Newborn Checklist

If you’re expecting and beginning to prepare for your new arrival, creating a newborn baby checklist can go a long way toward helping you get organized before you bring that new bundle of joy home. You might experience a bit of apprehension along with the excitement and anticipation, but a bit of advance preparation can help you make the most of the experience with your newborn baby. A checklist will help you gather all the necessary supplies in advance and make things for easier for both you and your newborn in those critical first weeks.

One thing that quickly becomes apparent when you begin to make your checklist is that babies need a lot of supplies in the beginning. However, before you go out and purchase a truckload of baby nursery items, you might want to wait until after you have had your baby shower because you will probably receive gifts from your family and friends that are on your checklist of essential items. Obviously, there are thousands of different baby products available to choose from, but the basic items are the most common things every newborn needs.

The Baby’s Room

You can decorate your child’s nursery as you go along, but in the beginning there are some basic items that you will definitely need in the baby’s room:

Crib with bedding and mattress
Waterproof mattress pad
Changing table
Dirty diaper container
Disposable diapers
Cloth diapers
Baby wipes
Diaper rash cream
Pacifiers
Swaddling blanket
Small toys and rattles

The Baby’s Bath

You can bathe your newborn in a regular bathtub or a sink, but it is a whole lot easier if you have a small baby tub. In addition to the tub itself, you’ll also need:

Baby shampoo
Baby lotion
Soft baby towels
Baby washcloths

Feeding Time

Depending on whether you will breastfeed or bottle feed, or both, you’ll need several bottles, with nipples and rings. You should also purchase a bottle brush, and a dishwasher basket is helpful if you will be using your dishwasher to wash the bottles. Here are some other basic items you will need to feed your newborn comfortably:

Bottles with nipples
Baby formula
Breast pump
Nursing bras
Breast milk storage containers
Lanolin ointment for sore, cracked nipples
Bottle brush
Burp cloths
Baby gas relief drops

Baby Travel Equipment

You’ll need a baby car seat if you want to be able to take your newborn home or anywhere else because car seats are now required by every state in the U.S. In addition to the seat, there are a few other baby products you’ll need to travel with your infant:

Stroller
Baby carrier
Portable diaper bag
Portable diaper and wipes storage case

Baby’s Basic Clothing

Obviously, you could go crazy buying tons of baby clothes, but remember babies grow quickly and what fits today might not tomorrow. Beyond the cute stuff, there are a few basic clothing items that your baby will need including:

One-piece baby bodysuits
Soft cotton caps
Baby socks
One-piece sleeper pajamas
Baby blankets

Extra Baby Necessities

In addition to the baby basics, there are also those items that can make life with your newborn a lot easier in general. Some of the optional baby equipment you might want to have on hand would probably include: