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Baby essentials checklist: Do you have everything you need?

Prepare for your little one's arrival with this handy checklist

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Blue nursery with baby essentials
virtua73 / Shutterstock

Getting ready for baby’s arrival is super exciting and overwhelming. Heading down the aisles of a baby store is exhilarating. It seems like everything you see is something your baby is going to need. Of course, those impulse buys can put a massive dent in your budget. So, instead of shopping online or in person without a guide, prepare a list of baby essentials. You don’t want to overwhelm your nursery space or your home with baby stuff you don’t need or might not need.

Making a checklist of baby essentials is also important when it comes to putting together a baby registry. Now, don’t add any more stress to your plate. We’ve got the go-to list of baby essentials you’re going to need for bath time, bedtime, baby gear, and beyond.

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Baby essentials

Baby nursery
Photographee.eu / Shutterstock

Whether this is your first baby or not, there are always must-have items you definitely need. Oftentimes, the list of baby essentials gets blurred with all the other cool gear you see when shopping for baby. It’s a good idea to stay focused to keep the cost down and also ensure you will have everything you need when baby arrives. So, here are the baby necessities you will want to have on hand before your little one comes home for the first time.

Baby clothes

Okay, so it’s hard not to stock up on tons of baby clothes because they are super cute. Babies grow and change a lot in those first few months, which means there isn’t any need to buy too much. Have the essentials and shop for those cute seasonal outfits as needed. Friends and family love to gift baby clothes, which means the drawers and closet will fill up quickly. Baby clothes and blankets need to be washed. So, be sure to have a gentle laundry detergent that’s recommended for babies.

  • 5 to 10 onesies
  • 1 to 3 newborn hats
  • 2 sets of mittens for the hands
  • 4 to 5 booties or socks
  • 1 sweater
  • 1 jacket or coat, depending on the season (and where you live)
  • 5 to 8 one-piece pajamas
  • 5 to 8 daytime outfits

Baby blankets

You may feel as though you never have enough of these because they get dirty easily. It’s always prudent to have extras on hand, but don’t overdo it, especially if space is an issue.

  • 5 receiving blankets
  • 2 heavy stroller blankets
  • 2 lightweight stroller blankets
  • 2 to 3 swaddling blankets

Nursery

Setting up baby’s nursery is so exciting. Don’t feel as though you have to go crazy stocking it with everything you see on the baby aisles. One optional item you may want to consider for the nursery is a rocking chair or a glider. Having a rocker can be wonderful when you’re experiencing those middle-of-the-night feedings.

  • Bassinet
  • Crib
  • Crib mattress (make sure it fits without any gaps)
  • 2 or 3 fitted crib sheets (sheets should be snug)
  • Baby monitor
  • Dresser for clothing
  • Humidifier
  • Changing table (can also use a dresser with a changing pad)
  • Diapers
  • Baby wipes
  • Garbage can or diaper pail
  • Diaper cream
  • Crib mobile

Bath

Tub time is so much fun, and you’ll want to have all the bath essentials you’ll need to give baby a bath.

  • Baby tub
  • 2 hooded towels
  • 3 to 4 washcloths
  • Baby shampoo
  • Dove soap or baby body wash
  • Rubber ducky or bath toy

Feeding

Whether you’re bottle or breastfeeding, feeding times are amazing because you and your little one get to bond and cuddle. Bottle and breastfeeding parents may want to consider a bottle warmer, bottler sterilizer, and a feeding pillow.

If bottle feeding

  • 8 to 10 4- and 8-ounce baby bottles and nipples
  • 10 bibs
  • Bottle brush
  • 10 burping cloths
  • Highchair (you won’t need it right away, but it’s best to get it ahead of time)

If breastfeeding

  • 8 to 10 4- and 8-ounce baby bottles and nipples
  • 10 bibs
  • Bottle brush
  • 10 burping cloths
  • Breast pump
  • Breastmilk storage bags
  • Nursing pads
  • Nipple cream

Health

You don’t need to go crazy in the first-aid department, but it’s a great idea to have these items at your disposal before baby comes home.

  • Baby thermometer
  • Infant Tylenol
  • Baby nasal aspirator
  • Soft baby brush
  • Baby nail file
  • Baby clippers
  • Silicone teethers to keep in the freezer

Baby gear

Now, there are tons of baby things out there that look like must-haves. Give yourself an impulse buy or two, but make sure to have these baby gear essentials.

  • Infant car seat or a car seat that converts as baby grows
  • Stroller
  • Baby carrier
  • Baby bouncy seat
  • Portable pack-and-play
  • Play mat and/or baby gym

Toys and books

You will surely get lots of baby toys from family and friends, but new parents will still want to pick out a few things on their own.

  • 5 or 6 baby board books for bedtime stories
  • 2 or 3 bathtub books
  • 5 or 6 baby toys for tummy time
  • Basket or soft bin to store toys and books

It can be hard to know exactly what you need to prepare for baby’s arrival. When you look at what’s available at baby stores and online, it can be really tempting to snap up what you see. Unfortunately, that isn’t practical. You will put an unnecessary dent in the family budget and run out of space to store most of it. Instead, use our baby essentials checklist to ensure you get the items you absolutely need. Using a baby essentials checklist is also the perfect practice for setting up your registry for your shower.

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Dawn Miller
Dawn Miller
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Dawn Miller began her professional life as an elementary school teacher before returning to her first love, writing. In…
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