Okay I lied, these aren’t the five most important things, diapers and wipes obviously are the most vital items to bring along when you leave the house. It is called a diaper bag after all. You can’t really leave the house without a carseat and or stroller but that’s a topic for a whole other blog post or five.
For those moms who don’t breastfeed, formula, clean bottles and water will be essential too. But for the new moms and moms-to-be who don’t know what the heck to even pack in their diaper bag, here are my five nonessential, but can’t live without, items that come in handy out on the town.
These will all be linked to Amazon so you can easily buy them yourself or as a gift for a new mom friend. This post contains affiliate links, so I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Get my full disclosure here.
A high quality swaddle blanket is an absolute must. Whether at home or out and about, a swaddle blanket is one of those multipurpose baby items you’ll definitely be missing, if it gets left at home. My favorite swaddle blankets are made of bamboo. They are softer than traditional swaddles and stay soft wash after wash.
These are my favorite brand Swaddle Blankets I used and loved with both my girls, and they hold up well for three plus years. They have a plethora of adorable patterns and colors to match your aesthetic.
Swaddle blankets have a plethora of uses, and you won’t want to be too far from one if you have a newborn. Whether it’s baby spit-up, leaking boobs or an impromptu diaper changing pad, swaddle blankets are one of the most versatile items you can own. As your baby gets older they make a perfect tummy time mat or safe area for your baby to sit and play.
They come in handy for nursing covers if that’s your thing or even to throw over the car seat or stroller for naps on the go. Every new mom should have plenty of large, soft bamboo swaddle blankets on hand. I never leave the house without one.
Speaking of naps on the go, the next two items make all the difference when it comes to getting good quality naps away from home. All babies are different, some love to sleep anywhere and some only like to sleep at home or in certain situations.
I believe white noise heavily contributed to how well both my girls slept as babies. This cute little owl was a lifesaver when my girls were tiny. Napping at grammas, grocery shopping, car rides and doctors appointments all go smoother when the baby is happily asleep. White noise always reduced the chance my girls would wake up which means they had longer, more restful naps.
This OWL is one of the number one items I tell all my pregnant friends they need to put on their registry. I always smile to myself when I see my friends with their “travel owl” as we call it. It’s the number one way to tell if I helped them build their baby registry.
The next item is something I wish I would have had with Sophie, my older daughter. Because we are new to Texas we are still figuring out how to deal with the hot, hot Texas summers. A chargeable stroller/carseat fan is a necessity in every sense of the word. This is the one we love.
My sister bought the same one after she saw mine and loves it too. Honestly this is a great gift for anyone. Aults, kids and babies alike could use it for any outdoor event to stay cool and comfortable.
I plan to buy a second one for my toddler when we are using the Wonderfold and need extra help staying cool. This fan is chargeable, has three speeds and a LED light which is super handy. The legs bend for easy use and can either stand on its own or be mounted on car seats, strollers and more.
This next item isn’t a must for everyone but if your baby loves a pacifier then it needs to be attached to something! With my oldest, I only lost one pacifier the whole two years she used one, and that one binkie was not attached to anything. Moral of the story, use a pacifier clip.
These are the ones I love. They have never broken and make great teething toys too. Even if your baby doesn’t like pacifiers, these clips are great for keeping toys in the car seat or stopping them from throwing everything on the floor at a restaurant.
As a girl mom I like to have lots to match every outfit, but you don’t have to go overboard like me. They attach easily to different pacifiers like the ones my girls loved: Sophie’s and Aubree’s. They make a cute gift idea for any new mom as well. I love the variety of colors.
Last but definitely not least is a wrap for babywearing. When my girls were little I loved soft, stretchy, unstructured wraps because they are comfortable and, once you learn the trick, easy to wear. This is the one I use and love. I still keep mine in my car for times when I need to be hands free but don’t want to bother with a stroller.
Tip: In the wet and rainy months you can put it on before leaving the house and when you get to your destination all you have to do is slide your baby inside. No more struggling with trying to tie a wrap in the rain, snow and mud (yes, been there, done that… do yourself a favor and put it on at home)
My little one is currently 10 months and can still comfortably sit in the wrap. Slings and structured carriers are also good options for bigger babies and toddlers but for newborns, soft wraps are my favorite. They are also available in pretty colors and patterns which makes mom-life a little more fun.
Were you surprised by anything on my top five must haves for new babies list? Obviously there is a ton more that I carry in my diaper bag and car for my little ones while I’m away from home but these are my top five that I can’t leave the house without for the baby and newborn stage.
I know as a first time mom, I carried a lot more with me day to day, but with my second I was able to be a lot more minimal, which I love. This is the bag I carry. I love that it’s a backpack for hands free use and it’s also very cute.
I’ll be sharing my top five must haves for toddlers next.
What are your must haves?
Incase you missed a Links:
1.Swaddle Blanket https://amzn.to/3RcycK3
2. Travel Owl (white noise machine) https://amzn.to/481t1CL
3. Stroller fan https://amzn.to/44GDAbh
4. Pacifier Keeper https://amzn.to/3PrrAGu
5. Baby wrap (baby wearing) https://amzn.to/44PAbHy
6. Wonderfold Wagon https://amzn.to/3sCtoDo
7. Pacifiers https://amzn.to/47WExiC
8. Pacifiers https://amzn.to/3Ld42CO
9. Ring sling https://amzn.to/3sONvyd
10. LÍLLÉbaby carrier https://amzn.to/3EuIXju
11. Diaper bag https://amzn.to/3EzYtdz