Newborn checklist: what you actually need for the first weeks

A newborn needs less than the registry lists suggest. In the first few weeks, the essentials are a safe place to sleep, a rear-facing car seat, a way to feed your baby, plenty of diapers, a few outfits, supplies for sponge baths and a digital thermometer. Get those right and you can add the rest later, once you know what your baby actually likes.

This checklist is built from guidance by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the CDC and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). We don't recommend brands or link to stores.

Newborn checklist: essentials vs nice to have

The clothing and sheet counts are our estimate of what gets you through a couple of days between laundry loads. The rest follows the cited guidance.

Safe sleep: what to buy and what to skip

Sleep gear is where safety rules matter most. The AAP's recommendations come down to a few points ^[1]:

• A firm, flat surface. Any surface that inclines more than 10 degrees isn't safe for sleep ^[1].
• A bare sleep space. No blankets, pillows, stuffed toys or bumper pads in the bed ^[1]. CPSC's shorthand is "bare is best": nothing but a fitted sheet in a crib, bassinet or play yard ^[2].
• A product made for infant sleep. CPSC points parents to cribs, bassinets, play yards and bedside sleepers that meet federal requirements ^[2]. If a product doesn't meet federal safety standards, the AAP says not to use it ^[1].
• Room-sharing. The AAP recommends sharing a room with your baby, on their own sleep surface, for at least the first 6 months ^[1].

Skip these entirely. Inclined sleepers and crib bumpers, including padded bumpers, vinyl bumper guards and vertical crib slat covers, have been banned hazardous products since November 12, 2022, no matter when they were made ^[3]. The AAP also warns against hammocks, baby boxes, in-bed sleepers, baby nests and pods ^[1]. That applies to hand-me-downs too.

To keep a baby warm without loose blankets, dress them in layers or use a wearable blanket. In general, dress your baby in only one layer more than you're wearing ^[1][11].

Car seat

You need a car seat before you can drive your baby home from the hospital. All infants should ride rear-facing, starting with that first ride ^[5], and NHTSA says children under age 1 should always ride in a rear-facing seat ^[4].

Have it checked before the birth. Certified technicians inspect car seats free of charge in most cases, and NHTSA's website lists inspection stations by ZIP code ^[4]. If money's tight, see our guide to getting a free car seat. For everything else to bring on delivery day, see our hospital bag checklist.

Feeding setup

Newborns eat often. A breastfed baby will feed about 8 to 12 times in 24 hours ^[6], so set up a comfortable spot with water and burp cloths within reach.

• If you're breastfeeding or pumping: health plans other than grandfathered plans must cover a breast pump, plus breastfeeding support and counseling for as long as you breastfeed ^[18]. Our guide to getting a breast pump through insurance explains how to order one, ideally before the birth. If feeding is hard, find a lactation consultant near you, and see whether insurance covers the visits.
• If you're formula-feeding: use the amount of water listed on the formula container's instructions. Use prepared formula within 2 hours of making it, and within 1 hour of when the feeding starts ^[7].

Diapers and changing

Plan for a lot of diapers. The National Diaper Bank Network says infants need up to 12 diapers a day, at a cost of $80 to $100 or more per month ^[8]. By our math, up to 12 a day is up to about 84 a week, or about 360 in the first month.

Diaper counts also tell you whether your baby is eating enough. Sutter Health says to expect at least one wet diaper and one dirty diaper for each day of life for the first four to five days, and more than six wet diapers a day after the first week ^[9]. Ask your pediatrician what to watch for.

Newborn-size diapers get outgrown fast, so don't stock up too far ahead. If diapers strain your budget, our guide to free diapers lists diaper banks and other programs.

Bathing, clothes and a thermometer

Bathing. Give your newborn sponge baths until the umbilical cord stump falls off, which usually happens by about one or two weeks of age ^[10]. Newborns don't need a bath every day, and three baths a week during the first year may be enough ^[10]. That's why a baby bathtub is a nice-to-have at first.

Clothes. A good rule is to dress your baby in one more layer than you'd be comfortable in ^[11]. For sleep, a wearable blanket or sleep sack is a safe alternative to a loose blanket ^[11]. Choose sleepers that fit loosely around the belly while the cord stump heals.

Thermometer. Get a digital thermometer, and never a mercury one ^[12]. A rectal temperature gives the best reading for babies under 3 months ^[12]. If your baby is 3 months or younger and has a rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, call your pediatrician right away ^[13].

First-week appointments and screenings

Before you leave the hospital. Newborn screening tests are usually done when babies are one to two days old, so a hospital-born baby will probably be tested before going home ^[16]. Screening includes a blood test from a heel prick, a hearing test and a pulse oximetry check ^[16]. All babies should be screened for hearing loss no later than 1 month of age, ideally before leaving the hospital ^[17].

The first pediatrician visit. The AAP recommends that newborns be seen within 3 to 5 days of birth and within 48 to 72 hours after leaving the hospital, including a check of feeding and jaundice ^[14]. Choose a pediatrician before your due date and book this visit as soon as you know when you're going home.

The next visits. After the first-week visit, the AAP schedule continues at 1 month and 2 months ^[15].

Your own postpartum care matters too. If you're on Medicaid, find out how long your postpartum Medicaid coverage lasts in your state.

Paperwork for the first weeks

Your baby's paperwork starts in the hospital and keeps going for a few weeks: the birth certificate, a Social Security number, adding the baby to your health insurance, and any benefits you qualify for. Our after-the-birth checklist walks through each one with deadlines.

If you might qualify for help with food or formula, check WIC and our benefits checker.

What you can skip, borrow or get free

A lot of baby gear is optional, and plenty of it can be borrowed. Before you buy, check our guide to free baby stuff. Two cautions on secondhand gear:

• Sleep products need to meet current federal safety standards, and banned items like inclined sleepers and padded bumpers shouldn't be used at all ^[1][3].
• Car seats should be checked by a certified technician, which is free in most cases ^[4].