What to buy during your baby's first year

Congratulations on becoming a parent!
Here is a curated list of things worth buying during your child’s first year.
Every baby is different, so your mileage may vary.
The good news is that almost everything here comes in a wide range of prices to suit any budget. Many items can even be found cheaply, or for free, on platforms like nextdoor.com.

Clothing

1. For 0-6 months, buy only double-zipper full-body onesies.
   The second zipper makes diaper changes far easier.

   

2. For 0-6 months, get your baby a good neck support pillow.
   It helps prevent the flat spots that might otherwise call for a head-shaping helmet later on.

   

3. For 0-3 months, get a Swaddle Sack for sleep.
   It helps your baby feel cosy and sleep soundly through those first few months.
   Stop using it once the baby starts to roll over, which happens around 3-4 months of age.
   And remember: because of their small size, a baby needs one more layer than you do to stay warm at night.

   

4. Learn to swaddle using a plain, breathable muslin cloth.

Bathing

1. Buy at least three towels per child. Each bath needs two, and one of them always ends up soaked through.
2. Baby clothes are so lightweight that a regular lint brush won’t work on them. Use an adult toothbrush to scrub out stains, especially from diaper leaks.
3. For 0-3 months, use a porous bathtub to reduce the risk of drowning, or simply hold the baby in your lap.

   

4. Use a cloth drying hanger with a bucket to wash small loads quickly. Baby clothes are tiny and dry fast.

   

5. Switch the whole family to a baby-friendly detergent.

   

Diapers

1. Cloth diapers are great.
   They fit well because you can adjust them to your child’s size.
   If you decide to go this route, practice how to fold a cloth diaper first.
2. Disposable diapers run from size N (Newborn) to 1, 2, and up.
   Costco has the best prices.

   

3. Use a diaper rash cream with 40% zinc oxide.
   Apply it proactively a few times a week, before any rashes appear.
   Most diaper rash creams contain fish oil.
   Boudreaux’s Butt Paste is one that doesn’t.

   

4. Get a diaper pail.
   It does a great job of containing diaper odor, especially if you live in an apartment.

   

5. Never use talcum powder.
   Babies should not inhale talcum.
   Use cornstarch powder as a safer alternative.

Toys

1. Before buying an electronic toys, consider getting an EMF meter.EMF and kidsRead this before buying an electronic toys
2. A plain mat with raised borders is handy for changing diapers, playing with the baby, and even corralling toys.

   

3. For a 2-month-old, the best toy is a play gym mat with buttons to kick and hanging objects to reach for. The specifics don’t matter, as the mats are all much the same.

   

4. For a 6-month-old who can lift their head but can’t yet crawl, the best toy is a water mat.

   

5. Once your baby can hold their head up, start doing baby sit-ups.
6. For 6-9 months, once your baby is crawling but not yet walking, climbing blocks are one of the best toys.

   

7. From 9-12 months, once your baby starts crawling, get spinners.
   Babies love watching them spin. Buy plenty: keep some in the car, some at home, and some for travel.
   If your child can stand, you can even coax them into walking.
   Place two spinners on a table just far enough apart that reaching the second one takes a single step.
   Too close, and there’s no reason to move.
   More than a step apart, and they’ll simply drop back to crawling.

   

8. From 9 months onward, consider a walker — opinions differ here, and some parents think it’s a bad idea. I feel it gives the child a fresh view of the world.

   

9. Once your child starts to walk, get a touch lamp — it’s a fun toy for them to play with.

Food & medicine

• Baby formula — I believe A2 milk, being closer to breast milk, is superior to typical A1 milk. So my recommendation is to go with an A2-based formula. For safety reasons, I would not buy infant formula on online marketplaces.
  • A2 Platinum uses DHA sourced from tuna.
  • Serenity Kids Grass-Fed A2 Whole Milk Toddler Formula contains egg.
  • Kendamil Organic Whole Milk Infant Formula Powder is the only good one — Safeway, Target, and sometimes Walmart carry it.

    

• Use vented bottles for feeding; they reduce how much air the baby swallows. The more air a baby gulps down, the more likely they are to burp. And because their digestive tract is small, that can lead to vomiting, which risks choking.

  

• Once your child weighs at least 5 kg, you can give Motrin (ibuprofen), according to this dosage chart. It’s especially useful around the time of vaccinations.

Outdoors & Travel

1. Chicco makes a good car seat. Another solid option is Graco. An infant car seat is safer, but you’ll need to replace it once your baby is 6-9 months old. Alternatively, a convertible car seat lasts until it expires or your child turns 12.
2. For 0-6 months, a baby carrier beats a stroller.
   Babies love snuggling in one — get a lightweight model.
   The expensive carriers have too much padding, which reduces airflow for both parent and child.
   If both parents plan to use the carrier, buy one each so you’re not constantly readjusting the straps.

   

3. Buy a lightweight compact stroller.
   It offers good ventilation and is easy to travel with on airplanes.