10 baby basics: The essentials you need for your newborn

When expecting your first child, it’s very easy to get carried away with shopping for your little one – from the endless online lists of “essentials” to all the things you (or someone else) feel you just “have to have”. Babies may seem complicated to their proud new parents but their material needs are much simpler than you think. Here are the 10 things that you really need:

1. Clothing

Remember that babies grow very quickly, so don’t break the bank on expensive choices and keep a few items in the next size handy. 

You will need:

Four to eight onesies 
Two or three outfits for dressing up
Two long-sleeved “jackets” for cold weather 
Four to seven pairs of socks or booties 

2. Nappies and wipes

On average, newborns require about 12 nappy changes per day. If you’ll be using disposable nappies, avoid panicked trips to the store by buying enough of these before your baby arrives, and if you’ve opted for cloth nappies, ensure that you have enough to use in between laundry loads.

3. A changing surface

All those nappy changes will be much easier if you have a place set up for them. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to buy a changing table, because having an allocated area in your child’s room will also do. Simply furnish this with the following:

A changing pad
Two or three changing pad covers

4. A crib

Shop around for a crib or bassinet that is stable and secure, and, if you plan to have more children, ensure it’s hardy enough that it can be passed onto a sibling. Complete your baby’s sleeping area with: 

A mattress that fits your crib
Four fitted sheets

5. A car seat

Be sure to invest in a sturdy car sea, as this is required by law for all children under the age of three.

6. A stroller

Your new baby won’t be able to sit upright for long until they develop stronger muscles. For this reason, you’ll need a stroller that allows your child to lie flat, or one in which you can fit your child’s car seat.

7. A bag

While you’re out and about, you’ll need to cart all your baby’s essentials with you. A baby bag with lots of space and compartments is ideal for this. This bag will be part of your life for quite a while so pick one for convenience, comfort and durability.

8. A bathtub

Until the umbilical cord falls off, your baby will only require sponge baths so have one or two soft sponges ready. When you’re able to give your baby actual baths, you’ll need:

A bathtub that provides enough support
Two to four soft towels

9. Toiletries

Babies have very delicate skin and so you’ll need to look out for products that will not do any harm, for example: 

Lotions especially made for babies 
A gentle soap 
Shampoo that won’t irritate your baby’s eyes

10. Toys

Your child will need a few playthings to help keep them occupied, but you don’t need everything in the toy aisle. The following will be more than enough: 

A rattle 
One or two soft toys that are easy to hold 
A musical toy