Planning · Newborn
Newborn Essentials Checklist: What You Actually Need in Week 1
👥 Reviewed by the SBC Parent Panel, 6 European parents
⚡ Quick Answer
Truly non-negotiableSafe sleep surface, nappies, clothing, feeding equipment, car seat for journey home
Buy before birthCrib, mattress, sheets, swaddles, nappies, car seat, basic clothing
Buy after birthBouncer, play gym, carrier, see what your baby actually needs
Never buyWipe warmer, nappy disposal unit, baby shoes under 12 months
📋 In This Guide
The average first-time parent arrives home with 200+ products. The average newborn needs about 20 of them in week one. This checklist cuts to what matters for the first 7 days, before opinions solidify and before you know what kind of baby you have.
Safe Sleep Essentials
- Safe sleep surface: A firm, flat crib with EN 716 certification and a new mattress. Chicco Next2Me Magic (bedside crib, ~€200) or IKEA Sundvik (full crib, ~€80). Never a second-hand mattress. 🇩🇪 🇬🇧
- Fitted sheets ×3: Cotton, well-fitted. You will go through them faster than expected.
- Zip-up swaddles ×3: KeaBabies Soothe Zippy or Love to Dream. No loose fabric. The zip-up design means you can change nappies at 3am without unwrapping. 🇩🇪 🇬🇧
- Blackout blind: The single most impactful sleep purchase. Measure your window and fit it precisely, gaps at the edges defeat the purpose.
Feeding Essentials
- Bottles ×4 with slow-flow teats: Even if breastfeeding, for expressed milk or top-up feeds. MAM Anti-Colic or Philips Avent Natural Response. 🇩🇪
- Steriliser: Electric steam steriliser (Momcozy BS03, 8 minutes, fits 6 bottles). Required for all feeding equipment until 12 months. 🇩🇪
- Nursing pillow: Ergobaby Natural Curve, used 8–12 times per day in the first weeks. Back support is not optional at this volume. 🇩🇪
- Lanolin nipple cream: Lansinoh, have it in the house before birth. 🇩🇪
Changing Essentials
- Nappies: 1 pack Newborn + 2 packs Size 1. Don't overbuy Newborn, many babies skip it. 🇩🇪 🇬🇧
- Changing mat at correct height (80–90 cm): IKEA SNIGLAR (~€40) or a changing mat on a dresser at the right height.
- Nappy cream: Bepanthen or Sudocrem, for nappy rash prevention from day one.
- Muslin cloths ×10: The most underestimated item in all of baby prep. Buy more than feels rational.
- Cotton wool and water wipes: Fragrance-free. For the first 4–6 weeks, plain cotton wool and warm water is best for newborn skin.
Clothing for Week 1
Buy minimum before birth, you don't know what size your baby will be in. A baby born at 4kg skips Newborn (size 50) entirely and goes straight into 56–62.
- Bodysuits ×5 (size 56): Short and long sleeve. Cotton. This is what baby wears every day under everything.
- Sleepsuits ×4 (size 56): Zip-up where possible for night changes. The simpler, the better.
- Hats ×2: Newborns lose heat from the head. Essential for the first 2–4 weeks.
- Scratch mitts ×2: Newborns cannot control their hands and scratch their faces. Use for the first 4–6 weeks.
What to Skip in Week 1
- Baby bouncer: Useful, but you don't know yet if your baby will use one. Buy in week 2–3 if needed.
- Play gym: Not developmentally needed until 4–6 weeks. Buy later.
- Baby carrier: Fit matters, try in a shop after birth or borrow first. Don't buy blind before birth.
- Wipe warmer: Creates bacterial growth. Not needed.
- Baby monitor: Only needed if baby is in a separate room. Many newborns room-share, you don't need one immediately.
- Baby shoes: Babies don't walk. Pre-walking "shoes" are aesthetic items only.
Not sure which car seat you need? Use our free EU Car Seat Guide — enter age and weight, get the right type.
Car Seat Guide →
FAQ
How many nappies does a newborn go through?
8–12 per day in the first weeks. Stock approximately 80–100 nappies across Newborn and Size 1. Don't buy more than 2 packs of Newborn, many babies outgrow them in 2–3 weeks.
What if I'm having a caesarean, does the list change?
The newborn essentials list is the same. For your own recovery: add maternity support underwear, a long pillow to protect the scar while breastfeeding, and check that your changing table height doesn't require bending at the waist (which is painful post-caesarean for 4–6 weeks).
Should everything be washed before use?
Yes, wash all clothing and bedding before first use. Use fragrance-free, non-biological detergent. No fabric conditioner on items that go near baby's face. You don't need to sterilise new bottles before first use, but you should do so, they come from a factory, not a sterile environment.