The long-awaited day is almost here! You will soon have a precious baby in your arms and you want everything to be perfect!
Bringing home a newborn baby, especially when it’s your first, can be daunting. Such big changes and unknowns can cause stress for a new mom. “Take the stress out” of your preparation with this newborn baby checklist. It will help give you the confidence to know you are ready!
The following newborn baby checklist can be used as a guide in your quest to be prepared for your new arrival. While no checklist will have you prepared for EVERYTHING (like finding out your mother-in-law is coming to “help” for a few weeks), this one should be close!
Clothing – Newborn babies grow to the next size very quickly! Don’t go crazy shopping for the tiny newborn clothes, or you may find your baby has outgrown them before she’s even had a chance to try them on! By the time your baby is 8-9 pounds, you’ll need 3-month clothes (these will last until your baby is about 12 pounds). Some larger babies even skip the newborn size altogether!
The amounts listed here are based on the assumption that you will be doing your laundry at least 2 times per week.
- 5-10 newborn size suits
- 2 sweaters
- 5-7 sleepwear
- From 2 to 4 portable blankets or sleeping bags.
- 4-6 onies
- wear clothes
- 2 pairs of mitts (to avoid scratches)
- hats – one for warmth and one for shade
- snowsuit – DO NOT wear when your baby is in their car seat
- 6-10 pairs of socks (more is better because they are so small that they get lost or “eaten” in the washing machine)
- accessories, such as shoes, hair ornaments, jewelry
- mild laundry detergent
bathe and groom – When my first baby was born, we had very few baby items, and nothing for bathing. Do you know what we found out? we really didn’t need much. He was perfectly clean when I bathed him in the bathroom sink and washed his hair with the hose from the kitchen sink.
So why did I include most of the following items in this newborn baby checklist? Convenience. There is a LOT to be said for convenience when you have a newborn baby in the house!
- baby bathtub or baby bath sponge
- 4 baby wipes
- 2 hooded towels
- baby lotion
- baby brush
- child nail clipper
- baby shampoo/wash
- bath thermometer
nursery items – A beautifully decorated nursery is a fun way to prepare for your new baby. Giving baby’s room character and then putting away the items she’ll be using makes her start to feel like she’s REALLY coming soon! To consider:
- train
- baby hangers
- rocking chair
- cd player with relaxing cds
- Night light
- nursery decor: wall hangings, window coverings, bed skirt
diapering – “Changing a diaper is a lot like getting a present from your grandmother: you’re not sure what you’ve got, but you’re pretty sure you’re not going to like it.” (Foxworthy) No baby checklist would be complete without “covering” this.
- wet wipes, either commercial or homemade
- changing mat with waterproof pad
- 3 washable changing mat covers
- hand sanitizer
- diaper rash remedy
- clean heater
- diaper disposer or diaper pail with bags
- basket or diaper bag to keep diapers organized If you use disposable diapers:
- 10-12 disposable diapers per day OR if using cloth diapers:
- 24-36 cloth diapers
- 8-10 diaper covers
- inserts and linings
- diaper clips if the chosen system requires them
- diaper sprayer
Feeding – Once you’ve decided whether to breastfeed or bottle feed, you’ll want to consider what items you’ll need to help you have a healthy baby.
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Breastfeeding needs:
- 3-5 lactation arms
- nursing pads – washable or disposable
- breast pump
- nipple cream
- breast milk storage containers
- nursing pillow
- nursing cover
- 10 burp rags
- baby bottles (BPA free): start with a few until you know what your baby will prefer
- nipples (clear silicone)
- formula – do not store until you know it will “do good” for your baby
- 10 burp rags
- bottle brush
- bottle warmer
- clothes line
- sterilization bags
Bottle feeding needs:
sleeping – Newborn babies spend about 18 out of every 24 hours sleeping. At least some of that time you will want to leave him to attend to your own needs. Your baby’s safety during this time is paramount. Providing a safe, comfortable and familiar place to sleep will help your baby establish good sleep habits which will, in turn, make it easier for YOU to sleep. Will need:
- place to sleep: crib with mattress, portable crib, bassinet, bassinet or co-sleeper
- 2 mattress covers
- 3 fitted sheets
- 6-8 receiving blankets
- baby monitor
- a small fan for air circulation and white noise
Travel – Whether it’s across town or across the country, you’ll want to show off your baby (or at least stock up on diapers). Traveling with a newborn is more complicated than grabbing the keys and heading out the door, but you’ll be prepared for any trip if you have:
- Car seat
- diaper bags
- replacement car seat cover
- walker
- baby carrier or carrier
- blankets of different thicknesses
- car seat travel bag for air travel
- carry cot
Health – No one likes to think that their baby will get sick, but sooner or later it will. Be prepared by having the following items on hand:
- nasal aspirator/bulb syringe
- petroleum jelly
- digital thermometer
- isopropyl alcohol and cotton swabs (for umbilical cord care)
- infant acetaminophen: use with newborns only on the advice of your pediatrician
- saline nasal spray
- a great pediatrician
- Don’t forget to add your baby to your health insurance policy!
Security – Your newborn won’t be able to move for a few months, but you’ll want to have safety features in place long before that happens.
- security doors
- corner/edge bumper
- security locks
- outlet covers
Development and Entertainment – Most of your newborn baby’s early development will come from hugging, singing, talking and interaction provided by those who love them the most. A few items to stimulate and entertain him while you’re busy will be beneficial to both of you.
- baby mobile or a plastic mirror for the crib
- some toys of different textures
- swing and/or hammock for babies
- baby book to record all milestones
A common “new mom” mistake is to take care of her baby to the point of not taking care of herself. Don’t forget to make “mommy care” a priority, too. Add his favorite bubble bath to your newborn baby’s checklist, and then use it!