My 15 Favorite Newborn Essentials

1. Baby Swing or Mamaroo

I’ve heard that some babies prefer the baby swing and some prefer the Mamaroo. I picked up both used on Marketplace to try them out. My little girl loved this swing, but couldn’t stand the Mamaroo. Your baby might be the opposite!

Both provide a safe place for your baby when you need to get something done and can provide a moment of peace as well. For months, the only way we could eat dinner at the same time was if my newborn was in her swing. And if she was crying from reflux pain, sometimes only the swing would calm her down.

We were able to use the swing for about 4 months, so I would say it’s worth the investment and the space it takes up in your home.

Note that you may want a newborn insert like this for the Mamaroo. Also be sure to check the minimum age and weight requirements. We had to wait a few weeks before using these items when we first brought our baby home from the hospital.

2. Baby Carrier

I tried several different types and brands of baby carriers.

I have this baby wrap carrier, which I loved for the first few months. It is snug like a swaddle so it’s great for naps. It also looks super cute when you wear it. But it does takes time to learn how to tie the wrap. I was also always a little nervous that I tied it wrong and she wasn’t secure, so I never felt totally hands-free. The baby wrap carrier only lasted us a few months, but was a nice option for those early days.

We also have the BabyBjorn Baby Carrier Mini, which is perfect for newborns and lasted us much longer than the wrap carrier. The Baby Bjorn carrier feels very secure, has great head and neck support, and is quick and easy to throw on. The straps criss-cross behind your back, so it was very supportive and comfortable to wear. We used the Baby Bjorn all the time for outings and around the house.

Recently, I picked up the Ergobaby Omni 360 All-Position Baby Carrier (used on Marketplace) because my one year old outgrew the BabyBjorn Baby Carrier Mini. So far I like it for toddlers, but I can’t speak to how it works for newborns yet. I love that the Ergobaby lasts from newborn to toddler.

I originally started out with this carrier because it was inexpensive, but I quickly upgraded. I found it was not supportive and hurt my back, but it might work better for others based on all the positive reviews.

3. BabyBjorn Bouncer Balance Soft

The BabyBjorn Bouncer Balance Soft was a gift we received that we didn’t originally have on our registry and it quickly became one of our all-time favorite newborn essentials. Light and easy to carry around the house. Adjustable for each phase so it lasts a long time. Comfortable and soothing for baby. It’s amazing. It’s a great substitute for the baby swing or Mamaroo if you don’t have space in your home.

We waited way too long to buy the toy bar that attaches to the front and I wish we had bought it right away. Trust me, it’s worth every penny. The toy bar transforms this bouncer into an engaging activity.

4. Play Mat

This is such a fun one to pick out! There are so many adorable play mat options to match your home and nursery.

Play mats are great for exploring, tummy time, and a safe place to put your baby. You’ll want to choose a play mat that is soft, cushioned, has different textures to discover. We ended up with four different play mats so we could have one in each room. You may also want something soft underneath the play mat for extra padding (carpet, yoga mat, blanket).

I would recommend at least one play mat with a mobile over the top. This is great for looking up, tracking, and reaching. We picked up a cute used mat and also chose this Fisher-Price Baby Playmat with music (if you’re ok with super bright primary colors in your home), which was a favorite that we still actually use today.

I also splurged on this beautiful play mat from Crate & Barrel to match her nursery (pictured above). It’s thick, soft, and my 16-month-old actually still loves sitting on it and peeking under the leaves. I used the Crate & Barrel play mat as a backdrop for baby photos as well. There are many different designs to match most nursery themes.

Knowing how much we used our play mats, I wish I had invested in The Play Gym by Lovevery. I can’t wait to try it out with baby #2!

5. Boppy Nursing Pillow

I love my Boppy. I started out with the My Breast Friend nursing pillow (perfect for extra support in the NICU), but after a few weeks switched to my Boppy. The Boppy Nursing Pillow is a lifesaver for nursing, arm support when giving bottles or holding baby during naps, and can also be used for baby positioning. If you live in a two-story house, I recommend having one for each floor if you are nursing.

6. Bottle Warmer

I never thought a bottle warmer would be on my list of newborn essentials, but I ended up buying one a few days after coming home from the hospital. We chose this inexpensive one from Amazon and it was great. I originally planned on exclusively breastfeeding so I didn’t think a bottle warmer was necessary, but I ended up needing to do a combination of bottles and nursing. You can definitely get by without a bottle warmer, but it is by far the easiest way to warm up milk. Especially when stumbling around in the middle of the night.

7. Microwave Steam Sterilizer Bags

I skipped buying a bottle sanitizer and I’m so glad I did. You don’t need it. You can just wash your bottles in the dishwasher. And whether you are using bottles or not, I would recommend ordering a pack of these reusable microwave steam sterilizer bags. You throw anything inside that needs to be sterilized (pacifiers, bottle parts, etc.), add a little water, and everything is clean in a few minutes. So easy.

8. Bassinet

My little girl slept in our room those first months and, although we could have just set up the crib in our room, a bassinet has a smaller footprint and is easier to move around. I also liked having the crib set up in the nursery if I needed it. We had this inexpensive bassinet and the matching sheets and really liked it. It also worked well for travel for the first four-ish months because it folds up for easy transport. I chose our first bassinet because I was worried our dogs would be a little too curious, so I liked the dome top (we would have been fine without it). For baby #2, I’m going to try out this bassinet so she can be higher up and closer to the bed.

9. Pack and Play with Bassinet Topper

I set up a pack and play on our main floor to have a place for naps that was closer than the nursery. For the first few months it worked perfectly in our main living space.

I was gifted this pack and play from my registry and have loved it. We still use it for travel. With a newborn, we used the bassinet attachment on top, which has a canopy and can be taken outside. I also bought a mattress for the pack and play (not bassinet) to make it more comfortable.

You can skip the pack and play and just move a smaller bassinet around the house. But I liked that we would use the pack and play for a long time, so it felt like a good investment (it was).

10. Swaddles

There are so many different types of swaddles.

I really do think every baby is different in sleep preferences, so what worked for us may not be the best option for your little one. I would recommend registering for one of each type of swaddle so you can see which your baby likes best before ordering more.

My newborn could only sleep with her hands up above her head, so a lot of swaddle options didn’t work for us. I used these cute muslin swaddle blankets during naps. At night, she would only sleep in this swaddle for the first month and then we switched to this swaddle for the next month.

11. Infant Car Seat

You can use a convertible car seat that grows with your baby from the start, but I loved using an infant car seat with a handle like this one. We actually got this car seat used from a friend and it was perfect. But it was heavy. We had a base installed in each car and a car seat attachment for our Mockingbird stroller. It all worked well and it was nice to be able to carry the car seat around without waking up a sleeping baby. But it wasn’t the easiest system for travel.

For the next baby, I am going to invest in a Doona with two bases – an all in one stroller and infant car seat carrier.

12. Car Seat Cover

I used this car seat cover and it was essential for going out and about. The cover allowed us to go to restaurants and run errands with a sleeping baby. It also kept people from touching her and getting really close (which happened way more than I expected). The car seat cover has many other uses as well.

13. Stroller

Being a minimalist with strollers has been really difficult for me. We now have three strollers and I’m looking to get a Doona Convertible Infant Car Seat / Compact Stroller System as well for the next baby. But each stroller has a different purpose.

I’m excited to try out the Doona as an easy travel option and car seat.

But I also feel it is important to have a bigger stroller that has a bassinet attachment. We have the Mockingbird Stroller with the bassinet attachment. It was so nice to get out of the house postpartum for walks while she comfortably napped in the bassinet topper. If she was still napping when we came home, I could just carry the bassinet topper inside.

For the bassinet topper, keep in mind that you will want a sun shade. The Mockingbird has a shade, but it isn’t always large enough to provide full shade on sunny days.

For stores and restaurants, I usually used the Mockingbird with the car seat attachment so I could use the car seat cover for germs and slide the car seat into a booth next to me. I mostly used the bassinet topper for walks.

Oh, and get a stroller organizer that hangs from the handles for your drink, phone, pacifiers, and all the other things you want to easily access on the go.

14. Diaper Bag

You don’t really need a diaper bag. You can honestly use any bag that holds diapers, burp cloths, a change of clothes, and any other essentials you need for feedings. But picking out a cute diaper bag is fun. I have this Petunia Picklebottom diaper bag and love it. Especially the fold out changing pad. But there are also times I just throw some essentials in a backpack or purse (my Madewell tote bag has actually been great at holding everything in one place).

15. Footed Onesies (with integrated mitts)

Footed onesies are the easiest outfits for newborns. Especially if you choose onesies with integrated fold-over hand mitts (no need to buy them separately!). I am completely obsessed with these footies from Goumi. The footies come with a cute bum flap for diaper checks, an option for open toes, and integrated hand mitts with a stimulating pattern for newborns. Goumi’s footies are also made of the softest cotton of any baby item I’ve tried. They even make matching mama robes. Goumi has some great sales so the prices aren’t that much higher than the footies at other stores.

What are your favorite newborn essentials? Any other suggestions?

P.S. My favorite bedtime stories for newborns and some helpful tips for building your baby registry as a first time parent.

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