OH the newborn stage! Filled with such joy, excitement, and honestly a bit of anxiety! I remember sitting in the nursery soon after a baby shower and looking at all of the new things we had been gifted feeling in such awe! Along with a few things that definitely became some newborn must-haves!
I was in awe that people loved us so much they wanted to give us things to support our new little one coming into the world. They wanted to support us as new parents and help us with each part along the way! They new the perfect newborn must-haves even if we didn’t!
I had done my research! I had the perfect idea in my head of how to set it all up and make it the perfect space for our sweet baby. Lucky for me those same women that came to the shower knew a thing or 2 about having a baby too!
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I’m giving you all the secrets today of the things I got at our baby showers that I never knew I needed! Some of these things I honestly didn’t even know existed and certainly didn’t find them on the “must have” newborn baby checklists!
Before you read all about them, please comment down below and let me know exactly what baby gifts you received that you didn’t know you’d need!
Also don’t forget to share this list with a mommy-to-be!
Boxes, Bins, & Crates
Thankfully! Our wonderful friends & family found the cutest bins & boxes to put the baby’s goodies in that I was able to keep for the nursery later.
We received a nice box for my son that we’ve kept all of his keepsakes in. Things like baby shower cards, birthday cards, pictures from his cousins, and other memory keepsakes.
We also received various sized boxes and bins that we are using around the nursery for different items. We have one for extra diapers and wipes, a small one for books, and another one for toys.
I have bins in the closet for clothes that are too big or too small.
Wet/Dry Bag
I had no idea what a wet/dry bag was, luckily my mom did! She found one at T.J. max after a co-worker told her it was a definite newborn must have for her! I’m so grateful for that co-worker. My oldest is 3 and we have used this bag everyday this summer!
The one we have is made by Skip-Hop. It has 2 zippers, one at the top for wet items (like a blow-out or swim suit) the front zipper is a mesh pocket for dry items like extra clothes, diapers, or wipes. It is a must have for our diaper bag and pool bag.
After we had our second I bought a random pack of wet/dry bags from Amazon. They are definitely not the same as the original! My recommendation to you is to just skip the others and get the Skip-Hop brand!
Diapers of Various Sizes & Brands
My husband’s employer threw him a “diaper shower”. We were so grateful to have variety of different brands and sizes of diapers after that shower.
I didn’t know the importance of different brands until our son broke out into a horrible rash after using a new brand of diapers. After that we gave those diapers away to a baby that could wear them.
Lesson learned! Don’t stock up on a lot of a particular type of diaper until you know your baby can handle them without a rash.
Gripe Water/Gas Relief Drops
According to the CVS Website, “Mommys Bliss Gripe Water is a safe and effective liquid herbal supplement used to ease baby’s tummy troubles and fussiness. Our #1 selling formula contains organic ginger and fennel, both of which aid in digestion, relieve gas, and calm the tummy.*“
I wasn’t sure if I would need this … but again those awesome women at my shower knew! When my baby was screaming at night or other times (sometimes after I had just fed him) I tried Gripe Water. It soothed his stomach just enough to help him drift back into dreamland. An actual lifesaver for new mommas!
Gas relief drops by Little Remedies are another way to help soothe your baby’s tummy from gas bubbles.
Changing Table Pad Liners
We used these with both of my boys! My first had an adorable nursery with all the bells and whistles. We used these on top of his changing pad cover to avoid having to change the cover as often. This was particularly awesome for blow outs!
With our second son he didn’t really have his “own adorable nursery” until we moved when he was 7 months old. Instead we changed him anywhere and everywhere throughout our house. These changing pad liners were PERFECT to change him on!
Cloth Diapers
We sadly didn’t cloth diaper our boys. Mainly because as a working mom I had NO IDEA how to manage all of that. Instead we used these as burp cloths.
Ours boys were SPITTERS! Especially my first son! He would projectile and it would get all over me! My mom brought a pack of these diapers over right away to use as burp cloths. It was a GAME CHANGER!
So much so my husband went out and bought more soon after we started using them! I recommend them to any new parent!
Nightlight
This small nightlight was a recommendation from an influencer (I honestly can’t remember who I saw it from now) and we love it! My husband still mentions how he wishes we had it sooner! It’s not expensive but its perfect for middle of the night feedings, changings, and looking for pacifiers.
Its no doubt that having a baby is one of the most exciting times of a persons life! Don’t feel guilty at all about the things you need for your newborn. My husband reminded me a couple times “of course he needs this much stuff – it’s another human that literally can’t use much of anything we already have.”
When you are having a baby no matter if its your first or fifth there are always a few things you wish you had! I hope I provided you with at lease one new item that maybe you hadn’t thought of yet!
Please let me know what your unexpected newborn must-haves were or what you didn’t know you needed!
I would love for you to share this with a friend or family member that is having a baby!
Love, Ashley E
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