Mama Naturelle’s Top Picks for New Moms (December 2017)

Hi Mamas! I’m finally in the home stretch (6 and a half weeks to go!) and it’s starting to really hit me that I’m about to give birth. That I’m about to go without sleep for weeks on end and experience bad latches, chapped nipples, and spit up again.

The postpartum/newborn stage is a tough one, we all know that, and it’s essential to feel ready (or at least as ready as possible!) to go through this challenging (but beautiful!) journey.

I took my time compiling my December picks, and that’s because most of the items listed below have to do with caring for a newborn baby or recovering from childbirth. I wanted this list to be extensive, and as helpful as possible to moms about to experience this stage.

You’ll find a variety of goodies here – from cute baby accessories and nursery must haves to postpartum must haves – many of which I did not have for Liam’s birth. I hope you’re as impressed with them as I was, and that some of these make it into your Amazon cart 🙂 I’m so excited to try them out with baby Noah!

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Hiccapop is an Amazon bestseller, and it’s obvious why: they have the most amazing products! I love their pregnancy pillow wedge (perfect for sleeping during the third trimester) and Day Dreamer, a cozy lounger/travel bed for newborns and infants. I love how lightweight it is, so I can move it throughout the house when necessary. So much more practical than lugging a bassinet or heavy duty swing around!

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There are lots of nursing covers and bibs out there, but I haven’t found many that I love as much as the ones by Amaroo . These ethnic, boho prints are adorable and stylish, and will match pretty much any outfit in my little guy’s closet 🙂

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I mean… how darn adorable are these baby moccasins by Little Lovebug Company? I am obsessed with them and can’t wait for Noah to wear his. I love that they actually have soft soles with non-slip grips. Perfect for the early standing days – less slips, rips, and trips! There are tons of sizes available for babies (6-12 months) through toddlerhood (size 6). Screen Shot 2017-12-20 at 9.32.57 AMScreen Shot 2017-12-20 at 10.02.58 AM.png

Ashtonbee has such a diverse amount of products available on their website. I just had to order their silicone breast pump to facilitate the pumping process when we’re on the go, but I also thought these crawling knee pads were a fantastic idea, too! I remember cringing when Liam started crawling on our wooden floors. Not super gentle on their little knees… but luckily, with number 2, problem fixed! Can’t wait to cheer our little crawler on!
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The international maternity brand Sweet Mommy has you covered for everything breastfeeding and newborn-related. For a winter pregnancy, I found so many amazing items on their website! I love their stroller cover (third photo) to make sure Liam is always bundled in and comfortable, and the Mommy & Me coat (fourth photo) is possibly the greatest invention ever. This cost has a zip insert to accommodate your little one! Their nursing tops are also incredibly soft and flattering. I got them in so many colors!

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Silk and More has been super popular on Etsy since 2009, and for good reason: their robes are super duper comfortable! I opted for a terry cloth one (in navy) because I know it will come in handy at the hospital and beyond once baby Noah gets here. You have to check out their bridesmaids robes, kaftans, hospital gowns, and more!

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Goodbye unflattering hospital robes! I am super excited about wearing this adorable, floral robe by Comfy Mommy on the big day. They have so many options that work for a ton of different occasions. Check them out!

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For my recovery with Liam, I froze maxi pads with witch hazel ahead of time and separated them from one another with saran wrap. This was such a great idea and I was so glad to have stocked up on them! God knows I needed it… This time, however, I found an even easier solution with VagiKool: reusable feminine cold packs! Probably not the most glamorous item on this list, but definitely one of the most useful!

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I heard of these Milkelle collection shells when I was nursing Liam and thought they were a great idea, but never got a chance to get a set. This time, however, I’m prepared! I’ll be able to collect those “liquid gold” drops that would otherwise go to waste during feeds and randomly throughout the day. Genius!

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I love a good drying rack for baby bottles and accessories, and this one by Lullababy comes with a brush/sponge cleaning set, too! What I love is that this drying rack is simple, and easier to clean than most of the fancier ones on the market. Perfect for our busy household!

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These Baomosi nursing bras are perfect because they’re not ridiculously bulky like some of the ones I got my hands on the first time around with Liam. They’re comfortable, but also really cute. Bonus: they come in packs of threes!

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If your baby has reflux or nasal congestion, or simply prefers to be propped up while in a lying down position, this Conforzy wedge is perfect for you! It has the ideal 12 degree angle recommended by pediatricians for newborns that use bassinets. It’s also waterproof and BPA free!

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 I’ve had this Snuggle Me for a while now and have been dying to use it with baby Noah! The summer Liam was born, my mom would take him outside and rock him to sleep on her lap. This simple lounger will be perfect for these tender moments. The padded sides make for a safe and cozy nap!

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I have a confession to make… I owned not one, but two, baby wearing slings when Liam was a newborn, but never used them. Yes, I blamed it on the fact that it was way too hot that year in June/July, and that Liam would cry every time I attempted to place him in, but I definitely didn’t give babywearing a fair chance.

This time around, however, with a winter baby, I intend to take full advantage of it.  Lil Peepers Keepers has a beautiful collection of baby slings that will work for any mom. Rebecca, the shop owner, also provides a wonderful guide on how to properly wear your baby. It may seem easy, but there is definitely a learning curve!

Screen Shot 2017-12-20 at 9.31.46 AMScreen Shot 2017-12-20 at 1.42.29 PM.pngIn our home, extra storage is everything. Meet Peekabags: these adorable, collapsible bins are perfect for everything nursery-related, and I love how versatile they can be.

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I like to think that we will be able to reuse a lot of the nursery items we had for Liam as a baby, but his brush set was unfortunately beyond saving… Luckily, I found Babylinos on Amazon. Their wooden brush set is just perfect: you get four different brush types (a cradle cap silicone brush, natural goat hair bristle brush, wood bristle massager brush, and comb!) which, in my opinion, is a great deal. Liam had cradle cap as a newborn and I wish we’d had the silicone brush to gently massage his scalp instead of using a towel to rub the flakes off. This is a great set that I think will come in very handy in the next few months, if not years.  Wouldn’t it make a great baby shower gift, too?

Screen Shot 2017-12-20 at 9.31.32 AMScreen Shot 2017-12-20 at 1.38.37 PM.pngThese genius hangers are the perfect addition to our home. I always wondered what I would do with all of these teeny tiny velvet hangers when our boys outgrew them… turns out I should’ve gotten GroHangers all along! They actually GROW with your child. How amazing is that?

 Screen Shot 2017-12-20 at 9.31.26 AMScreen Shot 2017-12-20 at 1.39.16 PM.pngI’ve written about Dear Baby Gear (in Noah’s woodland nursery post), but I have to share their beautiful (and reversible!) infant car seat canopies, too. Liam hated falling asleep  on the go if it wasn’t pitch dark, so we always threw a swaddle or blanket over his car seat. Not super practical when we wanted to check on him. This canopy is perfect for situations like ours! Can’t wait to use it with Noah!Screen Shot 2017-12-20 at 1.40.09 PM.png 
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I’ve written about the known benefit of Amber before (Amber Teething Necklaces: Do They Really Work?), but mostly as a way to offer relief for teething babies. I was blown away when I found Umai Amber on Amazon. They focus on the wellbeing of babies, but also moms! From maternity necklaces to relieve heartburn and anxiety to postpartum necklaces to help with balance and positivity, you can take a deep breath knowing you’ve got that extra support. And if you don’t buy into the virtues of amber, read this.

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I actually can’t believe I didn’t think of buying these when I was breastfeeding Liam. By using these cloth nursing pads by Andy Met Ali (made from anti-bacterial bamboo rayon), you will avoid sending disposable breast pads to landfills. Even their packaging is eco friendly! And if you didn’t think of using breast pads at all, definitely do consider it. As sleep deprived Mamas (aka zombies), the last thing we need to worry about is milk stains!

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I’m obsessed with these nautical rail guards by Love Bug Linens. Unfortunately, I found their shop after doing Liam’s big boy room reveal, but their rail guards add something super special to his bedroom that I wish I could’ve captured on the reveal video. For years, we had a rail guard set from Amazon that was super hard to untie, so these are such an upgrade. Their quality is incredible!

That’s it for my postpartum/newborn must-haves, Mamas!

Hope you like what you saw. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions! 

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Johanna Riehm teaches in the department of Communication and Media at Manhattanville College and in the department of English at Mercy College. She teaches courses in the history of communication, public speaking, and social media, as well as creative and technical writing workshops. Johanna’s work has been featured in Graffiti Literary Magazine, The Write Place at the Write Time, The Bangalore Review, Cactus Heart Press, and the LaMothe Review. She is working on her first longer work, a creative nonfiction novel called We Carved Our Names in Tamarind Trees.

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