So you’re a new mom. Congratulations! Parenthood is an amazing journey that will change your life in ways you never dreamed possible. That said, you may find yourself feeling overwhelmed and wondering what it is that you need to provide for your baby. Fortunately, there are many things on the market today that can help make your job easier and more enjoyable. Here are five necessities every new mom should have that go beyond diapers and bottles.
1) A Humidifier for Your Baby’s Room
A humidifier is a must-have item for young children who suffer from congestion. Having one in your baby’s room will help to clear out your baby’s nasal passages and make breathing easier. Here’s why: Dry air can make it difficult for mucus to flow properly Additionally, it’s easy to add a few drops of essential oils like lavender or eucalyptus to add delicious, yet beneficial scents to the mix. Finally, Healthline reminds parents to keep the humidifier clean to keep unsafe particles, bacterias, molds and more out of the air.
2) Moisturizing Lotion
Babies may get dry skin just as you do and a little lotion can go a long way to help alleviate the discomfort of dry skin. In fact, it’s almost essential if you want your baby’s skin to stay free of irritation. A good moisturizer can help lock in that moisture and keep your baby feeling comfortable. Most moisturizers are made specifically for babies so they should be gentle enough for even newborns.
3) Books for You and Your Baby
A newborn’s brain soaks up new stimuli and new information like a sponge. Reading to your child every day in his or her first few years for optimal brain development and language acquisition. In addition to being important for cognitive development, reading books is a valuable bonding experience for new parents and their babies.
Choose an assortment of books so that you can keep it fresh. Babies like repetition, but you might get bored after a time, so having an assortment of books keeps both you and your baby engaged. Board books work very well for kids under two or three, while other books with more complicated stories (and more fragile pages) can be introduced down the road.
4) Plenty of Baby Clothes
Baby clothes started to look stained and may even look ruined pretty fast. Kids can be rough on clothes. Your baby may love that super cute new outfit, but it may start to look worn after just a few outings. Instead of worrying about keeping your baby pristine and new, try buying some clothes from consignment shops or on sale at other stores.
You can also ask around to see if friends and family have any spare baby clothes for your little one. As long as they are still in good condition, used baby clothes can work just as well as brand new ones. As a bonus, you don’t worry as much about the cost when they do get ruined.
Another option you have is to buy clothing items that are reversible. Clothing options such as Posh Peanut have reversible clothing, which allow you to extend the life of your baby’s clothing. Solutions like these keep your baby looking cute and stylish for not a lot of money.
5) A Coffee and Tea Subscription for New Moms
Have you ever looked at all of those coffee or tea subscription services out there and thought about subscribing? Now that you have a new baby, you may be even more inclined to try something like this. Even caffeine-free options can go a long way to helping you perk up in the early morning, due to the psychological pick-me-up such treats provide.
The great thing about these types of subscriptions is that you have the opportunity to try new flavors of coffee and tea each month, which is like getting a little gift in the mail that’s just for you. It’s a way to pamper yourself without spending too much money and without having to spend extra time in the grocery store, searching for your favorite new cuppa.
Final Thoughts on What New Moms Need
As a new mom, you’ll need more stuff than you can sometimes imagine. It’s best to start off with just a few items, like the things on this list. This allows you to get a feel for what you need before you spend more money on new items. Once you have a better idea of what you and your baby need, you can add more items to your collection.
