Whether you’re creating a gift registry for your baby shower, or simply giving family and friends a gentle “nudge” in the right direction for gifts- trying to figure out what your baby really needs can be overwhelming.
Let’s face it- you could spend your entire life’s savings buying all of the things (and when you’re in nesting mode, it can be so easy to get carried away)- so let’s narrow down your list, and talk about the essentials that you need; and the baby gifts to avoid entirely!
Baby Gift Essential Categories:
- Nursery Furniture
- Bedding & Clothing
- Nursing Essentials
- Bathing & Cleaning
- Travel Essentials
- Technology & Gadgets
Nursery Furniture
Furniture for the nursery is essential for your newborn- it’s probably one of the first range of products you’ll consider when planning your nursery essentials.
Let’s talk about some of the essentials you need:
- Bedside Crib
- Baby Cot (4 Months+)
- Nursing Chair
- Dresser with Changing Unit
Take a lot at our Harlow Cot and Baby Furniture Collection
Some items you can save on or forget about entirely:
- Excessive Furniture and furnishings- Keep things simple with the above essentials. Those few items are all you need for a well-rounded and fully functional nursery.
Bedding & Clothing
When it comes to bedding and clothing, you will want to ensure you have at least 7-10 items. This will ensure you have enough clean items to last the week, without having to do multiple washes every day.
These items with include:
- Onesies
- T-shirts
- Bottoms
- Socks
You’ll also want 2-3 sets of:
- Hats & Gloves
- Baby Blankets
- Rompers
- Crib Sheets
- Swaddles
Some items you can save on or forget about entirely:
- Excessive Clothing: I know it's hard to resist the cute tiny clothing, but the reality is- they grow out of them so quickly. If you’re working on a budget, or trying to save space, try to focus on the essentials and save the cute outfits for a little later on, when they can get more use out of them.
Nursing Essentials
Nursing is an important bonding time for you and your baby, so we want to make sure you have everything you need!
Here is a list of the essentials:
- Nursing Chair (we spoke about this in nursery furniture)
- Freezer Safe Storage Containers
- Nursing Pads
- Dummy
- Baby Bottles
- Baby Formula
Bathing & Cleaning
After nursing, the next important consideration is your baby’s bathing routine and cleaning.
Here are a few essentials you’ll need:
Cleaning
- Newborn Nappies (2-3 Packs)
- Baby Wipes (2-3 packs)
- Nappy Bin
- Nappy Rash Cream
- Waterproof Changing Table Pad
Bathing
- 2-3 Towels
- 2-3 Washcloths
- Baby wash Set
- Baby Tub
Travel Essentials
Let’s move on to discussing the travel essentials you’ll need to get around with your newborn.
Here are the essentials:
- Baby Carrier
- Baby Car Seat
- Convertible Pram
- Baby Bag
- Large Blanket
Technology and Gadget Essentials
It can be easy to get carried away with the latest technology, so let’s break down the essentials versus the technology you probably don’t need.
The essentials:
- Baby Monitor
- Baby Thermometer
The optional but non-essentials:
- Bottle Warmer
- Electric Breast Pump
When it comes to preparing for your new arrival, just remember that you don't have to splurge on every baby item available (although it's tempting!)- start with the newborn essentials we've mentioned above, and go from there!