Baby registry lists run to hundreds of items, and the shelves at the big baby stores are designed to make you feel underprepared. In the first month, though, a newborn’s life is mostly sleeping, eating, getting changed and being held. The list of things you will reach for every single day is a lot shorter than the marketing suggests.
This is the list we would hand a friend.
For sleep
- A crib, bassinet or play yard with a firm, flat mattress and a fitted sheet. Pediatric safe sleep guidance is clear that babies should sleep on their backs on a flat surface, with nothing else in the sleep space: no pillows, blankets, bumpers or stuffed toys.
- Two or three fitted sheets. Middle-of-the-night changes happen.
- Swaddles or sleep sacks. A wearable blanket keeps a baby warm without a loose blanket. Stop swaddling once your baby shows signs of trying to roll.
For feeding
What you need depends on how you feed, so it is worth waiting before buying a cupboard full of bottles.
- If you are breastfeeding: a few burp cloths, nursing pads and, if you plan to pump, a breast pump. In the US, most health insurance plans cover a pump, so call your insurer before you buy one.
- If you are using formula: four to six bottles to start, a bottle brush and the formula your pediatrician recommends. (Around the first birthday, most babies move from formula to plain milk; our post on toddler milk covers that switch.)
- Either way: more burp cloths than seems reasonable. Plain cloth diapers make great burp cloths and cost less.
For diapers and changing
- Diapers in newborn and size 1. Newborns go through a lot of them, but many babies outgrow the newborn size within a few weeks, so buy one or two packs of newborn and more of size 1.
- Wipes, or soft cloths and warm water for the first days.
- Diaper cream.
- A changing pad. It can sit on a dresser or the floor. A separate changing table is optional.
For clothes
- Six to eight bodysuits or sleepers with zips or snaps. Zips are faster at 3 am.
- A few hats and pairs of socks.
- One or two outfits for going out, and that is plenty. Newborn clothes get outgrown fast, and you will likely be given more.
For bath time and care
- A small baby bathtub or a sink insert. Until the umbilical cord stump falls off, sponge baths are usually recommended.
- A soft towel and washcloths.
- Baby nail clippers or a nail file. Newborn nails are sharp and grow quickly.
- A digital thermometer. Ask your pediatrician which type and method they want you to use for a newborn, and when a temperature means you should call.
For getting around
- A rear-facing infant car seat, installed before the birth. Many hospitals check that you have one before you go home. Many fire stations and hospitals offer free car seat checks.
- A stroller or a baby carrier. You do not need both on day one. Plenty of parents find a carrier more useful in the first weeks.
What can wait
A high chair, toddler cups, a play mat, a baby monitor with every feature and a full nursery setup can all wait a few weeks or months. You will know much more about what you actually need once the baby is here.
What to skip
- Crib bumpers, positioners and sleep wedges. They go against safe sleep guidance, and padded crib bumpers can no longer be sold in the US.
- Inclined sleepers for overnight sleep, for the same reason.
- Wipe warmers and bottle sterilizers you will not use. Room temperature wipes are fine, and most bottles can be washed with hot soapy water or in the dishwasher.
A last tip
Pack a small bag for the car with a spare outfit, a few diapers, wipes and a burp cloth, and refill it every time you get home. It saves more stress in the first month than any gadget on a registry.