Her Honest Space

“When I was pregnant, I read every ‘must-have’ list and ended up with way too much. Now, looking back at those first six months, I can honestly say there were only a handful of things I actually used. I hope sharing this list takes a little pressure off if you’re wondering what you really need.”

Baby shopping lists can feel endless — swaddles, loungers, gadgets you’ve never even heard of.

As a first-time mum, I quickly realised I didn’t need it all. These are the newborn items I actually reached for (and would buy again), the things that truly made life easier in those first months.

If you or someone you love is expecting, I hope this list saves you from the overhyped gear and points you toward what’s genuinely helpful — with a few simple mum hacks that saved me time, money, and stress.

🍼 Feeding

Feeding a baby can feel like a whole new world, and what works often depends on your baby’s needs (and your sanity). For us, keeping things simple made the biggest difference. These were the items I actually reached for — practical, easy to use, and worth the space on the kitchen bench.

1. Medela Hands free Portable electric Pump

This pump was a good option for me because I wasn’t stuck in one spot while expressing — I could move around a little. That said, I did drop it a few times, so next time I’d probably look for something smaller and more portable. If you’re considering one, I’d suggest choosing a model that feels lightweight and easy to handle.

2. Bottles We Used

Medela – I used these when expressing milk. Compatible with my pump, available in 150ml (slow flow) and 250ml (medium flow).

Pigeon – The only bottle we changed to when our breastfed baby was now being mix fed (formula and breastfed). The teat mimics a nipple, which helped with switching between breast and bottle.

Mum tip: Start with just one or two bottles to see which one your baby takes to before buying more. Every baby is different, and what works for one might not work for another — so beginning simple can save you money (and cupboard space).

3. Baby Bottle Cleanser

Milton Baby Bottle Cleanser worked well to clean breast pump parts, bottles, and dummies — removes milk residue and is gentle on baby items.

4. Steriliser Machine

Huge help — we used one that dried and sterilised everything in one go. Time-saving and stress-free.

5. Electric Baby Bottle Kettle

We bought ours from Amazon when we started mix feeding — it’s a kettle with adjustable temperature settings. You can choose from 45°C, 55°C, 85°C, or boil. It was especially helpful because my baby, being mostly breastfed, wouldn’t take cold milk — he needed it warm.

At the end of the day, the best feeding setup is the one that works for you and your baby. Once we found our rhythm with feeding, the next big focus was sleep — and that came with its own set of must-haves.

😴 Sleeping

Sleep (or the lack of it) is one of the biggest challenges in the newborn stage. While there’s no magic product that guarantees a full night’s rest, a few simple things did make those long nights and short naps a little easier for us.

1. Bassinet with storage basket

We bought ours from Amazon — a bedside sleeper style with a simple pull-down zipper and adjustable height. It made night feeds so much easier, and the storage basket underneath was perfect for keeping nappies, creams, and other essentials close by.

Mum tip: Treat the under-tray like a little caddy — only keep the true essentials there. It makes those middle-of-the-night changes calmer and less overwhelming.

2. First Years Secure Sleeper

Loved this during the newborn phase, especially when co-sleeping. It helped transition to the bassinet and was great for travel — even came with us to Fiji!

3. Night Light

We used a night-to-dawn smart sensor light from Amazon. It gave off the perfect soft glow during night feeds without overstimulating the baby (or me).

4. Noise Machine

We didn’t buy one — I just used Spotify on my phone and played Hush Little Baby. It worked beautifully for us.

If you need your phone for other things, a dedicated white noise machine is a great backup.

5. Swaddles and Sleeping bags

Velcro swaddles were our go-to. Super quick and fuss-free, though the Velcro did curl up after a few washes. Sleeping Bags Must-have for safe sleep. We used different TOG-rated bags to suit the season, and they became part of our baby’s bedtime routine.

Mum tip: Keep a spare swaddle or sleep sack in the bedside drawer or under your bassinet. Nighttime accidents always seem to happen at 2am, and having one within reach makes changes quicker and calmer.

6. 2-Way Zipper Onesies

These were a lifesaver for night-time nappy changes. You can unzip from the bottom, change your baby quickly, and keep them warm on top — such a simple design but it made a huge difference.

Mum tip: Have a couple of these in rotation — late-night accidents always seem to happen when the last clean onesie is in the wash.

7. Baby Monitor

We used the CuboAi Safety Bundle — it tracks breathing, movement, temperature, and crying.

Only con: the camera isn’t super clear, and it doesn’t include a separate monitor.

Other mum faves:

Owlet – excellent clarity, app-based Oricom – includes a monitor, more basic tracking

Sleep products can feel like a never-ending experiment — what soothes one baby won’t always work for another. For us, keeping it simple with a few key items made the biggest difference.

🌙 Middle of the Night Survival Kit

Those 2am feeds and nappy changes can feel endless, but having a few things close by made them a little calmer and easier. Here’s what I kept within reach — and I’ve also made it into a simple printable checklist you can keep by your bedside.

The middle-of-the-night setup kept us going through the hardest hours. But when morning came, the focus shifted to getting out of the house — and just like at night, having the right gear made all the difference.

🚗 On-the-Go

Leaving the house with a newborn felt like packing for a weekend away — there’s just so much stuff! Over time, we found a few key items that made getting out (and staying out) so much easier. These were the things that kept us organised, comfortable, and a little less stressed on the go.

1.Capsule Car Seat

A capsule car seat is something most parents already know about, but it’s still worth mentioning as an essential. It made those early months of travel so much easier.

One car seat I wish was available when my baby was young is the 360° rotating car seat, which has only recently become available in Australia.

It’s designed to rotate to the side, making it so much easier to place your baby in or take them out — especially helpful during those newborn and early toddler stages.

I can see how this would’ve made daily transitions much smoother and easier on the back!

2. Car Mirror

A definite must-have. It gave me peace of mind being able to see my baby while driving, and I found it helped him get more comfortable in the car seat.

3.Baby Carrier

We didn’t use this often — I found it tricky to put on alone — but it was very handy when we did use it.

4. Pram and bassinet

We were lucky enough to be given my sister’s pram and bassinet, so we didn’t need to buy new ones. The pram (Uppababy) was a lifesaver with its generous storage tray — perfect for fitting all the baby extras. The bassinet also came in handy for travel; our baby actually settled in it more easily than in his main bassinet at home.

Mum tip: Don’t be afraid to borrow or accept hand-me-downs for the big-ticket items. Babies grow so quickly, and often these things are barely used before they’re passed along.

5.Feeding Booster Chair

We used a simple booster chair right from the start — first to take him to the beach so he could sit safely, and even in the shower on days we weren’t doing a full bath.

Later on, it became our go-to for feeding when we were out. Compact, portable, and super versatile — it was worth every use.

We just purchased ours from Kmart for $20, and it was so easy to clean — a quick rinse was all it needed.

6. Kmart Beauty Case (with Dividers)

This made an amazing travel caddy. I used this instead of a normal nappy bag, not bulky, easy to fit in pram with room to spare and it fit:

Nappies Cream Clothes Dummies Wipes Change mat I even made one as a gift for a friend — a thoughtful and practical option.

“This Kmart beauty case was perfect for keeping everything compact and organised — here’s the link.”

7. Pet Pee Pads/ travel change mat

My go-to hack for messy changes — especially on the go. I paired them with my travel change mat, and they were also great for layering on our home change surface.

8. Scented Nappy Bags

If you’re smell-sensitive like me, these are essential. They lock in odours and make disposal much easier

9. Baby Hip Seat Carrier

We started using this once my baby was a little older and able to support himself. Because I co-slept, I developed a minor shoulder impingement, so traditional carriers were painful to wear. The hip carrier was a great alternative — my baby loved it, it was much easier on my shoulder, and the little compartments made it super handy for quick trips on the go.

Getting out of the house with a baby definitely came with its challenges, but having the right gear made it much less stressful.

Mum tip: Don’t feel pressured to be out and about too soon. Even a short walk or quick trip can feel like an achievement in those early weeks.

💼 What I Packed in My Nappy Case (Kmart Beauty Bag)

When we were heading out, this little setup saved me so much time. Instead of digging through a huge nappy bag, I used a compact Kmart beauty bag as my mini nappy case. Here’s what I kept inside:

Having my on-the-go kit sorted made leaving the house so much easier. But at home, it was the simple, everyday essentials that really kept things running smoothly. Other than nappies and wipes, these were the basics I reached for daily.

👩🏻‍🍼Daily Essentials

Other than nappies and baby wipes, these were my go-to basics. Simple, practical items that we reached for daily and that made life with a newborn a little easier.

1. Baby Portable Bath

We used the Stokke Flexi Bath with the support insert — compact, easy to clean, and perfect for bathing on our kitchen island. It was simple to store away when not in use, which made a big difference in those early months.

Once our baby grew out of the Flexi Bath, we switched to a toddler-sized portable bath that we found second-hand on Marketplace. It was budget-friendly and worked just as well.

2. Baby Thermometer

We used both:

A forehead digital thermometer for quick reads An underarm thermometer for more accurate results when needed

3. Saline Spray + Snot Sucker

We used Little Remedies saline drops to help clear baby’s nose — safe and effective.

As for snot suckers, NoseFrida worked best. It sounds gross but was far more effective (and quieter!) than electronic ones like Snotty Bossy

4. Nappy Cream

We used Sudocrem from the beginning and never needed to try anything else.

It was great for protecting and healing nappy rash — an essential in any change bag.

5. Little Eyes Wipes

Used often in the early months due to allergies and gunky eyes. Gentle and very handy to have around.

6. Nail Snail Baby Trimmer

So much better than clippers — safer, easier to use, and less scary to handle with tiny fingers.

7. Cotton Buds

We used these to gently clean around the belly button while waiting for the umbilical cord stump to fall off, and later for carefully cleaning around the ears.

8. Dummy/ pacifiers

We used the NUK Signature Baby Dummy after doing a little research. It had great reviews thanks to its orthodontic nipple shape, which promotes natural oral development and is recommended for breastfed babies. They even come in a glow-in-the-dark version — a lifesaver when you need to find and settle your baby quickly at night.

Mum tip: If you decide to use a dummy, buy a couple of spares. They always seem to go missing right when you need them most.

9. Teethers

We had Sophie La Giraffe, but our baby preferred the Share and Care Giraffe from Amazon — thicker, brighter, and doubled as a toy.

10. Nappy Caddy

This turned out to be so helpful for quick changes. We kept two — one near the bed and one in the change area. At first, I didn’t think it would be worth buying, but I picked one up while prepping the nursery and I’m glad I did. It’s such an easy grab-and-go setup, and I still use the caddy now.

Mum tip: Stock each caddy with a small stash of nappies, wipes, and cream so you’re never scrambling during those urgent nappy changes.

These simple basics kept our days running smoothly. But it wasn’t just about the essentials — having a few play items on hand made tummy time and hands-free moments so much easier.

🎈 Play Essentials

Play might not feel like an “essential” at first, but it quickly became part of our daily rhythm. Our playmat had a baby gym attached, so it doubled as a soft spot for tummy time and a sensory space with toys to reach and grab. Alongside this, a few other simple play items gave my baby room to explore, move, and enjoy — and gave me a few precious hands-free moments too.

1. Play-mat (with Baby Gym)

We used this a lot for tummy time, and it quickly became part of our daily routine. Ours came with a baby gym attached, which meant hanging toys for reaching and grabbing as well as a soft, safe space for play. It was a great all-in-one option that kept my baby entertained and gave him a spot to build strength.

Mum tip: A playmat with an attached gym can save space and money compared to buying both separately.

2. Baby Portable Swing

This was such a help in the early months. My baby loved the gentle rocking, and it gave me a few minutes of hands-free time.

3. Black & White Cards

These were one of the first play items we used. Newborns can only see high-contrast colours in the early weeks, so the bold patterns kept my baby’s attention during tummy time and quiet play.

Mum tip: Prop them up on the playmat or beside the bassinet for easy visual stimulation.

4. Baby Grow Activity Table

As my baby got older, this became a favourite for keeping him entertained. The lights, sounds, and activities gave him something new to explore, and it encouraged him to stand and balance as he grew more confident. The table we chose even transitions into a desk and chair for when he’s older — perfect for colouring or little activities. Ours also came with a keyboard, and to this day he still loves playing on the keyboard.

Mum tip: Choose one that grows with your baby — it’s worth the investment when a single item lasts through multiple stages.

Looking back, these play items were more than just toys — they gave my baby space to grow, explore, and enjoy, while also giving me a few much-needed pauses in the day. From tummy time on the playmat to banging away at the keyboard on his activity table, each little stage brought something new.

But just as important as playtime, were the small things that kept me going. Next, I’ll share the survival items that made a difference for me as a mum.

🌸 Mum Survival items

Caring for a baby is full-on, and it’s easy to put yourself last. But I quickly realised that the little things I kept on hand for myself mattered just as much as the baby gear. These weren’t fancy, but they gave me comfort, helped me cope with the long days (and nights), and reminded me that looking after myself was part of looking after my baby too.

1. HPA Lanolin Nipple Cream

In the early days of breastfeeding I struggled with proper latching, which left me with cracked, sore nipples. This cream was a lifesaver — gentle, soothing, and safe to use without needing to wipe it off before feeding.

2. Breast pads

No one really mentions leakage — but wow, did I leak. Breast pads were a must-have for me. They saved my clothes (and my confidence) from those unexpected moments when I was out and about.

Mum tip: Keep a spare set in your nappy bag and another in the car — leaks always seem to happen when you’re least prepared.

4. Bottle and Snacks

If you’re breastfeeding, keeping water and snacks close by is essential. Producing milk can leave you dehydrated and hungry, so having a drink within reach and something quick to eat makes those long feeding sessions much easier.

Mum tip: Set up a little “feeding station” with a water bottle, snacks, and a phone charger — you’ll thank yourself during those marathon feeds.

5. Breastfeeding Pillow

This was such a big help in the early months. It made feeding more comfortable by supporting my arms and baby’s weight, which really took the pressure off my shoulders and back during those long feeds.

Mum tip: Even if you don’t use it every feed, having one on hand makes a difference for those longer sessions — and it doubles as a comfy spot for baby tummy time or supervised lounging.

6. Skin Care

No one really tells you how much your skin can change after birth. A few weeks in, mine became so dry and flaky. I invested in gentle, hydrating products and, even though I was exhausted, I pushed myself to keep up a simple routine. Looking back, I’m glad I stayed committed — it was a small act of care that made me feel more like myself.

7. Maternity Bra and Easy Clothes to Breastfeed

When you’re breastfeeding, easy-access bras and clothing make such a difference. The right bra gives you coverage while still allowing your baby to feed comfortably, and having simple, practical outfits on hand makes those endless feeds so much easier.

8. Headphones / Podcasts / Shows

Those endless feeding sessions can feel long and lonely. Having something to listen to or watch kept me sane.

Mum tip: Line up a playlist, podcast, or show you enjoy — it turns feeding time into a little pocket of “me” time.

9. Baby App/ Journal

In the fog of newborn days, it’s so easy to forget when your baby last fed, slept, or had a nappy change. Keeping track helped me feel less overwhelmed. I used the BabyTime app, which lets you record feeds, naps, bath, nappy changes etc great for baby brain and exhaustion

There are also apps available to track milestones — like a digital baby journal. Later, once complete you can order it as a printed book. I wish I knew about this sooner, as it’s much easier than trying to keep up with a traditional baby book (I had two and barely touched them!).

None of these things were big or expensive, but they made such a difference to my everyday. Sometimes it was the smallest comforts — a good bra, a tube of nipple cream, or even just a water bottle by my side — that helped me feel human again. Caring for a newborn is a full-time job, but caring for yourself matters just as much.

💛 Wrapping it Up

At the end of the day, babies don’t need endless gadgets — just the love and care that only you can give. These were the products that truly helped me in those early months, but every family’s journey looks different. If nothing else, I hope this list takes a little pressure off and helps you focus on what really matters.

Mum tip: Buy secondhand where you can, and if you do buy new, keep the packaging so you can resell items once you no longer need them. It’s a simple way to save money and reduce clutter.

In Part Two, I’ll be sharing the baby products I didn’t use (or regretted buying) — hopefully saving you some money, space, and second-guessing along the way.

💭 Let’s Talk 

Every baby is different, and every mum’s list looks a little unique. What were the products you actually reached for in those first months? Feel free to share — your experience might really help another mum.