For any expectant parent, a stroll down the aisles of a baby store is an exciting experience. But, with so many things to buy, where do you start? Buying for a newborn can be an overwhelming task, but it doesn’t have to be. We’ve put together these tips to help you pick up everything you need. Read on to get your downloadable Newborn Baby Essentials Checklist too.
Things You Need For A Newborn Baby
Newborn Essentials Checklist
Let’s start with the essentials for newborns. From sleeping to feeding, learning to travel, use this printable newborn checklist to help you pick up those must-have items, ready for your new arrival.
How to choose smart essentials for newborns
Buying for a newborn? Look for items that can save you time or space – or both.
- All-in-one suits with foot covers and built-in scratch mittens: Save time searching the nursery for tiny scratch mittens – there always seems to be one missing when you need them!
- Colourful cotton body suits: Choose ones that can be worn for playtime as well as sleep, meaning no need to have designated sleepwear.
- As well as being beneficial to baby's sleep, wool-filled bedding can regulate your babies tempertature and help them to fall asleep faster.
- Plenty of bibs: There's seemingly no limit to the number of bibs one baby can get through in a day. Save yourself extra washing by stocking up on extra bibs
Things You Don't Need For Your Newborn
When there are so many cute items out there, it can be difficult to resist! Here are some things you don't need to buy for your newborn:
- Dummy: While some babies will crave a dummy early on, others won't need one at all. Wait and see which group your baby falls into before buying one and creating that dummy-addiction. This will also help you resist the temptation to give your baby a dummy unnecessarily – starting a habit that can be difficult to break.
- Lots and lots of toys: Who doesn’t love buying cute and colourful baby toys? In the first few weeks, your baby will not be all that aware of their surroundings, only noticing simple colours and shapes. So buy them just a few simple toys to get started with and let friends and family take care of the rest – chances are, you’ll be surrounded with toys of all shapes and sizes within a few weeks of baby arriving.
- Lots of “first size” clothes: In fact, you may not need any at all. Babies that are heavier than 7lbs or simply a little longer than average tend not to fit in this size. So buy just enough first size items to get you started – your baby may be ready for the next size up in as little as a week.
- High chair: Your newborn won’t need a high chair until they're able to sit up and hold up their own head. This usually happens between 4-6 months old, so wait a little longer before investing in a high chair. This may be a good opportunity to spend any gift vouchers you’ve received from friends.
