I only wish there existed a mechanism through which I could get just a tiny glimpse of the future to be better prepared for our newborn’s arrival.
My wife wanted to know the gender of the baby before she ‘seriously’ started shopping. As exciting as that sounds, I think we can all agree that it is impractical and will make you feel remarkably overwhelmed and underprepared once your baby arrives. So, we decided to purchase gender-neutral newborn essentials to start off on a good note with Shayla. While it did help a lot, I feel like we could have shopped smarter, a realisation which only dawned on me 6 months later!
So, I thought of curating a list that I believe will help expecting parents shop for their newborn with a sense of direction.
This baby checklist is my personal opinion on what you ABSOLUTELY must have, you are always welcome to add to it. I am breaking the list down to multiple categories for your perusal.
Breastfeeding essentials:
- Breast pump
- Steriliser
- Nursing clothes
- Formula (in case you’re bottle-feeding your baby)
- Bottle-cleaner (brush)
- Feeding bottle
- Muslin cloth or bibs
- Thermos (to store hot water for frequent feeding)
Diaper essentials:
- Reusable cotton nappies
- Disposable diapers
- Garbage bags (lots of them!)
- Rash cream
- Changing mat
- Baby wipes
Sleeping essentials:
- Crib or a baby mattress
- Sheets and blankets
- Baby monitor (just in case your baby sleeps in a nursery)
- Small mosquito net
Bathing essentials:
- Bathtub (convertible ones are great since they expand with the baby’s growth)
- Baby towels (make sure the material is pure cotton with a high thread-count)
- Baby oil and shampoo
- Massage oil (optional)
- Baby cream
Wardrobe essentials:
- Swaddle cloth
- Onesies
- Sleepsuits
- Socks
- Caps/Hats
- Tops and dresses
Safety essentials:
- Smoke detectors
- Stair gates or playpens
- Nightlights
- Furniture corner protectors
- Fireguards (if you have a fireplace in your house)
- Thermometers
- Emergency first-aid kit
- A book on baby illnesses
Added essentials:
- Hand sanitizer
- Toys
- Baby clippers (to regularly clip your baby’s nails)
- Cotton buds (to clean your baby’s ears)
- Baby carrier
- Prams or Strollers
- Diaper bag
- Sun protection cream for babies
That’s about it, I think! The list might seem exhaustive, but trust me, you don’t want to feel like someone punched your gut every time an item is unavailable, and your baby needs it. It’s definitely better to be thoroughly prepared.
If you have any other suggestions to add to the newborn essentials list, do share with us in the comments section below.
