Been looking forward to finally meet your baby? Before their arrival, here's a compiled checklist to help you prepare. You will find a list of essentials vs nice-to-have but not really required.
Baby's Nursery
Essentials
- Baby’s Cot
- Mattress
- Mattress Protector
- Cot sheets
- Sleepbag/sack
- Swaddles/Muslin swaddles (We recommend Love to Dream zip swaddles with allowances for arms!)
- Bouncer
- Baby gym/mat
Nice-to-have but not necessary
-
Hanging mobile for cot
- Cocoon from Red Castle
-
Baby Monitor (You can also get a cheap cctv camera rather than a branded baby monitor, these usually comes with a mobile app that you can monitor from on your phone)
- Changing table
- Chest of Drawers
- Armchair for you to breastfeed comfortably
- Nursing pillow (We recommend Boppy which is a lot easier to use and multipurpose for tummy time, sitting up, etc)
- Rocker (if you prefer over a bouncer)
Mummy
Essentials
-
Gel pads (hot and cold) to relieve sore nipples
-
Double breast pump (Spectra or Cimilre)
-
Milk bags
-
Nipple cream to ease the pain
-
Nursing pads (Lansinoh is thicker for mummies with plenty of milk)
-
Front button clothing for easy breast feeding
- Cotton balls
- Disposable panties
- Sanitary pads
for heavy flow
- Bedroom slippers
Daily Essentials
-
Changing mat
-
Diapers (We love g.oon!)
-
Cream to prevent nappy rash (We recommend desitin, you will need plenty)
-
Baby Wipes (Pigeon moisturiser wipes are good for delicate newborn babies)
-
Yu Yee Oil for wind
- Gripe water for wind
- Nail clippers
-
Nose cleaner (we recommend pigeon)
- Thermometer
-
Baby washing detergent
Dress Up
- Kimono tops for first month (newborn's head is soft and fragile, this will help you a lot)
- 4 x Pyjamas - long sleeves (We love cute Carter designs)
- 7 x Onesies/rompers (We find that it is easier to carry the baby around with this one piece suit compared to a dress or a 2 pc)
- 2 x Mittens (to prevent them from scratching their face)
- 2 x Bootees (to keep their feet warm)
Baby Bath
- Face towel
- Bath towel
- Bath tub
- Baby Wipes
- Bath mat
- Bath sponge or muslin wash cloth
- Baby shower gel/soap (We like Cetaphil)
- Baby shampoo (We like Cetaphil)
- Cotton buds /balls
- Tissue paper
Nice-to-have but not necessary
- Bath toys (for later when baby can sit in tub)
Care of the Umbilical Cord Stump
-
Cotton balls or swabs to clean with just water, there is no need for oil
Feeding Baby
- Milk powder stage 1 (for mummies whose breastmilk comes later, having this in place will ensure you do not panic or stress if your milk does not come immediately)
- Milk bottles & small sized teats
- Bottle scrub brush
- Warmer cum carrier bag
- Bibs
- Large pan/pot (for sterilising)6-Bottle Electric Steam Steriliser (optional)
- Milk containers
- Baby & Accessories Cleanser
- Thermal bottle (to keep warm water)
Baby on the go
Essentials
- Stroller/pram
- Baby carrier
- Car seat
- Changing mat
Nice-to-have but not necessary
- Hat
- Diaper bag to keep all the essentials
Playtime
Essentials
- Highchair (for much later)
Nice-to-have but not necessary
- Playpen (for much later)
- Stairgates (for much later)
- Rubber protectors (for much later)
- Toys & Playstuff
- Rattle
- Soft books