15 Things That Made My Life As A New Mom Easier
Hello! I have two little ones: a 4-year-old girl and a 15-month-old boy. Let's just say I'm a more relaxed parent the second time around...
Luvs
Still, any parent will tell you that, even if you've done it before, bringing a newborn home is equally exciting and stressful.
I had many, many "I don't got this" moments with both my babies. In those moments, I was thankful for anything that would make our lives a little bit easier. Here are my faves.
1. A pack of game-changing Carter's sleepers with two-way zippers that zip down from the neck or up from the toe, making middle-of-the-night diaper changes a breeze.
Amazon, www.amazon.com
Sleepers with snaps? Adorable. But you know what's not adorable? Fiddling with snaps in the middle of the night while attempting to change a crying newborn's diaper. I ordered these sleepers after reaching peak levels of sleep deprivation and desperation. These dual-zippered wonders were *game changing* to say the least. I was able to tackle diaper changes like a ninja without taking my babe's entire sleeper off, and sometimes, if I got really lucky, without waking the screaming devil (JK, I mean the sweet little angel).
Promising review: "Absolutely LOOOOOVE these sleepers! The soft and thin fabric makes them perfect for summertime sleeping, especially if your baby sweats a lot like mine! The two-way zipper makes it easier for middle-of-the-night diaper changes; my daughter hardly wakes up when I change her diaper when she wears these! My hubby also approves of these sleepers, saying it makes it so much easier to change their squirming little butt! " —Sara Scannell
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $16.19+ (available in sizes preemie–9 months and in three prints).
2. A mushroom pacifier and teether that I swear has inexplicable ~magical~ powers because it was able to soothe my little one, when every other paci failed. It has 18,000 5-star (!!!) reviews for a reason.
www.amazon.com, Chandni Reddy / Buzzfeed
My son absolutely *detested* pacifiers. We bought every brand out there, (including those trendy natural rubber ones), and he would just dramatically gag and spit it out. I finally handed him this alien/mushroom looking thing, and he took to it immediately. Don't ask me what secret superpowers it has (other parent reviewers are equally stumped). All I know is that he loved chewing on it, and it was easy for him to hold, meaning it wasn't dropped on the floor 50 times a day.
Note: Please supervise your baby when using this, and make sure it's never flipped inside out.
Promising review: "MUST-HAVE FOR TEETHING BABY. We have tried so many teethers, and none of them gave my little guy relief, and he had trouble holding, etc. He loves to chew on his hand, so this is perfect as it has grips in the middle under the mushroom. He chews on it for teething and uses it as a pacifier. LOVE THESE!! I already ordered two more. 🤣" —Mark
Get it from Amazon for $6.99 (available in five colors).
3. And a pack of Boon Pulp silicone feeders to help soothe achy gums and introduce new foods (without fear of choking). Just fill with frozen fruits, veggies, or breastmilk, and let your LO chomp their way to ~cold, yummy relief.~
Chandni Reddy / Buzzfeed
I chose these minimalist Boon feeders (over the many complex options) based on a co-worker's recommendation. They're *waaay* easier to clean than the mesh ones because all the pieces come apart, so there's no food residue left behind. When both my teething babies were fussy or inconsolable, I would pop a TJ's frozen mango piece into the feeder — voilà! This baby ice pop has always gave them relief.
Promising review: "MAGIC. I wish I had known about this with my first kid! Easy to clean (unlike the mesh ones), perfect for babies to learn to mush stuff with their gums. Great for putting frozen fruit in for teething. The silicone is cushy enough that you can even put in an ice cube." —Amazon Customer
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $11.99 (available in five color combos).
4. An Ezpz Happy Bowl, aka a no-slip bowl with a built-in placemat that made post-meal cleanup a distant memory by thwarting my toddler's Thor-like attempts to toss their soup, cereal, or spaghetti on the floor.
www.amazon.com, Chandni Reddy / Buzzfeed
What do you do when you're big on letting your toddler self-feed, but are also a clean freak? Not gonna lie, watching my toddler "explore food," aka throw his meal, bit by bit, on the floor like it's his full-time job has been an emotional roller coaster: from, "Omg, he ate his meal like a boss," to, "Sob, it's going to take an hour to clean up that mess." This mat/bowl combo was the perfect solution. It suctions nicely to our dining table and does a great job of staying put, saving me from hours of cleaning up my toddler's food-related messes. Wish I had this with my first baby!
Ezpz is is a woman-owned biz that creates developmentally focused, minimalist tableware for little ones.
Promising review: "These mats are one of the best inventions for moms (not toddlers)! Saves me hours of cleanup. I love how they are microwave and dishwasher safe as well. My toddler uses her Ezpz mats every day and loves them." —Cherry Carlos
Get it from Amazon for $22.99.
5. A baby nail trimmer for being ~a cut above~ regular clippers. These come with sanding discs that gently file down nails — if you're like me, and burst into tears the first time you nicked those precious little fingertips 😭.
www.amazon.com, Chandni Reddy / Buzzfeed
One of the tasks I found *terrifying* as a new mom (and still do!) was clipping my baby's nails. Enter: this ingenious nail clipper set that comes with three cushioned sandpaper discs — basically a foolproof way to cut baby's nails without any fear of accidental cuts. Added bonus: I could even trim her nails in the dark while she was sleeping, thanks to the built-in LED light.
Promising review: "I clipped my daughter's fingernails with the 'safety clippers' and cut some of her flesh off and completely missed her nail (babies are constantly moving); she screamed and cried for what felt like an eternity. She was not the only one upset and in tears. A friend of mine had a little Martins trimmer and posted a video on FB saying, 'Every mom should own.' Immediately I purchased one, and I could not be happier! So easy to use; it doesn't hurt my daughter in any way no matter how many times the dish hits her finger instead of her nail. Great invention!" —Rick W. Atkinson
Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in two colors).
6. And an Oogiebear nose and ear cleaner, one of those parenting products that made me say, "Is this my life now?" Seriously though, it's designed with a rubber scoop and loop at the ends to gently clean out little noses and ears without going too far.
www.amazon.com, Chandni Reddy / Buzzfeed
I'm probably the only one who is unreasonably excited about this bear tool. But it's one of those things I didn't know I needed, until I bought it and realized how handy it is. I haven't used it to clean ears, but use it daily to to fish out crusty/gooey boogers from both my kids' nosies. The scoop end removes dried boogers and the loop end lassos sticky snot. (TMI, sorry)
Promising review: "I feel like a fool for spending $13 on this tiny piece of plastic, but my baby who normally won't let me anywhere near her nose DOES let me stick it right up there :P minus one star for the ridiculous price, but darn it, it's effective." —Bersbrina
Get it from Amazon for $10.99.
7. A pack of Comotomo baby bottles for any parent struggling to get their LO to take the bottle. These are designed to mimic the boob to help (fingers crossed!) babies latch on without a fuss.
Chandni Reddy / Buzzfeed
Like many new parents, we tried approx. a million different baby bottles before settling on Dr. Brown's, which really seemed to help our colicky baby. But cleaning the bottle's million parts got so dang tedious! So we reluctantly splurged on Comotomo bottles. These bottles are a parent's dream and worth every penny. They have tiny vents to reduce gas and spit-up and there are literally only TWO parts to clean (the nipple and the bottle). Also, if you're formula feeding like I was, you'll thank the universe (or the makers of this bottle) every single day for the extremely wide neck that lets you add powdered formula without making a mess all over your kitchen counter.
Promising review: "Both my baby and I love these bottles! First, they are very easy to clean, and just as easy to assemble (important quality to have for my husband). They are dishwasher-safe and I like that there are not any small parts to take apart to wash. My baby latched on right away to this bottle, and transitions easily between bottle and breast. I recommend these bottles to all my friends expecting babies, and usually include one in a gift for baby showers. If I could give these 10 stars, I would." —Amazon Customer
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $22.99 (available in two colors and in two sizes).
8. Triple Paste Diaper Rash Cream made with zinc oxide, lanolin, and oat kernel extract that works MUCH faster than other ointments to heal angry diaper rash. It's also free from fragrance, parabens, preservatives, talc, phthalate, and dyes.
Chandni Reddy / Buzzfeed
My daughter wasn't prone to diaper rashes as a baby, so when my son got a bad rash, it came with a vengeance and took us completely by surprise. His bottom was red, chapped, raw, and bleeding. I tried slathering on A&D, Desitin, you name it, and it only seemed to get worse — to the point that the poor thing was crying out in pain during diaper changes. A Facebook moms group recommended this cream and I promptly bought it. Luckily, they were right. I'm not exaggerating when I say it cleared up his rash in two days. If you're hesitating because it's expensive, don't — this thing is the bomb!
Promising review: "This literally heals terrible diaper rash almost overnight. When my eldest was about 7 to 9 months old, she would get awful diaper rash, it felt like, every other day! It was frequently so bad that she would scream in pain at every diaper change. When another mother at church saw me changing her once she sympathetically told me, 'Triple Paste. Just lather it on at night and that will be mostly gone in the morning.' I was shocked when I saw the price of the stuff! My husband was just finishing college, so money was a bit tight. But I was desperate for something to help ease the constant pain my baby was in. So I bought the 16 oz jar. Just as the lady said, a good lather before bed stopped the pain and healed the rash almost overnight. Since then, I use the cheaper pastes during the day and put this on at night. My eldest is now over 2.5 years old, my second is 9- months-old, and I am just buying my second jar. I no longer have any tears from diaper rash and I can't complain about the price since 16 oz lasted me two years, and I used it regularly for several months at first!" —A. Rick
Get it from Amazon for $7.47+ (available in three sizes).
9. A chic Boon drying rack to prevent the absurd amount of bottles and accessories, you have managed to acquire for your tiny human from taking over your adult-looking kitchen.
Chandni Reddy / Buzzfeed
Is it possible for a drying rack to be life-changing? Why yes, it is. I caved and bought this grassy patch after my kitchen started to look an episode of Hoarders. This thing instantly organized my kitchen by creating a dedicated spot for baby stuff. Bottles, pump parts, sippy cups...this bad boy can hold a LOT (at least six bottles and four cups at once) and dries everything quickly. Did I mention it's a heck of a lot more cheerful and stylish than your regular drying rack?
Promising review: "Newborn twins are a mess. They took over our house within in moments of coming through the door. For this type A mama, it was a horrifying side effect of the two most precious things in the world. A friend gave us one lawn at our shower and we promptly hopped on Amazon and bought a second to manage the sheer volume. The lawn and the accessories are a convenient and cute way to keep your bottles and pump parts organized. There is ample space in one for one baby's needs." —Lacey
Get it from Amazon for $24.99.
10. A cute Fisher-Price Whale of a Tub bathtub boasting a newborn insert perfect for safely propping up your newborn. It's soooo roomy that they'll have plenty of space to splash and kick and have a ~whale~ of a good time (the insert slides off easily for when they transition to toddlerhood!)
Chandni Reddy / Buzzfeed
How do I love thee bathtub? Let me count the ways. It has a comfy padded newborn seat that gave me peace of mind knowing my little one wouldn't slip or slide during a bath. It grows with your baby. My toddler son is now using it without the infant seat. It's also spacious. Both kiddos can both fit in there together (albeit a little snugly) and splash around. Plus, it has a convenient drain for when bathtime is over.
Promising review: "For our first child, we had a both tub with all the bells and whistles. I like this simple whale of a tub better. I love that there is no fabric needed to dry or harbor mold, mildew, or baby poo. It is also easy to clean, easy to wash baby, fast drying, and baby seems to find it comfortable." —Babies Mama
Get it from Barnes & Noble for $24.99.
11. Aveeno Baby eczema therapy balm with serious healing powers. This magical stuff cleared up my baby's flare-ups when *nothing* else worked — leaving her skin dewy and ~baby soft~.
Chandni Reddy / Buzzfeed, www.amazon.com
This nighttime balm honestly works WONDERS!!! My daughter had eczema since she was about 6 months old. This incredibly thick ointment would simply melt into her skin and clear up the dry, rough, itchy patches on her arms and legs significantly. We still slather it on her before bedtime and it keeps her skin smooooth. My husband, who also has eczema, has started using it too after seeing the results.
Promising review: "I want to give this more than 5 stars!! My newborn daughter had the worst eczema. Poor thing. Her skin was always splotchy, rough, and red. I noticed a huge difference after using this once! After a week or two, she had smooth, baby-soft skin!!" —Deb Zilla
Get it from Amazon for $17.99+ (also available in a three-pack).
12. A genius Baby Brezza instant water warmer that'll dispense water at the ~perfect formula temp~ round the clock at the press of a button. A *godsend* for formula-feeding parents.
Amazon
Have you waited on a bottle of formula to warm up at 2 a.m. while your baby's cries escalate? Those few minutes can feel like a lifetime. Formula-feeding parents, I know you can relate. Which is why we bought this magical device so we could get a bottle of formula ready almost INSTANTLY 24/7. If I had to pick the baby item that helped me survive those first few months with a newborn this would be it.
Promising review: "This thing is a must have for anyone feeding formula. Let me reiterate.......MUST HAVE. Sure, you can buy the 'traditional' bottle warmers. And they work fine, don't get me wrong. But if you are looking at this product, and this review, YOU know what it's like at 4 am, screaming hungry baby, trying to make a bottle of formula and then wait 2-4 minutes for it to warm up. Oh, you pre-prepared some formula that's in the fridge so it would be easier like we used to do? Well then you're gonna wait longer for those old bottle warmers. Not so with this miraculous blessing of a miracle wrapped up in a modest plastic package! No sir/ma'am! Put the bottle under the dispenser, hold down the lever for two to four SECONDS, dump in your powder, shake and voila! You are feeding that hungry ridiculously loud screaming baby in more seconds. Yes, you can buy the $200–$400 machines that make your formula for you on the spot. But why? This little miracle device is $50!!! Seriously, everyone who bottle feeds formula should own one of these. The temperature is SPOT ON and it is INSTANT. Please do yourself the biggest favor ever and buy it. You will never be sorry you did." —aigh11
Get it from Amazon for $59.99 (available in three styles).
13. A classic Marpac Dohm white noise machine because even though it may seem ridiculous to buy a gadget that literally has an actual fan inside (no artificial sounds) — it'll pay for itself when your baby doesn't wake up at the slightest noise.
Chandni Reddy / Buzzfeed
Before we got this noise machine, it was nearly impossible to watch TV after our baby went to bed. She is the worst sleeper on the planet and would wake up even if one of us sneezed. This noise machine gave us our Netflix time back 🙏. Unlike high-tech machines that use artificial sounds, this one uses the soothing ambient sounds of actual rushing air to drown out noises — basically proving there's nothing better than the real thing. We've even watched Money Heist downstairs in our living room with surround sound, and our light sleeper ~slept soundly~ through all the ruckus.
PS – I bought that giant Baby Yoda Squishmallow from Costco but you can score a smaller version from Amazon here.
Promising review: "Our 4-year-old daughter was waking up at night yelling for mom and dad four to five nights a week, and my wife or I would end up having to crawl into bed with her in the middle of the night to get her back to sleep. I purchased the Dohm-DS because we were so afraid that our newborn's crying in the nursery next to her bedroom would make things worse that we were willing to try anything to prevent an extra nighttime episode. We have had the Dohm running in her room now for about two weeks, and she hasn't woken up once during the night since! And she falls asleep faster, too. The Dohm has given us our nights back, and we love it so much that we bought a second one for the nursery." —Unkie_D
Get it from Amazon for $46.95.
14. A ridiculously clever mash and serve bowl with grooves that'll let you puree fresh fruits and veggies quickly on the spot — all while singing à la ::Rihanna:: "Where have you been all my liiiiiife?"
It's really hard for me to overstate just how much I love this little dishwasher-safe, microwave-safe, and BPA-free bowl! It totally took the stress out of mealtimes and dining out, once my daughter started solids. I could mash up bananas or avocados in 20 seconds flat (and not stress over prepping a meal in advance). It's also super convenient to serve the meal in the same bowl!
Promising review: "Where has this product been all these months! I thought I was doing well mashing up food with a fork in a bowl, but this does the work SO much better! At 11 months, we are past the stage of pureeing baby food in a blender, because she can have her food a little chunkier. This masher is perfect, you can throw steamed vegetables in the there and have dinner made in seconds. It does great work on fruit that I add to yogurt for breakfast. It's so simple you think you might not need it, but it makes a big difference!"—SanDiegoMommy
Get it from Amazon for $7.78.
15. A classic Diaper Genie designed to quickly trap the stench of poopy diapers in its odor-controlled abyss, before even a whiff escapes.
Chandni Reddy / Buzzfeed
This pail saved me a dozen trips daily to our garage to dispose of poopy diapers in the trash. It does a great job of locking in the stench and keeping our nursery smelling fresh, despite my kiddo's valiant efforts. Doesn't mean the smell doesn't hit hard when the lid is open, tbh, but I'll still take that as a win.
Promising review: "I have heard both sides of the Diaper Genie...whether it's worth the money or not. After using it for nine months, I am a full supporter! Babies poop A LOT and after giving birth sometimes just standing up takes all your energy. This will save you countless trips to the garbage can all day long. It contains the smell really well. We have only recently (after nine months) started having it smell every once in a while. This is due to his diapers smelling worse now that he is eating solids and because he doesn't poo as much, so the diapers sit longer. If we stay on top of changing it out before it fills up, then we can still use it at 9 months old. Buy it!!" —A.Clark
Get it from Amazon for $38.99+ (available in three colors).
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.
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