Your Ultimate Guide to the First 6 Months with a New Baby : What do you need? What should you expect?
I gave birth to my second child this summer and, as I’m finally starting to feel a little more like myself again (she turns 5 months next week! How?!), I thought I’d write a little update for y’all here. First of all, to all the mamas (and dadas) out there, I see you. You are an absolute hero. The sheer strength it takes to be a mother, or father, of a newborn baby, the love it takes, the JOY it brings!!! It’s absolutely magical. And so hard. And magical again. You are amazing. You’re doing amazing.
After going through this beautiful, sleepless, chaotic time of life twice now, THESE are my absolute favorite items, recommendations and words of wisdom that make life a little bit easier as a new mom. Whether this is your first baby, second baby, or third baby, I find it is always helpful to read up on newborn favorites and although everyone’s favorites and “must-haves” are different, I thought I’d share all of mine with you all in one easy-to-digest place!!! These are all the things we use and swear by!!!
But first, some:
Words, mantras, and mottos to live by & remind yourself as a new mama
“EVERYTHING IS A PHASE”
Everything, good and bad, is a phase. That’s the heart-breaking reality of having a baby. The hard days with no sleep where you look like a Charlize Theron “Monster” version of yourself? It gets better, I promise. I got to a point with my baby boy I wasn’t sure we’d ever sleep again, but then, suddenly, we just did. It got better. Even when we thought we were just the unlucky ones with a baby who would never sleep… now, he is the BEST toddler sleeper ever.
On the flip side, all the little, adorable, cute things they do are phases too. The way they ‘newborn scrunch’ in those early days, the way they contact nap, the way they look at you like you are their whole entire world, because, you are. Soak it all up. Because one day, they’ll just stop doing those things, and you’ll miss those little newborn baby mannerisms & memories achingly.
“The days are long, but the years are short”
I know you’ve heard this a million times but, damn, does it all go by way too fast. You don’t truly understand this one until you go through it, and then you understand it all too well. You blink, and they’re TWO years old! You don’t remember what life was like before them, and it feels like you’ve lived an entire lifetime in the blink of an eye. You love them so much it hurts. You think back to the newborn days and realize the sleepless nights spent pacing floors and singing lullabies, and it all seems like a million years ago. Their first year of life was somehow at once your hardest year yet, and your favorite year yet.
You’ll spend hours down a black hole of photos and memories of all of your ‘firsts’ together, from their first roll, to their first giggle, the first time you took them out to dinner, their first steps, their first Christmas, their first time on a plane, your first vacation as a family, and it just all feels like it went by way, way too fast. Did you soak it up enough? Did you take enough photos and videos? It’s impossible to feel like anything will ever be enough. But if every day you loved them as much as you could (I know you did, and I know you are) then you did enough. That’s all they need.
You guys have been following me long enough to know I’m a huge proponent of traveling as a family, and traveling with your baby! The first year of your baby’s life is the BEST time to travel with a baby, and you will not regret making time in your busy newborn bubble to plan a trip somewhere! After all, if you’re not sleeping at home, you might as well not be sleeping in Italy, am I right?! (Here are my best travel destinations with a baby, and all my best baby travel hacks!)
Maternal instinct is REAL
Listen to it. Lean into it. It is something you don’t quite understand until your baby is here, but your maternal instincts into what your baby needs, wants, and feels, are pretty incredible. You will instinctively know what your baby needs more than any book, google search, or friend can tell you. Remember that.
Sometimes, babies, and toddlers, just like us, need a ‘reset’.
When baby is inconsolable and you’ve eliminated every possible reason (hunger, tiredness, diaper, etc), try a bath, doing skin to skin, play music, or take them outside into some fresh air! To this day, even for my toddler, getting him out on a walk works wonders!
Do not feel guilty about getting help and taking time to yourself.
A happy mom is a good mom. And sometimes, ( a lot of times) mama needs a break. Whether you’re taking time to squeeze in a workout class, heading to your manicure appointment, or getting back into working 9-5, do the things that make you happy and fulfilled. Do not feel guilty about it! You can take the baby with you when it makes sense (I love getting coffee or dinner with my girlfriends and bringing my 4 month old!) but also, take some time to yourself. It can be hard to take time away from our babies, especially when they’re so little, but it’s important to remember that a happy, fulfilled mom is the type of mom who shows up her best for her children, so do the things that make you happy, whatever that looks like for you. Kenny and I live far away from family, so we have a wonderful nanny who keeps our children happy and thriving and our household running smoothly (and travels with us on some trips!) and we’ve found that having some trusted babysitters that we love on a ‘roster’ for date nights, dinner parties etc. that come up is a must as well!
A messy house is a house full of love.
I try to remember this especially juggling a toddler and a newborn. No matter how much I swore they wouldn’t when I first got pregnant, my baby’s toys now overflow alllllll over the living room, the laundry is never-ending, and the house never seems quite in order. And you know what? That’s okay.
Harrison (my toddler) loves this home with all of his heart. His books, his toys, his ball pit. It is his heaven. We have a beautiful LOVED-in, lived-in home, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. (That being said, add a monthly cleaning service to your registry!!!!!! My mom came up with this idea and gifted us this and it is the best gift anyone could have possibly given us a new parents!)
OK now let’s get to the good stuff – all of the products and must-haves that I love after having gone through this not once but twice. Here’s what you REALLY need for a baby.
BABY MUST-HAVES
Diapers
These diapers are the BEST. I have tried all the other diaper brands, and these are by far and away the best ones that you guys need. Diapers are something to invest in – it will make your life so much easier to not have to deal with blowouts every day and also your baby will be so much more comfortable!! The only time either of my babies have had diaper rash is when we have used other diaper brands. TRUST ME, these are worth it. Also you can get $10 off to try Coterie if you go through this code (not sponsored at all, they just have a referral program!).
Bottles
Babylist does a ‘bottle trial kit’ where you can try different brands. Our favorite has been COMO COMO Natural Feel brand that you can get on Amazon here!
I mostly exclusively breastfeed, but when I want a bottle on hand, I use this portable pump – which I love! It allows me to pump under my shirt without being ‘hooked up’ to the wall. Pumping a bottle is handy even for a breastfed baby because I like to have a bottle if someone else is care-taking the baby for a few hours or if we’re traveling / on the move with her etc., it’s also handy to have a bottle pumped if I’m planning on drinking more than a couple glasses of wine!
One time, I forgot my pump at home while we were traveling and bought the cheaper brand version on Amazon and it did NOT work well at all!!! Not all pumps are created equal!! Also, you will need a new pump for a second baby! They definitely have a lifespan!!!!
If you end up exclusively pumping, you may want a more intense pump than just the Elvie portable one! Your insurance will likely cover this, as well! But I don’t believe they usually cover the portable one.
This is something you’re going to be using all the time, every day. So you’re going to want something great. You DEFINITELY want something with a bassinet attachment, as they’ll be sitting like that for at least the first 0-5 months or so until they grow out of it. With our first, we used the Vista, which we have had no complaints about – it was GREAT! But, adding one more baby to our daily neighborhood walk, we decided we’d upgrade to a double stroller with a bassinet attachment, and after comparing and trying ALL of them (see my comparison of all of the best double strollers post here), we got this double stroller. If I knew what I knew now, I would have STARTED with this stroller (it’s literally amazing) in it’s ‘mono’ mode (meaning for one kid) and then adjusted it to the double mode for our second. No shame at all to the Vista (it’s great too) but this one is just, chicer. I don’t know how to explain it! It’s like a Rolls Royce of strollers. If you’re planning on having multiple kids, this one is the best of the best. But, even if you only have one, it’s AMAZING. I also like this single one if you’re more interested in a single!
I can’t live without this carrier. It’s worth the splurge. I can wear it for hours and it doesn’t bug my back, compared to other brands. And the materials are all really high-end and natural fibers which makes me feel better when she is inevitably teething on it. I love this leopard print one, too! I used this carrier from when she was about 3 weeks old, but it depends on how big your baby is how early you can use it. I also love that you can use it front-facing (around 5 months) and on the back, too! We used it until my first was 2 years old!!!!! And he was huge!
A wrap – both times with both of my babies I only used this wrap like once or twice. It’s a personal preference – this was too complicated for me to put on and I muuuuuch preferred the carrier with a little more sturdiness to it.
Paci’s – if you choose to use paci’s, try different shapes and keep trying many if you want the baby to take a pacifier. Babylist has a kit where they send a bunch of different brands to try, which is a great thing to add to your registry! If they won’t take one, or you don’t want to introduce one, that also works and it’s of course totally okay. My first took a paci for the first few months then didn’t need or want one, my second hasn’t yet taken one but I wish she would (it would mean she would be sleeping a lot better!). The benefit to not taking one is you don’t have to wean them off it, but it does make sleep a lot easier in the tough first 6 months if they do take one.
Swaddle (for the early days) and a weighted sleep sack for 3+ months
We swaddled early on with both babies but they really stopped wanting it after like a month. It is VERY helpful in those early early newborn days though to have a good swaddle. I like ones with a little stretch to them, like this brand. After swaddling and once your baby has good strength/neck control, I really like using a weighted sleep sack – these are our favorites!
Portable white noise machine – this is ours, super helpful, especially on-the-go!
Infant car seat – this is ours and it’s super lightweight
Diaper pail – we have two! one on the bottom floor and one on our second level. We love ours – it hides ALL smell it’s amazing.
Baby monitor – we LOVE ours. Also, it has white noise in the machine so you don’t need a separate white noise machine (outside of the portable one I linked above for on-the-go!)
A breathable, easy to wear nursing ‘cocoon’ I use this ALL THE TIME!!!
BABY CLOTHES
I love this brand of onesies for everyday wear, it is always the SOFTEST! I go for zippers + magnetic onesies especially in the early days for ease!!! I also discovered this cute brand and looove their stuff. If you have a baby girl, I love these bows, this site for finding cute baby girl stuff, and this brand for higher-end baby girl dresses!!! Hadley wore this one to her first UNC football game :), and of course these matching family outfits for any fun vacations you have in the first year with your baby, and these swimsuits for your summer babies 🙂
Also, hot take – but I don’t feel guilty about splurging on buying allllll the cute baby clothes – they’re SO CUTE and dressing up your little baby in adorable clothes is one of the joys of motherhood – yes, they may only wear them a few times, but you can hand them down to friends and family who will LOVE them as well, and you’ll remember the adorable photos and memories in their adorable little outfits forever!!!
Bibs – we actually didn’t use any bibs over outfits with my first born because he was not a drooler, but WOW my girl is a drooler – and she needs ALL THE BIBS – these ones are so cute and help catch all the teething drool!
PLAYTIME
Your baby will NEED a play gym – somewhere they can lay down and play and explore!!! We have this one, and it’s a lifesaver – sometimes when I need to get a few things done I’ll just look over and she’s kicking the ball or giggling at the mirror. It’s sooooo cute!!!! and I’ve heard amazing reviews on this one as well!!
A good soft play mat – we love this one, all non-toxic, super soft, and love that it is reversible!
Hadley (my daughter, who is 5 months) LOVES this little adorable llama, it attaches to our car seat or stroller and goes with us everywhere, keeping her busy and happy! You’ll need something like this! This is another one that we loved with my son – the moose!
We love this bouncer (and I’ve tried all the brands!!!). This is the softest and most comfy – definitely get the playtime attachment too to keep them busy while you’re cooking, showering, working, anything!
SkipHop (or something similar!) Once baby turns 4 months old, this is going to be YOUR FAVORITE THING IN YOUR HOUSE – gives baby something to keep busy with and they LOVE IT!!!! The first time we put my daughter in, she could not stop giggling, it was the CUTEST.
Books, books, and more books.
My son LOVES books, he cannot get enough, and, at 4 months now, my daughter is starting to be obsessed too! For babies under 6 months, I’d recommend this book and this book, and also this book series!!!
TRAVEL
These little toys are our FAVORITE travel toy in the 0-6 months age, but also my toddler STILL loves to break them out on the airplane window. The best $10 you’ll ever spend.
If you plan on traveling internationally as a family, you need to get your baby a passport! Here is my step-by-step guide on getting your baby a passport (it’s easy!). Also, make sure if you have global entry that you apply your baby for global entry as well (they don’t need their own TSA pre-check, they can go with you, but they cannot go with you through global entry, they need their own!).
For everything to pack while traveling with a baby, head to this post.
Travel stroller – I do think a travel stroller is a must!!! This is ours! I like that our infant car seat plops right onto it, and it has good storage and ability to handle multiple terrains (like Europe cobblestones!)
SLEEP
You will survive on less sleep than you ever thought possible. Have a positive attitude, and constantly remind yourself that everything is a phase. My first-born was an awful sleeper for his first 15 months of life, and then turned a corner and is the BEST toddler sleeper ever. Some babies are born loving sleep, and others need some help learning how to do it. It’s okay!! Every baby is different, and has different needs.
Change your newborn baby’s diaper before feeding at night. The change wakes them up enough to feed (and make sure they get a full feed in / keep them awake! a full feed will mean more sleep for you!), and then the feed puts them back to sleep.
Lean on your partner. Sleeping ‘schedules’ look different for everyone but one of the most important game-changers for me is the fact that Kenny takes the ‘morning shift’ with the baby, meaning I get a couple extra hours of sleep every morning (after being up with her throughout the night). It also gives dad some quality time with the baby (and now our toddler too) each morning, which is so special and helps their bond!
Consider a night nurse – we personally did not use a night nurse, but everyone should absolutely do what’s best for them! I have many friends who have sworn by a night nurse in the early days. And also plenty who go without! Feel out what you think will be best for you and your partner.
Consider sleeping in shifts – if you have a guest room, don’t be afraid to use it and take turns having ‘shifts’ of sleep. If one of you is on call, the other can get at least a solid few hours of sleep in the totally quiet bedroom.
BATHTIME
We love these hooded towels for bathtime! The material is so luxe and soft and I love the blue gingham! (they have pink too for girls!) A friend got them for us as a baby gift and I’m obsessed!
This brand of baby bath soaps and moisturizers is amazing to have on hand for everything from bubble baths and soaps, to their seemingly MAGICAL all-over ointment that heals everything from cradle cap (dry scalp) to baby acne etc etc. This salve solves everything, I swear. And it’s clean + natural!!
WHAT YOU DON’T NEED AS A NEW MOM!!!
Sterilizer – hot take but we don’t sanitize anything!!!!!! For most healthy babies, doctors and researchers and everyone agrees that you don’t need to sanitize everything. Regular washing with soap and water is enough! Plus, some exposure to germs can help develop a healthy gut and immune system. So don’t sweat another step in your everyday routine (moms are already balancing enough!)
The Bumbo seat – We registered for this, because it’s so cute, but barely used it at all since the leg space wasn’t big enough for my son’s thighs! They grow so quickly and he never fit into it.
Baby bath tub – another hot take but you really don’t NEED one except for the first couple baths (so maybe borrow one from a friend!!). We did have one for the first month or so, but now, I just bathe with my baby and hold her on my legs! They don’t need many baths (especially as a newborn), and it’s more fun that way anyway. I do like the simplicity of this baby bath tub because it transitions really easily into a toddler / older baby tub (which I DID use a lot !!!!) so if you’re going to get one, get that one.
My thoughts on going from 1 to 2 kids!
Some words on motherhood I’ve saved recently:
Sending all you mamas & dadas so much love. Enjoy this beautiful, chaotic, wild and wonderful season of life!!!!!!
xx,
Christina
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