When you start getting ready for your baby to get out of your belly, you might be overwhelmed by the sheer number of products you’re bombarded with. Both online and brick-and-mortar retailers have you convinced that you need everything they have on offer. What are necessary products for a newborn?
Now that you’re entering a whole new world, you want to do your best to be prepared. Needless to say, you’re talking to every friend and family member who’s gone through pregnancy and birth to see what products you need to get before your little bundle of cuddles arrives.
With a little help from everyone, you’re thinking you can get everything from all the baby registry lists. But you can’t shake off the feeling that you might not need all that stuff after all. Before you spend all your money on baby products that might end up collecting dust, read what we’ve prepared for you.
What do you and your baby actually need? You’d be surprised at the number of baby products that are completely unnecessary. You don’t need all the bits and bobs that promise to make your postpartum experience a dream. You don’t need wipe warmers or name-brand pads and pillows.
Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered! We’ve put together a few of our favorite necessary products for a newborn baby you’re going to need from the get-go. What you’re bombarded with are nice-to-have products that can make your postpartum experience easier, but they’re not must-haves. Read more!
What do you and your baby actually need?
Oh, there’s nothing quite as overwhelming as researching all the baby products you’re going to need when your baby arrives. On one hand, you’re met with regular strollers, car seats, and clothes. On the other, you’re bombarded with wipe warmers, white noise machines, and spatulas for diaper rash creams.
Between setting up the nursery and ensuring you have the necessary items for sleeping, eating, and diapering, you might feel like you’re losing track of everything you need for your baby’s arrival. Before you freak out, know that you’re probably already familiar with the essentials.
Contrary to what Instagram and TikTok are trying to impose on you, you don’t need all the fancy equipment to make your baby happy and healthy from the get-go. What you do need, however, are the essentials that neither you nor your baby can go a day without.
Of course, you’re going to need nursery furniture, a crib or a co-sleeper, baby linens, blankets, and swaddles, as well as baby clothes and baby gear (swings, play mats, and toys). On top of that, you’re going to need a car seat and a stroller, as well as diapers, wet wipes, and all the hygiene products.
Without further ado, we’re bringing you a closer look at the necessary products for a newborn baby. We’re all different, so this list can (and should!) be modified to your taste.
10 necessary products for a newborn baby
1. A stroller
Good, high-quality strollers are guaranteed to become your BFFs when your baby arrives. You’re going to go on so many walks with your baby that you’re going to need something light, sturdy, and practical to help you out. You’re going to need a stroller to help you carry your baby without hurting your back.
A stroller can also carry your diaper bag, your water bottle, and your groceries for the day, depending on which brand you decide to go with. You’re probably going to be overwhelmed by the number of strollers available on the market, but you can always go for the one that fits your lifestyle and your budget.
2. A car seat
A car seat might be even more essential than a stroller. You can’t even take your baby home from the hospital without a car seat. You want your baby to be safe, secure, and comfortable, and that’s why you’re going to spend hours picking out the perfect car seat.
Worry not, though. Nowadays, you’re presented with a myriad of car seats with different features and functions that promise to protect your baby. Needless to say, there are many options when it comes to selecting a car seat, so it’s important to make sure the features align with your needs.
3. Babyproofing gear
By the time your baby starts crawling, you’re going to need to start babyproofing your apartment. Whether they’re standing on their own, cruising around your furniture, or crawling across the room, they’re not going to slow down to think whether they’re going to hurt themselves.
With minimal effort and a few bucks, you can ensure your baby stays safe and secure. Baby gates, electrical outlet covers, furniture anti-tip kits, door knob covers, cabinet locks, and edge protection are going to become your BFFs over the next few months (and even years!) Babies are hard, man!
4. Feeding gear
Breastfeeding and formula feeding require different gear, though. If you’re planning on exclusively breastfeeding, you’re going to need a nursing pillow, a nursing bra, nursing pads, and nipple cream to soothe the sore skin. If you’re on a budget, you can even skip the nursing pillow altogether.
Formula feeding comes with a little more prep, but that’s not something you need to worry about. If you’re planning on pumping or formula-feeding your baby, you’re going to need bottles, storage containers or bags, a breast pump, a bottle warmer, a bottle brush, and sanitization products.
5. Baby clothes
Baby clothes are the best and the worst part of newborn prep. When you’re preparing for your baby’s arrival and you’re nesting, you might be compelled to buy all the cute baby clothes you see online or in-store. While there’s nothing wrong with buying a thing or two, you’re going to need practical clothes, too.
What do we mean by that? Matching sets, knitwear, and brand-name clothes are great for when your baby grows up a little bit and start doing things other than eat, sleep, and poop. Onesies are going to be your go-to outfits for the first few months. Stack up on comfortable onesies and you’re good to go.
6. Diapers and wipes
Diapers and wipes are a must, there’s no question about that. When you give birth to your baby, you’re going to be surprised by how much (and how often!) your baby poops. Diaper changes are going to be your everyday reality, and that’s why you’re going to need a stash of diapers and wipes from the get-go.
When you start shopping for diapers, make sure you get both the newborn size and size 1. Your baby might be super small right now, but your baby will probably not be in newborn sizing for too long. You might need to get other sizes, too, depending on how big or small your baby is.
7. Baby gear
Swings, play mats, and toys are going to teach your baby so many new things. When choosing the right baby gear products for you and your family, make sure you get something that’s made of high-quality materials, budget-friendly, and safe. We need to mention that there are a lot of options to choose from.
Whichever baby gear products you decide to go with, though, you’re guaranteed to have fun putting them together and watching your baby go ham on them. We gotta be honest – there’s a chance your baby will ruin a lot of the baby gear products you buy, but that’s the reality of being a parent.
8. A crib or co-sleeper
A crib or a co-sleeper, depending on your personal preferences, might become one of the most necessary products for a newborn you’ll ever buy.
You’re probably already familiar with all the dangers of co-sleeping when you don’t know what you’re doing, but that’s something that a crib or a co-sleeper can help you with. You might want to opt for a bassinet or pack ‘n’ play to have somewhere to keep the baby safe when you need to put them down.
A safe sleep surface, a user-friendly design, stability, and bonus features that make putting your baby to sleep easier are the features you might want to keep an eye out for.
9. Swaddles and burp cloths
When shopping for a newborn baby, you might forget to add to your cart some of the more “practical” products because everyone always talks about strollers, car seats, and cribs.
Swaddles are going to be the things you reach for the most when you give birth to your baby. Swaddles are great for keeping your baby comfy when they’re awake or swaddling them when they’re napping.
Burp cloths, on the other hand, are going to save you (and the planet) when you need to wipe your baby’s saliva after feeding, take care of your baby’s snot, or even clean your baby when you get food on her. All sorts of cloths, napkins, and wipes are welcome when you have a baby.
10. Hygiene and grooming gear
We can’t forget about hygiene and grooming gear, either. Diapers, wipes, and burp cloths are a must, but there are numerous other products you might want to have near you when you have the baby. You’re going to need a safe place to wash your baby, for example.
Baby bathtubs and baby products are necessary for all the nighttime routines you’re going to have with your baby. Nail clippers, teething rings, nasal aspirators, gum massagers, and baby hair brushes are great for the newborn baby, too. Not to worry, you can buy these things when your baby gets home, too.
