10 Baby Products You Can Start Using Before Baby Arrives

When building your registry, you’re probably laser-focused on all the things your baby will need—but here’s a secret: many of those baby products also double as things you can use before you give birth. How, you ask? Whether it’s a humidifier to ease pregnancy congestion so you sleep more comfortably, a sound machine to create a relaxing environment for better rest or a stroller fan to keep night sweats at bay (also a game-changer during labor), here are a few things you’ll get plenty of use out of, even before baby arrives.

Sound machines aren’t just for babies. If you happen to have trouble falling asleep at night—or pregnancy insomnia strikes—you can use the sound machine you registered for to help you get some rest. And of course, once your baby is born, it’ll likely become a staple in their nap and bedtime routines. Plus, the Hatch has a nightlight that will be useful for those middle-of-the-night trips to the bathroom. (Pro tip: you may even want to register for two, one for your room and one for the nursery.)

You’re going to need a baby-friendly laundry detergent that’s gentle on newborn skin eventually, but you can also make the swap before they arrive. Start washing your own clothing and linens with it now, so when your baby is born and spending a lot of time on you, using their detergent will keep you snuggle-ready and won't irritate their sensitive skin. And you don’t have to use a detergent that specifically says it’s for baby clothes. Detergents that are free of dyes and fragrance are just as good (and usually less expensive).

When your growing bump reaches a point where getting comfortable is a thing of the past, it may be time to reach for the yoga ball. A yoga ball (aka birth ball) not only offers relief for your changing body, but it also helps to prepare it for birth. Once your baby is here, don’t rush to deflate it and pack it away once you’re home from the hospital. They’re also a helpful tool in soothing fussy babies (coming from someone who heavily relied on their yoga ball for this).

There are so many times a rechargeable, handheld fan comes in handy in pregnancy—from prenatal hot flashes to keeping you comfortable during labor. You’ll also be able to use it later on for keeping baby cool in their stroller during warmer weather. 

While your breast milk won’t come in for a few days after you’ve given birth, you can express colostrum (a high-nutrient, thick milk that precedes your breastmilk production) as early as 36 weeks pregnant. It can be helpful to have some on hand to offer your baby immediately after birth and before your breast milk comes in. A manual pump lets you control the pace, which can feel more comfortable early on, making it easy to collect colostrum before birth. 

Whether you’re nursing or bottle feeding, the U-shaped pillow helps to support your arm, neck and back while keeping your baby at the right angle. You can also use the Boppy for yourself and place it around your waist for lower back support, or position it in front of your body to balance anything from your laptop to a book. 

Breast and nipple sensitivity is a very common symptom of pregnancy that can actually happen as early as the first trimester (with some people noting it was one of the first clues that they may be pregnant). Silverette cups, nipple-sized silver cups that naturally relieve pain and inflammation, are useful during the early days of breastfeeding as your nipples adjust to your baby or pump. While pregnant, the silver cups can also be worn to help with aching, sensitive nipples. 

Compact yet big enough to fit everything you’ll need on the go, diaper bag fanny packs have become a popular alternative to standard full-size diaper bags. Despite being technically a diaper bag, this one from Tushbaby looks like a stylish crossbody bag. It’ll fit most (if not all) of the things you’d carry in a purse and it won’t slide off your shoulders every few minutes.

The stains your baby’s clothes will accumulate are seemingly endless. Miss Mouth’s Messy Eater Stain Treater is a Babylist parent favorite as it practically dissolves harsh stains left behind after a meal of berries, a morning blowout or projectile spit up. You don’t have to wait for your baby to start leaving a trail of stains; you can spray this treatment on your own clothes.