These Four Baby Products Gave Me Some Freedom Back as a New Mom
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Becoming a mom is the greatest joy I’ve ever experienced, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t occasionally miss the freedom of my old routines:
- I missed drinking my coffee while it was still hot.
- I missed being able to leave the house on a whim.
- I missed eating dinner with two free hands.
- I missed spending quality time with my husband, just the two of us.
No baby products can bring my old life back, nor would I want it to; life is truly better because now we get to share it with our son. But a few thoughtfully chosen items helped me regain little pockets of independence throughout the day. Those small moments make a surprisingly big difference in protecting my mental health and helping me show up as the best mom possible. These are the four baby products that give me a little freedom when I need it most:
Copper Pearl Nursing Cover
Freedom to leave the house when I want and confidently feed my baby in public.
When my baby was first born, I felt a little trapped by trying to carefully time all of our outings around his feeds. When I got comfortable nursing him in public, it changed everything—and these Copper Pearl nursing covers give me the confidence to do that. My baby and I can be completely covered while he feeds, without feeling too warm or stuffy. As a new mom, I was shocked by how empowered and strong breastfeeding made me feel, and it’s really cool to reflect on how many places I have comfortably nursed my baby—on the beach at Lake Tahoe, on the patio furniture for sale at Costco, and at countless restaurants with family and friends. I no longer feel like every outing needs to fit into a perfectly calculated three-hour window.
What It Allows Me to Do
- Confidently nurse in public
- Leave the house without timing feeds
- Pack my diaper bag more strategically (no need for a bottle or a light blanket)
Why I Love It
- Lightweight while still providing privacy
- Soft fabric feels comfortable against bare skin
- Doubles as a light blanket
- Available in many cute patterns
Wildbird Aerial Baby Carrier
Freedom to keep my baby close while I’m on the move.
Babywearing changed motherhood for me, especially in the early days. My son loves to snuggle and be held, and the Wildbird Aerial baby carrier allows me to be on the move while giving him the closeness he needs. I wear him in the carrier around the house while doing daily tasks, while running errands if he’s too fussy for the stroller, and if he needs a contact nap while we’re out and about. (Sometimes I even wear him in the carrier when I’m simply standing on the patio, drinking my coffee and drafting blog posts on my phone.) I’ve also found babywearing to be the easiest way to get through airport security on our travels together.
What It Allows Me to Do
- Daily chores
- Dog walks
- Modified workouts
- Contact naps on the go
- Travel without a stroller
Why I Love It
- Easy to put on by myself
- Comfortable for multiple hours
- Linen fabric washes up nicely
- Designed to grow with my baby through toddlerhood
BabyBjorn Bouncer
Freedom to put my baby down while still including him in the action.
Our baby loves watching our day-to-day tasks. When he isn’t in the mood to play on the floor, I bring the BabyBjorn bouncer seat around the house so I can keep a close eye on him while he watches me do chores (and even work out). Before he could sit in his high chair, we also used it next to our dining table so he could feel like he was part of the meal while giving us a few minutes to eat. (My husband and I get a kick out of how serious he looks playing with the toy bar attachment…we joke that he thinks he is diffusing a bomb, because he chooses his movements very carefully.) We’ve even brought it to the beach so he can be off the ground away from sand and bugs, without getting hot and sweaty in our arms.
What It Allows Me to Do
- Unload the dishwasher
- Fold laundry
- Make coffee
- Enjoy a hot meal at the table
- Work out in our home gym
Why I Love It
- Lightweight and portable
- Folds flat for convenient storage
- Easy to wash the seat fabric
- Tons available secondhand
Infant Optics Baby Monitor
Freedom to enjoy quiet evenings with my husband after our baby goes to sleep.
When my baby had a later bedtime as a newborn, I would just go to sleep after putting him to bed. But as he got a little older and his bedtime inched closer to 7PM, I wanted to be able to leave the room after he went to sleep. Once I set up the Infant Optics baby monitor with a view of his bassinet (and later his crib), I finally felt comfortable doing that since I could check on him whenever I wanted from elsewhere in the house. I love spending quiet evenings with my husband watching Love is Blind, while we creep on our son via the video monitor (which is a slightly less dramatic reality “show”). It has given us back a lot of quality time together, while our baby gets the sleep he needs.
What It Allows Me to Do
- Keep a close eye on my baby while he’s sleeping by himself
- Eat dinner without entertaining the baby
- Watch trash reality TV with my husband
- Work on this blog!
Why I Love It
- Simple and easy to set up
- Lights up if the baby is making noise
- Great resolution (even when zoomed in)
- Doesn’t require WiFi or an app
- Small enough to travel with
Shop my baby registry planner on Etsy!
Freedom looks different now.
Freedom doesn’t mean escaping motherhood…it means having enough flexibility to fully enjoy it. I wouldn’t say any of these products bought me time—they bought me confidence, mobility, and a little independence, which matter even more to me as a mom.
As a minimalist, I’m always careful about recommending products because I believe every item you bring into your home should earn its place. For my family, these four definitely earned theirs. Not because they’re expensive or trendy, but because they gave me something even more valuable than convenience: the freedom to still be myself while becoming someone entirely new.
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