Three areas I focus on preparing women for in postpartum are baby care, mom’s healing, and organization of the home. Depending on your level of nesting, you can go big with this or keep it super simple! Building your baby care caddy doesn’t have to be laborious. After four babies, “less is more” is kind of my motto. It’s not necessary to have the trendiest items in order to experience optimal postpartum healing or baby care. In fact, for me, it’s been easier when I’ve focused on just getting the essentials together.
The Baby Care Caddy
When I reference “caddy,” it’s any mid-sized, easily accessible and (preferably) mobile container. Baskets with handles, plastic cleaning totes, and foldable bins are a good place to start. Again, you don’t have to break the bank building your baby care caddy! You could line a cardboard box with contact paper or empty out a nightstand drawer to get the job done. The goal is to collect items that you can easily access in the middle of the night without leaving bed. Stash it under the bed, on a dresser, or even hang something like this on the outside of the bassinet.
What goes in a baby care caddy?
Any baby gear that helps make for an easy feeding and diaper change in the middle of the night. The less you have to move, the easier it will be for you and more likely it will be to keep baby in sleep mode. Some suggestions are diapers, wipes, diaper rash cream, onesie, swaddle/blanket, burp cloths, and a pacifier (if you’re using one).
Additionally, it’s not a bad idea to throw in a few things for your comfort too. Some chap stick and fresh nursing pads can really help a girl out when she’s up multiple times at night.
Other possible inclusions for your baby care caddy…
- nasal aspirator
- baby lotion
- disposable changing pads
- small trash bag (for wrapping up messy diapers or clothes)
- small thermos (for expressed milk)
- haakaa (to catch expressed milk during letdown)
- hand sanitizer
- healthy one-handed snacks (granola bar, jerky, trail mix, lactation cookies)
- hair tie
- nipple cream (this is my fave non-medicated cream)
- water (doesn’t need to be added to the caddy, but rather carried with you all the time)
Baby on the go!
Furthermore, the baby care caddy is not only helpful at night but can be on-the-go with you. For example, our master bedroom is upstairs, but bringing the caddy down with me makes it so easy. A mobile baby changing station is much more convenient than heading back up to the nursery for every diaper change.
It’s also good for partners and your care team. They can easily find what is needed to care for baby and can help keep it stocked for you. If anyone is looking for a good baby shower gift idea, building your baby care caddy for you is a great one!
Newborn land is a sleepy place and if you find yourself without a readied diaper bag – grab the baby caddy! It might not be your first choice when leaving the house, but in a pinch, you’ll have what you need.
So. Many. Brands.
Every brand will try to convince you that their products are the best for your baby. Really, I think that most of them probably perform somewhere in the middle. Again, this is one of those areas where mom and dad choose what’s best for their sweet babe. Some will spend hours researching the most organic, ethically sourced, and environmentally friendly options. Others just want a product that will serve the purpose. Either method is okay!
Personally, I try to find the more holistic options, when I can afford them and have them easily accessible. It just makes sense to me that natural products would be a healthier choice for babies. However, there are a few products that I prefer that are less ‘crunchy’ because they just work better for us.
With all things baby, please check with your midwife, OB and/or pediatrician about their recommended baby-safe suggestions. Anything I reference or link to is just a personal reflection on past use and not a medical recommendation. Similarly, I cannot guarantee safe or successful use of any product for you and yours. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider.
Bottom line… do your research and get good referrals from others, but don’t feel obligated to buy ‘all the things’ or lament over finding or affording the “perfect” products.
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