As your delivery date nears, you’re probably running around, trying to make sure that everything is done and ready for baby to arrive. The nursery is set up and you are gathering all the necessary items to make sure that you’re ready for whatever happens with your baby. There seems to be a lot of essentials to get before your baby’s arrival. And pregnancy brain certainly doesn’t help. Don’t stress out: We’ve put together a list of all the things you need for your new baby.
Minimalist’s List
We start with the minimalist’s essentials. These are the things that you absolutely need for your new baby. Everything else is nice-to-have items, but these are the things you should absolutely make sure you have.
- Clothing
- Diapers
- Swaddling blanket
- Car seat
- Crib or bassinet
- Mattress pad and sheets
- Baby carrier or sling
- Baby bathing supplies (shampoo, soap, etc)
We all know that there will always be that overzealous mother-in-law or soon-to-be grandparents who won’t allow the new baby to be without all the new items. We’ll continue on with describing more specific items that can be purchase.
Baby Clothing Must-Haves
We’ve covered all the clothing that you need for your newborn in another blog post, but there are several essentials that you want to make sure you have. Here are the essentials you want to consider.
- Onesies are critical to have. You can never have enough onesies.
- Pajamas or sleepwear. Make sure to get a knotted baby gown (or two) to keep your baby snuggled during those longer sleeps at night.
- Shirts and pants. Pants with feet are really good for those who don’t want to be chasing socks everywhere.
- Sweaters or jackets. Especially if the weather is getting cooler during the time your baby arrives.
- Newborn hats or hair bows.
Baby Feeding Must-Haves
A baby spends a lot of time eating during the first few months of their life. Whether you choose to breastfeed or bottle-feed, there are some essentials that you need to keep on hand.
- Bibs are essential. You’ll be grateful that you have plenty of these around. Or you could just admit that your baby’s clothes are going to need to be washed regularly. We recommend keeping bibs on hand.
- Burp cloths are so helpful to have. They protect your clothes too!
- Baby feeding pillow. We love the Boppy Pillow and Lounger. It fits comfortably around your waist and puts your baby in the perfect position to be fed (by you or a partner).
- Dishwasher basket to clean all of your supplies quickly.
For Breastfeeding
- There are so many options if you need a breast pump. We recommend getting the Philips Avent breast pump. It’s really comfortable to use and it’s lightweight so it travels well.
- Milk storage bags are essential if you’re going to be pumping. You can store the bags filled with breast milk.
- Nursing pads are something you should get if you’re worried about protecting your clothes as your breastfeeding. Pads can help soak up excess milk.
- You may need nipple cream if your breasts become sore or dry from breastfeeding. Whatever you use, make sure that it’s safe for your baby to ingest.
For Bottle Feeding
- Bottles and nipples are a no-brainer, but make sure you have plenty on hand. You will be surprised how quickly you’ll go through bottles.
- A Bottle brush will help you clean the bottles all the way in the bottom. A dishwasher may not always get every nook of a bottle, but a brush can make sure that everything’s clean.
- If you’re not sure what baby formula to use, talk to your baby’s doctor. Make sure to mention any family allergies (especially to milk) so that the doctor can take that into consideration.
- Bottle warmer is something you will be grateful to have! Your baby loves warm milk and by using a bottle warmer you can ensure that it gets to the correct temperature. Some bottle warmers even come with an app to alert you when the bottle is ready.
- Bottle sterilizer can help you make sure that you’re keeping your baby’s bottles clean. If your tap water is chlorinated, you don’t need to worry about this. If you don’t have chlorinated tap water, make sure you’re using a bottle sterilizer.
Baby Bedding Must-Haves
You’ve probably worked through assembling the crib in the nursery. Now, you need to make sure you have all the bedding necessary to make sure your baby sleeps well.
- Crib mattress should be the right measurement — less than two fingers should fit between the mattress and crib. This prevents your baby from possibly getting trapped between the mattress and the crib.
- A couple of crib sheet sets to make sure you have extra for when you need to do some laundry.
- Blankets are always good to have. Depending on the temperature of your house or the time of year, you’ll want to try everything.
Baby Nursery Must-Haves
You’ll spend a lot of time in the nursery, especially during the first few months. You’ll want to make sure it’s a comfortable place, not only for you but also for your baby. These essential items will provide you everything you need to survive in the nursery (minus food and water).
- You want someplace to sit and that will help you lull your baby to sleep. A glider or rocking chair is the perfect furniture item. Make sure you find one that doesn’t squeak and that has a smooth gliding mechanism. You also want to make sure that it’s comfortable for you and your partner since you’ll both be using it from time to time.
- Baby monitor or video camera. With so many options these days, you want to pick the one that’s right for you. Most new parents love having a video camera baby monitor to be able to see what your baby is doing. It provides some comfort.
- A humidifier will protect your baby from dry air. A baby’s skin is very sensitive so the humidifier can release moisture into the environment, especially during those winter months. Make sure that you’re cleaning your humidifier regularly to ensure that bacteria doesn’t build.
- Dresser with changing pad or a diaper changing table. There’s no need to scramble on the floor to clear some space to change your baby’s diaper. Besides, your back is going to feel that up and down motion. Having a dresser or diaper changing table is a huge must-have.
- A white noise machine is essential if you don’t have a humidifier. A white noise machine can drown out the ambient noises so you don’t have to tiptoe around the house after the baby has gone to sleep.
- Even if your baby isn’t ready to pick their own toys, you know that well-meaning grandmas or grandpas are going to start bringing over plenty of gifts. Having a toy basket or toy storage area is a way to keep your baby’s toys organize and out of the way.
- You may be surprised how much you love reading to your baby. A bookcase is a perfect piece of furniture to have in your nursery to keep all those books organized.
Baby Diapering Must-Haves
You’re going to find that these are probably the most used item. You can choose to use regular diapers or cloth diapers, but make sure you have enough to last for plenty of time. You’ll also want a few other items to make sure you have everything you need.
- Baby wipes are essential for keeping your baby clean. Make sure to check the ingredients. If you’re worried about when to use wipes, a good rule of thumb is once they’re a month old. In those first few weeks, you can use warm water and an ultra-soft paper towel or cloth.
- Diaper cream may not seem like it should be essential. But it is! Your baby wears a diaper all the time. Moisture can get trapped and that means that bacteria can get in and cause diaper rash. Diaper cream takes a preventative action so that your baby doesn’t have to deal with that irritation.
- You may think that diaper pail isn’t something that you need. Maybe a regular garbage can or just a bag will do. It won’t. It won’t prevent the smell from escaping. You need a diaper pail to just make it easier when you’re done with your diaper.
Baby Bath Must-Haves
Whether you give your baby a nightly bath as part of their bedtime routine, you need to have some items to make sure that you’re giving your baby a bath that will clean them and give them some proper skincare.
- You need to select the right baby shampoo and body wash for your baby. There are plenty of options, but remember that your baby’s skin is much more sensitive so you need to select one that is fragrance-free and hypoallergenic.
- Bath time should be a fun time. Make sure that baby has his or her own bathtub to relax. Make sure that just because they have a bathtub that you don’t leave them unattended. This is a good chance for some bonding is to play with your baby with the water.
- Soft washcloths are helpful as you try to clean your baby. With all their adorable rolls and wiggles, you’ll find it easier to use a washcloth to clean your baby.
- Hooded baby towels are perfect for when you pull your baby out of the tub. Quickly put the hood on and wrap him up tight before heading to his room for his diaper and pajamas. He’ll love that coziness he feels, especially after leaving a warm bath!
- Don’t forget to apply baby lotion right after their bath. This habit acts as a moisturizer because the lotion locks the water that the skin has absorbed during the bath. I
That’s a huge list of essentials! Hopefully, you’re not scrambling to buy all of the items right before your baby arrives. Make sure to make baby registries or suggest any of these items to your family and friends to bring for your baby shower.
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