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    Newborn Checklist: 43 Baby Essentials To Stock Up On Now

    newborn_checklist_1_92cfe3a4-a3dd-4263-9e99-a6343df9a277 - Mustela USA - 1

    With your baby’s due date right around the corner, it’s time to fill your house with all things baby! We’ve created a newborn checklist so you can be sure to stock up on the necessities that will see you through the first couple of months.

    Newborn Checklist: Nursery

    Mom by crib doing a newborn checklist

    1) Crib Or Bassinet

    One of the most basic baby essentials: somewhere for your sweet one to lay their head. Decide if your baby will sleep in a bassinet (or cradle) in your room before moving to their crib.

    Keep in mind, if you purchase a crib for your newborn, you might have to buy the mattress separately. Just make sure you get the right size and that it fits inside the crib snugly without too much of a gap between the edge of the mattress and the inside of the crib.

    2) Crib Sheets

    To provide your baby with a safe, comfy place to sleep, outfit their crib with a crib sheet and nothing more. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies sleep in a bare crib without blankets, pillows, or toys.

    To help with this, keep two crib sheets on hand so that you have a spare one to put on your baby’s bed when the other is in the wash.

    3) Changing Table

    Set up a place in your nursery to make the diaper-changing process easier. Some parents have a changing table, while others use a changing pad on top of a dresser.

    Either way is fine as long as your little one is secure!

    Wherever your changing table is, it’s a good idea to ensure that you can store all of your diaper changing supplies within arms reach.

    This is because you must always keep a hand on your baby while they’re on the changing table. Don’t leave them alone. You never know when they will decide to try their hand at rolling over!

    4) Rocking Chair

    Parents holding a new born in a rocking chair

    You’ll spend many sweet moments rocking your baby to sleep, nursing, or reading books. Go with a comfortable rocking chair or glider that will serve you well for years to come.

    5) Humidifier

    A humidifier comes in handy to care for a sick baby or deal with a case of dry skin.

    There are two types of humidifiers: warm mist and cool mist. Both will get the job done when it comes to pumping moisture into the air. The only potential problem with warm mist humidifiers is that they produce hot water and pose a burn risk if your little one (or your pet) tips it over.

    6) Dresser

    If your changing table doubles as a dresser, you’re good to go. If not, purchase a dresser or decide where else you’re going to store your baby’s cute clothes.

    7) Clothes Hamper

    Just like you’ll need a dresser for your newborn’s clean clothes, you’ll need a clothes hamper to contain all of their dirty clothes — between spit up and blowouts, there will be lots!

    8) Diaper Pail

    For as much dirty laundry as your baby will produce, they’ll produce even more dirty diapers! A diaper pail or trash can is essential.

    9) Baby Monitor

    There’s nothing quite like the peace of mind that comes from taking a peek at your little one without having to tiptoe into their room and risk waking your snoozing baby. A video baby monitor makes it easy.

    10) White Noise Machine

    A white noise machine can help drown out street noise, barking dogs, and clanging pots so your newborn can sleep like a baby for both naps and nighttime.

    11) First Aid Kit

    A baby first aid kit isn’t just for emergencies. It’s where you’ll keep a thermometer, topical ointment, a nasal aspirator, and the like. For a complete list of what to include, read here.

    Newborn Checklist: Feeding

    Feeding on newborn checklist

    12) Nursing Pillow

    If you choose to breastfeed your newborn, little by little you’ll discover the best breastfeeding position. A nursing pillow can help you and your baby get situated and comfy!

    As wonderful of an experience as it can be, remember that breastfeeding is not always a walk in the park. If you have any concerns or problems, don’t hesitate to get in touch with a lactation consultant. 

    13) Nursing Bra And Pads

    Stay comfortable with a nursing bra that fits correctly and nursing pads to keep your bra and your clothes dry between feedings.

    Choose a bra that is comfortable and makes you feel good. Don’t skimp on taking care of yourself, mama!

    14) Breast Pump

    A breast pump is another feeding essential. Read our breast pump guide for new moms to learn about different reasons for breast pumping, how much you should pump, and how to wean off of it.

    15) Nipple Cream

    While breastfeeding is a beautiful connection between you and your little one, sometimes it can result in sore or cracked nipples. Use Mustela’s lanolin-free Nursing Comfort Balm to moisturize and protect your nipples, ease discomfort, and help replenish and restore your skin.

    This soothing, fragrance-free cream is made with 100% naturally derived, food-grade ingredients and is enriched with olive oil, plant-based glycerin, and vitamin E. And, just like all Mustela products, it’s free of parabens, phenoxyethanol, and phthalates.

    You can also put our Nursing Comfort Balm to use before your baby arrives since it’s made to be used throughout pregnancy, too.

    16) Bottles

    Mom bottle feeding her baby

    Whether you’re bottle-feeding exclusively or just need bottles on hand for when you’re not with your baby, bottles and the right nipples are a must.

    17) Baby Formula

    If you aren’t going to breastfeed your baby, you’ll feed your little one formula. Talk with your pediatrician about the various baby formula options and choose the one that you feel most comfortable with.

    18) Insulated Bottle Carrier

    An insulated bottle carrier is great for when you know you’ll feed your baby a bottle on the go.

    19) Nursing Cover

    For breastfeeding while you’re out and about, you may prefer to use a nursing cover. However, a swaddle or light blanket accomplishes the goal, too.

    20) Bottle Brush Or Dishwasher Basket

    You’ll need some way to effectively clean all the bottles your baby will go through. To wash by hand, you’ll need a baby bottle brush. Or, for the dishwasher, a basket will make things easier.

    21) Bibs

    Bibs are an obvious essential, but we don’t want you to forget them! There are all sorts of bibs — bibs that tie, bibs that snap, fabric bibs, plastic bibs. Take your pick. Or poll some of your parent friends to see which kind they like the best.

    22) Burp Cloths

    Burp cloths are another thing you’ll want to have plenty of! You’ll be dabbing spit up left and right.

    Newborn Checklist: Diaper Changing

    Diaper cream for diaper changes on newborn checklist

    23) Diapers

    Diapers should be on the top of your newborn checklist, and your first task is to decide if you’ll use cloth or disposable diapers. If you want to learn a bit more about cloth diapers, click here.

    Second, we don’t recommend buying diapers for months at a time. You don’t know how big your baby will be or how quickly they’ll outgrow a certain size!

    24) Diaper Wipes

    To keep your baby’s bottom squeaky clean, you’ll need wipes on wipes on wipes. Wipes have nothing to do with your baby’s size, so go ahead and stock up (try out Diaper Wipes Bundle to help get you started).

    Additionally, our Cleansing Wipes are a mommy favorite! Not only do our Cleansing Wipes keep skin smooth, clean, and healthy, they are also great for removing makeup.

    These high-quality wipes contain avocado perseose to moisturize skin, gentle surfactants to cleanse without stripping skin of its natural oils, and aloe vera leaf extract to soften and soothe dry skin.

    If you find that you need wipes that are extra gentle on your baby’s eczema-prone skin, turn to our NEA Certified Organic Cotton Wipes with Water.

    As you can see, there are plenty of options!

    25) Diaper Cream

    Diaper cream isn’t just for when your baby has a diaper rash. Mustela's Diaper Rash Cream 123 is a 3-in-1 product that both prevents diaper rash and relieves irritation and redness.

    Plus, it’s gentle on your baby’s delicate skin! It’s fragrance-free, phenoxyethanol-free, hypoallergenic, and infused with zinc oxide to create a comfortable, protective barrier.

    If your baby has extra sensitive skin, we recommend trying our Diaper Cream with Olive Oil and Aloe. Our talc-free formula leaves a moisturizing layer on your baby’s skin to soothe and diminish redness at every diaper change.

    Newborn Checklist: Bath Time

    Newborn Checklist: Bath Time

    26) Towels

    You’re going to need a towel to dry your tiny baby after a bath. However, it doesn’t have to be a special, hooded baby towel — although those are awfully cute!

    A regular bath towel will get the job done as well.

    No matter what type of bath towel you use, remember to be gentle when drying your baby off after a bath. If your baby has eczema-prone skin, it’s especially important to pat (not rub) their skin dry.

    27) Soft Washcloth

    When it comes to washcloths, a small one designed for babies might serve you better than a regular washcloth. Plus, a super-soft baby washcloth will be gentle on your newborn’s skin (once again, this is especially important for babies with sensitive, eczema-prone skin).

    28) Baby Tub

    Until your newborn’s umbilical cord falls off, stick to sponge baths. After that, a baby tub will come in handy. Feeling unsure about how to bathe such a tiny one? Read our article here

    29) Baby Wash Or Shampoo

    Keep your baby clean with a gentle wash like Mustela’s plant-based 2 in 1 Cleansing Gel, which can be used as both a wash and shampoo.

    This tear-free formula is gentle enough to use on newborns, cleaning while also protecting your baby’s skin. It will leave their skin feeling soft and smooth without any residue.

    Or suds up with Foam Shampoo for Newborns, made with 99% naturally derived ingredients and designed to minimize cradle cap flakes.

    30) Comb Or Brush

    Your newborn might not have a head full of hair, but you’ll still need a comb or brush.

    31) Baby Nail Clippers

    Some parents choose not to clip their baby’s nails for the first several weeks of their life, opting for baby mittens instead. But whether you clip right away or wait a while, baby fingernail clippers are essential!

    32) Baby Lotion

    Keeping your baby clean is a must, but baths have the potential to dry your little one’s skin. Moisturize their skin after bath time, but be sure to use a natural, gentle lotion that will nourish your baby’s skin instead of slathering on questionable chemical ingredients.

    Depending on your baby’s skin type, we recommend one of the following lotions.

    Hydra Bebe Body Lotion

    Hydra Bebe Body Lotion is our best-selling daily moisturizer. It provides immediate and long-lasting moisture for kissable baby skin and is formulated with an elixir of plant-based ingredients including jojoba oil, sunflower oil, and Vitamins E and F.

    For complete hydration, use this lotion along with Hydra Bebe Facial Cream.

    Stelatopia Emollient Cream

    If your baby has sensitive, eczema-prone skin, turn to our eczema care line, which includes Mustela’s Stelatopia Emollient Cream. This light yet moisturizing cream is ideal for everyday maintenance to help reinforce the skin’s moisture barrier.

    This lotion is gentle and effective for newborns, babies, and toddlers, too. It’s easy to apply, absorbs quickly, and soothes your baby’s skin with naturally derived ingredients like avocado perseose and sunflower oil distillate.

    Certified Organic Hydrating Cream with Olive Oil and Aloe

    The last moisturizing lotion we will mention is our Certified Organic Hydrating Cream with Olive Oil and Aloe which is gentle enough for the most sensitive of baby skin, but also effective enough for the adults in your family.

    It’s crafted with 99.6% naturally derived ingredients like organic aloe vera, organic sunflower oil, and organic olive oil. And this EWG Verified™ lotion is not only good for your family’s skin, but it’s also designed to be environmentally conscious inside and out.

    The packaging is made from sustainably sourced sugar cane, and we’ve said “goodbye” to secondary cartons.

    Newborn Checklist: Clothing

    Newborn Checklist: Clothing

    33) Daily Basics

    Newborns don’t need fancy clothes. Here’s what they’ll probably wear day in and day out:

    • Short-sleeved onesies
    • Long-sleeved onesies
    • Pants
    • Socks
    • Hats
    • Footie pajamas

      34) Seasonal Clothes

      Since this is a newborn checklist, we’re not talking about buying a bunch of nine-month swimsuits or winter coats.

      Instead, think about the season your baby will be born in as well as the weather where you live, and shop accordingly.

      35) Baby Hangers

      Depending on how you organize your baby’s nursery and store their clothes, you may need hangers.

      36) Baby Detergent

      Newborn skin is delicate. It’s important to use a gentle or hypoallergenic detergent when you wash your little one’s clothes.

      37) Swaddles

      Being wrapped in a swaddle might not seem comfortable to you, but it does to your newborn! Since they’re fresh out of the womb, they find comfort in being tucked into a swaddle. Have several on hand.

      38) Sleep Sacks

      With your newborn sleeping in a swaddle, a sleep sack is not an immediate necessity, but we’ve included it on the newborn checklist because it’s helpful to have them on hand. Why?

      Because before you know it, it will be time to stop swaddling your tiny baby. And you want them to be transitioned out of a swaddle and into a sleep sack by the time they start rolling over. You can plan for sometime around the two-month-old mark.

      Newborn Checklist: Traveling

      Baby in car seat

      39) Car Seat

      A car seat is a must since you can’t even bring your little one home from the hospital without one!

      While we love the idea of hand-me-downs, the car seat is one of the baby items that we recommend buying new. This ensures that it has not been damaged and is up to the current safety standards.

      40) Diaper Bag

      Whether you’re taking a trip or simply running an errand, you likely won’t manage without a fully equipped diaper bag. Click here for a diaper bag checklist so you don’t forget a thing!

      41) Stroller

      Choose the right stroller and it will see you through the newborn days and well into the future! If you’re venturing outside with your newborn, don’t forget to protect your baby from the sun and lather up with sunscreen when necessary. That brings us to our second-to-last item on the list.

      42) Baby Sunscreen

      You should speak with your pediatrician before applying sunscreen to babies under six months. But we recommend having sunblock on hand because, sooner or later, you’ll be heading out the door for your baby’s first sunny adventure and needing sunscreen — and you don’t want to be caught without it!

      For the safest sunscreen option, choose a mineral sunscreen like Mustela’s SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen Lotion. Our fragrance-free sunscreen provides your whole family with safe and effective sun protection.

      It’s NEA (National Eczema Association) Certified, meaning it’s gentle enough for sensitive skin. It’s also formulated with mineral UV filters instead of chemical filters like oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate, or octinoxate.

      And this sunscreen doesn’t just protect your baby’s skin from the sun. It moisturizes at the same time with natural ingredients such as coconut oil, macadamia oil, and vitamin E.

      43) Baby Carrier

      Wearing your baby is more convenient than you might think! There are many different ways to carry your baby on your back or your chest. Check into baby carriers and slings to see what suits you best.

      What Can Come Later

       Mom holding baby

      That’s it! That’s the newborn checklist. But before we go, we’d like to leave you with a few ideas for the baby items that can come a bit later.

      These things aren’t newborn necessities, but if you have the space and want to prepare ahead of time, these are the sorts of things that are also fine to purchase now.

      For example, babyproofing gear is something you’ll need by the time your baby is around three or six months old. Keep in mind that babyproofing your house isn’t just for when your little one starts toddling!

      Once your baby can roll over, sit up, or scoot around, you have a little one on the move, and you’ll have to start thinking differently.

      If you’re short on storage space, you can wait to buy older baby clothes. This will allow you to clean out your baby’s closet in a few months, get rid of the newborn clothes that they’ve outgrown, and replace their tiny outfits with bigger baby clothes.

      Since your baby will be on a strict diet of breastmilk or formula for the first few months, some feeding supplies won’t be necessary until your baby is around six months old. This is when you can start introducing solid foods.

      Feel free to wait a bit to buy a highchair, baby spoons, and other feeding necessities.

      We already mentioned that you might want to wear your baby with a baby backpack or sling. Depending on what style you choose, your baby may grow out of it quickly. A baby carrier that’s designed for older babies is another item you may want later.

      Ready And Waiting With Your Newborn Checklist

       Pregnant mom with son

      Using our newborn checklist, you can stay organized and make sure you have all the necessities for the first couple of months. Gather essentials like nursery furniture, Nursing Comfort Balm, diapers, Cleansing Wipes, and a car seat.

      The rest — things like baby-proofing gear, a high chair, and baby spoons — can come later. Once you have everything collected, all that’s left to do is eagerly wait for your sweet one to arrive!

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