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Besides love and lots of attention, every baby needs a few essential things. It can be overwhelming to decide what exactly you need to survive the first few months with your newborn. Here is my top ten list of essentials that all babies need.
1. Safe place to sleep. A safe crib with several tight fitted sheets will give you the best place to put babies to sleep on their back. Although I had cribs for all of my little ones, for the first few months I couldn’t live without my baby bedside sleeper. This saved my sanity. I was able to sleep more and take care of my baby without even getting out of bed.
2. Diaper Bag You will soon find that when going out with a new baby you want to be as prepared as possible. Save your back and combine your purse and diaper bag for the first few months. Thankfully, these diaper bags look good enough you will want to keep using them long after your baby outgrows the need to keep carrying one around.
3. Swaddle blankets Babies are used to being in tight spaces. Swaddling them in these adorable swaddle blankets gives them a sense of security and comfort. Plus if you get high quality swaddle blankets, they can be used for future babies or other things, like cleaning. They also make great keepsakes for your baby to use with their own children.
4. Diapers and Wipes. Disposable or cloth they are a must. With my first baby, I only used the most expensive diapers, even when they were taxing on our budget. After a couple of months, I noticed that she leaked out on one side of the diaper and that she had a diaper rash (this is the best diaper rash ointment) way too often even when I changed her diaper way more than I needed to. I asked her doctor and they said to try other diapers, even store brand ones. It turned out she was sensitive to some diaper brands and her skin reacted to those ones. Some of the diaper shapes just fitted her differently too. It took some trial and error to find just the right ones for her. By the time she was one, we could use just about any diapers though as she outgrew those issues so I switched to buying whatever I could get the best price on. Tip: stock up when there are sales and coupons.
5. Bottles, Breast Pump, and Formula. If you are breastfeeding, invest in good a breast pump. Some insurances will even pay for a rental. Even if you are planning to exclusively breastfeed, make sure to have baby bottles and a bottle brush (my favorite ones) on hand at home to pump and feed. I had planned to only breastfeed my oldest, but she was born early and unable to for multiple reasons. Thankfully, she was still able to be fed breastmilk- just from a bottle! To help her growth we also supplemented with formula. For my next baby, I made sure to have formula on hand for emergencies before they were even born. And for my baby that joined our family via adoption, she was also formula-fed. I am so thankful that all of my babies were able to grow healthy from different sources of nourishment.
6. Infant mirrors & bright colored toys. Babies are fascinated by their reflections and bright objects.
Here are the baby toys my kids loved the most.
7. Carseat You will need a safe car seat for your baby in the car. This is one of those things to splurge on. Babies really don’t need a lot of things so if you are wondering where to spend the most money- your car seat is the answer. Never reuse a car seat as they do have expiration dates. For our babies, we always get a travel system (this one is awesome) that has an infant car seat and stroller that it connects with. You can often have your local fire department check to see if your carseat is installed properly too.
8. Stroller Once your baby can safely be in an umbrella stroller, you will never go back to using another one. They are lightweight, fold down to save space, and travel well. This is a great one to have on hand for when they are ready to use this type of stroller, normally after 6 months of age. Make sure to get one that folds down well, has a hood and a good-sized basket. These things are a must. We bought 2 from this same brand and were able to use them for over 12 years (for 3 different kids!). If you like to exercise outside either running or walking- a jogging stroller is a must. We didn’t have one with our older 2 but did with our youngest and it made all the difference. We were able to go on better walks, even on bumpier trails. It was easier for us parents to go farther and more comfortable for our daughter.
9. Bath Essentials. I didn’t think that we would need much when it came to bathtime for our new baby, but I quickly learned otherwise. Not only are there things that you can get that make bathtime more pleasant for both the baby and the parents, but also safer too.
Here are the things you will need to bath your new baby:
- Baby bath lotus. This is so helpful for when your baby is brand new. until about 6 months old. You use it in place of a bathtub in the kitchen sink.
- Baby bathtub. My kids LOVED bathtime and having one more their size is fun for them and more manageable and safe. This baby bathtub also raises the tub so your back doesn’t hurt from bending over. You can also get a bath kneeler with elbow rest to help your knees and elbows stay comfortable.
- Bath toys. There are a ton of options, but these are great because they are small enough to hold and chew onto and also really good for introducing stories and books to them in more ways as young as possible.
- Bath healthcare and grooming kit. Another thing I didn’t anticipate needing before having kids that I absolutely did need. It has a special brush made for a baby’s delicate scalp, nail clippers, thermometer, and more that is just for a baby’s special needs.
- Baby toiletries. Babies are much more sensitive than adults and as such, they need special bath toiletries. These are our favorites: shampoo/baby body wash, baby lotion. Bonus product: nighttime shampoo/body wash– this smells so good and really think it did help our baby get ready for bedtime. Even when she was way older than a baby she wanted to keep using this at night.
- Baby bath towels. Not only are these perfect for helping keep baby warm and dry after bathtime, but some of my favorite pictures of my kids were when they were babies was with them all wrapped up and cozy in this type of hoodie baby bath towels.
10. Baby Monitor. This video baby monitor will get way more usage than you are probably thinking it will. As an infant being able to watch them from all over the house gives so much peace of mind and not waking them up to peek in on them will make for a much more rested baby!
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Oh the swaddle blankets are a MUST… So many parents are not familiar w the correct type of swaddle blanket and then how to swaddle!
I always told new moms the only things you really needed were a car seat, diapers and a boob. This is a great list to point them to.
This is a hilarious!
This is a great list. Sometimes new moms get overwhelmed. There is a huge difference between what a baby needs and what new parents want…
YES on the camera. I literally took millions of pictures when my boys were babies. I still do.
My big thing was a carseat that was easy to carry and put into the car! Seriously, do your research before you go out and buy!
This is a good list of basics! There is so much equipment out there now and so much of it isn’t really needed.
Great base for new parents!
A good car seat is so important. Don’t cheap out on them – get a good one!
All of those are definite necessities. A good, safe car seat and good swaddle blankets were most important to me.
Great list! You pretty much listed everything a new mother needs. I can’t think of anything else.
We had so many swaddle blankets for my kids. My favorite ones were large muslin blankes I used them for everything for the kids to sleep with, to cover, as a tarp on the ground!
This is a good list. I would add an over the should baby holder. It was a life saver when my daughter was a baby.
This is a great starting list! Too often people get consumed with all these items when a baby doesn’t REALLY need them.
All of these are MUST HAVES! I couldn’t be without my camera when my daughter was born. I think I must have over a dozen memory cards with all her photos on it, from her first tooth to her first cookie!
Some place to keep the dirty diapers is a good idea too. They can get so stinky!
A camera is a great suggestion – it’s important to capture those moments!
A throw away bag for sure…maybe some baby food? Puffs were a MUST in my house!
Camera! Yes. My kids have way too many pictures. I love it. We’re capturing so much of their childhood!
I will share this list with my sis who is pregnant now. I have forgotten some of these necessitiies
This is a great list! I would say you covered most of the essentials.
it’s amazing what babies need. essentials are so important to get through those first couple months
The swaddle blanket was so useful, even outside of swaddling. One of my first purchases was actually a jogging stroller. We used it as our primary stroller!
Don’t have kids yet but this is a great roundup! Perfect list for new moms.
Sacks, onesies and footie pajamas! got to keep them covered when it’s chilly and they always kick things off.
This is a great list to start from. Maybe a mobile, lots of kids enjoy those when they’re falling asleep.
This pretty much covers all the baby essentials! The camera is perhaps the most important, if only because moms like to document everything! 🙂
All great tips. I agree on taking the pictures, that’s a must because that time comes and goes so fast!
Awesome list! I found that my stroller was SO much more important than I had thought. I originally had just got a cheap one but I really needed one with tougher wheels!
Great list for new parents. I think I used my camera every single day in the beginning!
I miss having a newborn. Until I’m at a restaurant and then I’m glad mine are a bit older. Just waiting on grandkids now. My youngest is 8 and oldest is 17. Hoping I have a few years.
Yes! A great camera is SO important!!
Definitely a car seat and diaper bag. Those are the top two things are definitely must haves.
Great list! It is also helpful for us non-moms who don’t know what to bring to baby showers or to give as gifts. Thank you!
Great list! You’re totally right. This is so helpful even though I’m not a mom yet, I have a niece whom I love dearrrrly that has all these essential stuff.
These are all great items. My sister-in-law actually forgot her diaper bag when my niece was born, we went to the store and bought one ASAP.
And every baby needs love. 🙂 I know I love mine with all my heart.
Great list! A friend of mine just got a top of the line Medela and her insurance paid for it.
This is a great post for new moms! Thank you for sharing.
Pretty much covers it. Most (it may be all now) insurances will actually cover a breast pump (not just a rental).
This is a great list. I agree with everything on it. This would be very helpful for new parents.
love love love swaddles, especially the easy swaddles they have now.