What do you really need for your newborn? Make sure you get the necessary items before the nice-to-have!
There's no end of baby related
equipment and no limit to the money you could, and are probably tempted, to
spend on your new baby. What you really need is another matter. If you check
off the list of essentials first then you'll know how much money you've got
left to splash out on those not-o-necessary-but-terribly-cute things, and a few
little luxuries to make your life easier.
A car seat -
for a newborn (rear-facing)
5 or 6 babygrows for a newborn -
While the newborn baby size of clothes will probably be too small in less than
two months, it’s still wise to buy several sets of the basic essentials as
you’ll be changing them often. Even if you get lots of baby clothes as gifts
they’re not likely to be these perhaps boring, but utterly indispensable,
basics. Which also goes for…
5 or 6 baby vests
Scratch mitts
Two or three cardigans or
a couple of cardigans and a jumper.
Outdoor suit or set in winter –
If you have a winter baby you’ll need extra layers for out of doors.
A couple of pairs of baby socks or
booties for out and about
A bonnet
Nappies –
If you go for disposables, which you might find easier in the first couple of
weeks while you’re adjusting, you’ll need quite a few of these as your baby
will need changing every couple of hours. If you’ve got space then try and
stock up for a week or so to make life easier on yourself later. There are lots
of different brands out there, so you might want to get a recommendation from a
friend or from ThinkBaby. If you’re going for reusable nappies you’ll need at
least 24 to get you through two days, and more if you don’t have a tumble
drier. Don’t forget the fastenings
Waterproof pants -
If you’re using reusable nappies you’ll need several pairs of waterproof pants
for over the top (unless you have the all-in-one kind). You might also want to
think about disposable liners that can be flushed down the loo to minimise the
nappy soiling
A changing mat or
unit that’s easy to wipe clean
Baby wipes and cotton wool for
changing and top and tailing
Baby bath, bowl or newborn bath support
for an adult bath - There are plenty of options when it comes to
bathing baby, and it’s really a matter of personal preference
Baby bath -
A mild bathing formula is optional for baby, many mums prefer to use no
cleanser at all on their baby's soft skin
A couple of small towels for
after bathing, as soft as you can afford. The variety with hoods are
particularly cosy for baby
Feeding accessories -
Bottles, teats, bottle warmer, a steriliser or sterilising fluid and brushes if
you are bottle feeding (you’ll need these later if you are breast feeding but
want to be able to express milk too)
A crib, moses basket or cot –
depending on your preferences. Many parents like to keep their newborns in a
crib or moses basket by their bedside for the first few months
Bedding -
for the baby’s cot. Your baby will need the right size mattress for their bed,
fitted with a waterproof cover and soft fitted cotton or flannel sheets. To
cover baby you can use either layers of cellular cotton blankets or a baby
sleeping bag
A couple of blankets for
the pram or buggy
A pram or buggy suitable
for newborns (you might prefer to carry your baby around in a sling for the
first couple of months)
For
mum
Nursing bras, breast pads and somewhere
comfortable to sit and nurse if you are breastfeeding
Squares of muslin or muslin nappies to
protect your clothes when feeding or winding
Maxi pads to manage post-labour flow
Nice
to have
A sling for carrying your baby on your
front in the first few months and / or a backpack or papoose to carry the child
on your back when she’s heavier later
What
you can probably forget about
Soft toys – they’re cute and tempting,
but you’ll probably receive lots of soft toys for your new baby as gifts, so
it’s a good area to exercise restraint if you’re on a budget, though we know
you're going to buy at least one. If your friends turn out to be far more
practical with their gifts then you can always buy toys later.
Here is an easy to copy, paste and print list for you to take to the shops!!
Shopping for a New Born Baby
Swaddling blanket x2
Cot (plus mattress, sheets and
blankets)
Car seat
Pram/buggy/travel system*
Six sleepsuits/ long sleeved
suits
Six vests/ short sleeved suits
Two cardigans/ jackets
Shawl or snow suit
Hat, mittens and bootees
Changing mat
Nappies
Bottles/teats/bottle bottle brush
(only needed if not breastfeeding)
Nursing bra and breast pads
Loads of bibs
Plenty of towels/ flannels/
muslin squares (for bathing and dribbles!)
Loads of kitchen roll and cotton
wool pads
Brush and comb* Only one of these
Things that are helpful
Moses basket/ crib (plus mattress,
sheets and blankets)
Baby bath
Baby box or bag
Sling
Bouncy chair
Baby monitor
Changing bag
Steam steriliser
Breast pump
Baby lotion
Baby wipes
Bath thermometer
Nail scissors
Nappy wrapper
Checklist for Bedtime and
Night feed
Swaddling blanket x2
Nappies
Bottle warmer
Kettle
Ready Made Packets of baby milk
Muslin clothes
Bibs
Travel nappy changing mat
Baby grows
Lots of love, Patricia x
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