Finding out you’re pregnant is exciting. Figuring out what you need for a newborn? That part can feel overwhelming fast. At least it did for me. Where do you even start? Why are there so many things? Am I already failing if I don’t buy this brand over that brand? The hormones hit early, and so did the anxiety. I had a million questions and almost zero baby knowledge when I first started looking into newborn essentials. Overwhelmed doesn’t even cover it.
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Here’s the good news. You don’t need all the answers right away (or ever if I’m being honest). You also don’t need to buy everything immediately, and it CAN be second-hand. But if you’re trying to narrow things down, these are the newborn essentials that worked for my family that I would recommend to another mom without hesitation.
Transportation
While a car seat is usually a non-negotiable, whether you go with a full travel system or a convertible car seat that stays in the car is up to you and your needs. You’ll need something to get baby from point A to point B safely. We went with the travel system because then we only need to buy the base for our other vehicle, and we don’t have to worry about transferring baby in and out of the stroller and carrier since our carrier can snap into the stroller frame when the stroller seat isn’t in it.
My personal experience and recommendation:
Nuna Pipa RX & Mixx Next Travel System
A Place to Sleep
This does not need to be a bassinet; it can be a crib. We went with a bassinet because that just worked for us. I loved having a bassinet next to my bed. Ours swiveled, which made middle-of-the-night wakeups so much easier. Being able to reach over and grab my baby gave me a lot of peace of mind.
My personal experience and recommendation:
HALO BassiNest Swivel Sleeper 3.0
Onesies and Pajamas
You really can’t go wrong here. I definitely had way more cute outfits than we ever needed. Turns out my baby mostly lived in onesies and pajamas. The outfits are fun, but day to day, onesies and pajamas are what you’ll actually reach for.
A few things I learned quickly:
- Zip-up pajamas only. Snaps at 2 a.m. are not it.
- Bamboo pajamas are amazing. They’re soft, they stretch, and babies can wear them longer.
- They grow ridiculously fast.
My personal experience and recommendation:
Old Navy Baby 2-Way Zip Sleep & Play Footed Onesies
Little Sleepies Bamboo Pajamas
Nose Sucker and Saline Mist
This came in handy when she was tiny, and we still use it now that she’s a toddler. The hospital gave us a bulb to take, and we were gifted a nose sucker. I think they both work similarly. The only difference—I can control the suction with the nose sucker, and the bulb is easier to keep steady since it goes in her nose.
My personal experience and recommendation:
Frida Baby NoseFrida Nasal Aspirator
Frida Baby Saline Mist
Nail Trimmer
Baby nails grow faster than you expect. I was way too nervous to use traditional clippers, so a baby-friendly nail trimmer gave me peace of mind. We still use this one to this day.
My personal experience and recommendation:
Haakaa Baby Nail Trimmer
Bottles
There are so many options, and every baby is different. My biggest tip is to buy one or two bottles from a couple of brands instead of stocking up on one right away. My baby did not like the first brand I bought, and I learned that lesson the hard way.
My personal experience and recommendation:
Lansinoh Baby Bottles 2 oz with Extra Slow Newborn Nipples
Diapers and Wipes
You’ll probably get a lot of diapers as gifts, which is great. Just remember that babies grow fast. You don’t need a mountain of size 1 diapers. For wipes, I slowly stocked up during pregnancy by grabbing a pack or two every time I was on a grocery run. It added up without feeling overwhelming.
My personal experience and recommendation:
Honest wipes
Freestyle wipes
Millie Moon Diapers
Freestyle Diapers
Diaper Cream and Diaper Spatula
Diaper cream is a must. The spatula is optional, but I personally liked using one. It’s really about what works best for you and your baby’s skin.
My personal experience and recommendation:
Earth Mama Angel Diaper Balm
Aquaphor Baby Healing Ointment
Changing Pad
Some diaper bags may already come with one if you get that, but if yours doesn’t, I recommend having a portable changing pad. It’s saved us more times than I can count in public bathrooms or random places.
My personal experience and recommendation:
Lily Miles Portable Diaper Changing Pad
Wrap or Carrier
I loved baby-wearing. It gave me my hands back, and my baby loved being close. It made everyday things feel a little more doable. My husband also liked wearing our baby with a carrier, which I have to be honest, was the cutest thing ever.
My personal experience and recommendation:
Ergobaby Aura Baby Carrier Wrap
Egobaby Omni Classic
Every baby is different, and what feels like a must-have for one family might not matter at all for another. Honestly, you probably won’t even know what you really need until your baby is here, and that’s okay. Try not to stress about having everything figured out ahead of time. And don’t forget about yourself in all of this. Make sure you’re taking care of yourself, too, during this new phase. You’ve got this.
