Newborn Essentials: What You Actually Need for the First 3 Months
Before you have a baby, it can feel like you need to buy everything. A swing. A wipe warmer. Twenty adorable newborn outfits. Every baby gadget Instagram has ever shown you.
After having two babies, I’ve realized the opposite is true: newborns really don’t need that much.
For the first three months, your baby is mostly going to eat, sleep, get changed, and hang out near you. You need a safe place for them to sleep, a way to feed them, diapers, some very practical clothes, and a few things that make your life easier.
My biggest advice is to start with less. You can always order something once your baby arrives and you realize you actually need it. You can’t predict exactly what size your baby will be, what products they’ll like, or even what your feeding experience will look like.
Here’s what I would actually have ready for the first three months.
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The Quick Newborn Essentials Checklist
If you just want the short version, these are the things I would have before bringing a baby home:
• Diapers
• Wipes
• Diaper cream
• Wipeable changing pad
• Diaper caddy
• At least 7 zip or magnetic pajamas
• Newborn and 0–3 month clothing
• Safe sleep space
• Bassinet sheets
• Zipper or Velcro swaddles
• Sound machine
• Baby monitor
• Bottles
• Formula, even if you plan to breastfeed
• Plenty of burp cloths
• Bottle brush and drying rack
• Nursing supplies if you plan to breastfeed
• Infant bath seat
• Washcloths
• Gentle baby wash
• Baby nail file
• Thermometer
• NoseFrida or nasal aspirator
• Baby bouncer
• Play mat
• Muslin blankets
• Infant car seat
• Stroller
• Diaper bag
• Baby carrier, depending on your lifestyle
That might still look like a long list, but compared with everything marketed to new parents, it’s pretty simple. If you're looking for a full baby registry checklist, check ours out here.
What You Need for Diapering
Your diaper setup does not have to be complicated. I would have diapers, wipes, diaper cream, a changing pad and a diaper caddy.
I love having a wipeable changing pad like the Keekaroo in the nursery. There’s no fabric cover to constantly wash after an inevitable mess. We keep ours stationary, and then I use a portable changing mat when we’re out of the house. Before buying one separately, check your diaper bag because many already come with one.
A diaper caddy is also one of those simple products that makes the newborn stage easier. You can fill it with diapers, wipes, diaper cream and whatever else you regularly reach for and move it from room to room instead of constantly going back to the nursery.
One thing I would not do is stockpile months' worth of diapers before your baby arrives. You don’t know exactly how big your baby will be or how quickly they’ll move through each size. Have enough to get started and buy more once you know what works for your baby.
What Clothes Does a Newborn Actually Need?
Zip pajamas. That’s my answer.
For the newborn stage, I would have at least seven zip pajamas ready to go. I especially love double-zip pajamas or Magnetic Me because they make middle-of-the-night diaper changes so much easier.
Newborns don’t need elaborate outfits. Pajamas that cover their arms, legs and feet take care of almost everything, and many even have fold-over cuffs for their hands. Unless the season or climate requires something different, I don’t think you need to stock up on separate socks, hats or mittens.
I would have some newborn-size pajamas and some 0–3 month pajamas ready rather than buying a huge amount of either size. Doctors can make an educated guess about your baby’s birth size, but babies have a way of surprising us. People also love gifting baby clothes, so you may end up with far more than you expected. We have an entire article on newborn clothes here.
What You Need for Newborn Sleep
First and most importantly, your newborn needs an appropriate safe sleep space. Follow current safe-sleep guidance from your pediatrician and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
We borrowed a SNOO for both of our babies and loved it, but I don’t think you need an expensive smart bassinet to have a newborn. What I also loved was having a regular bassinet with wheels.
Our bedroom is on a different floor, so we could keep the SNOO upstairs and move the bassinet around downstairs depending on where the baby was napping during the day. Even in a one-story home, being able to move a bassinet from room to room can be incredibly convenient.
I would also have a few fitted sheets made specifically for your sleep space, plus zipper or Velcro swaddles. I strongly prefer those to trying to master a traditional swaddle blanket in the middle of the night.
As for pacifiers, I wouldn't buy ten different kinds before your baby arrives. Our hospital provided one, and you can see whether your baby likes a pacifier before figuring out which style works best.
What You Need for Feeding a Newborn
Even if you plan to breastfeed, I would have a few bottles and some formula in the house before your baby arrives.
I planned to breastfeed my first baby, and ultimately it didn't work out for us. Feeding can be unpredictable, and you don't know what your milk supply or your baby's feeding needs will look like until you're actually in it. Having formula available doesn't mean you have to use it; it just means you have an option if you need one. Your pediatrician can help you decide what and how to feed your baby based on your baby's needs.
For bottles, I love Dr. Brown's. You don't need an enormous supply before you know whether your baby likes them, but you should have enough to get started.
Burp cloths are one thing I think you can have a lot of. We used them constantly during the newborn stage, and I liked having them within reach throughout the house.
At minimum, you'll also want a bottle brush and drying rack. If you're primarily formula feeding, the Baby Brezza Formula Pro is a nice-to-have that can make nighttime bottles much easier. It dispenses formula and water and can prepare it at your selected temperature.
The Momcozy bottle washer/sterilizer is another convenience product I didn't have with my first baby but really appreciated with my second. With my first, we hated washing bottles so much that we kept buying more bottles. By the end of the day, we would have an absurd number waiting to be washed, and it genuinely became one of our least favorite parts of the day.
If you're planning to breastfeed, you'll have a different set of supplies. A nursing pillow, nipple balm and products to help protect or soothe your nipples can be helpful to have ready. I didn't end up breastfeeding successfully, so this isn't an area where I pretend to be an expert. Your needs may also change quickly once you see how feeding is going.
What You Need for Bath Time and Basic Baby Care
You don't need an entire collection of newborn bath products.
We love the Angelcare infant bath support because we can use it in our sink, which means we're not constantly bending over the bathtub. Whether that works for you will obviously depend on the size and setup of your sink, and you can also use an appropriate infant bath setup in your tub.
You'll want some soft washcloths and a gentle baby wash. I prefer a baby wash that works for both hair and body so I'm not buying multiple products.
A regular towel works perfectly well. Hooded baby towels are adorable, but this is a great example of something that's cute rather than essential.
For basic care, I would also have a baby nail file, a digital thermometer and a nose sucker or other infant nasal aspirator. I prefer filing tiny newborn nails rather than trying to use clippers during those first few months.
What You Actually Need for a Newborn Around the House
If I had to choose two baby products for those early months outside of feeding and sleeping necessities, I'd pick the BabyBjörn bouncer and a good play mat.
I love the BabyBjörn bouncer because it's lightweight and easy to move around the house. I would literally bring it into the bathroom so my baby could hang out nearby while I showered. We could move it between rooms or throw it in the car when going to my parents' house.
I also love adding the activity bar. Your newborn may completely ignore it initially, and then one day you'll notice them starting to look at it, reach for it and eventually play with it. It's fun to watch that progression.
The Lovevery Play Gym is my other must-have. A newborn doesn't need a room filled with toys. A good play mat gives them a place for supervised tummy time and floor play and already has plenty for them to look at and eventually interact with.
We also subscribe to Lovevery's play kits because I like that developmentally appropriate toys arrive as the baby grows rather than feeling like I need to constantly figure out what toys to buy next.
I had a baby lounger and didn't use it nearly as much as I expected, so I would put that firmly in the nice-to-have category rather than calling it an essential.
And personally, I don't think you need a swing. Between a bouncer and a play mat, we were covered.
Muslin Blankets Are Worth Having...Just Don't Buy 20
Muslin blankets are one baby item I do think is worth having. They're versatile and easy to throw in your diaper bag.
I've used them as a clean surface for supervised tummy time when we're somewhere other than home, as an extra layer when appropriate, and for the countless little messes that come with having a newborn.
That said, blankets are a very popular baby gift. I ended up with more than I could possibly need, so this is another category where I wouldn't stock up before your baby arrives.
And remember that loose blankets should not be placed in your newborn's sleep space. Follow safe-sleep recommendations for your baby's age.
Newborn Essentials for Leaving the House
Leaving the house with a newborn can sound like it requires half your house. It really doesn't.
You need an infant car seat, stroller and diaper bag. Depending on what you're doing, a baby carrier can also be useful.
One reason I love the Doona during the first year is that the infant car seat converts directly into a stroller. Instead of taking a separate car seat and stroller for a quick errand, I have one piece of gear.
For a larger diaper bag, I love my Dagne Dover diaper backpack. But if I'm using the Doona for a quick outing, I often use the Doona Essentials Bag instead. It attaches directly to the stroller, so I don't have to carry something on my shoulders or back, and it includes a changing mat.
Inside my newborn diaper bag, I keep it simple:
• Diapers
• Wipes
• Diaper cream
• Portable changing pad
• Change of clothes
• Bottle
• Formula and formula container, if needed
• Burp cloth
• Pacifier, if your baby uses one
That's really it.
I also wouldn't automatically bring a carrier everywhere. If I knew I would need one, I'd bring it, but when babies are tiny, they often happily hang out in their stroller or car seat while you're running a quick errand.
What You DON'T Need for a Newborn
This might be the most important part of this list.
There are so many products marketed as newborn essentials that I don't think are essential at all.
You can skip the wipe warmer. You can skip the Diaper Genie. I didn't need a swing. You don't need expensive baby towels when a regular towel works. You don't need a nursery overflowing with newborn toys. And you definitely don't need drawers filled with one size of clothing or a closet full of diapers in one size.
Traditional swaddle blankets can also be skipped for swaddling if you prefer zipper or Velcro swaddles. I still like muslin blankets because they're useful for so many other things, but I wouldn't rely on them just because you think you're supposed to become an expert swaddler before leaving the hospital. Check out our article about what not to put on your baby registry if you're interested.
What I'd Buy Before Baby Arrives vs. What I'd Wait to Buy
Before the baby arrives, focus on the things you'll need immediately: a safe sleep space, diapers and wipes, practical clothing, feeding supplies, a car seat, basic health and bath supplies, and somewhere safe for your baby to hang out while awake and supervised.
For everything else, wait.
You don't know whether your baby will love a pacifier. You don't know how quickly they'll grow out of newborn diapers. You don't know whether they'll like a particular bottle. You don't know whether you'll end up breastfeeding, formula feeding, pumping or doing some combination of the three.
And you don't have to solve all of those questions while you're pregnant.
My Biggest Advice for Buying Newborn Essentials
Less is more.
After two babies, I think one of the easiest mistakes to make is preparing for every possible scenario before you've even met your baby. The reality is that your baby might be completely different from what you expected, and the products your friend swears by might sit untouched in your house.
Buy the basics. Give yourself enough to get through those first days at home. Then see what your actual baby—and your actual life with that baby—requires.
Amazon will still exist after you give birth.
Frequently Asked Questions About Newborn Essentials
What are the absolute essentials for a newborn?
At the most basic level, your newborn needs a safe place to sleep, diapers and wipes, practical clothing, feeding supplies, an appropriate infant car seat, and basic health and hygiene supplies. I would also add a bouncer or play mat because having a safe, supervised place to put your awake baby makes everyday life much easier.
How many newborn outfits do I actually need?
I would start with at least seven practical zip or magnetic pajamas and have both newborn and 0–3 month sizes available. You can add more once you know your baby's size and how frequently you're doing laundry.
Should I buy newborn or 0–3 month clothes?
I would have some of both. You don't know exactly what size your baby will be at birth or how quickly they'll grow. Avoid buying an entire wardrobe in either size before your baby arrives.
How many bottles should I buy before my baby is born?
I would buy enough bottles to get started without committing to a huge collection before you know what your baby prefers. Once you've found a bottle that works well, you can buy more.
Do I need formula if I'm planning to breastfeed?
You don't necessarily need to use formula, but I personally liked having some available because feeding doesn't always go according to plan. Talk to your pediatrician or lactation professional about your feeding plan and your baby's individual needs.
Do newborns need toys?
Not many. During the first three months, a good play mat, supervised tummy time, interaction with you, and a few developmentally appropriate objects provide plenty of stimulation. You do not need to fill a playroom before your baby is born.
Do I need a swing and a bouncer?
I don't think you need both. I much preferred the BabyBjörn bouncer because it's lightweight, portable and easy to move from room to room. We didn't need a swing.
What should I not stock up on before having a baby?
I wouldn't stockpile newborn diapers, one particular diaper size, newborn clothes, bottles, pacifiers or other products that depend heavily on your baby's size and preferences. Get enough to start and buy more once you know what works.
What is the biggest mistake first-time parents make when buying newborn essentials?
In my experience, it's assuming you need everything before the baby arrives. You don't. Start with the essentials, meet your baby, learn your routine and then buy the products that solve an actual problem for your family.
Check out our Must-Haves vs. Nice-to-Haves article for more!
