My Postpartum Essentials for Mom and Baby

Over the past 6 weeks, I have been keeping track of all of our most used postpartum essentials for me and baby. As a new mom, I basically stocked up on everything I thought I MIGHT need, knowing there was potential that we wouldn’t use some items at all. All the items I am sharing today are either products we use daily, or products that I found the most helpful during those early postpartum days.

Postpartum Essentials for Mom

Cozy Robe || If you can, don’t cheap out on this one! For the first two weeks, I lived in my robe. Getting dressed seemed too daunting, and it was helpful to wear something that was ‘easy access’ for breastfeeding. I love this modal blend one from Kindred Bravely, you can get 20% off with my code ‘KMM20’!
Aerie Henley Tee || Okay, this item is really specific, but for good reason. This top was one of my most worn while pregnant, and it continues to be my favorite postpartum. It is non-maternity, but the snap placement is ideal for nursing. I have this in 5 colors, it is hands down my favorite piece of clothing right now. It fits true to size, but if you are pregnant go up a size or two.
Comfortable Pajamas || another Kindred Bravely find! If you are breastfeeding or pumping, the button front style is great. This set is made of bamboo fabric, which is also helpful for moisture wicking when those postpartum night sweats are in full force. You can get 20% off with my code ‘KMM20’.
Large Water Bottle || I am CONSTANTLY thirsty. Replacing fluids lost from labor and night sweats is so important. I aim to drink a minimum of 80oz a day, and a large water bottle with a straw makes this a bit easier for me.
Medela Hydrogel Pads || This one is specific to breastfeeding. No one really talks about how hard those first weeks of breastfeeding are on your body. If you follow me on Instagram, you probably heard me mention that I had mastitis 2 weeks postpartum. I had developed severe nipple pain and bleeding and these pads worked better than any nipple butter or cream. They are cooling and can be reused for 24 hours. I cut them in half to get more use out of them because they are quite large.
Stroller Fan || This little guy got me through postpartum night sweats! It attaches easily to pretty much anything, even my upholstered headboard on my bed. Many of you even said you brought this to the hospital with you. We will get a lot of use out of this in the summer as well for the baby.
Underwear || Choose function and comfort over style here. I used the disposable underwear for the first week, but once my postpartum bleeding slowed down, I switched to these bad boys. They are high waisted, which helped gives a little more support, and full coverage.
Frida Mom Peri Bottle || Most people know about this one, and I am only including it because the hype is real on this one. It is so much better than the one you get from the hospital!
Back Massager || One thing NO ONE told me was how bad your back hurts from hunching over trying to breastfeed on 2 hours of sleep. My posture has taken a big hit since having Kennedy, and using this back massager for 15-20 minutes a day helps relieve the tension in my upper back at the end of the day.

Postpartum Essentials for Baby

Burp Cloths || I need to buy stock in these. We go through SO MANY a day. These organic cotton ones from Burt’s Bees are the softest ones we have and wash really well.
Moms on Call Book || This book has helped us get Kennedy on a decent nap/sleep schedule even at 6 weeks old! She currently sleeps 6 hour stretches at night and takes routine 1.5-2 hour naps during the day. We followed the recommendations in this book, and they worked great for us. It would also make a great gift for an expecting mom!
Angelcare Baby Bath Support || We use our regular adult bathtub to bathe Kennedy. I have never felt like she was unsafe in this bath support, and its under $20!
Halo Sleep Sack || We love Halo products! I have been using them since I worked in the hospital as a bedside pediatric nurse. The velcro makes those middle of the night swaddles so easy.
GoumiKids Booties || Trying to keep socks on a baby is impossible sometimes. We grabbed these organic cotton/bamboo booties and they do NOT budge all day.
SnuggleMe Organic Baby Lounger || This is so handy during the day. We keep it in the living room and place Kennedy in it throughout the day as needed. It is not meant for safe sleeping, so we always make sure she is supervised while she is in it.
Baby Delight Bouncer || Bouncer versus Swing, the big question. Honestly, every baby is different and will prefer different things, but Kennedy loves this bouncer. We put her in this after her feedings to keep her upright, which helps with gas discomfort. I would suggest holding off on spending a lot of money on these products until you know what your baby prefers!
Nightlight || I love this thing! It is a cordless, touch nightlight and it is great for middle of the night feedings. I brought it to the hospital as well.
Battery Powered Nail Trimmer || This is another top baby favorite in our house. Cutting those tiny baby nails can be so intimidating. This nail trimmer is super gentle and uses pads to file the nails instead of cutting them. I use it when Kennedy is sleeping and she doesn’t even notice!