Little Luxuries: 24 Upgrades for Life with a New Baby

You’re about to spend a lot of time trapped beneath a sleeping baby. You could read a book, orrrrr you could scroll your phone for an hour. (Zero judgement.) This portable, wireless and magnetic battery will ensure you don’t get nap-trapped without enough juice.

Nursing can wreak havoc on your back, shoulders and neck. A nursing stool—or any type of footrest, really—improves posture, increases comfort and better positions your baby for feeding. “I had one with my first two babies and it really helped me get comfy with all the various holds, especially as a big-boobied lady,” said one Babylist team member.

You can turn these soft, dimmable lights on and off with a quick tap. They’re perfect for just enough light when you’re changing a diaper or for a middle-of-the-night feed. “I had them all around my house,” one mom told us.

“I lived in nursing pajamas 24/7 in those early days,” one Babylist mom of three shared. This dress is made from a super soft, super stretchy bamboo fabric and has easy access for nursing. You can wear it to lounge or throw on a jacket or sweater to leave the house. And if you want to up the cozy, invest in a robe too; the Goumi Kids You’ll Live In Mom Robe is a personal favorite.

I’ve nursed and pumped for two kids, and never would I use the words “love” and “pumping bra” in the same sentence—until Larken. These bras are buttery soft, wireless and tagless (no annoying seams or clips). And they double as nursing bras, so you can live in them all day.

Most folks who give birth bleed for at least a few weeks (or more) after delivery. You can use pads, or you can do yourself a favor and get these period underwear instead. They feature built-in leak protection so you can ditch the bulky pads. And they look just like regular underwear, so no one will be the wiser.

These little silver nursing cups not only look luxurious, but according to many nursing parents, they actually work. They slip right into your bra and work naturally to soothe sore nipples and prevent irritation. They’re reusable, easy to clean and beloved by new parents who swear they make those tough first weeks a little easier.

Did you ever think a tiny fan would make you feel luxurious? Welcome to new parenthood. “Fans, all the fans,” one Babylist parent raved. “For the stroller, for hot food, for sweating while baby wearing…” It’s a must-have.

You’ll never regret having a giant, insulated water bottle within arm’s reach. This stainless one is my personal favorite: it has a built-in straw and a spout, and a tight lid for when you inevitably knock it over 27 times. And it’s cute.

This oversized backrest turns your bed into a comfy lounge spot. It’s great for propping yourself up while feeding, scrolling or just giving your back a break. And this one is extra soft.

This little luxury isn’t as well-known as the brand’s Formula Pro (which automatically mixes and dispenses warm formula bottles in seconds), but can be just as helpful when you need a warm bottle stat—for a lot less money. It dispenses perfectly warmed water on demand and maintains your desired water temperature all day and night so it’s always ready when you need it. And if you want to spend a bit more, there’s a model with a night light included, too.

This little luxury is for baby but technically for you: a silicone spatula so you never have to deal with diaper cream again. “It’s my fave,” one mom told us. “I never have to touch diaper cream, which ended up being a must-have for some serious diaper rashes.”

And speaking of dirty diaper hands, if you don’t want to go the spatula route, spray-on diaper cream is another mess-free option. It goes on hands-free and is way less messy.

This wipes dispenser quickly goes from “Do I really need this?” to “I can’t live without it.” It keeps wipes fresh and easy to grab one-handed—clutch when you’ve got a squirmy baby mid-change. (My kids are 11 and four and I still use ours.) “It’s not something I would have predicted I would appreciate so much,” said one Babylist team member.

Snaps are frustrating. Zippers are better. But magnets? Genius. These soft, organic footies are a bit of a splurge but close in seconds, even in the dark, even at 3 a.m., even when your baby is squirming. Parents call them a “lifesaver.”

This tiny bonded leather mat looks and feels so upscale, but only costs about $20. It’s also really useful; it works as a wipeable changing mat both at home and on the go, a placemat or even an art mat down the line.

“The Hatch Go feels updated, pretty to look at, and super useful,” said one Babylist parent. You can clip this portable sound machine to your stroller or playard to help your little one sleep anytime, anywhere.

What’s more luxurious than not having to whisper “Shh, shh,” over and over again into your baby’s ear until you’re lightheaded? “My baby calmed and slept better with an actual shush sound instead of a standard sound machine. This saved my voice,” one parent told us.

File this one away for when your little one is a bit older: it’s a refillable, roll-on applicator that makes sunscreen go on smoothly and evenly, without dirty fingers. “It’s similar to the diaper cream spatula,” said one Babylister. “I don't like the feeling on my hands and the kids love this application too.”

These coffee pods caused quite the buzz in Babylist’s parenting Slack channel. “Totally unnecessary but a luxury in postpartum!” one mom said. “Disagree,” said another. “It's not a luxury. It’s a necessity 😆.” Frozen, flash-brewed coffee delivered to your door means no more sad, cold mugs forgotten on the counter.

Having a steady supply of snacks feels like the ultimate treat when you’re postpartum. “I loved having a lot of snacks around in those early days when I was hungry 24/7,” one Babylist team member told us.

I will never forget the joy my nightly pint of Jeni’s brought me during those first few weeks postpartum. It’s not only delicious ice cream—it’s a moment of escape and indulgence when you need it the most.

It may not be the most creative luxury, but it’s certainly one of the most useful. Takeout, grocery runs or a random craving, Instacart covers it all. It’s a little luxury that saves your time, energy and sanity.

Thinking of a paper plate as a luxury item may seem silly, but not having to do dishes is about as luxe as it gets during those first few months after having a baby. We know they’re not the greenest option, but we’ll let it slide for all the new parents out there.