What You REALLY Need for a New Baby

Congratulations! You're having a baby! So much do to, and so little time!

With all the hopes and dreams in the world, you head to a baby department store, and you immediately become overwhelmed... who knew there were 147 types of baby bathtubs, 376 types of bottles, 514 strollers, etc., etc.? Plus, the registry list has about a million items you've never heard of. What to buy?!

To make things a little easier to understand, and from my experience of what I ACTUALLY used and what we NEVER used with two babies, here's my checklist of what you should buy, by room, when you're having a new baby. Note: this list is good for months 0-3. There’s really no need to have tons of toys and clothes until they get older.

KEY POINT: The less you can change your home initially, the better. Your life will change enough. There’s no real routine until about month 4. Baby won’t sit up to eat until month 5-6, so high chairs and stuff aren’t necessary at first and just take up space. And, baby won’t likely move around for the first 6-8 months, so don't worry about gates and cabinet locks until much later.

IMPORTANT TIPS:

Don’t buy too many diapers in size newborn – just a small pack of 30. And don't opwn it! You won’t know how big the baby is until s/he is born, and you don’t want a bunch of useless diapers you can't return. Don’t open anything until baby comes home (in case you need to return/exchange).

CLOTHES:

You can wash sheets, towels, etc., with Dreft or similar before baby comes home, but don’t wash (or remove tags from) more than 2-3 outfits for the hospital, until you are sure how big your baby is after being born. Don't be tempted to un-tag and hang all those cute clothes and outfits. You'll have plenty of time to launder the right-sized clothes once you get home, but you can't exchange or return un-tagged/washed clothes for the correct size if baby is too big/small.

Initially, baby clothes will predominantly be sleep and plays. Get the zipper kind, not the snaps, it will REALLY help at nighttime. Plus, outfits with multiple parts (pants, shirt, socks, sweater) are really hard to put on a baby that doesn't help and squirms a lot. Just saying.

BABY'S ROOM:

• Crib, mattress, and sheets, and 1-2 waterproof mattress liners

• Large comfortable seating chair, preferably with rocking ottoman.

TIP: Hold a doll or similarly sized 10 pound object in your arms and actually try the chair out for 15 minutes. If it’s not comfortable to rest your arms with a doll, it will be really bad with a real baby. Don't buy a chair that is not comfortable - you spend a LOT of time here.

• A changing table with belted pad, pad covers, and pad liners (AKA lifesavers!)

• Diapers, wipes, baggies, creams, etc. (See above note about not opening anything until you bring baby home.)

• Storage for diapers, extra liners, burpcloths, etc. (baskets or drawers)

• Video monitor

• Diaper pail – we like Ubbi for the smell containment, plus you can use any grocery or trash bag

• A few books, especially in black and white for the first month. You don’t need a ton because you're going to read the same thing many times.

OPTIONAL:

• Hamper

• Mesh bumpers for crib

• Humidifier

• Essence diffuser -(Vicks sells a cheap one with cartridges if you don’t want to use oils)

• A machine that plays music or heart sounds

• Music dock

• Mini fridge or bottle warmer (if you pump in baby's room or want milk close by)

• Formula mixer (if you use Formula and want it close at hand at night)

CENTRAL PART OF HOUSE (eg, FAMILY ROOM):

• Changing table with shelves/storage for liners, diapers, wipes, cream, diaper baggies, burpcloths, extra clothes (lots!), etc. Especially helpful in a 2-story house (if baby room is upstairs!)

• Belted changing pad with cover and pad liners (see above - lifesavers - a MUST!)

• Diaper pail

• Pack n 'play (or similar portable crib for first few months – with removable bassinet is good)

• A moveable bouncer chair or similar. The vibrating kind is best (we take this with us from room to room, especially helpful at dinner time)

• A motorized baby swing (another live saver)

• A "play-gym” or “play mat” - not essential, but it is cute and entertains baby a lot from 3-6 months (be sure to get the ones with taller arches)

• A few rattles, a few black and white books, and big color board books are good.

KITCHEN:

• Bottles

• Bottle sterilizing stuff. Honestly, the steam setting on your dishwasher (if you run baby stuff only), or a pot of boiling water, or sterilizer bags (Medela) work, too.

• A cleaning set for bottles (drying rack, bottle brush, baby-friendly soap)

• Breast pump (wasn't sure where to put this other than kitchen) and hands-free bra

• Pumping bottles and bits. (If you go down this route, I'm a pump Wikipedia - see my blog posts here. If you're not going to do this, at least initially, you don’t need too many parts.)

• Bottle warmer (optional)

• Bibs

BATHROOM:

• Baby bathtub, convertible up to 9-12 months

• Hooded towels

• Washcloths for washing the baby 0-3 months

• Baby soap - we like Eucerin and Cerave for sensitive skin

• Dry skin cream for babies

• Menthol/eucalyptus oil (in case you need to make a steam bath if baby is sick)

• Detergent / soap for anti-allergic clothing (without chemicals) – Dreft or similar - something specific for baby clothes

• Faucet thermometer (or a "hot and cold" toy for water temperature) - optional

ALL ROOMS:

• A pillow to hold the baby while feeding/nursing (eg, Boppy or BreastFriend)

• A dedicated big soft blanket (not too plush) to play on the floor and make the famous "tummy time"

• All-purpose burpcloths - you'll have one permanently attached to your shoulder for months! They serve for everything (bibs, blankets, etc.) Tip: a pack of white cloth diapers works just as well and saves $$

• Pacifiers

• Anti-bacterial soap bottles for visitors, and after changing diapers

CAR / OUTINGS:

• Infant car seat and multiple bases (one for any car frequently used to transport baby)

• A snap n’ go style stroller – not essential, but SUPER helpful to transport baby while still in infant car seat. Plus you can lift/open with one hand.

• A convertible stroller for longer term use. Check if they if they have an infant bracket, too.

• A car mirror

• Receiving blanket for the cold / rain to drape over infant seat (one of the only places you'll actually use those "receiving" blankets). They make a plastic one for rain, too.

• A big umbrella (for you)

• Infant seat liner/Sherpa for cold weather - optional. A secured blanket works well, too.

• A stroller rain cover for convertible stroller. You can buy a generic brand, or a specific one for your model. These are super helpful on cold, windy, rainy and snowy days.

DIAPER BAG:

Don't skimp on your diaper bag. Get one with plenty of space and wide openings so it’s easy to find things inside. Make sure it has a good long strap to hang on stroller (with seats reclined). The ones with insulated pockets for bottles are great!

• Change pad (should be included with bag)

• Diapers, wipes, and diaper baggies, diaper cream

• Change of clothes (at least 1, I prefer 2)

• Wipes for hands and face

• Bibs and all-purpose burp cloths

• Anti-bacterial gel and wipes

• Extra pacifiers and paci wipes

• Ziploc bags of all sizes

• Mini first aid kit

• Mini toiletry kit

• Disposable diaper pads (for public restroom changing tables, etc). I bought a pack of puppy pee pads.

• For longer trips, soap for washing bottles

MEDICAL THINGS:

• Vitamin D drops – check with your doc, but usually necessary for breastfed babies

• Baby Tylenol (always worth having by hand) and syringe

• Nasal bulb or similar

• Thermometer – regular and temporal (regular is more accurate and you can use the plastic sleeves to avoid washing)

• Nail files and nail clippers (since will not cut for at least 1 month)

• Lanolin cream for breasts – Lanisoh is the best and is worth GOLD!