Reviewed by The Mom Store editorial team, October 2026. See our editorial policy.
In the first weeks a newborn really needs only a few things: a safe place to sleep, enough soft clothes for several changes a day, nappies and wipes, whatever you need for feeding, and a car seat if you will travel by car. Everything else can wait until you know your baby's size and habits. This checklist is grouped so you can tick off the basics before the due date and leave the extras for later.
Sleep
This is the one area where what you buy affects safety. The American Academy of Pediatrics guide to safe sleep recommends:
- a firm, flat sleep surface such as a cot, crib or bassinet with a fitted sheet, not a sloping or cushioned product
- a separate sleep space in your room for at least the first 6 months, rather than sharing your bed
- no pillows, quilts, loose blankets or bumpers in the sleep area
- always putting your baby on their back to sleep
- moving your baby to a flat surface if they fall asleep in a car seat or swing
If you swaddle, stop as soon as your baby looks like they are trying to roll over. For warmth, the AAP suggests layered clothing or a wearable sleeping bag instead of blankets.
Checklist: cot, crib or bassinet with a firm mattress; 2 or 3 fitted sheets; a wearable sleeping bag for cooler months; a few muslin or cotton swaddles if you plan to swaddle.
Clothes for the first three months
Choose soft cotton with snaps or zips down the front, so you are not pulling things over your baby's head at every change. Newborns go through several outfits a day because of spit up and leaky nappies.
Checklist: 6 to 8 bodysuits or onesies; 4 to 6 sleepsuits or night suits; 2 or 3 light layers such as a cardigan or jhabla for an AC room; socks or booties; a cap and mittens only if you live somewhere cold, as the Lullaby Trust guide to dressing your baby for sleep advises taking hats off indoors. Browse our infant and newborn collection for everyday basics.
Nappies and hygiene
Checklist: newborn size nappies (or cloth nappies and covers); cotton wool or unscented wipes; a changing mat; a mild, unperfumed baby wash; a soft towel; a baby nail file or clippers; a small baby bath or bather.
Feeding
What you need depends on how you plan to feed, and plans often change in the first weeks, so buy the minimum first.
- Breastfeeding: 2 or 3 nursing bras, breast pads and a feeding pillow if you find it comfortable. A breast pump only if you expect to express milk.
- Bottle feeding: 4 to 6 bottles with newborn teats, a bottle brush and a way to sterilise them, such as a steam steriliser or a large pan for boiling.
- Either way: several burp cloths or cotton napkins.
Going out
If you will travel by car, including the drive home from hospital, you need a car seat that suits a newborn and is fitted to your car following the maker's instructions. A pram or a carrier makes walks and short trips easier. You can compare options in our prams, strollers and car seats collection. A bag with space for nappies, wipes, a change of clothes and a muslin completes the set.
Your hospital bag for the baby
Pack 2 or 3 bodysuits, a going home outfit, a cap and socks, a soft swaddle or shawl, newborn nappies and wipes. Hospitals vary, so ask what they provide. For more ideas, see our baby hospital bag checklist.
Things that can wait
Baby monitors, bouncers, toys, shoes and a big wardrobe of party outfits can all wait until you see what you actually use. Gifts from relatives often fill these gaps anyway.
