My Newborn Essentials: The Baby Products I’m Actually Using Every Day

The first thing on my list wasn't even on my registry. It's a bottle washer.

I originally thought I wouldn't need one because I planned to breastfeed. Then I started pumping and realized how much washing was suddenly part of my day. I was hand-washing bottles and pump parts, sterilizing them, and keeping a huge drying rack on my kitchen counter. My kitchen isn't very big to begin with, so it was taking up way too much space.

Then I started researching different bottle washers and watching comparison and review videos. After all that research, I decided on the Papablic SafeguardPlus™ Baby Bottle Washer System. Even though I'm breastfeeding, I pump and we give my daughter at least one bottle a day, so having a machine that can handle all of those bottles and pump parts has been incredibly convenient.

One of the first things that Papablic SafeguardPlus™ stood out to me was the built-in water filtration system. I have hard water at home, so I didn't want to constantly deal with water spots or mineral buildup on the bottles—or inside the machine itself.

But what I really love is how simple the whole workflow is. Throughout the day, I put dirty bottles and pump parts into the bin. When I have enough for a load, or when I need something clean to pump again, I load everything into the washer. Then I add a cleaning tablet, fill the water reservoir, choose my cycle, and let it run.

There are multiple cycle options depending on what I need. I can use the 12-minute Rapid Wash cycle when I need something quickly, or choose additional sterilization and drying when needed. And when the cycle is finished, everything comes out incredibly clean and dry.

I was especially impressed with my glass bottles. They come out clear without the cloudiness I've seen before, and the built-in filtration means I don't have to worry about mineral buildup as much.

For me, this quickly went from something I didn't think I needed to something I wouldn't want to be without.

Before my daughter was born, I assumed I'd just use my dishwasher for bottles and pump parts. But bottles aren't the only thing you're cleaning. There are nipples, collars, valves, tubing, pump parts, and so many tiny pieces.

I also only run my dishwasher about once a day, while I can run the bottle washer whenever I need it.

Having a machine that's specifically designed for feeding items makes much more sense to me now. I can load everything together, run a cycle when I need it, and put it away when it's done. Once I started pumping every day, I realized how much time that could save.

For getting around with a newborn, we've been using the Cybex Cloud T car seat and Cybex e-Gazelle S travel stroller system.

One feature I especially like is that the Cloud T can recline when it's attached to the stroller rather than being used in the car. The e-Gazelle S also has electric rocking and uphill-assist features, both of which I've actually used.

The rocking feature was something I wasn't sure about at first, but my daughter absolutely loves it. I've even brought the stroller into the kitchen while I'm doing dishes so she can nap nearby.

The other Papablic products that surprised me are the Papablic Portable Breast Milk Cooler and Papablic NutriWarm™ Portable Bottle Warmer.

I didn't expect to use either one this much because I planned to breastfeed. But once I started leaving the house with a newborn, they both became incredibly useful.

The cooler uses freezer inserts and stainless steel bottles, so I have a dedicated place to keep pumped milk cold when we're out. I also use it after pumping on the go. Instead of worrying about where I'm going to store the milk until I get home, I can put it straight into the cooler and deal with it later.

The portable warmer has been just as helpful. It has a NutriWarm™ setting designed for breast milk, and I can use it to warm refrigerated or cold milk to my target temperature. I've used it in the car when my daughter gets fussy and needs a bottle. I recently tested it with three ounces of milk starting at about 58°F, and it reached 98°F in roughly two minutes. 

That's incredibly convenient when you're holding a hungry newborn and don't want to wait around. I also love that the warmer has a self-sterilization function, so I don't have to wait until we get home to clean it.

These two products weren't on my registry either, and now I don't really want to leave the house without them.

I ended up using two different pumps for two very different situations. My Spectra Gold is my go-to when I want strong suction and a quick session. I use it every morning because it can empty me in about five to seven minutes, although being plugged into the wall means I can't really move around while I'm using it.

During the day, I use my Motif Aura wearable pump. The suction isn't as strong and it takes longer, but I can put it inside my bra, hold my baby, walk around, and actually get things done. For me, that convenience is worth the trade-off.

Having both has worked really well because I don't need the same thing from every pumping session. Sometimes I want speed and maximum output, and other times I want the freedom to move around.

We're also using the Nanit, and we actually have two—one in the nursery and one in our room.

Since my daughter is still swaddled, I haven't been using Nanit's breathing monitoring feature yet. That's one reason I've especially appreciated having the Owlet at night.

For me, having that extra information is reassuring, although I know every parent has a different comfort level with monitoring products.

I ended up with three baby carriers that I like for different reasons. The Solly Baby Wrap has been great while she's tiny because I can adjust how snug and high I want her to be. The downside is that the long wrap tails can touch the floor while I'm putting it on, so I mostly use it at home.

My husband really likes our WildBird newborn carrier, while I've been using the Artipoppe a lot. It's definitely expensive, but it's incredibly comfortable, especially on my back.

She's only about 10 pounds right now, so I'm already thinking about how much that extra support will matter as she gets bigger.

We're using the AquaScale baby bath, and now I understand why it was recommended to me. It has a built-in thermometer and a scale, including a zero-out function that lets me weigh the baby in the bath.

But what I really like is the shape of the seat. It cradles her body well and gives me a much easier starting position when bathing a newborn.

After using other baby baths with my nieces and nephews, I can definitely tell the difference.

Another surprise favorite has been our Pottery Barn Kids Dream Deluxe Recliner with massage and heat. It reclines with a remote, has heat, and the massage is much more than simple vibration. It feels like a real rolling and kneading massage.

And because it's a performance fabric, I can wipe it clean when something inevitably gets on it.

For sleep, we've been loving the Kyte Baby Velcro swaddle sleep sack. My daughter loves being tightly swaddled, and I like that we can eventually remove the swaddle portion and keep using it as a sleep sack.

I've also been loving Kyte Baby, Carter's, and Kate & Kane sleepers. And the Kate & Kane matching pajamas for me have held up incredibly well through a lot of washing.

One surprisingly useful detail is the zipper placement on the WildBird sleepers. The zipper runs up the right leg, which makes it easier for me to access her foot when I need to adjust the Owlet.

It's such a small thing, but during the newborn stage, those tiny conveniences matter.

Going into motherhood, I thought I had a pretty good idea of what I would and wouldn't need. Then I actually had a newborn.

Some things I registered for barely get used, while other products I didn't even own before giving birth have quickly become part of my everyday routine.

The biggest surprise has definitely been the Papablic SafeguardPlus™. I thought I could just use my dishwasher, but after hand-washing bottles and pump parts every day, having a dedicated bottle washer made so much more sense. The CapsuleChill™ breast milk cooler  and NutriWarm™ bottle warmer have also made feeding outside the house much easier than I expected.