Must Have Baby Items for First Time Parents!

I have a little secret to share. 🙂 The Bargain Blessings family will be growing this spring as we are expecting a little girl. We are so thrilled and incredibly grateful for this little blessing and I cannot wait to introduce you all to her!

Shopping for a new baby can be exciting and completely overwhelming at the same time, especially for a new parent. The first time I stepped foot in a baby store I almost wanted to walk back out in a bundle of tears. I mean how many bottle and pacifier options could there possibly be?!

After talking to a few friends, I learned that I wasn’t alone in my totally overwhelmed feeling, so what did I do? I spent months talking to my experienced parent friends and researching reviews to dig out some of the must have baby items for first time parents.

If you’re a first time parent or if you’re shopping for a first time parent, I hope you find this guide helpful! Also, make sure to stop back in a few months because I’ll be sharing detailed reviews on some of these amazing baby products.

Chicco Lullaby Baby Playard

Why I Love It: I fell in love with this playard the moment I saw it in the store. The quality was head and shoulders above all of the other options and I love how versatile it is with the 3-Stage convertibility.

The Lullaby Baby 3-Stage Portable Playard offers all the baby-care essentials needed to create a cozy environment for baby and a practical care-station for mom and dad.

Lullaby Baby playards follow baby’s development and provide a variety of configurations for napping and sound sleep: the smallest babies will be able to snuggle in the cozy infant napper for the first months of life before moving to the convenient raised bassinet, and eventually transitioning to the spacious playard.

The over-sized changing table is quick and easy to set-up and store and provides a large, sturdy surface for diaper changes. The parent organizer keeps a stash of diapers, wipes and creams close at hand. And, for those inevitable accidents, the mattress pad can be quickly zipped-off and washed. This playard, a truly self-contained nursery center, stores in a convenient carry bag for easy travel and can be set-up in seconds thanks to its exclusive one-piece bassinet.

Diono Radian RXT Car Seat

Why I Love It: Safety is of course a top priority for any parent and when it comes to a car seat, I want the best. The Diono Radian RXT is very highly rated and comfortably seats rear-facing children from 5-45 lbs, forward-facing children from 20 – 80 lbs in a 5-point harness, then converts to a booster for children up to 120 lbs. 

The Radian RXT Car Seats are designed with your child’s security and safety as top priorities. Premium materials and thoughtful safety features like a steel alloy frame, aluminum reinforced side walls, energy absorbing EPS foam, and a five-point harness put your mind at ease as your little one stays safe and sound. The reinforced adjustable head support provides additional side impact protection.

Halo Bassinest Swivel Sleeper Premiere

Why I Love It: I’ve heard so many wonderful things about Halo Bassinests. What appeals to me most is the ability to have baby girl right next to me without the risk of having her actually in the bed. The Swivel Sleeper pulls right up next to our bed and I love how easy it is to adjust with the swivel feature.

Keep baby close at night with the HALO Bassinest Swivel Sleeper Premiere Series in Harmony Circles, which provides your little one with a separate sleeping area, eliminating the risk of sharing a bed. Its unique 360° swivel motion lets you position your baby right next to you in bed and makes getting in and out of bed easy. The patented side wall lowers and returns automatically, so you can stay in bed while nursing or tending to your child. Choose between three soothing sounds and three lullabies, along with soothing vibrations to help your little one drift off to sleep. The convenient night light makes tending to your baby in the dark easy. The breathable mesh walls keep your infant visible at eye level and the four-point base offers stability. 

Halo SleepSack Swaddle in 100% Cotton Muslin

Why I Love It: I mentioned before that safety is a top priority for us and that is why I love these Halo Muslin SleepSack Swaddles. The fabric is super lightweight and breathable so it will be perfect to keep baby comfortable during the warmer months.

The HALO SleepSack Swaddle replaces loose blankets in the crib that can cover your baby’s face and interfere with breathing. In addition to helping your baby sleep safer, it helps him sleep better, too. Its adjustable swaddle wrap immobilizes your baby’s arms to prevent the “Moro” or startle reflex. And, it is the only 3-way adjustable swaddle that adjusts to your baby’s sleep style. Its strong adjustable fasteners ensure a perfect fit and resist breakouts for more secure swaddling. Plus, its innovative zipper, unzips from the bottom allowing your baby to stay swaddled for easy diaper changes.

Little Me Newborn Damask Matching Essentials

Why I Love It: Every new baby needs a few adorable outfits and Little Me has so many to choose from! This Damask Scroll Footie and Hat Set is 100% cotton and the fabric is so nice and soft. I can’t wait to bundle our baby girl up in it along with the matching blanket.

Little Me provides unique clothing that celebrates those fleeting years when newborns transform into young toddlers. At the heart of Little Me is this time of exploring and delight—the magical years of discoverhood. Their products let little ones be little—whether they’re napping, throwing cereal on the floor or crawling through deliciously muddy grass.

Little Me believes that babies should always be comfortable, snuggly and safe, free to do what they do best: play, sleep and thrive. Everything they design allows babies to discover the world at their own pace. They’ll have plenty of time to dress like adults. After all, even the tiniest newborn will grow up soon. Let them—and yourself—enjoy the wonder while it lasts.

Chicco NaturalFit Advanced Feeding System

Why I Love It: This feeding system has it all for new parents! Remember that I mentioned how overwhelming the bottle section was for me? Well this is the perfect solution! I love that this is an “all in one” set that takes the stress out of selecting each of these items individually. The feeding system also grows with baby with three different stages of bottles.

The “All You Need Starter Set” includes everything but the baby! The bottle and pacifier system has been engineered to be responsive to the changing feeding styles of babies.

This gift set includes:

• 2 – 5 oz bottles with newborn flow nipples
• 1 – 8 oz bottle with adjustable flow nipple
• 1 – 11 oz bottle with fast flow nipple
• 1 medium flow nipple
• 2 silicone orthodontic pacifiers
• 1 bottle brush
• 1 microwave sterilizer
• 1 teether

Naturepedic Lightweight Organic Cotton Classic Crib Mattress

Why I Love It: The safety of our baby’s mattress is incredibly important to me. After doing several hours of research we decided to go with the the best of the best – Naturepedic. I am going to have so much peace of mind laying our little one down on this Organic Cotton Mattress. I’ll be sharing a detailed review soon along with a giveaway, so make sure to watch for that!

With optional 2-stage dual firmness, the No-Compromise Lightweight Organic Cotton Classic Baby Crib Mattress matches the strength and durability of an innerspring without the added weight (only 10-12 lbs). Layers of luxurious organic cotton batting create the perfect balance of firmness and comfort. Get the best of both worlds; firm and durable for baby, easy crib changing for mom!

Unlike crib mattresses that contain polyurethane foam and/or vinyl, Naturepedic helps you avoid these materials and other unnecessary additives. Improve the indoor air quality of your nursery and reduce chemical exposure by eliminating these chemicals in the first place. Naturepedic baby crib mattresses have been thoroughly tested for chemical emissions and are certified to the GREENGUARD GOLD standard. This helps promote a cleaner, more chemical-free sleep environment for your child.

Rockin’ Baby Reversible Pouches

Why I Love It: How beautiful is this print? I fell in love with it the moment I saw it and Rockin’ Baby has many others to chose from too! Beyond the gorgeous fabric, I love how simple these pouches are to wear – no hard rings and no long pieces of fabric to wrap.

Rockin’ Baby pouches are super cool to look at and super easy to wear.

They come with a 3 stage easy-to-fit nylon zipper system perfect for all body types but to make things even easier we offer all pouches in 3 sizes too.

They all have extra padding for comfort and a protective layer of fabric to hide zippers from your baby.

Trumpette Socks

Why I Love It: Have you ever seen anything like these adorable socks?! I’ve heard often how difficult it is to keep shoes on a newborn and Trumpette offers the perfect solution with their gorgeous baby socks for boys and girls. These Ballerina socks are just one of their many styles, so make sure to check out all the others that they have to offer – I’m totally smitten!

So long boring old baby socks! Trumpette has taken baby socks to an all new level with their high-quality stylish alternative to baby shoes. All of their sock sets come in a beautiful gift box making them the perfect baby gift.

Olivia Design Wall Mural Decals

Why I Love It: I’ve known for a while that I wanted to have a mural in our nursery, and I also knew that I wanted something that could be removed so paint wasn’t an option. Then I stumbled upon Olivia Design on Etsy. I was so impressed with all of their beautiful designs and the great reviews they’ve received from past customers. After sending over a few questions myself I received a very fast and friendly response. They can even totally customize the colors and size of each of their designs – how great is that?!

Olivia Designs wall decals use Oracle vinyl 641 series which is the best vinyl you can find and makes application of any decal and wallpaper easy and simple. You can literally let your kid do it and have it experience the joy of creation.

As a bonus, Oracle Vinyl lasts a lifetime. Many wall decals tend to lose their gleam as months and years pass and that is not the case with Olivia Design decals and murals.

Oliva Design designs, prints, cuts and packs every single one item by hand. There is no outsourcing on the most important aspects of their creative process which is the reason why you can customize the dimensions and color of any design you want.

Motorola Digital Video Baby Monitor

Why I Love It: An awesome baby monitor was on our must-have list and I love how many great features the Motorola MBP854CONNECT offers! We will be able to use this monitor to listen to and see baby at the same time. I also love that this monitor works with our various mobile devices!

The MBP854CONNECT Digital Video Baby Monitor allows you to not only listen to baby, but view your baby at all times with the help of the Free Hubble Viewing app; compatible on smartphones, tablets, and computers. 

Stream real time HD (720p) video of your home and receive motion, sound, and room temperature notifications to stay informed of what’s going on.

This baby monitor is perfect for anyone prepping for a new baby to come.

Jillian Nicole Designs Coming Home Outfit

Why I Love It: Coming home for the first time is a BIG deal and I wanted to make it extra special for our little girl with a super cute outfit. I saw Jillian’s work on Etsy and instantly fell in love with her beautifully full handmade tutus. After reading through the reviews on her shop I could tell that they were even nicer in person. Once I received mine, along with a matching bodysuit (see the full outfit over on our Instagram page) I became a fan for life. I have other tutus, but none of them even begin to compare to the quality of the one I received from Jillian. I cannot wait to dress baby girl up for her big trip home!

Jillian Nicole Designs has it all: adorable tutus, seasonal and holiday outfits for baby, accessories and more. Make sure to favorite her shop on Etsy so you can keep up with her latest designs!

*Full Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. As always, all opinions expressed above are my honest thoughts.