Having a baby is equal parts exciting and intimidating. Absolutely nothing is more blissful than holding your little human for the first time. But, since the entire responsibility of caring for the baby to make sure that all his needs are met falls entirely on you and your partner, it’s also normal to feel scared at times.

Firstly, let us assure you that everything will fall into place as it’s mostly instinct. The way you will operate after you become a parent becomes natural after the first few days of bringing the infant home. To make the job even easier, you should have a couple of things with regard to the daily needs of your baby. Wondering what are those? Read on to find out exactly that.

Feeding Necessities

You need to be prepared to feed your baby during random times of the day at first. And yes, there is absolutely no escaping this. You should make sure that you establish set times to feed your baby to help regulate their eating mannerisms that, in turn, will be great for your digestive system.

You can either breastfeed your baby or bottle feed depending on your baby’s taste, preferences and, of course, your convenience. We would also like to clear a common misconception with regards to bottle feeding. This is absolutely fine and will have no negative effect on the health of your baby in any manner.

On the contrary, using baby formula can actually be beneficial because companies create these with ingredients that can help give your baby complete nutrition. In case of breastfeeding your baby, however, this may not always be possible. If a mother lacks certain nutrients, it will be reflected in her milk.

In the end, whether you breastfeed your baby or bottle feed, the decision is yours and only yours to make. Please don’t worry about what people would think whenever you make this decision.

In the case of breast-feeding –

• A breast pump
• 5-6 burp cloths
• 3-4 bibs
• Sore nipples relief cream
• Breast milk containers or milk bags
• Nursing bra. If you haven’t purchased one already, buy a nursing bra that is one cup size larger than your pregnant bra size.
• Breast pads or nursing pads. You can opt for either the disposable ones or the washable version.
• A nursing pillow

In the case of formula feeding –

• 5-6 burp cloths
• 3-4 bibs
• 6 eight-ounce bottles with nipples
• 8 four-ounce bottles with nipples
• Baby formula, only after you have checked the expiry date as well as the batch number in case of any recalls
• A bottle brush and a nipple brush.
• Dishwasher basket for small items
• Bottle warmer (optional)
• An approved high chair (optional)
• Baby feeding pillow (optional)
• Bottle sterilizer (optional)
• Thermal bottle carrier

Clothing Necessities

We are sure that if there is one part of baby arrival preparation you will enjoy, it will most certainly be purchasing clothes for your baby. From little onesies, nightgowns to adorable outfits there is so much you can do!

• 4-6 outfits for dressing up.
• 1-3 rompers
• 8-10 onesies stretchy sleepers with zippers
• 8-10 undershirts or onesies, both short-sleeve and long-sleeved clothing.
• 2-3 pairs of shoes (optional)
• 5 nightgowns for the first few days
• 5 pairs of pants with footies
• Bunting bag or fleece suit for the winter
• 8 pairs of socks or booties
• Scratch mittens.
• 2 newborn hats
• Gentle infant laundry detergent
• 2 cardigans or jackets; more during winters

Bathing Necessities

Bathing a baby can be tricky. You need to be careful with the soap and shampoo in order to not irritate the fragile skin.

• 12 soft washcloths for bathing
• Baby soft-bristled hairbrush
• 2-4 soft hooded baby towels
• Baby soap
• Baby shampoo
• Baby lotion or oil
• 1 bathtub

Diapering Essentials

It is absolutely essential for you to make sure that the diapers that you use for your baby are correct. Again, you can opt for either the reusable cloth diapers or disposable diapers. The choice is up to your preference as both are comfortable and have their own sets of pros and cons.

If you opt for reusable cloth diapers:

• 4 or 5 dozens of reusable cloth diapers
• 1 diaper pail (optional)
• Baby ointment. Don’t forget to invest in a high-quality baby rash cream to eliminate or treat diaper rash issues.
• 8 waterproof covers
• 7-8 soft washcloths
• Disposable wipes for baby bottom cleaning. Make sure that the wipes don’t contain fragrance and are suitable for babies.
• A changing pad

If you opt for disposable diapers:

• Two boxes of newborn-size diapers. Don’t stock on one single size of diaper, as babies grow fast and may end up needing a bigger size within months.
• Diaper bag. You can also opt for a backpack diaper bag if you plan on traveling with your baby.
• 1 diaper pail. Again, this is optional, but we would recommend that you do invest in one.
• A changing pad
• 3 large tubes of diaper cream
• Baby ointment or rash cream
• 2-3 large boxes of disposable newborn-size diapers
• Disposable wipes for baby bottom cleaning. Make sure that the wipes don’t contain fragrance and are suitable for babies.
• 7-8 soft washcloths
• Several boxes of large, unscented baby wipes

Bedtime Necessities

Planning a  nursery need to be meticulous. In addition to the baby decoration, you also need to work out the correct furniture and bedding.

• Crib, cradle or bassinet. Be very careful when you make this decision as you need to take into account your budget, space available at your home, and ease.
• A comfortable, firm mattress
• 4 waterproof mattress covers
• A lightweight comforter. Please don’t forget to ensure that the comforter doesn’t cover the head of your baby.
• Sleep sack
• Rocking chair
• A diaper changing table
• Light blankets to fit the cradle, crib, or bassinet
• 2 waterproof pads
• 4 fitted crib sheets
• Swaddle (optional)
• Baby monitor. You can also opt for video baby monitors.

Other Necessities You Can Invest In

Other necessary materials may include medication, a thermometer, a stroller, a car seat, or any other essentials that you feel could help in caring for your baby.