Complete Newborn Baby Shopping List With Pictures (A-Z Freebie)

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If you’ve ever asked, “What do I need to buy for a baby before it arrives?” or wondered which baby products are necessary or essential and which ones can be skipped – this post is for you.

I put together a newborn baby shopping list with pictures because SEEING what you need is helpful when you’re a first-time mom. It’ll help new moms to conquer the overwhelm of figuring out everything they need for their newborn.

This is the essential newborn baby shopping list with pictures so pin it for later for reference and grab the free DPF at the bottom!

Note: Click on any of the pictures to shop this post!

The Most Essential Baby Shopping List: A Baby Items List A-Z

Baby Nursery Items

Things to keep in mind when creating your nursery:

• You can hold off on purchasing the crib and mattress if you plan to have your baby sleep in the same room for the first few months (and beyond).
• You DO NOT need to buy a particular change station for the nursery- if you don’t want one. Simply buy a dresser to grow with your child and add a changing pad to the top.
• You can also use a changing mat on your own bed for the first few months to space out big purchases.

BABY CRIB

• Choose a sturdy reliable crib that’ll work for baby until they transition to a real bed
• Don’t go for a top-of-the-line crib – babies grow fast, and you’ll be transitioning them to a bed before you know it!
• You may consider not buying a convertible crib – many are for sale on second-hand websites (so you could look there to save money) because they’re not practical. Eventually, you will want to move your sweet baby to a twin bed, so why do you need a toddler bed? 🙂
• Want something easier to store and move? To be honest, I skipped the crib altogether and opted for a Pack N’ Play with an adjustable bassinet and changing station! (We travel a lot, so this was practical too.) 
• If you want to buy a matching set, check out our nursery furniture recommendations.

CRIB MATTRESS

• For 1st-time mom baby needs- choose a crib mattress that is two-sided – babies need a firmer mattress when they’re newborns to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. You can flip the crib mattress to the softer side when your baby is a year old.

MATTRESS PROTECTING COVER

• No matter what kind of diapers you choose to use, there will be accidents.
• Invest in a crib mattress cover so that it doesn’t get stained.

CRIB SHEETS

• Baby skin can be so sensitive, so some extra soft organic sheets are one of the baby essentials
• While you’re at it- grab soft sheets for the whole family (see our full list of recommended options)

BABY CHANGE PAD

• Get a changing pad for the top of a dresser in the baby’s room.
• It can also be placed on the top of your own dresser if you would like to wait on purchasing big bedroom items until your baby is older.
• You’ll notice I don’t recommend buying a nursery set. That’s because it makes much more sense (and saves money!) to buy a dresser when your baby is older.

Related read: Changing Table Organization Ideas

BABY MONITOR

• A baby monitor gives you peace of mind when your new baby arrives and is sleeping – it is a worthwhile investment for newborn baby accessories.
• You can find a high-quality baby monitor at a variety of price points.
• Most people prefer video monitors these days, but you can also opt for an inexpensive sound monitor (we used this because our house was small anyway!)

DIAPER GENIE

• I see a lot of discussion about whether or not to get a Diaper Genie for the nursery, and since I’ve included it on my baby shopping list with pictures, you can tell I think it’s worth it for baby essentials.
• You need something to lock in the smell of dirty diapers – trust me. You might get used to the smell, but visitors won’t (Or you can take out your diapers daily- your choice!)
• MOM HACK: take a regular garbage bag and place it around the Diaper Genie bag insert. Secure it with heavy-duty elastic. Viola – you’ll save a ton of money NOT buying the Diaper Genie bags. 🙂

GLIDER ROCKING CHAIR

• Get comfy seating in the baby’s nursery (or for your bedside)- you’ll be spending hours there!
• A glider with a footstool is a classic must-have for rocking and cuddling your sweet newborn baby.
• Want different seating options? See our favorite chairs for breastfeeding here.

RELATED READ: Baby Hacks and Tips for New Moms

At Home Baby Items

BEDSIDE BASSINET

• For the first several months, it’s a good idea to have your baby sleep in your bedroom – it gives you peace of mind and reduces the risk of SIDS. (source)
• Getting a separate bassinet to place beside you means you’ll get more sleep and still have the baby near.
• For other options at a variety of price points, check out all of our favorite bassinets here.

BABY SWING

• A baby swing might be one of those baby items you’re not sure you need. As an experienced mama, I can tell you, there will be times when you need to put your baby down and it’s nice to have more than one place to do so that’s safe. And babies tend to be happy when they’re being bounced and swayed.
• Hands down this is my favorite item! Although, some babies end up not liking them. 

PORTABLE DIAPER CADDY

• A diaper caddy is one of those baby items that will make your mom life so. much. easier.
• Easily transfer essential baby-changing items (and other baby supplies) to where you’re hanging out with the baby.
• Just trust me, get one!

RELATED READ: Pregnancy To Do List Before Baby Arrives

Baby Diapers and Changing Items

NEWBORN BABY DIAPERS

• Grab one box of newborn baby diapers to start. The box in the picture has 120 disposable diapers, which may get you through the newborn phase.
• You can always buy another box if you need it – babies grow fast and aren’t in newborn sizing for long (or might not even start there on occasion.)
• If you have a Costco membership, this is a great place to get quality low-cost diapers.

BABY WIPES

• Choose baby wipes that are fragrance and chemical free. You’ll need them for everything!

DIAPER CREAM

• Get a good quality diaper cream – I love the Weleda line and highly recommend it!
• The tube is big enough to last several months – you just need a small amount to cure most diaper rashes.
• Burt’s bees diaper products are another reader favorite

Newborn Baby Clothing Items

Things to keep in mind when shopping for baby clothes:

• The time of year you will be delivering your newborn baby.
• Family and friends will likely give you a lot of clothes, so don’t go crazy buying – get the basics.
• Babies grow fast, so get a mix of newborn and 0-3 month sizing.
• Don’t fall for too many cute baby socks and baby shoes- your newborn doesn’t need them, and they just fall off! Stick to footed jammies and booties when possible.

ZIPPERED SLEEPERS

• Zippered sleepers are the way to go – much better than doing up numerous buttons, especially during those 2am diaper changes.
• Trust me, add zippered sleepers to your newborn baby shopping list (my daughter that was born in September, has lived in them all winter long!)

ONESIES

• You can NEVER have enough onesies – newborn babies do a lot of spitting up, pooping, and peeing – so there will be a lot of outfit changes during those first few weeks.

NEWBORN BABY SWEATERS

• Don’t buy a ton of baby sweaters – maybe one or two – a lot of first-time moms are surprised to discover that newborn babies live in their sleepers and onesies. But they’re nice for keeping them warm on cool spring or fall days (and are usually car seat friendly)
• Again, babies grow fast, so don’t go too crazy with a lot of newborn clothing.

BABY PANTS

• Same ideas as above. You’re really getting sweaters and pants in case you have a function to take your newborn to.
• Yes, I realize some mamas love dressing up their babies – my baby shopping list is definitely written from the angle of making new mom life as easy as possible. Honestly, babies look cute in everything! 

WARM BABY HATS

• Have 2 to 3 warm hats on hand – especially if your baby is born during the cooler months.
• If you live somewhere sunny and like to go for walks like we do, find a warm hat with a bill (hard to find but an amazing mom hack!)

RELATED READ: Early Pregnancy Checklist

Baby Care Items

Things to keep in mind when shopping for baby care items:

• You can never have enough receiving blankets and burp cloths during the first few weeks with your new baby.

RECEIVING BLANKETS

• Receiving blankets provide a clean surface to lay your baby on.
• They can act as a substitute for burp cloths in a pinch.
• They keep your baby clean.
• Lay a receiving blanket underneath your baby while they’re in the bassinet (not for sleeping) to make clean-up easier.
• During the newborn stage, you may be able to use them to swaddle.
• So many uses!

MUSLIN BLANKETS

• Muslin blankets will be your go-to for swaddling, covering your baby in the infant car seat, and providing a safe blanket to lie on. They can also be used as a burp cloth- or at least I did.
• Muslin blankets are breathable, so that really gave me peace of mind when I was a new mom (I always had one on hand in my diaper bag). It is the perfect newborn baby material and one of those essential baby items!

BABY FRIENDLY LAUNDRY DETERGENT

• Finding a chemical-free, plant-based laundry soap that actually cleans clothes can be a bit challenging – I highly recommend Tru Earth Laundry Detergent as a reader favorite- it checks all the boxes and is safe to use with newborn baby clothes.
• I cloth-diapered my first daughter for 9 months and loved the cleaning power of Mary’s Suds (also natural and free of fragrance) (Look here for more unscented baby laundry detergent options.)

EAR THERMOMETER

• I highly recommend picking up a Braun Ear Thermometer – we absolutely love ours. It’s one of those things that give you peace of mind to have in your baby gearbox.

GROOMING KIT

• This grooming kit comes with emery boards which you will use while your baby is a newborn.
• The kit will grow with your baby – it comes with a brush, comb, medicine dropper, booger sucker, and nail clippers- all the essentials you might not otherwise think of!

RELATED READ: Must Have Baby Items for First Time Moms

Baby Feeding Items

Things to keep in mind while shopping for baby feeding items:

• No matter how you decide to feed your baby, please remember that fed is best – don’t let anyone tell you differently!

NURSING BRAS

• You will need at least 3 nursing bras.
• The one pictured above is my fav – comfortable and easy to access!
• Since I spent most of my time in sweats- my absolute favorites were these nursing tanks.

BREAST PADS

• Your breasts will leak if you breastfeed (trust me); or even if you don’t.
• Pick up some washable breast pads to absorb excess milk and save you from embarrassing moments (they are so much more breathable and eco-friendly compared to disposable ones)!

BREASTFEEDING PILLOW

• There are a lot of breastfeeding pillows on the market, but the one pictured is by far the best.
• Your body has been through a lot – give yourself a break and buy a pillow.
• A pillow that supports you! Seriously though- most pillows are so floppy they really don’t support you well. 

BREASTFEEDING COVER

• Buying a breastfeeding cover really depends on how comfortable you are when nursing in public- this one doubles as a car seat cover too!
• I personally never liked using one except when my girls were brand new, and it took a little adjusting to get them latched on correctly (aka my nipple out)- otherwise, I could stay discreet without covering baby’s head as long I was wearing the right clothing
• You can also use a receiving or muslin blanket as a cover instead.

BREAST PUMP

• Pumping your milk is a great way to get dad involved with your newborn baby by allowing him to join in the feeds.
• Pumped milk also means you can get a much-deserved break.
• Having pumped milk also frees you to go out without the baby (hello date nights!)
• Of course, pumped milk is also essential if you are returning to work
• Another reader favorite (and my favorite) is Medela– I had the double electric pump and hand pump and loved them both

BOTTLE SET

• No matter how you choose to feed your baby, it’s a great idea to have a small bottle set on hand.
• The set in the picture reduces gas and is quite durable.
• Good to have if you plan to pump and feed.

PACIFIERS

• Not all babies will like pacifiers, and not all moms like to use them. But the right one can be a lifesaver for a fussy baby.
• It’s recommended to avoid pacifier use until after breastfeeding is well established (around 6 weeks)
• It might take several tries to find a pacifier baby likes (here are our favorite pacifiers for breastfed babies)

BIBS

• Babies spit up and drool while being fed, so place a bib on them to minimize clean up. Plus, they’re cute!

BURP CLOTHS

• You’ll need quite a few burp clothes.
• Place the cloth on your shoulder before burping your baby so that you don’t wear any spit-up
• Remember, muslin blankets can also work for this if you don’t want both.

RELATED READ: How to get Dad Involved with your newborn baby

Travel Baby Items

Things to keep in mind when shopping for travel baby items:

• Invest in a lightweight and easy-to-fold stroller.

STROLLER WITH CAR SEAT

• There are car seat and stroller combos for every budget.
• Try to get the most lightweight and easy-to-fold model that fits your budget- because baby stuff adds up in the trunk of the car for sure.

BABY CARRIER

This baby carrier wrap is one of my favorite things on the baby shopping list – you can keep baby close while being able to move!

Want some more skin to skin time? Wrap your baby in for an extended skin time session!

So great for babies that don’t like to be put down when you need to get a few things done around the house or go shopping!

As baby gets older (and heavier)- my favorite carrier that’ll save your back is the Lille Baby Original.

For a full list of recommendations, see our full guide to baby carriers here.

DIAPER BAG

• I’m all about comfortable and easy – there are a lot of different styles of diaper bags and for a long time I was a fan of the crossbody style but I’m telling you I had it all wrong.
• Grab yourself a diaper backpack so that you can wear it and still have both hands available to carry your baby.
• Backpack style diaper bags are also great because they don’t bump into your thighs while you’re trying to carry an awkward car seat inside.
• Check out all our tips for organizing a diaper bag.

TRAVEL CHANGE PAD

•  A travel change mat is a must and most diaper bags should come with one inside.
• If not, make sure to add one to your shopping list.

BABY CAR BLIND

• Newborn babies are quite sensitive to sunlight, so make sure to install a car blind.

Baby Bath Items

Things to keep in mind when shopping for baby bath items:

• You can wash your newborn in the sink by holding them across your arm.
• Having a baby bath with netting to rest them on is much easier (sometimes).

BABY BATH

• Make sure the baby bath you buy has a section (usually netting) to keep your newborn baby safe.
• Once your baby is older, you can sit them up in the bath.
• Having a baby bath is a great way to get your baby used to a bath in a tub and acts as a transition to the larger bath.

BATH TIME KNEE PAD

• Add this bathtime knee pad to your baby shopping list, and I promise you’ll thank me later! (You can also grab a folded towel.)

BABY SHAMPOO AND BODY WASH

• Baby wash and shampoo come as one and is tearless (no tear formula).
• Stay away from harsh chemicals – baby skin is delicate!
• I highly recommend Burt’s Bees Shampoo and Wash
• My personal favorite is any product by Earth Mama Organics (their orange lavender wash smells divine)

BABY TOWEL

• Buy a couple bath towels so one is always clean while the other is in the laundry.

BATH CLOTHS

• I love these bamboo wash clothes.
• The pack of 6 is a great amount to have on hand.

Baby Play Items

Things to keep in mind when shopping for baby play items:

• People will give you a lot of little baby rattles and soft toys.
• Baby toys are not baby essentials, but it can be fun to have a few around (newborns won’t engage, and older babies are happy with keys, water bottles, kitchen tools, etc.)
• Skip the traditional baby bath toys that squirt water- they are impossible to clean and brew disgusting mold. If you want bath toys, go for stacking cups and hard plastic toys that don’t get water stuck.

TUMMY TIME MAT

• Make sure to grab a tummy time mat – once your baby is a couple weeks old, start placing them on their tummy on the mat for a minute at a time.

BABY TOYS

• Grab a few pull toys and rattles.
• They are great to attach to the car seat and place just out of reach during tummy time.

Other items to consider for baby

These items will be up to your preferences but can be great baby hacks for adjusting to a newborn. These include:

• White noise machine
• Blackout curtains
• Sleep sack
• Car mirror (to see baby in the back)

Get Your Free Newborn Shopping Checklist Here

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Time to Prioritize Those Baby Must-Haves

There you have it, mama! The essential newborn baby shopping list with pictures. I hope it will help you create your own shopping list as a first-time mom and get ready for your baby.

• Remember, there are a ton of baby products out there that are very tempting, but you don’t actually need them.
• Make sure to scope out second-hand websites and stores to see what you can get at a discount.
• Have friends who are finished with their baby stuff? Nothing wrong with some hand-me-downs
• Babies grow fast, and all have their own preferences (for example- I tried 5 different pacifiers), so why spend a ton of money on new items?

Don’t forget you need items too, mama! Like pads, comfy loungewear, nipple cream, and nursing pads. See our postpartum essentials here.

What did you think about the newborn shopping list with pictures? Did the pictures help plan your baby shopping list as a first-time mom? Are any other baby items you’re considering that didn’t make the shopping list that I should add photos or videos of? Let me know in the comments!

RECOMMENDED READING:

• Early Pregnancy Tips
• Second Trimester To Do List
• Third Trimester To Do List