Newborn Essentials & Not So Essentials

There are many things people will say are newborn “essentials,” but what is really essential? Having a baby is expensive and you don’t want to waste your money on something that you don’t absolutely need – especially if you are on a tight budget. Don’t worry, we put together a list of essential and non-essential (but helpful) items for your newborn.

Newborn Wardrobe Essentials

There are so many different styles and types of clothes for newborns that it can be a little overwhelming. When dressing a newborn it is important to buy clothes that will be a little loose-fitting around their belly area because they still have a sensitive umbilical cord that you have to be careful with. These are a few items that are essential for your newborn wardrobe.

• Onesies – short sleeve or long sleeved

• shirts/pants – for when you are going out

• Socks – to keep their feet warm

• Pajamas – many people choose to use a one-piece footed sleeper with zippers. This makes it easy to put them in and keep them warm all night. Try to use nightgowns until the umbilical cord falls off.

• Newborn Hats – sun hats help to keep your baby’s delicate skin out of the sun until you can start to use sunscreen; and beanies are essential to keep their heads warm in the winter.

• Warm Clothes such as jackets, leggings, beanies, socks, and a bunting suit are necessary if your due date is in one of the cooler months.

• Laundry Detergent – because over their sensitive skin, babies need a gentle laundry detergent specifically for their clothes.

Helpful in your Newborn Wardrobe

• No-scratch mittens – one thing you may not know about babies is just how sharp their little nails are. And because they still have not gotten control over their limbs they can easily scratch themselves or you. You can either maintain their nails and make sure they don’t grow too long, or you can buy them some no-scratch mittens to keep their nails from digging into their skin.

Nursery Newborn Essentials

These nursery newborn essentials are a must have if your baby is sleeping in a crib.

• Crib/Cradle

• Firm/flat mattress

• Fitted sheets – you will want only fitted sheets in the crib with them because blankets can increase the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). You can keep them warm by putting them in a footed sleeper, or swaddling them.

If you are planning on co-sleeping you will need:

• Bassinet

• Waterproof Pads – so that any accidents don’t make a mess in your bed

No matter what type of sleeping situation you are planning on doing, you will need:

• A Changing Area – this can be as simple as a blanket that you lay on the floor or a pad on a dresser; or it can be getting a changing table. Whatever fits your lifestyle and budget.

• Place to Feed – this can be a rocking chair or a glider, or you can decide to just use your couch.

• 2-3 Blankets – these can also function as burping cloths or swaddlers

Non-Essential/Helpful Nursery Needs

• Baby Monitor – this can be incredibly helpful if you have a large house and are planning on having your baby in a separate room.

• Humidifier – babies go from being in the womb to being in a completely different environment. Their lungs are not used to air, so it can make them more comfortable if you use a humidifier to add moisture in the air.

• White Noise Machine – similar to the humidifier, when a baby is in the uterus they hear everything through a barrier, so adding a white noise machine can mimic this sensation and ease their sleep.

• Swaddle – Many mothers swear by swaddling. So if you are interested in swaddling your baby, think about investing in a few swaddlers.

Newborn Diapering Essentials

If you plan on using cloth/re-usable diapers you will need:

• 6-8 Cloth/reusable Diapers

• Snaps/Velcro/Safety Pins – to secure the diaper

If you plan on using disposable diapers you will need:

• 2-3 big boxes of newborn size diapers

No matter what type of diaper you plan to use you will need:

• Baby Wipes

• Diaper Cream or some other sort of diaper product to prevent a rash

Helpful Diaper Products

• Diaper Bag – to hold all of your diapers and diaper products when you go out of the house.

• Diaper Pail – this is essentially a trashcan used specifically for diapers, it holds all of the dirty diapers and prevents any smells from getting out. Many women use these to prevent their house from smelling and to prevent them from making too many trips to the trash can.

Bath Newborn Essentials

A few newborn essentials for the bath include:

• Baby Bathtub – they cannot go into a normal bathtub on their own.

• Baby Shampoo and Body Wash

• Hooded Towels

• Washcloths

Bath Non-Essentials

• Hairbrush – to keep their hair from getting tangled after being washed.

• Lotion – to keep their skin from drying out.

Feeding NewbornEssentials

Some mothers choose to breastfeed and other mothers choose to feed their baby formula. If you plan to give you baby formula you will need:

• Baby Bottles and Nipples

• Bottle Brush – to clean all the small crevices and hard-to-reach areas of the bottle

• A couple months supply of formula

If you are planning on breastfeeding you will need:

• Breast Pump – so you can keep a supply of your milk available for others to feed to you baby.

• Milk Storage Bags – This is a popular alternative to putting your breast milk in bottles. It makes it easier to keep your breastmilk for a longer period of time, and allows you to put it in the freezer.

• Nursing Pads – Nursing mothers constantly have to deal with milk leakage so nursing pads prevent this from leaking onto your shirt.

• Nipple Cream – To help with chafed or sore nipples that come from breastfeeding.

Non-Essential Feeding Products

• Bibs/Burp Cloths – these cloths prevent your baby from puking on you or your clothes.

• Nursing Pillow – A nursing pillow makes it much easier to feed your baby because it props their head up so you don’t have to.

• Nursing Bra – A nursing bra, like the one available on Bellefit, allows you to easily unclip your bra and breastfeed – particularly at night when you are half asleep.

• Bottle Warmer – to make the formula a good temperature. Babies like their milk to be body temperature because it keeps them calm and comfortable. You can always warm it up in the microwave, but you run the risk of making it too warm and heating up a plastic bottle can sometimes be dangerous.

• Bottle Sterilizer – In between feeds the bottles will need to be washed and sterilized to make sure no germs are on the bottles. You can always try to hand wash them or you can even put them in the top rack of the dishwasher if you want.

Health Newborn Essentials

Babies are a lot of work, and their health is very delicate in the early stages of their life. These are the newborn essentials you will need to make sure they remain happy and healthy.

• Nail Clippers – keep you baby from scratching themselves with nail clippers or a nail file.

• Thermometer – to monitor their temperature.

• Petroleum Jelly/Gauze – for circumcision care

• First Aid Kit – with baby medication in case of a fever or a cold.

Helpful Health Products

• Cradle Cap Brush – some babies develop a case of cradle cap in their infancy. This brush can help to brush off some of the flakes that develop from the condition.

• Pacifiers – a pacifier is used to simulate the nursing feeling which is very soothing to a baby. This can help to calm them down and soothe their crying.

• Bulb Syringe – to suck out mucus that may get stuck in their nose.

Newborn Essentials Baby Gear

• Stroller

• Car Seat

• Carrier or Sling – some strollers will come with carriers that can detach from the stroller.

Helpful Newborn Gear

• Play Mat

• Mobile – to put over their cradle or bassinet

• Night Light

• Sun Shade – for in the car

Postpartum Self-Care

After you have given birth to your baby the last thing you will be thinking about is your own well-being, but your health is just as important. You want to get back to feeling your best and that is where Bellefit can help. We know that all you want is to be comfortable and we have all the best postpartum garments around. From leggings to undies you will be covered and comfortable. Check out Bellefit today!

We hope this list of newborn essentials has made you to-buy list a little bit easier. Feel free to comment on any other products that made your life easier!