| Baby coming soon? Worried about what you NEED and what people are simply trying to sell you? We have compiled the most complete list of everything you need in preparation for baby. Created by mommies for mommies. From diaper bags to bottles to your layette and more.
If this is your first baby and you are at all like I was, you are probably overwhelmed with the responsibility of trying to plan for everything your baby will need and have it before he/she gets here! There are a lot of baby preparation lists out there - mostly compiled by those who sell baby items - and it's hard to know exactly what you do and do not NEED.
I have compiled a concise list with my sisters of what you really need. I'll leave it up to you as to how many of each item you want to buy ... it varies depending on your child and on you (are you the type of mommy that wants your baby to wear different coordinated outsfits everyday or are you OK with jammies everyday?) I organized the list into 8 categories: baby clothes, baby gear, baby furniture, baby safety, books, games & toys, bath time, changing time, feeding time, and me stuff. Take a look ...
Baby Clothes
- Baby hangers
- Baby laundry detergent
- Bodysuits
- Booties or socks
- Foot wear
- Gowns (with drawstrings) or stretchies
- Hats
- Homecoming outfit
- Lightweight cotton mittens
- Outfits
- Receiving blankets
- Fleece blanket (2 for winter)
- Shirts
- Onesies
- Snowsuit or bunting
- Sweater
- Top/pants sets or one-piece footed rompers
- T-shirts or kimonos
Baby Gear
- Front pack, sling or back pack
- Infant Car Seat
- Jogging stroller
- Little umbrella fold up stroller
- Plastic "splat mat" (if your eating area is carpeted)
- Stroller
- Sun Dome (if you are regular beach goers)
- Camera (digital, video, or film)
Baby Furniture
- Changing table or dresser w/ changer top
- Rocker or Glider and ottoman
- Cradle / Bassinet
- Crib (if you have a crib, a seperate cradle is not necessary)
- Comforter / Bedding
- Crib bedding set
- Extra Crib Sheets / Linens
- Crib blankets
- Crib bumper pads
- Crib mattress (many crib mattresses are waterproof, and an extra waterproof crib liner is not necessary, but extra protection, just in case)
- Waterproof crib liner
- Dresser, Drawers and Storage
- Highchair
- Rocking chair
Baby Safety
- Baby monitor
- Baby Seats
- Baby Thermometer (digital - the ear ones are the easiest and fastest to use)
- Baby Tylenol or Motrin
- Bottle sterilizer
- Bulb Nose Aspirator (hospital)
- car seat - Rear-facing infant car seat or infant-toddler (convertible) car seat
- Carbon Monoxide Detector
- Cupboard and drawer latches
- Dimmer Light
- FIRST AID KIT (tylenol – allergy medicine)
- First aid supplies
- Humidifier/vaporizer (a must-have for winter babies)
- Infant first aid course
- Ipecac
- Lasinoh Lanolin
- Mylicon (anti-gas)
- Nail Clippers /Scissors Manicure Set
- Night Light
- Petroleum Jelly
- Plastic outlet protectors
- Safety gates
- Smoke Detector for Baby's Room
- Toilet seat locks
Books, Games & Toys
- Baby Book or Journal
- Books on pregnancy and childbirth, breastfeeding and parenting
- Bouncer seat
- Classical or lullaby music
- Colorful board books for baby (simple pages with white backgrounds and large, colorful pictures)
- Developmental Toys
- Gym or playmat
- Mobile
- Music box (keep on changing table and play when you are changing their diaper)
- Nursery Rhymes and Dr. Suess Books (newborns like the sing song verse)
- Rattles and Teethers (2 or more)
- Sound machines
- Little toys that attach to the infant seat
- Swing
- Baby safe mirror
Bath Time
- Baby Bathtub
- Baby lotion
- Baby Oil
- Baby Powder
- Baby Shampoo
- Baby Wash
- Bath (or waterproof) toys
- Bathseat (for when they begin to sit up)
- Brush and Comb
- Hooded terry cloth towels (at least two)
- Baby Q-tips
- Soap – Dove or other hypo-allergenic soap w/out fragrance
- Washcloths
Changing Time
- Baby Bag or Diaper Bag
- Changing pad
- Cloth diapers for spit up rags
- Diaper Genie or Pail
- Diaper Genie or pail liners
- Diaper Ointment
- Diapers (If cloth diapers, plastic pants and/or Velcro covers - 6-12)
- Hamper or laundry bag
- Portable, washable changing pad to keep in diaper bag
- Wipes or rags
Feeding Time
- Bottles (various sizes, 4-8 oz) and various nipples (you may find that your baby likes and dislikes certain nipple brands, try a few)
- Breast milk storage bags
- Breast pads and cream
- Breast pump
- Breast shields
- Formula (if you choose to use it at any point before your baby starts on solids, you need to introduce the bottle to them around 6 weeks, after that they may never take a bottle and go straight to sippy cups after nursing)
- Infant spoons
- Burp cloths
- Lap pads
- Pacifiers and clips
- Plastic bowls
- Plastic Dishwasher Cage
- Plastic, spill-proof sippy cups
Me Stuff
- Maxi-pads / Panty liners
- Nursing bras
- Nursing pillow (boppy)
- Nursing tops
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