What an amazing learning experience it has been this past year. As we quickly approach the one year mark with our baby girl, I can still remember all the newborn moments and firsts we experienced- every time looking for advice from friends and family.

Every mama + baby is different, so this may not be a “one shoe fits all” approach, but these are some of the best products I found when Ariah was a newborn- and I hope they help you just as much as they helped me! And since my life is a constant go go go, I really wanted to make sure that the items I was using were practical for our fast-paced life!

Baby Bjorn Carrier/ Solly Wrap
What a lifesaver! If it’s any indication, Ariah’s first plane ride was at 2 months old, so we had to become instant pros at maneuvering an airport with a baby on board. I used the Solly Wrap a few times while she was smaller, switching to the Baby Bjorn when she was about 4-5 months and she could support her neck. It was amazing how I could carry my baby, keep my arms free and keep the weight off my back all at the same time.

Boppy
OMGOSH, we used the Boppy since DAY 1 and never looked back! Every day I found myself more in love with the Boppy, whether I was supporting her while breastfeeding or using it to keep her still in one place for a moment or two… of course, this was all before she learned to roll and crawl, then it was game over!

Diaper Genie
Who wants to smell the stinky diapers piling up in the trashcan, right? Having the Diaper Genie right next to her changing table kept everything clean and easy- without a single dirty diaper smell!

Maxi Cost Car Seat (From Seedlings– A Tampa Baby Boutique)
Easily one of the toughest decisions to make, we researched nonstop about which car seat to get for our daughter. Safety was obviously our number one priority… but that doesn’t mean it can’t be cute! We eventually found the perfect seat at our friend’s boutique in Tampa (Seedlings) and knew it was exactly what we were looking for. 10 months later and Ariah is still enjoying the safety and comfort of this seat, though it’s almost time to start looking for another… our baby girl is getting so big!

A major plus of the seat was that our favorite stroller, the Bugaboo Chameleon 3, had adapters to connect the two together, which made moving on the go a breeze! Snapping her in or taking her out was no problem, so whether we were doing it together or playing a little 1 on 1 with Ariah for the day, we were good to go.

Gucci Diaper Bag
While I was pregnant I was on the hunt for the perfect diaper bag. I knew it was something I felt comfortable splurging on since I would be using it ALL THE TIME- and yet it had to be practical for traveling as well.

From the start I knew an over the shoulder bag wouldn’t work well for me, so I had my eye on backpack diaper bags instead. When I found this Gucci bag, I was immediately obsessed! It is hands down one of the best investments I’ve ever made as a mom and I have no plans of putting it down anytime soon. With all of the different compartments and portable changing pad, it has everything we need when on the move.

Velcro Swaddles
Our little wiggle worm never liked to stay tucked in her swaddles, so when my mom found these Velcro swaddles, they were an absolute game changer! She stayed tucked and slept SO much better… and you know what that means, right? Yep… I slept better too!

Doc A Tot
I know that sometimes things don’t seem worth the money- and honestly, I went back and forth about buying this as well- but when I heard all of the moms raving about them, I knew it was worth a shot. I gave in and ordered the Doc A Tot bassinet dock and WOW, were they right… it was amazing! I used it everywhere: in our bed while we were watching TV, on the couch, traveling or staying at Grandma’s… you name it and we used it there. With so much added cushion and comfort, this is definitely a must-have!

4Moms Mamaroo
Knowing that I had been eyeing this for a while, my Nana and Pop gifted this to us at our baby shower. I loved all of the different settings, and obviously, it was adorable, so it was a must in our house! Ariah loved hanging out in it around the house, when I took a shower (can I get an AMEN for showering in peace mamas!?) and even napped in it during the day. Now that she’s a bit older, we still get use out of it, strapping her in for her morning bottle or to play and watch a few baby cartoons.

Babocush
I actually found out about this item from my wedding makeup artist and thought it was the coolest thing! You strap your baby in while they are laying on their bellies. Then you can turn it on to any of the different settings, add music or vibrations and just let them lay there… or even sleep for a few hours! Obviously, it has to be on a safe surface… it does vibrate after all… but it’s perfect for soothing them or relieving gas in their tiny, little, bellies.

Baby Tracker App
As first-time mamas we want to make sure we’re doing everything right, and the Baby Tracker App helped me to do just that. You can keep track of how much your baby is eating, ounces they are drinking, how long their naps are, when you changed their diaper, etc. Honestly, with everything going on… and hello, #MOMBRAIN is a real thing… it just helps to stay on top of all the things you need to do for your little one.

Wubbanub
At first as a newborn, I’ll admit, we were scared to give her a pacifier with a stuffed animal attached to the back of it for fear of it being a choking hazard. But we quickly fell in love with it and the Wubbanub has been her favorite comfort item ever since. Stay tuned because I think it may be a bit hard to wean her when the time comes!

Zip Up Onesies/ Gowns
Like a typical new mama, as soon as I found out I was having a girl I immediately thought about ALL of the adorable clothes I was going to dress her up in. And then I snapped out of it, haha! I HIGHLY recommend investing in long gown or zip up onesies ONLY and nothing with buttons if you ever want to get that squirmy wormy dressed!

Gripe Water
Where would we be without all of our mommy friends, right? Thankfully one of my friends recommended Gripe Water to me because though I had never heard of it before, I quickly found out that it’s basically magic for your baby’s tummy! It helps with hiccups and works to prevent colic or tummy discomfort so babies can pass all of the milk they’re drinking without getting fussy.

If Ariah was screaming her head off and I didn’t know what to do, I immediately went down the list: Sleep? Food? Diaper change? If nothing else worked I would give her some Gripe Water and the all-natural water would soothe her belly and change her mood within moments!

Dreft
Finally, I highly recommend this laundry detergent (or another baby safe brand) to keep your baby protected- especially for those with sensitive skin like Ariah. Remember, our clothes are always in constant contact with our little ones and even other people’s detergent would irritate her soft skin. Having natural and safe products to soothe our babies in should always be at the top of our list!

Down below I linked a bunch of our newborn must haves that I hope helps all of you new mommies, mommies-to-be or for you to pass to your friends that are new expecting!