I can’t believe our baby girl is here!! I started this list of baby registry and nursery essentials while I was still in nesting mode, after lots of research from friends, baby classes, and the internet. Now that we’ve already been in the trenches, I can actually list my favorite items based on how often I’m using them.
Check out my complete Amazon shopping list for even more ideas.
MUST-HAVE: MomCozy Bottle Washer $239.99 (20% OFF), was $299.99
After over a month taking care of a newborn, the absolute most valuable item we’ve gotten is our MomCozy KleanPal Pro Baby Bottle Washer. It’s basically a countertop dishwasher, but for baby bottles, pump parts, pacifiers, and anything else you need to wash, dry, and sterilize. Just load it up with all your dirty bottles and items, throw in a dishwashing tablet, and hit a button. You literally set it and forget it, and in less than 90 minutes you have clean, sterilized bottles and pump parts. No hand washing required! It’s saved us so much time and made life so much easier. I truly can’t recommend it enough!
Since I live in Hong Kong, I use a power transformer since it’s 110 voltage, but it’s worth getting one in my opinion to be able to use this appliance. [UPDATE: MomCozy now sells on Taobao so I recommend shopping there if you live in HK, just search for MomCozy in the app]
Nursing Pillow: My Brest Friend
The name doesn’t lie. Considering I’m feeding my newborn 8 times a day on an hour of sleep at a time, the My Brest Friend nursing pillow has truly been my BFF! It clips in so it stays securely strapped around you, with small headrests for your baby so you can be in the best position for feeding. It’s been so convenient to be able to feed hands-free so I can eat and use my phone or laptop while nursing with this pillow.
I highly recommend getting a waterproof liner and 2 spare pillow covers so if your baby pees or poops and leaks though their diaper while feeding, you can always have a clean cover even one is in the wash (we literally had this situation yesterday 🥲).
- 🇺🇸🇭🇰 Shop for the My Brest Friend pillow on Amazon
- 🇺🇸🇭🇰 Shop for pillow covers on Amazon
- 🇺🇸🇭🇰 Shop for waterproof covers on Amazon
While you’re feeding on one side, I recommend using Haakaa’s breast milk collector on the other side so that it can catch leaking breast milk. You can store the extra milk in a colostrum tube to tube feed your baby in the early weeks, or to add to breast milk that you pump in a breast milk storage bag.
Breast Feeding Relief: Earth Mama Nipple Butter & Silver Shields
Nothing can fully prepare you for the PAIN of breastfeeding. Your nipples will become sore and even raw at the tips, so you’ll want to find as much relief as possible. I’ve been using Earth Mama Nipple Butter and air drying my nipples for the most relief (yes, be ready to have your boobs out while at the hospital and at home!). When I wear a nursing bra, I use silver nipple shields on bare nipples to prevent the fabric from rubbing against my raw nipples.
Breast Pump: MomCozy M9 Wearable Pump
I knew from pregnancy that I wanted a wearable pump because there was no way I was going to be plugged into a wall every time I needed to pump. Mama is too busy for that, so I’ve been loving my MomCozy M9 wearable breast pump. I can change her diaper, eat, do work, and move around while pumping. While I don’t have a point of comparison, I do feel like it does a good job of pumping out my milk and clearing my ducts without giving me an over supply.
Postpartum Recovery: Frida Mom Recovery Essentials
If you’re giving birth naturally, be prepared for your nether regions to be uncomfortable. You’re going to want to have pads and disposable underwear for dealing with all of the discharge from vaginal birth. I recommend Frida Mom’s Postpartum Recovery Essentials Kit, which has everything you need to relieve down there.
- 🇺🇸 Shop on Amazon
- 🇭🇰 Shop in Hong Kong by searching for “Frida Mom” on Taobao
Baby Carrier: Artipoppe Zeitgeist Carrier & Ergobaby Omni Deluxe Carrier
We have 2 baby carriers since I wanted a pretty, fashion forward one and Mike wanted a more simple, functional one (and mostly didn’t want to wear a leopard print carrier 😂)
What the Artipoppe Zeitgeist Carrier lacks in function (since it doesn’t have any pockets), it makes up for in style and comfort. I usually have a bag so the lack of pockets isn’t an issue, and I find it very easy to take on and off by myself and comfortable enough to wear for hours at a time.
The Ergobaby Omni Deluxe is on the complete opposite end of the spectrum, with pockets galore. My husband finds it very comfortable too.
Diaper Bag: Skip Hop Forma Diaper Backpack
With a 4.7 star rating from over 2,700 Amazon reviews and a variety of colors to choose from, this sleek diaper backpack comes equipped with a changing pad, 2 packing cubes, and so many pockets! My husband has already packed it with newborn essentials for the hospital, so that it can be used right after the baby is born and is also for the follow-up pediatrician appointment in the first week.
It also has a matching diaper changing station that you can store diapers, a change of clothes, and wet wipes in. That way, when it’s time to change a diaper, you can just bring this stylish wristlet to the washroom or wherever you need to change the baby’s diaper instead of carrying the entire bag.
- 🇭🇰 Shop at Baby Central Hong Kong (42% off through Dec 2)
- 🇺🇸 Shop on Amazon for US
Stroller: Doona X
Since we don’t have our own car, the Doona X came highly recommended from friends since it’s the easiest to turn from a car seat to a stroller in just one fluid motion so it’s easy to load in and out of Ubers and taxis. We went with the dusty sage color, which is a pale muted greyish green, but there are a variety to choose from.
Baby Crib: Stokke Sleepi
We love the beautiful design and that it can convert from a mini crib on wheels, to a full size crib, to a toddler bed! Even better, by ordering through Jakewell in Hong Kong, the crib was installed for us, and we just need to message them to help extend the crib once the baby is bigger.
High Chair: Stokke Tripp Trapp
Like the Sleepi crib, the Tripp Trapp high chair grows with your baby so you can use it all the way from newborn through childhood and beyond. The seat and footrest are adjustable so as your baby gets bigger, you just move the pieces to fit their legs until eventually, you can use it as a regular desk chair.
Stay tuned for more additions – in the mean time check out my Amazon list for Baby Registry & Nursery Must-Haves.
