The 10 Things You Really Need For A New Baby

This post has been sponsored by Baby Cubby. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.

These 10 items are really the only things you need when baby comes (though there is lots more you can buy if you want).

As I type this I am patiently waiting the arrival of our first little girl. We have been blessed with two of the most amazing little boys and when we had them we were limited on space so we didn’t go too crazy with all things baby. With this little princess though I’ve had to use some serious restraint to not go out and buy everything lace and pink.

As we are planning on the things we will NEED to get I have been thinking back to all the things we had that we used with our boys and the things that spent more time in the box. Here is what we have come up with as our bare necessities.

Car Seat- Not only is this a necessity but it’s also the law. You can not take your little bundle of joy home from the hospital (or anywhere else) without a car seat. There are so many car seats out there it’s hard to pick the right one for your baby. With Rohrl, our first, we got a travel system which included the car seat and matching stroller. They also have convertible car seats that go from newborn all the way up to 100 lbs. This little lady will have a Britax car seat (Check back in a few weeks to learn why we decided on this brand). There are so many styles, brands and options available you can check out more car seat options here.

Stroller- Now that you have a car seat to get your baby around town how are you going to get him or her around when you’re not driving. Having a good quality stroller is so important, especially during those first few months when you are just getting used to life with your baby. You don’t want to get a stroller that is hard to open or get through doors. Not sure which stroller is best for you? Check out this stroller guide for helping deciding which one is best for you.

Diaper/Wipes/Butt Cream– Whether you are using cloth or disposable diapers having something to cover your baby’s bum is a must. You will also need wipes and a good butt cream or baby powder for your little one too (diaper rash is miserable for everyone). As long as you have these three basics down you should be good. No need for wipe warmers (I’ve found they actually dry the wipes out) or a fancy changing table (a blanket on the bed or floor works just as well). 

Blankets- Speaking of blankets, you definitely want to have a few. Not only can they do double duty as a changing pad (no pun intended) but you are going to need something to keep your new baby warm. I’m a huge fan of the Aden + Anais Swaddle Blankets (they are so soft, the perfect size for swaddling or using as a nursing cover and are super durable too), but I also like having a little thicker blanket for when baby gets a older and for colder winter night. There are a ton of great blanket options here.

Crib/Somewhere To Sleep- When Rohrl was born he slept in bed with us until he was one. We made the mistake of thinking Statham would do the same. After a week of battling and sleepless nights we went out and bought a bassinet for him to sleep in. Whether you are a fan of co-sleeping or not it’s always best to have a second option available. Again there are so many options from convertible cribs that you can turn into a toddler bed and then a full bed for when your little one isn’t so little, to free standing bassinets and even bassinets you can attach to your bed. Check out lots of crib options here and more portable/smaller options here.

First Aid Kit- You may already have a first aid kit at home but there are things in a baby first aid kit that your adult kit doesn’t have (like a booger sucker, small fingernail clippers, thermometer for baby and more). You can buy a kit already put together or piece one together on your own. There are a lot of great options here.

Clothes- This one is another obvious but it’s one where we can go overboard on the amount that we buy. There are so many cute baby clothes options it’s hard to say no. When you’re buying clothes for your new little one think of the season they are going to be born in. Our little girl will be born at the end of September and right now it’s mostly summer clothes out. What good does it do me to buy a bunch of dresses and t-shirts when a month after she’s born it will probably be snowing?! A few basics you can’t go wrong with for newborns are plain onesies, a few set of pj’s (I like the button up ones because it’s easier to get into for late night diaper changes) and mittens. You may be asking yourself why mittens? Well unless you want your baby’s face to look like Freddy Kreuger got to it, mittens are essential for the first few months. No matter how well you trim their nails, they grow so fast they are always cutting their face. Baby Cubby has a ton of great options for the basics but also a lot of super cute extras too. Check them out here.

Bath Time Essentials- Another thing our babies need are baths. They may not move around a lot but they do go potty a lot and can be messy eaters (even if it’s just out of a bottle or nipple). For bath time there are really only a few things you need. Something for them to lay on/in (they make a foam mat you can put in the tub or in a sink), bath wash (most baby washes double as shampoo too), a towel to dry them off in and lotion. You don’t have to use lotion every time but in the winter months you will want to make sure baby’s skin doesn’t get dried out. Baby Cubby has all your bath time essentials too!

Feeding Essentials- Whether you’re breast or bottle feeding there are some things you are going to need when baby comes. A lot of insurance companies (Select Health is one of them) will actually cover electric breast pumps for new moms. Call your insurance company to find out more. Aside from a breast pump you will need something to cover yourself up with (a big swaddle blanket works) and something to store your milk in. Also, getting Lansinoh or another soothing cream or pad to help with soreness after feeding is a must too. If you’re bottle feeding you’ll need bottles, nipples and a bottle brush to clean with. You can click here for everything you’ll need when it comes to feeding no matter which way you choose!

Stain Remover- Let’s face it, babies poop… a lot! Not only do they poop but they dribble and spit and make all sorts of messes you would have never thought such a cute little angel like creature could make. Be prepared when it happens with a good stain remover. There’s nothing more frustrating than having that brand new outfit you bought forever ruined by a nasty yellow or brown stain. I really like the Bunchafarmers stain remover because it’s gentle on clothes and doesn’t cause any skin irritation for baby either.

One of the toughest things, especially as you get further along in your pregnancy, is going out, shopping and picking up everything. I’m at the point now where the less I have to leave the house the better! That’s one reason why I love Baby Cubby. You can get everything on this list (and a whole lot more) at one place and they price match (even Amazon)! They also aren’t just another baby store there to sell you “stuff”. They truly care about what you and your family needs and wants and only sell the best and safest gear for your little ones. They do all the hard work researching so you don’t have to. Their staff is here to help with everything from “What stroller should I buy?” to some of the harder questions too. You can learn more about why they do what they do on their blog or here. And if you do want to get out and check things out head over to their shop in Lindon; they even have a Stroller Testing Course so you can try out strollers for yourself! Baby Cubby is open Monday through Saturday 10am-6pm and is located at 71 South 1380 West Suite #2 Lindon, UT 84042 or 24/7 at BabyCubby.com.