New Mom Essentials

Wondering what you'll actually need as a new mom? I've rounded up my list of new mom essentials - all the things that I've sworn by during these first 6+ weeks!

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Wondering what items you'll need as a new mom after baby comes home?

As you prepare to welcome a new addition to your family, most of your focus rightly will be on the items you'll need for *baby* after you both come home from the hospital (wow do babies need a lot of stuff). But while you're spending your time comparing the competing attractions of baby bouncers, don't forget that the next few months of your life are going to be very different as well!

I've collected and listed the items that I've relied on most during the first 7+ weeks of baby's life! I'll keep updating it as time goes on!

A note on "postpartum care" products

In preparing myself for labor and delivery, I did a lot of research and was very concerned about having the right postpartum care items for myself.

My advice to my fellow first time moms- wait until you know more about your recovery process before you start making purchases.

​I was very fortunate to have a fairly uneventful delivery and the hospital gave me all of the products I needed to recover at home. I did not need any of the fancy packages and bottles that I had purchased beforehand (and now have to awkwardly gift to people??)

New Mom Essentials

Clothing: Keep it *simple*

Over-arching guidance: Do not run out and purchase a ton of "postpartum" clothes. It's a relatively short phase, and many of my larger/stretchier items from before I was pregnant started fitting pretty quickly. You will need a few things, and you will need to build a new, permanent wardrobe that suits your new body. My advice would be to sell or donate clothes you've truly outgrown in 9 months, either physically or emotionally, and focus on buying clothes for your new life. 

That said, there are a few items I would recommend investing in, for the postpartum period specifically:​​​

Stretchy bottoms

Given my body type, not to mention where the action is happening, I was most concerned about the type of bottoms I'd be able to wear once I got home from the hospital. For the first couple weeks, I continued wearing the tightest of my maternity pants - the ones I'd worn early on, before I had the massive bump. But, pretty quickly, I got back into my pre-baby leggings. So, I'd recommend buying a few cheap leggings, joggers, and bike shorts, just about one size larger than you'd usually wear, with the knowledge that they may end up in the charity pile relatively quickly.

T-Shirts

A non-negotiable essential for your postpartum wardrobe is a giant stack of "layering" t-shirts (which will be your only layer). Our little one spits up a lot, and with being a first time breastfeeder, I am still changing my shirt at least once a day...and in the beginning it was probably 3x. So, I keep a stack of t-shirts, almost all of which are from Target and Old Navy, and just pop them into the communal hamper when they become befouled! More on my communal hamper approach below...

Pajamas

I continued wearing my maternity pajamas longer than my maternity "day time" clothes because, let's be real, priorities! But, pretty soon they started to fall off, without that giant bump to hold them up! Tripping while carrying baby isn't ideal, so when you're placing that t-shirt order, grab some cheap joggers.

Slip-on Footwear

My love for slip-on shoes and sneakers has in no way abated, even though I can finally bend over again! When you're desperately trying to round up the entire pack to head out the door, don't let shoes hold you back one second.

Postpartum underwear

One true "postpartum" purchase I do strongly recommend is postpartum panties. They're looser where it sounds, and though I shrank out of them, I was very glad to know I had something I could feel comfortable in after I escaped the mesh panties.

The right bras

If you'll be breastfeeding, don't forget to buy the right bras- you will need them right away. I bought this awesome nursing AND pumping bra from Kindred Bravely (pictured below), which is compatible with my Willow pumps. I also grabbed a purely nursing bra, for days when I know I won't be pumping. It's sort of a gamble, since you don't know how it'll all end up going, but before to have at least one in your hospital bag, while you figure things out! Oh, and don't buy anything "cute" - it won't fit and it'll be itchy as hell. There's time for cute bras later!

Entertainment

For the first few days, it won't feel like you need it, but relatively quickly you'll discover that there's a fair amount of downtime when you're home with a new baby. During times that you're alone, it can also be a bit isolating. So, be prepared!

TV Binge list

Make a list of shows (I wouldn't recommend movies - too long both for the length of your breaks and for a tired mind to keep up  with) you've been meaning to watch! If you're even remotely interested in all things British, that was the original intent of this blog, so I have lots of suggestions on that front:

• Best Shows on BritBox
• Best Shows on AcornTV
• British Detective Series to Stream Right Now
• 10 British Comedies You Need to Watch

Airpods

If somehow you've gotten this far without AirPods, now is the time to invest. Sometimes you are just going to need content in your ear to keep you entertained when you're doing some of the more mundane tasks associated with new motherhood (read: endless laundry).

Eating & Drinking

Water

I've never been so thirsty as when I was pregnant and now nursing! Obviously, take home the awesome water bottle from the hospital (pictured below) - I'm still using mine and bought a second! It's not breakable, easy to carry around, and in a tight spot, someone else can feed you water! What more could you want??

Iced Coffee

The joke with being a parent, whether new or not, is that you'll never drink a hot cup of coffee again. While it's certainly true that kiddos seem to act up the MINUTE you sit down with your pipping hot cup in the morning, never fear, there is plenty of time for coffee in your future.

​That said, you can't drink a hot beverage while holding an infant, so why not lean into iced coffee?

Stemless Wine Glasses

I broke the first "normal" wine glass with a stem that I tried to use, completely sleep deprived. Admit defeat. Go stemless.

Pain killers

Whether for actual recovery from childbirth, sore thumbs from baby wrangling, or headaches from not sleeping normally, you're going to want a good stash of over-the-counter pain meds, if you somehow don't have them already.

Staying Organized

Hamper

My #1 tip for staying organized at home with a new baby is keeping a hamper in a central location where you'll be spending most of your time. (For us, it's in the family room, at the top of the stairs to the basement, where our laundry is). Into this hamper every day, just dump towels, burp clothes, your own shirts, baby shirts, baby sheets, and the list goes ON. Run that laundry everyday when the pile gets big enough, and put away when you have time. 

Shower caddy

With a late summer baby, I happened to be shopping for baby gear just when the stores were stocked with their "back to college" merchandise. After a few weeks of making little piles of all my nursing and baby necessities in various rooms, I was suddenly struck by inspiration - and I bought a shower caddy for all of my odds and ends. Now, I always know where to find the baby socks and Lanolin.

Baby's crying...

Not even joking. That's it for now! Thanks for stopping by!!