Newborn Baby Essentials Guide: Everything you need before your baby arrives
As the old saying goes, it’s important to know what to expect when you’re expecting. There are tonnes of to-dos and ‘to-buys’ when it comes to preparing for the eventual arrival of your little one. From kitting out the spare room and turning it into a brand new nursery to gathering all the gizmos and gadgets for cleaning, feeding, sleeping and everything in-between, babies require a lot of stuff. With a seemingly never-ending list that is sure to keep you busy buying baby necessities - where do you start?
Keep reading our blog here at Direct4Baby, as we’ve nailed down the essential items for a newborn baby to differentiate the ‘must-have’ items, from the ‘nice to have’ products. Our checklist of baby items to stock up on before your little one arrives is guaranteed to help save some parental pennies and keep you on track and organised as parents-to-be.
Newborn Baby Checklist
Whilst a baby’s nursery room calls for adorable decorations and accessories, you’ll also be on the market for essential pieces of furniture that will make caring for your newborn baby a whole lot easier. The NHS advises that your newborn baby sleeps in your room next to you for the first six months, so it’s important to be prepared for their arrival. Here are a number of baby essentials to add to your checklist, along with products that aren’t exactly essential, but could be worth investing in if the budget allows:
Sleeping Must Haves:
- Moses Basket, Crib or Newborn Bed
- Firm, Flat Mattress
- Baby Room Thermometer
- Swaddle Blanket / Sleep Sack
- 2/3 Crib Sheets
Sleeping Nice to Haves:
- Baby Temperature Monitor
- Waterproof Mattress Protector
- Crib Mobile and Accessories

Feeding Must Haves:
- Milk Prep Machine
- Nursing Bra
- Breast Pump Bottles
Feeding Nice to Haves:
- Nursing Pillow
- Bottle Cleaning Brush
- Feeding Muslins

On the Move Must Haves:
- Baby Carriers and Swaddles
- Portable Changing Mat & Bag
- Newborn Pushchair
- Car Seat
On the Move Nice to Haves:
- Carrycot
- Toys & Books

Changing and Cleaning Must Haves:
- Changing Mat
- Baby Tub
- Baby Wipes & Lotions
- Nappies
Changing and Cleaning Nice to Haves:
- Bath Supports
- Nappy Disposal System
- Hooded Towels