These Are the Things You Really Need to Welcome a New Baby

Being in the world is a big adjustment for your little one, and anything you can do to make it easier is a plus. These adorable swaddle sleep sacks give your baby the feeling of security and warmth they crave. Plus, this is a great way to keep baby warm without using blankets. After raising two babies with serious colic and sensory issues, this is my go-to gift for new parents.

Sleep is a big deal when you've got a new baby, and this white noise machine is an absolute must for any parent. We bought this when my second baby was born, and he's 12 now. We're still using it every night, and we bought a second one for travel. Being able to keep the noise consistent helps build a great bedtime routine.

It doesn't seem possible, but yes, your baby can actually be even more adorable. Just try out this bear sleeper for proof. The little bear feet are totally the cutest, and it washes well too. I buy these for baby gifts all the time because they were so sweet on my own babies. Get them a little bit big because this brand runs small.

This ring stacker is a classic for a reason: babies really love it. We had two of these, and they both got played with a lot. They're a really simple educational toy that makes a wonderful gift too. Bonus: with both my kids, I learned their favorite color before they could talk by watching which of these rings they picked up most.

We had this toy boat for years because it took forever for kids to get tired of using it. It's one of those toys that grows with the kids. Babies can hold and play with the colored balls, and toddlers and preschoolers can pound them with the hammer. It's also great for pretend play. While this is a little pricier than what you might normally get, it's an investment. It definitely lasts through multiple kids too.

The chomping alligators on this wooden walker are perfect for making walking a little bit more fun. My kids took some of their first steps hanging onto the bar of this toy. It made them feel super secure, and it was adorable to watch too.

A high chair can take up a ton of space, and that's not always awesome. We had a normal high chair for my first baby, but for my second, we got this space-saving high chair. There's a lot to love about this. It has a tray that goes in the dishwasher (trust me; this is a must). When the baby is older, you can take the tray off and use the chair as a booster. And you don't need to sacrifice space in your home for a bulky stand-alone high chair. Win!

Buying a car seat can be a little bit nerve-wracking. They're expensive, and they're so important. When my babies were little, I did a deep dive into what makes car seats safe, and I loved these convertible car seats from Britax. They have a really great reputation, and they grow with your kid so you don't have to keep buying new ones. They're also really easy to install, which is important too.

Babies get bored, just like the rest of us. And a bored baby is not a great thing for a parent's sanity. In the stroller or car seat, this hanging toy keeps them busy. When your little one pulls on it, there's a fun chime.

Listen, there are some places to skimp and some places you never should. I used these baby diapers with both my kids, even though you can buy cheaper ones. Here's why: other diapers always ended up leaking or having blow outs, often in the middle of the nights. These were easily the best option, and they're really soft too.

This may not come as a surprise, but baby diapers can really smell. This diaper pail is hugely popular for a reason. It actually works to keep the stench to near zero. Plus, the hands-free operation is a must when your hands are full of a squirmy baby.

It might not seem like it, but some rattles are actually not all that useful. Babies have trouble controlling what they do with their hands when they're little, but an easy-grasp rattle is a great solution. This will keep your little one entertained during tummy time too.

Sure, you can buy those little sets with a fork, knife, and spoon, but you are never, ever going to use the knife or fork. Spoons are where it's at, and these soft-tip spoons are perfect. Get a dozen so you can always have clean ones at meal time.

If you decide to use a pacifier with your baby (I really, really did with my fussy little ones), these silicone pacifiers are the perfect choice. They're soothing for your baby and easy to grasp too. Get several so you can keep them in every coat pocket and your diaper bag and your car and your purse and anywhere else you can.

Making art is a fun way to help little brains grow and encourage creativity. These washable markers are easy to grip and a joy to use, and they wipe right off of any surface.

Before they can walk, babies don't really need shoes. But these crib shoes are nice to have for babies too young for regular ones. They're soft-soled and comfy, and they'll keep those little feet covered and dry when you're out and about. I loved buying these for my kids, and we always got compliments on them.

This is absolutely not going to replace really reading to your baby, and what's more, it's actually guaranteed to annoy you after a while. But trust me: this electronic book is actually your ace in the hole when it comes to long car trips, fussy afternoon errands, or visits to the doctor. Sometimes, you really just need something that will entrance your baby and buy you a few minutes of quiet. Save it for when you need it, though, because you're both going to get sick of this if you use it too often.

When you're ready to move away from the bottle, this no-spill cup is a winner. It helps babies learn to drink out of the rim of the cup, rather than continuing to suck from a bottle. It's also easy to clean (unlike those ones with straws). This is perfect for the car too.

Putting your baby in snowsuit can be a giant pain, and too much padding can also get in the way of securely buckling them in. This car seat bunting is totally the solution. You cover the entire car seat (except for their face), and when you get home with a sleeping baby, you can just fold it back to keep them from getting overheated in the house. As a mom in Minnesota, I really appreciated this thing.

Pretty much everyone seems to have an opinion on how you should feed your baby, but if you're bottle feeding, these glass bottles are the best. They are really easy to clean in the dishwasher, and you don't have to worry about chemicals getting into the milk or formula. I used them with both my kids.

Eventually, you're going to be over-run by stuffed animals, but some are really worth having. This adorable stuffy is weighted and incredibly soft. Your baby is going to love it for years to come. These make a wonderful, classic gift too.

If you don't live near everyone in your family, it's nice to have a way to introduce people to your baby. We used this awesome little photo album that lets you slip pictures into the plastic pages so the baby can look without smearing (or eating) the photos. This is great for the car too, and it's fun to pick which pictures you want to include.

Yes, you can just dump water over your baby's head to rinse their hair, but you're not going to want to do that. This rinsing cup is the perfect way to direct water away from their face when you're rinsing. The flexible rim fits against their forehead and makes bathtime way less stressful and lots more fun.

Even before you start solids, you go through a lot of bibs. Babies drool. A lot. Then when you do start solids, you need a ton of bibs because they get dirty every time the baby eats. They don't need to be fancy, but they do need to be soft, washable, and plentiful. That's where this bib multipack comes in.

Cloth diapers aren't just for diapering. In fact, if you're like me, you'll find you use them for everything but. My babies were spitters. After every meal, I'd pat them on the back and wait for the spit-up to happen. It always did, but I always had a cloth diaper on my shoulder to protect my clothes. They're cheap and not especially glamorous, but they also make the best cleaning rags after your baby stops spitting up.

Teething hurts. There's just no way around it. But a great set of water teethers can help a lot. Pop these in the freezer to help give your baby's gums some icy relief. They've been around forever, but they're a classic for a reason.

For everyday, a baby needs a lot of comfy clothes. This pack of bodysuits and pants is perfect, since you can mix and match everything. The snap design makes diaper changes easy too.

Diaper bags have gotten pretty stylish, but they still aren't purse-level cute. I felt like I wanted to preserve my own style, even when I was in mom mode. This changing pad is a really good solution. You just keep some diapers, wipes, and a few essentials in it and stow the whole thing in your purse or bag for when you need it.

A pretty notebook is essential for your baby's first few years of life. You're not going to write in it every day. You might not write in it every week. But you're going to want to remember some of these little moments. I love my journals from when my babies were little. Think of it as a gift to your future self.

When you've got a young baby, it can be hard to put them down for a minute to do the things you need to take care of yourself (like taking a shower). A really good baby swing can help a ton. I put this in the bathroom with me when I wanted to shower, and my babies even slept in it some nights when I couldn't settle them without movement.