5 Newborn Essentials You Actually Need (and 3 You Can Skip)
The essentials, honestly explained
Every item on the essential list earns its place by keeping your baby safe, fed, clean, warm, or legally transported. In this video I go through each one — including how to check a car seat is fitted correctly and what a sleep space should (and shouldn't) contain.
- Safe sleep space. A cot, crib, or bassinet with a firm, flat mattress and a fitted sheet — and nothing else in it.
- Feeding supplies. For breastfeeding: a supportive pillow and patience. For bottles: 4–6 bottles, formula if you're using it, and a way to sterilise.
- Nappies and basics. Newborns go through 8–12 nappies a day at first. Add wipes or cotton wool, and a barrier cream.
- Simple clothes. 6–8 vests and sleepsuits with poppers at the front, a hat, and a couple of cardigans. Zips beat buttons at 3 a.m.
- Car seat. Rear-facing, correct for your baby's weight, fitted before the due date — you can't drive home from hospital without one.
The skips
- Newborn shoes. Adorable, pointless, and lost within a week. Socks do the job.
- Wipe warmers and gadgetry. Room-temperature wipes have raised generations.
- A wardrobe of fancy outfits. Babies live in sleepsuits, grow out of sizes in weeks, and spit up on silk just as happily as cotton. Accept hand-me-downs gladly.
Borrow, buy second-hand (except car seats and mattresses, which should be new for safety), and remember: your baby's favourite place in the world costs nothing — it's you.
Common questions
What should the room temperature be for a newborn?
Around 16–20°C (61–68°F) is the comfortable, safe range. Feel your baby's chest or the back of the neck — it should feel warm, not hot or clammy.
How many blankets or layers does my baby need?
A good rule: one more layer than you're wearing. In a cot, use a correctly sized baby sleep bag or a firmly tucked lightweight blanket — never loose bedding, pillows, or soft toys.
Is second-hand equipment safe?
Mostly yes, with two firm exceptions: always buy car seats and cot mattresses new, because their safety history and hygiene can't be verified second-hand.
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