Top 10 products to help you through the newborn phase

Welcoming a baby is one of life’s most exciting adventures, but also one of the most overwhelming experiences, especially when it comes to choosing the right products. There’s an infinite number of options on the market, and your heart really wants to give your baby the best of the best. 

As my first year of parenting comes to a close, I’ve rounded up my favourite baby products to help you get started on your journey. These are items that I used on a daily basis in those early months (and actually still use some of these today!). 

1. Co-Sleeper Bassinet

Our CoZee Breeze Bassinet was a hand-me down from my brother and I cannot tell you how much we loved it! Having my baby right next to me at bedtime was incredible – I could see her and hear her little snores and it made those night time feeds so much easier. The bassinet just felt like an extension to our bed. This co-sleeper offers adjustable height settings to align perfectly with your bed and features breathable mesh sides for optimal airflow and visibility. It’s also super easy to fold down for travel purposes (i.e. you can very easily pack up and head to the grandparents when you need reinforcements!). My favourite part though was the fact that I could roll the bassinet to wherever I needed to around the house.  The wheels on the bassinet meant I could easily take my baby girl with me as I moved through my day, ensuring I was still looking after myself post C-section. Also to note, this bassinet includes interchangeable rocking legs which gently rock your baby to sleep (total game changer!).  

2. Moby Baby Wrap

Babywearing has hands down been one of my favourite parts of motherhood. I love the cuddles and would happily wear her all day if I could! It also made the early nights significantly easier because it meant my husband could wear her and walk around the house to get through witching hour. We loved our Moby Baby Wrap – it was easy to put on (once you watched the video a few times), super comfortable worn and best of all, it’s easily washable if your little one spits up or has an accident. It’s like a big cuddle for both your baby and yourself.

3. Baby Car Capsule

A car seat is a non-negotiable when you’re having a baby… BUT, have you heard of the car capsule? A capsule is a car seat AND a pram seat combined into one. The capsule comes out of your car and attaches to your pram without having to take the baby out. We bought the MaxiCosi Mico Capsule and have never looked back. The capsule allowed us to move our baby girl in and out of the car without waking her up – an absolute blessing when you have a newborn. It actually also helped us create a bit of a sleep routine for baby girl because we weren’t constantly waking her up and could have her take her usual naps on the go.

I do have to call out the drawback here – capsules only go for a maximum of 12 months whereas car seats can go up to 4 years of age. So essentially, you are doubling your cost. However, the peace of mind and ease of baby transfer made this a purchase that was worthwhile for us. Highly recommend! 

4. All-Terrain Pram

A sturdy, easy to use and maneuver pram is an essential. Our Bugaboo Fox has been a dream – the structure itself can be used as both a bassinet as well as a seat when your baby grows out of the bassinet. It’s easy to fold and store, easy to push, and our baby girl loves her seat. You can also purchase connecters which allow you to attach the MaxiCosi capsule onto the pram and these are fairly easy to use. It is on the pricier end of pram purchases but if you can purchase during sales, it is definitely worth your while! 

5. Ergonomic Baby Lounger

This is a controversial one. Whilst there are varying opinions on how safe these are for your baby, I personally believe they are great for supervised day time naps and floor time. My baby girl loved playing in her Docatot and I loved just sitting next to her watching her explore her surroundings. Unfortunately though, Docatot has now exited the Australian market. We do however, have our very own homegrown brands which are equally as good (if not better!). The experts over at One Fine Baby have curated their list of the Best Baby Loungers for 2025 so definitely give this a read! I have personally used the Cushii before and my baby girl loved it! 

6. Electric Snot Sucker

Keeping your baby’s nose clear is essential for their comfort and health and those little noses can be exceptionally hard to clean. The Snotty Boss Electric Snot Sucker is a fan favourite in our house (obviously not with our baby girl). With gentle suction and multiple nozzle sizes, it provides a quick, hygienic, and stress-free solution for clearing nasal congestion. Its quiet operation and battery operated design make it ideal for use at home or on the go. If you prefer a more manual option, I also loved the OogieBear Nose & Ear Gadget. It’s quick, easy and efficient. It also now comes with a version that has a light on it which will most likely keep your little one engaged too. For day to day use, this is the more handy and economical choice. In winter or whenever your baby is sick, the Snotty Boss is incredible in cleaning up all the excess snot.

7. Baby Diaper Bag

I personally never knew you could have SO MUCH VARIETY when it came to diaper bags. You can get diaper bags for $50 or $500. Every parent needs a reliable diaper that they can just grab and go, one that has enough pockets/organisers to house the various tiny items required and is easy to carry. The Pipi Bear Backpack is durable and functional, with a total of 13 pockets allowing you to fit everything you could possibly need for your day out with your baby. Best of all it’s one of those few baby products that don’t cost an arm and a leg!  

8. Odor-Sealing Diaper Bin

Keeping your nursery fresh & odour-free is essential for both bub and for your own sanity. We currently have the Ubbi Nappy Bin and we absolutely love it!  The Ubbi uses advanced odor-locking technology and will take your everyday bin liners (no need to buy separate specific liners!). The only drawback with it is that it is hand operated – you need to push the flap back to drop diapers into the bin which is not ideal as your baby gets older and attempts to escape during the diaper changes. Despite this though, we love our bin and would happily recommend it to all new parents. Trust us, you’ll be changing A LOT of diapers so you may as well have an easy disposal option! 

9. Baby Bjorn Bouncer

The Baby Bjorn Bouncer is a timeless favorite that’s still a must-have in 2025. Its lightweight and foldable design makes it easy to move around the house, while the machine-washable fabric ensures easy cleaning. Whilst it’s manual, we often found our baby girls’ kicks were enough to provide just that little bit of motion she needed. I loved that I could safely seat her in there while I enjoyed a quick coffee and she could keep herself entertained. Our baby girl absolutely loved it and it was one of the few things which she was happy to sit in (much more than the electronic swing she had which cost double the bouncer!). There’s a reason so many parents own one of these – the price is definitely worth the investment! 

10. White Noise Machine

A good night’s sleep is priceless for both parents and babies. The DreamEgg Sound Machine is equipped with a variety of calming sounds and changing lighting colors. Its compact size and rechargeable battery make it perfect for nursery use or travel. 

Bonus extra because why not?!

Got an exercise ball lying around the house? Our exercise ball was used daily once our baby girl came home. It helped us rock her to sleep and get through that dreaded witching hour (which any parent knows, can go for many hours). If nothing else worked, rest assured that gym ball could work wonders to get baby to sleep. You can get a cheap one at Kmart for $9 – best $9 ever spent!

Surprisingly the gym ball can also be used to support your baby’s gross motor development (whole other topic for whole other day). For now though, the following video can provide some tips and tricks on how to use the exercise ball during your baby’s wake window to help with their development.

Final Thoughts

Becoming a parent is an incredible journey, and the right products can make the experience smoother and more enjoyable. The above products are our family favorites and they kept my husband and I sane during our first year of parenting. This list is definitely not exhaustive but I hope it’s given you a start. 

Good luck & happy shopping!

P.S. Some of the links above are affiliate links, meaning if you make a purchase using the link, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost for you. Thank you for supporting my space on the internet.