What to buy for your newborn (and what to skip)

The baby-gear world is enormous, and the marketing is relentless, so it’s easy to feel you need every last thing before your baby arrives. In truth, a newborn needs surprisingly little at first — and you’ll learn what you actually reach for once they’re here. It’s genuinely fine to start small and top up as you go.

Here’s a realistic list of the genuine essentials, grouped by what they’re for.

For sleep: a safe cot or bassinet that meets the current Australian safety standard, a firm, flat mattress that fits snugly, a couple of fitted sheets, and a few safe infant sleeping bags or wraps. Keep the sleep space clear — Red Nose advises against pillows, doonas, bumpers and soft toys.

For feeding: this depends on how you plan to feed. If breastfeeding, you mostly need yourself, plus maybe a few muslin cloths and breast pads; you can add a pump later if you need one. If bottle feeding, you’ll want bottles, teats, formula and a way to sterilise. Many parents do a mix, and that’s fine.

For nappy changes: lots of newborn nappies (don’t stockpile one size — they grow fast), wipes or cotton wool, a change mat, and a barrier cream.

For clothing: around six to eight onesies and singlets, a few sleepsuits, socks or booties, a hat, and a warm layer for the season. Newborns grow out of 0000 and 000 quickly, so resist buying a wardrobe.

For out and about: a pram or carrier, and — the one non-negotiable — an approved child car seat, correctly fitted, which you legally need to take your baby home from hospital.

And for bathing: a baby bath isn’t essential (a clean sink or the big bath with you works), but a couple of soft towels and a mild wash are handy.

Now the skip-or-wait list, because this is where money and space disappear: wipe warmers, nappy bins, newborn shoes, change tables (a mat on a low set of drawers does the job), special “newborn” detergents, and most single-purpose gadgets. Bigger items — high chairs, jumpers, cot-to-bed conversions — are months away, so there’s no rush at all.

Plenty can be borrowed or bought second-hand, which is kinder on the budget and the planet — babies don’t care if things are pre-loved. The two exceptions for safety are car seats and mattresses: buy those new, or only accept them if you’re completely sure of their history and that they meet current standards. And check that anything for sleep follows Red Nose guidance.

If you’re deciding where to put your money, a simple rule helps: spend on safety and the things you’ll use every single day, and save everywhere else. A good car seat, a pram that suits your life, and a safe place to sleep are worth getting right; outfits, decor and gadgets are not. Setting up a baby registry can be lovely here — it lets family and friends contribute to the bigger items rather than everyone buying another newborn-size outfit. And there’s no shame in waiting: plenty of parents buy the absolute basics before the birth and order the rest in the early weeks, once they know whether their baby loves the bouncer, hates the bassinet, or only settles in the carrier.

The honest truth is you can’t predict everything you’ll want until your baby is here and you see your own rhythm. So cover the essentials, keep a bit of budget back, and trust that the rest can be sorted with a quick online order in those early weeks.