Newborn Essentials

Dear Pregnant Self,

Before JW was born you searched everywhere for the most compete list of newborn essentials and did your best to buy EVERYTHING on that list. Alas, now you are the wiser and have come to realize less is more.  Here is a bare minimum list of newborn essentials; if you were to start the first 6 weeks of your little mans life with only these things you would have been fine.  Actually, you would have been even more than fine, you would have been less stressed and have had less clutter, two very good things!

Lets start with the sleep, because newborns sleep ALOT, like all the time:

Don’t bother with the bassinet or even the crib yet, for the first 3-4 months all you need for JW to sleep in is a baby hammock for naps and at night.  Thats right, a baby hammock. Its amazing! Great for kids with colic or that have trouble sleeping.  The system lets baby gently rock themselves back to sleep if they wake up and stir.

Arm’s Reach Baby Hammock – great for babies with colic, gas or tummy issues.

Another alternative for sleep is a bedside co-sleeper.  There are a ton of different models and Pinterest even has directions for DIY, which look super easy and safe.  It all depends on what is most comfortable for you and your newborn baby.

Bedside co-sleeper

Whether you go with the hammock or the co-sleeper, your going to need to swaddle your baby to keep them happy.  Make sure to have plenty of easy swaddlers and receiving blankets, TONS!  The easy velcro swaddlers will be great for when little man puts on some weight and the receiving blankets can be used in the beginning, the labor and delivery nurses will show you how to do it, don’t worry.

SwaddleME

Swaddling Blankets

Your baby is also going to need to to have his diaper changed, a lot.

Go ahead and purchase changing table and a padded insert or even just the pad, just make sure to have an area with all his diaper needs at arms length.  Also, make sure it’s well stocked with diapers, wipes, cream and any thing else babies hinny will need.

Changing Table

Changing Table Pad

Besides sleeping and pooping, your newborn also needs to eat.  If you decide to either nurse and pump or go with formula, you will need bottles.

I highly recommend getting half a dozen or more 8oz Dr Browns bottles (with dish washing tools from a past post).  Make sure to change the nipples at 3,6 and 9 months.  Your just going to waist your time with the 4oz bottles, baby boy will only use them for 3 months then you will need to go up to the bigger size, so start with the 8oz and save some cash.

8oz Dr. Brown Bottles

You need a carseat, its the law.  Skip the travel system and get yourself a convertible car seat and 5 point harness umbrella stroller (or a jogging stroller like the city mini).  You can also just substitute the stroller for a carrier or wrap.

Convertible Carseat

5 point harness umbrella stroller

Sometimes your going to need to put your little love down, either asleep or awake, and get some stuff done.   A short, low to the ground, baby seat is a perfect place to keep baby safe while you shower or take care of the house.  This has a belt to keep little one in their tight and is soft a cozy!

Lamby Seat

Rub a Dub Dub, that baby is going to need a tub.  Click here to find out everything you will need to bath your little bundle!

Ducky Tub

Babies spit up. Babies vomit. Babies barf and your going to have to clean it up.  Cloth diapers are the best spit up rags you will ever use and cost way less.  Stock up!

Cloth Diapers

So the peanut doesn’t go naked- onesies and one piece sleepers with zippers for when he gets a bit older.  The cute jeans and polos will be his jam when he gets older but for now keep him comfortable in onesies and sleep and plays, make sure to get zippers not snaps because you don’t want to be messing around with snaps at 3am with a screaming hungry infant.

Zipper Sleep and Play

Binkies, pacifiers, soothers, nuks, whatever you call them, have plenty of them.  Some babies won’t take to them, but JW loves them! Also grab a few clips so when they fall out of his mouth they won’t hit the floor.

Nuk Passies

Diaper bags are sooooo cute but nothing compares to a good old fashion classic LLBean backpack.  Skip the diaper bag, the backpack is convenient and holds a ton! Also JW can use it when he starts school.

Backpack

And that’s all you would need, the most basic list of newborn essentials, everything else is just nice to have but not necessary. Hope this is helpful!

[Updated 9/24/13]

Blessings and love,

Colleen