The Mom Social

(The not-so-obvious every day essentials)

Navigating life with a newborn is a whirlwind, and finding the right tools can make all the difference. Here’s a roundup of the must-haves that kept my sanity intact and my little one comfortable.

1. Collapsible Sink Bowl – A lifesaver for those endless bottle and pacifier cleanings. Useful to wash all bottles and breast pump in so that they’re not contaminated with anything else. It folds down for easy storage, meaning no more clutter on your countertop (at least until the next feeding!)
2. Diaper Genie – Trust me, this little wonder will keep you from running to the trash every hour. It seals off any smell, making nursery changes that much easier.
3. Bottle Drying Rack – Compact and practical, this rack lets you dry all your baby bottles in one go. It’s a small addition, but it keeps your kitchen organized and ready for the next round of feeds.
4. Snuggle Me Baby Lounger – For those calm moments when you need your hands free, this lounger is perfect for supervised naps and keeping baby snug while you finally have a moment to yourself. It was by far the most used product in our house – we used it daily and the only place baby would happily lie down content!
5. Brest Friend Nursing Pillow – I tried 3 other nursing pillows before a lactation consultant suggested ‘My brest friend’… & its now the only one I use. It’s the perfect size to hold and support baby, stays in place with its around-body clip, and has a back support (a much under-rated feature!) Whether you’re nursing or bottle-feeding, this supportive pillow helps with posture and comfort (you’ll thank yourself during those marathon feeds).
6. Basket for post-partum essentials – I got a little one to go on top of the loo in the bathroom to hold all my post partum bits (pads, cream, ice packs, spray etc) so that they weren’t on full show, yet easy to access. Made me mentally feel much better when needing them without them being on full-show all the time.
7. Elvie Hands-Free Breast Pump – Freedom to pump hands-free while doing, well, anything else. Honestly a game-changer – I could pump anywhere (including on car journeys!) with this which made pumping much less of a chore, I highly recommend it! I personally really liked the app too – helped keep me on track and made timing feeds so much easier!
8. Hatch Night Light – With a soft glow and soothing sound options, this night light is a lifesaver for midnight changes and feeds. Bonus: you can control it from your phone.
9. Wipeable Change Mat – Because let’s face it, messes happen. A wipeable mat is easy to clean and saves endless trips to the laundry.
10. Muslins – This one is a necessity that you’ve probably thought about, but maybe not about just how many you will need. Many babies spit up after feeding and they get dirty real fast. Lots of muslins are needed. Lots.

These essentials were game-changers for me in the early days and have made the journey so much easier. Whether you’re a first-time mom or adding to your family, having the right items on hand can make all the difference.

If you’re interested, I’ve linked these favorites in the title. Some of them might be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you—thank you for supporting The Mom Social!