Postpartum Essentials for Mom and Baby

During pregnancy, expecting mothers tend to spend so much time preparing for the baby. But they forget to think about themselves, the recovery after birth, and the transition of becoming new parents. There’s a fourth trimester that many women don’t know about called the “postpartum period.” This fourth trimester typically refers to the first three months after giving birth.¹ During this time, there’s a lot of healing, learning, and many sleepless nights. It can be difficult to adjust during this period if you don’t know what to expect or have the postpartum essentials you need for recovery.

As a postpartum doula, I have helped hundreds of new mothers, second-time moms, third-time moms, and more bring home their newborn babies. Women always tell me that they forgot how difficult this transition can be, and many new moms say they weren’t fully prepared. This is why I’ve compiled a list of essential products for the fourth trimester, your postpartum period. I hope this list of postpartum essentials makes your transition from expecting mom to new mom much easier and more enjoyable. Here are my postpartum essentials for mom and baby!

Postpartum Essentials for Mom

These are the postpartum recovery products and other essential items I recommend for new mamas:

1. Sitz Bath

After you give birth to your baby, you will have a sore pelvic floor.² As part of your postpartum recovery, get some bath herbs to help soothe wounds, aches, and pains, reduce swelling, and heal tears and perineal bruising. It’s also great for hemorrhoids, too.³ You can get a regular sitz bath soak at any corner store. All you have to do is fill your foldable sitz bathtub, drop some in, and sit for about 20 minutes.³ Your pelvic floor will thank you!

Buy Sitz Bath Soak

2. Pads

Also, after giving birth, you will have lochia, which is vaginal bleeding from the uterus lining shedding, and it can last as short as two weeks or as long as six weeks.⁴ (Note: Do NOT use tampons.⁴) I highly recommend that expecting mothers make their own padsicles for when they get home to help with their healing. You can also purchase some herbal-infused postpartum pads for the days you no longer need a padsicle/cold compress. I also recommend picking up some TUCKS medicated cooling pads as well. Line them up in your postpartum pad, and your bottom will feel much better.

A package of The Honey Pot Company postpartum pads is shown. The packaging highlights features such as 100% organic cotton cover, herbal-infused with mint, lavender, and aloe, and plant-derived feminine care—perfect for your postpartum recovery. The package contains 12 pads.

Buy Postpartum Pads

Buy TUCKS

You may think I’m crazy, but I also highly recommend getting some Silhouette Depends! They’re basically adult diapers. Yes, you and your baby will be “twinning” in diapers for the first few weeks. These are comfortable, don’t leak, and are a great undie alternative, especially if you want the ability to toss what you wear. I wore them after both of my deliveries and appreciated that I could toss them along with my postpartum pads into the trash. C-section mamas also like that these fully cover their incisions and do not rub or scratch them.

A package of Depend Silhouette underwear for women, labeled as large/XL with 12 count. The packaging features a woman wearing a white shirt and the product. Perfect for postpartum recovery, it highlights

Buy Depend Silhouettes

3. Hydrate

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Mothers who don’t stay hydrated have a lower milk supply, so drink plenty of water throughout your day.⁵ You should drink the standard eight glasses of water daily (8-ounce glass), but don’t overdo it.⁶ Consuming more than eight glasses will not help you make more milk or provide additional benefits.⁷ Drinking an excessive amount of water has actually been shown to drop a mother’s milk supply.⁸ But again, remember to stay hydrated! Keep a water bottle that you like nearby and refill it throughout the day.

Buy Water Bottle

4. Tea

Tea can be so helpful for many things, especially for a recovering new mama. I recommend Birds & Bees Teas. Their Ripe & Ready tea is made to help tone the uterus, which is perfect for healing after giving birth. Their Our Lady of La Leche tea helps increase the quantity and quality of milk and support a nursing mother’s overall health. I give them two thumbs up!

Birds & Bees Teas: Our Lady of La Leche Tea and Ripe & Ready Tea

Buy Both Teas Here

5. Nipple Cream

You have to protect yourself from getting chapped or cracked nipples from breastfeeding. The way to do that is to use some nipple cream or balm between nursing sessions. After testing many, two of my favorite nipple balms are from Motherlove and Earth Mama. These are a must!

Motherlove Nipple Cream Organic Nipple Cream for Breastfeeding

Buy Motherlove Nipple Cream

An image of Earth Mama Organics Organic Nipple Butter, a postpartum essential, showing the product packaging and container. The box and jar are pink and white, featuring the text “Organic Nipple Butter” and details like USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, and Plastic Neutral logos.

Buy Earth Mama Nipple Cream

6. Heating/Cooling Pads

These products are postpartum mamas’ favorites! Hold and cold therapy can really help with recovery. Lansinoh offers hot and cold postpartum pads and breast therapy packs for new mothers, which can help with healing and soothing aches and pains during recovery. Also, the Frida Mom donut seat is a great cooling cushion for your bottom side if you feel sore. And these postpartum perineal ice maxi-pads are great if you want something more disposable than reusable.

The image shows a Lansinoh Hot & Cold Postpartum Therapy Pack, an essential for postpartum recovery. The product packaging states it includes 2 reusable packs and 12 disposable sleeves. The image showcases a blue, curved, textured pad in front of the packaging.

Buy Lansinoh Pads

The image shows a Frida Mom Perineal Cooling Comfort Cushion, with the packaging on the left and the product on the right. The cushion consists of a grey top, a pink gel pack, and a removable cover. This postpartum essential provides cooling relief for postpartum recovery.

Buy Perineal Cushion

Image of a Lansinoh Hot & Cold Breast Therapy Pack, a vital postpartum essential. The packaging and therapy pack are shown. The pack is purple with a circular design and a hole in the center, divided into sections. The box claims it helps reduce pain, swelling, and encourages milk flow.

Buy Breast Packs

The image shows a box of Frida Mom Instant Ice Maxi Pads, a postpartum essential, alongside seven individually wrapped pads and one unwrapped pad in the foreground. The packaging suggests that the pads are for postpartum recovery and can act as 2-in-1 absorbent and cooling pads.

Buy Ice Maxi Pads

7. Nipple Shield

Breastfeeding can sometimes be difficult in the beginning. Some mothers have inverted or flat nipples, which can be challenging for babies to get a strong latch.⁹ Some babies have a lip and/or tongue tie, which also causes latch problems.^10,11 There are many things that can make breastfeeding a bit frustrating for you and your baby. Lactation consultants sometimes recommend using a nipple shield to help your baby learn how to latch correctly. It can also give your nipples a break from getting dry and cracked.¹² It’s not something you need forever, but it’s nice to have on hand if you need assistance. Silver nursing cups can also help protect and soothe your nipples after breastfeeding if you’re experiencing soreness or pain.

Buy Nipple Shield

The image shows a box of Koala Babycare Silver Cups for breastfeeding mothers. The packaging highlights the product as having a

Buy Silver Nursing Cups

8. Bottom Spray or Foam

Herbal perineal spray or healing foam is definitely a postpartum recovery essential for every new mom who’s had a vaginal birth. They provide healing and relief without harsh chemicals, and all you have to do is spray for application!

Buy Perineal Spray

Frida Mom Witch Hazel Perineal Healing Foam for Postpartum Care

Buy Perineal Foam

9. Nursing Pads

Disposable breast pads are convenient but can sometimes be uncomfortable and itchy. So, a company I recommend is Bamboobies. They have soft, organic, washable, and reusable nursing pads — they’re my favorite! Also, while nursing, instead of the milk from your other breast dripping and filling up your nursing pad, you can use a milk catcher to save your milk. Those drops add up and are great to save and add to your milk collection!

The image shows a package of Bamboobies washable nursing pads, ideal for postpartum recovery. The box is pink and black with the text

Buy Bamboobies

Image of two transparent Ladybug Silicone Breast Milk Collectors with white polka dots in front of a green and white box. The box has “haakaa” written on it and images of the collectors on the side. Perfect for postpartum recovery, this BPA-free product is essential for collecting breast milk.

Buy Milk Catcher

10. Healing Salve

With the United States cesarean rate being 32.1% (almost 1 in 3 people), it’s nice to have something that can help you heal after having a C-section.¹³ Earth Mama’s Skin and Scar Balm is a great all-natural product that helps with proper cell regeneration and wound repair. You can also use it for other surgical wounds, old C-section scars, stretch marks, inflamed rashes, and burns, making it a postpartum recovery essential for mamas who have had C-sections!

Buy Earth Mama Salve

11. Nursing Bras/Tanks

Once you have your baby, you’ll want to stock up on five to seven nursing bras and/or tanks. You will be very leaky, so having those extra backups is nice. Some of my favorite nursing bras are this racerback sports bra from Kindred Bravely for every day, this underwire bra for more dressed up occasions, as well as the Bravado Designs nursing bras and tanks. For sleeping, these nursing sleep bras are my favorite! They’re supportive, very comfortable to sleep in, and are definitely postpartum essentials if you plan on breastfeeding your baby. You may also want some cozy nursing gowns and a robe for nighttime and when lounging at home.

A woman with long brown hair is wearing a black bra with lace detailing and adjustable straps. She is looking at the camera with a neutral expression, one hand touching the strap on her right shoulder. Ideal for postpartum recovery, this elegant piece ensures comfort and support. The background is plain white.

Buy Underwire Maternity Bra

A woman is sitting on a couch holding an infant. She is wearing a black maternity bra that is unclipped on one side, preparing for breastfeeding. The infant is looking at the camera while the woman looks down and smiles at the infant, embodying a moment of natural beauty during postpartum recovery.

Buy Nursing Sports Bra

Two women wearing nursing bras and tank tops, showcasing postpartum essentials. The woman on the left is in a white nursing tank top, smiling. The woman on the right wears a gray nursing bra, also smiling. Both are holding the strap clasp open.

Buy Bravado Nursing Tank

Buy Bravado Nursing Bra

A person with long brown hair is standing against a white background, showcasing their postpartum recovery. They are wearing a black wrap-style sports bra and dark gray drawstring pants. Their left hand rests in the pocket of their pants, while they look directly at the camera.

Buy Nursing Sleep Bra

A person wearing a navy-blue robe with white lace trim at the cuffs and hem is holding a baby swaddled in a striped cloth. The baby, snug in a white hat, embodies postpartum serenity. The individual's face is not visible in the image.

Buy Nursing Gown/Robe

12. Dermoplast

If you need some major relief down there, I also suggest using Dermoplast Pain Relieving Spray a few times a day. This postpartum recovery essential can help your pelvic floor heal. It’s slightly numbing, easy to use, and offers instant relief. New moms swear by it!

Dermoplast Pain, Burn & Itch Relief Spray

Buy Dermoplast

13. Peri Bottle

For the first week (or so) after giving birth, peeing can sting (especially if you have stitches).¹⁴ Having a peri bottle filled with warm water each time you go to the restroom helps lessen the sting and keeps you clean.¹⁵ The hospital usually gives you one to bring home, but I particularly like the peri bottle from Frida Mom. Since it has an angled end, you don’t have to lean over awkwardly and then aim and spray (and probably miss) every time you use the restroom. This makes it so much easier. And you could even use it in the future as a portable bidet!

Frida Mom Upside Down Peri Bottle for Postpartum Care, Portable Bidet Perineal Cleansing and Recovery for New Mom, The Original Fridababy MomWasher

Buy Peri Bottle

14. Stool Softeners

Going to the bathroom to pass your first bowel movement after birth can be scary and feel like giving birth all over again. Do yourself a favor and start taking a stool softener like Colace once your little one arrives. I recommend taking it for a week or so after and eating lots of easy-to-digest foods. If you experience postpartum hemorrhoids, it can also be so helpful to apply Rhoid Balm to your bottom to provide relief. And I suggest keeping a squatty potty in your bathroom to help you avoid straining.

Buy Colace

Buy Rhoid Balm

Squatty Potty Simple Bathroom Toilet Stool

Buy Squatty Potty

I recommend putting all these items in a diaper caddy to stay organized. Keep the caddy in your bathroom so you don’t have to look for everything — they will all be in one place!

Postpartum Essentials for Baby

Now, here are my postpartum essentials to have on hand specifically for baby:

1. Swaddle

A good swaddle is always on my postpartum essentials list. I love muslin swaddle blankets, but I also like to save time and make my life easier with zip-up and velcro swaddles. No one has time or energy in the middle of the night to deal with swaddle blankets, so these can be lifesavers. Here is a list of our absolute favorite swaddles! And here are my top three: the Love to Dream Swaddle UP, the SwaddleMe by Summer Infant, and this 2-in-1 Butterfly Swaddle.

Buy Swaddle UP

Buy Swaddle Me

An infant is wrapped in a light green blanket and gazing to the side. The baby, a sweet reminder of the joy amidst postpartum recovery, wears a green outfit with an embroidered design on the chest. The background is a soft, beige surface.

Buy Butterfly Swaddle

2. Zip-Up Onesies

Zip-up onesies are the way to go. No parent wants to deal with finding every button or snap or putting on a new onesie that goes over baby’s head. (FYI: Babies usually hate outfits that go over their heads.) Save your sanity and only ask for (and buy) zip-up onesies from your friends and family.

A full-length, long-sleeved baby onesie in light purple with a front diagonal zipper that extends from the neck to the leg, ending near the ankle. Perfect for postpartum essentials, this cozy onesie also has enclosed feet.

Buy Onesies

3. Diapers

Diapers are an obvious essential, and new parents NEED diapers. Two of my favorite diapers right now are Rascal + Friends (great, affordable price) and Coterie (luxury diapers). These hold everything! If you want an eco-friendly option, I recommend cloth diapering, or if you want eco-friendly disposable diapers, try Dyper or HealthyBaby.

Buy Rascal + Friends Diapers

A reusable cloth diaper with a light green background and illustrations of elephants, leaves, and small shapes. An essential for postpartum recovery, the diaper features plastic snap buttons for an adjustable fit.

Buy Cloth Diapers

4. Hand Mittens

Have you noticed how sharp your baby’s fingernails are and how they’re constantly putting their precious little hands to their face? Hand mittens are super helpful to prevent baby from scratching their face and eyes. I recommend these cotton baby mittens from goumikids. I love how they’re made from bamboo cotton (super soft) and stay on well (they have a two-part closure). They also have a reversible black-and-white patterned side that can be flipped over, which doubles as a developmental aid! I have given these as gifts to many new mamas.

A person wearing a white sweater and green pants is holding a sleeping baby. The baby has a pacifier in its mouth, is wearing a white onesie, and has pink mittens on its hands—perfect examples of postpartum essentials.

Buy Goumi Mittens

5. Hand Sanitizers

Every new parent wants to protect their newborn, so having some hand sanitizer can keep those germs at bay. It’s great to have sanitizer around the house, too, when visitors stop by to see your new baby, so no matter where you are in the house, you can make sure their hands are clean before holding your little one. I recommend Babyganics or The Honest Company. Babyganics is an alcohol-free foam, and Honest has a gel or a spray. I love that Honest’s gel doesn’t dry out your hands, and their spray smells good, too!

Three bottles of Babyganics alcohol-free foaming hand sanitizer, each with a green pump dispenser and a label showing an illustration of a pink teddy bear and green leaves. Essential for postpartum recovery, this product claims to kill 99.9% of bacteria and is fragrance-free.

Buy Babyganics Sanitizer

A hand is holding a small spray bottle of Honest Hand Sanitizer Spray with a white nozzle. The bottle, an essential for postpartum recovery, has a blue and white label. The background is a plain beige color. The spray is being activated, producing a fine mist.

Buy Honest Sanitizer

6. Pacifiers

Some parents need a good pacifier for their little ones. A few pacifiers that I recommend are Natursutten, Soothies, and BIBS. I have also seen many babies like Nuk and Avent. Babies usually prefer a particular type, so try not to buy too many of one brand before you know which one your baby prefers!

A Natursutten natural pacifier, size S for 0-6 months, is displayed next to its packaging. The packaging features a yellow bird holding a pacifier and indicates it is orthodontic, bisphenol A-free, made of 100% natural rubber, and a Danish design made in Italy. Perfect for your postpartum essentials.

Buy Natursutten Pacifier

The image features a BIBS Colour Pacifier set, a key item among postpartum essentials. The package contains two pacifiers: one light blue with a yellow nipple and the other navy blue. The packaging is white, featuring product information and branding.

Buy BIBS Pacifier

7. SnotSucker

When your baby gets congested, it’s helpful to have the Frida Baby SnotSucker on hand to clear their sinuses and help them breathe better. Babies aren’t able to blow their noses, so this little tool will help them (and you) tremendously. It might feel weird and gross at first, but once you see how it helps, you’ll never go back! I recommend using the saline spray once in each nostril, waiting 15-30 seconds, and then using the NoseFrida to clear their nose.

Image of Frida Baby's NoseFrida SnotSucker Saline Kit, essential for postpartum recovery, consisting of an aspirator with tubing, a bottle of natural saline spray, and hygienic filters. The product packaging features illustrations of a baby and an adult using the aspirator.

Buy SnotSucker

8. Diaper Rash Cream

Diaper rash is miserable, so don’t skip out on diaper rash creams. I recommend Earth Mama’s diaper balm. It’s amazing! I’ve had many clients use it, and it really helps prevent and/or treat diaper rash. I also like Motherlove’s balm and Triple Paste.

Buy Earth Mama Diaper Balm

Buy Motherlove Diaper Balm

9. Wipes

Here’s another product that you can’t get enough of: wipes! I’m still using wipes today with my kids (who are out of diapers) for messy faces and hands. Some great options you can get are Honest and Rascal + Friends.

The Honest Company Clean Conscious Unscented Wipes , Over 99% Water, Compostable, Plant-Based, Baby Wipes , Hypoallergenic for Sensitive Skin, EWG Verified , Pattern Play, 720 Count

Buy Honest Wipes

A package of Rascal + Friends Sensitive Wipes with 216 wipes is shown. The packaging highlights that the wipes are fragrance-free and dermatologically certified, making them ideal for postpartum recovery. The box features an image of a smiling baby. A note indicates to

Buy Rascal + Friends Wipes

10. Baby Detergent

I’ve selected two types, Dreft and Honest, so you can choose which you prefer. They’re both safe for babies, but depending on your budget and whether natural/eco-friendly is important to you, you have options. Or you can purchase a sensitive skin, fragrance-free detergent for the whole family, which I did for my family and recommend that others do. This way, you can save a little money, and it’s safe for baby.

Two smartphones and a smartwatch display baby tracking applications. The left phone shows recent activities like breastfeeding, sleeping, and diaper changes. The right phone has a feeding tracker. The smartwatch displays a baby app with feeding and sleeping details—perfect postpartum essentials for new parents.

Buy Honest Detergent

Seventh Generation Free & Clear Ultra-Concentrated 66-Loads Laundry Detergent – 23.1 fl oz

Buy Seventh Generation Detergent

11. Baby Tracking App

Another tool that can be a lifesaver is a baby tracking app. The ones I recommend are Sprout Baby and Baby Tracker Pro. The first few visits to the pediatrician are filled with the doctor asking how many times a day baby pees and poops, how often baby eats, how long baby eats for, etc. The lack of sleep and exhaustion from having a newborn can make remembering and keeping track of everything hard. But an app makes it much easier to log eating and diapering! Some apps are only a few dollars, which is well worth the price, and there are even free ones, too.

12. Nursing Pillow

Breastfeeding pillows are a nursing mom’s best friend since they relieve your back, neck, spine, shoulders, and arms.¹⁶ The primary function of the pillow is to bring your baby closer to your body and your breasts. This is important if you want your little one to get a good latch and you want to stay comfortable during the process. It also can be a great option postpartum if you’re recovering from a C-section. It protects the incision site and keeps direct pressure off of your incision, which helps it heal faster. My favorites are Boppy, My Brest Friend, and the Naturepedic Nursing Pillow.

Buy Boppy

A U-shaped nursing pillow featuring a grey cover with white and green circular patterns—essential for postpartum recovery. The pillow includes a white adjustable strap with a buckle and an attached small pouch holding a white bottle with a blue cap.

Buy My Brest Friend

Buy Naturepedic Nursing Pillow

13. Burp Cloths

Babies spit up all the time, so it’s good to have a thick burp cloth that can soak and hold all of it. I’ve tried many different kinds, and the product I prefer the most is Gerber’s cloth diapers, which I use as burp cloths. I know they aren’t the cutest, but I promise they can absorb much more and will be your favorite, too. My second favorite is the Burpy Bibs from aden + anais, and I recently discovered these awesome, super soft, and inexpensive muslin burp cloths! I also like the Copper Pearl burp cloths since they’re large and very absorbent.

The image features a set of ten white towels, essential for postpartum recovery. They are neatly arranged in two rows, with five towels in each row. Each towel appears to be of the same size and material. The towels have a simple, plain design without any visible patterns or branding.

Buy Gerber Cloth Diapers

A white burpy bib featuring a pattern of dinosaurs and trees in green, orange, and blue. The bib, labeled

Buy aden + anais Burpy Bibs

A set of six white, square-shaped cloths—ideal for postpartum recovery—are displayed in a row. Each cloth has a textured, quilted appearance with a slightly raised, grid-like pattern. One of the cloths is partially folded at the corner, revealing both sides.

Buy Muslin Burp Cloths

Three cloths are arranged overlapping each other. The first has a green and white herringbone pattern, the second has solid green with small X shapes, and the third is white with black horizontal stripes—perfect as postpartum essentials for stylish comfort. All have a white rolled edge.

Buy Copper Pearl Burp Cloths

14. Baby Soap

Babies don’t need to take a bath very often since they don’t get very dirty.¹⁷ But when they do, it’s nice to have some good-smelling gentle body wash made for your baby’s delicate skin. Tubby Todd, Pipette, and Noodle & Boo are great brands to get for your newborn!

A bottle of Ruby Todd Hair + Body Wash, an essential for postpartum recovery, is held by an adult hand while an infant reaches towards it. The bottle is transparent with a black pump and has a teal and blue label with white text. The background is a plain, light beige surface.

Buy Tubby Todd

A bottle of Pipette Baby Shampoo + Wash, a postpartum essential, is shown. The shampoo is fragrance-free, non-toxic, tear-free, clean, and non-irritant. The light green bottle features a convenient pump dispenser and comes in a volume of 354 milliliters or 12 fluid ounces.

Buy Pipette

Buy Noodle & Boo

15. Breastmilk Storage Bags

If you plan to pump your breastmilk, you will need to store it. Instead of keeping each amount you pumped in a breastmilk collection bottle, I recommend purchasing breastmilk storage bags. This way, you’ll save much more for future use and emergencies. Also, you can donate extra breastmilk if you have them frozen in your storage bags! Here are two brands of disposable collection bags you can purchase: Medela Breast Milk Storage Bags and Lansinoh Breastmilk Storage Bags. You can also buy reusable collection bags like these from ZipTop. And Kiinde Twist Pouches are awesome for pumping milk straight into a storage bag!

Learn the best way to collect and store breastmilk.

A transparent Medela breast milk storage bag, essential for postpartum recovery, filled partially with milk. The bag has measurement markers up to 180 milliliters or 6 ounces and labeled fields for name, date, and amount. The bottom contains instructions and warnings about use.

Buy Medela Storage Bags

Image of a Zip Top Baby Breast Milk Storage Set in its packaging. The packaging is white and pink, featuring six reusable, clear silicone storage bags with lids. Labels indicate the product is plastic-free, BPA-free, lead-free, PVC-free, and made in the USA—an ideal addition to postpartum essentials.

Buy ZipTop Storage Bags

A plastic Twist storage pouch with blue and white markings, ideal for postpartum recovery. It features a screw-on cap at the top, measurement markings in both ounces and milliliters, and a clear central section to view the contents—a must-have for your postpartum essentials kit.

Buy Kiinde Twist

16. Breast Pump

It’s unrealistic to think you will ALWAYS be able to breastfeed your child physically. You may need to give your nipples a break from your baby nursing and pump instead. Or you may want to catch up on some sleep, run some errands, have your partner or a family member help feed baby, etc. Thank goodness we have breast pumps so women can still give their babies breastmilk even when they cannot nurse! I love the Motif Medical Luna, BabyBuddha Breast Pump, Spectra S2, and Haakaa Silicone Breast Pump. Instead of owning your own, there are also hospital-grade breast pumps you can rent, too.

Buy Motif Luna

This image shows a BabyBuddha electric breast pump, an essential tool for postpartum recovery. The device features a black, handheld controller with an LED display showing

Buy BabyBuddha

A white and pink electronic breast pump with an LCD screen, circular control buttons for cycle and vacuum settings, and a power button. The device, a postpartum essential, features a handle on top and a connector at the bottom front for attaching pump accessories.

Buy Spectra S2

Image of a Haakaa Silicone Breast Pump & Silicone Cap Set. The packaging shows images of a woman holding a baby and the breast pump. Text on the box highlights it as

Buy Haakaa Silicone Breast Pump

17. Bottles

Baby bottles are obviously essential to have when preparing for your baby. I love Dr. Brown’s bottles, but if you decide to formula-feed your baby, an excellent bottle for when you’re on the go is the PopYum bottle. I also like this Emulait baby bottle starter kit, which comes with a cleaning brush. You must check these out!

An arrangement of five Dr. Brown's baby bottles with blue accents, essential for postpartum care. Some bottles have caps on, while others have nipples exposed. Two additional bottle caps and two separate nipples are placed beside the bottles, completing your postpartum essentials collection.

Buy Dr. Browns Bottles

Buy PopYum Bottles

A product image shows a baby feeding set, perfect for postpartum essentials, including two baby bottles with peach-colored lids, four different nipple shields, a cleaning brush, and a box. The box is labeled

Buy Emulait Baby Bottles

18. Formula

Even if you plan on exclusively breastfeeding your baby, it’s never a bad idea to have a can of infant formula in the house. You never know if there will be a time when you and baby are both crying in the middle of the night because they won’t latch or you’re not producing enough milk. Have an emergency stash of formula, and then call the lactation consultant in the morning. If you’re looking for some quality infant formula to have on hand, some great options are Bobbie infant formula and Earth’s Best organic baby formula.

A 21 oz (595 g) canister of Earth's Best Organic Dairy Infant Formula with Iron. The red and yellow label highlights its closeness to breast milk and absence of added corn syrup solids. Ideal for postpartum recovery, this USDA Organic, non-GMO formula has no artificial growth hormones.

Buy Earths Best Formula

A container of Bobbie Organic Gentle Infant Formula, a postpartum essential, labeled as milk-based powder with iron for fussiness, gas, and crying. It boasts DHA & ARA, no corn syrup or palm oil. Net weight: 14.1 oz (400g). Suitable for 0-12 months.

Buy Bobbie Formula

19. Baby Wrap/Carrier

You can’t expect to always hold your baby when they need you. There are times in the day and night when you need both of your hands. This is why I’m a huge advocate for babywearing. I highly recommend adding a baby wrap or carrier to your postpartum essentials list! I love the Solly Wrap, Baby K’tan Active Wrap, WildBird Ring Slings, and LÍLLÉbaby Complete Airflow. Some other brands I like are Ergobaby and Tula. You’ll be so grateful that you can keep your baby close and get the things on your to-do list done.

Buy Solly Wrap

A woman is shown wearing a black Baby K'tan baby carrier with a baby inside. Next to her is the product packaging, highlighting features such as "3 Easy Steps," "No Rings or Hard Buckles," and "5 Positions Including Hip." It's the perfect accessory for postpartum essentials.

Buy Baby KTan

A woman is holding a baby in a green and white checkered ring sling, one of her postpartum essentials. She is wearing a white t-shirt and light blue jeans, while the baby faces her, nestled comfortably in the sling. The background is plain, and the woman looks down at the baby.

Buy Wild Bird

A woman standing outside near plants, smiling while holding a baby in a front-facing baby carrier. The baby, dressed in black clothing, is also smiling, and the woman wears a gray dress. Her radiant smile hints at the joy of successful postpartum recovery.

Buy LÍLLÉbaby

20. “The Happiest Baby on the Block” by Dr. Harvey Karp

ABSOLUTELY recommend. I feel like every new parent needs to learn these tricks. Dr. Harvey Karp teaches in this video (and his book) the 5 S’s on how to soothe your baby. Get it! Watch it. You won’t regret it. It’s a gift that keeps on giving.

The Happiest Baby on the Block; Fully Revised and Updated Second Edition: The New Way to Calm Crying and Help Your Newborn Baby Sleep Longer

Buy Book

21. Sound Machine

Inside the womb, baby hears so much! They hear your heart pumping, breathing, voice, blood circulating, and more.^18,19 It’s loud in there. Once they’re born, it can be so quiet. Hearing white noise comforts them, so this can help them fall asleep. I highly recommend the Dohm White Noise Sound Machine, the Hatch Rest (2nd Gen), and the Nanit Sound Machine for sound machines. Dohm is the Official Sound Conditioner of the National Sleep Foundation. And the Hatch Rest has so many functions that can grow with your child. I also love how the Hatch Rest Go and the Yogasleep Hushh 2 are portable and can go with you anywhere!

A compact, white noise machine with a cylindrical shape, featuring a horizontal slider switch on the front with three settings indicated by O, I, and II. Ideal for postpartum recovery, the device has ventilation slits and a simple, minimalistic design.

Buy Dohm Sound Machine

Buy Hatch Rest

A cylindrical smart alarm clock with a soft light and digital display reads 7:30. It is next to a smartphone showing a favorites screen with options for soft light, bedtime, nighttime, and wakeup settings—ideal postpartum essentials for new moms. The phone's time displays as 9:41.

Buy Nanit Sound Machine

Buy Hatch Rest Go

Buy Yogasleep Hushh 2

22. Co-Sleeper

Having some type of co-sleeper for your little one to room-in with you, especially those first few months, is a great option. A Moses basket like this is convenient for moving your babe from room to room. Other great options I highly recommend are the HALO Bassinest swivel co-sleeper, the Snoo, and the SnuzPod4.

A woven wicker baby Moses basket is shown with two handles. Above the basket, a white fitted mattress pad and pillow are displayed. The basket's natural material and open weave design are visible, making it an ideal addition to your postpartum essentials for a comfortable recovery.

Buy Moses Basket

Buy HALO Bassinet

A modern white bassinet with wooden trim and thin metal legs stands on a patterned rug in a serene nursery. The room, perfect for postpartum recovery, boasts white paneled walls, a basket filled with stuffed animals, a small wooden table, and a potted plant on the side.

Buy SNOO

A couple lies in bed, looking at their baby asleep in a white crib attached to the side of the bed. The mother, focusing on postpartum recovery, has red hair and a gray shirt. The father has dark hair and a matching gray shirt. Their baby is swaddled in a white blanket, one of their postpartum essentials.

Buy SnuzPod4

23. Car Seat

Before you can leave the hospital with your newborn, you must have a car seat. Make sure you buy and install this before your baby arrives! You’ll want to consider the features that are most important to you (weight, travel system compatibility, etc.) when choosing the right car seat. A great and affordable option is this Maxi-Cosi infant car seat.

A beige infant car seat with a black base, featuring a brown handle and canopy—an essential for postpartum recovery. The car seat has a five-point harness and is labeled “MAXI-COSI” on the base, ensuring secure and safe transportation of infants in vehicles.

Buy Maxi-Cosi Car Seat

24. Medications

Germs can spread, and if anyone in your home gets ill, having some medications that are safe for your baby at home will give you great peace of mind. There’s nothing worse than seeing your baby sick and having to rush to the store to help them feel better. It’s good to have medications like Motrin Infant Drops, Infants’ Tylenol, and Infants’ Advil Drops on hand. These are the most needed medications that should be in every medicine cabinet.

The image features postpartum essentials for infant pain and fever relief: Infants' Tylenol in Grape flavor, Concentrated Motrin Infants' Drops in Berry flavor, Infants' Advil Concentrated Drops in White Grape flavor, and Infants' Advil for ages 6-23 months.

Buy Infant Motrin

Buy Infant Tylenol

Buy Infant Advil

25. Healthy Foods

Stocking up on some healthy foods in advance is the best gift you can give yourself! When you have a newborn baby, it’s tough to find the time to prepare and eat well-rounded meals. Buy some healthy snack options and cook healthy freezer meals in bulk. A healthy and well-nourished mama makes for a healthy and well-nourished baby. You may even consider getting a meal subscription service, such as Home Chef if you’re limited on time. This can be really convenient when you’re busy with baby or feel too tired to cook.

A table with various foods including a steak plate with green beans and potatoes, a latte, a dish of lemons, and another plate with chicken breast, asparagus, and rice. Text reads

Buy Home Chef

Who knew there was so much out there to help during the first couple of months with your new baby? The fourth trimester can be a lot, but these products should help make it much easier for you. Have you used any of these products? Would they be on your postpartum essentials list for recovery and life with baby?