The excitement of having a baby for the first time is indescribable. The excitement of holding your baby for the first time is top-notch.
No woman would want to be left behind when getting her baby’s things, especially for a first-time mom.
The excitement, anxiousness, and joy could make one forget something she may want to buy or may need to buy, but with a shopping list as a guide, you are covered, and the chances of mistakes are mitigated.
In this article, we list out the complete baby shopping list for first time moms to help you prepare for a newborn arrival. Read on as we make your baby’s shopping list together; I’m sure you’ll be happy we did.
Baby Shopping List For First Time Moms: The Complete Guide
Clothing Essentials
Your baby’s first year of living on planet Earth will be filled with clothes that suit the seasons, so when shopping, make sure that the clothing articles are labeled ‘0-1years’ or ‘infant’ in size.
Your baby will outgrow his or her outfit within the first twelve months. Don’t be scared; the outgrowing will not start until after the first six months.
When shopping for your baby’s clothing, look for clothing that is all cotton or as close to it as possible; polyester blends are awesome, but their shortcoming is that they sometimes irritate your baby’s skin.
Your shopping list should include
- 4-6 infant t-shirts
- 6-10 short-sleeved onesies
- 4-8 long-sleeved onesies
- 4-8 pajama sets
- 6-8 pairs of socks
- 2 pairs of soft booties (Optional before the baby starts walking)
- 4-6 pairs stretch cotton pants
- 2-4 cotton sweaters or hoodies
- 2 knit caps
- A sun hat
- Shoes
- Baby mild laundry detergent
- Leg warmers
- 2-3 pairs no scratch mittens
- Infant snowsuit and or bunting (For cold season)
- 4-5 seasonally appropriate outfits for outdoors
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Nursery Essentials
Have you noticed that modern nurseries are nothing close to what our parents and grandparents raised us with?
Despite the advances in technology that is always at the beck and call of new parents, some tried and true basics are needed for a safe, welcoming, and splendid nurturing baby nursery.
For your baby’s warm comfort, you should have these handy
- Baby sleeping area
- Storage for baby’s clothes and other items
- A place to change diapers
- Crib and mattress or bassinet
- A baby mobile
- Glider/ rocking chair and footrest
- Dresser
- Hamper (Preferably the one with a removable, washable liner)
- Changing table
- Humidifier or vaporizer though not a necessity
- Baby toys
- White noise machine or music player
- Baby monitor
Diapering Essentials
As a new mom, you can’t beat your chest and say that you are prepared for the coming of your new bundle of joy when there is no provision for effective diaper management.
When contemplating how to go about it, you make plans for reusable cloth diapers, disposable diapers, or a combination of the two, if possible.
You must also not forget to make provision for baby wipes as well, not forget that there are many varieties, so a balanced mix of all of them is ideal.
Remember that our priority entails keeping your baby clean. Always have a good number of diapers or wipes handy. Make sure you have the following available
- 2 or more changing table pads
- 2-4 changing pad covers
- 2-4 simple grasping toys
- Dirty diaper pail
- Diaper rash ointment
- Small thermos flask to hold warm water (for cleaning babies below the age of 6 weeks)
- Diaper bag (Washable ones preferable)
- 2-4 packages of newborn diapers
- 12-18 cloth diaper covers
- 24-48 pre-fold cloth diapers and covers
- Diaper sprayer
- Plastic wipes holder
- Wipes or cotton cloths
Related Post: How To Wash Baby Wipes
Feeding Essentials
Your shopping list sure won’t be complete without providing feeding essentials for your newborn baby.
In making a list of feeding essentials for your new baby, it is ideal that the expertise of a pediatrician is sought so that your new baby is fed with the best
There should be considerations on whether to use formula or breast milk and for how long if you want to breastfeed.
Do you want to do exclusive breastfeeding? If you are keen on using a formula, you need to check the brand to ensure you are comfortable with the ingredients and the composition of each ingredient. In your shopping list, do not forget to add
- Feeding pillow
- 6-8 burp cloths
- 2-6 bottles equipped with newborn nipples
- Formula
- Bottlebrush
- Diaper bag with insulated bottle pocket
- 2-4 Nursing bras
- Nursing cover
- Lanolin nipple cream
- Milk storage bags or bottles
- Sippy cups
- Bowls
- 3-5 Baby spoons
- Breast pump
- 4-6 bibs
- High chair
- Bottle Warmer
- Bottle Sterilizer
- Dishwasher basket for smaller items
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Bathing And Wellness Essentials
Basins or buckets were the bathing aids used in washing babies years back, but technology has made these old-fashioned.
Nowadays, the use of infant tubs and hammocks makes bath time easier. So in making a shopping list for bathing your baby, remember to include
- 2-3 hooded towels
- 4-6 pacifier
- 2 packs of washcloths
- Cotton swabs
- Baby shampoo
- Baby body wash
- Infant bathing tub
- Baby nail clippers
- Soft brush
- Digital thermometer
- First aid kit
- Teething toys
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Linens And Sleep Essentials
When preparing for your baby’s arrival, you need to take care of your baby’s sleeping essentials by creating a comfortable, warm, and snuggly place for your baby to snooze. You need plenty of
- 5-6 Swaddling blankets
- Sleepsacks
- Receiving cotton blankets
- Bassinet
- White noise machine
- Waterproof liners
- Crib mattresses
Related Post: How To Stop Baby Crying At Night (12 Proven Tips)
Baby Gear Essentials
Whether you’re on the go or having a nice rest at home, you need to have these key baby gears ready before the baby arrives. Here are essential baby must-haves to have on hand.
- Infant car seat or convertible car seat
- Baby stroller
- Baby carrier
- Baby bouncer or swing
- Plat mat
- Baby lounger
- Baby backpack
- Stroller sack
- Stroller rain cover
- Car seat
Here is a video showing all essentials and must-haves for first-time moms
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Wind Up
I hope this article, “baby shopping list for first time moms” has given an in-depth discussion to answer your question and enlighten you more on how best to prepare for your new arrival.
Remember, having the right information will help you to determine how best to prepare for your new arrival without panic. Congrats in addy as you await the joyful arrival of your bundle of joy.