You are pregnant. Congratulations! Now, welcome to a shocking reality: there is a massive, billion-dollar industry for baby gear and supplies that will play on your emotions to get you to buy far more than you need for your bundle of joy.
The reality is this: newborns need very little. Warmth, nourishment, the ability to stay clean, somewhere to sleep, and love round out the list pretty well. But when I was pregnant with my first, I swore up and down I needed to buy it all. In all of that, I missed a lot of things that would have been helpful, and wound up with a lot that wasn’t.
The author is seen in her recent maternity photos for her third child. Camera work by Danielle Lepore Photography, Edits and Styling by Erin Kirby Photography. Copyright 2025, Danielle Lepore Photography and Erin Kirby Photography
I’m expecting my third baby, and I’ve learned a lot since my first. In hopes I can spare you the grief and expense I encountered when I was a first-time mom, here is the list of things you need for your newborn that I wish I had with my first.
The author and her growing family. Camera work by Danielle Lepore Photography Edits and styling by Erin Kirby Photography. Copyright 2025 Danielle Lepore Photography & Erin Kirby Photography
In the interest of keeping it concise, I am focusing on the biggest essentials you’ll need to bring baby home. This list will grow as your little does, but hopefully you’ll see by the end of this list that your needs are much more minimal than you may realize.
1. Things that help your baby sleep safely (and help you sleep).
There are endless tips and products out there claiming to help your baby sleep well from day one. Here is the bad news: many of those products aren’t safe, and others are unnecessary. But what I’ve learned along the way is this: I’m a much better mom when I sleep well, and that means ensuring my child sleeps well, too.
What’s at the top of my list now that I’m expecting baby #3? A great bassinet. The ones we’ve had the best luck with are those that move safely (either by rocking with your help or using electronic motion… note: these are flat sleep surfaces, not swings). Sleep sacks with swaddling wings beat out swaddling clothes every time; they are less likely to fall off, last you longer, and still offer adequate compression.
Another trick? Use a heating pad to warm the bassinet up before putting the baby down to sleep. Just make sure to remove it and check the temperature before you lay your little one down; you don’t want the surface to be hot! Make sure that your supplies are kept close by. We have found keeping a basket with changes of clothing, extra sheets and sleep sacks, cleaning supplies, diapers, a portable changing pad, and wipes right by our bed ensures we minimize how long we have to be awake during late-night feeds, and the number of times we have to get out of bed.
Speaking of which, I can’t recommend recruiting a partner, family member, or baby nurse (if you can afford one) to assist overnight enough. Pumping and formula are safe alternatives to breastfeeding, and make it easier for others to help with overnight feedings. Take it from a mom who struggled hard with sleep with her first, and was left with impacts to her mental health; your sleep is one of the most valuable commodities when it comes to being a great mom!
2. Diapers (in multiple sizes) and wipes.
Your baby is going to grow fast; they’ll go through diapers faster, and diapers are expensive. They may not be cute like clothes and toys, but you quickly learn that practicality wins out. And don’t forget wipes!
3. For feeding.
Get a great nursing pillow, even if you plan to bottle feed. Our nursing pillow was a lifesaver for feeding in the early days, tummy time later on, and helping our babies hold their own bottles before they were able to sit well (and after, when they were tired). I pumped, and we also supplemented with formula for production reasons and to help me get more sleep (more sleep = lower risk of postpartum depression and anxiety), so our early days with both kids were filled with late-night overproduction.
For these moments, a passive milk collection system (I used the Haakaa) was a lifesaver. It allowed me to collect milk without having to hook up to my electric pump. I made sure I had a clean one by my bedside each night when I had my second, and it was a game-changer. For baby #3, I’m purchasing a few extras, since they can be stored with milk in the fridge for later, and making time to wash the pump by hand as frequently as I used it (multiple times a night sometimes) was a pain.
4. A safe manner of transport.
Your birthing center likely won’t discharge you without a plan to get your baby home safely. Make sure you have that carseat ready to go and installed. Many police stations and fire departments will help you do so according to the manufacturer’s guidelines! You can find a list of many of these here.
5. Something to wear.
It often seemed my infants lived in their diapers (especially my summer kid), but clothing is still essential. That said, you don’t need as much as you think you do. Cute outfits are fun, but I found they often got worn once or twice before they were outgrown (if at all!). Finding gently used infant clothing is a great way to save money and is often easy in local Facebook groups.
6. A way to get clean.
Babies are messy, so while an infant tub might seem excessive, they are a huge help when your baby can finally do a real bath (don’t forget, they’ll need sponge baths when they first come home!). Just remember, many infant products are filled with scents (including natural ones) and ingredients (again, including natural ones) that can be harsh on their skin. Opt for something simple, gentle, and approved by allergists and dermatologists. A few extra soft towels and wash clothes, and you are good to go!
What you don’t need to bring the baby home.
Fancy play mats:Your newborn needs a place to do tummy time. That’s it. Those fancy mats are nice, but they can be expensive. If you have to cut something out, this is a great place to start!
Toys: Newborns thrive on hearing caregivers’ voices, getting cuddles, and looking into faces. Toys are nice, but there are plenty of ways to help newborns meet developmental milestones without them!
Traditional swaddling clothes:They are cute, but definitely not super functional (especially if you use a sleep sack with wings, which are safer and easier).
Lots of clothing in newborn sizes: Remember me saying your baby will grow fast? While they will likely go through several outfits a day between spit-up and blowouts, they will usually outgrow newborn clothing almost immediately. This is another place where being practical over purchasing tons of cute stuff pays off.
This list isn’t comprehensive, and every family will have different needs. But if you take away anything, let it be this: you need a lot less than you think you do for a newborn. If you have the money and space, that is wonderful! But if you need to prioritize purchases, I hope this list helps you do so!
And, be sure to check out Westchester County Mom’s many stellar resources for expecting mothers! Here are a few articles to get you started:
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