Jennie Lennick is the designer behind Jenny Lemons—the joy-sparking brand known for its playful, food-themed hair accessories—but at the moment, her most important title is mama to Ruby (almost 5) and Julian (3 months). Firmly in the thick of new-baby life, the San Francisco-based entrepreneur is navigating postpartum days with the same mix of creativity, practicality, and humor that defines her work.

Her Mother Essentials list is a snapshot of what’s truly getting her through this season: comfy pants that flex with a changing body, unfussy sweatshirts that can handle a little spit-up, tiny accessories that make her feel put together, and everyday rituals—like stroller walks, yoga with baby, thrift store browsing, and library visits—that bring joy and grounding to her days. It’s a warm, real look at the clothes, beauty staples, kid gear, and community touchstones helping Jennie feel like herself while caring for two little ones.

Le Bon Shoppe Pants. “These are my current favorite pants! I have three pairs. I wore a size up during my pregnancy and have been living in them during my postpartum period. I really like the elastic waistband; they’re comfy for my changing body, and I feel very cool when I wear them out of the house. I have a corduroy pair and two colors of denim, but I’m considering getting the leopard print ones!” Arc Pants, $125, Le Bon Shoppe. 

Plain Sweatshirts (That Can Get Thrown-Up On). “My son is 12 weeks old at the time of writing this, and he is a major spit-upper. I’m changing my (and his) clothes at least 2–4 times a day. I really like cropped sweatshirts because they are flattering, loose enough for me to feel comfortable while breastfeeding, and not too precious for the inevitable mess. I especially like the ones from Uniqlo and Gap, or from Le Bon Shoppe if you’re looking for something a little fancier.” Crewneck Sweatshirt, $43, Gap; Pointelle Sweatshirt, $89, Le Bon Shoppe. 

Handker Bandanas. “When I need a little pop of color to make my plain throw-up sweatshirts more interesting, I like to wear a cute bandana kerchief. Handker has a ton of really sweet options, and they are an awesome woman-run company!” No. 106 Posey, $13.30, Handker.

Chubby Tubetti Hoop Earrings. “My husband bought these as an anniversary gift a couple of weeks after I gave birth to my son, and I love them. They make me feel put together even when I am not, and the hoops are small enough that I can safely wear them without fear my son may grab them and tear them out.” Chubby Tubetti Hoops, $548, Catbird.

Micro Claws. “I was hesitant to include one of my own products on this list, but I genuinely love our micro hair claw sets. I think they are a really solid value. You get 6 in a set for under $30. I keep them in my purse and use them when I can’t handle my bangs dangling in my face anymore, or when I need to get my daughter’s hair out of her face while she eats.” Micro Fruit & Flowers Hair Claw Clip Set, $27, Jenny Lemons.

The Doona Stroller. “When my daughter was an infant, I saw all these other parents with this stroller and I was so jealous. A stroller that is also a car seat?! When my son falls asleep on a walk, I just collapse the stroller and bring him inside to finish his nap while I’m working in my office. Such a win! It’s truly worth the high price and temporary use. Typically, babies age out of it by around 15 months, which is a bummer. But nevertheless, I would recommend it to any new mom!” Donna Car Seat + Stroller Set, $650, Crate&kids.

Wubbanub Pacifiers. “I love these pacifiers with stuffed animals attached to them. I think the weight of the stuffie helps the pacifier stay in my baby’s mouth longer, and they are cute. He is only 3 months old, but he loves to cuddle them! I’ve got three on rotation in case one gets dirty or lost.” WubbaNub Brown Puppy Detachable Pacifier, $12.91, Amazon.

Baby and Me Yoga. “My son and I have been attending prenatal and postnatal yoga classes since I was 16 weeks pregnant. The baby-and-me ones are so sweet. I get a workout in, and he just lies on his little mat smiling at me and wiggling around. My class is broken up into one hour of yoga for moms and 15 minutes of baby yoga, which my son lives for. It’s an amazing way to get out of the house and see other moms and babies.”

Coffee Shop + Thrift Store Stroller Walks. “My baby is in his stroller nap phase, so I’ve been getting out of the house almost every day for meandering stroller walks. I grab a fancy drink from a cute neighborhood coffee shop and then wander to the nearby Goodwill. Most days I go home empty-handed, but I’ve found quite a few gems! I feel really lucky to live in a lively San Francisco neighborhood with so many fun things to see and do.”

Wet Brush. “My daughter and I both have very fine hair that gets tangled really easily, and these Wet Brushes are a godsend. I have done a side-by-side comparison between this brush and other nylon brushes on my daughter’s hair, and the Wet Brush gets tangles out without tears. Hallelujah! She has a cute mini one, and I have a big one.” Original Detangler, $10.99, Wet Brush.

Evereden Strawberry Spray. “Speaking of tangly hair, this detangling spray works wonders on my daughter’s hair and sensitive scalp. Plus, it smells like strawberries and the bottle is really darling!” Evereden Kids Detangler Spray, $21.95, Amazon.

Bathing Culture. “My go-to soap. I buy it by the gallon. It smells like groves of redwood trees and moss, and I’m very into it. I like giving bottles as gifts to friends and family; it feels like the quintessential Northern Californian product. I also love the perfume oils and keep them in my bag to help me smell fresh.” Mind + Body Wash, $36, Bathing Culture. Perfume Oil, $44, Bathing Culture.

Monastery Rose Oil Cleanser. “I started using an oil cleanser a few years ago, and I truly won’t use anything else. It completely healed my acne! Plus, it smells amazing and really removes all makeup. Whenever my daughter gets her face painted, it’s the only thing that actually gets everything off cleanly!” Rose Cleansing Oil, $48, Monastery.

Block Shop Textiles Robe. “These robes are gorgeous. I have two! I wore them in the weeks postpartum when I couldn’t be bothered to get dressed, but I also love wearing them lounging around the house. I always bring them with me on vacation. They make a great swim cover-up.” Sidewinder Robe, $165, Block Shop.

Patch Ya Later. “Why carry a boring boat tote when you can have an adorable one with vintage-inspired patches? I have one with John Prine lyrics from one of my favorite songs that reminds me of my husband. We used to dance in the kitchen to ‘In Spite of Ourselves’ during the pandemic, and when I saw it embroidered on a bag, I teared up. Plus, the bag is incredibly handy; it has a zipper and fits so much.” Big Tote, $64, Patch Ya Later.

Book Club. “I started a book club a few years ago with my friends, and it is one of my favorite parts of my life. I began as an occasional reader who read maybe 3–4 books a year, and now I am a voracious reader and read over 30 books in 2025! We meet monthly as long as schedules allow, switch up who hosts, and keep the group very small, just seven of us, which makes it manageable to sync schedules. Thanks to book club, I have a group of women friends that meet up regularly. What a gift!”

The Public Library. “I love the San Francisco Public Library, and I am so lucky to live just a few blocks away from one! My daughter and I go about once a week. She loves to color there, and I get to hoard books. One of my favorite parts is borrowing e-books I can read on my Kindle and audiobooks. We recently bought a CD player for my daughter and borrowed a bunch of CDs, including the K-Pop Demon Hunters soundtrack. It’s been great for getting her away from our phones and listening to music independently and screen-free.” SFPL.org

The Hounding. “Speaking of books, this was my favorite read of 2025! The Hounding is about a group of sisters living in post-Enlightenment-era England who may or may not be turning into dogs? It’s short, beautiful, and slightly scary. Highly recommend.” The Hounding, $25.15, Bookshop.

Craft Fairs. “I’ve been participating in craft fairs for the past 10 years, and they’re still one of my favorite ways to spend a day. While I mostly stick to the big ones each year, like Renegade Craft Fair and West Coast Craft, I love them just as much as a shopper as I do as a vendor. West Coast Craft does an incredible job curating events around the city, including WAVES (their vintage show) and night markets. They’re such a fun place to discover new brands, support small businesses, and run into familiar faces and longtime maker friends. It’s a really special community.” WestCoastCraft.com & RenegadeCraft.com

Thistle. “I started ordering salads from Thistle for lunch because with two tiny kids, I’ve been neglecting my own health and nutrition. Thistle delivers actually yummy salads, snacks, and soups twice a week that aren’t super expensive, are gluten-free (I’m celiac), and very healthy. It feels like I’m doing something right when I eat a Thistle salad for lunch instead of string cheese and a handful of dry cereal.” Thistle.co

For more MOTHER ESSENTIALS, peep our recent features with Sarah Fritsch of Studio Tigress, artist Lena Corwin, Hello!Lucky’s sister duo, doula and author Latham Thomas, Carla Wingett of Idlewild Floral, Andrea Faulkner Williams of Tubby Todd, Hana Getachew of Bole Road Textiles, artist & author Carissa Potter Carlson, actress & activist Hilary Swank, the co-founders of Hearth Display, author and organizer Aida Mariam Davis, design consultant Joyce Lee, self-care advocate Rachel Garahan, and DJ and director Va$htie Kola.