I’ve been overrun with bittersweet nostalgia over the past few weeks. In a few days, my first child is turning one! A peek at my phone’s camera roll will reveal that we’ve made more new memories in the past year than in the past decade. Life is so exciting with a baby!
I know my baby won’t be a baby for long though. She’s growing up so fast, and that’s the bittersweet part of all this.
So many milestones have been reached — first smile, first words, first steps. So how did I manage to keep up with my fast-growing girl? In this post, I’m going to share which products helped me the most in my first year of motherhood.
Finding your bearings as a new mom takes time. Having the right products can help, but ultimately it’s your maternal instincts and love for your baby that will get you through!
Products I used the Most During My Baby’s First Year
So, here are the products I loved as a first-year and first-time mama! I’m going to break them up into groups, so they’re a little easier to filter through.
Comfort and Soothe
- Docking Pillow – This got a ton of use in the first three months before my LO learned to roll over. It provided a comfortable and safe place for her to lie while awake or sleeping. The popular Doc-a-Tot brand is so expensive. I did a lot of research online looking for an alternative that carried the same quality and safety features. I found the one pictured below on Etsy for about half the price of the more popular brand name option.
- Boppy Nursing Pillow – Breastfeeding has been the most difficult part of my motherhood journey so far. The Bobby Nursing Pillow did make things easier though. I used this every day to position my LO while nursing. As she got older, I also used it for supported tummy time.
- Velcro Swaddle/Sleep Sack – Swaddling my LO was essential for getting her to sleep when we first brought her home from the hospital. There are a few different types of swaddling blankets out there (regular square blanket, zipper, velcro, etc.). The ones that worked best for me had adjustable velcro that made it easy to get the perfect swaddle without any wrapping and tucking of loose fabric.
Hygiene and Baby Skin Care
- Nose Frida – This cleaned out my LO’s stuffy nose easily. I had better luck with the Nose Frida than with the traditional suction bulb.
- Pampers Pure Wipes – If your baby has sensitive skin like mine does, then you may want to try Pampers Pure Wipes. They are more expensive than other wipes, but they were the most gentle and effective. Other wipes caused rashes and irritation.
- Hello Bello Diapers – These diapers are so cute and easier on the wallet than most other brands! They come in so many fun prints and we didn’t experience too many leaks while using them. My long-term goal is to get onto the cloth-diapering train at some point (maybe with baby #2?), but for now I do feel good knowing these disposable diapers are made with a plant-derived core liner and sustainably harvested fluff pulp.
- Honest Co Lavendar Bubble Bath – This lavender bubble bath helps my LO calm down before bed. It’s so relaxing that sometimes I borrow it for my own bubble baths! Because #self-care right?
Motherhood Books
- The Big Book of Organic Baby Food Cookbook – Cooking for my LO has been such a rewarding experience and allows me to be sure I know exactly what she’s putting in her body. I was able to make my daughter fresh baby food on a daily basis thanks to the helpful advice and easy recipes in this book.
- On Becoming Baby Wise: Giving Your Infant the Gift of Nighttime Sleep – The knowledge I gained from this book was the key to getting my LO to sleep through the night by 3 months old. We did experience sleep regression at 4 months, but by sticking to the guidelines of this book, we were back on track to a full-nights rest by 5 months.
- The Wonder Weeks – This book provided fun insights into what was going on with my LO developmentally as she grew. My favorite part of this book is the pages and pages and pages of suggested activities to do with your baby based on their developmental stage.
Nursery Items
- Baby Monitor – The VTech VM3252 Video Baby Monitor is great for keeping eyes and ears on your baby from any room in the house. This monitor has been reliable and provided me with peace of mind once my LO started to sleep in her own room.
- Glider Rocking Chair – I probably spent more time in this rocking chair than in any other seat in the house since my LO was born. This glider from Walmart is under $150. It’s great for nurseries and I love how wide and comfy the seat is.
That wraps it up for products I used the most in my first year of motherhood. In addition to these products, I also had a village of friends and family to reach out to for support! I could call my mom or text a girl friend for advice when I needed to hear from someone with experience. Motherhood is hard, and it’s even harder to do it alone! If you need some support in motherhood, I’m happy to chat with you any time. You can reach me on social media @bgf_catholic or visit the contact page to get in touch. We’re in this together mama!