Newborn Bare Necessities

How much ‘stuff’ do you really need for a newborn baby? Not as much as you would think.

Some marketing folks may try to make you believe otherwise, but don’t fall into their trap! Yes, having a baby does involve some expenditure, but it really doesn’t have to break the bank. In the first 2 or 3 months babies needs are basic – simply to be fed, kept clean and warm, with somewhere to sleep and plenty of love! They don’t need much equipment and you don’t need to spend a lot.

Before Little M was born, I made a huge list of things that I thought I needed. But after some savvy research managed to whittle the list down to the necessities – even then there were things we didn’t use for a while, or at all! After the newborn stage, more things may become useful. But by then you will know your baby and will have a better idea of what they really need. This also helps to spread the cost! So, especially if you are on a budget, try to resist that nesting urge to buy every newborn product ever invented and just start with the basics!

Here is my list of newborn essentials, including checklists of things ‘You will need’. I have also included some ‘Nice to have’ things in separate checklists – for those who want to go beyond the bare necessities. You can also download my handy printable checklist. I have researched with friends anything that I did not use myself, such as cloth diapers. Remember – not everything has to be new. Clothes especially can be bought cheaply second-hand (or even better given to you! Woohoo!)

1. Somewhere to sleep.

When Little M was born he slept in our room with us, but in his own crib. This worked for us, but might not for others. Baby doesn’t have to sleep in a crib/cot, but can be in a bassinet, portable crib or playard. So long as baby is safe there is no right or wrong option. But please make sure that you follow the advice of the AAP (US) or NHS (UK) in order to keep baby safe. This includes placing baby to sleep on his back, on a firm sleep surface, with no soft objects or suffocation risks in the crib.

Ideally your crib/cot, bassinet, portable crib, or playard will be new. If it is second hand then make sure it is in good condition and meets the current safety standards.

Tip: Do some reading about baby sleep BEFORE baby is born if you can  – while you have the time. (We didn’t and then wondered what to do when Little M just wouldn’t sleep!) This baby sleep blog is awesome and the main reason Little M is now such a good sleeper!

You will need one of the following:

• A crib/cot, with tight fitting mattress and mattress cover
• Bassinet
• Playard
• Portable crib

You will also need:

• 3 or 4 well fitting sheets
• 4 light blankets or swaddles

Nice to have:

• 2 or 3 sleep sacks

2. Diapers/Nappies
Diapers, nappies – whichever side of the Atlantic you are on, there’s no avoiding these for a newborn! Baby will get through around 10-12 diapers a day in the early weeks! Eek! You have a choice between cloth and disposable – you can save lots of money in the long term by using cloth diapers, plus feel like an eco-warrior, as they save a huge amount of landfill! Cloth diapers these days are much easier to use than in the past and increasingly popular. But disposables may be more convenient, depending on your circumstances – or you can use a mix of both.

I was all for cloth diapers, but living in a tiny apartment with no laundry facilities, we decided disposables were the more manageable choice for us. I would recommend Pampers Swaddlers(Pampers New Baby in the UK) as the best disposables for avoiding those dreaded leaks – we were also given these in the hospital. A changing table is not essential. But I have to say I was glad we had bought one for Little M, as it was much easier on our backs!

Tip: Wait until baby is born before you start buying diapers or wipes in bulk – best to try out on baby in case of any sensitivities. Plus those newborn diapers will quickly be too small!

You will need:

• Wipes or soft washcloths
• Diaper Cream – We like Triple Pastefor Little M
• Diaper bin (with liner and lid) – a small bathroom waste bin will do, or you can buy a fancy diaper pail (though not necessary).

If using disposable diapers:

• 2 packs of newborn diapers
• 1 pack of size 1 diapers

If using cloth diapers:

Either:

• 24 prefold diapers
• 6 waterproof wraps
• 2 snappi fasteners
• Flushable liners (optional)

Or:

• 24 all-in-one or pocket diapers with inserts
• Flushable liners (optional)

Nice to have:

• Changing table and pad

3. Feeding

If you are breastfeeding…

If you choose to breastfeed, then you don’t really need anything! And it’s great for baby and mama! Yay! Baby will need some burp cloths though – Little M needed a lot, but he was a big spitter! You can use clean cloth diapers/nappies as burp cloths if you like.

If you can I would also recommend buying a couple of nursing bras. I loved the Bravado Body Silk Seamless Nursing Bra as it was comfortable, had foam pads inside and had a more general sizing system (easier to buy in advance!) You might also want to buy some breast pads in case of leaks. I was given a feeding cushion for Little M, but barely used it – regular pillows or cushions will do the trick! Breastfeeding can be tricky to start with. It took me a few weeks before it felt ‘easy’ for me and I was very close to quitting. But hang in there – it gets easier and easier believe me, until it becomes second nature!

Tip: Ask for help from a nurse or lactation consultant after little one is born and make sure you have the support of your partner or a friend once you are home. Keeping mama’s moral up is most essential here – you can do it!

You will need:

• Help and support!
• 5 or 6 burp cloths (or cloth diapers)
• 4 or 5 bibs
• 2 or 3 nursing bras
• Reusable or disposable breast pads
• Nipple Cream

Nice to have:

• Feeding cushion – or plenty of pillows!
• Breast Pump and bottles– it is usually recommended to wait 2-3 weeks for breast feeding to be established before offering a bottle.
• Rocking chair/comfy chair

If you are bottle feeding…

You’ll need some supplies ready for bottle-feeding. A bottle fed baby will get through around 10 bottles a day! But don’t go crazy, because you will want to test out a few different bottles and nipples on baby before you settle on a type that he likes. (The same goes if you plan to introduce a bottle to a breastfed baby later on). Buy a few different types with different nipples – go for slow flow 4 oz bottles. When you know baby’s preference you can buy more! Same with formula – just buy enough for the first week or two to begin.

Tip: Skip buying a sterilizer – these are no longer regarded as necessary. Bottles can be sterilized with boiling water before use and then washed with dish soap – by hand or in the dishwasher. No need for a bottle warmer either – bottles can be warmed easily in a bowl of warm water.

You will need:

• 6-10 bottles with nipples (you can buy more when you know baby’s preference)
• Formula
• Bottle Brush
• 5 or 6 burp cloths (or cloth diapers)
• 4 or 5 bibs

Nice to have:

• Bottle Drying rack
• Rocking chair/comfy chair

4. Clothing

Aw, newborn baby clothes! So cute, so small and so… barely worn!!! It’s soooo easy to get carried away with newborn baby clothing. But baby doesn’t need that many clothes at the beginning and will outgrow clothes VERY quickly. This is one area where you can really save money too, by buying second hand – and if you’re lucky, be given lots of cute outfits from adoring family and friends! Dress baby in light layers – with natural fabrics like cotton and wool, depending on the weather.

You’ll only need a small number of newborn outfits, as baby will likely outgrow these quickly. You might want to have a few 0-3 month outfits on hand too. But then Little M was a bruiser and only wore his newborn outfits for a few days!

Tip: Wash baby’s newborn clothes in a fragrance-free detergent before wearing – to ensure they are free of dust or chemicals that may irritate baby’s sensitive skin.

You will need:

• 6-8 onesies or vests (mixture of short-sleeve and long-sleeve)
• 6-8 one-piece body suits (zippers are easier than buttons!)
• 2 wool or cotton hats
• 2-4 pairs of socks or booties
• 2 pairs mittens – to keep baby from scratching his face
• 2 light cardigans – more if cold weather
• Snowsuit for winter baby
• Fragrance free laundry detergent

Nice to have:

• 2 special outfits
• 2 or 3 nightgowns – to use until cord falls off

5. Bathing

It’s usually recommended to wait until after baby’s cord drops off before he has his first bath. For the first few days a little wipe here and there will suffice! Even when he is ready for that first bath, a quick dip in a sink or small basin will do – you don’t need a special ‘baby bath.’ That being said, this is a ‘Nice to have’ especially if it makes bathing baby easier for you. Space is cramped in our bathroom – so we enjoyed having a baby bath for Little M that we could bring into the lounge. Baby hooded towels are cute and convenient, but you can just as easily use an ordinary soft towel instead.

Tip: Don’t over wash baby. Newborns don’t get very dirty and have sensitive skin. A quick dip a couple of times a week is enough.

You will need:

• 3 or 4 soft washcloths
• Fragrance-free wash – we like Aquaphor Baby Gentle Wash & Shampoo
• 2 soft towels
• Soft bristled hairbrush

Nice to have:

• Baby Bath
• Sprinkler/scoop – for gently pouring water on baby

6. Medicine cabinet

Most of the things on this list are not likely to be used in the first couple of weeks – hopefully – but are useful to have ready in case. The nail scissors will probably be the first used item – baby’s tiny nails grow so quickly! With Little M this was a job for The Hubster as I was too nervous cutting those teeny nails! It’s always handy to have a thermometer just in case baby gets sick. Always consult with a doctor/physician before giving baby any medicine.

Tip: Have a bulb syringe ready – to gently suction any mucous from baby’s little nose!

You will need:

• Nail clippers or scissors – unless you are confident biting baby nails off!
• Bulb syringe – for suctioning mucous
• Baby thermometer
• Infant painkiller – in case of fever

7. Gear

The essential item here is THE CAR SEAT! In fact you could say this is the most essential item on the whole list, since it is THE LAW to use one when driving with baby (UK and US). They will usually check your car seat before you are allowed to leave the hospital! I would recommend buying a new car seat, since that way you will know: it has not been in an accident, it fulfills current safety standards and has not gone past it’s expiry date (usually 5 years).

The rest of the items are not essential, but definitely nice to have and you can save money by buying second-hand. You will likely make especially good use of a baby carrier or sling in the first few weeks, so baby can cuddle up with you – aw, nothing like a newborn baby on your chest! You could happily leave the stroller until later if you wanted to, but nice to have at some point.

Tip: Save money on a diaper bag by using a regular bag or backpack – does the job just as well!

You will need:

• APPROVED INFANT CAR SEAT!
• Baby carrier or sling
• Diaper bag – for baby’s supplies when out and about

Nice to have:

• Stroller/Pushchair
• Bouncy seat
• 2 or 3 pacifiers/dummies – if you choose to use them (though usually recommended to wait a couple of weeks before introducing to a breastfed baby)
• Rattles/baby toys
• Crib mobile
• Night Light
• Video monitor

Lastly and most importantly… remember that the only thing baby really needs is your LOVE! So don’t sweat the small stuff. If you forget to buy a few things on your list, no big deal (that’s what online shopping is for!) Seriously though – all you really need for a newborn baby is a few basics and plenty of love. You’ll do just fine.

What do you think? Is there anything I missed off the list that you found essential for your newborn? Or any mamas to be who found this list useful?

Disclosure: This post contains some affiliate links, however all opinions are my own.

Disclaimer: Tips are intended to provide general help, but do not replace the advice of your medical professional.

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