After returning from the hospital I was reminded of just how many different things I need in the post-partum period than during maternity. Thankfully I stashed some of my extras from Q, but I found myself scrambling to get a bunch of others. Thank goodness for Amazon, where I was able to quickly order a number of things I realized I needed. Below are some of my favorites. For the full list to easily peruse, visit here on Amazon.
Bassinet
Last time, we did a Pack ‘n Play which was useful for us to have in general (I think buying one of these would always be useful), but was less successful when it came to Q and sleeping. It made too much of a rustling sound as he tossed and turned in it. This time, we wanted something pretty simple and lightweight. This Fisher-Price bassinet has worked well for us and little L loves the soothing music it plays (use of it is optional) and I love that it has a soft nightlight that comes on when touched. And the material along the bottom is super easy to clean following those inevitable spit-ups.
Post-Partum Leggings
I didn’t do these last time. Instead, I wore a lot of my maternity leggings with a compression binder. It worked okay, but wasn’t always the most comfortable and the leggings felt saggy and I was constantly pulling them up. Over time, the compression panel stretches out. They buckle. They squish your skin. This is better. Way better. The ones I opted for from Belly Bandit (the “Mother Tucker”) aren’t cheap but they are so good. If you want to wait it out for a sale, sign up for their mailing list directly with Belly Bandit and you can usually score these at 20% off. I snagged mine on their Black Friday sale.
Tunics & Button-Up Dresses
I love a good tunic in general but these past few weeks, along with some button-up dresses, they’re all I want. I went on to Amazon and found this sweater tunic from Hello MIZ. It is only $29 and a perfect weight for winter — slightly warmer but not so heavy as to be too much for those post-partum temperature swings. So many nursing clothes have a plunging neckline, so I love that this one has a higher neck. The Savi Mom line also has great option you can layer with a long cardigan and have ready to put to use during warmer temps this spring (since someday, it’ll be warm again!).
Breast-feeding Essentials
No judgment if you’re not, but if you are breastfeeding, it’s amazing how many things you need to make it feel like a more manageable process. Some of the things I really love include the Kiinde system, the “My Brest Friend” pillow, a good hand pump and the Spectra pump. Other nice-to-haves include lactation teas from Mother’s Milk and Pink Stork. See the full list with more of my breastfeeding faves here.
What did you find essential after the birth of your little one? Share in the comments!
I receive a very small commission when you buy via Amazon at the above links to offset my annual expense of running this website. The products on the list are all ones I have personally used and loved.
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