Newborn Essentials Checklist: Must-Have Baby Gear for Expecting Parents
The warmer weather is finally beginning to assert itself. With that come longer days, shorter nights, more time outside, and a change of wardrobe. At our house, we use this time to get our home a bit more organized and to clear out some clutter. Much of that clutter is the pile of newborn essentials that I am now too big for.
There are stacks of clothes, baby gear must-haves, and supplies that I have outgrown. Mommy has decided that it’s time to go through my belongings and pack away the things that I don’t use anymore. After going through the house, the stack of boxes going to storage turned out to be quite impressive.
Sorting Through Clutter: A Learning Experience
Most of these items were purchased before I was even born. Others were bought hastily in the first week after my birth. Some of the baby essentials going to storage got a lot of use and proved indispensable. Others were barely touched and turned out to be unnecessary purchases that added clutter to our nursery.
Many of the things Mommy bought before I was born or stuff she put on her baby registry list were among the things that I never used. It’s not surprising. How was she to know what to expect? Before I came along, she had never been a mommy. I’m sure that if she were to do it all over again, Mommy would have waited until she got to know me before buying all of these things.
Newborn Essentials Shopping List
These newborn baby essentials are must-haves. They will make life easier for both you and your little one in the first weeks and months. This will be a chaotic time, and the last thing you’ll want to do is run to the store for forgotten items. Purchase these baby care essentials before your little one arrives. You’ll thank yourself later for being prepared.
Sleeping Essentials for Newborns
- 1 bassinet or Moses basket
- 2 bassinet sheets
- 6 swaddling blankets
- 1 baby blanket or sleep sack
Feeding Essentials for Newborns
- 1 newborn-size baby bottle (for breastfed babies)
- 1 small tub of formula (for breastfed babies)
- 6 newborn-size baby bottles (for formula-fed babies)
- 2 different types of formula (for formula-fed babies)
Diaper Station
- 1 contoured change pad with safety strap
- 2 change pad covers
- 2 large boxes of newborn-size diapers
- 2 bags of wet wipes
- 1 tube of petroleum jelly or equivalent
- 1 tube of diaper rash cream
Bathing Essentials for Newborns
- 1 baby bathtub or equivalent
- 2 towels
- 4 washcloths
- 1 bottle of 2-in-1 baby wash/shampoo
Clothing Essentials
- 4 long-sleeve footie pajamas/sleepers
- 4 short-sleeved bodysuits
- 2 pairs of pants
- 2 sweaters or long-sleeved shirts
- 4 pairs of infant socks
- 1 hat
- 1 hooded bunting bag (for winter baby)
- 1 dress-up outfit
- 1 pair of no-scratch mittens
- 1 bottle of baby laundry detergent
Travel Essentials for Newborns
Other Newborn Essentials
- 2 pacifiers
- 1 baby hairbrush and comb
- 1 baby nail clipper
- 1 baby emery board/nail file
- 1 baby thermometer
- 1 bottle of infant acetaminophen
- 1 bottle of infant vitamin D drops (for breastfed babies)
There are many other things that a baby requires. The above list consists of the essentials to get through those early days while everyone settles into their new roles within the family. Parents who do not buy these things ahead of time are likely to find their overwhelmed and sleep-deprived selves at the store with their newborn.
Essential Baby Gear
This second shopping list for first-time parents consists of baby items that you will likely need as your little one grows. These things could be purchased before the baby arrives or within the first couple of months after the baby is born. Here are the other baby essential items that parents are likely to need for their little ones.
Sleeping Essentials for Babies
- 1 crib
- 1 crib mattress
- 2-4 crib sheets
- 1 waterproof mattress pad
Feeding Essentials for Babies
- 1 high chair
- 1 bottle warmer (for bottle-fed babies)
- 1 sterilizer (or dishwasher with sterilize setting)
- 1 nursing pillow (for breastfed babies)
- 4 bibs
Diaper Station
Other Nursery Furniture
- 1 dresser
- 1 rocking chair or glider
Other Baby Essentials
- 1 baby monitor
- 1 playpen
- 1 baby gym
- 1 swing and/or bouncy chair
These are all things that are likely to be useful but your newborn probably won’t need them for the first few months. Start gathering these supplies but if in doubt, wait until after the baby is born and you’ve settled into a routine. You may discover that you have preferences you didn’t even know you had.
The above links will bring you to Amazon. We do get a commission if you decide to make a purchase but there is no additional cost to you. It’s also a good resource for comparison shopping even if you don’t end up making a purchase.
Sign up below for a free printable version of this list. Great for shopping at the store or a gifting guide for friends and family.
That’s our list of newborn baby essential items that we found indispensable. What other items do you consider a must-have? Leave a comment below.
Mesh feeder is my must have. I froze breastmilk and started around 4-5 weeks 🙂 now I’m putting whole frozen strawberries in it at 10 months 🙂
I bet that would be helpful to soothe sore gums while those teeth are coming in. Thanks for sharing.
Great list! It’s so easy to get carried away with baby stuff, especially with your first but with consequent babies, I’ve realised there’s so much that’s not necessary (saying that it was still fun to try it all out 😂). Thanks for linking up to #MarvMondays. Kaye xo
If we have a second we’ll pull all that stuff out and see if we can get more use out of the previously unused items. Every baby is different. But it would have been smarter to wait until after Peachy was born to buy that stuff in the first place. I don’t know why we thought we had to buy everything in advance. Maybe we just didn’t realize how little newborns actually do. Thanks for reading.
There’s so much stuff that people think they need wben in fact you dont. Like top and tail bowls! Thanks for joining us for #marvmondays x
I had never heard of a top and tail bowl until today. Actually had to Google it to find out what it is. You learn something new every day. Thanks for reading.
Oh well done for writing this and you’re absolutely right – who better?! Such a perfect list for anyone expecting a baby for sure #MarvMondays
Thanks. It took quite a bit of thought. Thanks for reading.
It’s too easy to buy too much. I agree keep it simple then you can top up. The only thing I would add is a breast pump, electric if you can afford, they are way more efficient. #globalblogging xx
This was definitely a must have for me but it is very expensive and not everyone likes them. It’s such a pricey piece of equipment that I thought it might be a better idea to make sure you’re the kind of woman who will use if before forking over such a large chunk of money. That’s the only reason I didn’t include it on the list. I did wrestle with the idea because it was a definite essential for me. Thanks for reading.
This is such a useful list for parents to be. Its definitely an overwhelming time and there is so much out there its difficult to know what you really do need versus what you dont need. Lots of these were essentials for us too and would be on our list if we wrote one! Fab post, thanks for linking up Emily #MarvMondays
I know that for me, the combination of wanting everything for my baby, and worrying about my ability to go out after giving birth, made it very easy for me to buy way too much stuff. I am glad that I was able to stay home for those first few weeks and recover, but I wasted too much money. You want to be prepared for everything but not go overboard. Thanks for reading.
Useful post. Thanks for linking up with #globalblogging
Thanks 🙂
Lists like these are so handy! There’s always a few things I miss! #FabFridayPost
It took some serious thinking, a second opinion from daddy, and a quick Google search to make sure I didn’t miss anything obvious. Thanks for reading.
I’m due in 8 weeks. It’s always good to have a reminder and check that bag… Maybe I should pack mine already! 🙂 Thank you for sharing your list with us!! #globalblogging
I packed mine only days before going into labour and I was still throwing in some last minute stuff while my husband got ready to drive to the hospital. Thanks for visiting.
Funny enough, I bought some brand new pacifiers for both of my kids, but they didn’t take it at all! Weird! lol! I also didn’t have a dresser and a rocking chair for my first, but I made sure that I had them for my second. Such a life saver! Great list! Thank you so much for sharing this with us on #FabFridayPost
Pacifiers are inexpensive and it’s better to have and not need than need and not have. A comfortable chair is definitely a must have. The chair we started out with wasn’t very comfortable at all. It made those middle of the night feedings a nightmare. When you’re exhausted you really want to be comfortable. The chair we have now is much better and we’re all happier because of it. Thanks for reading.