Looking for a list of must-have baby items for the first year? You will use these tried and true baby items for multiple babies!
When I was pregnant with my first, a friend of mine scribbled down a list for me of her must-have baby items on notebook paper. I held onto that list and referred to it many times as I navigated through the (very overwhelming) amount of baby items on the market. I trusted her recommendations knowing they were her must-have items with all 3 of her own babies.
Now having 3 babies of my own, and having experienced my share of baby products over the last 5 years, I have created a list of my favourite must-have baby items that I have used and loved.
My hope is that this list is something you can refer to when looking for recommendations that will grow with your family!
This post is all about the must-have baby items for the first year (that will grow with your family)!
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Must-Have Baby Items
As always, please only take these products as suggestions. The products I’m sharing are ones I have used and loved for my 3 babies but there are many different brands that offer great baby items, too! Take this list as a jumping off point to do your own shopping, research and/or thrifting!
1. Crib
This goes without saying as one of the most important must-have baby products. If you are looking for permission to not buy the expensive crib – permission granted to not buy the expensive crib. There are a lot of great cribs at affordable prices (marketplace almost always has a good selection if you’re looking to thrift one).
My personal favourite? I LOVE the Ikea Sniglar crib!
2. Travel System (Car Seat and Stroller Combo)
A travel system for your car seat and stroller is a must-have (that will absolutely grow with your family). We picked the Britax B-Lively Travel System. We liked that it is middle of the road on price, is easy to transition from car seat to stroller and it collapses nicely.
There are many amazing strollers and car seats on the market. It all comes down to personal preference and budget. We do find this car seat to be heavy and the stroller can be a challenge to steer at times (aka with one hand while sipping a latte).
Overall, we have been very happy with this stroller and definitely got our money’s worth out of it!
3. Baby Carriers
Baby carriers have been one of my most beloved must-have items for baby. Having a baby carrier that you love makes all the difference for being able to attend to baby while also being hands-free.
We used the Ergo Baby Carrier and the Moby Wrap with all 3 of our babies and they held up great!
I enjoyed using the Moby Wrap when my babies were under 6-8 months. Having them wrapped snug in the Moby made naps on the go much easier and walks around the neighbourhood extra enjoyable.
The Ergo Baby Carrier is great as your babies grow because of its extra support! Being able to clip baby in as they get bigger (and more active) is a huge benefit!
4. Baby Monitor
Another must-have baby item is a baby monitor. There are many affordable baby monitors on the market. If you’re like me, an expensive baby monitor isn’t a priority. As long as I can see baby clearly, I’m happy!
We chose the Angelcare Baby Monitor. It comes with a movement sensor pad which was a nice feature to have in the early months with our first. We opted to remove it as she got bigger. The sensor pad is quite sensitive and I found it caused me to worry more instead of less. Complete personal preference.
5. Mamaroo
I love the 4Moms Mamaroo. It might just be one of my favourite baby “gadgets”. I have so many happy memories watching all 3 babies bobbing along in this swing. The fact that it has held up as long as it has definitely proves it to be a long-lasting must-have baby item! This would make a wonderful gift to put on your registry!
6. Bassinet
A bassinet is a must-have item for those early months when baby is sharing a room with you! There are a lot of wonderful bassinets on the market.
I used the Moses Basket with the Jolly Jumper Moses Basket Stand for each baby and I loved it! I was happy with a simple bassinet knowing we would only use it for a short period of time with each baby.
7. Pack N’ Play
The Graco Pack N’ Play is a hardworking baby item! It will get a lot of use as your family grows. Think naps on the go, a place to put your busy babe as you tidy the house, and an extra place for nieces or nephews to sleep when they visit. We have loved our Graco Pack N’ Play!
8. Booster Seat With Tray
This Bumbo Booster Seat with a tray is a great alternative to a highchair if you’re looking to save space. We also have the Ikea Highchair, but this little booster seat is perfect for baby as he/she begins eating! It also acts as a nice little chair for them to practice sitting up!
9. Sleepsacks
Sleepsacks are the best! I have tried several different brands and Halo and Nested Bean are the ones I have loved the most! The Nested Bean sleepsack is great for any baby that needs a little extra comfort (especially in the beginning as they are learning to put themselves to sleep). Halo sleepsacks are dependable, well made and all 3 of my babies have loved them! Nested Bean and Halo have various sizes to fit your baby as he/she grows!
10. Sound Machine
Pairing a sleepsack with a sound machine (and a special stuffy – see below) is the dreamy combination to help babies get great sleep! We have used Homedics for all of our babies. I personally love that there is a battery power option. If the electricity goes out, the sound machine stays on using batteries. This sound machine is a great price and has worked well for us!
11. Security Blanket (Stuffy)
One of the sweetest must-have baby items is a special stuffy for your baby. Security blankets are a comforting sleep tool to help baby get good rest. We have 2 or 3 of the same stuffy for each of child to rotate while one is in the wash (or lost behind the couch). These are some of our favourites:
12. Baby Tub
This affordable Angelcare Baby Bath Tub is sleek, modern and practical. Easy to use, easy to wipe down and not too big to store away. Highly recommend this baby tub to make bath time even more enjoyable!
13. Pampers and Wipes
Don’t take my word for it, but Pampers Diapers and Wipes are my favourite! After trying several different brands, I kept coming back to Pampers. I have always been happy with their diapers and wipes.
14. Car mirror
A simple car mirror is a must-have baby item that provides peace of mind when you’re driving in the car. There’s no particular brand I recommend more than another – the Britax Car Mirror is just the one we happened to get! I don’t think you can go wrong as long as you are able to see baby!
15. Baby Activity Centre
I love this Skip Hop Activity Center! It is designed to grow with your baby and offers a lot of fun features. Our personal favourite is the musical foot pad! This would make a wonderful registry baby item!
What Didn’t Make The Cut
Three baby items that didn’t make my must-have list are: a diaper bag, a play gym and a diaper pail.
I did not include a diaper bag because I honestly never found one I was in-love with! Oftentimes, I just used my own bags! This company became really popular and I always wondered if they were worth the hype! Check them out if you’re on the hunt.
The initial floor mat we selected didn’t hold up well. I ended up receiving a new floor mat/play gym for our 3rd baby and absolutely loved it. The only reason it didn’t make my must-have list is because I only had it for one baby! The Lovevery Play Gym would make an excellent purchase for a first baby that will grow with your family!
I tried the Diaper Genie and the Ubbi diaper pails and honestly didn’t love either! Could this simply be because of the dirty diapers? Quite likely (LOL!). I found it easier just to throw dirty diapers right into the garage garbage bin (but this is entirely personal preference!).
In this post, I shared my 15 top must-have baby items for the first year (that will grow with your family!).
I enjoyed having a very simple list of must-have items that grew with our family. I hope this list is something you can take with you as you pick out your own must-have baby items.
Happy shopping and snuggling!
