Top 10 Baby Products No One Told Me I Needed

When I first found out I was pregnant, I became addicted to reading "Must-Have Baby Products for New Moms" blog posts. New parenthood is a tough transition, and there are so many fabulous products out there that make the journey a little smoother. I encourage all new mama and papa bears out there to read on until your heart is content. I sure did! But these next ten items are special.

These are the products that no one told me I needed. I didn't read about them anywhere. I stumbled upon each and every one by trial and error along a desperate search for a solution to one of many new mom struggles. Baby's socks won't stay on? I have the answer. Ultra sensitive baby skin? Got you covered, mama.

Here's another beautiful thing about this particular list. I find authenticity in our generation of social media mongers to be a rare treasure. It can be frustrating to determine if a blogger loves the product because they genuinely do, or because they are sponsored to say so. Ya'll know my tiny little corner of web world is certainly not sponsored, so rest assured that these products are things our family loves because they actually work! Plain and simple. 

1. Carter's Roll Cuff Socks | The only socks that ever have stayed on Eloise's feet. Warm piggies are of the utmost importance for January babies, so believe me when I say I have tried all of the sock brands. 
2. Dreft Stain Remover | I didn't realize how much stain treating I'd be doing as a new mom. It was important to me to keep her things nice rather than just letting spit up, blow out, or food stains become permanent. I did a ton of sink scrubbing at the end of almost every day before anything even hit the washing machine. This is the best stain remover for the job. Just the other day I used it to get a gnarly strawberry stain out of white leggings. Let me know if you buy it so I can send you my detailed scrub process.
3. Safety 1st Magnetic Locking System | Call me lazy or call me a realist, but teaching "no" as my only defense mechanism against cabinet opening was not going to happen. These are incredible and don't leave your kitchen looking like a prison unit with locking devices on every knob. They are hidden, and you can switch them to unlock mode when baby isn't around. We keep the magnetic key right on the fridge door for easy access. Installation is a weekend afternoon project, but I promise it is worth it. No more pinched fingers or sharp grill skewers all over the kitchen floor (yes, that happened). 
4. Pampers Baby Dry Diapers | These blue diapers that are extra absorbant. I believe they are one of a few key elements as to why Eloise began to sleep 12+ hours straight through the night at 7 weeks old and still does now. A well fed baby with a dry booty (who could sleep through a natural disaster just like her Daddy) has no reason to stay up partying all night.
5. Mom's On Call Book | This book was written by two hospital nursery nurses who are both moms themselves. There is no one better to trust than a nurse! They wrote it to serve as the manual we all wish we were given when leaving the hospital with a brand new baby to keep alive. It's straight forward advice on just about everything was my reference guide through so many scary firsts. I bought the Kindle version so I always had it handy on my iPhone, which I highly recommend. The book also makes a great gift for mom-to-be friends. 
6. Bravado Body Silk Seamless Nursing Bra | The only nursing bra I'll ever wear and buy. I paid a disgusting amount for one that was so uncomfortable I could not even wear for a full day. And then I found this game changer. Breastfeeding mamas, look no further.
7. Zipadeezip | I panicked the first night Eloise was strong enough to bust out of her swaddle. I had grown accustomed to a full night of sleep and was not willing to give it up. So I ordered her first Zipadeezip and crossed my fingers. It was a seamless transition! A few weeks ago I tried to put her down for a nap without her zippy. Nope. At this rate, she will be heading off to college with her zippy packed and ready, and I'm totally okay with that. 
8. Cetaphil Baby Wash and Shampoo | I have super sensitive skin, so it was no surprise when newborn Eloise broke out in rashes using even the purest, most gentle baby wash I could find. Then one day, Cetaphil, the brand of face wash and lotion I have used for years, came out with a line of baby products. Bingo! No rashes ever since, and I am obsessed with the way it smells. 
9. EZPZ Happy Mat | These are the best for dining out with kiddos. The mats truly anchor so well on a smooth surface and keep you from cringing at snacks on a restaurant table full of germs too. When the thrill of flinging plates or placemats is eliminated, babes focus more on eating food from the cute smiley dividers and less on making you want to pull your hair out. Plus they're dishwasher safe. Everyone wins! 
10. Conair Sound Therapy Sound Machine | I searched high and low for a sound machine with Eloise's favorite sleep sound. She does not snooze for crashing ocean waves or relaxing rainforest. She is a simple white noise gal. I also wanted to be able to manually switch off the timer function. We tried the sleep sheep recommended to me by practically every mom out there, but Eloise would start to squirm awake as soon as it shut off. I am convinced my husband and I are even addicted and sleep more soundly listening to the white noise through Eloise's baby monitor. 

Now obviously all babies are crazy different. These things may or may not be as successful for your family as they are for us, but they are definitely worth a shot if any of these issues have you on the brink of a breakdown. I think we all can agree that we will try just about anything to get over the hurdles of raising tiny humans and the tough phases that feel like they will last forever. Remember, this too shall pass...

...but until it does, go buy every possible solution recommended to you from every mom you know! One of them is bound to work, and here are ten that have earned my whole-hearted seal of approval!