This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
This post is sponsored by Depend®, all opinions are my own.
Postpartum essentials are those things that every expectant mom should have, but they just don’t know it yet. From zippered onesies for 2 a.m. diaper changes to cling shades to keep the sun out of baby’s eyes, this is the baby gear that both mom and baby can’t live without.
Being pregnant is one of the most exciting times in a woman’s life. It can also be the most stressful. You want to do everything right, from eating the right foods to creating the perfect nursery. Every spare minute of the day is spent preparing for your little one’s arrival.
When it’s your first, it’s even harder because you just don’t know what you don’t know. You can read all the books, watch all the videos and get the scoop from your mom friends but chances are, there will still be a few surprises.
Postpartum Essentials
I recently found out a friend of mine was pregnant and wanted to make a gift basket filled with the postpartum essentials she’d need most. I learned the hard way but she and her hubby wouldn’t have to. The less they worried about what baby gear they still needed, the more time they could spend enjoying their sweet baby.
For Mom:
Depend® Silhouette® underwear – This is the one thing that many new moms don’t realize they’re probably going to need. Bladder leaks are a common issue for new moms, which I discovered years ago when I brought my oldest home from the hospital.
My hubby had done something that made me laugh and that’s all it took. I was not expecting the “laugh leak”…welcome to mommyhood!
I still remember that day, which is why a box of Depend Silhouette was the first thing I added to the gift basket. I certainly could have used a box back then.
Made with a super absorbent material and leg elastic, this underwear traps both wetness and odor immediately. However, the material is so soft and giving that they’re comfortable enough to wear all day.
Because they’re meant to be sleek and hug your curves, these underwear are pretty much unnoticeable under your clothes. You can even wear them under yoga pants, which works out well because most new moms live in yoga pants.
There’s a lot you need for a new baby and it adds up. That’s why it’s nice that you can pick these up for such a reasonable price at Walmart. Shopping there is always so convenient, especially since there are such a variety of ways to do it. You can head to Walmart to shop in-store, use their Online Pickup or have them delivered right to your doorstep. I can tell you that when you’re a new mom, Walmart delivery service will come in VERY handy!
While Depend Silhouette is one important postpartum essential, it’s not all a new mom will need…
Hot/Cold packs – It goes without saying that after childbirth, you’re pretty sore. Having hot or cold packs on hand can help relieve some of that pain.
Sitz bath soak – Another great pain reliever is a warm water sitz bath. You can make your own with baking soda or salt or take the easy route (my favorite) and buy a sitz bath soak instead.
Peri bottle – A peri bottle is a squirt bottle used to clean yourself postpartum. It’s important for helping prevent infections and can help lead to a speedy recovery.
Nursing bra – New moms that are planning to nurse will want a good nursing bra. It’s great for support, comfort, and quick access to feed a hungry baby.
Nursing pads – Just like Depend Silhouette underwear is a necessity for bladder leaks, nursing pads help keep bras clean and dry.
Electric breast pump – The emphasis here is on electric. My first pump was manual and I learned quickly what a big mistake that was. I switched and the difference was like night and day.
Milk storage bags – Whether you’re a working mom or just want to pump and dump occasionally, milk storage bags are a must-have. Any new mom will tell you that breast milk is like liquid gold and storage bags help keep it from spilling or spoiling.
Dry shampoo – Once baby comes, showers are few and far between. Dry shampoo is a new moms best friend!
Large tumbler – It’s always important to stay hydrated but even more so when you’re breastfeeding. I always kept a large tumbler close by so I had water when I needed it.
For Baby:
New moms know they’ll need diapers and bottles but these are some of the things they may not think of…
Zippered Onesies – When I was pregnant, I bought all the cute onesies I could get my hands on. After trying to snap one back up after a 2 a.m. diaper change, I realized that they have 5 MILLION snaps! Okay, that may be a slight exaggeration but trust me, you want zippers!
Swaddle – Your baby might look like a baby burrito but being swaddled keeps them cozy and warm. It also helps suppress their natural startle reflex. That means it’ll help them sleep better at night (so mom sleeps better too).
Extra crib sheets – When I bought our crib sheets, I bought two…just two. It made sense at the time because I’d have one for the crib, then a spare when I did laundry. Between spit-ups and diaper mishaps, I realized just how flawed my logic had been.
Baby nail clippers – Terrified! That’s how I felt when it came time to cut my daughter’s nails for the first time. I knew I had to though because I didn’t want her scratching that adorable face. New moms need baby nail clippers, even if they don’t want to use them!
Mittens – Because those little nails grow so fast, baby mittens also help keep babies from scratching their face. The mittens fall off occasionally, and they lose their matches faster than socks in a dryer, but luckily babies only need them for a few weeks.
Diaper rash cream – There’s no explanation needed for this one. Babies get rashes and when they do, they’ll need rash cream to ease the pain.
Burp cloths – Unless you want to walk around with spit-up on your shoulder for your baby’s first year of life, you’ll need plenty of burp cloths. Keep one permanently attached to your shoulder and you just may still have a clean shirt at the end of the day. No promises though.
Nursing pillow – Trying to nurse without a nursing pillow can be done, by why would you want to. The size and shape of a nursing pillow makes feeding baby so much comfortable.
Cling shade – This is a must-have and should be in the car before bringing the baby home! Otherwise, you could have bright sunlight shining in baby’s eyes as you drive home from the hospital.
Baby detergent – Newborn skin is so soft and sensitive that it can be irritated by regular detergents. Using one made just for babies is a safe bet.
While I couldn’t put all these postpartum essentials into my gift basket (I’d need a MUCH bigger basket), I do think it had a pretty good variety. As a bonus, I chose a gift basket that could double as an organizer. It’ll be a great way to keep all that baby gear in one place.
Want to make your own gift basket (or get ready for your own little bundle of joy) but don’t want to forget anything? Bring this printable list along when you go shopping. Just click directly on the image or the title below.
From Depend Silhouette to dry shampoo, these are some of the things that new moms need most! What would you add to the list?
