Welcome to the Elevated Mindful Parenting Series
Bringing a baby into the world is a beautiful, transformative experience—and let’s be honest, a little overwhelming too. The baby industry is massive, filled with countless products marketed as “must-haves,” making it difficult to separate what’s truly essential from what will just end up collecting dust, waiting for the day it might be used.
That’s where this Mindful Baby Essentials Series comes in. No fluff. No unnecessary extras. Just a carefully curated list of baby items that actually make life easier, safer, and more enjoyable for both you and your little one.
What You Can Expect from This Series
Every article will follow a simple, structured approach to help first-time parents make informed choices:
✔️ A Clear Theme – Each post will focus on a different baby essentials category (Feeding, Diapers & Changing, Sleep, etc.).
✔️ Curated Recommendations – I’ll share my personal experience and my top product choices, making it easy for you to find quality, reliable options.
✔️ Real-Life Reflections – Because parenting is not just about products—it’s about the experiences, the challenges, the lessons, and the moments that shape us.
What This Series Covers
Here’s a sneak peek at what’s coming:
🔹 Feeding – Bottle or breastfeeding essentials, the tools that truly help, and what to skip.
🔹 Diapers & Changing – Choosing the right diapering system and simplifying changing time.
🔹 Clothes – What you actually need, what fabrics are best, and what newborns really wear.
🔹 Gear – Car seats, strollers, carriers, and why less is more.
🔹 Bath – Keeping baby clean without unnecessary gadgets.
🔹 Sleep – Co-sleeping, safe sleep setups, and how to create a restful environment.
🔹 Health – Essential tools for newborn care, medicine cabinet must-haves, and baby-proofing.
🔹 Other Essentials – The little things that make a big difference.
🔹 Worth Every Penny – The splurges that are actually worth it.
Now, let’s dive into our first topic: Feeding Essentials.
Feeding Essentials: What You Need & What You Can Skip
Feeding your baby is one of the most intimate, bonding experiences of early parenthood. Whether you choose to breastfeed, bottle-feed, or do a combination of both, having the right tools can make feeding time smoother and more comfortable. I wish I could say “stress-free”—but let’s be real, there’s no such thing.
I remember the first few weeks of feeding my baby. As a single parent by choice, I experienced the sleepless nights, the worry that came with every cry, the endless questions: Is he getting enough? Is he latching properly? Am I doing this right? And, of course, the countless bottle washes.
Believe me when I say this: only love for this tiny new life will get you through it. My hope is that this series will make things feel just a little less overwhelming.
My Must-Haves for Feeding
✔️ Glass Baby Bottles – My choice is Dr. Brown’s Glass Bottles. Why? They reduce colic, are easy to clean, and don’t leach chemicals like plastic. You will need about 8 a day, so you can get 4 and wash and sterilize twice a day, or just 8 and do it all in one shot; that’s what I did.
✔️ Bottle Sterilizer & Dryer – My choice is Baby Brezza Bottle Sterilizer and Dryer. Why? It saves time, holds up to 8 bottles, and has a separate rack for nipples and pacifiers
✔️ Slow-Flow Soft Nipples – My choice is Dr. Brown’s Slow Flow Level 1 | Wide Neck Bottle. Why? It mimics breastfeeding and prevents overfeeding. It’s also anti-colic.
✔️ Sponge Baby Bottle Cleaning Brush – My choice is the Momcozy Bottle Brush Kit. Why? A dedicated brush prevents milk residue buildup. This one offers a variety of brushes for bottles and breast pumps, angled brush heads, and silicone tube brushes for narrow openings like straws.
✔️ Liquid Dish Soap – My choice is Dapple Baby. Why? Standard dish soaps can leave behind chemicals, so a baby-safe option is best. This one is Fragrance-Free, Plant-Based, and Hypoallergenic.
✔️ Silicone Pacifiers – My choice is NanoBebe Baby Pacifiers 0-3. Why? The curvature is orthodontically designed, and it is very soft.
What You Can Skip
🚫 Bottle Warmer – Not essential. Running warm water over the bottle works just as well. But I did get this one eventually: Dr. Brown’s Insta-Feed Baby Bottle Warmer
🚫 Overpriced Milk Storage Systems – Save your money. Simple glass jars or breast milk bags work just fine.
Final Thoughts: The Feeding Journey is Unique
Feeding a baby is different for everyone—and that’s okay. Your journey is unique to you: whether you’re part of a traditional couple, a single parent, a single mother or father by choice, a same-sex couple, whether you carried your baby or had the help of a surrogate, whether you breastfeed or that’s not an option for you.
I am a single mother by choice, and even though I went through every possible training, I wasn’t able to breastfeed my baby. It was a tough realization, but it taught me something valuable: feeding is about love, connection, and nourishment—eye contact is, to me, essential.
My hope is that this series will empower you to make informed choices and feel prepared for this journey, no matter what it looks like for you.
Coming Next: Diapers & Changing Essentials
In the next article, we’ll talk about Diapers & Changing Essentials, including what’s worth investing in and what’s better left on the shelf.
✨ For Parents: Follow along for more mindful, practical parenting guides.
📩 For Brands: If you have a product that aligns with this elevated parenting approach, let’s connect! I’d love to explore potential collaborations.
💛 Let’s build a mindful parenting community—one essential at a time.
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