Essentials for a new baby
My top 15 tried and tested essential items for a newborn baby.
Now that I'm onto my third baby, I have a pretty good idea of what you do and do not need to get through those newborn days!
With my first and second child, it was hard to not want it all however onto my third baby and with a bunch of clutter already in my house, I've opted for the minimalist approach!
Here is my list of essential items for mum and bub to get through the fourth trimester and beyond.
A Safe Space to Sleep
First and foremost, baby needs somewhere safe to sleep.
Red nose have a fantastic article that covers safe sleep guidelines HERE.
We use the Ikea Sniglar cot as it is affordable and simple. However there are many different types of baby beds like bassinets, co-sleepers, cots etc so it is best to assess your own situation to find a sleep solution that will work best for you and your baby.
I prefer to use a safe sleeping bag for my baby when they sleep, like these as I find it hard to get a tight wrap that they will stay in with a wrap blanket.
Sleeping bags are also TOG rated for warmth and come with temperature guides so you can ensure baby is always dressed appropriately for the room temperature, so it takes the stress out of wondering if they will be warm enough!
Unless you love a specific muslin wrap, don't bother buying any. This is the most commonly gifted baby item & you will end up with plenty! If you wish to buy your own, don't purchase more than two. They are handy for using as a light blanket when out, wrapping baby if you forget the sleeping bag, as sun protection on the pram, or as a burping cloth - but trust me, you'll be gifted more than enough!
A Baby Carrier
I would argue that for the newborn days a baby carrier is almost more useful than a pram. Even when I take the pram on an outing, I take the carrier too!
There are SO many reasons why I think a baby carrier is essential and I'll list just a few.
- It allows you to get your hands free - so you can do the washing, vacuuming, cooking.... you name it. It is also a way to bond with baby whilst tending to your other children at the same time.
- Babies love to be held, and if you're having a tough day where bub only wants to contact nap - a carrier will mean your arms can have a rest and allows baby to still feel nice and close to you.
- Want to get outdoors and active on a track that isn't exactly stroller friendly? Pop the baby in a carrier!
I have never found a way to feel secure with a wrap carrier, so a clip carrier is how I feel most comfortable and secure, with peace of mind that baby is safely secured.
The Chekoh Clip Carrier 2.0 is suitable for newborns from 3.2kg+, with 3 adjustable size positions as baby grows.
I find this baby carrier extremely comfortable to wear around home and for quick trips as the fabric isn't too structured, hugging you and your baby without added bulk. I have used this carrier daily for my last two children from around 3 weeks old up until they were 9 months old. Suitable for parent facing carry but can also be used as back carry with an added accessory strap.
If you are looking to adventure with your baby and wear a carrier for a great portion of the day, or your baby is a bit older and you want a carrier that will fit well into the toddler years, check out a more structured carrier like an Ergobaby Omni Deluxe Mesh Carrier.
Suitable from newborn for 3kg+ and offers a wide range of carry positions, most useful once once baby is older (facing out + hip carry as well as front carry and back carry).
I didn't find this as comfortable to wear for short periods around home as it doesn't mould to your body like the Chekoh, however it is more ergonomic and offers better support for longer wear periods and especially when baby gets a bit older and heavier - I'd say around 9 months old is when this carrier becomes a better option. It offers a facing out mode too, which the Chekoh doesn't currently (as this is only recommended for short periods of time).
A Baby Bouncer
Whilst we are on the topic of getting your hands free... a baby bouncer is great for this whilst also stimulating your baby at the same time.
I've had a few rockers/ bouncers both aesthetic & practical and my absolute favourite is the Baby Bjorn Bouncer Bliss. It isn't the prettiest on the market but the light beige jersey fabric fits in pretty well with my decor and most of important of all my newborn loves it. Add in the play bar too and your baby will have an absolute hoot.
I do have the gorgeous Charlie Crane rocker also, whilst it is without a doubt the most beautiful and aesthetically pleasing baby rocker I've ever come across, I find the angle it makes baby lay at isn't ideal and they can't rock themselves in it.
With the Baby Bjorn bouncer they figure out very quickly that the more they kick their legs the more they'll bounce. Saves you having to sit there and rock them!
Baby Toys
It can be hard to know what baby toys to purchase for a newborn as it seems like they aren't capable of much. But let me tell you what a difference it makes to have the right toys suited to their stage of development!
Starting off from birth, the Lovevery Play Gym is a great option to get your baby engaged and doing tummy time from the get-go. With different tabs and sensory delights, your baby will grow with this for their first year of life. Once sitting, pop on the included Play Space Cover to make it into a tent for peekaboo!
If you don't know where to begin with toys, check out Lovevery's stage based play essential kits which are curated by experts allowing your baby to learn through play. I cannot believe how mesmerised my children are with these Play Kits; even right from birth.
Available to purchase individually as a once-off or on a subscription basis, each Play Kit has the toys you need to support your childs development at that specific stage and it includes a really handy information booklet that explains each toy, a timeline for bringing them out (you don't want to give them all of the toys at once - less is more!) and how to play with your baby with those toys.
These are toys your child will actually play with, and you will seek comfort in the fact that you're providing your baby with the toys they need to aid in their development through every different stage. Check out the stage based play kits HERE.
A Wipeable Playmat
You absolutely NEED a wipeable playmat unless you want to be washing your playmat every second day.
All three of my babies would spit up milk after a feed - and this is completely normal - so a playmat that just wipes free of any mess is imperative.
We love our Henlee Quilted Playmat. It is a padded playmat made of vegan (faux) leather so you can just wipe it down with a cloth. It is lightly padded for your babies comfort and easy to move around - we take ours outside for picnics and fresh air. It is also convenient to take to a friends house - you know, the ones who don't yet have kids and you're wondering where on earth you'll put your baby down!
You can shop the Henlee Quilted Playmat HERE.
Baby Change Mat
Changing a baby can be messy at times. That's why I find it's helpful to have a wipeable change mat available for nappy changes. I have never found the need for a change table. Setting up a changing station on top of a dresser is a super practical and space-saving way to have a nappy change station in your nursery, without added unnecessary furniture.
I find the Leander Matty Mini a great size for on top of a dresser in the nursery, its wipeable and padded to make for mess-free & comfy change times.
Store your nappies and wipes in the top drawer of your dresser to keep them within easy reach.
3 reasons to choose the "Leander Mini Matty Changing Mat" over the original "Matty Changing Mat"?
I choose the 'Mini' version over the original as it is more lightweight, marginally smaller to fit on skinnier dressers, and its cheaper!
Baby Bath Time
I love the Shnuggle Baby Bath for up to about 6 months or when baby can sit independently in a proper bath.
Baby can rest easily in this bath and having it up on a bench means you're not bending over and hurting your back while you bath baby
I sit ours on our bathroom vanity (although if it doesn't fit you can purchase a stand or use the kitchen/ laundry bench which may be bigger).
If you have the bench space, I love having a Leander Matty change mat on the bathroom vanity for easy changing and drying of baby, without needing to take them into the Nursery to get dressed, but if you're lacking bench space this is absolutely not essential!
In terms of grooming, the Nail Snail is the absolute best way to cut babies nails! Unlike scissors or clippers which can cut or pinch baby, this is a really easy to use tool that won't hurt your baby,
Baby Feeding
Whether you are breastfeeding or bottle feeding, you're going to need burp cloths -and lots of them!
Our favourite are the terry towelling 'nappies' - basically a square, white towel. Get two packs of these - you'll go through a lot and you don't want to be washing every day.
If you're breastfeeding, I highly recommend a Haakaa silicone breast pump- this is such an incredible tool that catches milk from the breast you're not feeding from without the use of an electric pump and it is hands free!
I also love having an electric breast pump & baby bottles, and introducing these early (by 6 weeks old) to gain myself some freedom when I want to go to a beauty appointment or catch up with a friend.
Car Travel
Have a car? You'll need a safe way to transport baby! I've used both a capsule and a 0-4 rear facing car seat for my newborns.
Whilst a capsule has its benefits (being able to take the seat out and walk with it or connect it to your pram so you don't have to disturb baby while they're sleeping), they are heavy to carry and I have never had trouble transferring bub from a fixed car seat to the pram or cot.
They also grow out of capsules really quickly - sometimes as early as 4 months but certainly no longer than a year, so I'd probably recommend saving your money and going straight to the 0-4 car seat instead.
The Maxi Cosi Pria is an amazing recent addition to the 0-4 extended rear-facing child restraint market. It is incredibly slimline but spacious for bub at the same time! I also love the britax range of seats - the graphene for a 0-4 or the unity for a capsule.
Pram
The type of pram you choose will depend on your lifestyle. I have a number of prams and they are all great for different reasons.
Want a single, all terrain pram? The bugaboo fox is a dream to push with large wheels to handle all sorts of off-road bumps. The seat is spacious for a child and quality is top notch.
Want a compact pram for the city or travel? A Joolz Aer + will take up little boot space, folds up and down with one hand, is small enough to fit in the overhead bins as carry-on luggage on a plane and will fit in even the tightest cafes or retail shops.
Want a double pram? The Bugaboo Donkey is the ultimate, high quality side-by-side double pram that will grow with your child with both a bassinet option and toddler seat. You can even attach a footboard to transport three children like I did for the best part of a year!
And that's it...
I hope my list of baby essentials helps you decide which items you need for your newborn.
You could also share this list with friends or family as a wishlist for your baby shower.
My 15 tried and tested baby essential items in list form
Too long didn't read? That's ok - here I've listed the 15 essential items you should buy for your new baby,
Items are hyperlinked so click on the heading to be taken straight to the product.
This article may contain affiliate links where I may earn a commission for purchases made via those links. This comes at no cost to you.
