By: Misan Abu Rmeilah, a mother of two

When I was pregnant with my first child I researched and asked around for all the baby items that I had to -absolutely- have. With hindsight, it turned out that I overbought where some items were the absolute essentials, while others were unnecessary, and some were only “nice to have” items. I ended up having bought so many items; needed and not needed, to account for all those “necessary” items.

So, in order to save you the hassle of looking for the perfect checklist, I compiled for you a list below that shows all the items, that are actually needed for your newborn’s first year.

Nursery:

• Nursery Furniture.

Crib or co-sleeper Crib mattress Changing table or mat Bassinet (though it's only safe until 3 months) Rocking chair Humidifier or vaporizer Dresser Baby monitor  

• Linens.

Fitted crib sheets Several thin cotton receiving blankets Waterproof mattress protectors  

Feeding:

• For breastfeeding.

Nipple cream (for the first few weeks) Nursing bras Nursing pads Cotton bibs Burp cloths Breast pump if you are planning to pump (electric if you will use it every day at work, otherwise a hand pump is fine) Breast milk storage bags or containers Bottles with nipples Bottle-cleaning brush Bottle-drying rack Bottle sterilizer  

• For formula feeding.

  Bottles with nipples Bottle-cleaning brush Bottle-drying rack Baby formula Cotton bibs Burp cloths Insulated carrier and thermos for outings Dry formula dispenser Bottle sterilizer  

• Solid-food feeding (4-6 months of age).

High chair Plastic Bibs Infant feeding spoons Infant bowl  

Basic Baby Care:

• For diapering.

Diapers Wipes Diaper rash ointment  

• For bathing and grooming.

Hooded towels Washcloths Infant tub Bath seat (for after 6 months) Baby bath wash Baby shampoo Baby cream/lotion (I personally prefer using olive oil) Baby comb and brush set Nail scissors/nail clippers/nail file set Baby-friendly laundry detergent  

• For soothing.

Pacifiers if you decide to use them  

• The medicine cabinet.

Thermometer Nasal aspirator Saline nose drops Anti-gas medicine  

Clothing  

A special outfit to bring baby home in Bodysuits (long, short or sleeveless depending on your preference and the weather) T-shirt-and-pant sets Pajamas (preferably one piece in the first 6 months) Hat (cotton for summer and wool for winter) A wearable sleep sack, to use instead of a blanket when first born

Going Out  

Car seat that fits a newborn and is rear-facing or convertible to make front-facing after their 2nd birthday Stroller (I would recommend a stroller that your car seat fits onto) Diaper bag filled with diapers, wipes, and at least three spare outfit Mirror to see baby in the car while driving   In closing, please bear in mind that the essentials will differ from mother to mother, dependent on her budget and her personal circumstances (e.g. whether she drives with her newborn or stays at home most of the time).

As all of these items are readily available, it is better to limit the number of things that you initially purchase, and add other items as your baby grows and has a preference for an item over another (e.g. wide neck baby bottles vs. standard). For example, most newborns grow up so quickly that their outfits become too small within the first month.

Thus, I recommend that you only purchase the necessary items first and save the rest for the future. Your friends and family will also be gifting your baby items, so remember to tell them what you need or have a “baby list” that they can use to buy what you need.   Happy parenting and enjoying your time with your newborn!