As a new parent, you’ve got a lot on your plate. You are trying to readjust to your new life as a mom or dad while battling sleepless nights and providing the best care for your newborn.

There is plenty of information out there online to help new parents but nothing can truly prepare you for parenthood. Most new parents take a few weeks to adjust and figure things out, and that’s totally fine!

Parenthood isn’t easy and it’s okay for you to struggle at first. As the weeks go by, you will establish a routine and discover your baby’s likes and dislikes.

One of the most difficult things about becoming a new parent is knowing what to buy for your newborn. The list of things that new parents are expected to buy seems endless, and it’s easy to forget some of the essentials when you’ve just given birth.

Many of the essentials come in a range of shapes and sizes, so you will have a choice when it comes to gathering your baby’s items. Every baby is unique and they all have different needs and preferences even as a newborn. Keep this in mind when you’re shopping for the essentials so that you can get the perfect items for your little one.

To ensure you don’t forget some of the most important things that your baby needs as they grow and develop, we’ve created a list of essentials. We’ve split up the essentials into various categories to make things as simple as possible for you.

Clothing Essentials

You will need a range of clothes for your newborn, including warm and cool clothing for the different seasons of the year. As your baby rapidly grows, you will need to replace their clothing every few months.

There are endless options when it comes to baby clothing, including plain, patterned, and themed items. For example, you will be able to find everything from a cactus baby outfit to an animal-themed onesie in your local store. It’s a good idea to get a range of plain and themed clothing to keep things varied.

Here is a quick checklist of the essential items of clothing that you can buy for your baby:

Feeding Essentials

Depending on whether you are breastfeeding or not, your baby’s feeding essentials will vary. All babies, whether breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, will need bibs and burp cloths.

Women who are breastfeeding will also need a breast pump, milk storage containers, nursing bras, a nursing pillow, and breast pads. Those who are bottle-feeding will need infant formula, a nipple brush, and a thermal bottle carrier.

Diapering

There are plenty of essentials for diapering, including:

Bedtime

To make sure your newborn is comfortable and can get to sleep without being held every night, you will need to following items for bedtime: