8 Baby Essentials For The First 3 Months (My Secret Weapons!)

Inside: Check out the 8 baby essentials for the first 3 months you need to get, especially if you’re a first time mom. These are the secret weapons you need for a successful newborn stage!

I usually dread the newborn stage…

Your baby wakes up every two hours during the night.
Eating is still a new concept.
They’re constantly gassy.

It is exhausting!

But it’s true when they say “the third time’s a charm.”

The first three months with my third and fourth baby were so special and fairly easy, and I’m convinced it’s because I discovered some new baby must haves.

Keep reading to see what my favorite baby essentials for the first 3 months are, plus some of my other favorite baby products.

The Best Baby Essentials

Now when it comes to baby essentials, you’ll find lots of lists with everything you need for the first 3 months.

This is not one of those lists.

If you want a minimalist baby registry list, then I suggest you check out my post with everything you should register for.

The baby essentials listed below are the products I’ve found are must haves for a smooth and successful first 3 months with baby. They’re the secret weapons that will make the newborn stage so much easier!

1. Probiotic drops

The first product you need for your newborn is the Gerber Soothe Baby Probiotic Drops.

I had seen a few moms talk about these drops on social media and I feel better when I use probiotics, so I decided to make these drops a priority for my third and fourth babies’ newborn care.

I’ve tried other products with my babies like gripe water and gas drops, but they never seemed to work.

These drops DO work! My third and fourth didn’t spit up as much as my other babies have and they haven’t had as much colic either. I can tell a big difference when I skip a night and forget to give them their drops.

The price can seem high for the size of the bottle, but I gave my babies 5 drops almost every night, and the bottle lasts 3 months. It’s definitely worth the money!

2. Gas passer

The second product you should consider adding to your baby essentials list is some sort of gas passer.

I’ve never purchased these until my last babies and they sure come in handy during the first few weeks of the newborn stage.

Basically, it’s a plastic device that you insert into baby’s bum to relieve gas and help with constipation or colic. It shouldn’t hurt your baby because there’s a stopper built-in to keep from inserting it too far.

PRO-TIP: Be sure you have an extra diaper underneath your baby’s bum because relieving the gas can cause baby to squirt poop all over. Likewise, never look down the end of the gas passer, lol.

You’ve been warned!

3. Swaddle

I thought I had found the best swaddles ever when I got some that velcroed.

However, my third baby was busting out of those at two weeks old so I knew I had to find a solution because she was startling herself awake.

That’s when I decided to invest in the Love to Dream swaddles. They are a bit expensive for a swaddle but worth every penny, IMHO.

I love that they have a zipper design so your baby can’t break out of the swaddle on their own. And even though they look a little funny having their hands up by their face, it’s actually better for their bodies.

The swaddles I was used to using force their arms down by their sides and keep their legs locked which isn’t recommended for the first 3 to 6 months.

The design of this swaddle allows baby to sleep in their preferred position. It’s great because my babies have learned to self soothe by sucking on their hands (through the swaddle).

I purchased both the original swaddle and the transition bag to use when baby starts to roll over.

4. Noise machine

By the time your second or third baby arrives, you’ll have other kiddos running around, which means a lot of noise!

While you don’t want to have baby getting used to sleeping in dead silence (for obvious reasons), you’ll still want to drown out the other noises in the house so they don’t wake prematurely. This includes the garage door, front door, or hairdryer, which makes this a must have for first babies too.

A noise machine is a great baby essential for the first 3 months and beyond. My two-year-old still uses her noise machine every night to help her sleep.

You could also get a baby monitor that plays sound to save money with a 2-in-1 product.

5. Diapers with pocketed waistband

Diapers are one of the first items moms-to-be put on their lists, but if you’ve never had a baby before, you have no idea which diapers are best.

Trust me when I say that you’ll want diapers with a pocketed waistband.

Newborns are prone to blowouts because their stools are super runny, so one way to prevent those is with diapers that can catch the poop.

Of course, you won’t be able to protect against every blowout, but I found my babies had fewer blowouts when they were wearing the pocket waistband diapers.

7. Stain removers

Speaking of blowouts…you won’t be able to survive the first three months with a newborn without some quality stain removers!

Not every stain remover will get out baby poop stains, so make sure you have some Dawn dish soap and Oxi Clean powdered stain remover on hand.

And here are some extra tips on how to get baby poop out of clothes.

7. Swing

If you have other kids, need to get something done, or just have a fussy baby, a baby swing will be your best friend during the first 3 months.

Most newborns aren’t going to like sleeping on their backs in a crib or bassinet because they’re used to being “rocked” to sleep in your uterus.

That’s where the swing comes in!

All of my babies have loved napping in their swing and it’s been so helpful for me to have an hour or two to get things done.

And don’t feel like you have to get a fancy swing with all of the bells and whistles. A simple swing that rocks back and forth will do the trick, too.

8. Saline spray

I didn’t realize how much I would need saline spray until I had two babies during cold and flu season.

My fourth baby got RSV during the first three months of her life and it was especially hard for her to nurse.

Saline spray was a lifesaver because it helped loosen up the mucus so I could easily get it out with a nasal aspirator. It’s also one of the few cold/flu “medicines” that’s completely safe for newborns.

It may not be essential for babies born during the summer months, but most newborns are a little stuffy every now and then, so it’s smart to have some saline spray on hand. Especially because you can use it through the toddler years before kids know how to blow their nose.

Want More?

If you liked this post, be sure to check out these other helpful posts:

• The Best Newborn Sleep Tips for New Moms
• You Need These 15 Newborn Baby Hacks In Your Life
• Here’s How To Wash Newborn Hair
• How often do you bathe a newborn?
• 700+ Modern Baby Names

Your Turn

If I could go back and use these baby essentials with my first two babies, I would!

The swaddles are great because they can be used for multiple babies, and the other products will help your sanity when you’re in the trenches as a first time mom.

If you try out any of the products or have any favorites you think I should add, let me know in the comments.