My Favorite Baby Essentials for 2021
As we anticipate the arrival of our sweet baby girl, I’ve been trying to wrap up preparations so we can relax and enjoy the holidays leading up to her birth. Today, I’m going to share some of my favorite things.
Since this is our third baby, we had a good a good idea of items we wanted to splurge on and things we wanted to skip altogether this time. I think every parent has a slightly different view on what’s important or essential to have for a new little one, it’s really just a personal preference. Some of these are items we’ve used with our previous two children and purchased again this time, while some are brand new things we think we’ll enjoy having but won’t be able to use until she’s here.
1. UppaBaby Mesa infant car seat– We used an older version of this infant seat with our second child and it was wonderful. I love the beautiful fabric options, overall simplicity, ease of installment and that it snaps right into the coordinating strollers with one hand. There’s even built in slots to hold the harness to the sides while you set baby down inside. I’ve also never struggled to tighten the harness properly on this car seat. It was a no brainer to choose an updated version of the Mesa for baby girl.
2. Fawn Design satchel diaper bag– I was so excited to order this pretty bag when it was released a while back. This is my first Fawn Design purchase and I’m so pleased. It has plenty of pockets to keep organized, multiple way to wear it, and a key leash so you’re not standing in a parking lot digging for them. I tend to gravitate towards diaper bags that look more like a purse and this was exactly what I had hoped for.
3. Lou Lou & Co. Knotted baby gown– I had never heard of this amazing company until last year and I’m so glad I ordered from them. They have the sweetest baby prints and their fabric is buttery soft. I loved my first purchase so much, I returned most of the clothes I had already purchased and decided I’d way rather order more Lou Lou & Co. I love gowns for easy diaper changes and these also have fold over mitts so you’re not hunting for lost mitts in those early weeks.
4. OXO bottle brush– This bottle brush has been my absolute favorite for cleaning bottles with each of my babies. It’s flexible enough to really get the bottom and sides of a bottle, comes in attractive colors and is super durable. It even comes with a weighted stand so it’s not floating in water or on a dirty surface when not in use. I always use this brush in combination with the standard white dishpan (available at Walmart in the Tupperware section). I place the dishpan down in my sink and use it filled with hot/soapy water to wash only bottle and breast pump parts.
5. Love to Dream Swaddle– We used this swaddle with both of our boys and it was a life safer! It zips from both the top and bottom so you can easily change diapers in the middle of the night. I prefer these over the popular velcro swaddles because they’re much quieter and do not get stuck to other items in the washer. They also allow baby to feel safe and swaddled while keeping their arms by their face.
6. Cotton muslin swaddle blankets– These swaddle blankets have been our favorite for swaddling and allow for a tight swaddle that stays put. Their generous 47in x 47in size is perfect and works so much better than the typical receiving blanket. I love that they’re thin and breathable and can be used for so many things. They’re the perfect nursing cover, car seat cover, burp cloth and so much more. While cotton muslin is not as soft as bamboo muslin, I prefer the cotton muslin because they hold their shape better when folded/rolled for storage and seem to stay swaddled better than the bamboo versions I’ve tried.
7. Diaper changing basket– This changing basket is one of the new items we’re trying for baby number three. I have to say, it’s also one of my favorite purchases yet. You can tell it was hand made with love. I thought this would be perfect in our master bedroom for those night time diaper changes the first several months while she’s in our room. It comes with a soft mattress, a linen leaf shaped liner and a faux leather changing mat. After it’s no longer needed for diaper changes, the basket can be used for so many other things.
8. UppaBaby Ridge jogging stroller– We used the UppaBaby Vista stroller with our boys and absolutely over it. When it comes to strollers and car seats, UppaBaby is always my first choice. When I saw they were releasing their first jogging stroller, I knew it would be perfect for frequent family walks. It pushes like a dream and has so many great features. I love that we can easily use it with the Mesa infant car seat and bassinet attachment as well.
9. Diaper caddy– This little basket is perfect for storing diapers and wipes around the house within easy reach. I love the removable insert that allows you to use it however you want after the diaper years. I plan to keep this on our master bedroom dresser by her changing basket.
10. Bottle drying rack-I love how simple and pretty this drying rack is. It has a ceramic base and is perfect for drying bottles on our kitchen island.
11. Portable diaper changing mat– I purchased this sweet scalloped mat to keep in my diaper bag for on the go diaper changes. It’s easy to wipe down, pretty and compact when folded.
12. Bouncer– I was looking for a simple baby bouncer that blends in with our home decor and can easily be washed. This bouncer is everything I was looking for! I love the simple colors, the white base and that it folds easily for travel and storage.
13. Hegen baby bottles– Choosing a baby bottle can be tricky and not all babies like the same bottle. I did a lot of research before finding these ones and I’m super impressed with the quality of them. I ordered a few in different sizes and definitely plan to order more if they work well for us.
14. Scalloped pacifier– I fell in love with the feminine scalloped edge of this pacifier and just had to order a few to try. They come in beautiful soft colors and are packaged in the sweetest little box, perfect for gifting. When looking for pacifiers, I look for a silicone/natural rubber one piece design where there are no crevices that water can collect during washing.
15. Wipe dispenser– This is our second time purchasing this exact wipe dispenser. We’ve never found the need for a wipe warmer but found ourselves super frustrated trying to get one wipe out of the package while using one hand. This little box is sturdy, simple and has a weighted piece at the top that allows you to grab a wipe without pulling them all out by accident.
16. Moses basket– When I saw this Moses basket last year, I thought to myself, “If we ever have another baby, I definitely want one of those”. This was actually one of our first purchases for our sweet baby girl and I’m excited to have it right next to our bed when she arrives. I ordered the Moses basket, liner, Moses pod (supervised rest only) and rocking bassinet stand. It’s beautiful and one of those pieces I can see us saving to pass down.
