Newborn essentials checklist
Everything you'll use in the first few weeks, and how many of each. Tick off what you already have or have been given. Whatever's left can go straight onto your gift list.
39 items · updated for the UK
Sleep
0/8The Lullaby Trust advises a firm, flat, waterproof mattress and a clear cot: no pillows, bumpers or sleep positioners.
Feeding
0/7
Changing
0/6
Bathing
0/4
Clothes
0/6Babies grow quickly: get a few in newborn size and the rest in 0–3 months.
Out and about
0/5
Health and safety
0/3
Free printable newborn essentials checklist
The whole list on one A4 page, with a box to tick for every item and space for notes. Stick it on the fridge, or keep it with your bag.
Common questions
How many sleepsuits does a newborn need?
Six to eight is enough for most families, with a few in newborn size and the rest in 0–3 months. Newborns can need two or three changes a day, so this covers you between washes.
What's the most important thing to buy before the birth?
A rear-facing car seat, because you'll need it to drive home from hospital. After that: somewhere safe to sleep with a firm, flat mattress, nappies, and enough sleepsuits and bodysuits for the first week.
What can I leave until later?
A cot (needed from around six months), a highchair (around six months, when weaning starts), and most toys. A baby monitor and nappy bin are nice to have rather than essential.
Let family help with the rest
Put what you still need on one list, from any shop. Guests see what’s left at the best price, and nobody buys the same thing twice.
Start your free list