This post shows you the baby essentials list for newborns.
My son is currently 5 1/2 months and as he is my second child, I feel I have a very good handle on things that are absolute essentials and others that don’t end up getting used. I have never liked to have unnecessary stuff around but did hold onto nearly everything from my daughter who is nearly 5 years old. Having the slightly larger age gap has highlighted the items that have stood the test of time and other things that we don’t use anymore so read down below to grab your full list of must have products.
Sleeping
We have chosen to do exactly the same things for both of our children and (so far) it has worked extremely well for us. We used simple velcro swaddles from Amazon for both children for the first 2/3 months. They are easy to use and wash and keep the baby nice and snug when the startle reflex is still in full effect. We started off with a next to me cot for the first few months and have always got on well with the SnuzPod as it is a simple design with a handy side zip for easy access during the night. Lastly, we are a white noise family. For my daughter we used an old iPod and speaker but this time I did invest in a couple of dedicated white noise machines and they have been brilliant! We use them for all naps and nighttime sleeps at home until around 18 months when we stopped it for our daughter.
Some of my favourite options are below. Click on the link under the image to purchase.
Feeding
This section may be quite specific to me because I have never breastfed. I was never that attached to breast feeding but did try with both my children. It didn’t work out for us so I pumped at the start for both before transitioning onto formula. That has always worked well for us and I have no bad feelings about it. I absolutely swear by the MAM bottles. They seem to be designed with the perfect teet shape for a baby to feed from and both of our children have never struggled with them. I also love the Tommee Tippee Steriliser/ Dryer combo and Perfect Prep Machine. If you are a formula feeding/ pumping Mum, I would definitely recommend these items.
Some of my favourite options are below. Click on the link under the image to purchase.
Bathing & Changing
Changing nappies and bathing may not be the most glamorous of jobs, but it is one of the things you will be doing everyday so it is important to have the right things. We have had 2 nappy caddies that have had a lot of use as we keep one downstairs and one upstairs. I purchased a proper nappy bin but, to be honest, we never use it as I prefer to just take the nappies downstairs to the kitchen bin. We take the rubbish out frequently so it prevents soiled nappies being in the house for too long. I also don’t use anything like wipe warmers. I truly believe simplicity is best when it comes to kids. We always wash with just water for the first month or so and then introduce a simple shampoo and body wash. A bath chair and a water jug are ample to have an effective bath.
Some of my favourite options are below. Click on the link under the image to purchase.
Going Out
Getting out and about is an important part of self care in the early days of having a baby. A travel system where you can attach your car seat, bassinet or pram seat into a frame is great. However, because we like to travel I also recently purchased a fantastic lightweight pram from Ergobaby that can go on the airplane in the above head compartment. Lastly is a carrier and we went for Ergobaby again. I used a Baby Bjorn carrier for the first couple of months but love the Ergobaby for its versatility and longevity.
Some of my favourite options are below. Click on the link under the image to purchase.
Toys
You definitely don’t need a lot of toys when it comes to a newborn, but we have had a couple of things that are a must have. A playmat where your baby can practice tummy time or just relax is a necessity. I also love a simple black and white rustling toy and this time we were gifted a Baby Einstein fish tank that really seems to calm our son when he is more grizzly before nap time. You can attach it to the cot but we prefer not to as I want the cot to only be viewed as a place to sleep.
Some of my favourite options are below. Click on the link under the image to purchase.
Clothes
In term of clothing, I love to keep things simple with a newborn. I love to buy multi packs of short sleeved vests as they make a great base layer. If your baby is going to be born in the winter maybe consider long sleeved vests instead. I also love a zipper sleepsuit. They are the most convenient and make night time nappy changes easier. You will also want an outer layer for taking your baby home from the hospital. Again something with a zip is easiest. In terms of sizes, I would recommend getting a mixture of newborn and 0-3 months as they will grow pretty quickly in the first couple of weeks.
Some of my favourite options are below. Click on the link under the image to purchase.
Miscellaneous
There are a few more things that don’t necessarily fit into one category that I wanted to mention. A nappy changing bag is essential. I have had a different one for each child and love our current one. It is a little smaller but I think with your second you are probably happier carrying less stuff. You also want to get a reliable baby monitor and a pile of muslins are a must. I love the Aden and Anais as they wash and keep brilliantly.
Some of my favourite options are below. Click on the link under the image to purchase.
Final Thoughts…
I think if I could recommend anything when it comes to purchasing baby essentials for your newborn, it would be to keep it simple. You can always purchase additional things when the baby arrives but you also don’t know what preferences your child will have. Let me know if you end up buying any of these items and what you think!
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