Typically when you shop for a baby, you think of onesies, rattles or toys. However, there are non-baby items to consider as well.
Please note, I only recommend products I have personally used. I also receive commissions on qualifying purchases through Amazon as an Amazon affiliate when readers purchase products by clicking on the links provided in blue
1. Ruggable Rugs
Purpose: Playtime, Tummy Time, Keeping your Rugs look nice.
Tummy time or play time, my daughter is always on a rug! After a while, bottle spills, pet stains and odors can cause an unsanitary situation. That’s why Ruggable Rugs is a game changer! I can simply peel the rug off of the cushioned pad and toss it in the wash.
I was very hesitant the first time washing, but it came out fresh and unfaded! The pad is non-slip too, which is essential for children playing and running across it.
These rugs come in all different styles including fun, kid prints. They even have Disney and Star Wars prints!
I recommend the cushioned pad. Get your rug here: https://ruggable.com
2. Keyless Entry or Smart Lock
Purpose: Pet care or home care while in hospital. Regular childcare service such as a nanny.
This is a great purchase to allow trusted individuals inside your home while you are away without leaving the door unlocked or handing copies of your house key out. Plus, you can avoid being locked out.
I opted for a keyless entry garage door opener. It allows access through the garage with a four-digit code that can be changed at any time. I ordered this one and could not believe how affordable it was. and installation took five minutes! Before purchasing, you will need to confirm that the product will work with your lift’s year and brand.
Smart locks are another option that offer more features but come with a higher price tag. Some locks keep track of times an individual is in and out of the house with personalized access codes. Other locks can be locked/unlocked remotely. This may be a better purchase if you are hiring a nanny who will need regular access to your home.
3. Chest Freezer
Purpose: Freezer meal prep, breast milk storage.
If you have the space, I HIGHLY recommend purchasing a chest freezer. Your regular freezer will fill up fast if you are preparing freezer meals for after the baby is born. The extra freezer space is great for storing pumped breast milk as well.
Chest freezers come in different sizes. My 5.0 cubic feet freezer is only 28 inches wide by 20 inches depth, so it fits great in my small house. I recommend purchasing as large as your budget and space allows, because with a growing family it will fill up fast!
Having a chest freezer is a great way to save money on food costs by stocking up during sales or buying in bulk. A stocked freezer can allow you to be prepared for an emergency and saves you less trips to the store.
4. Beauty Fridge
Purpose: Bottle refrigeration.
Those middle of the night feedings are tiresome! When my daughter would wake she wanted a bottle asap. My zombie-self would tredge to the fridge downstairs to retrive a bottle.That was until my sister gifted me this beauty fridge!
The small size is perfect to be placed on a nightstand, which is exactly where I kept mine. It allowed me to grab a cold bottle fast and quiet my crying baby.
I have also used this on roadtrips to keep bottles cold for the duration. You may need an adapter if your vehicle does not have a standard outlet.
According to Enfamil’s website, premixed baby formula can be stored for up to 24 hours in a refrigerator at 35 – 40 degrees Fahrenheit as long as the baby has not drunk from the bottle. Make sure your beauty fridge cools within this range.
Here’s a fridge that can cool your baby bottles safely and comes in different shades to match your nursery:
5. Motion Nightlights
Purpose: Nighttime feedings
Speaking of nighttime feedings…it is a great idea to purchase motion-sensing night lights and place them in hallways, near stairs and anywhere you will be walking during the night. They’re bright enough to make walking at night safely without disturbing your baby. They also allow you to have both hands on your sweet baby instead of fumbling for a switch.
I like these nightlights because they can be removed from the base and used as a flashlight during a power outage and I know right where to locate them!
6. Zip Top Reusable Bags
Purpose: Hold Pacifiers, teethers and snacks.
You know you’ve reached adulthood when you are excited about reusable bags! There are many reasons to love them: they are better for the environment, close so easily and stand upright.
Purchase the large bags for meal prep and the kid design bags are great for tossing in the diaper bag and kid’s lunches. Get your’s here!
7. Trash Cans
Trash cans are not the most fun thing to shop for, but they are important when your family is growing!
If you do not have a pull out trash can that safely stores in a cabinet, it’s a good idea to purchase one that is child proof. I recommend the Simply Human trash can. It is very stylish and can only be opened by stepping on it or by lifting the top compartment to empty (not easy for a child). The lid itself is impossible to lift with just your fingers (AKA your child will not be rummaging through your trash).
Consider purchasing an extra curbside trash can for the extra waste that comes with a child. You will need it! I also recommend purchasing an outdoor trash can for your deck, patio or porch. No matter how good a diaper pail is, it stinks up a room fast when poopy diapers are disposed. It’s a pain to walk out each poopy diaper to the curbside trash cans, so our family simply throws them outside on our deck. A trash can like this will save your house from smelling bad.
