Beyond the Baby Shower: What You Actually Need Postpartum
Parenthood is wonderful, amazing, and beautiful—but let’s be real: it’s also exhausting, unpredictable, and full of surprises (some messier than others). You bring home this tiny new human, and suddenly your life is a whirlwind of love, diapers, and trying to remember the last time you brushed your teeth. While baby showers are a wonderful celebration with those you love the most, sometimes they don’t cover the realities of what you need with a tiny, new baby. These are the things I found useful right away—like, day one home from the hospital. Good luck! And sorry in advance, some of these aren’t exactly glamorous… but they’re real.
1. Diapers & Wipes (All the Diapers &Wipes)
You will go through so many. More than you think. Stock up on newborn sizes—and don’t worry if you overdo it. Unused extras can be returned, regifted, or donated. Pro tip: Costco brand is affordable and gets the job done! I couldn’t resist the patterns on the adorable Honest diapers but after I’d burned through an expensive box in a single weekend, I got over that.
2. Newborn Sleepers & Clothes
Yes, babies grow fast. Yes, they’ll outgrow these in what feels like five minutes. But they still need something to wear in those early days. A handful of soft onesies and sleepers will do the trick. Bonus tip: Avoid too many snaps—you won’t want to fumble with them during a 3 a.m. diaper change.
3. A Bouncer (a.k.a. Your Baby’s Lounge Chair)
You love your baby. You want to hold your baby. But you also need to eat, pee, and occasionally blink. A lightweight, comfy bouncer gives you a safe spot to set baby down when your arms need a break. We used ours constantly. We traveled with it, we brought it other people’s houses, we took it everywhere. Dock-a-Tots and Boppy loungers also work great for this but it doesn’t need to be fancy, they all serve the same purpose.
4. Muslin Swaddle Blankets
Forget the tiny bibs and burp clothes—they’re cute but useless for real-life spit-up scenarios. We started using muslin swaddles as burp cloths and never looked back. They’re big enough to catch the mess, soft on baby’s skin, and easy to drape over your shoulder or toss in the diaper bag.
6. A Flexible Feeding Plan
Things change. You might have a plan, and your baby might have another plan. That’s okay. Whether you breastfeed, formula feed, or a combo—do what works for you. Either way, make sure you have a stock of bottles. I used medela so that I could pump milk into the same bottles – less washing, less stress. If you’re breastfeeding, here are a few MVPs:
A pump (check with your insurance—many cover a basic one)
A hands-free pump strap (thank me later)
Bottles for pumped milk
A feeding pillow like a Boppy or My Brest Friend (your back will immediately tell you
why)
A lactation consultant (usually available through your hospital or pediatrician)
5. Your Own Well-Being
This might be the most important thing on the list. Your body just did something incredible, and now it’s healing. Your life is changing in ways you might not even realize yet. Your hormones are doing somersaults. You’re adjusting to a completely new rhythm of life. So don’t forget you. Eat good food. Stay hydrated. Shower. Ask for help. Go for a walk, when you are ready. Get out of the house. And most of all, give yourself grace.
One Last Thought.
New babies change everything—in the best and unexpected ways. Whether it’s your first baby or your fifth, it’s a wild ride. Be gentle with yourself. You’ve got this.
- Lauren Aleshire, Kauffmann Foundation
