Being pregnant with your first baby also means wading through the mass amounts of baby items out there, trying to figure out what’s necessary, what’s not, and also what many other moms swear by. I created a big baby list of essentials, but I also wanted to share a few of my favourite and top natural baby items that I was so thankful to have.
Ergo Baby Carrier
This is my absolute favourite carrier. I love wraps and slings for those really early days/months, but if you are looking to invest in just one good carrier, the Ergo is the best! Because they also sell an infant insert separately, it can literally be used almost right away. I do prefer a wrap or a sling for when they are newborns though. But because the Ergo can be used on both front and back and distributes the weight evenly, it can be used for far longer than most people are able to handle carrying a growing baby or toddler in a sling. They are well worth the investment and can make simple tasks and errands like grocery shopping, market days or any busy festival, etc. so much easier to handle and navigate. Men also seem to prefer the Ergo over any carrier. Bonus: they make organic ones now too!
Kushies Gowns
We fell in love with the nightgown style of sleeper for the first couple of months. It is SO much easier than dealing with snaps and buttons, especially (numerous) times all throughout the night. The Kushies gowns are made of a really soft, organic material and have minimal snaps, making them very comfortable for little babies as well. We had purchased one in advance with our first baby, immediately went out to buy a second when he was a few days old, and have made sure we have a few for rotation with this next baby on the way.
Natural Baby Bath Products
Babies are so small and really barely need much at all when it comes to bath products. Don’t be fooled by companies trying to convince you that you need every sort of baby bath product out there. We found a small bottle of shampoo, a bar of soap, and some nice moisturizer or baby oil for the drier months was all that was necessary, as well as a good diaper cream or bum balm. Earth Mama Angel Baby is a great company that not only makes some awesome, natural baby products (shampoo, creams, diaper balm) but also has a whole line of prenatal and postpartum supplies for moms. I’m also a big Weleda fan and love their Calendula baby soap and Calendula cream.
Muslin Swaddle Blankets
I cannot say enough how much I love muslin. It is the most amazing fabric. It’s also perfect and lightweight for summer or those hot temperatures. Aden and Anais makes some of the most popular muslin swaddle blankets, and I’ve been able to find great deals on them at places like Winners. The Aden and Anais Dream Blanket is also amazing as your child grows – this was my son’s first real bedtime blanket and he used it for a couple of years until he outgrew it. We have some Bambino Land muslin blankets as well as the muslin crib sheet and love them both. I find the swaddle blankets perfect not only for swaddling, but also to use as a general baby blanket, for in the stroller, or even while nursing if you feel more comfortable covered up at all.
Moses Basket or Co-Sleeper
This is definitely not a necessity but I was so thankful for our Moses basket for those first few months. It’s a great item to look for second-hand since babies only fit in them until 3-4 months normally. It allowed me to keep my son right beside me for nighttime feedings though, and to keep him close if he needed anything, plus it was also a great thing to have since we could carry it around anywhere in the house if necessary. It’s really portable so we were able to bring it on a couple overnights trips as well. You can buy a separate (rocking) stand for it to sit on. I’ve also heard good things about the By Your Side Co-Sleeper and the Arms Reach Mini Co-Sleeper.
I couldn’t live without swaddles in those first months! and loved wearing my baby 😀
I know, my partner is the swaddle master now:) Baby-wearing can be a life-saver!