Are you feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the baby items available out there? I know I was when I was pregnant. After doing some research and reading other mamas’ experiences and recommendations, one thing was clear – not all babies are the same. A baby swing might work for one baby but another little one might absolutely hate it.

But, other than the usual baby essentials, I came up with 5 miscellaneous baby items that are very, very useful in my opinion. I have used and am still using all these items (except for one). And if you don’t want to break the bank like me, there are so many choices out there that will fit right into yours.

1. Rocking Chair for Mama

Whether you nurse your baby to sleep or your baby likes to be rocked, a rocking chair for mama is an essential. I repeat – an essential. The truth of the matter is that babies get heavier and heavier. Late night feedings or rocking can already be exhausting imagine having to do it while carrying a 15-pound baby?! This is something they don’t tell you so here I am telling you from experience – you need one. Here are some rocking chair or glider to give you an idea. The one from Amazon is rated as Best Overall by Parents.com. My parents got me one from HomeSense (not linked) and we loved it!

2. Portable Changing Pad with Storage

One word: lifesaver. We have used our Skip Hop changing pad so much that it probably is my favorite baby item. Especially now, while we are in the Covid-era, changing tables in public places are just not going to cut it. The one we have from Skip Hop even has some storage for wipes, diapers, and some extra clothes. I truly recommend getting one. Amazon obviously have great options but I’m sharing with you what I have.

Skip Hop Pronto! Changing Station available at Target

3. Diaper Caddy

A diaper caddy is super helpful especially if your bedroom or nursery is on the 2nd floor and you spend most of your time in the family room or living room downstairs.. We don’t have a nursery or a 2nd floor, but I still have a diaper caddy in our living room. I fill it with diapers, wipes, Vaseline and diaper rash cream, my nursing pads, extra baby clothes and washcloths. So when we are hanging out in the living room where we spend most of our time anyway, I can change her easily when needed. The best part is that they’re multipurpose, so if you don’t need a diaper caddy anymore or if you realize you don’t actually need it, you can use it as extra storage for other things! Amazon has tons of diaper caddies, they’re inexpensive and cute too!

4. Motion Sensor Night Light

Okay so I don’t actually have this one but I did see it on one of my friends’ nightstand and I thought that it was so useful to have. I will get one once we are settled in our new place. Not having one makes me realize the value of having it. When its time for night feedings or changing diaper, it’s so helpful not to have to worry about the dark or finding the light switch or in my case, increasing the brightness of my phone. I truly recommend getting one. Since I’m looking for one too, here are some choices on Amazon with good reviews.

5. Nursing Pillow

I’ve gotten so much use from my nursing pillow. I breastfeed my baby but I only really used this pillow for nursing her for about 3 months. It was also a helpful tool for tummy time when she was 6-10 weeks old. I use it a lot now as a support for her when she sits up. I got mine as a gift but there are so many options for nursing pillows that fit any budget. I mean it’s a pillow, I’ve seen my husband use it when he took a nap. Babylist.com listed 6 best nursing pillows of 2022. Here’s their most versatile pillow (and most inexpensive of the list).

Boppy x Babylist Original Feeding and Infant Support Pillow

Honestly, these items truly made this new mama gig a whole lot easier for me. They’re almost like mama hacks and I swear by them. If you’re a new mama like me or currently expecting or already enjoying your little one (or ones) but need some tips of what items to get, here are my recommended must-haves.

I’d love to hear from you if you have other recommendations or if maybe some of these items did not work well with you. It’s a community we’re building here and I’d love to hear your feedback!

You got this, mama!