Baby Products Newborn-3 Months

Since we now have a 3 month old, I thought I’d do a round up of all the products we’ve loved form Newborn-3 months, as well as products we shouldn’t have bothered with. Hopefully this is useful to someone. I’ve included links for most items. This is just our experience, as well. We are doing a more attachment parenting approach, low-tech, slightly Montessori, co-sleeping, and breastfeeding.

Yes! List:

• Swaddles: The stretchier the better, because, unlike other kinds, they make getting a tight swaddle easier. We were given this one as a shower gift, and we’ve loved it (Little Unicorn has a lot of great prints, too). I recommend only having 2-3 swaddles total—or none is you just don’t care that they are pretty—however, because:
• Halo Sleepsack: Oh, my gosh. We have a 3-6 month one—just transitioned from swaddles—and oh, my goodness! I’m going to get one more. For baby 2 (f that’s a thing), I will definitely get 2-3 of these for 0-3 as well. You can strap their arms down, or leave them out, Plus, the zipper and velcro make re-swaddling after night-time diaper changes much faster (and requires a lot less effort).
• Burp Cloths: I have a few different kinds. Burt’s Bees, some towel-like ones, and these. Go with the last ones. Not only do they have cute prints, but I found the Burt’s Bees to be very un-absorbent. They are fine for wiping dippy smiles on the changing table, but that’s about it; don’t try any heavy-duty liquid-catching with these. Towel-like ones work alright, but feel dirty quickly. My favourites don’t feel dirty after just one day of light use, and they absorb really well! No grabbing a sopping used cloth.
• Honest Diapers: I went with these for multiple reasons. 1.) I knew several people who use, and love them 2.) They are cheaper to get a diaper bundle and wipes than it would be to just buy some other brand from the store 3.) They arrive at my door, and changing sizes/quantity online is super, super easy 5.) They come in just plain white, and don’t smell like gross baby stuff 6.) They are better for the environment.
• Honest Diaper Rash Cream and Bottom Wash: This rash cream is really good. I like the ingredient list, and it works like a charm. The bottom wash was very useful those first few weeks, when there wasn’t really much redness, but she was pooping a lot. Just kept things nice for her. Our pediatrician even complemented us on how great things looked down there on our first visit. So, I guess we’re expert butt-cleaners on something.
• Blooming Baby Bath: We decided to go with this, because our baby hated laying down for sponge-baths. This allows us to sit her up in the sink—so our backs aren’t hurting—and all the petals provide ample cushioning. Dries quickly, and is machine washable.
• Soft Washcloths: These really are super soft, and get softer each wash. Very gentle for baby, and great make-sift nursing pads for when all of mine are in the wash.
• Footed PJs: Our baby lived in these, specifically from months 1-3. Being a Fall baby, and so young, I didn’t bother dressing her in other clothes 99.8% of the time. Why would I? Putting things over their heads is a pain, and they need to be warm. Just stick to a footy-pajama wardrobe—with a few cute items that you really love.
• Solly Wrap: We went with a reasonably-priced, well-known brand, because we didn't know what baby would think. She didn't love it as a new newborn, but then got to where she enjoyed sleeping on us in the wrap. Now, we mostly use it for walks (we're still saving for a stroller), and I think she'll be much, much more interested once we can face her outward.
• Bouncer: This bouncer is quality (which it ought to be for the price), and looks great in my house (no ugly safari or zoo prints here!). We also got this Flying Friends toy with it. Yes, it doesn’t have a motor for movement (so all you get is you bouncing it, or a baby ab workout), but I am pretty aligned with the “attachment parenting” method, and like that she can use it actively, or we have to be there—instead of setting her up with a machine and walking off; but that’s just me (I’m new). Baby will sit in this and watch us in the kitchen, too, which gives us a nice break. She's also starting to enjoy the toy.
• Baby Gym: I went to Easy to find a more BPS-free/organic-y gym that was also not going to be an eye-sore. This one is gorgeous! Beautiful, and baby loves looking at it, and grabbing the rings! We got our at Christmas, when baby was nearly 3 months old. I had made a very ghetto DIY baby gym before, which she was too young for, so I definitely things getting one in the first month or two isn’t necessary.
• Pregnancy Wedge: I got this for the last 1/3 of my pregnancy, but now, at 3 months old, it’s useful for baby’s tummy time. She prefers being off the flat ground, and, on her back, she can reach the toys on her gym better. Two-use product.
• Receiving Blankets: I’ll be honest, I had no idea what to do with these at first. Every baby items list I read had them on there. All I could gather, though, was that they could be anything….which seemed pointless, because all the things a receiving blanket could do, another item, that was more important and specific, could do better. But wait! After having large amounts of spit up end up in in my cleave age three times, I discovered that a receiving blanket could be tucked under came or bra straps to make a huge burp cloth. No more mess on me. Also, I put them over my nursing pillow, and my waist, to prevent drips, spit on, or splatters from getting on my clothes, or the pillow. Bingo.
• Toys with Big Eyes: My sister gave our baby this for Christmas, and she loves it! This is the first toy she’s shown significant interest in, which is pretty funny. She also likes my husband’s plush Link. We’ve decided it’s the faces on them.
• Outerwear One-Piece: That’s not exactly what we have, but it is a one-piece hooded outerwear with ears. This is one of the best things for a Fall/winter baby. Even is 20-something-degree weather, we can bundle her up, and go. This is warmer than other one-pieces, and pairs well with footed pajamas. It’s also not too bulky, so she can be in her car seat and wear this. My baby also hates hats, so the hood is really nice.
• Fuzzy Socks: With one or two occasions as the exceptions, we’ve only used these socks. They are fuzzy, and I leave them totally unrolled, and pulled up her leg, like tall socks. They stay on pretty well, too!
• Nursing Pillow: This pillow. My baby would only nurse in the football hold for the first month, and I could flip this over (so the bumps were on the bottom), clip it, and turn it to the side to make this easier. I use it the same way, now, but with the traditional hold. I’ll be honest, though. I’m a lazy (prefer to be hands, free) nurser. I’ll set her on the flat side, and just prop her head closer with whichever knee is on the same side as her head. It works great. She naps on this a lot, too, but it allows me to sit anywhere and still snuggle. Also, I can put my arms under it, and carry her, if need be, without waking her up.
• Knitted Snuggle Sack: A friend from Virginia made this for our baby, and boy has it been great. This plus the outerwear is enough for pretty cold temperatures. Also, she finds it super cozy. sometimes, we just stick on her if she needs to nap, but won’t. Puts her out every time (our baby loves being snuggly). Easy to get on and off, too.

Nope List:

• Baby Powder: Honestly, I’m not even sure what to use this for. Between the soothing bottom wash, and the rash cream, we’ve not used this more than once. But, if you want to use it, Honest is a great place to et it from, in my opinion.
• Straight Jackets: I thought these looked great—easy to use. It also so happened that my newborn baby loved a tight swaddle. This product did not get more than one use, however. See, baby has been able to roll onto her side (arm stopping her from rolling onto her tummy) since literally day one. In these strapped-down suckers, her arm couldn’t stop her, so this was a no-go for us.
• Hair Bows: I even bought one that I thought was really cute for my baby announcement. And maybe I will one say when she’s a toddler, and has more hair. See, I think there are plenty of respectable (and gaudy as all get out) bows that I see people put on their babies. And I think they look fine. But I hate bows on my baby. And she hates things on her head. I’ve used one bow, once, for like 15 minutes. I thought it looked awful. Not sure why (I say it’s like make up on a person with flawless skin: pointless, and takes away from the natural beauty).
• Socks: Babies don't’ keep socks on (unless you na pull them up to almost their knees). It’s practically impossible. Also, my baby lives in footies, so…
• Shoes: For a baby so young, and who can’t even walk, these are cute, but totally a waste of money. I bought some cute kitty booties, and I knew they wouldn’t stay on long. You know how long they stayed on? Less than 30 seconds. I was going for at least a few minutes. Nope.
• Other Toys: Until recently, we were the only things she was really interested in. There is especially no need to get toys for when they are 1 or 2 years old, or older (the ones I have are just ones from my childhood). They just take up space, and are useless right now.
• Over-the-Head Onesies: I was really nervous about having a newborn, because of the wobbly head thing. Even when I was less nervous, or my husband was dressing her, we didn’t put her in these, because they are so much more difficult to wear with that a snap, or sip-up pajama.
• Weather Inappropriate Clothes: We got a lot of this at our baby shower. In all fairness, it’s hard to get appropriate things a season ahead of schedule. However, we use almost none of it, because it would have required putting another layer on over anyway.

Maybe List:

• Baby Box: I bought this because it was relatively cheaper, and mobile, and I didn’t know how my baby would prefer to sleep. Although, in the first month/month-and-a-half, we were able to have her nap in it, which was nice, she soon got to where she’d wake up when we placed her in it, and get made that she was on the floor, essentially. We haven’t used it as a bed more than once in the last mont or so, and that was just at a family party. It’s great for travel, if you need a napping place, and it’ll be great for storage, but our baby is just too addicted to snuggles to have it really work out. We co-sleep with a side-car crib now.
• Hats: Get one or two if you think they are cute, but otherwise, just stick with hooded outerwear. My baby, again, hates hats, so we’ve only used them half a dozen times.