Ellie’s 15 Baby Must-Haves

If you’re bottle-feeding, your sink will be filled with bottles and their various bobs and bits — throw in pump parts and it’s never-ending. This all-in-one washer, dryer, and sterilizer has been a huge time saver for us. You just load everything up and run it like a mini dishwasher. The only downside is it’s on the larger size so make sure you have the counter space for it.

Babybrezza makes other amazing appliances, too. We also love their Formula Maker and Bottle Warmer

I’ve been a fan of my own Hatch alarm clock for years so when I found out they make a baby version, I was all in. While we mainly use the white noise option, the Hatch library has a variety of sounds, music, and bedtime stories we’re excited to check out when Jay’s a little older. It was also super helpful with sleep training; before I wake him up I put on the yellow sunrise light and birdsong, which is such a lovely way to start the day.

They also make a travel version that’s been nice to have for trips.

This baby monitor has given us so much peace of mind. It’s easy to set up and connects to an app on your phone so you can keep the monitor close while you do chores or even take a walk during a nap. It charts your baby’s sleep patterns and provides helpful tips.  

Jay’s first bath was daunting but this newborn tub with a built-in thermometer made it a lot less stressful. I added a sponge pad from Amazon and covered him with a warm washcloth and he loved it so much, he didn’t want to get out! We do a bath every night now and it’s my favorite part of our bedtime routine. 

Even though I prided myself on mastering the OG swaddle they give you at the hospital, this swaddle is easy to use and squirm-proof, keeping your baby cocooned and asleep for longer. Once Jay could roll over (around four months) we transitioned to a regular Halo sleep sack.

Jay’s teeth started coming in around four months — and with the teeth came the nonstop drool. It never ceases to amaze me just how much saliva comes out of such a little person! He goes through at least five of these a day. We’ve strategically placed stacks of clean ones all over the house for easy access.

My camp friend Mallory who works for Lovevery, a Montessori early childhood development company, gifted us the Play Gym and Jay’s been using it since he came home from the hospital. We love all the different play areas and that everything is made out of sustainable materials. The Play Kits are also great and our subscription means we get a new box every other month with new developmentally appropriate toys to foster Jay’s cognitive and motor skills.

I rely on Frida so much. Their line of postpartum and breastfeeding products saved me in the weeks following Jay’s birth. And their baby products, particularly for grooming and first aid, made stocking Jay’s bathroom and medicine cabinet a breeze.

These baby carriers are on the pricey side, but they are so well made and I use mine every day. Not only are they great for walks, but also for days when Jay refuses to be put down! I can strap him on and still have my hands free. There are other great carriers on the market from Baby Bjorn or Ergo Baby, among others, but I think the most important thing is that the straps cross in the back for additional support.

This bouncer is a registry staple for a reason. It’s a safe seat for your baby, especially before they can sit up on their own. We still put Jay in his every night while we draw a bath. It’s also light, compact, and easy to store when not in use. Once your baby is big enough, an Activity Center is a great way to keep them occupied — we love this one from Tiny Love and my friends love theirs from Skip Hop.

Mark and I were skeptical about whether we needed this in addition to our stroller, but since taking two trips with Jay we cannot rave about this 2-in-1 stroller and car seat enough. It seamlessly transitions between stroller and car seat so you can easily pop it in the uber, roll through the airport and check it at your gate. We’ll be sad when Jay outgrows it!

Speaking of travel, we also love our Guava Travel Crib; I think it’s probably the most lightweight travel crib on the market.

IYKYK. This piano play set is a hit for a reason. Babies love watching the keyboard light up to songs like “Purple Monkey in a Bubblegum Tree” (which John Legend did a rendition of!). I can sing the playlist by heart, joining legions of sleep-deprived parents before me.

Not only are these footie pajamas soft and feature a two-way zip for late-night diaper changes, but they’re also stretchy, which makes putting them on your little one super easy. Before Jay was born, I bought so many onesies with snap closures but let me tell you: At 3 a.m. you don’t want to be fumbling around with snaps. These pajamas and sleep sacks are both convenient and cute.

This humidifier is functional, dishwasher safe, and good-looking (we got green to match his room). They also offer essential oil aromas that make his room feel like a spa. Katie Couric Media readers get an exclusive 15 percent off with the code KCM15! 

Even though it wasn’t easy, sleep training was one of the best things we’ve ever done for Jay and we couldn’t have done it without Diane at Sleepy Planet coaching us along the way. She taught us so much about the science of sleep and gave Jay the tools to sleep better and longer. It’s some of the best money I’ve ever spent and would be a fabulous gift to new parents you love.