Newborn life has been brutally challenging - 90% torture, 10% bliss. The sleepless nights everyone warns you about really needs an addendum: Yes, you may get 4-6 hours of sleep a night, but they come in 30 minute to 2 hour intervals. Not getting full REM cycles is what kills you! While there have been many hopeless moments in the depths of the night, we’ve had blissful moments too - like when Elliot is cuddled up on us, or smiling in his lounger, or cooing while kicking his legs around on the play mat.

Our opinionated Baby Elliot already has his favorites - different than Mama’s Faves for the baby. They make great registry items or early purchases for decorating the nursery. Here are some things that he loved during month one!

Love, MH

*Product links & comments below.

Month 1: Baby Edition

DockATot Baby Lounger Deluxe+ (Amazon)
During the day time, Elliot loves to be posted up in this baby lounger. We’ve put it on the couch, the floor, and in our bed. We sing songs, read books and let him take supervised naps. It’s his favorite place to be and feel a part of our conversations. I know a lot of moms also love the Snuggle Me for infants but he did not take to it as well - he’d always cry when we put him down in it. Just goes to show that every baby is different so definitely be open to trying different ones if you’re in the market for a lounger!
Lovevery Play Gym (Amazon)
This play gym has been amazing for accommodating Elliot’s developing senses. For the first week, we strictly used it for tummy time and by week 4, he was able to track black and white images with his eyes and reach for the dangling objects. It sounds so simple but it was rewarding to watch his progress! The Lovevery Play Gym comes with a Play Guide that tells you the why and how of different activities so we could react better to baby’s needs. *Mama Hack: Detach the wooden frame from the base mat and it becomes mobile/compatible with any place the baby is lying down like a baby lounger or play mat!
Swaddles - The Ollie (Amazon), Swaddle Up (Amazon)
From the moment Elliot was with us in the hospital, he loved to be swaddled. Swaddles help to inhibit a baby’s Moro “startle” reflex and keep them calm. This is especially helpful when they’re sleeping so they don’t scare themselves awake. We’ve been using the The Ollie strictly during night time sleep and the Swaddle Up during day time naps. The Ollie has a velcro closure which makes night time diaper changes much easier. The Swaddle Up is unique because it let the baby sleep with his arms up - we often found him with his arms up when he fell asleep unswaddled so we knew it would be a great fit. It also has a two-way zipper, which helps with diaper changes as well.
Boppy ComfyFit Baby Carrier (Amazon)
There are a plethora of baby carriers on the market but for mamas like me who are intimidated by the DIY wraps like the Solly, this is a great way to test a soft carrier. We gravitated towards this one because it was newborn friendly, “pre-wrapped,” adjustable sizing for anyone to wear, and the price was right. It took a few attempts at putting Elliot in the carrier until he warmed up to it but when he did (week 3) it was a game changer for us. Now he takes his longest naps when we are wearing him and we can takes short walks with him as well. Handsfree magic.
MAM Newborn Pacifier (Amazon)
We got these pacifiers in a registry welcome box along with the MAM bottles. Right away, we noticed how strong Elliot’s sucking reflex was but as newbie parents, we took that to mean he was constantly hungry and kept trying to feed him. He would reject the bottle but continue sucking so we tried giving him this pacifier when he was fussy between feeds & it helped soothe him and put him to sleep. I’ll take it!
Hushh Sound Machine (Amazon)
This machine has been on in our house since we got home from the hospital. Originally intended for naps and sleep time, this white noise machine calms Elliot whenever he is fussy and helps him to stay asleep. It is portable and clips on to the edge of his bassinet, the carseat, the stroller or carrier. Apparently, this machine mimics the noises that babies are accustomed to in the womb and helps ease the transition from mama’s belly to the real world.

Pehr Play Mat (Amazon, Babylist)
Soft, cushiony and easy to fold up, we use this play mat during times when Elliot is wide awake and exploring his limbs. It gives him freedom to swing his arms & legs. Also, it is a great place for tummy time. As mentioned above, we often lay him here and place the Lovevery Play Gym frame over it.