Mom LifeThis is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walmart. All opinions are 100% mine.
Becoming a mom for the first time is incredibly scary and exciting all at the same time, but it’s hard to know what exactly to put into a baby registry. What are the best gifts for new moms anyway? Do you need all the fancy gadgets or just the minimal stuff?
After becoming a new mom and learning what I really used, I wanted to share with you what you actually need and what you don’t. I’m very budget conscious, always looking for a great deal. I cringe wasting money on things I won’t really use.
I want you to get the most bang for your buck when it comes to preparing for baby too.
Here is my top list of best gifts for new moms that you definitely want to put in your registry or buy for an expectant mom:
–Crib sheets. Skip the fancy bedding and save a ton of money. Bumper pads and blankets pose safety risks to a baby. Buy 3-4 crib sheets and you are all set.
–Swaddle. It’s no secret around here that I absolutely love a good swaddle. It’s the key to helping your baby sleep better in the early months. And after a baby no longer needs swaddling I highly recommend transitioning to a wearable blanket.
–Playard sheet. I prefer the quilted playard sheets that can go into any pack n’ play. I know many moms use a pack n’ play with a bassinet feature to room share in the first weeks or months after the baby is born. The quilted sheets offer a little bit of extra cozy comfort for the baby.
–Burp Cloths. Lots of spit up or little messes here and there. Burp clothes are a must.
–Sleepers. Onesie little sleep n’ play outfits are perfect for every baby. It’s all my son ever wore when he was first born. They stay in place and keep the baby warm and covered.
–Car mirror. Anytime you are traveling with a rear-facing baby, you will love the ability to see your easily while running errands and beyond.
–Diapers and wipes. Every mom needs diapers and wipes, even if she plans to cloth diaper. Believe me, there are always times when disposable diapers are needed and quality matters. Pampers Swaddlers Super Pack is always my go-to diaper purchase because I know they won’t leak, especially after the baby is sleeping longer stretches during the night. And since Pampers® Swaddlers is the #1 choice of hospitals, you know it’s a quality product. *based on hospital sales data.
–Bottles. Even if a mom is breastfeeding, she will need at least a few bottles. Moms need to get out from time to time and a bottle back up is key after a good breastfeeding relationship is established.
–Car seat. Well of course, right? I say go with the safest, yet no-frills infant car seat. Once the baby is 6 months, mom won’t want to lug around an infant carrier, and she appreciate switching to a convertible car seat.
–Lightweight stroller. Unless you really, really need a jogging stroller. I would simply get a lightweight stroller and save the fancy stroller for after you have 2 kids. Grab a lightweight stroller that the car seat can easily click into so it serves a dual function.
–Swing. I’m not a huge fan of sleep props, but it can save you in a pinch. Babies are sometimes challenging sleepers in the early days, and I’m so glad my mom insisted that I have one. I used it once or twice a day until my son was 4 months.
–Baby monitor. This is key if you ever want to sleep in a separate room. Nothing fancy required. I always go for the basic model. We never regretted not having an expensive video monitor.
–Diaper Bag. I love a good diaper bag with lots of handy pockets, but I also like one that is gender neutral. This way mom or dad can carry the bag around town with the baby.
–Nursing Pillow. This is not an essential, but it certainly makes breastfeeding so much easier. I used mine for nearly a year.
You can see all of these items at my new baby registry at Walmart.com. I love how easy they make it for new moms to organize what they need on their own registries by offering a baby registry checklist. They also offer new mom stories and tips at Pampers Baby Basics for Any Mom on Walmart.com’s Parent & Baby Center.
Great list! I used all of these things except the swing. My crazy guy wasn’t into it. Most babies are though. He did like the bouncer though. I would also recommend a good carrier. I used that thing all the time in the beginning! Pinning!
Yes, a carrier. I used mine as well. Forgot to put that in there 🙂 Loved the moby wrap in the beginning and then moved to the Ergo when he got big enough. Still using that one now that he is a toddler. It was really expensive though.