A Simplified list of the 10 Most-used Newborn Essentials

Are you ready to start shopping to get everything ready for your baby? How exciting! We’ve prepared this list of the top 10 newborn essentials we believe every parent needs to make this transition as smooth as possible.

Some things will be absolutely necessary to have and use every day, while other things are simply nice to have.

However, there might be alternatives that better suit your needs, preferences and budget, which is why it’s important to know what is essential and what is not.

We hope that this list will help simplify things so that you have everything you really need, when you need it.

What are the 10 Most-used Newborn Essentials?

Clothing

The most essential clothes you need for a newborn are:

• 10 shortsleeve babygros
• 10 longsleeve babygros
• 10-20 vests 
• 5-10 pairs of warm socks
• 2-3 beanies
• 1 sun hat

Opt for soft, breathable, organic materials like cotton when buying vests and babygros, and try to avoid synthetic fibres like polyester, acrylic, nylon, and acetate. 

Synthetic materials usually irritate the skin, as they contain harmful chemicals that may be absorbed by your skin, especially when worn daily. (Learn more about synthetic fibres)

Diapers, wipes and bum cream

These are probably the most important newborn essentials – the things you will buy every month, so always look for promotions, and if you can, buy wipes in bulk – you will save a lot of money!

Let’s start with diapers. You have two options:

Cloth diapers:

😊 Pros	😟Cons
Lower monthly costs	Higher initial investment
Usually made from cotton	Must be washed after every use
Customizable fabric	Takes time to dry
No need for an expensive nappy bin	Less convenient when travelling
Environmentally-friendly	Takes up more space in diaper bag
Adjustable size that grows with baby	Lower absorbency
No harmful chemicals	More frequent changes

Disposable diapers:

😊 Pros	😟Cons
Available at most stores	Higher monthly costs
Wide range of prices and brands to choose from	Creates a lot of waste
Requires less frequent changes	Usually not biodegradable
Higher absorbency	May contain harmful chemicals
More space-efficient	Bigger sizes cost more
Does not require washing or drying	Sold in smaller quantities for bigger sizes
Easy to pack (travel, shops, family visit etc)

There is so much to consider when choosing diapers – things we wish more people knew. We unpack all this valuable information in this article: 10 Harsh Truths About Disposable Diapers & Safer Alternatives

💡Mammi Tip: Opt for unscented, undyed, biodegradable nappies and avoid buying the same size in bulk because babies grow so fast (but make sure you stock up before baby arrives).

Bum cream

Bum cream is absolutely essential for newborns. It keeps the skin moisturised, soothes irritation and promotes healing. Without it, your baby is guaranteed to get a rash! 

We strongly advise against using baby (Talc) powders. In its natural form, talc contains asbestos, which is linked to lung cancer.

Not only is it extremely harmful to inhale talc powder, but research suggests that using Talc in the genital area may also cause ovarian cancer. (Read more)

💡Mammi Tip: At the first sign of a rash, we recommend applying a thick layer of Bepanthen Baby. It’s expensive, but it was recommended by a paediatric nurse and it works 99% of the time.

Wipes:

Keep a pack in the car, in the kitchen, in your diaper bag, and a few extra close to your changing station. We recommend buying wipes that are fragrance-free, alcohol-free and pH-balancing.

Make sure to always keep your baby’s bum clean, change nappies frequently and always apply bum cream after every change.

⚠️ When to see a doctor:

If your baby has a rash that persists for more than a few days or develops blisters or open sores, it could be an indication that your baby has an infection.

Swaddles and Blankets

Swaddling your baby is soothing, warm and comforting for them. We recommend zip-up sleepsacks to avoid having any loose fabric in your cot.

Sleepsacks take so much stress off your shoulders; they are machine-washable, cute and soft, and the safest way for a baby to sleep, which is why we consider this one of the top newborn essentials.

💡Mammi Tip: having 2-3 sleep sacks allows you to always have 2 clean ones on-hand if one gets dirty or wet.

Based on personal use:

We recommend these swaddles (up to 3 months/babies weighing 3.5 – 6.5 kg):

Muslin blankets are a must-have. They are lightweight, breathable and versatile. You can use them as pram and car seat covers, cover up when baby is nursing, swaddle baby and more.

We recommend these muslin blankets:

These are our top picks for swaddle blankets:

Feeding Essentials

The most important things to consider when feeding a newborn baby are how your baby will be fed, how often and how you will keep things clean.

We recommend buying the following newborn essentials for feeding:

• A bottle starter kit (with at least 3 bottles for 0-3 months)
• An electric sterilizer (Snookums Electric Sterilizer)
• At least 2 pacifiers with a case, if your baby will be using one
• At least 2 pacifier clips
• A bottle brush
• Bottle cleanser (Pigeon Bottle Cleanser)
• A sterilizin fluid (Miltons Sterilizing Fluid)
• A metal pot with a lid to sterilize your bottles in

Cot, Mattress and fitted sheets

This is one of the newborn essentials that you can’t skip. First, you need to decide where your baby will sleep.

The safest place for a newborn baby to sleep is in the room with you. Make sure you get a firm, breathable mattress and fitted sheets made from organic materials. 

As soon as you see signs of pulling to stand or crawling, get a cot with a higher, sturdy frame.

Diaper bag

A diaper bag is another one of the non-negotiable newborn essentials. You’ll need it any time you leave the house with your baby.

Look for something that is practical, lightweight and has plenty of storage space.

The most important things to have in your diaper bag are:

• At least 5 nappies (1 for every hour you will be gone)
• Wipes
• Bum cream
• Diaper disposal bags
• Foldable changing mat
• At least 2 extra outfits, plus an extra babygro/vest
• Sunscreen
• A toy
• An extra muslin blanket
• An extra swaddle
• Bibs
• Extra socks
• A hat/beanie
• An extra pacifier with a case
• Pacifier sterilizer spray
• Sanitizer
• Handcream

Car seat and stroller

Whether it’s doctor’s appointments, family outings, shopping or walks in the park – you can’t leave the house without a car seat and a stroller, ranking these items as one of the most important newborn essentials.

Car seat

After baby is born, you can’t leave the hospital without a car seat and you will need it for doctor’s appointments.

Choosing a car seat can be very overwhelming. The main things to consider are:

• Does your car have Isofix bars?
• Is the car seat made by a trusted brand?
• Does the car seat comply with international safety standards?
• Will the car seat be part of a travel system, or will it stay in the car?
• Do you know how to install and remove the car seat correctly before baby arrives?
• Does it come with a warranty?

Your car seat should be compliant with ECE R44/04, ECE R129 (i-Size), National Road Traffic Act, NRCS Approval and SABS 1340.

Stroller

A stroller helps with soothing babies, putting them to sleep and having a safe space for them to rest and play when you are busy.

Things to consider when buying a stroller:

• Does it need to be compact, lightweight and foldable?
• Will you be using a travel system?
• Does it need to have a bassinet?
• What type of wheels does it have?
• Does it have a safety harness?
• Does it have a warranty?
• How does it feel when you push it?
• Are the wheels sturdy and stable?
• What other options are within the same price range?
• Does it have a sun cover and how far does it extend?
• Can you fit a standard stroller mosquito net?

Bathing and grooming newborn essentials

Newborn babies can be cleaned using a warm, damp cloth daily, and once the umbilical stump has healed, you can bathe them once a week until they are older. 

What you will need to clean your baby:

• A small portable bathtub
• 2-3 soft washcloths
• A very gentle soap 
• A fragrance-free moisturiser or organic baby body oil
• 3-4 soft towels with hoods

If you feel nervous about holding your baby in water, get a bathing stool to help support your baby’s weight and keep the water level very shallow until you feel more confident.

Basic tools for baby grooming:

• Baby nail clipper or electric filer
• A brush with soft bristles
• A nasal aspirator (we recommend NoseFrida)
• Nasal spray (FloBaby) – spray before using an aspirator

Healthcare

The only medicine a newborn baby can use is Baby Panado and Anti-colic drops – used sparingly.

You will also need a thermometer. We have found that digital thermometers are more accurate, less invasive and are easier to use.

Also, make sure that you have some basic first-aid knowledge, and that you know what to do if your baby chokes. 

💡Mammi Tip: After feeding your newborn, make sure to burp your baby to make sure the milk settles, so that they don’t choke in their sleep.

Baby carrier or wrap

Research suggests that baby-carrying is great for bonding with your baby, and it offers health benefits like heart and breath regulation for your baby. 

It also helps with soothing babies, especially when they are not feeling well, and is even believed to alleviate the symptoms of post-partum depression.

7 Optional (but helpful) items for new parents:

White noise machine:

Great for putting baby to sleep and when there is a lot of noise.

Pacifiers:

Helps baby soothe themselves and fall asleep faster.

Nursing pillows:

Makes breastfeeding more comfortable for mom and baby, and can be used for tummy time later.

Night light:

Dimmable, portable and lightweight – may come in handy.

Baby monitor:

We would argue that this one is actually non-negotiable. You can work, cook, exercise or even nap with no worries – just check the monitor.

Breast pump:

Helps you maintain your milk supply and it’s an easy way to have back-up milk for just in case.

Tummy time mat

More stimulating for baby, but will probably end up in storage by the time your baby starts crawling.

Finally, these are our tips for buying your newborn essentials:

• Buy strollers, sterilizers, bottle warmers and any other non-safety items (like car seats) secondhand
• Try to resist buying things like diapers in bulk because they are cheaper
• Opt for better quality, even when buying toys and clothes
• Avoid buying trendy gadgets on impulse
• During the newborn phase, you certainly don’t need a highchair, flashy toys or expensive gadgets

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, there are so many products out there that are actually completely unnecessary and sometimes VERY expensive. 

No parent is perfect, and your baby certainly does not expect you to be. As long as your baby is safe, loved, fed, clean and warm, you are doing a great job.!

We hope this list of the Top 10 Newborn Essentials puts your mind at ease.

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