As your pregnancy progresses, you may start thinking of the “stuff” that will accompany bringing your baby into your home. For some, the prospect of shopping for baby gear and clothes is exciting! For others, it can feel overwhelming. However this feels for you, it’s okay! In general, I believe that less is more when it comes to baby gear. Babies have lots of needs but those are almost entirely met by you as a parent, rather than by things in your house. However, there are some products on the market that make life with a newborn easier, and here I’m going to share some of my favorite things.

A baby outfit and accessories are arranged on the floor. A St. Louis postpartum doula can help a family prepare to welcome their baby.

This list is not the most glamorous, but consider this the inside scoop from a mom and doula. I still recommend that you make a fun shopping trip to pick out a special baby outfit or two, some beautiful nursery décor, and anything else that feels special to you. But when it comes to the nitty gritty aspects of daily baby care, the products on this list will make life feel easier and more efficient.

Please note that these are NOT affiliate links or any types of sponsorships. These are just personal favorites that I like to share in case they might be a good fit for your needs.

A Postpartum Doula’s Favorite Baby Products

Diaper Genie

Let’s face it: few products in your house will get more use than a diaper pail. There are lots of options out there, but my favorite part about the Diaper Genie is the foot pedal to open the lid. With one hand on baby and one hand holding a dirty diaper, being able to recruit your foot for this job makes the process much easier. The one downside of the Diaper Genie is that you have to buy special trash bags, but Target’s Up and Up brand offers a cheaper option for the refill bags.

Burp Cloths

There are lots of adorable burp clothes out there, and these are a common baby shower gift. So many of the brands are very expensive, though! My favorite burp cloth is actually sold under the name of a cloth diaper, but not in today’s sense of cloth diapering. Gerber Flatfold Cloth Diapers are ideal burp cloths for several reasons. First, they’re very affordable, at just over a dollar per cloth in this multipack. They’re the perfect size and are very absorbent. Finally, they wash well and dry quickly, unlike the thicker quilted options that take more than one dryer cycle to truly get dry. Also, burp cloths are one of the few products where “more is more” – you can’t have enough of these if your baby spits up frequently, you have oversupply and feeds are leaky, or many other reasons. At this price point, you can stock up and save money for more exciting purchases.

Nail Clippers

Clipping a baby’s fingernails is perhaps the scariest job for a new parent! The Frida Baby Nail Clippers makes the job a little easier with a window that allows you to see what you’re actually clipping. The clippers are a good size for a parent’s hand, and the set also comes with a nail file that you can use along with, or even instead of, the clippers. Regardless of what brand you choose, my best advice is to take all the time you need and focus on clipping one or two nails at a time, rather than feeling like you have to do all of both hands at once.

Passive Breast Pump

The Haakaa Milk Collector has gained popularity in recent years. This is considered a passive breast pump, meaning that there’s no electric or manual force extracting the milk, only gentle suction from the positioning of the silicone device. The Haakaa is perfect for collecting leaking milk on one breast while feeding at the other; removing just enough milk to relieve pressure without signaling to your body that a full feed is occurring; and collecting small bits of milk that add up to a bottle feed when you’re going to be away from your baby. Like anything related to breastfeeding, it’s helpful to get some professional tips on how to best use it for maximum comfort and efficiency.

Changing Pad Liners

There are lots of beautiful cloth changing pad covers, and these are often lovingly chosen to match a nursery’s design and color scheme. But once babies arrive, changing pad covers seem much less useful because babies are pros at getting them dirty very quickly, which leads to extra laundry. And having many changing pad covers gets expensive and bulky. Enter the changing pad liner! These are thin waterproof covers that you just put on top of the changing pad cover (or even an uncovered pad, or it can be used by itself on the floor or on-the-go). These will catch the leaks and messes from diaper changes and can easily be washed and dried, leaving the changing pad cover below unharmed. This is my favorite baby shower gift because they were one of my very favorite products as a mom!

Bathtub

With so many available styles, it can be hard to choose an infant bathtub, or even to know if you need one. This style from The First Years is my favorite, with the newborn sling. This sling gives new parents confidence during bath time, as it creates a safe place for your slippery baby within the plastic tub. Once baby is big enough, you can remove the sling and use the inclined seat, and then eventually the standard seat when your baby can sit on her own. The First Years tub is much more affordable than other options that feel less practical to me, so it’s a winner on many fronts.

Dishwasher Basket

At just about $7, this Munchkin dishwasher basket is a very valuable addition to your kitchen. The basket holds all the tiny parts – bottle nipples, pacifiers, pump parts, etc. – that could otherwise get lost or damaged in the dishwasher. Even beyond the infant stage, this is helpful for sippy cup tops, straws, and more.

I hope this list is helpful as you prepare to welcome your baby. I’m always happy to share additional recommendations about favorite products. Feel free to contact me with any questions!

Kathleen Robbins, a postpartum doula and Certified Lactation Counselor, provides in-person postpartum support to families in the St. Louis area and online and texting doula support to families in any location. For more information and to discuss how postpartum doula support could be the right fit for your family, reach out today.