Newborns are always welcomed with excitement and happiness. However, in the case of new parents, especially mothers, sometimes it is really confusing to choose essentials for newborns. Being a mother myself, I can understand the situation and also have a list of essentials that I recommend.
The easiest way to determine what you will need is to focus on the first month at home so you don’t get overwhelmed and spend too much on things that can wait. To help, here are our must-have essentials for newborns.
A car seat is one of the most essential items that your baby will need. When purchasing a car seat many new parents have the installation inspected by a Child Passenger Safety Technician for added peace of mind. When choosing a car seat, keep in mind the size and shape of your vehicle, the size and weight of the seat, stroller compatibility, ease of installation, ease of cleaning, safety features, and price. But most importantly, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a rear-facing car seat from birth until the child exceeds the maximum height and weight of the seat.
New moms should keep in mind that infants need a diaper change at least 10-13 times a day. Therefore, a bulk of diapers and wipes will come in handy. But, don’t get too many in newborn and size one because babies will outgrow them fast. It’s better to have a mix of sizes. Disposable diapers and wipes are easily available. Besides this, reusable cloth diapers are also affordable, eco-friendly, and safe for baby’s skin. Keep in mind that if you are a first-time mom and worried about being overwhelmed when your baby arrives you could always go with disposable diapers first, and later switch to reusable cloth diapers.
Babies need two things to have a comfortable sleep: a comfy bed and a cozy blanket you can keep to wrap and swaddle the baby in safely, sleep sacks are a great safe solution. For bed, you can go for a baby crib if you plan to give your newborn a separate bed or you can go for any co-sleeping bassinet if you want your baby to sleep in your room beside you. Next, you need a thin and soft blanket or sleep sacks to wrap and swaddle the baby safely. This can give your baby a more calm sleep. I will also recommend keeping extra bed sheets (fitted on the crib or bassinet) and changing sheets in case of any mess. So that you don’t have to rush here and there when your baby needs you most.
When it comes to essentials for newborns, clothes are one of the most fun things to buy. I recommend saving the fancy clothes for a few weeks and instead going with soft, simple, and budget-friendly clothes. Because babies grow quickly (and stain clothes quite often as newborns), investing in expensive clothes isn’t worth it right in the beginning. Special outfits for Christmas, Halloween, and other events notwithstanding, of course!
Whether you plan to breastfeed, formula-feed, or both, you’ll need some basic feeding essentials for newborns on hand such as bottles and nipples (both four and eight ounce), a bottle warmer, bottle brush, breastfeeding pillow, bibs, and burp cloths. Nursing moms will also need nursing bras, nursing pads, nipple cream, a nursing pillow, and a breast milk pump as well as storage bags for the milk.
Beyond the above-mentioned essentials for newborns, you’ll want to stock up on baby toiletries like nail clippers, nasal aspirator, diaper rash cream, baby lotion, and baby body wash/shampoo as well as hooded towels, wash cloths, and a baby bathtub. But most importantly, just stay in tune with baby, as infants change quickly, adapt to those needs, and enjoy this special time!
Parents should focus on three basic needs of the baby including hygiene, feeding, and clothes.
Usually, infants need 8-10 diapers a day during the first few months. If using cloth diapers, you might want to have at least 10-20 on hand.
Babies should wear socks during winter and cooler months, and you can keep a pair of socks in the baby’s diaper bag too whenever leaving home.
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