10 Baby Essentials I Actually Think Are Worth Buying
Updated: Aug 20
There are two kinds of baby products.
There are the things you buy because you are pregnant, emotional, and suddenly convinced your baby cannot possibly survive without a $47 wipe warmer.
And then there are the things you buy and think, "Oh. This was actually genius."
When you're getting ready for a baby, everyone has an opinion about what you need. Your mom has a list. Your mother-in-law has a list. TikTok has a list. Pinterest has approximately 7,438 lists.
And somehow, every list contains 37 things your baby "absolutely needs."
After having 4 babies, I've realized something:
Babies actually need surprisingly little.
But there are some products that can make your life significantly easier—which, let's be honest, is also important.
Because when you're running on two hours of sleep, holding a screaming baby, and trying to remember whether you already drank coffee today, convenience isn't a luxury.
It's survival.
Here are 10 baby essentials I've used and love.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you!
Why are they making that noise?
Did they just move?
Was that a cry or a dream?
Congratulations.
You are now a human security camera.
I purchased ONE video monitor in all my years of motherhood, and let me tell you – I always go back to the old faithful audio-only monitors. I do not need to watch my baby sleep the entire time. I’m either napping at the same time or have approximately 6,048 other things to catch up on. As long as I can hear them, they’re fine.
There will come a day when you are nowhere near a changing table and your baby decides that right now is the perfect time to have an explosive diaper.
And by "explosive," I mean the kind of diaper that makes you question whether the human body should legally be allowed to produce that much poop.
A portable changing pad gives you somewhere reasonably clean to change your baby.
It also makes diaper changes at friends' houses, restaurants, parks, and the backseat of your car considerably less chaotic.
Was there a point in time I swaddled my babies in the actual “swaddle” outfits? Yes.
Did I soon realize they aren’t necessary? Also, yes.
Swaddlers, to me, are one of those baby items that you can only use for so long, I don’t see the point in spending money on them.
All of my babies were perfectly fine being swaddled in a regular lightweight blanket.
The plus side is, they can use the blankets for such a long time.
I personally keep about 6 blankets on hand because I rotate using three at a time, so I always have three that are clean because I’ve gotten caught in the “Shoot, all the blankies are in the wash!” moment – and that’s no fun.
This might be one of those things you don't think you need until you have a baby.
Then suddenly you're carrying diapers, wipes, diaper cream, burp cloths, pacifiers, and approximately seventeen other things from room to room.
A diaper caddy lets you keep the essentials together.
You can have one in the nursery, living room, bedroom, or wherever you spend most of your day.
Because babies have a special talent for needing a diaper change as soon as you've gotten comfortable somewhere else.
Also, I just love being organized.
There will be moments when your baby wants to be held...
...but you also need to do literally anything else.
Enter: the baby carrier.
Being able to keep your baby close while having both hands available can be incredibly helpful.
I personally despise wrap carriers. I’ve tried several different ones, and I don't think they're all they’re cracked up to be. This is the one I’ve found most comfortable and easy to use.
Babies are fascinating.
They can sleep through a washing machine spinning at approximately the volume of a small jet engine...
…but somehow wake up because you quietly opened a bag of chips three rooms away.
A white noise machine can help create a consistent sleep environment and mask some of the everyday noises happening around the house. Especially useful if you have toddlers around who aren't napping when the baby is - or those mornings the garbage truck comes at 7AM. SMH.
Baby fingernails are basically tiny little weapons.
And somehow they grow faster than your own.
A basic baby care kit can keep the essentials together, such as:
Baby nail clippers
Digital thermometer
Nasal aspirator
Medicine dropper
Hopefully you won't need most of it very often.
But when you do need something at 2 a.m., you'll be very glad you don't have to dig through three bathroom drawers looking for a thermometer.
A stroller organizer is basically a purse for your stroller. And if you're a mom, you understand why this is important.
Honestly, the stroller starts becoming less of a baby transportation device and more of a mobile command center.
Find one with enough pockets that you can actually find what you're looking for, because digging through a bottomless stroller basket while holding a crying baby is not my idea of a relaxing afternoon.
I have never seen the necessity for carrying a million things in a huge diaper bag.
Let’s be honest – most of your trips out of the house with a baby are going to be relatively short. If they’re longer, just keep the extra stuff you think you need in the car.
I personally love backpack-style diaper bags because having both hands available is extremely useful.
I also don’t pack a bunch of stuff. Maybe 3 diapers, a travel-sized pack of wipes, and a change of clothes. They don’t need lotion, powder, and all the extra stuff at every single diaper change – especially when I want public diaper changes to be as quick as possible.
I wanted one that didn't look like a diaper bag. If you haven't noticed, I love neutral colors and I think this is just so gorgeous!
Sometimes you need somewhere safe to put the baby down.
Not because you don't love your baby.
Because you need to pee.
Or eat.
Or make coffee.
A simple bouncer can give you a place to put your baby while you're nearby and doing something else.
You don't need the most expensive one with seventeen vibration settings and Bluetooth connectivity.
Sometimes simple is better, but hear me out... HEIGHT. ADJUSTABLE.
Are there cheaper ones on the market? Sure. But I loved this one because it doesn't have to sit on the floor. Being able to raise this higher while I'm at my desk or at the dinner table was so convenient.
The baby industry is very good at convincing new parents that they need an entire warehouse of stuff.
You don't.
You need diapers.
You need clothes.
You need somewhere for the baby to sleep.
You need feeding supplies that fit your situation.
And you need a few products that make everyday life easier.
That's really what I'd focus on.
Because the goal isn't to have the most perfectly stocked nursery on Instagram.
The goal is to make those first months just a little easier.
And if a $20 diaper caddy means you don't have to crawl across the house at 3 a.m. looking for wipes?
Worth it.
If a white noise machine buys you another 30 minutes of sleep?
Worth it.
If a baby carrier lets you drink your coffee while it's still warm?
Absolutely worth it.
Your baby doesn't need everything.
But mama deserves a few things that make life easier, too. ❤️
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