BABY DIAPER ESSENTIALS

After having 2 babies over the past year and half, you could say I’ve become a pro at diaper changes. We’ve cycled through so many products from different brands and are finally ready to share all our favorites. Some of these products came as recommendations, others we just stumbled upon as new parents. Everything on this list is considered a diapering must-have in our house! Everything listed below will make diaper changes more comfortable for baby and more convenient for mom and dad.

1. CHANGING PAD

You may not think to splurge on a changing pad, but trust me when I say it’s actually worth it! Our favorite changing pad is made of soft polyurethane which is water and puncture resistant. What I love most is how easy it is to clean! Messes wipe up easily, no need to machine wash every time the baby has an accident. It’s designed comfortably for baby and very convenient for mom and dad!

I do want to mention that although the polyurethane is soft and comfortable for baby, it can feel a bit cool to the touch. I purchased a pack of changing pad liners (see #5) to use during the first month or so when baby is really tiny (but changing pads/liners are not necessary with this changing pad!)

We also purchased the HATCH CHANGING PAD for baby #2, which doubles as a scale. I initially thought this would be a great feature to have, since I was always curious how much my weight the babies were gaining in their first few months. After using it for 7 months, we concluded that we much prefer the KEEKAROO PEANUT CHANGING PAD. The surface of the Hatch is very hard and seems uncomfortable for baby. Also the scale requires your phone handy in order or read/record the weight measurement, so I found myself rarely ever using it. It’s a VERY expensive changing pad that we found not worth the money.

2. MAXIMUM STRENGTH DIAPER CREAM

This is a great product to have on hand in the event your baby gets a bad diaper rash. It’s a maximum strength diaper cream (with zinc oxide) to help treat and protect sensitive, irritated skin. We’ve only had to use this cream a handful of times but it worked great and I was thankful to have it handy when needed (we use a more gentle, all-natural diaper balm daily – see #5.)

3. CHANGING PAD LINERS

These are great liners to have, regardless of the type of chaining pad you choose. If you do opt for a Keekaroo or Hatch changing pad, these are what we used to line them the first couple months. They provide a softer/warmer surface for your little one to lie on. Also waterproof and machine washable.

4. GAS RELIEVER

Another great item to have on hand…a gas-passer. I can’t stress how helpful these were! If your little one is gassy or colic the first few months, you’re going to want to have this product close by. These little catheters are used to help baby pass gas giving them instant relief from belly pain. This product was a lifesaver. NOTE: you do not want to use these so much your baby becomes dependent on them…but they’re great for occasional use when they need a little extra help.)

5. ON-THE-GO BAGS

I have my sister to thank for the heads up on these! I would consider these an unexpected but essential item to keep in your car and diaper bag. You’ll be happy to have these on hand when you’re faced with a blowout on the go. Use them to hold soiled clothes and dirty diapers until your home or near a garbage can. They’re great at containing the mess and the smell in the meantime!

6. DIAPER CREAM APPLICATOR

Another item I never would have thought to purchase – a diaper cream applicator. I purchased this item based on a recommendation and assumed I’d never actually use it. Boy was I wrong! I use this simple but effective tool multiple times a day, every day. So much so that I bought 2 additional – one for downstairs and one for my diaper bag. This soft silicone applicator allows you to keep your hands clean and dry while applying diaper cream. It also has a convenient suction cup on the bottom to keep applicator secured to the changing table. Buy now and thank me later!

7. DIAPER BALM

For everyday diaper changes we use this organic diaper balm. It works really great at protecting baby’s delicate skin, especially overnight. We always apply diaper balm before bed (when they’re in a wet diaper the longest!) This balm always worked great for us, preventing any irritation using a blend of antibacterial and antifungal organic herbs, shea butter and pure essential oils. NO petroleum, parabens or artificial fragrance. They also have a really great organic NIPPLE BALM if you plan on nursing! You can see all my POSTPARTUM MUST-HAVES HERE.

8. WIPES DISPENSER

When it comes to wipes dispensers, the simpler the better in my opinion. All you need is something that keeps wipes moist and easily dispensable. Our favorite dispenser has a weighted plate that ensures one wipe is dispensed at a time. The design is simple, slim and clean. It holds most standard wipes – including our favorite plant-based brand (see #10.)

We chose not to get a wipe warmer, after hearing they can easily harbor bacteria that can lead to really bad diaper rashes. Also – if your baby never gets used to warm wipes, they’ll never have an issue with a room temperature ones.

9. POTTY CHAIR

We have yet to start officially potty training, but we do have a few potty chairs placed around the house for the girls to get used to. I think the sooner you get your child familiar with the potty, the better…even if it takes a while for them to start using it. We have one in our bathroom upstairs and one downstairs. I love the simple design of the Baby Bjorn potty chairs which are comfortable for baby to sit on and easy for parents to clean. Here are a few of the styles they offer below. We are a big fan of all the BABY BJORN products!

10. PLANT-BASED BABY WIPES

We tried several different wipes when the girls were young and these plant-based wipes quickly became a favorite. They’re formulated to clean gently and are unscented to ensure no irritation. They’re made of an ultra-thick material to handle even the messiest diaper changes.

We used WATER WIPES as well and liked them, but not as much as these. We found the HONEST WIPES to be thicker, softer and more durable.

11. MILLIE MOON DIAPERS

After trying just about every brand diaper over the past 2 years – Millie Moon are by far our favorite. They are hands down the softest diapers out there. We’ve tried very expensive, all natural, luxury brand diaper services (which are twice the price!) and they don’t compare to Millie Moon. These are the best quality diaper for the money. Not only are they incredibly soft, they’re free from chlorine, fragrance, latex and lotion. All materials are certified as safe and clean by OEKO-TEX Standard 100 and are dermatologically tested for sensitive skin. Both my girls have very sensitive skin and have never had any issues with Millie Moon diapers irritating their skin (I can’t say the same for many other brands!)

They’re also great at preventing leaks with up to 12 hours absorbency. They have a convenient wetness indicator showing when the diaper is wet and double leak guards, high waist and secure grip tabs to help prevent blowouts.

After using Millie Moon diapers, I honestly can’t imagine using any other brand. Keep in mind that these diapers run a little larger than standard diapers!

12. SECONDARY CHANGING TABLE

If you live in a 2-story home, I would highly recommend getting a second changing table to keep on the first floor of your home (assuming you have a spot for it – we keep ours in the playroom.) It’s been so nice to have a changing station downstairs to hold a second set of all our diaper essentials. As a busy mom of 2 under 2 (who spends most the day downstairs), it’s really nice not having to run upstairs every time a diaper needs to be changed. We use ours multiple times a day, every day. A second change table will allow a comfortable place to change the baby and enough room to store diapers and a second set of all your diapering essentials (we bought baskets to place not the shelves to store everything.)

This is the exact changing table we have and love. I also linked a changing pad that fits perfectly.

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BABY DIAPER ESSENTIALS