The Ultimate Go-To List for New Parents – Part 1 of 5

Yeah, you read that correctly. Part 1 of 5! But that’s why this is the ultimate go-to list and…

… not just another baby registry checklist.

Seriously, this is meant to be for those first time parents who are clueless, like I was, about what they need to get to prepare for their new baby (or babies – eek!).

It’s so easy to get swept up in new baby excitement (and probably pregnancy hormones). I registered for every fancy doodad that every baby registry listed. You do NOT need to do that. I can’t tell you how many things I ended up returning or swapping out for something more useful…actually, I CAN tell you and I will!

What You Really Need for a Newborn…

There are a million Baby Registry Checklists out there! You’re probably reading a lot of them if you’re anything like me. You’re probably reading this because…

I found most of those lists useful. But I wish I hadn’t bothered with some things and I wish people talked about more of some other things. In this 5-Part “The Ultimate Go-To List for New Parents” series, you’ll find what I actually used for at least the first three months. You can check out my other super helpful post on items not worth the trouble here.

In this first part, you’ll find all the nursery basics.

But in case you want to jump ahead;

I cover the basics of baby gear in Part 2.

All things feeding related are in Part 3.

Part 4, lists out and explains the essentials for bath & body and health & safety.

And Part 5, goes over clothing and toys/books for a newborn.

Also, for a quick reference list for your convenience, here’s The Ultimate Go-To Baby Registry Checklist for New Parents. I made it available as a pdf!

If I didn’t elaborate on some items, because I didn’t have a strong preference for any type in particular. All the products I used for that item were unremarkable and nearly anything would’ve done the job. So get comfortable because here we go…

Nursery

• crib

  I included the crib and mattress in this list because you may have an angel baby who takes to sleeping in a crib right off the bat (and in which case, I hate you a little bit). But I didn’t and most people don’t. I didn’t put my baby boy in his crib until around 3 months of age. In the meantime, he mostly slept in a Rock n’ Play Sleeper or the baby hammock because it was better for his GERD (baby reflux) and occasionally in a Pack ‘n Play. (More on this below)

• mattress

  I highly suggest getting a ridiculously firm mattress for the crib because your kid will eventually be jumping on this thing. It’s got to withstand toddler abuse.

• waterproof mattress protector (at least five)

  Accidents happen and you’ll be glad that you had a waterproof mattress protector under that soaked crib sheet. I like the SureGuard crib mattress protector, because it’s 100% waterproof and it’s hypoallergenic. It’s also a terry cotton so it feels a little softer and less plastic.

• fitted crib sheets (at least five)

  Any well fitting crib sheets will work but I liked these by American Baby because they’re a soft chenille and my baby was such a finicky sleeper that it was one of many things I did to get him to sleep better. He would rub his chubby baby cheeks on the soft sheets as he feel asleep. You want at least 5 crib sheets because on any given night, they could soak through one, then you have to replace it, and you might not get a chance to wash those the next day so you want extra.

• co-sleeper/Rock n’ Play Sleeper/hammock

  My baby had GERD so I used a Rock n’ Play Sleeper and the Hushamok baby hammock to ease his suffering. But if you’re not concerned about your baby having GERD, then don’t bother with the Rock n’ Play Sleeper. Also, don’t even think about the Hushamok unless you know your baby has reflux issues because it is super expensive! And if you’re going to have the baby sleeping with you in your bed, then obviously, don’t bother with any of these.

  I briefly tried a co-sleeper, thinking that it’d be easier for breastfeeding in the middle of the night, but it never really worked for me. I must’ve missed a memo or something because I always had to change his diaper and clean myself up after breastfeeding. So having a co-sleeper was really no different than having him in the Pack ‘n Play. The take away message here is to definitely get a Pack ‘n Play because they’re portable and versatile. If acid reflux is a concern or becomes a concern, get a Hushamok baby hammock or Rock n’ Play Sleeper.

• dresser

  We got a dresser that was just around waist height so it worked out as a changing table as well. So dresser height in relation to your height is something to consider. You don’t want to be breaking your back during diaper changes if you’re going to use it as a changing table. However, you could just put the changing pad on the floor and change them there. That way, you never have to worry about them falling off of a changing table.

• glider or rocking chair

  Make sure the arms of the chair are well padded. I was warned but I thought it was no big deal until I ended up with sore elbows after spending hours in the rocking chair. I wish I had gotten this chair for all those hours I rocked my baby to sleep.

• black-out blinds/curtains

  I learned the hard way not to put cute curtains up in nurseries. I put up curtains with black and white cartoon characters. It just so happens that black and white stimulates little baby brains which is great for intelligence but terrible for sleeping! He would stare at those friggin’ curtains and not fall asleep! I finally wised up and got these black-out curtains and blinds like these. After that, he slept better and longer.

• changing pad

  As a new parent, you’ll find all kinds of fancy versions of ordinary things. Changing pads are one of those ordinary things. If you can afford or otherwise get this type of pad, great! I have to admit, it looks great in a nursery. But I’m telling you it’s soooo not necessary. I got this changing pad and since it doesn’t have a lip on either end, I could scoot him up when he got bigger to have his bottom more centered on the pad for diaper changes.

• 2-3 changing pad covers

  When my baby boy was an infant, his little hands liked to go exploring and he would inevitably get in the way of changing his dirty diaper. Gross! One day, after he got a fist full of his poop, I said enough was enough and got changing pad covers that had a swaddle built in. It’s basically arm restraints.

• 3-5 swaddling blankets

  The muslin swaddling blankets are awesome because you can use them as a swaddle, a blanket, spit-up towel, or roll them up and use as a pillow. Plus they’re breathable and light. Although I’d still watch that your newborn doesn’t get tangled up in it like any loose fabric. You want at least 3-5 swaddling blankets because they’re so versatile but I’m sure you’ll end up with more for that reason.

• 2 soft blankets

  It’s advised not to give your baby a blanket for awhile because of SIDS and because it’s a suffocation hazard. But you’ll want to have a blanket for when they’re in the swing or bouncer, or during cold and breezy stroller walks.

• diaper pail

  Personally, I didn’t see why I needed to have a special trash can just for diapers until I went to a friend’s home where they had their baby niece visiting. The stench that was emanating from their trash could’ve peeled paint from the wall! I got the Ubbi steel diaper pail and you can’t smell a thing from it until you open the trap door. It’s amazing! There’s no carbon/charcoal filter that needs replacing either.

• diapers

  I like Pampers Swaddlers (I got the best deal for these at Costco Wholesale). I tried Honest Co. diapers because they’re better for the environment but my baby just leaked through them every single time.

• diaper cream

  You will most likely will go through several kinds of diaper cream looking for the one that works best in healing up diaper rash. This is the one that has worked the absolute best for my child. However, every single parent I know has told me that a different type worked for their child. Sorry, this one is trial and error.

• baby wipes

  I like Pampers Sensitive Wipes because, after trying all kinds of wipes, I found them to be not too wet or dry, easily found at wholesale clubs, and didn’t irritate my baby’s sensitive skin. (And no, I’m not sponsored by Pampers….Although, that would be awesome!)

• laundry hamper

  So here’s the thing about getting a super cute laundry hamper that matches the nursery decor – it’s probably expensive and you’ll more than likely have to put it in the closet or elsewhere out of reach of the baby sooner than you think. I found my kid chucking his stuffed animals and toys into the hamper which already held his dirty (read: POOPY) clothes. A hanging hamper saves floor space and gets it out of child’s reach. Another option is a foldable hamper that you can close off and stick in the closet.

• baby monitor

  I actually have two types of monitors in the nursery. One is the usual type where you have a monitor and a camera. If you go too far away with the monitor, then it won’t pick up the signal from the camera. There’s lots to choose from and I haven’t known any mom to use the same one as any other mom. I use this one by Infant Optics which allows me to swivel the camera around the room and comes with interchangeable lenses that allows me to zoom in (I was obsessive about watching him breath in those first few weeks – new mom jitters!).

  The second baby monitor is actually a stationary camera by Samsung that I can view the feed on my phone. This has really come in handy when I wanted to sneak a peak at him while I was out of town or just out for a date night with the hubby. I know two baby monitor systems seems a bit excessive. If I had to choose only one, I’d probably go with the Infant Optics monitor and camera because of its resolution and magnifying power. Plus I’m home more than not. However, if I were outside the home more than not, then I’d probably go with the Samsung so I could see what was going on via my smart phone.

• bookshelves

  Almost any bookshelves will do but there are some things to consider. If you’re getting wall shelves, you’ll want it deep enough to put up toys if that’s what you intend to put up there. If you’re getting a floor stand alone bookshelf, do you also need bins for toy storage? Whichever kind of shelving you get, make sure that it’s secure to the wall in case the baby decides to grab onto it.

• sound machine

  Not a single night has gone by that we haven’t used a sound machine. It serves to not only drown out noise and soothe the baby but also signals that it’s sleep time. I’ve talked about my love for our sound machine in the post about getting baby to sleep, but I’ll say it again. It is one of the most important things that we have for our baby. I absolutely love our Sound+Sleep High Fidelity Sleep Sound Machine because it has a tons of sound options (rain, ocean, white noise, etc.) and it doesn’t sound tinny/mechanical like many other sound machines do.

• humidifier

  Maybe you live in a humid environment and don’t need a humidifier. You might want to think about a de-humidifier then. But I’m in an area that gets all four seasons so we definitely need a humidifier in the winter when our heater is on and drying us out. The Crane Drop Shape humidifier is the one that every new mom seems to get. It was on nearly every new baby checklist I came across. So, of course, that’s the first one I got. I quickly grew to hate it! I had to clean it out with diluted vinegar every other night because a nasty pink sludge would accumulate. So gross! And my baby was breathing that in! I’d be so exhausted every night, and then I’d have to clean the humidifier?!

  About 7 months in, I said enough is enough and got the Honeywell HCM350, which has a filter unlike the Crane Drop. But doesn’t having a humidifier with a filter to replace mean MORE work not less? You may ask. With the Honeywell humidifier, I just have to replace the filter every 3 months (it depends on the conditions of your home – pet dander, dust, etc.) and clean the unit with diluted vinegar. I only end up using one filter per winter. The only drawback, compared to the Crane, is that it’s considerably larger. But then again, it also seems to work better.

• air purifier

  I put an air purifier into the nursery because it’s carpeted (eek, dust mites!), we have 3 cats and a dog, and both my husband and I suffer from seasonal allergies so chances are good that our baby will too. Our kid has the cleanest air and most temperature balanced room in the house! I got the NUK HEPA-type air purifier for him because it’s incredibly easy to use (just vacuum out the filter occasionally) and emits white noise.

• temperature and humidity meter

  A good friend of mine told me about this little meter for Vicks that’s cheap and simple; plus, you can take it from room to room! It makes it easy to see that my baby’s room is within 65-74 degrees Fahrenheit and it has colored bars to show you what’s a good humidity level.

• nightlight

  I didn’t like the idea of having a nightlight perpetually plugged in because I’m kind of a freak about fire hazards. So I really liked the Crane Belly Glo rechargeable night light because you only plug it in to recharge it and then it’s safely tucked into the belly of the frog (there’s also a duck and a hippo). It’s not terribly bright, but bright enough to not stub a toe as you try to quietly exit the nursery. My husband used his cell phone as a light source while sneaking in and out of the nursery. That was all fine and well until he got a text message, email, or phone call, which happened frequently. But the biggest annoyance was forgetting it in the nursery and having to sneak back in and out ninja style.

That was a lot, right? And that’s only Part 1! Continue to Part 2 for all the Baby Gear!

Here’s a quick reference list for your convenience, The Ultimate Go-To Baby Registry Checklist for New Parents. I made it available as a pdf!

Did I miss anything? Is there an item that you couldn’t have survived the first three months of your newborn’s life without? Please share and maybe I’ll add it to the list!