Teddy just had his first birthday so of course I went through and purged his bedroom to clear out all the baby products and clothes that we aren’t using anymore. While clothes are easy to sort through, there are certain products that I just keep using with him over and over and really liked.
It can be so hard to know what you actually need when you’re a new mom. I certainly found the lists of suggested products from Amazon or Target to be overwhelming and, in the end, not all that helpful. I found lists from other first-time moms were the most helpful. Especially after the first year or six months so they knew what they really liked and what just looks pretty.
So in that vein, here are 11 products that I purchased, liked, and we actually got plenty of use out of them. Most of these we are still using today, even a full year later.
Favorite Baby Products for Year One
White Noise Machine
I never stop talking about this little white noise machine because it’s so great. We travel with it because it’s so small. You never have to worry about replacing batteries because it charges with a regular cable. And it has three sound options and is plenty loud to drown out street noise or a tv. Ours broke somewhat recently (the button got jammed) and we repurchased it.
Crib Mattress Liners
Super not glamorous but they are very effective. These aren’t plastic so they don’t make noise when Teddy’s rolling around and they go in the washer and dryer without any issues. I bought a two-pack and never looked back.
Wubbanub Pacifiers
I thought these were gimmicky at first but then I saw them in action and now I’m a believer. When Teddy was little and still being swaddled, his little elephant friend would rest on his chest and gently weigh the paci to keep it in his mouth. Once he got older, the elephant is a bigger target to find when he wakes up in the middle of the night. He just grabs it, pops the paci in his mouth, and is back to sleep.
ErgoBaby Carrier
This carrier is great for traveling and grocery shopping although I’d recommend getting the Omni 360 model. It allows you to have your baby facing outwards and doesn’t need any extra pieces. The style that I have is only inward-facing and Teddy would much rather look out than at me.
Carter’s Fleece Footie Pajamas
Since babies can’t have any blankets in the crib with them (not that they’d stay under it regardless), I was always worried that Teddy would get cold at night. These were the solution. They are cozy and warm and also have grips on the soles of the feet which were great for when Ted started walking.
Travel Size Pre-Mixed Formula
These were a great find for traveling. I used them on the plane and when we were on the go and didn’t have enough water to mix formula. These travel formula packets were also wonderful for traveling.
Nordstrom Baby Blankets
I was given both the cable knit and the chenille blankets as gifts and they are the only two that I’ve consistently used the entire year. I keep the cable knit one at home and the chenille one in my car. It’s so soft and stains come out of it really easily.
Skip Hop Changing Pad
If I’m going out with Ted, you better believe I have this either in my car, in the stroller, or in my tote bag. It has compartments for everything you could need. I carry diapers, wipes, hand sanitizer, a food pouch or two, formula packets, and extra plastic bags in mine. It’s super handy for diaper changes on the go. The most memorable place we used it: on the lawn of the Empress Hotel in Victoria BC and on a park bench in Bryant Park in New York.
Podster Pillow
Honestly, we probably got as much use out of this as our Doc-A-Tot. In the beginning, he would nap in it all the time. As he got older we used it less for naps but once he learned to hold his own bottle, that’s where he’d lay down to nurse.
Doc-A-Tot
While we only used this for the early months, it was really nice to have. We used it both in our bed and in his crib once he transitioned there. Lots of people use it in their bassinettes as well but sadly it was too big for ours. That being said, it’s really expensive so if you can get one secondhand do that instead of buying a brand new one. We were given one as a gift otherwise we wouldn’t have purchased one.
Comotomo Bottles
Teddy stopped nursing around 6-7 months and we’ve been using these bottles since then. They are really easy to clean and otherwise have no bells and whistles which is totally my jam when it comes to baby gear. I love how uncomplicated they are. Granted these were the only bottles I ever used so I don’t have anything to compare them too.
