Newborn Baby Shopping List for First Time Mums

Knowing what you need and shopping for your baby can sometimes be overwhelming. With so many options to choose from, how do you know which items you definitely need, and which ones are simply nice to have? This simple guide will be your go-to newborn baby shopping list:

Clothing

Buying newborn baby clothes before the birth is so exciting. Your little one is almost here and you simply can’t wait to meet them. To make sure you have everything you need on your newborn baby shopping list, be sure to consider:

Sleepsuits or long-sleeved body suits
Some socks
A pair or two of scratch mitts
A hat
A blanket
Some vests or short sleeved suits
Lots of bibs

Sleeping

For comfortable sleep time, think about purchasing:

A Moses basket or crib
A baby monitor

And then once they’re a little older, you’ll need:

A cot with fitted sheets and a waterproof mattress
Some baby sleeping bags

Feeding

When it comes to feeding, it’s important you’re just as comfortable as baby, so be sure to add these items to your newborn baby shopping list:

Nursing bras and breast pads (if you’re going to breastfeed)
Bottles and teats (if you’re not going to breastfeed)
Plenty of muslins

Maybe even consider a breast pump and steam steriliser too.

Diaper changing

For diaper changing, it’s a good idea to have:

Plenty of diapers
A changing bag
A changing mat
Plenty of baby wipes
Diaper cream

Bathing

When it comes to bathing, you need to be sure you’re taking care of baby’s skin as well as cleaning them, so add these to your list:

A baby bath
Some soft baby towels or hooded baby towels
Cotton wool for cleaning delicate areas
Flannels for washing

Playtime

For the moment, you won’t need a baby swing, but it might be a good idea to have some of the following:

A bouncy chair
A play mat
Some soft toys
Musical or light-up toys

Safety

It’s important to ensure you baby-proof your house before any accidents happen, so be sure to add these to your newborn baby shopping list to create a safe space for them to play and grow:

Stair gates
Play pens
Plug socket covers for when they begin exploring
Furniture corner protectors for when they start crawling

You could also consider buying:

A medical thermometer
A book on baby illnesses just in case
A first-aid kit for those bumps and bruises

Out and about

When it comes to going out and about, you may find you need a few more supplies:

A snowsuit for the winter months
A buggy that’s practical and suits your needs
A parasol to attach to the buggy
A raincover for the buggy
A sling for carrying baby

It’s easy to get carried away with what you might want to purchase in preparation for baby’s arrival, so it’s worth really thinking about what the necessities are and what you think you’ll need. Make your own list and give each item a rank of importance to help you prioritise what needs buying now and what needs buying later.

Resources:
http://www.emmasdiary.co.uk/pregnancy-and-birth/pregnancy/pregnancy-life/newborn-baby-shopping-checklist
http://www.mothercare.com/advice-buying-guides-and-services/buying-guides/new-baby-essentials/advice-ms-preg-essentials-root.html