Raising Children Newborn essentials for the new mom

BY SAMANTHA ERKKILA

As a first-time mom, deciding what to include on my registry was like learning a foreign language. I knew I needed an endless supply of diapers and wipes, a crib, maybe some toys and clothes, but after that, I had no idea what a baby needed. Turns out, they don’t need much. Aside from the essentials like a car seat and baby shampoo, here are a few other items this new mom found super useful in the first three months postpartum:

Haakaa Silicone Breast Pump

It’s more or less a suction cup rather than a pump for collecting breast milk. The electric pump was intimidating for me at first, but this pump is easy to use and a great initiation into the world of pumping. When baby is nursing on one side, just attach the Haakaa to your other breast, and the suction will slowly collect anything that may leak out. After I had a few ounces, I started to slowly build up a little freezer stash for when I returned to work. A small manual pump was also handy for road trips or for relieving the pain of a clogged milk duct. Haakaa.co.nz

Moby Wrap Or Other Soft Wrap Baby Carrier

Who knew there were so many ways to wear a baby? It took a few video tutorials and a couple live demonstrations from friends before I was confident enough to wear my little one around the house, but once I got a hang of it, it changed my life. Your arms are free, and the baby will love the closeness. Mobywrap.com

Nosefrida

The days of the old snot sucker ball are gone. Enter the NoseFrida — a long tube where your baby’s nose is on one end, and your mouth is on the other. Sounds gross, I know, but it works wonders. Don’t worry, the boogers never get anywhere near your mouth. And for whatever reason, babies actually kind of like it. Fridababy.com

Velcro Swaddles

Velcro and swaddles go together like peanut butter and jelly. I don’t know how my mom and grandma ever kept me wrapped up like a burrito in a receiving blanket. The velcro version is super easy and keeps baby nice and snug all night long — well, for the 2-3 hours they sleep at a time, anyway. I basically only use my receiving blankets as a rug when I play with baby on the floor. Summerinfant.com

PJ’S THAT ZIP FROM THE TOP DOWN

After unwrapping (or un-Velcroing) a swaddle, the last thing you want to do is completely strip your baby just to change their diaper in the middle of the night. Register for a few pairs of pajamas that zip from the top down, and nighttime diaper changes will be a lot easier. And make sure you get a few in different sizes. Babies seem to grow overnight.

Private Facebook Groups

Technically not something to register for, but these groups have been — and continue to be — very valuable to me. Because the unsolicited parenting advice can be overwhelming at times, I’ve found comfort in closed and private Facebook groups where I can ask questions and not fear judgey responses. Honestly, the moms who have responded to my questions about breastfeeding, c-section recovery, bedtime routines and postpartum exercise have been super helpful. No mom-shaming here. There are groups for all types of moms: working, pumping moms; Duluth moms; athletic moms; military moms; etc. Find your group(s) and start feeling the encouragement and support.

I know as a new mom you will have lots of advice thrown your way, and you may not find any of my suggestions helpful. And that’s OK. Find what works for you and your baby, and don’t take the tags off everything all at once. You may want to return a few things. —

MDT

Samantha Erkkila is a first-time mom to a smiley little girl who everyone says looks just like her daddy. She also is the multimedia producer for the Duluth News Tribune.