Essential Gear Every New Parent Needs: A Newborn Baby Checklist
As a mom of two adorable kiddos, I know firsthand how overwhelming it can be to navigate the world of baby products. When I was expecting my first baby, I spent countless hours researching and making lists of everything I thought I needed. Honestly, I wasted a ton of money on things I didn’t need and missed a bunch of stuff that would have been helpful to have. Now, with the wisdom that comes from years of parenting under my belt, I’m excited to share with you this newborn baby checklist which includes essential items (plus some “want but don’t need” items) that really helped me through those early months!
Whether you’re expecting your first baby or adding another little one to your family, having a well-prepared nursery and the right essentials can make the transition smoother for both baby and parents. So here we go….
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Newborn Baby Checklist...scroll to the bottom for your free printable!
CLOTHING
Babies, especially newborns, are still learning how to regulate their body temperature. They heavily rely on others to help them maintain an appropriate body temperature. This means appropriate clothing is a must, with warmer clothes required for cooler temperatures and lightweight clothing when it is warm.
Choosing clothing that is soft and gentle on a baby’s skin as well as being diaper-change friendly will go along way in making parenting of little-ones less stressful! I have included some of my favorite items on this newborn baby checklist below…
Onesies – perfect for everyday wear and super comfy for baby. On cooler days, my favorite ones were these. They come in a 3 pack and are super soft for baby’s sensitive skin. For warmer days, these were my favorite and I bought multiple packs for my daughter! They are available is so many colors and patterns and are super affordable too!
- Pajamas – this set includes 5 bodysuits with matching pants, each with adorable matching patterns.
- Socks – buying this set of socks was such a good purchase. It includes socks in multiple sizes so you will have enough socks to last until the little one turns 2! Having all socks the same color and size also helps…because you will be losing socks, trust me!
- Booties – These booties are amazing! They actually stay on due to the wrap around fastening design.
- Mittens – available in patterns or plain colored, these mittens help prevent baby from accidentally scratching themselves
- Hats – these adorable baby beanie hats have little ears which will have every adult in the room melt due to the cuteness 💗
With multiple variations of cute prints for both boys and girls, this 6 pack of onesies is a must have for little ones.
Made of premium cotton, these adorable sets come in an a bunch of different patterns and colors and are perfect for everyday wear.
This 20 pack of soft ankle baby socks includes 10 pairs in size 0–12 months & 10 pairs in size 12–24 months, so your newborn can wear them until they are an infant & toddler!
These baby beanie caps are adorable and available in multiple colors to match any outfit.
Feeding
Whether breast or bottle, feeding is obviously one of the most important aspects of baby care. With the right products, its easy and enjoyable! Here are the basics that I couldn’t live without…
- Bottles – my daughter was a colicky baby and it took us FOREVER to find a solution…these bottles. The vented nipple design with slow flow reduces gas and discomfort related to feeding. I 100% recommend these!
- Bottle Sterilizer – keeping bottles clean and free from germs and bacteria is a must when caring for babies. This sterilizer is amazing! It is affordable and provides fast and easy sterilization. If you want something a little fancier, check out this one that has multiple drying and sterilization settings.
- Bottle Warmer – This 10-in-1, easy to use multifunction bottle warmer was such a life saver!
- Breast Pump – I had trouble breast feeding. I tried with both of my children but it just didn’t go well for us. I didn’t want them to miss out on the benefits of breast milk so I opted to pump. This pump is a great option! Its wearable, efficient, and does the job well!
- Burping Cloths – these cute burp cloths will protect your clothes from spit up and feeding mess.
- Bibs – protect baby’s clothes from feeding mess too with bibs. You can get terry cloth ones or larger silicone ones for older babies who are starting solid foods.
- Formula – Enfamil was my go to when my pumping wasn’t going well but there are many other quality brands available too. You may need to try a few before you find one your little one likes.
This 10-in-1 bottle warmer will gently bring milk to a suitable temperature quickly and safely. It can also thaw, steam and keep milk warm.
This bottle sanitizer and dryer is built for quick and effective sanitizing of bottles and other daily baby supplies.
This double breast pump is lightweight and easy to use. It is wearable so you can pump anywhere, any time!
Bathing
Bath time with little ones is so fun! The bubbles and toys…who doesn’t love to see them smile! Here are some basics that I had to make bath time less stressful and enjoyable for both baby and me 💗
- Bathtub – this baby support for tub is perfect for babies up to 6 months old. It provides support and safety for babies during bath time. And this blooming bath seat is another great option that can even be used in sinks!
- Shampoo & Body Wash – Johnsons & Johnsons Tear Free head to toe baby wash was my go to. It is gentle on skin and won’t sting eyes!
- Cloths – I love these Burt’s Bees baby wash cloths. They are super soft and gentle, made from 100% organic cotton.
- Towels – these fun hooded towels come in a variety of animal themes which littles ones will love!
- Lotion – this bedtime lotion is my favorite! It has a soothing, calming scent which I just can’t get enough of.
- Nail Clippers – we got this cute owl nail care set and it lasted forever!
From newborns to 6 months, this baby bath flower for sink and tub is tailored to grow with your little one, offering a cozy and secure bathing experience.
This bath support makes bath time easier and safer! Simply place the bather directly in the bathtub to secure and cradle your baby for bath time.
This soft hooded towel is perfect not just for baths but also to use as a blanket, swaddle, or changing mat cover.
Made of 100% organic cotton, these baby washcloths are exceptionally soft on your baby’s delicate skin and a must have for bath time.
Diapering
Having a good diaper and skin care routine is vital to keeping your little one happy and healthy. No newborn baby checklist would be complete without diaper supplies! Here are some of my faves…
- Diaper Bag – this durable diaper bag tote has tons of storage space and carrying options. Or you could check out this highly rated backpack bag and changing station in one!
- Diapers – these disposable diapers worked best for my kids. However, if you prefer to re-useable cloth diapers, these ones are highly rated. There are many brands available, try a few before settling on one.
- cream
- Diaper Pail – This one helped me keep odor controlled and mess in one place. Not an absolute necessity but definitely a bonus if you have the extra cash to spare!
- Wipes – these sensitive wipes are what I used and they helped keep my little one’s skin free from redness and rashes.
- Changing Pad – when out at the park or on a long drive, this portable changing pad was a lifesaver!
This diaper changing pad is waterproof and portable, making diaper changes easy no matter where you are.
These reusable, washable, super-absorbent and comfortable cloth diapers are highly rated and much more affordable than disposable diapers.
These Little Snugglers Newborn Diapers were my go to when my kids were just born. The leak lock system minimizes leaks and the stretchy fit is comfy for baby too.
This pail features a self-sealing system to keep odors and dirty diapers contained.
This diaper changing pad is waterproof and portable, making diaper changes easy no matter where you are.
These reusable, washable, super-absorbent and comfortable cloth diapers are highly rated and much more affordable than disposable diapers.
These Little Snugglers Newborn Diapers were my go to when my kids were just born. The leak lock system minimizes leaks and the stretchy fit is comfy for baby too.
This pail features a self-sealing system to keep odors and dirty diapers contained.
This diaper changing pad is waterproof and portable, making diaper changes easy no matter where you are.
These reusable, washable, super-absorbent and comfortable cloth diapers are highly rated and much more affordable than disposable diapers.
Travel
- Car Seat – I used a Graco car seat that was part of a travel system, much like this one. Make sure the car seat you choose suits your needs and meets all safety requirements. I like the seats that can adapt to your growing child so you don’t have to buy new ones over time, like this one.
- Stroller – a stroller that grows with your baby will save money and time in the long run. Consider something like this.
- Carrier – I loved my fabric baby carrier, I literally wore it everywhere! It was so much easier than pushing a stroller while shopping and it kept baby happy too! Look for one that adjusts as baby grows and is comfortable. It is also important that it is easy to put on…some of them are a confusing mess of straps! The Ergobaby carrier was the one that fit me best.
This 3-in-1 stroller transforms from an infant car seat carrier to an infant pram to a toddler stroller.
This carrier grows with baby from newborn to toddler and allows for multiple carrying positions.
From 5 to 100 pounds, this car seat will support baby's changing needs as growth occurs.
This 3-in-1 stroller transforms from an infant car seat carrier to an infant pram to a toddler stroller.
This carrier grows with baby from newborn to toddler and allows for multiple carrying positions.
From 5 to 100 pounds, this car seat will support baby's changing needs as growth occurs.
This 3-in-1 stroller transforms from an infant car seat carrier to an infant pram to a toddler stroller.
This carrier grows with baby from newborn to toddler and allows for multiple carrying positions.
From 5 to 100 pounds, this car seat will support baby's changing needs as growth occurs.
Sleeping
If baby sleeps well, you sleep well. There is nothing more exhausting than caring for a baby who never seems to sleep! Having the basic necessities for a peaceful rest will minimize the risk of sleepless nights so of course I had to include sleeping on this newborn baby checklist…
- Crib – a good crib will make life so much easier…trust me! We had one just like this. It transformed from a crib, to a toddler bed, to a regular bed as my little ones grew. The drawers at the bottom were handy for storing extra baby blankets and diapers.
- Crib Mattress – look for a mattress with a washable, waterproof cover. Trust me, you’ll need it! Also, make sure the mattress you purchase fits the crib… I made this mistake with my firstborn 🤦♀️ We bought an older version of this one and it worked well for both kids.
- Mattress Protector – one that fits the crib mattress and is hypoallergenic would be best. There are many options, this one is an affordable Amazon bestseller.
- Sheets – I didn’t go crazy on crib sheet sets. I opted for simple and soft and saved a lot of money doing so. These simple sheets are available in a bunch of colors and are super affordable.
- Mobile – not a must have but definitely a bonus if you can splurge. This one is cute and comes in a bunch of different colors and themes.
- Monitor – One thing that I couldn’t live without was my baby monitor. Knowing they were safe while I was in another room gave me so much peace of mind!
- Swaddle – babies love to be wrapped up tight, it provides them with comfort and warmth. Swaddle blankets make this easy and help soothe tired, irritable little ones.
A crib is a must have for newborn and this one is really cool! It converts from baby crib with drawer to toddler bed easily so once you have this you won't have to worry about purchasing another bed for years.
Crisp night vision gives you a clear view of your little one as they snooze with this monitor. Easy to set up, this monitor not only allows you to see baby but also features 2 way sound.
Featuring a soft, removable, machine washable cover with a waterproof sleep surface, this crib mattress will provide a safe and comfortable surface for your little one.
Extras
- Play Mat – keep baby busy through the first year and beyond with this play mat. I comes in different themes and is filled with sounds and visual effects to engage!
- Teethers – as they grow and their teeth begin coming in, silicone teethers can help ease their discomfort and provide a fun distraction too!
- Sound Machine – drown out noise and provide a restful environment with this baby sound machine and night light.
- Air Purifier – We have one of these in each of the bedrooms and one in the living room. My son has dust allergies and this helps reduce his symptoms…they really work!
This baby gym has 4 ways to play as your child grows: Lay & Play, Tummy Time, Sit & Play, and Take-Along.
Keep the air clean and allergen free for baby with this air purifier. From just to pet dander, this little gadget packs a big air quality punch!
Featuring white noise sounds such as ocean, wind, heartbeat, rain and ore, this sound machine will help baby sleep peacefully.
Click below for your free printable newborn baby checklist in pink
Click below for your free printable newborn baby checklist in blue...
We hope this newborn baby checklist post was helpful! Let us know in the comments below. Happing Parenting!
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