New baby must-haves

What a whirlwind the last few months have been. I can't believe in just a few days, our little bean will be three months old. It's true what they say - don't blink or you'll miss it. I remember being newly pregnant (who am I kidding, it was just last year) and wondering what in the world I would need to ease the transition into parenthood. I decided to take a lot of the guess work out of those in the same situation we were and compile a list of what we feel are the must-have products for a new baby.

Stroller/Travel system

We researched for quite some time of what the best stroller would be. We found a complete travel system that would fit our needs - easy to maneuver, smooth ride, plenty of storage space, and it even came with a bassinet. We were quite impressed with the UPPABABY

travel system and all it had to offer. It has the option to complete the travel system with the carseat that snaps right into the stroller.  The biggest part that sold us on it was the fact that it can convert to a 2 or even 3 child stroller so we only plan on having this one for all of our kids! They have a few different options but we decided to go with the VISTA.

Carseat

As I mentioned above, we wanted a travel system that would work for everything and when we researched the MESA carseat, we knew for sure the UPPABABY brand would work great for us. The MESA carseat is made of merino wool, which prevents the baby from overheating but can also keep them warm. The merino wool is also fire resistant.  It already has an infant insert so no need to worry about purchasing one before your little ones arrival. The base is easy to install properly and has a 5-star rating with a SmartSecure system.

Snuggle Me Organic

There is such controversy about what and how your newborn should be sleeping. In our opinion, everyone parents different and to each their own. We wanted our little to feel safe and secure, and yes she sleeps in our room. The Snuggle Me Organic is a product that allows the babe to feel like they are being, well, snuggled. It keeps the baby secure while they sleep, refraining them from rolling over. It's made of organic cotton and is hypoallergenic.

Pacifier

At first, we were hesitant to use a pacifier because we have heard horror stories about the effects of newborns using one early on. We found a natural rubber pacifier that mimics the shape of the mother's breast. BIBS pacifiers come in three different sizes to accommodate for each stage. They are absolutely adorable and they come in several colors. They are a bit more expensive but you get what you pay for.

Nipple Shields

This one is for you, momma. I went through a few hiccups when it came to breastfeeding. I had no idea what I was doing, thought it came natural to myself and the baby, and figured there would be little to no pain involved. Boy was I wrong. Cracked nipples and a case of mastitis later, I learned real fast the importance of a proper latch and the painful period of two newbies trying to figure that out. My niece suggested I try out a nipple shield and man I am so thankful she did. Nipple shield go directly over your nipple to allow the baby to suck and still get milk without having direct contact with your nipple. This helps with inverted nipples as well.

Noise Machine

These can be somewhat controversial. I've been sleeping with one for about 4 years in order to not kill my husband in the middle of the night with all his snoring. When we found out we were pregnant, we researched a few noise machines that work well for babies. I've linked the top three we liked but just know there are plenty of options out there.

The Dohm - this machine has a fan inside so it isn't white noise, but the sound of a fan. They sound very similar but we've liked this one best.

The Homedics Sound Spa - This is also a favorite as it not only has the white noise but also projects picture onto the ceiling to help lull your babe to sleep.

Rock n' Play

Lastly, I would suggest a rock and play. It allows you to actually put your baby down and get stuff done! Babies like the rocking motion - think about it - they've been in your belly for their entire existence. That entire time, you are walking, moving, talking. The baby finds movement as a comfort. We have two options we like for this one.

The first is the Fisher-Price Rock n' Play. This one has 3 settings allowing you to have it rock continually, or for a specified time. It also plays a few different sounds.

The second is the NUNA leaf. This doesn't have the music option, but it does have up to 6 speeds to accommodate your baby's liking. The leaf moves side to side instead of front to back so keep that in mind. I primarily use this when I need to get stuff done and my baby can watch. I give her a few toys and make sure she can see me while I get things done.

Obviously there are a ton of other products I can talk about but these are my top general must-haves. Everyone is different and there are a lot of different products out there for new parents and babes. This is just what we have found to work with our little one.

Good luck!

The Lands