Find all of our favourite baby products and brands on this list of must-have essentials and basics for baby’s first year.
Becoming a first-time (or second, or third or even fourth-time) mom can be daunting. There are so many expectations, worries, and unknowns around every corner. While I was pregnant with Zoe I can remember feeling so overwhelmed by all of the different baby products and brands to choose from. I can’t even count the number of hours Nick spent researching the safety, quality, and reviews on every little item we purchased for Zoe. It felt like we needed every gadget and gizmo out there to keep our baby happy and well adjusted.
Well, we learned pretty quickly that was just not true.
We were a lot more laid back with the arrival of Ella. We were very lucky to already own pretty much everything we would need for baby #2. But it was a lot easier to sift through all of that stuff knowing what we would actually use and need. We also had a much better handle on the brands we loved and the ones that held up to daily life with a new baby.
get the look
And while we’re officially out of the new-baby stage (Ella just turned one!), my cousin is expecting her first baby late this summer and has been asking our advice on what she’ll need and the products we love. I know I spend a lot of time chatting with friends about the same thing, and it’s always helpful to hear recommendations from other moms. So I thought it might be helpful to some if we wrote a post sharing our favourite baby basics and essentials for baby’s first year.
Obviously, not everything we used with Zoe and Ella made it on to this list, but we tried to narrow it down the pieces we always recommend to family and friends expecting a new baby. So whether you’re an expectant mama or you’re looking for ideas for the perfect baby shower gift, I hope you’ll find these ideas helpful.
- BabyBjorn Bouncer – Both of our girls hated baby swings, but loved bouncy seats
- Jellycat Stuffed Bunny – Ella’s favourite naptime companion
- Kyte Sleep Bag – Soft and luxurious, hands down our favourite sleep bag
- Natursutten Pacifier – Love these 100% natural soothers
- Sleepers – These sleepers are inexpensive and wash so well
- Avent Bottle Warmer – Warms bottles in only 3 minutes
- VTech Sleep Soother – White noise is a must for our girls to sleep soundly
- Swaddle Blankets – The prettiest prints around
- Bumkin Grip Dish – Makes learning to self-feed a lot less messy
- Bumkin Chewtensils – Just plain cute
- The Honest Company Bubble Bath – Soothing lavender always helps calm our girls before bedtime
- Angelcare Bath – The perfect size for easy storage
- Water Wipes – The only wipes that wouldn’t irritate our girls’ sensitive skin
- UppaBaby Vista – Lightweight so it was easy for me to travel with
- Matt and Nat Diaper Bag – When Ella is out of diapers I’ll still use this as a tote
- Peg Perego Car Seat – Safe for babies as little as 4 pounds (both our girls were itty bitty)
Now that you’ve seen our list of favourite baby essentials, we want to know the one thing you or baby couldn’t live without during that first year!
Colleen says
I wouldn’t say half of these things are “must haves”…especially those sleep sacks…I find them to be a strange thing to stick a baby in at night.
Alicia says
Hi Colleen, these are all products we used and loved with both of our girls in their first year (and beyond). As we mentioned, no two babies are the same and what one baby will love another may hate. Ultimately it’s up to you to determine what your needs are for you and your baby. We love these particular sleep sacks, they are so soft. We think they are a wonderful product, keeping baby safe and warm while sleeping (remember, babies can’t sleep with a blanket). Now, we’d love to hear what your baby must-haves are. 🙂
Colleen says
Since when can’t babies sleep with a blanket? My kids did and survived. Millions of kids have slept with blankets and I’m sure still do. Of course you can do as you please, I’m just stating my opinion, however I think you may be making new moms that can’t afford all of these “things” feel guilty or that they aren’t a good mom if they don’t have them. The new moms these days believe everything they read or hear and the manufacturers are making a fortune off of them. Tummy time, snot suckers…just a few of the things that make me laugh. As you can tell, I’m old, but I have a daughter-in-law that has all the same stuff as you. She survived her childhood without a sleep sac, as did our son.
Alicia says
Hi Colleen,
We’re always happy to hear our reader’s opinions, and we always encourage you to share your thoughts. 🙂 In regards to sleep sacks, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics and Health Canada, babies should not have any soft bedding, such as blankets or pillows in their cribs until at least 12 months of age as they increase the risk of suffocation or sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
It’s never our intention to make someone feel less than or guilty. I think as moms (and women) we need to stand together and support one another. We’re all just trying to do the best we can for our children. 🙂
We hope you have a great day!