If you’re about to be a first time mom, congratulations! It’s all about to change, in the best of ways. One day you’ll look around and be amazed at how your life has transformed and at just how strong you are. Until that day, preparation is key! This is a little cheat sheet of newborn ESSENTIALS.
I’ve linked most everything to Amazon, so if you’d like to set up a wish list on Amazon and have your family and friends send you all the goods — it’ll be a breeze!
Mama, your heart is about to double in size. It’s going to be great!
Here are 25 key items you actually need for a newborn:
Leaving the Hospital:
An installed infant seat – We used a Chicco Infant Car Seat. For installation help visit SeatCheck.org. The infant seat is heavy, but cleans easily and grows with your baby for a while. Also, not NECESSARY, but it plugs into a stroller easily so you can move baby without having to remove baby from their car seat. No mama likes to wake a sleeping baby!
Soothie – The nurses will send you home with a soothie. You can use it, you can not use it. Everyone has their own philosophy. I didn’t use it until one day my baby was crying and I was desperate! Ask your pediatrician questions just to make sure you like what you hear about the pacifier. Also, pacifiers have sizes, so make sure to check the packaging.
Onesie – There are so many cute things out there, but all you really need is a onesie. I recommend getting a pack of newborn onesies and calling it a day. They may grow out of them quickly, but having a pack will help with laundry and give you enough time to recalibrate after bringing home a baby.
For the newborn at home:
Diapers – Some folks are into cloth diapers, but I can’t speak to them since I didn’t use them. We used Pampers and loved them. They hug skinny baby legs well and have a line down the center that changes colors when the diaper is soiled.
Wipes – There will be a lot of diapers and so there will be a lot of wipes! We started using Pampers wipes and eventually switched to Kirkland wipes (Costco!).
Anti-bacterial – When I brought home our daughter, I was extra careful and wanted everyone else to be too. So we had anti-bacterial in every room. I’ve only had one and so maybe it’ll change the more babies I bring home, but our daughter was hardly sick, so why fix it if it ain’t broke?
Swaddle blankets – Load up on swaddle blankets. They can be used to cover yourself while you’re nursing, or propping the baby’s head up, or swaddling the baby or even as a clean surface when you’re changing the baby’s diaper. They can be used as burping cloths and even regular blankets. You’ll come to love them. We used Aden and Anais swaddle blankets and loved them! While you’re still at the hospital, ask the nurse to teach you how to swaddle, a tight swaddle will help your baby get good rest at night. They are used to being in your womb and so respond well to very cozy situations. Eventually a Velcro swaddle will be your best friend.
Socks – Babies like to be cozy, remember? A few pairs of socks will do the trick.
Crib – You’ll need some kind of dedicated sleeping space for the baby. When we came home I was so tired and zonked out from the pain meds that I hallucinated. Some mamas like co-sleeping and that’s cool, but it wasn’t for us. I put our baby to sleep in her crib from night 1 and never turned back.
Or Basinet – If you go with a bassinet, one plus is that you’ll get to wheel it around the house if you want baby closer.
A swing – This isn’t for every baby, but it sure helped us! My daughter was 8 weeks before I knew I was supposed to make her take a nap. I thought she would just sleep on her own. Not so! Enter the swing. We used a Fisher Price swing and it was magical. I’ve also heard Momaroos are great. While the baby sleeps, you need rest too.
Feeding baby:
If you’re nursing baby —
Nursing space – I had a chair with goodies like nipple cream, water, snacks and my phone close by. You don’t HAVE to have a nursing recliner/glider. But they are very nice and provide good support for your back. Bigger post-partum boobs make a big difference!
Nursing pillow – I used My Breast Friend for the first four months. It was sturdy and held the baby and was easy to wash.
Nipple Cream – Nipple Cream is needed by everyone but I absolutely needed it. I recommend Mother’s Love. It will help your nipples crack less and provide a soothing sensation.
Water – You will need to stay hydrated to help your body produce milk and to help your body heal. Always have water nearby.
Food – There are some foods that promote lactation. I ate oatmeal, flax seed, lactation cookies (they are delicious!), food high fat such as yogurt and cheese and drank Mother’s milk tea. Luna bars, or a protein bar you can eat with one hand is good too!
Lactation Consultant – I was hesitant to get one, I thought it was frivolous — until I really needed help! Then, it was the best decision ever. Don’t be bashful about asking questions at the hospital. There’s usually a lactation consultant on shift and they can recommend someone to help you after you’ve been discharged.
If you’re bottle feeding baby–
Bottles – We used Dr. Brown’s bottles to begin with, the small 4oz. bottles are plenty. The matching bottle warmer isn’t a necessity but was really nice. Not all baby’s like all bottle nipples, so don’t stock up on too many until you get to know your baby’s eating habits.
Formula – This is such a personal choice and also depends on what your baby can tolerate (allergy wise).
Sanitizing bags – When you are pumping, you’ll want to make your life as simple as possible and these sanitizing bags are awesome! You simply put some water in them and put it in the microwave, and it disinfects breast pump accessories, bottles, nipples, pacifiers and cups.
For You:
Help – At 8 or 9 months pregnant I was hello bent on not getting help. I wanted to “get to know my child” and I didn’t want to “farm her out.” I was real serious about it. But when I fell off my high horse and started asking for help, my life was so much better. Labor is TOUGH, anyway you slice it. If you’re a single mama, ask someone to come stay with you for a week. If you’re married, ask your husband for help and be specific! If hubby can’t due to work, call a girlfriend or aunt or your mama. Let them cook and clean. All you need to do is rest and make sure baby is fed. I didn’t change our baby for at least a week after we brought her home. Hubby did all the diapers!
Rest – I paid no attention to this, but I should have. I threw my back out a few times because I was lifting things I shouldn’t have been lifting. When baby is sleeping, try to sleep or lounge or take a bath.
Comfy clothes – You won’t look like ‘yourself’ for a while. Give it time. For now, focus on the fact that your body made another body. YOU ARE AMAZING. Cut yourself some slack and enjoy those yoga pants and wireless bras and hospital panties for as long as you want.
Padsicles – If you’ve never heard of them, they’re fun! Just kidding. They’re crazy. But they work! It’s basically a huge maxi pad loaded with good things to help your lady part swelling go down.
Food – Don’t underestimate the power of a ready to go meal. Cook and freeze some in advance or have your friends coordinate on Meal Train. Otherwise, don’t be afraid to use Instacart or order online and have it delivered.
What are your favorite newborn essentials?
