Your Postpartum Essentials List: The 15 Items You Actually Need
Sorting through postpartum must-haves can feel overwhelming, but this postpartum essentials list cuts through the noise. With just 15 tried-and-true items, it’s perfect for moms on a budget, short on space, or simply focused on what matters most. Get ready to simplify and feel confident about your postpartum prep!
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With all the ads and advice you’re getting, you’re probably wondering what’s really necessary postpartum. No one wants to waste money on things they don’t need. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a postpartum essentials list that cut through the noise and gave you just the basics?
Good news: now there is. 😉 Whether you’re on a tight budget, short on space, or just want to focus on what’s really important, this postpartum essentials list is for you.
Let’s get right to it.
15 Postpartum Essentials
There are three main categories of postpartum needs: recovery items for you, breastfeeding supplies, and baby care must-haves. While these lists could go on forever, I’ve kept it simple with just 5 essentials in each category—15 in total.
These are the items that will make the biggest difference for your postpartum experience.
Recovery Items
Recovering from birth is unique—chances are, you’ve never thought so much about your perineum! Here are the top 5 recovery essentials I recommend:
1 – Pads + Padsicles
You’ll bleed for 2+ weeks postpartum so pads are an absolute must. At first, you’ll want the super maxi huge ones that can absorb a lot. As the bleeding slows, switch to smaller sizes as needed.
Padsicles are pads infused with healing ingredients and frozen extra comfort and relief—a game-changer postpartum. Learn how to make your own here: DIY Padsicles: A Step-by-Step Guide + Why They Work.
2 – Peri Bottle
A peri bottle (peri = short for perineum) is how you’ll clean yourself after going to the bathroom for a while. Wiping can aggravate already-sore tissue and might pull on stitches if you have those, so spraying is the way to do it.
Your hospital or midwife will likely provide you with a basic, upright peri bottle. Those work just fine—that’s what I used. If you want to get fancy, lots of women rave about this upside-down peri bottle that makes it even easier to reach and get things clean.
3 – Stool Softener
Pooping after a birth is a whole topic of its own. For some women, it’s not a big deal. But for many, it’s a challenge. Tired muscles, tender skin and, for some, tears, can make going #2 difficult. That’s where a stool softener comes in.
Most women opt for Colace, an over-the-counter option that’s cheap.
For a more natural option, aloe vera supplements may help. Staying hydrated is also key!
4 – Healing Salve
Next up is a healing salve. I loved this one from Sunstone Formulas made with comfrey, calendula, and other natural ingredients. (Use code givelife10 for 10% off!) Put it on after using your peri bottle for extra healing power.
As a bonus, it also makes a great nipple cream and can even double as diaper cream!
5 – Reusable Water Bottle
Of all the other recovery items I could include, a good reusable water bottle is one that truly makes a difference. Staying hydrated is essential postpartum. It helps ease or prevent constipation, keeps you from getting parched while breastfeeding, and even supports faster healing by keeping your skin healthy.
I’ve tried a lot of of water bottles and my favorite by far is my stainless steel Owala bottle. I like the 24-oz size is just right for supporting hydration without feeling bulky.
Breastfeeding Supplies
Breastfeeding comes with its own set of needs. After nursing my daughter for over a year, these are the 5 items I found most helpful:
1 – Nursing Bras
Even though they take a second to get used to, nursing bras are so worth it. Being able to unclip the strap and pull the cup completely out of the way is so much easier than trying to pull a normal bra down far enough. (Plus nursing bras are more comfortable!)
My favorite nursing bras so far are this set from Amazon.
2 – Burp Cloths
Burp cloths (or baby blankets or any absorbent fabric) are essential, especially in the first few weeks. With lots of leaks and a baby who’s still learning to feed, having a quick way to clean up is a must. These are my favorite ones—they’re soft, absorbent, and not too expensive.
3 – Nursing Pads
In the early days of breastfeeding, leaking is inevitable. Over time your body learns to regulate your supply, but for a while it’s going to feel a bit messy. That’s why nursing pads make it on my postpartum essentials list.
Most often, I used reusable nursing pads from Bamboobies. (The overnight ones were my go-to, no matter the time of day.)
It’s also nice to have some disposable ones on hand for when you’re out and about.
4 – Boppy Pillow
One thing that will make a big difference in your breastfeeding journey is a nursing pillow. Even small babies get heavy after a long feed! And the less strain you put on your arms and back the better. A pillow is just the right size and shape to support your baby so feeding is more enjoyable for both of you.
I used a Boppy pillow with my first baby. I’ve also heard good things about this kind of square-ish nursing pillow but have yet to try it.
5 – Breast Shells and Milk Storage Bags
Okay, this is two things. But there’s not much point in getting one without the other. Breast shells are super nifty, especially in the early weeks. Put one in your bra on the side you’re not feeding on. It will catch all the milk that lets down from that breast.
I pumped like 3 times total and still had a LOT of milk in the freezer because I used breast shells! Not to mention, even an absorbent nursing pad can get totally saturated and start to leak if that’s all you use on the opposite side in those early days.
Definitely get the larger shells that are shaped like this (not the circular ones). They can hold more and therefore spill less.
Once you’ve collected the milk, it’s best to have dedicated breast milk storage bags for freezing it (rather than just using ziplocs). They tend to be thicker and have a strong seal to prevent leaks. They’re also sterile and made for safe storing.
Baby Essentials
Shopping for baby gear can be overwhelming (and expensive). But when it comes down to essentials, here are the 5 items I recommend go at the top of your postpartum list:
1 – Diapers and Wipes
Diapers and wipes are a given. My favorite disposable diapers are Costco’s Kirkland Signature brand. They contain the blowouts, don’t have many of the not-so-nice ingredients I like to avoid, and they’re super affordable!
My go-to wipes are Walmart’s Parent’s Choice Sensitive Plus wipes. With the price and the ingredients, they’re the best choice for me.
2 – Bumbo Changing Pad
Because cleaning up blowouts is the worst, this changing pad makes it into my top 5 baby essentials. While it’s true that you can change a diaper anywhere, it’s not anywhere that is easy to clean after a blowout.
Because it’s made out of Bumbo’s classic foam, this pad contains the mess and then cleans right off. Just disinfect it and you’re good to go! No soaking through fabric covers and pads and having to do a messy load of laundry.
If you’ve got a bit of wiggle room, this is the thing I’d spend it on. It’s worth every penny.
3 – Wearable Blankets
Next up let’s talk about sleeping. It can be tricky to figure out how to help your baby be not-too-cold and not-too-hot for sleeping. (I still feel like I’m figuring it out!) But one thing I highly recommend is getting a few wearable blankets like these.
Wearable blankets keep baby just the right temperature while also keeping them safe. (Loose blankets can be a safety hazard.) Most wearable blankets zip up from the bottom so diaper changes are easy, too!
If you’re thinking, “What about swaddles?” here’s the 10-second version of the answer:
Swaddling can actually be harmful developmentally in the long-run, for two reasons…
- A tight swaddle can negatively affect hip development.
- Babies actually need to learn to integrate their startle reflex…otherwise they can become hypersensitive and have a hard time with startling and sleeping in the future. If you want to learn more, this is a fabulous article about it.
4 – White Noise Machine
While we’re on the topic of sleep, let’s talk about white noise. While every baby is different, most tend to sleep best with a bit of white noise in the background. I usually use a box fan as white noise (for me and my baby!). But I also have this sound machine for travel and other times I need a substitute.
5 – Baby Shampoo/Body Wash
After the four essentials above, the choices start to get tricky—there are so many items that seem equally important. But for #5, I’m going with baby shampoo/body wash.
Babies’ skin is much more sensitive than ours. and even for adults, choosing safe care products is important. Sneaky ingredients can cause real harm over time.
The good news? Safe baby products are pretty easy to find. Most are 2-in-1 combos, perfect for bath time! I use this soap from Hello Bello.
Honest also makes fantastic, gentle products.
Postpartum Peace of Mind Starts Here
And there you have it—your postpartum essentials list made simple. While every mother and baby’s needs are different, this list will set you up for a smoother postpartum experience.
Remember, you don’t need a million products to thrive postpartum. At the end of the day, what your baby needs most is YOU. And your body was designed to heal beautifully. Trust that process and take it one day at a time.
Want to keep this list handy? Download the PDF version below!
And if you’re looking for a complete baby registry list, don’t miss The Baby Registry List I Wish I’d Had.
You’ve got this, Mama.
Until next time,
Allison
READ MORE:
How to Prepare for Postpartum: The Ultimate Guide
