Around four to six months your baby will begin their journey with solid foods, which requires a different set of items such as a high chair and baby-safe silverware and bowls.

To sleep, in most cases, a baby just needs three necessary items: a bassinet or crib, a crib mattress, and a fitted crib sheet. Additionally, however, there are a multitude of add-ons to this list that can help ease your nerves and the overall experience of your sleeping newborn:

A bassinet or crib – the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping your baby’s crib, bassinette or playard, in your room for the first six to 12 months. Babies should always sleep in their own bed, on their back, without blankets, toys, wedges or crib bumpers.

In order to keep your child clean and comfortable you will need to change their diapers frequently. It is recommended that newborns get changed every two to three hours.

Babies can have anywhere from two to five bowel movements in a day, in addition to urinating every one to three hours. Leaving a dirty diaper on too long can lead to a diaper rash, skin irritation, or bladder infection.

The procedure for disposable diapers is different from that of cloth diapers. For cloth diaper practitioners, you will need at least two or three dozen diapers to keep up with the frequency of newborn bladder and bowel movements. The biggest necessity when using cloth diapers is to make sure they are being washed thoroughly.

Babies need to be bathed in a comfortable, safe environment with products that are clean and simple.

Just like everyone else, your baby likes to be comfortable in their clothes. It is important to pay attention to the weather to make sure your baby can be warm in the winter cold and cool in the summer heat. 

Babies can require a lot to travel, depending on how long your plans will keep you out of the house. To fuel their needs, it is recommended to prepare a “go-bag” with all the basic items you want to have accessible while out on your trip.

It is important to remember that every family’s needs are different, and this list can be modified to fit the needs of any circumstance.

The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.

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