Best Sports Bra: Ingrid + Isabel Seamless Nursing Sports Bra
Also available at and Nordstrom
Why We Like It: Unlike some sports bras that squeeze too much, this one is both supportive and super comfortable.
But Take Note: This bra is made for medium impact.
Our tester raved that this was the most comfortable bra out of all the nursing bras she tested. Spoken like a true tired mom, she “wore it through multiple physical activities, going out for the day, and it was so comfortable, I forgot I was wearing it to bed multiple nights.”
Crafted like a racerback sports bra, this pick is appropriate for medium-impact activities, but might not cut it if you want to run or do other high-impact exercises. The bra pulls on overhead, so there are no back clasps for adjustment. The shoulder straps are adjustable and can be tightened for additional support.
The full-coverage bra has front hook access for breastfeeding. Our tester noted that when you pull down the flap, “it exposes most of your breast.” Folks who are more modest or will be breastfeeding in public may want to keep that in mind.
The Details:
What Is My Baby Learning
In the first month or two of life, newborns depend on others to lead interaction. But by the end of the third month, your baby will engage you with facial expressions and vocalizations. You’ll begin to see your baby’s personality emerge!
Your baby will carefully watch your facial expressions and listen to your voice, responding to you with sounds and gurgles. At around 2 months, babies seem happy to see caregivers and smile when they talk or smile at them.
Babies also start to open and shut their fists. This means they may be able to hold a rattle placed in their hands. They’ll soon discover that they’re the ones that make the rattle make noise!
Best Swaddle: Halo Sleep Sack Swaddle
Another popular style from the brand Halo, this sleep sack is a great way to prevent startle reflex thanks to its swaddling wings. When your baby is ready to transition to an arms-out sleep sack, simply tuck the wings under their arms and around their waist. It’s made entirely of cotton, has an inverted zipper, and comes in a variety of colors. Many shoppers say it has helped their baby sleep better, and one mom claims, ” hands down the best purchase that I made for my baby.”
To buy: $28
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What Does A Newborn Need In The First Month
Onesie, pajamas, pants, and swaddle blankets are some of the essentials. There is an infant tub, baby towels, baby washcloths, and wash/lotion. One large box of size 1 diapers is all it will take to start diapering. It is recommended by experts that you have 24 cloth diapers.
The 12 Best Sleep Sacks Of 2022
You can’t go wrong with the Woolino 4-Season Ultimate Baby Sleep Bag
We independently research, test, review, and recommend the bestproductslearn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
Verywell / Sabrina Jiang
There is no shortage of baby products that will help keep your little one soothed and sleeping through the night, but sleep sacks or wearable blankets are among the best because they help feel your little one feel secure and offer parents a safe way to keep their child warm while they sleep. Designed to be worn year-round, sleep sacks are available in breathable, cozy, and extra-comfy materials.
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Best Wool: Woolino Baby Sleeping Bag
Sure, it’s on the pricier side, but this sleep sack is made with luxurious Australian Merino wool and organic cotton that helps regulate your baby’s body temperature. What’s more, the sleep sack is machine washable and naturally fire resistant. Shoppers rave about the two-way zipper that allows you to change diapers whichever way is most convenient for you.
To buy: $65
How We Selected The Best Sleep Sacks
We chose the best sleep sacks by researching reviews from customers and competitors, and we studied the features of more than 30 products on the market. We considered price, design, features, ease of cleaning, material, and any height and weight limitations when deciding our picks. We also spoke to sleep consultant Aubrie DeBear, PsyD, for additional insight and any product recommendations.
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The Hellobaby Baby Monitor
There are dozens of excellent baby monitors on the market, with varying degrees of monitoring. For us, we just wanted a simple baby monitor that would allow us to keep an eye on Malcolm without having to use WiFi or our phones. This is the one. Its just basic, with a camera and a monitor, but it has sound and video with sufficient quality, and its a great bang for your buck.
Breast Pump And Breast Milk Storage Bags
Breastfeeding provides many benefits to mom and baby which is why every drop is precious. Your body works hard to produce breast milk and sometimes its not that easy.
Having a breast pump will help you maximize that effort. You will have a way to save and store extra breast milk that you produce and it will assist you in keeping your supply going.
I used a Medela Pump In Style and never had any problems with it. Medela is one of the most trusted and used brands for breast pumps.
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Woolino 4 Season Ultimate Baby Sleep Sack
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Shoulder snaps for easy removal
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Two-way zipper make overnight diaper changes a breeze
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Safe from 2 months until 2 years of age
Who else recommends it? BabyCenter, Good Housekeeping, and Babylist all picked the Woolino 4 Season Ultimate Baby Sleep Sack.
What do buyers say? 89% of 2,300+ Amazon reviewers rated this product 5 stars.
This Woolino sleep sack is our top choice for all seasons because the merino wool inner layer and organic cotton outer layer are designed to keep your babys temperature regulated so that it’s just as comfortable during the winter months as it is during the summer months. We also like that it has two snaps at each shoulder so you can slip your baby in and out to put it on as well as a zipper at the bottom for easy diaper changes.
Finally, this sleep sack has amazing longevity, because its safe for babies as young as 2 months old up to 2 years. It is one of the most expensive sleep sacks available, but the simple fact that it will fit your child until they are 2 years old means this is the only sleep sack you need to buy. And since it’s machine washable, you really can get away with just having one.
Price at time of publication: $100
Material: Merino wool and organic cotton | Age Range: 2 months old to 2 years old | Machine Washable: Yes
A Portable White Noise Machine
Our baby, Malcolm, loves this white noise machine! It helps him at every single nap, and sometimes just chills him out in general. We read early on that white noise can be a great tool for soothing fussy babies. For us, it has absolutely proven true. We also use the SNOO Bassinet , which uses constant white noise to keep baby asleep and help him/her fall back asleep as well.
This portable noise machine is very small and easy to travel with, but also packs a loud enough noise to be effective. And it delivers true white noise, not just nature sounds or rain. Trust me, this item is a baby registry essential!
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The Baby Brezza Bottle Sanitizer
Formula feeding has been great for us and for Malcolm. But, my goodness, the bottles! There are constant bottles to wash with a new baby in the house!
Fortunately, we found this Baby Brezza Sanitizer which cuts our cleaning time in half.
We simply place our dirty bottles into a bin of soapy water to soak, then scrub them using a handy bottle brush , rinse, and place in the sanitizer. 45 minutes later, they are freshly sanitized, dried, and ready to be used again. Seriously such a time-saver!
Using Toys And Apps To Promote Speech Development
Many parents are curious if certain toys or apps can help their baby learn to talk. Loeffler recommends choosing toys that display cause and effect. This can help children develop their thinking skills, which is necessary for language growth.
Some examples of cause-and-effect toys include:
- You put a ball in a hole, and it goes down a slide.
- You put a coin in a piggy bank, and it sings a song.
- You wind up a box, and a stuffed animal pops out.
If you use an app, be sure to engage with your child and carry that activity over into the child’s real world. Face-to-face interaction is best for speech and language development.
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Best Muslin: Aden + Anais Cotton Muslin Wearable Blanket
Like other options on our list, this sleep sack is suitable for warmer months. It has two layers of cotton muslin that helps create nice airflow and eliminate overheating. It has a zipper for easy pre-bedtime diaper changes and a sleeveless silhouette for optional layering. You can shop sizes 0-36 months and colors and prints, including animals, stars, and flowers.
To buy: $20
Language And Speech Baby Care
Crying is the newborns only mode of communication. Therefore, its critical to reply to your infant as soon as possible so that they learn that youll always be there for them.
Speech has the following characteristics:
- They start making cooing noises and vowel sounds at the age of seven or eight weeks.
- They will listen to what you say and then make noises in response as they speak to you, even if they are only eight weeks old.
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Sample Baby Clothing Registry
This list breaks down the standard number of clothing items youll want on hand for your newborns wardrobe. Weve also included items to add specifically for summer and winter babies and a few things for special occasions.
Seven Bodysuits or Rompers
Bodysuits can serve as an easy, no-fuss outfit in summer or a basic layer in winter and come in both long- and short-sleeve styles. With seven, if you wash a couple of loads a week, youll always have clean ones on hand.
Tip: Add a kimono-style bodysuit or two for baby to wear until their umbilical cord falls off, usually around one to two weeks after theyre born.
Shop Smart For Your New Baby With This Checklist Of Infant Necessities Nice
When it’s your first time registering for a baby shower, it’s so easy to get overwhelmed. Both online and brick-and-mortar retailers may have you convinced that you need everything they have on offer. But the list of things your baby actually needs is fairly short. Before your guests blow a small fortune, it’s important to understand which items are essential and which are totally unnecessary.
To help you wade through the hype, we’ve drawn up this list based on our own experience and that of other parents. The must-have baby items are categorized as “necessities,” while those that might make your life easier are listed as “nice-to-haves.” We also mention unsafe products that you should avoid.
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Every Parent Is Different Every Baby Is Different
Im sharing what I consider to be baby essentials for the first 3 months for ME. But even with five babies under my belt, some of these things might not be for you.
Everyone is different!
You might be a frugal minimalist and think half the things on this list arent truly essential.
You may not want to use bottles at all, and you might be fully confident without a nursing cover from the beginning. There goes 5-6 items off your list!
You may never need a humidifier because when your baby has a cold, you just bring him into the bathroom and run the shower. There goes another one.
You do you, mama.
Finally, the more of these things you can allow other people to buy for you on a baby registry, the better. If you dont already have a registry, Amazons registry incentives are pretty sweet: get started HERE.
When To Be Concerned About Newborn Development
You know your baby best. So its a good idea to see your child and family health nurse or GP if you have any concerns or notice that your 3-month-old has any of the following difficulties.
Seeing, hearing and communicating
- is crying a lot and this is worrying you
- isnt looking you in the eyes, even for a short time
- doesnt pay attention to faces
- isnt making sounds when you speak to them
- doesnt react to loud noises
- isnt distracted by the sound of a rattle.
Behaviour
- isnt feeding well at the breast or bottle
- seems very tired
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Your Infant’s Brain & Development
We leave our mother’s womb when we’re ready. But when a human baby arrives in the world, she is far from finished. Compare a human newborn to a puppy: An 8-week-old puppy runs, plays, eats, and drinks on his own a human baby of the same age can barely see and can’t control her arms and legs. Why? The newborn nervous system and brain are only partly developed, says Dr. Steiner, and the brain is the central command center for the rest of the body. At birth, a baby’s brain weighs only a quarter of an adult’s brain. It’s capable of controlling his most vital functions, such as breathing, crying, sleeping, and feeding. However, the cerebral cortex — the area of the brain that controls more sophisticated thinking and emotions — is still growing and developing to allow him to act in accordance with his will rather than simply react to his environment.
How To Survive The First 3 Months With A Newborn
What youll find here: things to expect during the first few weeks of babys life, and tips on how to survive the first 3 months with a newborn.
All of us Mamas have been there The whirlwind birth experience, the joy of finally holding your tiny baby in your arms, and complete awe for this next chapter of life post-baby!
This article may contain affiliate / compensated links. For more information, please see my disclaimer here.
And then you take your newborn home.
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What Activities And Games Will Help My 3
- Baby gyms and activity centres are great for practising hand-to-eye coordination
- Encourage your babys giggles with comedy pretend sneezing, gentle tickling and games like peek-a-boo
- As well as talking to your baby as part of your everyday routine, start reading to them. Choose board books with large, simple and colourful pictures and fabric books with different textures for them to feel
Best For Sleep: Kindred Bravely Organic Cotton Nursing & Sleep Bra
Also available at , Target, and Nordstrom
Why We Like It: Kindred Bravely’s unique sizing has “busty” options, making it easier to find the right fit.
But Take Note: The front can get a bit stretched out from being pulled down, but it’s a minor issue and only noticeable if you wear the bra out during the day.
The goal of sleep bras is to provide support and easy access during nighttime feedings. Our testers found that this bra is super comfortable and a wonderful addition to your evening pajama wear. “With no clasps to worry about, it’s perfect for middle of the night feeds.” Simply pull down the material and your breasts are easily accessible. Testers were pleasantly surprised that this bra also allowed for in-bra pumps , which was a big bonus since it’s not specifically a pumping bra.
The available eight colors match a variety of skin tones. We also love that Kindred Bravely has sizing that runs from Small through XXLarge, with an additional “Busty” option for each size. Testers also shared that they were pleased that the full back design provided a surprising amount of support. The bra cannot be adjusted, so use the size guide to find the right fit for your body.
The Details:
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A Chargeable Portable Stroller Fan
Writing this in the heat of summer, I cant stress enough how great these portable fans have been. In fact, I didnt just buy oneI ended up with two. Now when I take Mal out in his stroller, both of us can stay cool.
Seriously, these fans have a good battery life , provide ample air, and attach incredibly well to many different surfaces. I even brought mine to the hospital during delivery and it provided much needed refreshment.
These Awesome On The Go Formula Containers
Here is one of those baby essentials we have used EVERY DAY since we got them.
Malcolm is exclusively formula fed, and measuring out all those bottles every 2-3 hours can be a pain. Not with these. Instead of endless measuring all day long, you do it at one time and youve got formula pre-measured and ready for the day. Using them at night is even more helpful no fumbling around half-asleep and wasting formula as you try to measure! These containers make the entire process of feeding so much smoother, and of course, they are perfect for on-the-go. Just pop them right into the diaper bag.
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