Going shopping for new items for your baby? Here are the must-haves (and the don’t-needs) to help you shop smart.
Alexandra Grablewski
Around the House
Register at a baby gear store and you may be given a list that’s even longer than this one. Of course, they want you to buy everything they’ve got! Try to keep in mind that all you really need for baby is diapers, a place for him to sleep, and a blanket to bundle him in.
But we know you’re not living in the Stone Age. You need and deserve the accessories that will make your job as parent a whole lot easier. We’ve listed those as “necessities.” Other things that you might appreciate (but which some parents have found to be a waste of money) are listed as “It’s nice to have.” Items that are merely decorative or not very useful are categorized as “strictly optional.” Products that are unsafe appear under “no-nos.”
Nursery furniture
The necessities:
____ Crib or co-sleeper
____ Crib mattress
It’s nice to have:
____ Changing table
____ Bassinet (though it’s only safe until 3 months or 15 pounds)
____ Rocking chair or glider
____ Humidifier or vaporizer
____ Dresser/chest
____ Hamper
____ Baby monitor (if you have a big house)
No-nos:
A secondhand crib (get a new one for safety)
Linens
The necessities:
____ 2 fitted crib sheets
____ Crib bumper that ties on securely (this is controversial — some people worry that they’re a SIDS risk; others say they keep baby from banging into the bars)
____ Several thin cotton receiving blankets
____ 2 waterproof mattress protectors
Strictly optional:
____ Matching quilt or a crib skirt (they’re only decorative)
No-nos:
Pillows (a SIDS risk)
Sleep positioners (yet another SIDS risk)
Mattress padding (ditto)
Babyproofing
The necessities (not an issue until 4 months or later):
____ Gates at the top and bottom of all stairs
____ Cabinet latches
____ Drawer latches
____ Outlet covers
____ Fireplace bumper
____ Furniture anchors
It’s nice to have:
____ Toilet lock
____ Corner guards for low tables
Feeding
For formula feeding
The necessities:
____ 8 or so bottles with newborn nipples (try several brands to find the one your baby prefers)
____ Bottle-cleaning brush or a dishwasher basket
____ Bottle-drying rack
____ Several weeks’ worth of baby formula to start
____ 6 or more cotton bibs
____ 6 or more burp cloths (cloth diapers do the job)
____ Insulated cooler/carrier for outings
It’s nice to have:
____ Dry formula dispenser
____ Bottle sterilizer
Strictly optional:
____ Bottle warmer (heating in hot water takes the same amount of time)
____ Bottle proper (unless you have multiples and use it sparingly when you can’t otherwise feed all the babies at once)
For breastfeeding
The necessities:
____ Nursing pillow
____ 2-3 nursing bras
____ 2-3 boxes of nursing pads
____ 6 or more cotton bibs
____ 6 or more burp cloths (cloth diapers do the job)
It’s nice to have:
____ Breast pump (electric if you’ll use it every day at work, otherwise a hand pump is fine)
____ Breast milk storage bags or containers
____ Several bottles and nipples if someone else will be feeding baby pumped breast milk
____ Nipple cream (for the first few weeks)
Solid-food feeding
The necessities (not an issue until 4 to 6 months):
____ High chair
____ Plastic bibs
____ Infant feeding spoons
____ Infant bowl
It’s nice to have:
____ Mess mat for under the high chair
____ Baby food mill (if you’re ambitious enough to puree your own baby food)
Basic Baby Care
For diapering
The necessities:
____ 2 packs of newborn diapers to start
____ Wipes
____ Diaper rash ointment
____ Waterproof changing table pad
____ 2-3 changing table pad covers (usually cotton or terry cloth)
____ Diaper pail or trash can with a lid
It’s nice to have:
____ 4-5 waterproof square or rectangular pads for under baby’s bottom (protecting the cover that’s protecting the pad — you won’t be sorry)
____ Baby cream (if your baby has dry skin)
____ Non-talc powder (to help the diaper area dry faster)
Strictly optional:
____ A wipe warmer
____ A diaper stacker (though they’re pretty)
For bathing and grooming
The necessities:
____ 2 hooded towels
____ 4 washcloths
____ Infant tub (for after the umbilical cord falls off)
____ Bath seat or inflatable tub-within-a-tub (for after 6 months)
____ Baby bath wash
____ Baby shampoo
____ Baby comb and brush set
____ Nail scissors/nail clippers/nail file set
____ Cotton swabs
____ Cotton balls
It’s nice to have:
____ Bath toys
____ Mesh bag to hold bath toys
____ Bath thermometer
____ Faucet guard
Strictly optional:
____ A baby-size robe (it’s hard enough to get baby dressed in her real clothes!)
Clothing
The necessities:
____ 7 or more snap-crotch bodysuits/onesies
____ 3-4 T-shirts and/or side-snap shirts
____ Several snap-up rompers
____ Several shirt-and-pant sets
____ 7 pairs of pajamas and/or sleeping gowns
____ Sun hat
____ Cold-weather hat
____ Cardigan sweater
____ Bunting or snowsuit if it gets cold
____ 6 pairs of booties and/or socks
____ Baby hangers for the closet
It’s nice to have:
____ A special outfit to bring baby home in and/or show her off
____ Several diaper covers
____ A wearable sleep sack, to use instead of a blanket
Strictly optional:
____ Shoes (until baby is walking outside, i.e., the toddler years)
Going Out
The necessities:
____ Car seat that fits a newborn
____ Stroller that accommodates a newborn
____ Diaper bag filled with diapers, wipes, and a spare outfit
____ Front carrier, like a Snugli or Baby Bjorn
It’s nice to have:
____ Sling (for the newborn stage)
____ Baby backpack (for after 6 months)
____ Stroller that your car seat fits onto
____ Rain cover for the stroller
____ Infant headrest for the car seat (if it doesn’t come with one)
____ Warm blanket or “boot” to wrap baby in during winter strolls
____ Sunshades for the car windows
____ Big diaper bag for overnight trips
No-nos:
Mirror to see baby in the car (it can be a hazard if there’s an accident)
A secondhand car seat (always get a new one)
Just for Fun
First toys
No necessities, but it’s nice to have:
____ Soft books and board books
____ Rattles
____ Plastic links
____ Soft blocks
____ Activity gym/play mat
____ Crib mirror
____ Toys that attach to the stroller
____ Something plush that crinkles, rattles, and squeaks
____ Baskets to store toys in all the key places: baby’s room, the living room, the kitchen
No-nos:
Car seat toy bars (an added risk if there’s an accident)
For sitting baby in
The necessities:
____ Bouncer seat or infant seat
____ Stationary activity center (once baby is 4 months old)
____ Heavy blankets and quilts to lay on the floor
It’s nice to have:
____ Swing
____ Moses basket (though only usable until baby reaches 3 months)
____ Portable play yard
No-nos:
Walker (get a stationary center instead, for safety)
Jumper (also generally considered unsafe)
When Something’s Wrong
For soothing
The necessities:
____ Several pacifiers (try different brands to see which one your baby prefers)
____ Mobile for over the crib or changing table
____ Lullaby CDs or other soothing music
It’s nice to have:
____ Music box made for the crib
The medicine cabinet
The necessities:
____ Thermometer
____ Petroleum jelly
____ Infant Tylenol
____ Nasal aspirator
____ Electrolyte drink (such as Pedialyte, to treat dehydration)
It’s nice to have:
____ Teething ointment or other teething remedy
____ Vapor cream and/or vapor bath
____ Saline nose drops
____ Antigas medicine
How to Pick the Perfect Stroller for Your Baby
All content here, including advice from doctors and other health professionals, should be considered as opinion only. Always seek the direct advice of your own doctor in connection with any questions or issues you may have regarding your own health or the health of others.
Alexandra Grablewski