OMG. This is beginning to be a #mummyblog isn’t it? Sorry about that, but let’s be real… it’s been a minute since I’ve been sharing crafts an DIYs on here right? Now that our babe is 4 months old I feel semi justified to talk about what was essential (or not) during the first few months of her life. I try to keep it pretty simple in terms of ‘things’ so we’ll keep this short and sweet! You’ll find a printable checklist at the bottom of this post. I’ve been asked for it a LOT. I guess if you’ve been around here for a while you know I’m not going to force you into buying 25 ‘totally cute baby outfits’ so scroll down to find my essentials!
P.S. If you’re looking for my postpartum essentials, see this blog post.
The Clothing
You definitely do NOT need much clothing. I think I aimed for 3 outfits (leggings, short sleeved bodysuit, and long sleeved bodysuit), 3 PJs and a cardigan. I got given a lot which make up the rest of baby’s wardrobe.
Things I love:
- Bonds singlets
- Jamie Kay bodysuits – good length for cloth nappies
- Nature Baby gowns
- Jamie Kay knits – shop the sale babes!
The Stroller
I have the Mutsy i2! I do a full tour of it in my Instagram story highlights! I’ve loved the options it has, as it can fit my capsule, a carrycot or seat facing forwards or back. It’s not a farm stroller (might look into a 2nd hand one for thrashing around here) but I knew that when I bought it and it definitely ticks all my boxes!
The Bag
I have a beautiful Tiba and Marl bag that I love. I find the change mat especially helpful. I also used a $20 Kmart backpack for travelling in America which worked great!
The Swaddles
I started using muslin wraps which are pretty but can be a bit of a pain in the butt, especially with a fussy babe. The Mum 2 Mum velcro swaddles are great and used for every nap here!
The Bouncer
Guys, a basic bouncinette is all you need! Its lightweight, easy on the eye and super affordable!
The Toys
The ONLY thing we have used to far is a playgym from Kmart with toys from Yeobaby! E loves it! A mat like this is great for babes to lie on too!
Stretchy Wrap
We’ve got a Moby wrap that was super useful for taking baby places when she was teeny. I think most wraps are pretty similar. I’m still looking at getting a structured carrier too!
The Oils
You know I love ’em. Instead of just dropping a few names I’ll link you to my ebook that you can download for FREE here. But I will tell you that Rose, Lavender and Stronger are must haves of mine.
Capsule Cover
This is one thing I didn’t really think of! I got gifted a capsule cover from Floss and love it for keeping sticky hands out, protecting from the weather and keeping bubs asleep and free of distractions.
The E-Course
Sometimes a bit of guidance is SUPER helpful right? Taking Cara Babies is my favourite for all things sleep related. I bought the newborn course and found it super helpful. I’m currently considering getting the ABCs too because #4monthsleepregression and #dying
Things I haven’t bothered with:
- A change table – I just use a mat on the floor.
- An electric breast pump – I’ve got a Haakaa pump that I’ve barely used, mainly because I don’t leave E during times she would need fed.
- Fancy bassinets or co sleepers – Baby slept in a Moses basket in her cot from week one.
- Noise machines – Does anyone really want Darth Vadar’s breathing to be the sound track of their lives? We used a Spotify track occasionally for extra crazy moments.
The Checklist
Here you go babes! Download my no-BS checklist of all the baby items I consider essentials for the first few months. Note that I exclusively breastfeed so bottles and accessories haven’t been included.
Baby Checklist
