Most Used Baby Items: Preemie Edition

Our daughter decided to make her debut a whole month early (apparently she’s impatient like her mom) weighing only 4 lbs. 11 oz. To make things even more interesting, our baby shower was supposed to be the following week… so we literally had zero baby items ready. Being a first time mom, I thought for sure my daughter would make it closer to her due date so I thought I had plenty of time to shop during that last month. Clearly I’m a procrastinator. I remember my husband and I were frantically scrolling through Amazon trying to figure out what essentials we needed in order to take our tiny new daughter home from the hospital.

After some trial, error, and a few 3am orders, these are the items we used on repeat and couldn’t have survived without.

Clothing & Everyday Essentials

• Wonder Nation Onesies
  These onesies actually fit her preemie body without swallowing her whole. I felt like other brands still ran a little large and these were the smallest preemie size I could find. The two way zipper made diaper changes much easier while keeping her arms nice and warm. A great bonus is that they are super affordable and soft!

• Muslin Burp Cloths
  I loved the muslin burp cloths because I felt they were gentle on sensitive skin and so versatile. These can easily double as a wash cloth.

• Huggies Little Snugglers Preemie
  Diapers are probably the most essential. There are very limited options when it comes to finding diapers in preemie size, but I found that Huggies Little Snugglers worked best for my daughter. They were soft and the curved fit made it feel a little more secure than Pampers.

Feeding Must-Haves

• Dr. Brown’s Preemie Nipples
  Slow flow is necessary for a preemie. Unfortunately, not all “slow flow” bottles are the same (learned that the hard way). I went through at least five different bottles and nipples before finding these, and they were the only ones my daughter could actually drink out of without getting frustrated. 10/10.

• Medela Pump in Style
  As soon as we got home, my husband bought me this pump and I loved it. It was simple, great suction, and I loved that it had the portable option if you want to be hands free.

• Kendamil Formula
  Around 8 weeks postpartum, my milk supply dropped and I was struggling so much to get it back up. After talking to a friend who had just switched to this formula, I thought I’d give it a try. My daughter took to this formula with ZERO issues! No tummy aches, no changes in her diapers, and she drank her bottles without hesitation. I recommend this formula to literally everyone I know.

Bath & Skincare

• Sink Bath
  When they’re tiny, a full-size tub feels massive. This sink bath made bath time so much easier and way less stressful. Plus it looks like a shark … how cute is that!?

• Baby Dove
  I love how gentle and hydrating this soap is. It smells so nice and clean. It’s a great simple go to for bath time.

Sleep & Comfort

• Baby Delight Bassinet
  This was perfect for keeping our baby right by the bed in those early weeks. I loved how the side panel would come down to make it feel like she was right next to me while still being safe.

• Pack ’n Play
  We keep this downstairs and use it every single day. The changing station made it so convenient to change her without having to go upstairs every time. It gave us more flexibility on where she could nap during the day as well.

• Graco Swing
  Another every day item that’s a lifesaver. I would use this to soothe her while cooking, eating or showering. The detachable bouncer made it so convenient to move from place to place as well.

• Owlet Dream Sock

  I really struggled those first few weeks with anxiety while my daughter slept. I kept checking to make sure she was breathing and I just couldn’t rest even when she was resting. The Owlet sock gave me so much peace of mind and I could finally sleep when she was sleeping.

Travel

• Doona Car Seat/Stroller
  I am a die hard Doona fan. The convenience of just popping the wheels in and out and not having to move your baby is life changing. It made my life so much easier when I started going out to run errands or grab coffee. It takes me about 10 seconds to get my daughter in and out of the car.

Top 3

All of these were the items that made those first weeks feel a little easier. But If I had to pick my all time fave top three, it would probably be the Doona, Dr. Brown Preemie Nipples, and Wondernation onesies.

Every baby is different, but if you’re a new preemie parent, I hope this list gives you a head start and a little peace of mind. 💕