20 Things You ACTUALLY Need for a Newborn Baby

What you actually need for your baby’s first month. In this post, I share my newborn baby essentials as a first-time mom to our daughter, Emily… I hope this helps you build your baby registry and find the essentials for your baby!

20 Things You ACTUALLY Need for a Newborn Baby

Snuggle me:

Since we co-sleep we wanted something that would ensure she didn’t get squished or roll off the bed (she’s not rolling yet haha but eventually she will be) This pillow has been great!

Swaddles If your baby likes their arms up:

Emily loves to have her arms up and we like how this swaddle allows her to do that.

Easy Velcro swaddle:

These are SO EASY to put on!

Onesies with 2 zippers:

No buttons or snaps here! We like the ease of zippers, and the 2 zipper feature is especially nice, but honestly any zipper works.

Bibs:

Emily spits up a lot so she lives in bibs. These are super soft, and I like the double button that is adjustable around her tiny neck.

Burp cloths:

We have burp cloths everywhere, and these are so soft and cute!

Washcloths:

We also have these everywhere and use them in the bath.

Bath seat:

This props your baby up in the sink or the tub and has a little grip to hold them in place. It also dries quickly.

Reading light:

Yes, I use this as a reading light; the amber is very soothing. But we also use it for nighttime breastfeeding when you don’t want to turn on an actual light and need to see what you’re doing. I clip it onto my bedding and it works great!

Milk collector:

Did you know you have something called let down when you breastfeed? Since the baby can only attach to one side at a time, this helps capture the milk. Just suction this to your other breast when you breastfeed- it’s the easiest way to get extra pumped milk out and prevent making a mess.

Milk containers:

These have been great for storing milk in the fridge.

Diaper changing pad:

You could be the best diaper changer in the world and your baby will still catch you off guard. Keep these on the changing table and in your diaper bag to ensure a mess-free change.

Ubbi Wipe holder:

I love how this is weighted so you can easily grab one wipe at a time. It also is sealed so the wipes don’t dry out.

Hairbrush:

This is the softest brush EVER.

Diaper caddy:

This diaper caddy had been great. I love how cute it is and all of the pockets/ adjustable storage are great.

Otter:

This otter is not only cute; it is also a sound machine and mimics breathing, so you can put it next to your baby when they’re lying in their bassinet and feel comforted. We also prop bottles up on it and feed her with it. It comes in handy when you need to feed but can’t hold your baby.

Nail buffer:

A MUST. Cutting baby nails is terrifying and this tool is so gentle. It doesn’t cut it lightly buffs and works so well. It’s gentle and quiet. It also has a light!

Gas relief:

When your baby seems like they’re in pain, it’s so hard to watch. We tried gripe water and finally gave in to Mylicon. It seems to help a lot with gassiness.

Pacifier:

These pacifiers are so cute and perfect for a tiny newborn mouth.

Cup with straw:

This is a must for any new mom. Having a handle really comes in handy when your hands are full or when you’re post partum and bending over in bed is super painful.

Car seat:

Finding a car seat that wasn’t too heavy was important to me since I have back issues and sometimes can’t move around easily. This one is 7 pounds! It also uses clean fabric without flame retardent. It’s a little pricey but is very very nice.

Stroller:

Picking a stroller was so hard for me. I really wanted a lightweight one and most seem to be over 25 lbs and HUGE. They also need two hands to fold them. We don’t have a garage so it would be living in my trunk so finding a small one was important. This one is SO GOOD. It has a single hand fold, is 18 lbs, comes with a cup holder, and is under $230. I’ve used it a lot and it’s been great so far. I put her car seat in the stroller and strap her in with the attachment.

Dish soap:

This dish soap is so good. I’ve tried so many clean brands over the years and found that most don’t lather… this one does! It’s fragrance-free too.

Bottle brush:

This brush is so good. The bristles are soft enough to get into the hard-to-reach areas but firm enough to scrape everything out. It also has a smaller, detachable brush for tiny crevices. I use it with THIS dish soap. I love this soap; it is clean, fragrance-free, and lathers very well!

Phone case:

If you’ve never heard of Loopy I’m about to change your life. I’ve used this phone case since 2012. It has this loop on the back that makes juggling your phone and a lot of other items in your hands doable. It also is VERY sturdy. If you do drop your phone it is super secure. I haven’t broken a screen or any part of my phone since I started using these.

Car camera:

This thing is genius! Instead of hanging a mirror on the headrest and looking in the rear view mirror to see your baby, you set up this camera. It attaches to the headrest as well, but the screen goes on your dash. This is nice because you don’t have to look in the rear view camera and both driver and passenger can see their baby.