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Hello! I'm Kathleen and I have two kiddos. My son is three and my daughter is one, so I am all about the toddler life right now.
But when I was a first-time mom to a new baby, all I really wanted to have was that wipe-the-dirty-pacifier-on-your-jeans-second-time-mom energy.
There are so many products out there, but the ones on this list really stood out for me after two kids.
It's easy to go overboard with baby things (some of them are just so cute!), but you don't actually need as much as you think you do. And some of them you don't need at all. Looking at you, diaper rash ointment applicator.
Baby stuff can also get super expensive. Two tips for that? 1) Put the majority of your money toward things you'll use nearly every single day — like a stroller or carrier. And 2) Take advantage of local parenting groups — like Facebook groups, IRL neighborhood groups, or school or church groups. People want to offload baby items THE VERY MINUTE they're done with them, so check those first. You might score some real gems while helping another parent reclaim some closet space.
OK, let's get to the good stuff!
1. A pack of versatile muslin swaddle blankets, which will come in handy in ways you won’t even see coming.
2. This cute AND functional backpack — which is way more practical than the standard one-shoulder baby bags.
3. A Google for Families email account so your little one can have a digital baby book of sorts.
View this video on YouTube
Remember this Google commercial where the dad wrote emails to his daughter? 😭It stuck with me, so I set up Gmail addresses for each one of my kids once we decided on their names. I shoot them quick little emails on their milestones, or whenever there’s a story I want to make sure they know when they’re older. For their birthdays, I invite family and friends to email them, too!
Make sure you set the email address up as a Google for Families account so you can have ownership over the address until you’re ready to turn it over. And now your guilt about not putting together a perfectly crafted baby book is absolved! (Though those are great, too. Props to you crafty ones!)
Set up a free Google for Families account here.
4. A pack of disposable poop bags for when you're out and about and need to keep dirty diapers contained.
5. A reliable remedy of choice against the dreaded-but-inevitable diaper rash.
6. This soothing seahorse with its inexplicably ~magical and mysterious~ powers.
7. Zippered pajama onesies — instead of fussy buttoned ones — so YOU don’t come undone in the middle of the night.
8. Something to put your baby in for a quick nap, playtime, or if you just need *a minute.*
9. This space-saving bottle drying rack so you can maintain some order in your kitchen — and in your life.
10. These reusable steam clean bags — so all your free time isn’t spent sterilizing baby bottles and pump parts.
11. And a combo (and comfortable!) pumping and nursing bra — because who actually has time to switch bras to pump?
12. A sleek and comprehensive baby monitor so you can get some of that elusive sleep all those experts talk about.
13. A spare shirt when you travel… for you.
14. A super practical at-home allergen introduction kit, because science!
15. A stroller with a reversible seat so you can get that IRL facetime with your kiddo.
16. An effective (but still comfortable) baby carrier, so you can hold the baby *and* drink your iced coffee simultaneously.
17. The free Libby app so you can stay well-read (or well-listened).
18. A pair of out-of-reach wireless headphones, because your baby is going to try and grab EVERYTHING in sight.
19. A fan-favorite Pack 'n Play, because — just like everyone says — you’ll actually use it A LOT.
