Our Ultimate Parent & Pediatrician-Approved Baby Essentials Checklist

I cried actual tears the first time I walked into a big-box store to shop for baby stuff. Standing in the aisle, I felt stared down by rows of specialized bottle nipples—for colic, for gas, for slow flow. I was completely overwhelmed. How was a newbie supposed to navigate all of this?

If you’re feeling just as indecisive as you dive into your own prep, trust me: you’re far from alone. The sheer volume of newborn gear on the market can surprise any parent-to-be. But while setting up the nursery and stocking up on baby stuff is exciting, you don’t actually need everything on the shelves the minute your little one arrives.

To help you cut through the clutter, we’ve put together the ultimate checklist of baby essentials. Read on to find out which items you truly can’t live without, the ones you can safely skip, and the ‘nice-to-haves’ that make life a little easier.

Key Takeaways

• Prioritize safe sleep. A firm, flat crib mattress that fits snugly in the crib or bassinet is a non-negotiable item for baby.
• Research big-ticket gear. For major items that impact safety and daily life, do your due diligence to find items that are compatible with your needs, lifestyle and budget.
• Keep clothing options simple. Focus on high-rotation items like onesies, bodysuits and pajamas that are soft, cozy and easy to change.
• Don’t stock up on a single bottle or pacifier brand. Newborns have distinct preferences for nipple shapes and flows. Buy single test bottles or a variety sampler pack first to see what baby accepts before investing in a full set.
• Don’t forget the rectal thermometer. Pediatricians stress the importance of having a rectal thermometer handy as a fever in a newborn can be a medical emergency, and this option provides the most accurate reading.
• Differentiate between "must-have” baby essentials vs. “nice-to-have” baby items. You don’t have to buy non-essentials right away. Take a wait-and-see approach, especially when it comes to things like toys. Every baby is different and every family has different needs.

The Baby Essentials You’ll Actually Use, According to Parents on The Bump

When it comes to baby stuff, no one has the expertise like a parent in the thick of it. Here, real moms and dads in our community share their thoughts on the must-haves vs. the nice-to-haves.

• “I’d say the baby essentials are: a place for baby to sleep (crib, bassinet); bottles (formula feeding items or breastfeeding items); bath items (tub, lotions, towels, soaps). And then diapers, wipes, medicines, a diaper bag, blankets, seasonal clothing, a car seat, a stroller and soothing items.” - ehicks

• "In my experience, one of the most important pieces of baby gear you can own is a monitor with good range. When my daughter was born we were living in a mid-century brick bungalow in Chicago—the kind of house with thick walls, where someone could drop a dish in the kitchen and you wouldn’t hear it in the basement. With a solid monitor clipped to my belt or placed on my desk, I could get work done while she napped, and know as soon as she was awake. - Daniel C., associate content director at The Bump and dad of one

• “The most important things are a car seat, a place for baby to sleep, diapers, wipes and a place to put baby during the day (a seat or swing). Most of the other things aren’t really essentials, they’re just convenient. - mamaofliam

• “My essentials are washcloths and bibs—I have a pukey baby! Diaper shirts (those are the undershirts that don’t go over baby’s head… Sleepers with zippers; in the early days I hated fumbling with little snaps. I also really liked my breastfeeding pillow—but not for breastfeeding! I used it for three to four weeks to sit on because I had a lot of pain from stitches. I also loved [velcro swaddles]. My baby really needed to be swaddled to sleep well but I could never get the blanket swaddles right—she always broke out! - Yvonne0721

• “So much of it’s personal preference because you’ll hear the next mom say that she ‘couldn’t live without XYZ,—but, in my opinion, you don’t need a changing table, a diaper pail and the fanciest stroller on the block. Unless you will use it. A lot.” - neesernicole

• “I’m a die-hard minimalist when it comes to baby stuff. People used to comment on how ‘normal’ (read: not overcrowded with big plastic products) our house looked when our son was an infant. Unfortunately, our house with a 3-year old is now a toy tornado!” -HappyCianci

• “We don’t have a changing table or a changing pad and have no plan to get one. I also don’t think a nail clipper is a baby “essential”. I only use a nail file on baby, and when she was little we could peel off the nails. I tried cutting them, and each time I tried I drew blood. I cannot bring myself to attempt it again.” - JNicMTek

Baby Stuff You Can Skip, According to Pediatricians

There are a number of products that are heavily marketed as newborn baby essentials, but many of them can be easily skipped to save your budget and your sanity. Here are the wait-and-see items our editors and medical experts agree you don’t need to add to your cart—at least not right away:

• Baby shoes: “They look good in pictures, but in reality socks or booties to keep the feet warm is all your child needs until they start walking,” says Dr. Paula Brito, MD, a board-certified pediatrician at Zarminali Pediatrics.
• Bottle warmer: While a bottle warmer sounds convenient, it’s entirely optional. Many babies are perfectly happy drinking room-temperature or even cold formula and breast milk. If your little one insists on a warm meal, simply submerge the bottle in a bowl of warm tap water for a few minutes. That said, Dr. Lauren Crosby, MD, FAAP, a pediatrician at LaPeer Pediatrics in Beverly Hills, California, says this might be a matter of opinion. “I really relied on my bottle warmer for safe, consistent heating that was convenient especially for those middle of the night feedings,” she says.
• Bath thermometer: Save your money on plastic floating gadgets. “You can safely check the bath water’s temperature with the inside of your wrist,” suggests Dr. Brito. (If it feels comfortably warm to you, it’s safe for baby.)
• Wipe warmer: Trust us, baby will be just fine with room-temperature wipes straight out of the pack.
• High-tech sterilizers: Unless your pediatrician explicitly recommends daily sterilization (which is sometimes the case for premature infants), a massive countertop appliance isn’t necessary. Washing bottles thoroughly in hot, soapy water or running them through a dishwasher’s sanitize cycle gets the job done safely.
• Nursery chair or glider: While a beautiful glider is a lovely luxury if you have the budget and space, any comfortable armchair or couch you already own—outfitted with a supportive pillow—works perfectly for round-the-clock feedings.
• Changing table: Buying a massive piece of standalone furniture solely for diaper changes is rarely worth the footprint. Instead, opt for a secure changing pad that you can safely attach to the top of a standard dresser you already own.
• Diaper pail: Specialty pails require expensive, brand-specific refill bags that add up quickly. A standard trash can with a tight-fitting, foot-activated lid works just fine, provided you empty it regularly.
• Biometric wearables: High-tech socks and smart monitors that track a newborn’s heart rate and oxygen levels often spark more anxiety than they alleviate. They’re prone to false alarms and aren’t recommended by pediatricians for healthy, term infants.
• Baby formula dispensers: Countertop formula makers operate a bit like Keurig coffee machines, but they require constant cleaning to prevent mold and improper mixing ratios. Scooping by hand or using a pre-measured travel formula dispenser is usually safer and easier to maintain.

While the items above are simply unnecessary, pediatricians warn that these sleep products are dangerous and violate safe-sleep protocols:

• Crib bumpers: “They can cause suffocation or pose the risk of entrapment,” warns Dr. Brito. “A firm mattress with a tight, fitted sheet is the safest sleep environment for baby.” Keep the crib completely bare.
• Weighted sleep suits: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) warns against using weighted sleep sacks, suits and swaddles as they can disrupt baby’s natural arousal reflexes and prevent them from rolling back into a safe position if they move in their sleep.
• Loungers, positioners and inclined sleepers: Nesting pillows and wedge positioners are often marketed to help with infant reflux or position baby, but they’re not approved for safe sleep. If baby rolls or shifts, these soft surfaces present a suffocation hazard, and some can cause baby’s head to slump forward or sideways. Always place baby to sleep on a flat, firm, bare surface.

To Sum It Up

Ask any parent and they’ll have their own opinion about what baby stuff you absolutely need, and what baby items aren’t entirely necessary. Your best bet as you prepare to bring baby home: prioritize the items that’ll keep baby healthy, safe, clean and fed. Make sure they have a safe sleep space, and a car seat for transportation. You’ll probably also need some gear and items to make life a little easier and more convenient (think: strollers, carriers and baby swings). Eventually, you’ll want some fun extras and developmental toys. But for those first few sweet, chaotic weeks? Love, diapers and the bare minimum are truly all you need.

How We Developed This Article

We know that there are loads of newborn and baby essentials on your radar, and it’s our goal to help you decipher the necessities from the nice-to-haves. To finalize our list of must-have baby stuff, we reached out to three pediatricians and lots of real moms and dads for their opinions, anecdotes and hands-on experience. We also consulted guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and other reputable institutions. Finally, this article was vetted through our thorough fact-check and medical review process. Learn how we ensure the accuracy of our content through our editorial and medical review process.

About the author: As the associate content director for The Bump and a mom of three, Lauren Barth has lots of experience testing and using baby gear and essentials. It’s her goal to make parents feel supported and seen during the journey of pregnancy and parenthood.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.