The top ten products you need before bringing your newborn home
Preparing to bring home your newborn baby is so exciting, but can also be a bit overwhelming. I know personally, as my due date approached with my daughter, I found myself scouring the internet to make sure I had all the newborn essentials.
The last thing you want to be doing after having a baby is making trips to the mall or frantically searching Amazon for items you need, and ironically, you can end up with a lot of stuff you don’t need too. So we’ve compiled a list of the top ten items we think you’ll actually need to be sure to have ready once your little one arrives.
Keep in mind, some of the obvious items that you might expect to find here may not be listed, since many of them you don’t necessarily need right away.
*Note: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases made through these links. However, the price to you remains the same!
Crib or Bassinet
So this one is kind of a given, but it’s one of the most important items that you’ll need since baby needs a place to sleep! We always recommend that your baby sleeps in a crib or bassinet with a firm mattress, in your room for the first six months and their room at some point after this, and most parents find that a bassinet in your room is most realistic given space restrictions. Some of the key crib features you want to look for are safety ratings, sturdiness of material, manufactured date, cribs without a drop side, and the appropriate width of the bars (no wider than 2.5 inches).
Similarly, with a bassinet, you want to make sure that it is sturdy, especially because many bassinets are portable. Check the safety ratings and reviews, as well as the recall list, to make sure your bassinet is not listed. Another feature we have found to be really important with bassinets is breathable sides. This is one of the reasons we love the Uppababy REMI which doubles as a bassinet and playard.
Many newborns will prefer to sleep in a fetal position (but should always be placed on their back), and you want to make sure if your baby is close to the sides that there isn’t a concern with suffocation.
Our crib recommendation is the Delta Children Archer here. This crib is convertible, taking you from crib to toddler to a full size bed, and is non toxic!
2. A White Noise Machine
For the first few weeks/months, your baby is adjusting to life outside of the womb. In your belly, she was used to hearing constant noise, so replicating that with a white noise/sound machine can help calm her and make her feel more relaxed. We love both the hatch and the yogasleep which is great for travel. Both options are affordable and portable and has several different settings to play various noises.
3. Swaddles
A swaddle can help your baby feel nice and snug like they were in the womb. While not all babies love to be swaddled (but most do!), we do recommend trying various brands/types of swaddles to see if your baby prefers a specific feel (see The benefits of swaddling your baby).
Snuggy Buddy makes a great swaddle that has an attached lovey that is attached and safe for your baby, since a loose lovey isn’t safe before twelve months. We also love the Velcro-like (but silent) Swado brand, which you can read our review for here.
4. Diapers & Wipes
Of course these are also a given, but not all diapers/wipes are made alike. There are certain features that can make your life easier as a new mama that we recommend considering when choosing a diaper brand.
Our top brand we recommend for newborn diapers are the coterie diapers which are so soft and gentle on skin. We also love that they are highly absorbent and can prevent full blow outs or leaks from happening.
For wipes, we love Water Wipes, since they have simple ingredients and are safest for baby, but be prepared: they are a bit pricier than competitors (although we think it is well worth it!)
5. Car Seat
Since you can’t leave the hospital without a car seat for your newborn, this of course makes the list! Shopping for a car seat can seem like a bit of a daunting process, since it will, after-all, be carrying your precious cargo for the first time and many times to follow. Safety should be the #1 priority when searching for a car seat. Much like deciding which crib/bassinet to purchase, you should look up the safety ratings, crash reports, and any recent recalls. All car seat manufactures are required to provide this information. While you are likely safe with most of the major brands (Evenflo, Cybex, Britax, Graco, etc.), we cannot stress enough to do your research when purchasing a car seat. Don’t just go off of one recommendation or review, and if you’re going to splurge on any one product, then this should be it!
You also might want to consider a car-seat/stroller combo or travel system, which most major manufacturers offer.
Since we do a lot of research around here, we are happy to provide our top recommendations for car seats based on personal and professional use. The three we suggest are:
Evenflo LiteMax Infant Car Seat
6. Baby Monitor
Whether your baby will be with you in your room or in the nursery from the start, a good baby monitor is a must. There will be plenty of times when you’ll need to step out of the room while your baby is napping to get things done, or, you know, take a shower! We highly recommend, for safety reasons, being able to see/hear your baby while they are sleeping, and there are several monitors that can provide you with that peace of mind.
Our top pick, while definitely pricey, is the Nanit. Our favorite feature is that the video streams directly to your phone using Wi-Fi, so you can literally watch your baby from the grocery store. You also have the option of purchasing the insights, which will tell you how long your baby slept and some other stats and sleeping patterns.
We also recommend the Nannio, which you can read about in our review here. It gives you the option of viewing from the monitor or from your phone!
7. Feeding Supplies
We are lumping feeding into one category since there are so many different products that you will need, regardless of how you’re feeding your baby.
Here is a list of our recommended feeding products:
Spectra breast pump- Before purchasing this item, you might want to check with your insurance company or hospital/OB office, since many of them are provided at no cost! We have found the Spectra pump to be super easy to use and very lightweight.
Dr. Brown’s bottles- One of the top feeding brands out there, Dr. Brown’s, offers a wide variety of bottles with different shapes and feels of the nipple, so you can try out which one your baby likes best.
Aussie Bubs Formula- If you are formula feeding, Aussie Bubs is one of our favorite options because of their clean ingredients and allergy friendly options. Based in Australia, this formula has quickly become our go-to for babies experiencing a lot of gas or tummy issues.
Lansinoh breast milk storage bags- If you’re pumping, then you will need somewhere to store your breast milk, and Lansinoh is our top brand pick for these and other similar items. The bags are affordable and provide a simple solution for storing expressed milk.
8. Onesies/Sleepers
If there’s one thing you will need A LOT of, it is newborn onesies and long pajamas/sleepers. Newborns go through clothes like they are going out of style, and you’ll find yourself constantly doing laundry if you don’t have enough.
While there are many options for onesies and pajamas, one of our favorite brands is Little Sleepies. Their pajamas are made from lightweight and soft bamboo material and are a great option for babies with sensitive skin. Bonus: You can use our code MYSWEETSLEEPER15 for a discount!
9) Pacifier
While not all babies will take a pacifier, and some parents choose not to introduce it, if you do, it can be your best friend! Pacifiers can be a great way to soothe your baby and they also have been proven to reduce the risk of SIDS.
The type of pacifiers used in the hospital are usually the ones babies take to best, so we recommend the Philips brand. You can buy several in a pack for under $10, and trust us, you’ll need more than one!
10) Rectal Thermometer
While this one isn’t as fun, we consider it a must-have. Your pediatrician will likely tell you that you need to bring your baby in if he/she has a temp above 100.4, and rectal thermometers will give you the most accurate temperature for your newborn. Especially if you have a winter baby, there will be more sickness floating around, and a flu or the cold can be serious if your baby develops a fever.
You can find a few different options on Amazon or your local pharmacy.
So there you have it! While there are about 20+ additional items you will likely use later on, these are the newborn essentials that should help get you through the first couple weeks without having to leave home. Of course, you’ll find as time goes on, you will realize other things that you want/need, but you can purchase them once you’re ready to get out of the house or hop on Amazon and browse.
For information about newborn sleep, check out our newborn sleep course.
Related:
Five tips for setting up a sleep-promoting nursery
Five affordable products that can help your baby sleep better
Infant sleep aides: helpful or harmful?
