Having a baby, especially if it’s your first, can be overwhelming. Getting everything together so you will be prepared for the life altering change that is on its way, can be stressful.
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Newborns do not need much at all. There are several categories of baby items that I went over board on. So follow along so you can learn from my epic mistakes and come out on top!
Clothing
I made the mistake and thought my child would need 100 million onesies and pants. I’m not kidding, which is the sad part. The problem is when clothes are that small, everything is adorable. I spent so much money on clothes for my child and she wore each outfit maybe once or not at all. I’d say she had a drawer of onesies, pants, and pajamas. Yes you read that right three long drawers filled with clothes for a baby who will probably only wear them a month maybe two.
Lesson #1 I’d say maybe no more than 10 onesies/pants/ pajamas. Enough for everyday of the week with a couple pairs for those newborn explosions. My daughter was the queen of those, we always said it sounded like an avalanche. I would say tops have 12 pairs if you’re like me and HATE laundry.
I would also suggest buying second hand until food comes into the picture. Most second hand shops have really good used condition clothing at a fraction of the cost.
Toys
So I was lucky enough to receive a large amount of baby toys but I for some reason thought she needed more. She had about five rattles, three car seat toys, Sophie the giraffe, and other little toys. This was an insane amount for my little baby. Lesson #2 keep toys to a minimum until they can sit or crawl. Your wallets and house will thank you.
Newborns-3 months do not need much in the toy department. Maybe one car seat toy, a rattle, and maybe a tummy mat. I say maybe because you could easily just use a blanket.
If you do decide on a tummy mat, try to find one the baby can use until they are about one or longer. I preferred the kind that turns into a ball pit. My daughter loved it and we used it until she was 19 months old. I actually still have it and plan to use it for our next. My daughter could still technically use it but it is a little tight now that she’s 2. I also liked it because it helped my puppy learn boundaries. As you can see from the photo we had to use a gate in the beginning haha.
This mat turned into a ball pit!
The one that has a piano to kick was also her favorite but only lasted 6-8 months. She definitely got a lot of use out of it since her little legs were always kicking.
Blankets
I was a sucker for florals and anytime I saw swaddle blankets with flowers or a cute saying I thought oh we need this! Guys, we used maybe 3 out of the 15 blankets we had. The rest sit unused. One pack of swaddle blankets will be more than enough. I also preferred the swaddled sacks. Those were a lifesaver and kept my child warm and tucked in since swaddle is a pain. Lesson #3 people love giving blankets at baby showers. Wait until you’ve had yours to buy some.
Here are my newborn essentials:
I would definitely recommend a swaddle sack. Newborns have a startle reflex and swaddling helps calm this reflex. The swaddle sack took all the work out of swaddling plus it’s not as easy for the escape artist to break free from. I prefer the halo sacks, they are durable and lasted until my daughter was about 4-5 months old.
Swaddled version
That’s my daughter and husband snoozing away while I tidied up the bedroom.
We used it as a sleep sack when she didn’t need to be swaddled anymore.
This is how we used it as a sleep sack.
She could only roll onto her stomach and not back.
Result: she would freak out and wake up haha so the
blankets held her in place!
We loved the Halo sleep sack because it was durable, washable (never had any stains even with the explosions), and it converts. I’m all for getting the bang out of my buck and I feel like I do with the Halo sack.
I would also recommend a swing or bouncer or carrier. This allows you to set them down or carry them if you feel the itch to clean, need to eat or pee. I had all three but two were gifts, I would say we used them all equally but the carrier lasted longer. Especially if you get one that lasts until they are a toddler. I have a Tula and my almost two year old still goes in it!
Burp cloths and bibs:
I also went overboard these. I’d say burp cloths maybe 5 or 6. Bibs I needed everyday almost because my daughter was a drool bucket so I had like 12 of those bad boys.
Bottles and accessories:
Try to have at least two different kinds of bottles incase your baby is picky, my daughter was. Once you find the bottle that is right I’d get at least four of them, if you formula feed maybe six. I would also recommend a drying rack because all those bottle parts take up so much space. The parts are small too and might get lost in the drying rack you have already. I really liked the boon grass countertop drying rack but we also had the munchkin foldable cup and bottle rack. That one we still use and she’s 2.
Bottle cleaning brushes are a must! We just used the munchkin bottle and nipple brush. It has the big head that gets into every crevice for the bottle and a little unscrewable brush that get into the nipple.
Bathtub:
We got two different kinds, one that has the sling that the baby can lay in and then the bath chair. I got really good use out of both and actually got the bath chair from a second hand shop for $3. However, a sink works just fine too!
Medication:
Diaper cream: we liked boudreaux butt paste or destin maximum strength for the really bad days. These two would clear is up super quick and get my baby all happy again!
Gas drops:
Gas drops were a must for us because my daughter had gas issues. We just used the little remedies brand.
The little remedies brand was our favorite when my daughter was a baby. We were gifted this gift set at our baby shower and we used everything. The fever reducer was the only brand she’d take without a fight. It was probably one of the most amazing gifts we got because anytime we needed something I would say well crap I didn’t buy that and I’d search and find this kit and there was exactly what I needed. It also comes with my favorite diaper cream so it was really a godsend.
Diaper bag essentials:
spare outfit, wipes, diapers, extra bottle, burp cloth, and lastly diaper cream. I would also suggest packing an outfit for you in the car as well as a hand towel for those car seat blowouts.
The optional item
My daughter was born and wasn’t breathing normally and had to be placed on oxygen in the NICU. Without the owlet I wouldn’t of been able to put her down at night. If you can afford it, I would suggest an Owlet. That saved my sanity and caught two episodes where my daughters breathing dropped below normal.
It is a bit finicky sometimes and will sound an alarm if it doesn’t get a good read but I think the benefits outweigh that. I was able to monitor her heart rate and breath rate at all times. It also helped me know when she was awake or asleep by the rates level. All in all I would get one if you can afford it. It was well worth my sanity and peace of mind.
A little something for you
Lastly, I’d recommend you set up a mommy care basket. Wait but isn’t this is for newborn essentials? Yes, it sure is, and guess what? Without you there is no newborn! So before your precious child makes his or her grand entrance, do something for you.
This basket should have some healthy snacks like a granola bar, maybe an apple or orange, mixed nuts, things like that. Some unhealthy snacks to get you through those stressful moments. Maybe a snack size of your favorite candy or a couple cookies. Throw in some comfy items like Fuzzy socks or slippers. Maybe even a book! Definitely throw in chapstick, lotion, water bottle, and any other essentials!
So why a basket? It’s for those days where all you can do is feed that baby and hold them. I cannot tell you how many days I spent on the couch or in my bed because all my baby wanted to do was eat. Cluster feeding is real and it is exhausting especially if you are breastfeeding. Then again, it’s even harder if you are formula feeding. So many bottles to wash, so even more exhausting!! This basket is to help you take care of yourself.
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