There are so many lists out there of must-haves to prepare for baby.
What should I buy? What should go on my registry?
Bottle warmers, wipe warmers… so many gadgets.
But what’s actually essential? Will I really need all of this?
I created a list of what was truly helpful for us in the early weeks postpartum. Not everything you could buy—but what genuinely supported healing, comfort, and ease. Let me know what you think. What did I miss?
Labor Prep Items I Actually Used
My midwife recommended Mountain Meadow Gentle Birth for birth prep, to help prepare my body for birth. It can help manage contractions, support Braxton Hicks contractions, and may help contribute to a shorter, more efficient active labor.
Postpartum Essentials for Mama
Peri Bottle
This peri bottle works wonders during postpartum recovery and is, in my opinion, a must-have.
Squatty Potty
These are a good idea for everyone. This position supports healthy bowel movements, and postpartum it can be especially helpful for supporting your pelvic floor.
Motherlove Sitz Bath Spray
I’ve always loved Motherlove products. I used to sell their full line in my office when I had a full-time practice. Their sitz bath spray is a convenient, mess-free version of a traditional sitz bath soak for postpartum comfort.
Sitz Bath Herbs
There are many herbal blends available that can be added to a small amount of bath water to soothe the perineum. This is something you can do a couple of times a day during the first few weeks postpartum.
Nursing Bras
I lived in these sleep bras early postpartum and still use them overnight now. I wasn’t leaving the house—or the bed—much those first weeks, so these were my all-day bras. Later, I transitioned to this bra that was also very comfortable. These two were my favorites. Be prepared for your breasts to grow once your milk comes in.
Mesh Postpartum Undies
They’re not cute—but sometimes they’re the only thing that gets you through those early days. I used these mesh undies with postpartum pads after both a vaginal birth and a cesarean births.
Organic postpartum pads
I like using organic when ever I can. These pads are nice because you can order them online and get them in my local grocery store.
Postpartum Undies
Black organic cotton undies can be helpful when you’re bleeding postpartum.
Postpartum Blues
WishGarden Herbs Postpartum Emotional Baby Blues was an herbal supplement that really helped me this time around. In my first posprtum journey I had my placenta encapsulated and that really help with my mood. But this product was more helpful to me this time around.
Afterbirth Contraction Support
Not everyone experiences afterbirth contractions, but they are normal, temporary, and common—especially for those who’ve had multiple births. This herbal product helped support me during that time.
Soothing Gel Pads
I ended up ordering these during the early weeks with my son. We had many nursing challenges, and I had to give one side a day off a few times. Lactation consultants are a must, and these gel pads gave me some relief when things weren’t going smoothly.
What Helped Us Most for Baby
Diapers
We used disposables for the first few weeks after our second child and whenever we traveled. We planned to cloth diaper like we did with our first, but disposables made those early weeks easier. You never know how big your baby will be, so I don’t recommend stocking up on too many newborn diapers—just a few, maybe in a couple sizes. We liked HealthyBaby (available locally) and Bamboo Nature (easy to order on Amazon, especially while traveling).
Pacifiers
My son had trouble nursing—I was in pain, and he wasn’t gaining enough weight. We worked with a lactation consultant right away, and she recommended the Evenflo Feeding Balance pacifiers. I used to believe pacifiers weren’t good for babies, but she explained how these could actually support his oral strength and improve nursing.
Bottles
These Pigeon glass nursing bottles were also recommended by our lactation consultant.
Baby Wearing
Baby wearing is incredibly helpful. Newborns want to be close—this is a whole new world for them with so many stressors. Wearing your baby can help regulate their breathing, temperature, and heart rate, and can encourage better sleep. It may even support early language development. We used a wrap starting when the newborn is around 7 pounds and transitioned to a structured carrier as our kids grew. Our two-year-old still snuggles into ours.
Infant Massage
I teach infant massage classes for parents and caregivers. This is a beautiful way to bond with your baby. These classes are best taken when babies are around 6–8 weeks old.
Postpartum Nourishment & Support
If you don’t have family or friends caring for you in the early weeks, having a postpartum doula can be incredibly supportive. Sonja came to our home, helped with breastfeeding, held the baby so I could rest, listened while I vented or cried, and cooked amazing meals. This was such a meaningful part of my postpartum experience.
If you do have family or friends who want to help, consider setting up a meal train. In the early days, you don’t need to entertain—you need food and rest. The best meal trains involve food dropped off at the door, allowing you and your baby uninterrupted time to rest and bond.
If you’re expecting or newly postpartum and want more guidance beyond products, I offer prenatal and postpartum massage, infant massage classes, and education to support your healing and connection during this season.
Save this post for later, share it with a friend who’s preparing for postpartum, and explore the resources on my site when you’re ready for extra support.
Every postpartum journey is different, and what feels essential for one family may not for another. I hope this list helps you feel a little more grounded and confident as you prepare for life with your baby.
If you’ve already been through postpartum, I’d love to hear—what supported you the most in those early weeks? Leave a comment or share this with a friend who’s preparing for their postpartum season.
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