Welcoming your first child into the world is a beautiful, emotional, and (let’s be honest) slightly overwhelming experience. While there’s no one-size-fits-all manual for parenting, there are tried-and-tested essentials that can ease the transition into your new adventure. As parents who’ve been there—or walked closely with those who have—we’ve rounded up the most impactful items every new family should have at home. Think of this as your starter kit to confident, calm, and joyful parenting.
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🍼 Feeding Essentials
Whether you’re breastfeeding, formula feeding, or a mix of both, having the right tools makes all the difference.
- Nursing Pillow – Supports baby and protects your back and arms during feeds. Look for ergonomic shapes that adapt to your body. Furthermore, for many, it’s one accessory that tends to stick around because of it’s size and versatility to help with sleeping!
Our pick–> Nursing Pillow – Plus Size Breastfeeding Pillows with Security Fence for Enhanced Support & Comfort
- Breast Pump (Manual or Electric) – A good pump can be a game-changer, especially during the early weeks of establishing supply.
Our pick –> Smartpump 3.0 Double Electric Breast Pump
- Bottles & Sterilizer – The link we shared above comes with bottles, if you are breastfeeding. But you will need larger and more bottles once you stop breastfeeding and you little on will grow and consume more! . We recommend to choose anti-colic bottles and a fast, chemical-free sterilizer. Lastly, a bottle warmer can be quite helpful to get your frozen or refrigerated milk or formula at body temperature in no time. Our picks:–> Sterilizer: Philips Avent Baby Bottle Sterilizer and Dryer Premium
–> Bottles: Anti-Colic Baby Bottle with AirFree Vent
–> Bottle Warmer: 8-in-1 Fast Baby Milk Warmer with Timer for Breastmilk or Formula
- Burp Cloths – You’ll go through a surprising number of these. Trust us, soft and absorbent is the way to go. Surprise bonus, will save you countless washes of their and your own clothes!
–> Our pick: Muslin Burp Cloths 20″ x 10″, Pack of 10 – Large, 6-Layer, Ultra Absorbent 100% Cotton
🛏️ Sleep Setup
Sleep is sacred—for both baby and you. Setting up a safe and cozy sleep environment can encourage better rest (hallelujah!).
- Bassinet or Crib with a Firm Mattress – Ensure it meets safety standards and fits in your room for those early weeks.
Our pick –> Bassinet Bedside Sleeper, Baby Crib for Newborn
- Swaddles & Sleep Sacks – Swaddling helps soothe newborns, and sleep sacks are great as they grow. Go for breathable, soft fabrics. This is often not an easy one and is trial and error. Ours never did accept a swaddle below we have attached the most popular one with friends and the sacks that worked best for us. Bear in mind, your baby/ toddler will grow, so you will need to replace the sacks every 6 months to a year.
Pro tip: have always 2 sacks in the same size (minimum). A little accident overnight might make the task of using it the next day a challenge!
Swaddle: Our pick–> 3-Pack Organic Baby Swaddle Sleep Sacks
Sleep sack: Our pick –> For newborns: 3-Pack Organic Baby Swaddle Sleep Sacks
For 6-12 months: Our pick –> Baby Sleep Sack 6-12 Months Long Sleeve
For 12 months and older: Our pick–> Toddler Sleep Sack with Feet
Our pick with legs out! This allows for dressing for bed a bit before sleeptime!
- White Noise Machine – Mimics the womb and helps lull your baby to sleep—also handy for blocking out the world during naps. This is so underrated. It feels like it helps all the time for setting a calm sleeping mood, but also, acts as noise buffer if you happen to be in the adjacent rooms
Our pick: Mini Portable Sound Machine Baby White Noise Machine
👶 Diapering Must-Haves
Diaper changes will be a big part of your life. Here’s what you’ll need to make it smoother:
Our pick–> Portable Baby Changing Table
- Changing Pad with Washable Covers – Easy to clean and gentle for baby’s skin.
Our pick–> Baby Portable Diaper Changing Pad
- Diapers (Newborn & Size 1) – Stock up, but not too much—babies grow fast! This is one of the hardest to recommend so we won’t in Europe, several pharmacies will offer welcome packages with free diapers, same at the hospital. Don’t be shy to try different brands if you see quality issues, small bruises, etc
- Wipes & Diaper Cream – Go for sensitive, fragrance-free options and a reliable rash barrier cream. Wipes go so fast, best is to buy in bulk.
Our pick –> Baby Wipes, Hypoallergenic, 99% Water
–> Our pick: Hypoallergenic Diaper Rash Cream
- Diaper Pail – Keeps odors contained and your space fresh.
Our pick–> Durable Stainless Steel and Includes 1 Easy Roll Refill
🛁 Bathing Basics
Bath time is a bonding moment, and having the right setup can make it safer and more fun.
- Baby Bath Tub – A compact, slip-resistant tub that fits in your sink or bathtub is perfect.
Unconventional tip: use a colorful, inexpensive, inflatable tub. It consumes less water AND the inflatable sides offer protection in case of slippages or falls.
Our pick–> Disney Inflatable Tub
- Soft Hooded Towels & Washcloths – Gentle for delicate skin and super cute.
Our pick –> Hooded Baby Towels-Visualize Health Label -2 Pack
- Fragrance-Free Baby Wash & Shampoo – Dermatologist-approved and tear-free is the way to go.
Our pick –> Baby Gentle Cleansing Gel – Baby Hair & Body Wash
Bonus: for helping remove the crusts on the scalp: Cradle Cap Foam Shampoo for Newborn
🧺 Clothing & Laundry
Newborns don’t need a runway-worthy wardrobe, but they do need comfort and convenience. One of the top tips we can give is to not overspend and overthink, because you can’t imagine how quickly your little on will outgrow (or stain) some of those pieces you chose so carefully!
For those fortunate to have friends and relatives who can gift used (or new!) items, it’s the best way to go. It’s it’s purest form of the word, reusing is the most sustainable way to go and it will relieve you of any gilt if something brand new is damaged. Another thing is growth. We don’t know how big our little one will be at birth, or how quickly it will grow out sizes.
But the biggest headache is sizing. It seems like every brand has it’s own sizing interpretations for the different months of growth, i.e. 18-24 months onesies vary a lot from brand to brand, in terms of length and fit. So below, a quick guide to what you will need:
- Bodysuits (a.k.a. Onesies) – Aim for a variety of sizes and styles (short and long sleeve).
Our pick –> unisex-baby 5-pack Long-sleeve Bodysuit
And shortleeve:
We cannot say enough good things about Carter’s and their quality. Nothing sponsored here. We got a some pieces as gifts and continued. Good idea to keep some short and long sleeves to be versatile with weather.
- Footed Sleepers & Gowns – Easy for nighttime diaper changes.
- Mittens, Socks & Hats – Keep little extremities warm and protected.
- Baby-Friendly Laundry Detergent – Gentle on skin and tough on messes.
🚗 On-the-Go Gear
Even if you’re mostly nesting, there are a few travel essentials you’ll want ready.
- Infant Car Seat – A non-negotiable from day one. Choose one that’s easy to install and meets all safety regulations. – So many things to consider here, we will shortly link a seperate post on the topic.
- Stroller – Consider your lifestyle and space. Look for lightweight options if you’re city-based, or all-terrain if you’re more outdoorsy.
- Heavy-duty wagon – great for hiking, slightly rugged terrain or in longer outdoor trips such as amusement park
Lots to factor in here too. Soon, we will dish out a post on detailed information about car seat options, go here
Pro tip: Most larger hotels offer bassinets on demand, and some rental properties as well! But in case they don’t or you just want to be extra safe, we can recommend the Travel Foldable Portable Bassinet
If you are looking for longer roadtrip essentials, we have compiled at list here:
Diapers:
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