6- Do You Really Need a Postpartum Cart? Essential Items for New Moms
Ah, the infamous “rolling postpartum cart.” The thing of curated social media feeds. Do you really need it? Is it yet another consumerism trap that preys on moms? I guess some could say yes, but I would disagree. I think it is one of the rare postpartum essentials that truly is a lifesaver.
There is truly very little that you really HAVE TO HAVE. I am a large proponent of less is more (for your wallet and for your sanity). But if something genuinely makes your life simple and is honestly relatively cheap? I mean heck yes. A postpartum cart does actually make your life simple, it does get used (truth: I had mine set up until my daughter was about 9 months old and we have it saved in storage to use again), and depending on the cart you choose, it can be relatively cheap! I bought mine for less than $20 from Target. Grab the exact cart here!
Now you might be wondering, “Okay, great. I’m going to get the cart…but what should I even put in it?” I got you! Here is my favorite items to put in a postpartum cart.
What to Include:
Baby
Change of clothes
Burp cloths
A few diapers
Pack of wipes
Diaper cream
Pacifier
Receiving blanket/swaddle
Suction bulb or Nose Frida
Nail trimmers
Mom
Easy snacks. Bonus points if high protein or fats!
Waters. Yes, even if you have a Stanley that you swear you’ll never forget…you will lol
Change of clothes for YOU. Leaky boobs that leave shirts smelling sour, spit-up, or blowouts? Yeah, mama…you need a change of clothes in there too.
Extra phone charger. Literally buy one just for the cart
Kindle/magazines/book. Just in case you forget your phone (you will forget it at some point)
Reusable nipple pads. I personally hate the disposable ones; they were so uncomfortable
Your pumps. Clean and put together…I’m looking at you, dads!
Silverettes or nipple cream, or both
Milk storage bags. I encourage dads to take over filling them, but it’s always good to have some in the cart just in case you’re home by yourself and need to put milk in storage
Here are the things I personally chose NOT to put in my cart and why (maybe unpopular opinion):
Adult diapers/pads/postpartum recovery items. I stored all of this in the bathroom. Since it is a rolling cart, you could roll the cart in there in theory, but everything was already in reach and they just took up space in the cart. The only time you’ll likely use these items is in the bathroom, so it didn’t make sense to include them on the cart.
In those first weeks (and if you’re anything like me, months), having one super simple system that moves with you leads to fewer ups and downs, fewer interruptions, and ultimately fewer frustrations. It removes a small piece of the mental load during a season when the little things add up FAST. The cart doesn't need to be Pinterest-worthy or TikTok trendy; it needs to be useful and practical. Mine looked like a hot mess half the time, but hey—it was organized chaos and I always had what I needed. The goal is fewer trips across the house right after you sat down, not just a prettier corner.
If you’re pregnant and craving a calmer postpartum, and want to talk through practical planning, my prep & plan sessions walk you through simple setups like this so you don’t have to figure it all out on your own <3
Remember, this cart is for you…not social media. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to work for your family and make your postpartum days easier!