Baby Essentials – 21 Must Have Items For Your Newborn
This post is part of our archived content. While we’ve shifted focus, it still may be useful.
I’ll start by saying that the most important thing for your new baby is love, attention and food but this list of baby essentials can help when trying to figure out what to add to your growing shopping list.
There is so much on the market making it hard to determine what is worth adding to your baby items list and what should be left in the shop.
When compiling your baby essentials list, I find it best to group your list of baby items into four basic categories:
- eat
- sleep
- pee/poop
- tools that will help you be hands-free.
When looking at products, ask yourself: ‘Will this give me a chance to eat, use the bathroom, shower, go for a walk or clean up around the house?’
Car Seat
When looking at essential baby items, if you plan on using a car, you absolutely must have a car seat.
Most hospitals won’t let you leave without one so it’s a must-buy!
There are many options in the shops and it can be overwhelming to pick the right one.
If you are still not sure which one to get we love how practical the new car seat from Nuna is.
The Nuna PIPA urbn baseless car seat is practical, ultra-light and safe. It features a removable, full-coverage UPF 50+ canopy that shields baby from harmful UV rays and features a flip-out eyeshade, an extra-large peek-a-boo window, and the iconic Dream drape™ that pulls down smoothly and attaches quietly for uninterrupted naps.
Try to save money by buying a travel system bundle (which usually includes a pushchair, car seat, and accessories).
Bedside Crib
Newborns wake up through the night to feed and have shorter sleep cycles.
Keeping baby nearby is safer and will allow for easy access during the night.
You can attach the bedside crib next to your bed so you can be even closer to the baby to feed him easily.
Plus, you will sleep better knowing your baby is near you.
Snuz has the perfect starter bundle which meets the new crib safety standard.
It’s light and has a gentle incline reflux tilt and a beautiful design.
You could also opt for a Moses basket.
They are lightweight and portable, making them easy to carry around the house.
The Little Green Sheep has beautifully crafted, award-winning baskets made with natural materials.
A stroller is another product to add to your wish list.
They are convenient and safe, and you can move around quickly with your baby.
Although you don’t need two strollers it can be very convenient to have one in the house and the other in the car for when you are out.
If you are not sure which stroller to get the BABYZEN YOYO² is lightweight and compact.
You can use it basically anywhere. It’s suitable from birth (with the newborn pack) and you can accessorize your stroller to fit your lifestyle.
There is a reason you see so many mums worldwide with this stroller. It’s truly the best!
They recently collaborated with French luxury house, Bonpoint on a new colour; Bonpoint Beige.
Exclusively available for the 0+ newborn pack and 6+ colour pack, the new colourway is part of the L’Iconique range from Bonpoint and features Bonpoint’s signature cherry design.
One of the items you will use the most!
You can carry your baby everywhere comfortably, they love to be snuggled and usually sleep longer.
You can wear your baby facing inwards or when they get older, facing forward, which they’ll enjoy more.
If you’re tall, ensure you buy a carrier with adjustable straps. If you’re on the smaller side, read this handy guide on the best baby carrier for petite moms.
Having a safe spot to place your baby during the day can be very practical.
You can safely leave your baby or take him with you in the lounger whilst you use the bathroom or do some cooking.
Find the type that will work best for you; be it a lounger, a swing or a bouncer chair.
Purflo has a safe and portable baby nest bed that you can easily take around the house for your baby to sleep on.
It provides a safe space for baby to sleep, rest and play and is designed for use from birth to 8 months old.
It’s helpful to have a padded mat when you have a baby indoors.
You want your baby to have back and tummy time after the first weeks on a soft and comfortable surface, especially if you have hardwood floors.
When they start to crawl or walk it will also prevent them from hitting their head directly on the floor.
A good breastfeeding pillow will make breastfeeding so much more comfortable for you and the baby.
Breastfeeding can be hard at the beginning and a breastfeeding pillow can help you get your baby in the right position to latch on.
Many moms use their pregnancy pillows as breastfeeding pillows.
Breastfeeding can ruin your posture but a good pregnancy pillow can help you sleep and feed baby in the right position.
SnuzCurve has a unique shape that guides you into the correct sleep position and the unique shape supports your whole body.
When your breastfeeding journey nears its end, this guide will teach you how to stop nursing baby to sleep.
Having an actual diaper bag is much more convenient as it fits pretty much everything you need.
Opt for a lightweight bag with as many compartments as possible to help organise all the things you’ll suddenly find yourself needing.
Try a water-resistant fabric that easily wipes clean.
Nappies/Diapers
You will be surprised by the amount of diapers newborns go through.
The daily average is 10 to 12.
Make sure not to buy too many of the same size as they outgrow them very quickly.
Water wipes are gentle on baby’s skin and an essential item.
You could also try reusable cloth wipes.
As well as baby wipes you will need a diaper barrier cream to prevent or treat diaper rash.
You want to be able to check on your baby when you are not in the same room.
The most adorable and useful one we found was the Cubo Ai Smart baby monitor.
It’s easy to set-up, and pretty to look at, Cubo is a great choice of monitor with all the bells and whistles. Most useful features we enjoyed: set-up on the phone with notifications, rollover/face cover alert, video playback, built-in lullabies, two-way mic, sleep habit tracking and its portability have all been useful.
Also, includes temperature and humidity readings and auto-pics of the baby as memories. All in all, we can see why it’s best in class and can highly recommend it.
Sleeping Bag
Sleeping bags can safely keep baby warm and cosy during sleep.
Superlove has lovely merino sleeping bags for newborns to 5-year-olds.
Merino wool provides good insulation and doesn’t itch, smell or crease easily.
A merino sleeping bag can be worn all year round, not just during the winter.
Sound Machine/Night Lamp
One thing not many new mums know before having a baby is that their little one needs to learn how to sleep.
A sound machine that plays pink noise (studies prove that pink noise is the best sound for sleep) will help to soothe and comfort your newborn.
A night light will become your favourite baby item.
When you are doing middle-of-the-night feeds and you are half awake, you want to have light that’s soft and not too bright.
The Glow Dreaming Sleep Device combines pink noise, red led light therapy (helps to naturally produce melatonin), a humidifier to ease breathing and reduce congestion and aromatherapy to calm the mind and nervous system.
Muslin/Swaddle Blankets
Not every baby will like to be swaddled at the beginning but because newborns have natural reflexes, swaddling can help them to not wake up from these sudden jerks and to sleep for longer.
They are also versatile and can be used for more than just swaddling.
You can use them to cover the baby in the car seat, lay them down on the floor for nappy changing, burp your baby and wipe your baby’s face or any mess.
They will make changing your baby so much easier.
Try to resist buying too many fun frilly items and instead, choose clothing that is easy for everyday and night changes.
Fold-over hands and feet are also a must.
Bathing Toiletries
Washcloths are a little treasure and are very useful to clean your baby during bath time.
Choose a soft, organic one to avoid irritating baby’s sensitive skin.
A good baby shampoo and body wash needs to be gentle and without harsh chemicals.
Aveeno has a baby range Dermexa that’s clinically proven to help moisturize and soothe baby’s sensible skin.
Their whole baby range is incredible.
A baby bath support will make bathing your slippery baby so much easier.
You will also feel more confident laying your baby on it as opposed to directly in the bath.
They also help you avoid wasting water.
Angelcare has a two-in-one bathtub that is safe and avoids water wastage.
Baby will feel comfortable and parents confident to bathe their little ones.
You will use this so much even if you are not bottle-feeding your baby yet.
There are UV sterilisers now that actually dry as well as sterilise.
It is a game changer!
There are so many gadgets and accessories you can buy for your baby.
The one you will use the most is a thermometer.
When your baby is not well one of the main things to find out is whether he or she has a temperature.
You may also want to get a bath thermometer to make sure the bath is at the right temperature.
Baby will enjoy bath time more if the water is not too hot or too cold so add this to your baby needs list.
Babies nails grow incredibly fast and nothing is scarier for a new parent than trimming their nails.
Getting an electric nail trimmer can take the worry away.
Unfortunately, your newborn will probably catch a cold so a nasal aspirator is a necessary addition to your baby things list.
When your baby has a blocked nose, this device will help to clear their airway.
There is a filter so don’t worry about the snot travelling to your mouth!
If you’re expecting a baby, first of all, congratulations!
Secondly, bookmark this baby products list for when you’re putting together your newborn essentials checklist or when friends and family are asking what present they can buy.