps to muffle the sounds of dishes, laundry, dogs barking, etc. while the baby’s sleeping. This sound machine has lots of different settings for different sounds and light colors. Currently, we use just the sound machine and usually have it set to the “rainfall” sound.

Newborn Essentials - Hatch Rest Sound Machine

Another great feature is that it’s Bluetooth enabled, so you can sync it with your phone. There have been some nights where I forgot to turn the sound machine on, and it’s so nice to be able to turn it on from the other room without opening the door and waking up the baby.

I also read a few reviews that mentioned another great feature that we might be able to use in the future. Some parents set their HatchRest to turn the light on at a certain time and told their children once it turns on that they can get out of bed. “Before we purchased the Rest, our 2.5 year old daughter would wake up anytime between 6 and 7 am and would call for us loudly to come and get her. Now she stays in bed quietly talking or singing to herself until the green light turns on and we are able to have time to ourselves in the morning. It’s the best thing! Highly recommended!” I think that’s such a great idea!

6. Huckleberry App (it’s free!)

I didn’t find the Huckleberry app until Evelyn was a couple of months old, but I wish I had it when she was first born! You can use it to track sleep, feeding, pumping, dirty diapers, medication/vitamins, temperature, and measurements (height, weight, head circumference).

I especially love the nursing tracker – it keeps track of how long you nursed, including the last side you nursed on (so helpful!). One feature that I would have loved to use when Evelyn was a newborn is the diaper tracker. Those first several days it’s important to make sure your baby is making enough wet and dirty diapers, and the app makes it so easy.

You can easily customize your home screen to add or remove whichever features you actually want to use from that list, and the app is overall very user-friendly and easy to figure out.

7. FridaBaby NailFrida File & Clippers

These FridaBaby NailFrida clippers and file have really come in handy. 😅Newborn nails really are so tiny! I was scared to use nail clippers at first, but I used the file every few days during the first couple of weeks. The S-shape makes it a little bit easier to file those super tiny nails. Keeping your baby’s nails short will prevent them from accidentally scratching themselves (ouch!).

Newborn Essentials - FridaBaby NailFrida

The clippers are great now that Evelyn’s a little older. One thing I love about the clippers is that they don’t make the usual snapping sound when they cut the nail. The top and bottom actually overlap at an angle and use a scissor-type motion instead of a clipping motion. The clippers also have a little window on the top so you can see through and make sure you’re at just the right spot before you cut.

Here is a link for the cute wooden hairbrush from the photo with the nail clippers.

8. Babo Botanicals Soothing Diaper Cream

We have been using cloth diapers and wipes most of the time since Evie was about 6 or 7 weeks old (once she was big enough to fit in them), and the Babo Botanicals Soothing Diaper Cream is the best cloth diaper safe cream we’ve found. Some creams that aren’t cloth-diaper safe can create a barrier on the fabric that can affect their absorbency. They also have a fragrance-free version.

Newborn Essentials - Babo Botanicals Diaper Cream

Since we’ve been using cloth diapers, we haven’t had too many issues with diaper rash. Because of this, I didn’t use this cream too much during the newborn phase, but it’s important to keep on hand because diaper rash can spring up very quickly no matter how vigilant you are with changing diapers as soon as they’re dirty. And it can be very uncomfortable for your little one. The sooner you start treating it, the better chance you have of the rash clearing up quickly.

Now that Evelyn started sleeping through the night, we have had a couple of instances where she developed diaper rash overnight from being in her diaper that long. Using this cream with each diaper change healed it up in just about a day. Plus it doesn’t have any mystery ingredients and it smells so nice!

If you’re interested in cloth diapers or wipes, check out this post. It’s a lot easier than you probably think!

9. Bathtub

We have been using this Munchkin Sit and Soak Baby Bathtub since Evelyn was about a month old. Originally we started out with the Blooming Bath Lotus Flower insert for our kitchen sink, but it didn’t have any support for Evelyn’s back and it always seemed like she was about to topple over into the water.

Newborn Essentials - Munchkin Sit and Soak Baby Bathtub
Newborn Essentials

I was terrified to give her a bath by myself until I got this Munchkin “Sit and Soak” baby tub. It is designed so well! The angle is perfect to support her back, and the little bump on the bottom prevents her from sliding down into the tub. It fits right in our kitchen sink and works great.

Even though I consider this bathtub one of my newborn essentials, Evelyn just turned 6 months old and it still works great for her now too. The manufacturer says it’s good for babies up to 12 months of age.

Newborn Essentials - Munchkin Sit and Soak Baby Bathtub

10. Baby Book

This “As You Grow” baby book is one of my very favorite things. I’m not usually very sentimental, but I love writing in Evelyn’s baby book! The book is so beautiful and such great quality. I know it will be a treasured item in our family for years to come.

Newborn Essentials - As You Grow Baby Book
Newborn Essentials - As You Grow Baby Book Birth Story
Newborn Essentials - As You Grow Baby Book Birth Story

One thing I love about it is that it has several pockets throughout the book to hold keepsakes. This baby book would make a great baby shower gift as well! Be sure to crack it open before baby gets here- there are pages to record things like your thoughts before baby’s arrival, things about the nursery, and about how you found out you were expecting.

Newborn Essentials - As You Grow Baby Book
Newborn Essentials - As You Grow Baby Book

And that’s it for my top 10 newborn essentials! Are there any newborn essentials you would add to this list? If you’re having a baby soon, what are you most looking forward to in the newborn days??

Top 10 Newborn Essentials

If you’re interested in a tour of Evelyn’s nursery, check out this post. We stuck with all neutral decor because we didn’t actually find out her gender until she was born, and I still love how it turned out!

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    cedarandstonefarmhouse

    Jennifer Froese
    🌿 Living a slow, simple life in our 1832 farmhouse | western ny | 5w6 | the secret to having it all is knowing that you already do ✨

    Cedar & Stone Farmhouse
    The rest of the house is a complete disaster and t The rest of the house is a complete disaster and the to-do list is a mile long, but at least this little corner of the kitchen is still looking pretty 😅
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#home #homedecor #homestyle #homeinterior #simpleinteriors #simpleinterior #minimal #cozyminimal #interiors #simple #simplicity #doingneutralright #hygge #buffalo #buffalohomes #bflo #716 #thrifteddecor #instadesign #interiør #kitchen #farmhousekitchen #simplekitchen #vintagedecor #farrowandball #oldfarmhouse #slowliving #longaberger #longabergerstyle
    It’s a bit overdue, but I’d love to take you o It’s a bit overdue, but I’d love to take you on a tour of our chicken coop! I’ve had a years-long dream to have chickens, and we were finally able to get them last spring.
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I just shared a blog post about how we converted this wonky old shed into a perfectly imperfect chicken coop last year! Definitely a labor of love, especially with the pandemic lumber prices 😅
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The link is in my bio if you want to check it out!
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https://cedarandstonefarmhouse.com/perfectly-imperfect-chicken-coop/
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#chickencoop #chickenpalace #chickencoopsofinstagram #cluckinghampalace #homestead #homesteading #homesteadlife #farmhouse #weatheredcedar #cedar #chickens #chicken #farmfresh #farmfresheggs #country #countryliving #backyardchickens #growyourown #homegrown #countrywinter #winterwonderland #slowliving #simplelife #simpleliving #snowfall #winter #perfectlyimperfect #oldfarmhouse
    Despina's Anemone 🧵 Not sure if I have the pat Despina's Anemone 🧵

Not sure if I have the patience to complete another cross stitch project ever again 😂 Just wanted to give her a permanent spot on the grid lol

#avlea #avleafolkembroidery #crossstitch #stitch #needlework #handmade #dmcthreads #dmcfloss #folkembroidery #xstitch #despinasanemone
#crossstitchersofinstagram #puntodecruz #pointdecroix #crossstitching #crossstitcher #crossstitchland #crossstitchlove #crossstitchpattern #crossstitchkits #crossstitchkit #crossstitchdesign #crossstitchlover
    #ad I received the most beautiful items from @Long #ad I received the most beautiful items from @Longaberger last week! I have been such a fan of Longaberger since basically the beginning of time, and I remember going to many Longaberger parties with my mom and aunts and grandma when I was growing up.

Everything that Longaberger makes is such amazing quality, and so many of my pieces have been passed down to me from my grandma and my mom, or they are treasures that I’ve found at the thrift store. Longaberger baskets (and their beautiful pottery) are amazing, heirloom-quality pieces that can be handed down through the generations.

I love being able to look on the bottom of the baskets to see the signature of the person that made it along with the year. Some of my baskets are actually older than I am! I love to think about someday when I can pass my favorite baskets on to Evie to use in her home. 

A couple of the items Longaberger sent me are in their newer colors that I had never seen in person before - Pewter (the Recipe Basket), and Pale Grey (the Baking Dish Basket). The newer colors are SO beautiful! They are a little bit updated, but still a timeless addition. As you can see, they fit right in with our old farmhouse!

I think my favorite piece is the Recipe Box - it is so pretty and practical. I love that you can set the recipe card on top and easily glance at it while cooking. It would definitely make a beautiful housewarming or bridal shower gift!

What’s on your Longaberger wishlist? I’ve been eyeing up their adorable Easter baskets! Also check out their feed for the cutest little jadeite Easter bunny you ever did see!

@longaberger offers the opportunity for anyone to become a stylist and be part of a modern sales program! You can learn more about it here: https://longaberger.com/pages/longaberger-family-sales-program

#Longaberger #Longabergerstyle #LongabergerPartner #marketbasket #longabergerbasket #longabergerbaskets #longabergerpottery #heirloom #timeless #farmersmarket #homemade #homemadebrownies #fresheggs #recipebox #freshflowers #tulips #browniebatter #batterbowl #farmhousekitchen #oldfarmhouse #simpleinteriors #doingneutralright #buffalo #buffalohomes #716 #simplekitchen #feedfeedbaking
    We're excited to announce that our family will be We're excited to announce that our family will be growing a little bigger this year! Baby Froese is due at the end of August and we can't wait! Evie is going to be the best big sister 🥰
    Oops I did it again 😅 not sponsored by @bakercr Oops I did it again 😅 not sponsored by @bakercreekseeds but I wish it was 🤣 #overzealous #gardener #heirloomseeds #gardening #bakercreekheirloomseeds #homestead #homesteading #oopsididitagain #potager #backyardgarden #instagarden
    Happy Thursday! It may be snowing quite a bit here Happy Thursday! It may be snowing quite a bit here in NY today, but at least we're one day closer to spring 😂🌿

I planted some flower bulbs in the fall, and I can't wait to see them bloom this year! I chose some giant allium, crocus, tulips and daffodils. For some reason I really don't like planting bulbs AT ALL, but I always try to remember that my future self will thank me.

I also am planning to grow some dahlias for the first time this year, so if you have any favorite varieties send your recommendations my way! 🌸💐
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#home #homedecor #homestyle #homeinterior #simpleinteriors #minimal #cozyminimal #interiors #simple #simplicity #doingneutralright #hygge #buffalo #buffalohomes #bflo #716 #instahome #instadesign #interiør #homedesign #westelm #westelmroc #westelmstyle #westelmhamilton #hamiltonsofa #livingroom
    Well, hello! There are a few new faces since the l Well, hello! There are a few new faces since the last time I introduced myself! I’m Jen - a wife and mom of an (almost) 2-year old girl named Evelyn Iris. We live in Western NY. I’ve lived here my whole life, and my husband Dave moved to the area when he was in elementary school.

I’m a pharmacist by profession, but shortly before my daughter was born I switched to working just part-time to have more time to spend with her. I wouldn’t trade it for the world, and I know how lucky I am to be able to be home with her so much.

I’m a major homebody and LOVE to work on home projects and decorate and garden. We bought my grandma’s house a couple of years ago, and are madly in love with it - a charming, old 1832 saltbox farmhouse. I chose the name Cedar & Stone Farmhouse based on the house, with its cedar siding and the old stone walls that run along the property.

We started keeping bees about 7 years ago at our last house in the suburbs, and are now up to five hives here at the farmhouse.

We also recently started keeping chickens (a lifelong dream of mine!) - we have Dominiques, Easter Eggers, and Blue Orpingtons. We also have one guinea hen (it's a long story, but we started with 10 and sadly have only one left after some coyote attacks).

I’m a type 5 on the Enneagram (a personality test), specifically a 5w6 - also known as “the troubleshooter.” I tend to be very introverted and analytical, and usually do a ton of research before starting anything new (library books, YouTube, google, etc. are definitely my friends haha).

If you’ve taken the Enneagram quiz, I’d love to know your personality type too!
    Brought some of the outdoors inside today 🌿 I j Brought some of the outdoors inside today 🌿 I just love how these branches fill the space above the shelf in the kitchen! This beautiful stoneware pitcher was a @martins.mercantile vintage find!
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#home #homedecor #homestyle #homeinterior #simpleinteriors #simpleinterior #minimal #cozyminimal #interiors #simple #simplicity #doingneutralright #hygge #buffalo #buffalohomes #bflo #716 #thrifteddecor #instadesign #interiør #unlacqueredbrass #kitchen #farmhousekitchen #simplekitchen #insideast #vintagedecor #farrowandball #oldfarmhouse #slowliving
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