The Little Things That Kept Our Newborn Comfortable (Our Favorite Baby Products)
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.Before becoming a mom, I expected we'd need diapers, wipes, and a safe sleep space. I didn't expect so many of the smallest purchases to become meaningful parts of the routines that helped keep my baby comfortable.
Some soothed dry skin. Some helped him breathe easier. Others simply gave us another excuse to slow down, cuddle, and enjoy those precious newborn days together.
These are the little things that made my sweet boy more comfortable and helped create some of my favorite memories from his first few months of life.
Aquaphor Baby Healing Ointment
My baby had such dry little feet and ankles when he was a newborn. At first, I didn't put anything on them because I'd heard doctors say and read online that it was best to avoid lotions on newborn skin.
I tried using a gentle chamomile baby lotion a couple of times, but it actually seemed to make his skin a little more irritated, so I stopped using it.
About a couple weeks after he was born, my mother-in-law mentioned that she liked Aquaphor Baby Healing Ointment much better than traditional diaper rash creams, so I ordered a tube to have on hand.
Since it was an unscented ointment made for babies and also meant to soothe dry, chapped skin, I decided to try a little on his dry feet too, and I'm so glad I did.
Every day I'd massage a little onto his tiny feet, ankles, and calves. His dry skin gradually became softer, but those little foot massages were so meaningful to me. Even now, I still massage his feet with Aquaphor because it's one of the small ways I get to love on him while helping keep him comfortable.
Before long, I found myself using it for more than just his feet. It worked wonderfully on his little armpits if they looked irritated from rubbing, those tiny newborn red bumps that seem to appear and disappear overnight, and I'd smooth a light layer into his neck folds whenever they looked like they needed some extra love.
Those tiny foot massages are some of my favorite memories from his newborn days, and I hope that as he grows, they'll become some of his favorite memories too.
YIVEKO Baby Nail Care Kit
The YIVEKO Baby Nail Care Kit has grown with Endy, which is one of the reasons I love it so much.
I have to admit I was first drawn to the adorable little sage green owl case. It actually looks so cute sitting out in the room that it almost feels like part of the decor. And the fact that I don't want to hide it away in a drawer makes it more readily available when I need it.
When he was a brand-new newborn, the glass nail file felt like the gentlest and least intimidating way to care for his teeny tiny nails. As he's gotten older, the rounded baby scissors have become my favorite, while the clippers are waiting patiently for when he's bigger.
My baby has always been my little dancer. His arms and legs are almost always happily moving, kicking, stretching, and ready to party. Trimming all ten nails in one sitting never happens around here. Instead, I usually trim a couple nails whenever I see an opportunity. It makes me laugh that I have to be so sneaky just to trim a few little nails.
I've thought about fitting in a trim toward the end of one of his naps while he's deeply asleep, but then I look at his peaceful face and decide I'd rather let him keep dreaming.
One day his nails won't need quite so much attention, but for now they're just another little part of caring for my busy, happy boy.
Mommy's Bliss Saline Spray
If there's one product that truly surprised me, it was Mommy's Bliss Saline Spray.
During those first several weeks, he often sounded stuffy. He would snore, wheeze in his sleep, and sometimes just seemed like he couldn't breathe comfortably through his tiny nose.
One thing I especially appreciated is that the bottle can be used two different ways. Turn it upside down and it works as saline drops. Give the bottle a gentle squeeze, and it creates a soft mist. We always use the mist because I found it so much easier than trying to aim drops into tiny newborn nostrils.
At first, even both sizes of our nasal aspirator were too large to fit well, but the saline would loosen everything enough that huge little boogers would suddenly start working their way toward the front of his nose. Sometimes they'd wipe right out, and other times they'd become easy to suction once they reached the edge.
Every single time we'd hear a noticeable difference in his breathing afterward, and he always seemed happier and more comfortable.
He only cried about the first week we used it. Before long, it almost seemed like he understood it was helping him breathe better.
I know humidifiers can also help with newborn congestion, but they're another thing to constantly clean during a season of life when you're already trying to survive the newborn trenches. Even now at three and a half months old, we still use the saline spray whenever he gets a little stuffy.
Watching him relax and breathe comfortably again made me so thankful we had it.
Looxii Muslin Burp Cloths
The Looxii Muslin Burp Cloths were actually on my baby registry because I wanted soft cotton burp cloths, but I didn't realize just how much nicer they'd be until I compared them to the standard ones the hospital sent us home with.
Those certainly worked, but these are so much softer, larger, and more absorbent. I also love knowing that when he falls asleep against my shoulder, his soft little cheek is resting on soft muslin instead of a rougher cloth.
They've spent countless hours draped over my shoulder during feedings, caught more spit-up than I can count, helped wipe milk dribbles from both of us, and made it easy to keep his little neck folds clean throughout the day.
I cherished my precious newborn cuddles with one of these over my shoulder and my sleepy little boy snuggled against me.
Konssy Muslin Washcloths
The Konssy Muslin Washcloths have been just as useful as our burp cloths.
They're incredibly soft, which is exactly what I wanted around his face. I love using them to gently wipe his eyelids, clean around his eyes, wash little milk dribbles away, or simply freshen him up during the day.
Even though I love the larger burp cloths for the extra coverage, these little washcloths have actually held up even better after countless trips through the washer and dryer. They work surprisingly well for spit-up too, even if they don't cover quite as much of my shoulder. Most days I use both interchangeably depending on what's closest.
They're one of those small things that helped me care for him gently from morning until bedtime.
KeaBabies Wooden Baby Hair Brush
The KeaBabies Wooden Baby Hair Brush quickly became one of my favorite routines with my baby.
Even before he had much hair, I'd gently brush his tiny head after getting him ready or before naps. He never fussed or tried to pull away. He always seemed to enjoy it, and it gave me another excuse to slow down and love on him for a few extra minutes.
The ultra-soft goat hair bristles are gentle on his scalp, and I also liked using it to help with cradle cap.
I appreciate that the handle is made from smooth beechwood instead of plastic, and I can't deny that the soft sage color makes me smile every time I see it sitting on the bathroom counter.
Brushing his sweet head became one more way to shower him with love, even before he has enough hair to really need brushing.
Final Thoughts
Looking back, these aren't the products I remember because they were trendy or expensive. I remember them because they became a daily part of caring for my angelic boy.
They're us bonding over foot massages before bedtime, brushing his little head with love even before he had much hair, hearing him breathe comfortably again after clearing his stuffy nose and the peace that gave all of us, and wiping his perfect sleepy face after a feeding.
The newborn stage has a way of making ordinary moments feel unforgettable. One day his little feet won't fit in the palm of my hand, he won't curl up asleep on my shoulder after nursing, and he'll probably want to brush his own hair.
Until then, I'll treasure these small routines that helped keep my sweet boy comfortable because they became some of our very first ways of bonding together. If they can help another baby feel just a little cozier, I hope they become part of another family's precious newborn memories too. ❤️
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All content on Hearth & Harmony is provided for informational purposes only and reflects personal opinions and experience. Readers are encouraged to do their own research and make decisions that best suit their individual needs and circumstances.
