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All first-time mums wonder what to buy before baby arrives! Or rather, what your baby will really need before its arrival.
When you finally welcome your new baby, it’s an occasion like no other! As exhausting as the first days maybe, you won’t get them back. You’ll spend the whole day (and much of the night!) feeding your baby, changing nappies and getting used to your new life.
What to Buy Before Baby Arrives
With your hands full caring for the baby, you don’t want to worry about running out of soap or tissue paper. That’s why we suggest a bit of planning beforehand with this newborn checklist.
We know you’re already shopping for clothes, a crib and a car seat. Perhaps you’ve got those things from an earlier pregnancy. The following baby checklist focuses on the essential, functional everyday items you need to buy to keep things running smoothly when your baby arrives.
Wardrobe Essentials
Baby clothes are adorable and you might easily blow your whole baby budget on lovely tiny rompers and little socks alone. Get a grip though—there are plenty of other functional items you’ll need. Here are some of the essentials you’ll want to get before you leave for the hospital.
o 4-8 shirts (envelope folds at shoulders or kimono-style with snaps)
o 4-8 onesies (snaps at crotch and envelope folds at shoulders)
o 4-8 pants (footies might be a nice option)
o 1-3 jackets or sweaters (front-buttoned)
o 1-3 rompers/other dress-up clothes
o 4-8 one-piece pyjamas – even better if it’s something like this cute Footie Baby Pajama!)
o 4-7 booties or socks (shoes aren’t necessary until the baby begins walking)
o 1-3 newborn hats (a soft hat that covers ears in the winter, broad-brimmed hat in the summer)
o No scratch mittens
o Heavy and lightweight stroller blankets
o Fleece suit or bunting bag for winter
o Gentle laundry detergent
o Two wearable blankets for winter
Nursery Essentials
You can buy cute wall decor, rugs, lamps, mobiles, and more to go with your baby’s nursery. Here are the things commonly found in nurseries, to get you started with your child’s special room.
o Bassinet, or cradle
o Bassinet bedding
o Flat, firm and fitting bassinet mattress
o 1-2 pairs of bassinet sheets
o Nappy changing table
o Bins or dresser for clothing storage
o Waterproof mattress pad
o Arm or rocking chair
o Nappy bucket
o Soft washcloths
o Baby wipes
o Toy bin
o Laundry basket or bag
o Nightlight
o Bouncy or swing chair
Speaking of which, we found an adorable crib set that will look great for your baby’s nursery. Check out this Elephants Crib Set (bonus: it contains a super cute bumper pad!)
Nappy Basics
Changing a nappy might seem daunting initially, but fear not. You’ll soon get to master it—and the following baby essentials will help you learn even faster. Here are the nappy-changing essentials your baby will need.
o Nappy bag (we absolutely love to get our hands on this Multi-Function Baby Diaper Backpack!)
o Nappy rash cream
o 2-4 large cartons of odourless baby wipes
o 2-4 large cartons of disposable nappies, or 6-8 nappycovers and 8-10 dozen reusable cloth nappies
Baby Bath Basics
That awesome baby odour lasts a short time unless you’re willing to clean up the countless messes babies make. When buying many baby bath items, consider where you’ll be bathing your newborn in. Will it be in a sink, regular tub, or special baby tub?
o Baby bathtub – if we may recommend, the Shnuggle Baby Bath Tub is the best!
o Baby lotion
o Baby soap
o Baby hairbrush
o Baby body wash and shampoo
o 2-4 hooded or soft baby towels
o Soft washcloths (make it’s a different pattern or colour to your nappy washcloths)
Feeding Essentials
Babies need to eat very often as they grow really fast in the first few months. Be ready to feed your baby 24/7—which means you’ll need a whole set of baby items for mealtime, whether you’re bottle-feeding or breastfeeding. Here are the essential feeding supplies to buy: 
o Breast pump – need our recommendation? try NatureBond’ Silicone Manual Breast Pump or Little Lucky’s Portable Electric Breast Pumps
o Nipple cream
o Nursing pads
o Formula (if not breastfeeding)
o 8-10 nipples and bottles, both 4 and 8 ounces
o Bottlebrush
o Dishwasher basket
o Milk storage bags (for breastfeeding moms)
o High chair
o 4-8 burp cloths
o 4-8 bibs
o Bottle sterilizer (optional)
o Bottle warmer (optional)
o Feeding pillow (optional)
Health Essentials
A baby also needs occasional grooming. And if your baby falls ill, you’ll need the following baby health essentials on hand:
o Baby thermometer
o First aid kit
o Baby file or nail clippers
o Petroleum jelly
o Sterilize gauze (for treating circumcised baby)
o 4-6 pacifiers – We recommend NatureBond’s Baby Food Feeder/Fruit Feeder Pacifier and Teether (yes, this is another product from the same company. They are quite good!) because, from its long name itself, it’s an all-in-1 pacifier perfect for your little one!
o Cradle cap brush
Travel Gear
Whether you’re relaxing at home or travelling, you’ll need some essential baby travel gear on hand. After all, you’ll need to rest your arms at some point. Here’s the must-have travel gear to have at the ready.
o Playmat
o 
Baby carrier – you might want to try Ergobaby’s Ergonomic Multi-Position Baby Carrier. Why? Because it’s an adjustable ergonomic baby carrier where you can carry your baby with different holding positions. How convenient is that?!
o Stroller
o Bouncer or baby swing
o Convertible car seat or infant car seat
Final Words
If you’ve got these things then you are more than ready for your baby’s arrival. But don’t be held back by this newborn checklist—there are lots of additional items to check out that’ll make your baby’s life smoother, safe and fun. We wish you happy shopping as you decide on what to buy before baby arrives.
