So you are pregnant, yaaaaeee! If you are anything like me, the first thing I started to do once I got the good news did online research on the top baby products that you will need. I guess you may be a bit like me 😊 . However, in this day and age where there is so much information out there, it is hard to truly find out what is useful and what is not. It seems like everyone wants to sell you something, but what do you really need? There are so many things you all need to get in place for the baby’s big debut and you have to get these items despite the annoying symptoms that come with pregnancy. As a mom of three, I have gone through this process three times so don’t worry I got you!
The secret to a happy postpartum time with your bundle of joy is being prepared and having all the equipment that will make your life as a new mom much easier. There are so many items out there and from my experience, some of them are pure gimmicks and a complete waste of money; others, however, are complete lifesavers, these lifesavers I call the top baby products.
Of course, I won’t bore you with the absolute essentials that you will need for your baby such as a car seat, baby diapers, baby wipes, and baby clothes, I assume you know that you will need these. I will highlight the less obvious top baby products and the best brands within that class to make your life much easier.
When to start shopping for top Baby products
With inflation running like mad, the best time to get your top baby products is as soon as possible is my answer. By week 33, you want to ensure that you have everything that you need. This is because at week 33 baby can come any day now, and even with 2 days shipping on amazon being a thing now if you chose to shop elsewhere, your product may take some time to arrive. So it’s best to complete your shopping list by week 33.
Feeding
When it comes to top baby products, feeding equipment should be at the top of your list. If you plan to breastfeed kudos to you! Its usually advise that moms try to best feed their newborns because of the benefits that come with breastfeeding. If you plan to breastfeed what you will notice during breastfeeding is that the opposite breast will leak while the baby is breastfeeding on one breast. This is stimulated by a baby’s suckle. The breast leaking though can be very annoying and will definitely leave you feeling sticky unless you are wearing a breast pad. But all that precious golden juice is wasted when you use a breast pad.
The best solution in my opinion is to save that milk! Yes, save it! That way breast milk can be available so daddy or anyone else who is helping to take care of the baby can feed her breastmilk. A win-win! So here are the top baby products that can help you to store leaking breastmilk.
The Hakaa
You can save your breast milk by using a manual breast pump, particularly one like The Hakaa breast pump. You can attach the silicone to the opposite breast while you are breastfeeding to catch the extra milk! Also because it is a manual breast pump you can use it even when you are no breastfeeding to pump breast milk from your breast.
The Hakaa
Mommyz love 2 in 1 Boob Shell
These are just great, how I wished I has them after my first pregnancy. These cups serve the same purpose as the Hakaa, the only difference is that it does not function as a breast pump, but the upside is that you can insert the shell inside your bra either during breastfeeding or even when you are nor breast feeding because trust me the breast leaks even when you are not breastfeeding and using breast pads can be icky and sticky and a waste of breastmilk. The shells are made of silicone which makes them soft and comfortable, they are also very discreet and can be sterilized with baby bottles and other baby feeding equipment.
Mommyz love 2 in 1 Boob Shell
Breast Pump
With most mons working these days, we cannot talk about top baby products without mentioning breast pumps. Swollen and full breasts are no fun! If you are a working mom or a mom student, you may be away from your baby for extended periods. And what happens when you are away? Your breast gets full and painful. Even moms who stay at home with their newborns experience breast pain due to full breasts. The answer to this is pumping, assuming of course that baby’s tummy is full.
When it comes to pumping, there are many ways to do this. You can do this by literally squeezing your breast and allowing the milk to squirt out in a clean container. But this is a lot of work and can be tremendously messy. That’s why we have breast pumps now. You can literally sit in your sofa watch tv or read your favorite book while a breast pump suction the milk from your breast.
Manual or Handsfree
Of course, by now you must know that I prefer a hands-free breast pump any day over a manual breast pump. But to be fair you have some really solid manual breast pump out there like the Madela breast pump if you are interested in a manual breast pump. This pump was very solid, I just didn’t appreciate the amount of work that I had to do to get the milk out, but it does get the job done.
Medela breast pump
Bellababy Double Electric Breast Feeding Pumps
I love a hands-free and automatic breast pump and the Bellababy double electric breast-feeding pump was a good choice for me. Its easy to use and can be used plugged on or wireless. It is quiet compared to some other electric breastfeeding pumps such as Medela electric and Spectra pumps. The pump is also portable which is so convenient for moms on the go.
Goldeep Wearable Breast Pump Breastfeeding–
This is another hands-free automatic pump. The cup is made from silicone which makes it very comfortable to use. It is also very discreet you can literally put it on, turn it on and walk around in your house. It’s perfect for the busy mom and the mom on the go.
Goldeep wearable breast pump
Postpartum Clothes
Of the many lessons, I have learned from my first pregnancy the one that stands out the most is to never underestimate the importance of comfortable postpartum clothes. Certainly, you don’t want to be choking yourself every time you take out your boobs to breastfeed your baby. This can be avoided, not that you will literally choke, but you get the gist, by investing in proper post-partum clothes such as nursing tanks, nursing bras, and nursing nightgowns. See below for some of my favorite picks.
Nursing Tanks
A nursing tank as the name suggest is designed to accommodate breast or pump conveniently and discreetly. If you are one of those mamas who are looking for a comfortable and stylish and practical addition to your maternity wardrobe a few nursing tanks is it. To the average Ann, a nursing tank looks just like any ordinary tank and there is a wide range of styles you can choose from.
My Top Picks for the Best Nursing Tanks
My picks are:
- Bearsland Women’s Maternity Nursing Tank Tops Sleeveless Breastfeeding Clothes
These tanks are very comfortable and fairly easy to feed the baby in, ,and even helps hide your postpartum tummy, for those of us who are a bit self-conscious.
2. Women Nursing Tank Tops Built in Bra for Breastfeeding Maternity Camisole Brassieres
These tanks are perfect for wearing around the house. They are very comfortable and stretchy and long enough to provide tummy coverage.
Baby Carrier
There is no such thing as spoiling a baby. I absolutely love caring my babies around with me tied to my body. I felt like this was so soothing for both me and the baby and it’s also very convenient. When I take her for small walks or solo grocery store runs, I like to use a baby carrier rather than taking a stroller or a car seat to the supermarket.
My biggest concern when buying a baby carrier was safety, of course strapping an infant to your body you want to make sure that she doesn’t fall out. The one baby carrier I have ever used is Ergo. It is very sturdy, very comfortable for baby and very versatile.
Ergo baby carrier
Bassinet
If you are a first-time mom, you are probably tired of people telling you that you will literally have no sleep during the first few months after giving birth especially if you plan on breastfeeding. This is true to some extent, but we are no longer living in the 90s, there are ways that breastfeeding mamas can get their breastfeeding on and still enjoy a couple of hours of good sleep. Having an infant sleeping on the bed is highly discouraged so the next best thing is a bedside bassinet. These can save you a few hours of zees.
My pick for Bassinet is the Mika Micky Baby Bassinet
It is fairly affordable as bassinet prices go and it can be attached or removed from your bed using two fastening straps that come with the product. The sides are also breathable which puts my mind at ease. This bad boy is useful for babies up to 33lbs and because it is so sturdy if you plan to have more babies you can always reuse it.
Mika Micky Baby Bassinet
Diaper Bag
Whether you like it or not, your diaper bag will become your new purse, so depending on your personality you may want something both stylish and practical, don’t worry I got you
