Maven is just about to turn 3 months old, and we’ve already learned so much about what we actually needed during this newborn phase. Of course there are the basics like a crib, sterilizer, bottles, and stuff like that. But these are some of our favorite nice-to-haves that we’ve highly recommended to our friends and family.

Baby Bjorn Mini Carrier

We’re big fans of anything Baby Bjorn. Maven is old enough now to be either back-facing or front-facing, and she loves coming along for the ride while we do chores or dance around the house. Sometimes she’ll even start sucking on the fabric. And if we want to change things up, I’ll carry her in the Moby wrap (I’m actually wearing her in it right now as I type). It’s easier for her to fall asleep in it because it’s like a long comfortable scarf.

Baby Bjorn Bouncer

When we need to give our backs a break or want to eat dinner more easily together, we’ll place Maven in this bouncer. Since it’s made of the same material as the Baby Bjorn carrier, it feels very familiar to her and sometimes she’ll fall asleep in it. We attached the Tiny Love stroller arch to it for more sensory stimulation, and soon she’ll be able to bounce herself in it.

Snoo

Ok, the hype is real. Maven consistently sleeps for about two 5-hour stretches during the night, and there have been a few times where she slept 9-10 hrs straight in this thing. It’s stylish, easy to assemble and clean, and has seriously given us a helping hand at soothing her back to sleep. Plus, it gives us a lot of peace of mind, knowing that she’s securely fastened throughout the night with no chance of rolling over onto her stomach. It’s magical.

Pacifier leash

I never realized how much pacifiers go missing or fall on the floor, but of course Amazon has a ton of options for pacifier leashes to solve this problem. We went with this one which came in a pack of two. The teething beads kind of look like a cute necklace, and Maven likes to practice grabbing onto them.

Breast shells

Another cool invention that no one tells you about. These have helped me save about 1 oz. of milk a day that would otherwise have soaked into my shirt and been wasted. Every day, Alex and I say out loud, “We’re so glad we bought these.”

Skip Hop Farmstand Playmat

We laid this out on the guest bed in the nursery, and Maven looks forward to it every day. We wiggle her arms and legs, brush different textured toys against her skin, and practice tummy time with her on this. I can’t wait to watch her start interacting with it more, learning the numbers, and being tall enough to play with the toys that hang from the top.

Skip Hop tub

We were tempted to get a foam flower sink insert (those pictures are sooo adorable), but after reading more reviews, we’re so happy with this Skip Hop tub (we have the gray one). We place it on the kitchen counter near the sink which makes bath time even easier and faster. She loves sitting in the little seat and hasn’t cried at all.

Kirkland Baby Wipes and Diapers

We’ve always been proud Costco shoppers and regularly went even before having a baby. After trying several diaper and baby wipe brands, we can confidently say that the Costco brand ones are our favorite. The diapers are durable, unscented, fit well, and have a cute print. The baby wipes are easy to pull out of the packaging, moist, soft, and large. Seriously, get them!