Have you started your baby registry yet? When you browse all the endless baby gear and clothing, it can make your head spin. So many options, so much stuff, and how do you know what you need? As you may have guessed, the list of items you need is much shorter than the list of options out there, so here’s a quick break down of the biggest necessities:
Baby Gear:
- Car seat
- Bassinet, co-sleeping bed, or cradle
- Crib with firm mattress
- Pack n Play - especially if your home has two floors, it’s helpful to have the Pack n Play set up on the level your crib isn’t
- Soft lamp or nightlight to have on for late night feedings
- Baby monitor
- Stroller
- Sling or other baby carrier for easy/hands free carrying of your little one
- Infant swing
- Exersaucer
- Floor play mat
Clothing, Diapers, etc:
- 8-10 onesies
- 7-8 sleepers (light weight for summer babies/fleece for winter babies)
- 1-2 fun dress up outfits
- A “take home” outfit and back up take home outfit
- 7-8 pairs of socks
- Hat to fit the season
- Diapers - various sizes, but make sure you have new born and size 1 to start
- Several packs of wipes
- Location to change diapers (that has a washable surface)
- Diaper rash cream
- Diaper bag (you can use any backpack or bag- it doesn’t have to be a diaper bag specifically)
Feeding:
- Pacifiers
- 7-8 Flannel receiving blankets (can be used for burp cloths and/or blankets)
If breastfeeding:
- Nursing pads
- Clothing that is easy to nurse in (button ups, nursing tops, tank tops you can layer, etc)
- Nipple cream
If bottle feeding:
- 10 bottles
- Formula or breast pump (depending on which one you will bottle feed with)
- Bottle brush
Bedding:
- 2 waterproof mattress pads
- 5-6 tightly fitting crib sheets
- 3-4 pack n play sheets
- 2-3 swaddling blankets
- 1-2 warmer blankets
Health and Bath:
- Thermometer (for infants)
- Infant fever reducer
- First aid kit
- Baby shampoo/body wash
- Baby lotion
- Infant washcloths
- Comb
- Place to bathe your little one (infant tub, tub insert, or you can just use your sink)