Things Newborns Need + What to Take OFF Your List!

The things newborns need are not always obvious!

Are you expecting a new baby and feeling overwhelmed? It’s hard to know for sure what things newborns need when there’s this gigantic baby product industry, all very convincing that you need what they have. 

Add a cute nautical print and I’m even more torn! Have you been there?!

Well, take it from this practical momma! I’ve been there, done that, and asked a few friends and family members to chime in as well. Here are the very basic things newborns need, plus what new parents should skip and why.

A Few General Tips

Quantities will depend on your laundry situation. If you have a washer and dryer in your home, you can always throw in a quick load. (Whether you want to or not is a different story to consider.) If you use a laundromat, it’s a good idea to have enough of everything to buy yourself some time.

Keep everything as compact and portable as possible. We chose a baby swing with an extra-wide base, making it difficult to move around our home and impossible to take with us.

Don’t start something you don’t want to do forever. If your baby has a heated changing pad and a wipe warmer at home, they may expect the same other places or several years into the future. It’s not that those little comforts are bad things, but that habits are haaaaard to break with babies. Just consider that before you start one.

Make the most of registry benefits. For example, anything registered for and purchased through a Target baby registry can be returned or exchanged up to one year from your due date. That’s hugely helpful when you’re not quite sure what your baby wants or needs just yet.

Furniture

Crib

You could buy a $400+ mid-century crib if you’d like, but there are a lot of nearly-as-cool cribs out there to give your new baby a safe place to sleep for a helluva lot less! Keep it simple and clean, traditional, or modern on the cheap.

Crib Mattress

Your baby doesn’t need a Tempurpedic. Heck, Finnish babies sleep in cardboard boxes!

Buy a crib mattress that’s waterproof and you won’t have to buy a waterproof crib mattress cover.

Dresser

You’ll want a place to keep baby clothes, swaddles, sheets, and other baby items. Opt for a dresser that’s changing height, and you can skip the changing table altogether (see below).

It’s always a good idea for both safety and peace of mind to buy furniture that comes with child safety anchors, like this one.

Rocking Chair

You’ll want a comfortable place to feed your baby and though not necessary, a seat that rocks or glides is especially helpful for putting them back to sleep. This was our biggest nursery splurge!

We wanted something that would grow with our child, and this double-wide rocking chair is now our 5-year-old’s favorite place to read books with her great-grandmother.

Hamper

You can throw dirty onesies and burp cloths into a cute nursery hamper or a basic bin. But you’ll be thankful to have somewhere nearby to throw them, instead of walking dirty baby items to another room.

Skip the changing table!

Instead of a changing table, use a changing pad on top of the dresser for diaper changes. Then you’re not left with a useless piece of furniture when your baby’s out of diapers.

Choose a changing pad that’s waterproof and open on both ends to give your baby plenty of room to grow. Although I’ve changed many a diaper without a changing pad cover, you can pick up a 2-pack of super cute jersey-knit covers on the cheap.

If you opt for the dresser/changing pad route, a hanging organizer for diapers and wipes will help to avoid your little one kicking things off of the dresser during diaper changes.

Skip the baby bouncer/swing until you know your baby’s preferences.

Some babies hate a swing or baby bouncer, or both! Some moms find out they prefer to wear their baby.

I know several parents who have spent hundreds on a mamaRoo to only use it once or twice. Wait until your baby’s arrival, then take them to a baby store to try out a swing or baby bouncer before investing in one.

Clothing

Onesies

The more you have, the less often you’ll have to do laundry.

Outfits are cute but a pain when you’re changing their clothes every three minutes. (Hello, spit-up and poop!)

Plus, family and friends will likely load you down with plenty of outfits at your baby shower. Sleepers are a pain, too, and not necessary for a comfortable night’s rest.

Skip the no-scratch mittens.

The hospital will likely send you home with a pair, and your baby might not even need them (ours didn’t).

Linens

All the burp cloths in all the world.

You’ll use burp cloths all day to catch milk, drool, spit-up, and more. It’s a good idea to look for burp cloths that are large and super absorbent. 

Swaddle blankets.

Before you go investing in expensive sleep sacks that your baby may or may not like, give the standard swaddle a go! They’re super versatile, so you can use them all day and not just for sleeping.

Two to three fitted crib sheets.

You’ll understand the value of backup sheets when you’re cleaning up poop at 2 AM.

Skip the blanket for a while, or tuck it in tightly so that your baby can’t pull it up.

Experts recommend no loose blankets in the crib to lower the risk of SIDS. It’s better to ensure your baby’s safe sleep than to have a cuter crib setup.

Feeding

You may plan to breastfeed exclusively and/or use a breast pump for the first year. But many people find that their babies or bodies have other plans.

You might plan on using the latest and greatest bottles but find that your baby refuses them. I personally suggest not stocking up on 10 million of any feeding supplies until you’ve established a regular feeding schedule and know what your baby needs and prefers.

Back-up formula, even if you plan to breastfeed.

You don’t need a lot, but having just one can of backup food that doesn’t require a trip to the store might just be a lifesaver during those early days when you’re deep in the newborn trenches. 

A two or three-pack of bottles.

Do not stock up on 20 of one brand or kind of bottle until your baby’s arrival, when you’ll learn what works best for your particular baby.

Skip a fancy breast pump and nursing pillow until your baby is latched and breastfeeding well.

I have lots of friends who invested hundreds in a breast pump, breast pads, and more only to find that breastfeeding just didn’t work for them. Opt for what your insurance covers, borrow from a friend, or find a cheap manual pump with killer reviews until you know the situation better.

Skip the bottle sterilizer and warmer.

They’re just not necessary. But if you can’t resist, opt for a fantastic sterilizer under $20 or a warmer that does double duty as a sterilizer.

Changing

Diapers and wipes in a few different brands and sizes.

Whether you’re leaning toward disposable diapers or cloth diapers, again, you don’t know what works best for your baby until you know.

I had friends plan to use cloth diapers exclusively, only to realize they were too much of a hassle while on-the-go. Another friend planned on using disposable diapers, then learned her new baby had allergies that demanded they use cloth diapers.

I had lots of friends swear by Honest diapers, but they did nothing but leak for my daughter. I swore that Pampers tripled in size to contain overnight wetting, but my friend didn’t experience the same with that brand.

Buy a few diapers in the next size up, too, in case your baby shows up on the scene bigger than expected or grows like a weed. Some people request baby shower guests bring a pack of disposable diapers in lieu of other gifts, which might just save you from that ruffled, cheetah-print, rhinestone outfit your aunt would otherwise bring!

Diaper cream.

Although we never needed it much, it’s wise to have a tube of diaper cream on hand whenever you do.

Diaper pail.

Some may disagree, but I loved having a convenient place to contain the stink until I was ready to walk diapers to the trash outside. This diaper pail doesn’t require buying special bags, which will save you hundreds over your first few years.

Hygiene

Infant hygiene kit.

A cheap kit like this one will knock out your need for a hairbrush, thermometer, baby nail clippers, and other essential items in one fell swoop. Bam!

Nosefrida for booger duty.

Can I be honest with you? I nearly puked at the thought of using this thing for the first time.

But it has been 10 million times more effective than a bulb syringe and saved us on many a sleepless night.

The filter will keep you from sucking anything but air into your mouth, I promise! Pick up some saline drops to make the whole job easier.

Baby bath.

While not necessary, these make it way easier to bathe your baby! If you buy a baby bath that fills with water, you can avoid filling an entire adult bathtub to wash a six-pound human.

Snag one that converts from a newborn to toddler bath and you’ll be covered for years!

Soap.

Babies don’t usually need a separate shampoo. We liked a soap with a lavender scent to make for a more calming bedtime routine.

Lotion.

Any mild lotion will do but darn it, we were keeping all things calming—all the time.

Skip the gripe water and any medications.

Most doctors will tell you to avoid giving medication to newborn babies and if/when they start suggesting them, they will be very specific about what to get. As for gripe water, you may or may not even need it, or your doctor may not recommend it.

Skip the pacifiers.

Again, some may disagree! But the hospital will send you home with several, and you might not even need them.

Our daughter really never took to a pacifier, leaving us with three different varieties of pacifiers that we had already unpackaged and washed for her use. 

Electronics

Video baby monitor if your baby won’t be sleeping in your room.

I know, I know. People lived without a baby monitor for 10 million years.

But I personally enjoyed more peace of mind (and better sleep!) being able to view my baby on demand. You can go the traditional baby monitor route or opt for a Nest Cam like we did, to view your baby on your smartphone.

Skip the white noise machine.

This is another thing that you can’t be sure your baby will use. If running water or the bathroom fan seems to calm them, then go out and look into a white noise machine.

Traveling

Baby car seat/stroller combo.

This is an area people tend to spend lots, all in the name of safety. But believe it or not, we snagged this highly-rated car seat/stroller travel system for under $200 at Walmart!

We loved that the tires were rubber instead of plastic, making them perfect for every terrain. Consider purchasing a travel system to save money and maximize compatibility and ease of use.

Diaper bag.

Whether you go the more stylish route or the bag-daddy-won’t-mind-carrying route, the key here is finding a diaper bag with lots of pockets, easy-access wipes, and an insulated section for bottles. Bonus points if you can wear the diaper bag like a backpack to free up your hands!

Pack ’n play if, and only if, you plan on being away from your home relatively often.

You’ll want a safe place for your baby to sleep while away from home.

We didn’t leave home much or long while our daughter was small. So we got away with borrowing them from hotels (many hotels will leave one in your room at your request) and occasionally from an aunt.

Baby carrier…but hang onto your receipt!

Ah, the legendary baby carrier…loved by some babies, loathed by others.

This is another area where you won’t be sure what your new baby tolerates until the baby’s arrival. And frankly, you won’t know what works best for you until then either!

So opt for a reasonably-priced baby carrier and hang onto your receipt until you’ve tried carrying your baby in it a few times.

It is easy to spend thousands preparing for a new baby, but newborn babies actually need very few things. And thanks to the internet, you can find most of those things for a reasonable price!

What your new baby needs most is a loving parent. You’ve got that part down! The rest is just frosting, momma!

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P.S. Want to make shopping even easier? Check out our Newborn Essentials ideas list on Amazon here!

*Updated April 13, 2024.

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