It’s official. The line may have been faint in your 1st pregnancy test, but the 2nd kit clearly shows two lines. Congratulations, mom-to-be! You now have 10 months to get ready for your little one.

Finding out that you’re going to be a parent can be a nerve-racking ordeal. But it’s important that you push these emotions aside and start preparing for your newborn.

Part of getting ready involves creating a baby essentials checklist. This is a record of all the items your newborn will need, whether immediately or a little later on. To help you, we’ve done the legwork and created a comprehensive checklist of the most practical items to buy for your newborn.

Clothing essentials

Baby bodysuits

A t-shirt. A complete outfit. Infant bodysuits can be whatever you’d like them to be. Popularly referred to as onesies, these should be at the top of your baby essentials. Infants go through these clothes pretty fast, so you’ll want to have as many as you can get your hands on.

If you’re looking to add a few onesies to your baby clothing collection, the Gerber Bodysuits are an excellent choice.

They have a crotch snap closure, which makes for easy diaper changes. They also have an expandable lap shoulder neckline to enable you to pull the garment over your baby’s head with ease.

Baby sleepers

Baby sleepers are a must-have in your list of baby things to buy before birth. They’re great for keeping your infant warm at night. Besides, you can dress your baby in them if you’re planning to go out with them.

If you’re looking for some cozy footies, the Gerber Baby Sleep’ N Play PJs are an excellent buy. These are designed for toddlers aged 0-3 months.

They’re made exclusively using cotton, providing a soft and breathable feel. They also have a zipper, which makes for easier diaper changes and dressing.

Nursery essentials

Crib

What’s the first thing that guests will be drawn to when they walk into your baby’s room? The crib, of course. But this piece of furniture is a lot more than just a centerpiece.

It’s the place, where fingers crossed, your munchkin will spend hours sleeping soundly. And since it’s a big-ticket item, you must get it right the first time. Otherwise, you’ll end up wasting your money.

If you’re looking to buy a bed that can grow with your baby, the Dream On 4-in-1 Crib is just what you need. It starts as a crib and later converts to a mini daybed or twin-size bed. Given its versatility, you might assume that it takes up a lot of space. On the contrary, it’s very compact, making it perfect for small spaces.

Crib mattress

Here’s the thing, your newborn will do most of their growing sleeping. Therefore, you must invest in a mattress that will provide maximum comfort.

In that regard, Graco Premium is one of the best crib mattresses. Constructed using breathable foam for optimal airflow, this is one item that will help your tot sleep soundly through the night. Better yet, it’s designed to grow with your baby. It measures 52 by 28 by 6 inches, which means it’s big enough for newborns, infants, and toddlers.

Another key highlight of this crib mattress is the water-resistant cover it comes with. This helps to keep any leaks from making their way into the mattress.

Bathing essentials

Baby bathtub

Bathing a baby, especially for the first time, can be a little intimidating. I remember how scared I was that I would accidentally drop my son in the tub.

The right baby bathtub can make things a little bit easier. At least with such a bathtub, you’re guaranteed that your child will be comfortable. This puts your mind at ease and helps both you and your baby to enjoy the bathing sessions.

The First Years Sure Comfort Deluxe bathtub makes for an excellent investment. It gets top marks for offering maximum comfort and support. It comes with a sling to hold your baby securely in those first few days. And even when you start using it without the sling, it will still feel comfortable thanks to the padded headrest, which keeps your toddler’s head comfortable.

Baby body wash

Another item that makes sense to purchase before your baby’s birth is body wash or shampoo. While there’s no shortage of these on the market, you have to be extra careful when choosing one. You want to pick one formulated with the right ingredients—those friendly to a toddler’s delicate skin.

Aveeno Baby Bath Wash & Shampoo is a good example of this. Coming in an 18-ounce bottle, this shampoo is formulated with natural oat extract. It’s gentle enough for your baby’s skin, plus you can use it on both their skin and hair.

Feeding essentials

Bibs

Some first-time parents think they have to wait until their baby starts eating solid foods to buy bibs. But these pieces of clothing are just as useful for newborns as they are for infants. Newborns spit up quite a bit, especially when they breastfeed too fast. Some also drool excessively.

So if you don’t want them to keep ruining their outfits, have several bibs on hand. The 10-Pack Newborn Bibs by BornCare comes highly recommended. Each bib is made purely from cotton, so it feels soft against your baby’s skin. It’s also waterproof and has a snap closure for ease of use.

Bottle cleaning set

Baby bottles come in an array of shapes and sizes. Therefore, you’ll have to purchase a couple of tools to keep them clean. Rather than buy each piece of cleaning equipment individually, it makes economic sense to purchase an all-inclusive kit. This cleaning set by Kare and Kind is a superb example.

It contains 6 assorted brush-size cleaning brushes, all of which have narrow necks so that they can fit inside a bottle. Plus, they come in different sizes, enabling you to clean different size baby bottles. Better yet, you get to choose from two theme colors—green and blue.

Diapering essentials

Diapers

Potty training is an important milestone. But, your toddler won’t be able to learn this skill until they’re about 24 months. In the meantime, they’ll be relying on you to keep them dry and comfortable.

Most babies use anywhere from 8-12 diapers each day, some days more. So you want to make sure that you’re investing in ones that actually work. The Pampers Swaddlers check all the boxes for what you’d want in diapers for a newborn.

They’re lightweight, super absorbent, and their ability to wick moisture is top-notch! They even have a mechanism for detecting when the diaper is too wet. Another feature you’ll love in these diapers is the umbilical cord notch. This one provides a nicely contoured fit to protect your newborn’s delicate belly.

We also recommend considering cloth diapers, as modern ones are easy to use and eco-friendly.

Diaper pail

If you’re using disposable diapers, it means each of your diaper sessions ends with you throwing a dirty one in a trash can. Trust me, things can get stinky really fast.

Enter diaper pails. These disposal units are designed to make the situation a little more tolerable by locking in those foul smells. Unfortunately, a diaper pail is one of those things you don’t get at a baby shower. Thus, consider adding it to your newborn essentials checklist.

One model that we’d recommend is the Ubbi Diaper Pail. This disposal pail can hold up to 55 newborn-size diapers or 20 large-size diapers, and it comes in multiple colors. But its key highlight is the rubber seal, which goes around the rim and the sliding access point to provide an airtight closure; thus, preventing the foul odor from escaping.

Soothing essentials

Swaddle blankets

I used to have a tough time putting my son to sleep. I would rock him for hours, only for him to wake up when I tried laying him on his bed. That was until I discovered the art of swaddling.

Wrapping your little one in a swaddle blanket makes them feel like you’re still holding them in your arms. This helps to calm them and even sleep for longer.

If you’re shopping for this type of blanket, the Newborn Baby Wrap Swaddle is among the best. It’s made of acrylic, giving your baby an ultra-soft and cozy feel. It includes a convenient hoodie design to protect your baby from cold.

Baby swing

Baby tutorials make calming a crying baby sound incredibly easy. Just change their diaper, add or remove a layer of clothing or snuggle your little bundle of joy, and you’re good to go. Although these solutions work at times, there are times when they don’t.

A baby who won’t stop crying can make even the most patient mom feel helpless. Trust me, I’ve been there, so I know exactly what it feels like. Luckily, there are tried-and-true gadgets that are great for soothing a fussy baby.

An example is the 4moms mamaRoo Infant Seat. This rocking chair gives you 5 motions that mimic a mom’s movement. To round the soothing experience, it also comes with built-in music, which also soothes them.

Travel essentials

Infant car seat

As a new parent, you can’t do without an infant car seat. It’s one of those items that your baby will use right from day 1 when you’re taking them home from the hospital. So it should rank at the top of the essential baby items list.

Graco Extend2Fit Convertible Car Seat is the perfect travel system. It has a rear-facing harness, which is recommended for newborns. Then once your baby is a little older, you can transform it into a forward-facing car seat.

Plus, the car seat’s recline feature can be adjusted in 6 different ways, allowing you to find the most comfortable position for your tot.

Travel diaper bag

Ask any seasoned mom what’s the one thing they carry when traveling with their baby and I bet they’ll say a travel diaper bag. This unit is designed with babies in mind: additional pockets, insulated compartments to store baby bottles, and more.

If you’re planning to go on many adventures with your toddler, then RUVALINO Travel Diaper Bag shouldn’t be missing from your checklist.

Offering 16 pockets, this bag gives you plenty of space to carry all your baby’s essentials. There’s even a zipper pocket on the back panel where you can keep items you want to access quickly, like your wallet or phone.

Health

First-aid kit

Once you have your little one, there’s no doubt that you’ll do everything in your power to protect them. But accidents and illnesses crop up. When they do, you’ll want to be ready to take the bull by its horns. Whether it’s a fever, flu, or the pains of teething, it helps to have the right supplies on hand.

This Deluxe Baby Health Kit shouldn’t be missed in the list of things you need for a new baby. It contains a complete assortment of items you need to keep your munchkin safe and healthy.

These include a nasal aspirator, medicine dispenser, comfort tip medicine spoon, and a digital thermometer. You’ll also find a couple of grooming supplies, such as a comb, pair of scissors, nail clipper, and more. For convenience, all these items come packed in a tote bag.

Humidifier

Inhaling dry air is never a pleasant experience. So imagine how uncomfortable it’d be for your soon-to-be-born baby. Given how fragile newborns and infants are, they could end up suffering from sinus congestion.

To avoid this, be sure to include a humidifier in your must-have baby essentials list. This gadget will raise the moisture levels, enabling your baby to breathe easily. As a bonus, they will also be able to sleep longer.

When shopping for a nursery humidifier, go for one that’s easy to clean. You’ll be cleaning this device weekly, so this feature is essential. One particular humidifier you should check out the TaoTronics 3-IN-1 Humidifier.

The gadget comes in an amusing whale shape. It releases an ultra-fine and invisible mist, improving the moisture level in your baby’s nursery. Better yet, it operates really quietly. Its noise level is 26 decibels, which is relatively low. So you don’t have to worry about your newborn’s sleep being interrupted.

Safety

Baby monitor

Once your baby arrives, the need to keep a close eye on them will come naturally. However, this doesn’t mean that you should hover over their crib while they sleep. A baby monitor can serve as that extra pair of eyes, letting you check on your baby from the next room. Some more advanced baby monitors even provide real-time data like your toy’s sleep metrics.

A good example of this that you should include in your baby must-have checklist is the Nannit Plus. It’s a little expensive, but it offers the best bang for your buck. Installed over a crib, it gives you superb sleep-tracking capability along with an unmatched user experience.

Another area where this gadget excels is in video monitoring. You’ll get crisp and clear images with a 130° lens which captures the whole crib.

Safety gates

Although you won’t use this immediately your newborn arrives, it’s good to have a safety gate on standby. It’s one of those things that no one buys for baby showers, so it makes sense to buy it beforehand.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the few months that I’ve been caring for my son, kids grow up very fast. Within a few months, your toddler will have started crawling. To prevent them from accessing unsafe areas, you’ll have to install a gate. A baby gate also allows you to create an enclosed play area within your home.

For a small price, Regalo Walk Thru gate can provide maximum safety to your little one. Measuring 30 inches high, it’s pretty tall, so you don’t have to worry about your baby attempting to climb over. Plus, it’s constructed using steel, giving you optimal durability.

Wrap up

There you have it, a list of what we consider to be the most practical items to buy before your baby arrives. But keep in mind that every baby’s needs will be different. So you’re free to customize the list as you see fit.

Read all articles in this series: Prep for your baby's arrival

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