When you're having a baby, you quickly learn that babies aren't just tiny bundles of squishy joy. They come with a whole heck of a lot of equipment. Expensive equipment. Equipment that you use for a few months and then move on to something even bigger more expensive and more short term.

I remember sending out an email to all my friends with kids, asking what exactly it was I needed for said tiny squishy, did I really need a pack n play, and what kind of swaddles were best?

3 kids later, here's my best advice to gear up for a newborn.

You can live without a lot of stuff, but that equipment was developed for a reason! Its super super helpful, and even if you use it for a short time, it may be worth the investment.

Buy what you need, as you need it. No sense buying toddler equipment when you just have a newborn. As your kid grows, you'll know what you need to get!



1) Bassinet. I used the Arm's Reach Mini CoSleeper for my first two kiddos. It was great because it was small, like a bassinet, but it attached to the bed and was arranged just so, so as to be able to easily reach in and get baby for a middle of the night feeding session or three. I used a pack n play bassinet feature with my third, and it worked just fine. I breast fed and bottle fed, and I was glad to have baby in the room next to me either way.

2) Baby Carrier. I've said it before and I'll say it again! Get yourself one or two baby carriers! As you know, I had many a carrier, and I was glad I had different types for different situations. By my second kid, I was mostly only using a soft structured carrier (my beloved Tula) for convenience, but I loved the ring sling for when they were tiny or for quick carries at home. This was seriously a life saver while living overseas and trying to transport 3 little ones via public transportation!

3) Swaddles. You really only need a good swaddle blanket or two, but I also loved those swaddles that zipped up because baby couldn't wriggle out of it. Studies say you're only supposed to keep baby in the swaddle for about 4 months, but I have friends who used them longer. It really helped my active baby fall asleep.

4) Swing that also goes side to side. I had a lot of mom guilt over this one! I remember that with my active first born, this was at times the only way she would fall asleep! I remember laying, exhausted, on the couch, reading a Dr. Sears book while my baby slept peacefully in the swing. Dr. Sears was going on about the dangers of using devices for "mechanical mothering" and I burst into tears! I was SO tired! And baby was FINALLY sleeping! I let go of the guilt and decided that however we all got the most sleep was the way to go. She was not soothed by the front to back motion, only the side to side motion.

5) Fuzzy mat or blanket. I loved having somewhere to put baby and I used this for each kid frequently. It was easy to move around the house and pack for travel.

As long as I had my baby carrier, a large swaddle blanket, and a few diapers, I was good to go!

Love anything I missed? Comment and let me know what newborn gear you couldn't live without!