Baby Essentials To Make Your Life Easier
Your baby is coming. Congratulations! To prepare yourself, you’re going to need a few baby essentials to get you started.
Important Baby Registry Considerations
- Do keep in mind that what is considered a baby essential for one mom, may not necessarily be essential for another. For example, some moms can’t do without their nursing pillows – some consider it a waste of money. Therefore, consider your lifestyle, your budget, and your personality as you add things to your baby registry list.
- If you have an Amazon baby registry, add all your baby essentials to your baby registry, whether you think people would buy it, or not. Whatever is left on your registry can be purchased with Amazon’s completion discount. That means you get a discount on everything that is unpurchased on your registry. (It has to be on your registry in order for it to qualify for the completion discount.)
- For your convenience, our new baby essentials checklist is separated by the most important categories: baby feeding, diapering essentials, baby clothes, bathtime essentials, bedtime essentials, health and safety, baby gear and transportation, and baby proofing.
Click here for your FREE Printable Baby Essentials Checklist
Baby Essentials For Feeding
Breastfeeding Moms
Burp cloths
Breast pump (Get one for free via your insurance)
Nursing pillow (optional)
Nursing bras (Buy one cup size larger than your pregnant bra size)
Breast pads
Lotion for sore nipples
Nursing pillow (optional)
Hands-free pumping bra
(optional but oh-so-helpful)
Formula Feeding Moms
Burp cloths
Bottle and nipple brush
Formula (Be sure to check the expiration date and note the lot number in case of recalls).
Thermal bottle carrier (optional)
Bottle warmer (optional)
Nursing pillow (optional)
Bottle Drying Rack
(optional)
Bottle Sterilizer
Baby bottle dishwasher basket
(optional)
Babies Starting Solids
4-8 Baby bibs
Food Processor
(to prepare home-made baby food)
Baby Diapering Essentials
Disposable Diapers
2-3 Boxes of newborn-size diapers (If you had a diaper raffle at your baby shower, or you stockpiled diapers, great. Otherwise, use a diaper calculator to figure out how much you’ll need.)
Diaper changing pad or changing station
Diaper rash cream
Disposable baby wipes
Diaper pail (optional)
Diaper bag
Cloth Diapers
10 Diaper Covers
+ 24 Prefold Diapers
; or 10 Pocket diapers 
or All-in-one diapers
Diaper sprayer (optional)
Diaper changing pad or changing table
Diaper rash cream
Snaps, Velcro or safety pins to secure your cloth diapers (if necessary)
Cloth diaper wipes
Cloth diaper pail
Cloth diaper pail liners
Diaper bag
Gentle cloth diaper laundry detergent
Baby Clothes
The baby clothes you get will depend on the season that your baby is born into. Choose accordingly.
8 x onesies (choose short sleeve for summer babies, long sleeve for winter babies)
5 x baby nightgowns (they make nighttime diaper changes much easier.)
8 x one-piece baby bodysuits with zippers.
5 pairs of pants
2 x newborn hats for summer babies
8 pairs of socks or booties
2 pairs of scratch mittens (to prevent your baby from scratching him/herself.)
2 x cardigans or jackets (for winter babies.)
Bunting bag or snowsuit (for winter babies)
Laundry detergent for infants
4 x Outfits for dressing up (optional)
Baby Bathtime Essentials
1 x Baby bath (optional. You can also bathe your baby in the sink.)
4 x Baby washcloths
Baby shampoo and body wash
Baby soft-bristled hairbrush (optional)
2 x Soft-hooded baby towels
Baby Bedtime Essentials
A safe crib or bassinet
Crib mattress (according to the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics), less than two fingers should fit between mattress and crib)
3 x waterproof mattress covers
4 x fitted cribsheets
4 x swaddle blankets
4 x receiving blankets
Sleepsack
Nightlight (for nighttime diaper changes)
Baby Essentials Checklist For Health & Safety Products
Eyedropper or medicine spoon
Medication in case of fever
Nasal aspirator
(snot sucker)
Baby nail clippers or baby nail file
Petroleum jelly and sterile gauze
(for circumcision care)
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector
Baby Gear & Transportation Essentials
Infant or convertible car seat
Second car seat base
(for an additional car.)
Baby carrier for younger babies
Travel highchair
(optional)
Bunting bag 
or stroller blanket
for a winter baby
Baby carrier cover
for a winter baby
Optional But Nice To Have Baby Items
2-4 Baby pacifiers
(Sucking soothes babies. Therefore, most moms consider pacifiers as essentials.)
Pacifier clip or holder (Your baby is going to drop that pacifier, guaranteed. Sometimes you won’t be able to find it. A pacifier clip saves you a lot of trouble.)
Baby swing
or bouncer
Baby changing table (A baby changing station will make your life easier because you will have all you need to change your baby’s diaper in one place. It is very convenient but entirely optional).
A nursing chair
or rocking chair (You can feed your baby wherever it is comfortable, but it’s nice to have a comfortable chair in the nursery.)
Bookrack for baby’s books
. (This would be necessary if you had a “bring a book instead of a card” baby shower.)
Baby mobile
on the crib. (Great entertainment for your baby during the first few months.)
Blackout shades
. (Your baby will sleep longer in a dark room. Over time, your baby will associate the darkened room with sleeping time.)
Whitenoise machine
. (Some moms swear by it because it may help your baby sleep longer. You can also get a white noise app on your phone.)
Portable Playpen with bassinet
Play Mat
(for Tummy Time)
Baby Essentials For Baby Proofing
A NEW MOM'S GUIDE TO MAKING YOUR LIFE A LITTLE EASIER
Parenting is the hardest job you’ll ever have. This is why moms have to stick together and help one another. Here are several helpful resources from moms who know exactly what you’re going through.
