Newborn necessities: The first few days

You may find that your first trip to Babies“R”Us leaves you feeling overwhelmed, and even slightly panicked—who knew there was so much, well, stuff out there? Before you max out your credit card and overcrowd your nursery, we help you decide what’s really necessary.

While some parents attest to their baby wipes warmer being a total life-saver, others will tell you that theirs sat on the floor of the closet for two years before being donated to charity. Some babies shriek at the touch of a room-temperature wipe on their sensitive baby bottoms; others wouldn’t mind if you stored the wipes in the freezer. Different baby personalities and parent preferences require different baby products to suit them. But although the usefulness of an incubator for disposable cleansing cloths is debatable, there is a whole slew of items that no parent could live without.

Here’s a laundry list of the bare necessities to stock up on from day one: items that nearly all parents will agree are essential in the first days at home with your newborn.

Eat.  

Burp cloths. As much a form of protection for you as for your baby, burp cloths will help prevent a spit-up stain from being an everyday fixture on the shoulder of your sweater.

Bottle-feeding

Bottles. Whether you choose to use glass or plastic bottles, you’ll need smaller (4-ounce) bottles when your baby is first born, as she won’t be able to eat much more during a single feeding. As her appetite grows, you can switch to 8-ounce bottles.

Nipples. There are countless nipple varieties on the market, running the gamut in shape, size and rate of flow. We recommend buying a few different kinds to get started until you see what your baby prefers; once you know her favorite, you can stock up.

Formula. You’ll want to have enough formula to get you through at least the first couple of days, or even the first week, so that you don’t have to venture out to the store with your brand-new bundle of joy. You can estimate the amount of formula your baby will consume per day by multiplying her weight by 2.5 ounces. For example, an 8-pound baby will drink around 20 ounces of formula daily. This formula (no pun intended!) is not fool-proof, but is a good tool for planning your first trip down the baby aisle.

Breastfeeding

Breast pump. Whether you choose to use a manual, personal electric or hospital grade breast pump will depend on your personal needs, such as affordability, portability and speed. A thoughtful assessment of how often and how much you plan to pump will help you decide.

Nursing bras. You can begin buying nursing bras as soon as your breasts outgrow your regular bras, usually during your fifth or sixth month of pregnancy. Be sure to buy at least three or four bras that provide easy access and a good fit.

Nursing pads. Whether disposable or washable, nursing pads are a lifesaver when it comes to preventing you from drowning in milky leaks. Just make sure you choose some in a variety of absorbency levels, since the random, unsolicited milk flow will be heavier at first, and then become lighter.   

Nipple cream. Anything you use to sooth your dry, cracked nipples will come into direct contact with your baby’s lips, so you’ll want to choose an ointment that is safe for both of you. Look for a cream that is 100 percent lanolin, which is both safe and effective (and for the record, sticky!).

Optional: Nursing cover. As your baby will undoubtedly get hungry in public company, you’ll want a nursing cover to preserve your modesty.

Nursing pillow. A nursing pillow can help you position your baby comfortably for feeding. Choose one with a removable cover for easy washing.

Sleep.

Crib, bassinet or co-sleeper. During the first days or weeks with your baby, you may want her to sleep in your bedroom. If so, a bassinet or co-sleeper is a great choice for keeping her close by and safe. If your baby will be sleeping in her nursery from the beginning, a crib is a worthwhile investment.

Fitted crib sheets. We recommend buying several fitted crib sheets, so that at 2 a.m., you can easily swap out the sheets soiled by an overflowing diaper for some fresh ones.

Waterproof liner. For the same reason that you should have multiple sets of fitted crib sheets, a waterproof liner is a good idea.

Crib mattress. You’ll want to choose a mattress that is not too plush and that fits your crib. An overly soft or ill-fitting mattress can be hazardous to your baby.   

Swaddling blankets. As any seasoned parent can attest, a good night’s rest is the result of a well-swaddled babe. Although any blanket will do, blankets created especially for swaddling tend to stay in place better, meaning you’ll get to stay asleep longer.

Optional: Monitor. If your baby isn’t sleeping in your bedroom, you may want to have a monitor in the nursery, so that you can hear her soft whimpers down the hallway in the middle of the night.

Poop.

Diapers. Whether you use cloth or disposable, you’ll want to make sure that you have plenty of diapers (and liners and covers for cloth-users) on hand. Most babies use between 8 and 12 diapers each day. Don’t overbuy in the newborn size, however—you’ll be surprised by just how quickly your little munchkin will grow!

Wipes formulated especially for your newborn baby’s sensitive skin will help prevent unnecessary irritation in the first couple of weeks. You’ll want to have a good-sized stash at home —trust us, running out of wipes at midnight when you’re halfway through changing a stinky diaper is less than ideal. A travel-sized pouch for daytime outings will come in handy, as well.

Diaper pail. Keeping a garbage bin beside your changing station makes stashing that stinky mess a breeze; and a pail that keeps the odor to a minimum makes that breeze refreshing, too.  

Changing pad. Whether you do your changing on the floor, your bed or a changing station in the public restroom, a changing pad will protect the surface of the changing location from baby’s messes and protect baby from the messes of the changing location’s surface—especially in that public restroom.

Optional: Changing table.  Changing tables provide a place for you to store all of your baby’s diapering essentials and, depending on the model, can even double as a dresser. However, changing a baby on the floor works just as well, especially since your baby can’t roll off of it!

Dress.

Layettes pieces. One-piece rompers are some of the easiest, most comfortable apparel a baby can wear, so you’ll want to have several on hand. Purchase layettes that are soft, diaper-friendly, machine-washable and, of course, irresistibly cute.

Tops and bottoms. Separates are a nice change of pace from one-piece outfits. Shirts should have snaps on the shoulder to make them easy to pull over your baby’s head, and pants with elastic waist bands are easy to pull on and off for diaper changes.  

Hats. Winter babies will need a couple of cuddly knit hats to keep them warm, whereas summer babies will benefit from a wide-brimmed hat for sun protection.

Socks. Although some of your clothes might have built-in “feet,” you’ll still want to buy plenty of tiny baby socks. The number of socks that mysteriously fall off of your baby’s tootsies will amaze you.

Sleepers. You’ll need to have a couple of sleepers, since they’ll be a little crusty and in need of washing after absorbing a night’s worth of slobber. Try both the snap-up and zip-up variety to see which you and your baby prefer; we found it was much easier to zip than to snap in the dark at 3 a.m.

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