There are so many things that you can buy for a baby - especially a first child, that it can be confusing. For large equipment, the Equipment Section has suggestions on what to buy in terms of nursery furniture, prams, car seats etc.
To find out where to buy baby items, see the Baby Shops section
This section offers a suggested 'checklist' of small items you may find useful for your baby.
The aim is to offer some tips on what to buy /borrow or simply just to organise for when baby comes home.
The section has the following lists:-
Do remember that people are often incredibly generous when a baby is born, so you may end up with multiple items...not such a problem when it is clothes that they vomit on often! You could consider having a list or using this as your checklist as people often do for wedding registries, so you can guide people if they ask what you need.
You may decide to do without some specialised items such as a bottle warmer, sterilisation equipment, or nappy disposal system. They can seem unneccessary, but they are all very handy and feeding and nappy chaning goes on for around 2 or more years. If you don't buy a dedicated nappy bin, be warned that nappies smell REALLY BAD, especially as your baby grows and starts to eat solids, so make sure you have a separate bin with a tightly fitting lid!!! Babies are born in a large variety of sizes and then grow at an amazing rate, so you may want to start buying the larger sizes as they don't tend to stay in the tiny sizes for very long.
- Refer to the Equipment Section for large items of nursery furniture, prams, car seats etc.
- Refer to Baby Shops for dedicated baby stores and where to buy baby items online.
- Refer to the Shopping With Baby section for tips on taking your baby out to the shops & local shopping centres (eg Parenting rooms)
 Shop for Baby: Suggested Small Item List |
Clothes
The following list is generated by Mums and is a suggested guide of basic items only, to get you through the first few months without having to shop for clothes. Many mums prefer to dress their babies in separates and/or colour co-ordinated outfits rather than just basic babygros, but those items are not included here.
- Babygros (all in one jumpsuits with feet) - up to 6 in each size of 0000 and 000
- Singlets up to 6 of 0000 & 6 of 000 sizes.
- Shortsleeved bodysuits for summer - up to 6 of 0000 & 6 of 000 sizes
- Bibs - up to 6 small size
- Hats - 1 or more sun hats or warm winter hats
- Mittens (optional) - scratch mittens if using or warm winter ones
- Jackets/cardigans/jumpers - 2-3 or more to keep the chill off your baby in airconditioned places or in winter
- Wraps - muslin - 3-4 multi purpose (used for partial shade, breastfeeding shawl as well as wrapping baby)
- Wraps - bunny rugs (warm wraps) - 3-4 multi purpose (used for partial shade, breastfeeding shawl, rug, as well as wrapping baby)
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Change Table items
- Change mat
- Nappy storage area (can just use a drawer)
- Nappy bin/pail or nappy disposal system
- Cloth nappies or small hand towels to place under baby on change mat (for comfort as the plastic is cold)
- Nappy rash cream
- Baby wipes or cotton wool balls or squares (can be used with warm water in a bowl when baby is very young and has sensitive skin)
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Bath items
- Facecloths
- Safety cotton buds (wider buds that cannot be pushed too far into the ear)
- Baby bubble bath (if using. Plain water is usually recommended for newborns)
- Baby shampoo (if using. Plain water only may be recommended for newborns)
- Bath thermometer
- Soft &/or hooded towels
- Bath support (optional)
- Baby lotion (eg sorbolene)
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Bedtime
- Dummies (if using)
- Bassinette mattress protector, sheets and blankets (cotton or flannelette depending on season and home temperature)
- 2-3 cot sheet sets, 2 mattress protectors and 2 cotton cellular cot blankets or appropriate size/season baby sleeping bag
- (Note: quilts, heavy blankets & padded bumpers for the cot are not recommended due to the risk of sudden infant death syndrome).
- Mobile (keep securely fastened and out of reach of babies)
- Cot mattress protectors (can use cloth nappies, but these maybe less absorbent)
- Baby monitor
- Lamp/night light (some monitors include night lights)
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For Mum
- Lasinoh cream & nipple guards for sore nipples
- Maternity feeding clothes, shawl
- Breast pads for leaking breast milk
General & First Aid
- Rattles/suitable soft toys for newborn babies
- Playmat/playgym
- Bouncer/rocker
- Decorations for nursery eg wall stickers, border
- Pram toys
- Washing powder & fabric softner for sensitive skin (if you think your baby will have sensitive skin)
- Nappies Newborn size 0-5kg - disposable or cloth. Huggies are highly recommended for absorbency and comfort (but these are expensive). Many Mums also have recommended Aldi branded nappies which are said to be both good and inexpensive.
- Thermometer - the no touch forehead scan ones are expensive but useful to check baby while sleeping
- Saline spray for unblocking babies nose
- Saline drops (single use vials) for cleaning sticky eyes
- Note: if babies eyes are red and glued together with discharge see your doctor asap
- Blunt nosed scissors or clippers to cut nails
- Baby Panadol (when baby is old enough)
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Feeding
- Bottles (125ml 0-3 mths; 260ml 3 mths+)
- Teats (slow flow initially unless using a thickened AR formula)
- Bottle brush
- Sterilising equipment or sterilising tablets (and a covered container to soak items - eg an ice cream carton),
- Equipment to express & store breastmilk in - eg breast pump, sterile bags
- Pillows to support baby while feeding (ordinary pillows OK)
- Bottle warmer - large jug/bowl to stand bottle in or commercial bottle warmer.
- Microwaves are risky and not recommended due to uneven heating and the high risk of scalding baby. If used, ensure you shake well, leave for 40-60 seconds, shake and test before using.
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Out & about
Nappy bag - suggested items to carry
- Nappy bag
- Portable change mat (or disposable change mats)
- Plastic bags to dispose of wet clothes, nappies etc
- Toys to amuse baby
- Dummies (if using)
- Bottle/teat
- Portable formula container (usually have 3 sections for measured out formula) - if bottle feeding
- Water (boiled to make up formula).
- Shawl
- Bibs
- Spare clothes for baby
- Warm jacket (it gets cold in many airconditioned places and near fridges in supermarkets even in high summer)
- Mittens - warm or anti-scratch if using
- Boottes
- Spare wrap - muslin/bunny rug
- Hat
- Small hand towel/cloth nappy/facecloths - useful for burping/wiping up/under baby on change tables etc.
- Nappies
- Wipes or cotton balls or damp facecloth (in a plastic ziplock bag)
- Nappy rash cream
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Other Useful Travel Items
- Rug to lay baby on - eg At Mothers group meetings or when visiting people
- Sun protection (sunscreen usually recommended only after 6 months of age) , eg hat , wrap or special sun protection cover to go over pram.
- Rain cover for pram
- Pram attachments to amuse baby
- Thermos to carry warm water for bottles, or thermal bottle holder
- Mirror to view baby in rearward facing car seat (optional but useful)
- Baby on board sticker for car (optional)
- Sunshades for car
- Car seat activity bar/toys
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