Free Printable Newborn Checklist – The Must-Have Baby Essentials you Need Before Your Baby Arrives

It didn’t take long after I found out I was going to be a new mom to start formulating a newborn baby essentials checklist for myself. I loved scrolling through Pinterest for new baby essentials and nursery must haves!

Now that my youngest is two years old, there are a few things I realized I never needed and a few items I wish I had invested in way sooner.

One of the best pieces of advice I was given when I was pregnant with my first was not to buy anything for the little one until I’ve had my baby shower.  Mine was at 32 weeks pregnant … and while it was the equivalent of resisting having a chocolate cake at a birthday, I managed to go that entire time without buying anything for my little one.  

It was hard!

Newborn Baby Checklist Printable

I used this same checklist when I was creating my baby shower registry.  Once my shower passed, it was very easy to see what I had left over to purchase and I went ahead and bought the items that were left over.  

I also used this list as a base for gathering items I needed to pack my hospital bag and my little one’s diaper bag.

Here’s baby nursery essentials checklist in a PDF format.

Here is my list of things you need for a new baby

Baby’s 1st Layette

When deciding on what size clothing to buy, I got a half newborn and the other half 0-3 months.  I had a feeling both my babies would be pretty big (their dad is 6’2”) and both my little ones outgrew their newborn sized within 2 weeks.  But they were helpful to have.

After that I bought their clothing based on how they grew and what I needed. For example my second baby needed 3 to 6 months sizes by the time he was one month old and fit into 9 to 12 month clothing by the time he was 4 months old.  So it made sense for me to buy little by little until his rapid growth slowed down a little.

• 4-8 onesies (Short sleeves for warm weather and long sleeves for cold weather)
• 4-8 one-piece pajamas
• 1-3 sweaters or jackets
• 1-3 pants
• 4-7 socks or booties (baby won’t need shoes until baby walks)
• 1-3 hats 🡪 consider getting more during the winter months
• 3 – 5 no-scratch mittens
• 1 going home outfit (Although its not an absolute necessity, its always nice to have a little something special for the little one to go home in)
• Bunting bag, snow suit, or a parka cover for the infant car seat for winter baby
• Gentle laundry detergent (I like this one)

Baby Nursery Essentials and Must Haves

I stuck to the basics here mainly because I had no idea beyond that what I would use.  I bought a mattress protector pad but I found I didn’t really need it at this stage. My 2.5 year old was out of his crib by the time we started potty training him, so we really didn’t need it.  It did help that my mattress has a built in cover that protects it from spills like spit up and diaper leaks.

• 1 Crib
• 1 Crib Mattress
• 1 Washable waterproof mattress pads
• 2-4 fitted crib sheets (You can get away with 4 crib sheets without ever buying more)
• 1 Crib Mobile 🡪 Obviously this one is optional, but I did find it to be a helpful distraction tool
• 6-10 soft, light receiving/swaddle blankets (I use my swaddle blankets so much, I ended up with another 10)
• 1 Dresser / Change table
• Comfy chair (swivel or rocking a bonus!)

Changing Station Essentials

• Cushioned changing pad for low dresser or bureau, with safety strap or railing
• 4-6 changing table pad covers (I get away with 4 of them.  But you can always use swaddle or receiving blankets as change pad covers)
• Diaper Pail
• Diaper cream
• Unscented baby wipes
• Soft washcloths dedicated for baby bottom
• Diapers (Aim for 6-10 dozen cloth diapers and 6-8 diaper covers, or 2 large boxes of disposable newborn diapers and 2-3 large boxes of size 1 diapers)
• Diaper Bag
• Skip Hop Pronto change bag (This was a must on my list.  My BFF mama had one and I though it was so handy when doing bum changes outside the home)

Baby Feeding

• 2-4 pacifiers
• Teething toys
• 8 bottles and nipples, both four and eight ounce  (If fed strictly by the bottle, baby will go through about 10 bottles in the four ounce size per day so keep that in mind when deciding how often you are going to be doing dishes or put on the dishwasher.  It’s easier to buy )
• Formula (if not nursing and just in case)
• Bottle brush and a nipple brush
• 4-8 bibs
• 4-6 Burp cloths (or use those swaddle blankets)
• Breast Pump (if you plan to breastfeed)
• Milk storage bags (if you plan to breastfeed)
• 1-3 nursing bras (Breasts swell following birth, so start with one size larger than your maternity bra. Wait until size settles down about two weeks after birth to purchase additional bras.)
• Nursing pads
• Nipple shields (If breastfeeding.  I never though they were a necessity until I needed them after my first had trouble latching and they became sore)
• Nipple cream
• Nursing pillow

Baby Bath Time

• Baby soap
• Baby Shampoo
• Baby bath tub
• 2-4 soft towels or hooded baby towels
• Soft washcloths (use a different color or pattern than your diaper washcloths)

Baby Personal Care

• Baby nail clippers
• Nasal aspirator
• Baby hairbrush
• Baby thermometer
• Baby moisturizing cream or baby oil
• Healing Balm (for circumcision care)

Baby Gear Must-Haves

• Infant or convertible car seat
• Stroller
• Baby monitor
• Baby movement monitor (Like the Snuza.  Some devices combine a movement and a video monitor)
• Baby carrier for baby wearing (optional to get before hand and can always buy after the little one arrives)
• Stroller/car seat toys (optional to get before hand and can always buy after the little one arrives)
• Baby swing (optional to get before hand and can always buy after the little one arrives)
• High chair (optional to get before hand and can always buy after the little one arrives)
• Portable high chair (optional to get before hand and can always buy after the little one arrives)
• Play Pen (optional to get before hand and can always buy after the little one arrives)
• Bassinette (You may want one right away depending on what you decided your sleeping arrangements will be.  For example, if the crib fits in your room, you may not need one.)
• Car seat mirror (optional to get before hand and can always buy after the little one arrives)

To get the entire newborn baby checklist printable in a PDF format, enter your email address here!

What’s Next?

Once you’re done setting up your baby registry and having a good idea of what you’ll need, read about what to pack in your hospital bag for your baby and what to pack in your hospital bag for mom and dad.

Once the baby arrives, the fun begins.  If you are like me and are worried that you’re going to forget what to take with you in your diaper bag, have a look at this printable diaper bag checklist.

What were your must-have items for your baby. Let me know in the comments below.