Essential Guide · Cornerstone
What Do You Actually Need for a Newborn? The Honest European Guide
📋 In This Guide
Baby product marketing is very good at making every product seem essential. It isn't. A newborn needs warmth, food, sleep, and your presence. The products below either make those things safer or significantly easier, everything else is optional at best, wasteful at worst.
This guide covers what you need before the baby arrives, what can wait, and what to skip entirely. All product recommendations include links across European markets.
Sleep
Sleep Essentials
Where baby sleeps and how they sleep safely
Essential
Safe sleep surface
A crib, cot or co-sleeper with a firm, flat mattress. Room-sharing for 6 months is recommended. The Chicco Next2Me is our top pick for co-sleepers, attaches to your bed for easy night feeding.
Essential
Swaddles or sleep sacks
3 swaddles minimum (rotation for washing). The KeaBabies Soothe Zippy 3-pack is our top pick. Transition to sleep sacks when rolling begins at ~3 months.
Optional
Baby monitor
Essential if baby sleeps in a separate room. Not needed if room-sharing. The Momcozy BM04 is our top pick. no subscription, no WiFi required.
Optional
White noise machine
Not essential, but effective for many newborns who sleep better with consistent background sound. A fan or white noise app on a phone works equally well, the dedicated machine is for convenience.
Feeding
Feeding Essentials
Depends heavily on whether you breastfeed, bottle-feed, or both
Essential (bottle)
Baby bottles, 4-6 to start
The Elhee silicone bottles are our top pick for European parents. BPA-free, easy to clean, natural teat shape. Don't buy 12 until you know your baby accepts a specific bottle.
Essential (bottle)
Steriliser
The Momcozy BS03 is our pick, electric steam steriliser with drying function. Or use Milton cold-water sterilising tablets (no electricity needed, very travel-friendly).
Optional (breastfeeding)
Breast pump
Not needed immediately if fully breastfeeding, but invaluable when returning to work. The Momcozy M5 wearable pump is our top pick. Check if your health insurer covers one (Germany: usually yes; France: partial reimbursement).
From 6 months
High chair
Not needed until solids start (~6 months). The Cybex Lemo 2 is our top pick. The IKEA Antilop is the best budget option. Don't buy before birth.
Diapers
Diaper Essentials
You'll go through 8-12 diapers a day in the first weeks
Essential
Diapers. Newborn and Size 1
Don't stockpile newborn size, some babies skip it entirely. Buy 1 pack of Newborn, 2-3 packs of Size 1. Pampers Premium Protection is our top pick for the first weeks (wetness indicator is invaluable). Buy more once you know what works.
Essential
Wipes, fragrance-free
Water wipes or fragrance-free unscented wipes for the first 4 weeks. Newborn skin is sensitive. Buy 3-4 packs to start.
Optional
Changing mat
A simple waterproof mat for any flat surface. A changing table is not necessary and takes up significant space in smaller European homes.
Transport
Transport Essentials
Essential (car)
Infant car seat (i-Size)
Required by law across all European markets if you own a car. Must be rear-facing. The Doona i doubles as a stroller, clever if you do many short car trips. Otherwise any i-Size certified group 0+ seat works.
Can wait
Stroller/pushchair
Not needed immediately, a carrier works for the first weeks and many parents prefer it. When you buy: the Cybex Balios S Lux is our top pick for everyday use. The Bugaboo Butterfly for travel-heavy families.
Recommended
Baby carrier
A structured carrier or stretchy wrap is invaluable in the first months, frees your hands, calms fussy babies, and navigates European streets easier than a stroller. The Ergobaby Omni 360 is newborn-ready without an insert.
Clothing
Babies grow extremely fast in the first months. Don't overbuy newborn sizes. A practical first wardrobe:
- 5-7 sleepsuits (babygrows) in Newborn and 0-3 months, they live in these
- 3-5 vests (bodysuits) in the same sizes
- 2-3 cardigans or zip-up tops for layering
- 1-2 hats for outdoors (not for indoor sleep)
- Seasonal outfits, nice but not essential; they may not fit by the time the occasion arrives
- Baby shoes before walking, purely decorative and often uncomfortable
Health and Safety Basics
- Baby nail scissors or file, newborn nails are surprisingly sharp
- Digital thermometer, rectal temperature is most accurate for newborns
- Baby-safe nasal aspirator (like the Frida NoseFrida), blocked noses are very common in the first weeks
- Liquid infant paracetamol (calpol or equivalent), for when temperatures appear post-vaccination
- Baby first aid kit, a good investment for new parents
Realistic Budget for Newborn Essentials
💶 What You Actually Need to Spend
Safe sleep surface (co-sleeper)€150–€350
Infant car seat (i-Size)€100–€250
Diapers + wipes (first 3 months)€100–€150
Swaddles and sleep sacks€40–€80
Feeding setup (bottles + steriliser)€60–€120
Clothing basics€50–€100
Health essentials€30–€50
Baby carrier€80–€160
Total essentials€610–€1,260
A stroller (€200–€600) and baby monitor (€100–€150) are the biggest additions to this list. Many families defer the stroller until the first weeks are over, a carrier handles most outings until then.
What to Skip
✗ Common Purchases You Don't Need
- Bottle warmers, a bowl of warm water does the same job
- Baby food processors, a fork and sieve until 6 months, then BLW
- Dedicated nappy bin, any lidded bin works
- Crib bumpers, a genuine safety hazard, not recommended
- Baby shoes (pre-walking), decorative, usually uncomfortable
- Baby bath, a kitchen sink or plastic tub works for the first 6 months
- Baby toiletry sets, plain warm water is best for newborn skin for the first 4-6 weeks
- Wipe warmers, unnecessary complexity
- Baby food maker sets, marketed for 6-month+ but BLW renders them redundant
- Stacking a full wardrobe before birth, babies grow unpredictably fast
🛒 Products mentioned in this article
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the absolute essentials for a newborn?
A safe sleep surface, infant car seat (if you have a car), enough clothing (5-7 sleepsuits in Newborn and 0-3 sizes), diapers, wipes, and a feeding setup suited to your approach. Everything else can wait until you know what your specific baby needs.
How much does it cost to have a newborn in Europe?
Essentials run approximately €600–€1,300 depending on choices, sleep surface, car seat, diapers for 3 months, feeding setup, basic clothing. A stroller (€200–€600) and baby monitor (€100–€150) add significantly if needed. Most things can be bought second-hand to reduce costs significantly.
What can I buy second-hand safely?
Clothing (always safe), furniture (check for recalls), strollers (safe if no damage), baby gyms and play mats. Do NOT buy second-hand: car seats (if in a previous accident), crib mattresses (hygiene and structural concerns), and helmets of any kind.