So you are about to become first-time parents. Congratulations! It will feel surreal for a while, especially being your first child. Certain milestones will make it so much more real. Like, the moment you get an ultrasound and hear the heart beat for the very first time. Or, when you finally get that baby bump and can’t see your toes anymore. It becomes so real when you feel the baby kick for the first time! You start to wonder the gender and envision their sweet face. Despite the roller coaster of emotions and pregnancy symptoms, it can be such a magical time. Try to enjoy it because, it may sound silly now, but you will miss this time!
Some first time parents start to panic a bit as they approach their due date. There are so many unknowns and the anxiety builds of what’s to come. I’ve known first time parents who start a baby registry and add EVERYTHING. They have no idea what they really need so they just want it all so they are prepared. My husband and I were the opposite. We were so overwhelmed with what to buy that we ended up just getting the bare minimum. This is kind of ironic since we are big into planning things out and being prepared. We just didn’t really know what was absolutely necessary and what was the nice-to-haves. Now that I have been through it once, I think I could really help a new mom out! And just remember, unless you live in the remote Alaskan wilderness, there is always a store near by where you can pick up an item.
First things first – remain calm! Even if your due date is just around the corner, you don’t have to have everything ready. If you forget something that you think is essential then order it up on Amazon! Then you don’t even have to worry about making a run to the store. Now that we are calm and have taken a few deep breaths, let’s begin.
Below is a list, by category, of the newborn essentials. These are things that will be great to have before baby arrives. Getting these items before baby comes will help you and your partner familiarize yourself with these new things! Once you have the nursery setup and decorated things will REALLY start to feel real! Keep in mind, I am not telling you that you MUST purchase all of the below items. These are just recommendations from my own experience.
BATH
- Infant Bath
- Towels
- Baby Soap
- Baby Shampoo
- Washcloths
BEDDING
- Crib
- Crib Mattress
- Crib Sheets
- Blankets
- Mobile
- Noise Machine
CHANGING
- Changing Pad
- Diapers
- Wipes
- Diaper Cream
- Changing Table
- Diaper Garbage Can
CLOTHING
- Onesies
- Sleep sacks
- Socks
- Hats
- Jackets
- Mittens
- Outfits
- Shoes
FEEDING
- Nursing Bras
- Burp Cloth
- Formula
- Bottles
- Breast pump
- Bottle Cleaning Brush
- Bibs
- Breast Pads
- Bottle Warmer
HOUSEHOLD
- Pacifiers
- Baby Proofing Supplies
- Baby Gate
- Booger Sucker
- Baby Thermometer
- Night Light
- Play Pen
- Baby Monitor
TOYS
- Stuffed Animals
- Sensory Toys
- Rattles
- Soft Books
TRANSPORTATION
- Car Seat
- Diaper Bag
- Stroller
- Baby Carrier
- Window Sun Blocker
MISCELLANEOUS
- Infant Bug Spray
- Infant Sun Block
- Baby Lotion
- Teething Gel
- Teethers
I’m not going to tell you what are the must-haves and what are the nice-to-haves because this is left up to individual preference. It all depends on your lifestyle and needs. For example, my husband and I feel that we MUST have a bottle warmer and it is a life-saver because it quickly warms the bottle at a good temperature. This makes life easier for us, especially when Daddy is doing feedings. Some of our friends laugh at the idea of a bottle warmer and they got by with simply running the bottle under warm water which works too! It’s all up to what you think you need. Our child gets HANGRY (hungry angry) real quick so we want that bottle to be ready as fast as possible.
This is a basic checklist that will give you an idea of where to start! Talk it over with your partner and see what you think are the must-haves and nice-to-haves. If you are not quite sure then hold off for now because you can always buy it later. If you feel the need to have EVERYTHING you could possibly need then go nuts and buy it all. Save the receipts and take back what you don’t need. People will try to give you lots of advice, even when you aren’t asking for it. The decision is ultimately up to you.
Good luck to you on your new journey ahead! A lot will change when the little one arrives but it is a love that you have never experienced before and it will be amazing. Congratulations and we hope this list gave you a good starting point!
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