Almost every new mom overbuys for their newborn.
It’s inevitable. They just do.
(I know I did!)
I didn’t take the time to read about what items were high-priority on my newborn essentials shopping list!
So I just bought everything and more.
One of my first blog posts detailed the only 6 items your newborn needs (and popular items they don’t). And while that post is one of my most popular ones, I (purposefully) didn’t actually make mention of any specific products I used and would recommend.
But why would I do that?
Well, I wanted new moms to learn about why these baby items were necessary without feeling pressured into buying a specific product because a link was attached.
I completely understand how helpful it can be for someone who has used a product to vouch for it, so in this post you’ll find a list of what to buy before your baby is born including only the MOST essential things a newborn needs, links included.
DISCLAIMER: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
Honestly, I purchase many baby items from Amazon because their delivery is so fast. I also love having hundreds or even thousands of reviews available before deciding on a product.
And Amazon is full of baby must-haves for first-time moms (and second, third, fourth…).
When preparing for a baby, you don’t need to get every single product all your friends, family members, and ex-coworkers are recommending.
Get the basics first to feel at ease with your nearing due date. (And then you can overspend if you still want to when the little one arrives!)
So let’s get down to it:
Newborn Necessities Checklist
- Bassinet and/or crib (with tight-fitting sheet)
- Swaddle and/or sleep sack
- Car seat
- Stroller
- Carrier
- Clothes
- Diapers
- Thermometer
- Breast Pump (optional)
- Bottles (optional)
- Bathtub (optional)
All the Newborn Essentials Products I’d Recommend to a Friend (the perfect Amazon shopping list for first-time moms!)
Safe Sleep Products for Babies
Bassinet/Crib
Don’t get too wound up with finding the perfect bassinet.
Typically bassinets can usually be used for 2-6 months until the baby has reached the weight or height limit. This will vary from brand to brand.
The bassinet doesn’t need bells and whistles, just find one that is safe for your baby to sleep in.
We used the UPPAbaby bassinet as it came with the stroller we purchased and was an ideal short term solution for our newborn’s overnight sleep.
With that said, we did move our firstborn into her Ikea STUVA crib after only a couple months.
Make sure you get a few fitted mattress sheets for the crib and bassinet.
There are many opinions about whether to swaddle your baby or not. That decision is all yours.
We felt that swaddling was the right decision for our girls because we followed the Canadian Paediatrics Society’s recommendation that it is safe when done properly.
HALO Sleepsack 3-Way Adjustable Baby Swaddle seemed to be the best option. The swaddle safely secures the baby’s arms in without any risk of blankets falling over their face and provides lots of leg space for proper hip development.
When our babies outgrew the swaddle, we transitioned them into the Perlimpinpin Baby Sleep Sack.
Make sure you take the season and sleeping conditions into account when choosing the weight (TOG) as you don’t want them to be too hot or too cold.
What kind of car seat does a newborn need?
When finding the right car seat you’ll want to consider your vehicle size and stroller type but most importantly you need to get one with a good safety rating.
Many car seats can be placed into different brands of strollers with the help of a separately purchased adapter.
The Chicco Keyfit 30 was our selection due to its fantastic safety scores and various impact crash testing success. We did go ahead and get the Chicco adapter for our stroller as well.
What’s the best stroller for a newborn?
Rather than just thinking about the newborn stage, think of what you may need for longer than the first 3 months.
Newborns need a specific type of stroller with a bassinet or, as previously mentioned, attachments for your infant car seat.
If you’re not sure what kind you need, make sure you consider this before buying a stroller!
For our lifestyle, the UPPAbaby Vista stroller was by far the best choice. I’m so pleased with the robust wheels, easy steering, and double-seat options for two little ones.
As for the newborn stage, you can get the UPPAbaby Infant Snugseat if you want to use the regular stroller seat (rather than bassinet or car seat) from birth.
If you’re not sure you want a stroller, it’s important to think about the advantages and disadvantages of buying a stroller and really think about whether it’s necessary for your family or if other alternatives are better suited for your lifestyle.
Do I really need a baby carrier?
Babywearing is a really great way to be close to your baby, get things done, or get outside.
A baby carrier or wrap is useful to keep your baby safe and your hands free.
While a baby carrier isn’t a necessity for a newborn, it can be helpful in the early days of infancy. Babies enjoy being close to their mother so babywearing can help prevent arm exhaustion without compromising the closeness.
The Infantino Flip 4-in-1 Carrier was a worthwhile purchase without having to invest in some of the really pricey carriers out there. The adjustable seat design fits babies from the newborn stage up until toddlerhood (32lbs)!
What clothes should I buy for my newborn?
I recommend not going overboard with cute newborn outfits. (Find out more about why here: How Long Do Babies Wear Newborn Clothes?)
A couple of adorable pieces for photos is great! But I’ve found that babies mostly live in pyjamas or other comfortable options (such as onesies and soft pants) for the first month or so.
Plus you want something easily removed for all the diaper changes!
What types of clothes you need to get will depend on the season when they’re born. But, whatever you do, don’t stock up on too many newborn sized items.
Babies grow so quickly when they’re first born and will likely outgrow these ones quite quickly, depending on how big they are at birth.
My girls have been spoiled by their auntie with adorable Bonds Wondersuits which are so soft and come in the sweetest patterns. Carters also has comfortable and easy pieces for newborns.
Some people like to have newborn socks or booties. Be forewarned that you’ll lose them constantly as they tend to slip off fairly easily from a wriggling newborn.
I prefer to find pyjamas or footie pants whenever possible.
If you’re looking for more useful advice on newborn clothes, make sure you check out my post on Snaps Or Zippers For Baby Clothes? 12 Helpful Tips For Dressing Your Newborn.
Buy Plenty of Diapers
In the first few months, you’ll be changing your little one’s diaper very frequently, as in every couple of hours or more. You’ll be going through a lot of diapers and should have a good number on hand.
With that said, similar to the clothes, don’t go too crazy on picking up a bulk order of newborn size.
Typically, babies will fit in newborn diapers until 10lbs, so that could be anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.
Huggies Special Delivery diapers are seriously the softest diapers I’ve ever personally touched. When they came out with them I was instantly sold. I loved these ones for newborn and size 1 and found they did a great job keeping my baby’s sensitive skin dry.
Accurate Baby Thermometer
There are not many products you need in your medicine cabinet for a newborn baby but it’s always a good idea to ask your doctor what they’d recommend.
Having a baby thermometer may be useful for new moms to identify whether or not their little one has a fever.
We have the Braun Age Precision Digital Stick which has always worked reliably for us.
If you don’t have a baby-specific thermometer, you can use a regular adult one, as long as it’s the underarm kind.
Newborn Feeding Supplies *optional
I’ve indicated this item as optional since infant feeding preferences vary from family to family.
Some parents may feel confident they want to strictly breastfeed their baby and so this may not be a necessity for their newborn.
When I was pregnant with my first, I knew I wanted to breastfeed. But I was also aware of the struggles so many women have when trying to breastfeed.
And I also wanted the option for my husband to feed the baby at some point as well.
I’m not here to judge how you feed your baby, but if you think you want to get newborn feeding supplies, here are my recommendations.
I used the Medela Pump in Style Advanced Breast Pump with Backpack which has worked fantastically throughout my breastfeeding and breastmilk-donating journey. I find it easy to use and adjust settings. And I like being able to tuck all the parts away into a backpack when it’s not in use.
When using a bottle, you may need to try a few kinds to see what your baby will take.
My firstborn was fairly picky and after trying the Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Baby Bottle and the Medela Calma Breast Milk Bottle Nipple, she ended up drinking best from the NUK Smooth Flow Anti-Colic Bottle.
Only buy a few bottles before the baby comes until you know which kind they like best. After that, you can stock up on their favourite once you know how many you’ll need each day.
The first few weeks of breastfeeding my firstborn were actually much more difficult and painful than I realized it would be. After visiting the local breastfeeding clinic, the doctor recommended I try the Medela Contact Nipple Shield.
I didn’t have flat or inverted nipples like many other women who swear by this product. But my baby had a shallow latch that was creating a painful feeding experience.
The nipple shield worked wonders to help my baby learn to latch properly and alleviate pain. (That and Lansinoh Lanolin Nipple Cream!)
As she grew and developed, her latch improved and the shield was no longer necessary after a couple months.
Be sure to ask your medical provider whether or not this would be a beneficial product for you.
Baby Bathtub for Newborns *optional
There are ways to wash your baby without a tub which is why this product is optional.
I felt more comfortable bathing my newborn in a safe baby tub. We used the Fisher-Price Rinse ‘n Grow Tub for both my girls.
The sling position was handy to safely embrace my baby as I washed her tiny body. As the baby grows, you can use the tub without the sling to conveniently bathe them in a seated position (without having to break your back trying to wash them in a regular bathtub).
Once you’ve ticked these items off of your newborn essentials shopping list, you can rest assured that you have the items your new baby will need when they arrive home. After that, you can spoil them with all the best baby books for their first year, fun toys for tummy time, and other adorable items you just can’t wait to get!