Our sweet Rosalie is here, and we couldn’t be more in love.

Honestly, it all feels a bit surreal. Weren’t we just wide-eyed and nervous while looking at those two pink lines in the beginning of this year? Wasn’t it only yesterday that we went on a babymoon to Hawaii? Has summer really come and gone already?!

Similar to some stages of motherhood, the days while being pregnant often went by slowly, but all of a sudden, it’s like I blinked and we’re here. With Rosie now bundled in my arms, I can’t help but feel emotional as I reflect on this new season I’m in. Time is a strange, weird, wonderful thing.

Disbelief aside, pregnancy is always met with lots of nesting and preparation. This last pregnancy was unique for many reasons, and one of them is that it was my first time juggling three other kids while going through it. Hence that whole “time is flying” thing – I honestly couldn’t keep up! And truthfully, it wasn’t until school has started, that I even started trying to. Up until a month before Rosie joined our family, I was definitely not prepared.

I know what you’re thinking. “What do you mean?! You’re a 4th time mom – didn’t you have everything you need already?” Well, actually, nope! You see, true to the nature of this pregnancy being a surprise, we’d given away almost all of our baby stuff. With the exception of a few items that we still occasionally use with Beau, such as our strollers or changing station because we got lazy with updating his bedroom, we’d already completed the big baby item purge. No more high chairs, baby gates, toys or essentials. No more bouncers, baby carriers, or heck, even baby clothes!

We donated the majority of our key items, so when we got pregnant again, it meant stocking up once more. But, given that this baby is *definitely* our last, it feels silly to overspend or to have anything that’s not absolutely essential.

Luckily, as a 4th time mom, I know exactly what I need and what I don’t.

I’ve been through the newborn stage multiple times now, so I have the advantage of reflecting back on the things that I used all the time, and those that I barely touched. But the thing about the newborn days is that it’s so easy to get caught up in all the stuff – even as a 4th time mom, I find myself thinking, “Oh I NEED this!” when I come across the latest baby recommendation from an influencer or brand.

Here’s the thing, though. (And I can say this with lots of certainty, given my experience!) Newborns don’t need much. They mainly need a safe and comfortable place to sleep, breast milk or formula to help grow their little bodies, and the comfort of their support system giving them lots of love. Looking back, many big items we invested in prior were hardly used! So it feels silly to spend lots of money on endless newborn “essentials,” when I know that this stage is fleeting.

So, what did I prioritize for my last baby’s newborn phase?

Of course, there are lots of little essentials we’ve needed to re-stock up on. Things like diapers, wipes, pacifiers, burpee clothes and onesies are at the top of that list! Luckily I have some generous friends who’ve recently had their last babies, so I’ve received lots of hand-me-downs to help check off the majority of those types of items. (Psst – side note – I did a post in the past about my 15 favorite newborn items to which I recently updated, if you’re interested.)

But when I think of bigger items that we’ve prioritized for Rosie’s debut, the list actually becomes quite small. Below are four of the key, bigger items that are on that list!

4 Key Newborn Essentials I Prioritized As A 4th Time Mom

Newborn Essential #1: Cord Blood Registry Kit for Cord Blood & Cord Tissue Collection

As someone who wholeheartedly believes in science and its ability to advance health, this was at the top of my list as soon as I found out I was pregnant again! We used Cord Blood Registry® for collecting Beau’s newborn stem cells, and knew immediately we wanted to do it again for this baby. Why? Simply put, collecting stem cells is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and we want our children to have access to their stem cells should they ever need them in the future. You may never need to use it, but it’s essential to have for when you need it most.

If you’re asking what on earth stem cells could be used for, you’re not alone! The subject can be quite confusing and technical. Here’s a very high-level overview of the topic.

Cord blood and cord tissue are both derived from a baby’s umbilical cord at birth. (The collection process is completely painless and quick, by the way!) Cord blood stem cells are currently used in the treatment of 80+ conditions, including certain cancers, blood disorders, immune disorders, and metabolic disorders. Both cord blood and cord tissue are showing promise in regenerative medicine. In other words, stem cells are being researched for their ability to act like our body’s own personal repair kit and may be able to help our bodies heal in new ways.

We chose to collect both cord blood and cord tissue. Why both? Well, cord blood contains hematopoietic stem cells, which are the type of stem cell that can become blood and immune system cells in the body. Cord blood is a rich source of hematopoietic stem cells, which can be used in an FDA-approved stem cell transplant – currently a treatment option for 80+ conditions. Cord tissue is a rich source of mesenchymal stem cells, the type of stem cell that can become our connective tissues in the body, with potential for additional treatment possibilities in regenerative medicine.

If you want to check out more research or have further questions, swing by the Newborn Stem Cells 101 section of the CBR website. It’s a great resource and provides easy to understand answers! And, when you are ready to enroll with them, be sure to use promo code CHRM for 50% off their kit and first year of storage! 

Newborn Essential #2: Doona Car Seat + Stroller

Surprisingly, our strollers and car seats were some of the items that we still have from past baby days, primarily because we often still use them while out and about! So, with that in mind, did we need another? Probably not. But did I want a new one? YES! Let me explain.

I’m prioritizing the Doona to make life just a bit easier. It didn’t exist when my other kids were babies, so it’s new to me, but essentially it’s a car seat that converts to a stroller with the touch of a button. No more lugging the stroller frame out of the trunk and back every time you take the car seat/baby in and out. Just pop out the car seat and activate the legs, and it becomes a stroller in and of itself. Which means a massive amount of time and effort is saved in addition to trunk space. Is that not absolutely genius?!

As a mom of 4, I’ll be running around all over town and taking my baby in and out of the car/on errands on the regular, so this type of item is perfect for helping make that process easier. Anecdotally, I’ve heard from other moms that it’s incredible. Done and done!

Newborn Essential #3: Snoo Bassinet

There’s nothing more coveted than sleep in those precious but exhausting newborn days, so this time around, I’m activating a sleeping tool that I know has worked for others: The Snoo Smart Sleeper Bassinet. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s an FDA-approved bed that boosts newborn sleep with extra rocking and soothing. It actually adds 1-2 hours a sleep per night as it responds to the newborn’s cries, isn’t that amazing?! We didn’t use a Snoo with our other kids, primarily because it’s so expensive, but this time around we’re fortunate enough to have friends that are loaning us theirs. (Yes, we owe them many nights out!)

You can buy the Snoo pre-loved or even rent it, so if you’re entering into the newborn phase like we are, just know there’s options if you’re interested!

Newborn Essential #4: Elvie Portable Breast Pump

This is another item that either I wasn’t aware of, or didn’t know about, with my other kids! The Elvie Breast Pump is a portable pump that can actually do the job hands-free. AKA: A total game-changer! I remember so many awkward times, particularly with Grace and Joey when I went back to work at 3 months, pumping in places like bathroom stalls or while on-the-go in the car. It was always so uncomfortable! So, having the option to pump wherever, whenever is going to no doubt make the process so much easier.

…And there you have it!

Four of the bigger, key items I’m prioritizing this time around. Fellow mamas – are there things that I should add to this list?! What were some bigger-ticket newborn essentials that were “musts” for you? Let’s chat in the comments!

*This post was done in partnership with Cord Blood Registry, however as always, all opinions are my own! Thank you for supporting the brands that help make Isn’t That Charming possible.