First Year Must Haves

First Year Must Haves and Things You Don't Need

I watched so many videos and read so many books on the things you will NEED for your baby's first year of life, and I made a list of things that I think are super helpful, and things that are a complete waste of money.

MUST HAVE

Sleep Sack

I got our first sleep sack as a gift, and we used it every single night until Elodie was about seven months old. Newborns have a hard time controlling their limbs and have involuntary spasms that can wake them up at night, and the sleep sack holds their arms down so that they can sleep better. It's also a super easy way to swaddle, which is comforting to infants, and keeps them warm at night when they are too young to sleep with a blanket! 

HALO® SleepSack® | Wearable Blankets for Babies (halosleep.com)

MUST HAVE

Baby Popsicle Molds

Between teething and just wanting a snack, these have saved our lives. I just mix coconut water and baby food and pour into these molds and their ready in an hour! When Elodie's teeth hurt, or she is bored or cranky, one one of these popsicles keeps her distracted and happy! They're also really easy to clean and are (for the most part) mess free! 

Mini Popsicle Mold : Target

MUST HAVE

Baby Bullet

I use this for a lot of things, even cooking dinner or making myself smoothies, but if you are unsure about preservatives or added ingredients in store bought baby food, you can easily make you own! This kit came with storage containers with built in expiration dates, and silicone containers for freezing. I blend apples, steamed carrots, sweet potatoes, pretty much anything you can think of. For the price, I would say that this is something you absolutely need. 

Baby Bullet - nutribullet Baby Bullet Food Blender

MUST HAVE

Hello Bello

Of course you're going to need diapers, but how do you know which ones are right for your baby? The best diapers we have ever used are from Hello Bello. They come in a subscription box every month, and the boxes turn into forts for your baby. These diapers are sustainable, and plant based so they don't have any plastic in them. One of the most fun parts about Hello Bello, you get to pick from tons of cute designs every month! $60.00 a month for seven packs of diapers and four packs of wipes, is a great deal. You also get discounts on other products like lotion, body wash, shampoo, sunscreen and even vitamins!

Hello Bello | Premium, Plant-Based, Affordable Baby Products

MUST HAVE

Diaper Genie

This was also a gift that I use every single day. We used a small garbage bin for diapers and you could smell it from across the house. The diaper genie is sanitary and it keeps your home from smelling bad, and the refill bags are so cheap!

Diaper Genie | Playtex Diaper Genie (playtexbaby.com)

OTHER:

Some other super helpful things that you will definitely need!

• Infant Tylenol
• Rectal and forehead thermometers 
• Pacifiers 
• Car seat and base
• Teething gel
• Audio baby monitor
• Diaper rash ointment
• Booger sucker
• Baby toothpaste and brush
• Cradle cap brush
• Baby nail filer and clippers
• Baby bath tub and seat

WASTE OF MONEY

Wipe Warmer

I personally never bought one of these, but they are so expensive for what they are. Babies don't love being wiped even if the wipes aren't cold. This machine can harvest bacteria and cause mold to grow in your wipes, I wouldn't spend any money on this product. 

WASTE OF MONEY

Bottle Warmer

If you exclusively breastfeed, you won't even have to think about buying one of these. I think that these are expensive and not so worth it. When I used breast milk while exclusively pumping I would fill a cup with hot water and let the cold bottle sit in there until the bottle was warm. It took less than three minutes to warm a bottle and it was completely free and didn't cost any money. With formula, I microwave the filtered water, put it in the bottle and then add formula. 

WASTE OF MONEY

Owlet 

Elodie had low oxygen levels when she was born, and having this little thing that she sleeps with would just give me so much anxiety. I've heard a lot about Owlet and a lot of complaints that the alarm would go off when the baby moves in their sleep. Save yourself a panic attack, and just don't buy one. If something is wrong with your baby you will know. 

WASTE OF MONEY

Diaper Changing Table

Unless you have a large room for your baby or it doubles as your dresser, I think that these are wastes of money. You can change a diaper essentially anywhere and a mat on the floor works just fine. These can be up to 1,000.00 and for me personally, I wouldn't spend that much money on something you will only use for a couple years. 

I hope that this was a helpful guide on financially, what to invest and what not to invest in for your baby!