End of Season Sale
With my last pregnancy, my second child, the key word that guided my baby prep was “convenience”. I didn’t want to be standing over a boiling pot of water sterilising bottles with a 3-year-old running around, and the idea of doing wake ups and resettles with two kids (my first still not being a great sleeper) immediately made my heart pound. I was going to do whatever I could to make things easy, knowing that time and limbs weren’t going to be something I had an abundance of. However, I recently went to a baby shower of friends who are preparing for their first baby, and have been specific about not wanting a lot of baby stuff, and I suddenly remembered how very differently I prepared for my first.
For some, creating a baby list and gift registry is one of the best parts of expecting a baby. For others it’s overwhelming to think about all the things that might soon be invading your space. The money, the storage, the pressure to buy the “right” stuff. The stuff you’ll really need, and use a lot. For me, it was the thought of my home turning into a plastic-filled daycare centre that irked me most. And the potential waste.
You can’t avoid the extra mess, laundry, or the fact that your bin will be fuller than ever come pick-up, but you can manage and minimise the “stuff” with a baby list and registry (because asking people to buy you what you actually need, rather than leaving them to find something themselves is perhaps the best way to minimise the stuff) with only the essentials: “simple”, “hardworking”, and “stylish” are your guiding principles. Let us get you started.
30 Actual Essentials For Your Baby Registry
For Sleep
You'll soon learn, new parents are obsessed with sleep. So there are a lot of tools that can help your baby (and you) get more of it, settle quicker, and to track it all and give you data about all of it. These are things you don't need from day dot and instead can collect as the need arises. It also bares mentioning that a lot of these things are multipurpose. Many monitors are white noise machines, many night lights are humidifiers... the SNOO is a bed, that rocks, plays self white noise and tracks your baby's sleep. Doing your research, and get the stuff that's going to work hardest for you.
You do need somewhere for the baby to sleep, but you don't need a full nursery set up and ready to go (though a chair to use when feeding and resettling will be much better for your back). You don't even need a cot yet. You can use a bassinet (a smaller baby bed) for the first few months or, if you don't want to be buying multiple beds, you can use a cot from the start.
1. Somewhere to sleep (SNOO, bassinet, or cot.
2. Sheets
3. Sleep sacks
Fairly essential, depending on your set up
For Care
A friend recently asked me if she really needed a change table. Couldn't they just do it on the bed? Or the floor? And ofcourse you could, but you'll spend 100x the cost of a change mat on physio for your back in subsequent years. You don't need a change table, but you do need a change mat situated at a height that is comfortable and allows you to grab nappies and wipes without stepping away from your baby (whether that's drawers or a nappy caddy). A baby needs around 8 nappy changes a day, for around three years, it's worth getting the set up right. In terms of first aid, there's a lot you can have on hand, but the big one is a thermometre. Get a good one, learn how to use it, and keep it handy. When fever strikes you'll want to be ready.
4. Change mat
5. Nappies
6. Wipes
7. Nappy cream
8. Thermometre
Fairly essential, depending on your set up
For Feeding
It's different for everyone, and until your baby arrives, you won’t know what will work best for you. Your baby might not use a bottle at all, she might go 5 different styles before finding one that works, or she might start using one right after you return from the hospital. What works for your family is best, but until you know what that is, it's wise to have the essentials of each option so you're not caught without at 2am, exhausted and stressed. However, it’s wise to prepare for various possibilities so you’re not caught off guard when you’re exhausted and stressed. Take the time beforehand to sterilise bottles and breast pump equipment well ahead of your due date. Learn how your pump works Dealing with a breast pump and have some formula at home in case it’s needed. In terms of breast care, there's a lot that can make a massive difference, and when you need it, you'll need it asap. A thriving parent is the most important thing a baby needs, some make sure you have the support. You can find all our aids in The Postpartum Recovery List.
9. Bottles
10. Burp cloths
12. Haakaa Pump
Fairly essential, depending on your set up
For Clothes
Babies grow fast, and often you only want the softest, easiest options when they’re super small. Save anything more fashion or fancy (dresses, overalls or anything in linen) until they’re at least size 3-6 months. Registry for a range of sizes to have all your bases covered, and follow The Newborn Clothing List for how many of each item you need.
15. Growsuits
16. Singlets
17. Hats
18. Seasonal essentials like cardigans in cooler months
For Bathing
You can bathe them in a sink, or your regular bath, but you'll need one hand to hold them up the whole time, which means you're locked in, and after doing it a few times, your back might really start to feel it.
19. Something to wash them in. Bath, bath support
20. Body wash
21. Body lotion/oil
Fairly essential, depending on your set up
For Play
Newborns just need short bursts of play and stimulation each day, but it's good to do it regularly as they grow. It's important for bonding and development in many different ways. A bouncer or rocker also gives you a safe place to put your baby down while you eat, shower or do anything you need another hand for.
23. Play mat
25. Soft books
26. Rattle
27. Teether
For Leaving the House
You need a car seat to leave the hospital (sometimes they can ask to see the installation certificate). You need a pram to get them around and a carrier will have multiple purposes in and out of the house, particularly if they're preferred place to sleep is on you. Do your research to make sure you get the best option for your family. Unless you have another adult who'll always be in the back seat who can be your eyes on the baby, a car mirror is pretty essential, and a baby bag is most parents' MVP but because you technically could use something else (I have a friend who uses her car boot as her baby bag) I've reluctantly popped it in the "not entirely essential" category.
28. Pram
29. Carrier
30. Car seat
Fairly essential, depending on your set up
