Everything you need before bringing your baby home

If you've recently found out you’re pregnant, the thought of nine months sounds like a long time to be waiting in suspense for your new family member. However, one major upside of this waiting period is that, thankfully, you have that time to prepare. Among maternal health appointments, you also need to prepare a room for your bub, plus prepare clothing, sleeping, feeding gear and more. Your parent friends can probably attest to this, that once the baby comes along, there will be little time to be scrambling to find the right product, and at the right price. After all, your hands will literally be full!

So here is our guide to help you to prepare the essentials before your new baby arrives. This will ensure the precious first stage of caring for and enjoying your newborn is uninterrupted and as smooth as possible. It will include any ‘just in case’ items in anticipation of any challenges, which can happen.

Preparation is key!

Stock up the freezer with meals so you can simply take them out and reheat for dinner. It’ll be one less thing to worry about when you have a newborn at home. You can make them yourselves, or use a company like The Dinner Ladies.

Whether you’re having a home birth or a hospital birth, you’ll need items to help with post-birth recovery.

Birthing can be hungry work, and you’ll need all the energy you can get. And while you might not feel like eating during the marathon that is birth, you’ll likely be hungry on the other side, so make sure you’ve stocked up on all of your favourites.

Have long and thick sanitary pads for the hospital and at home. You might even want to stock up on some adult nappies - yep, you can absolutely use them post childbirth if you’ve given birth vaginally.

Have nursing bras on hand as your newborn will be needing to be fed around the clock and as soon as they arrive into the world, and you don’t want to be fussing with awkward clasps and straps of a normal bra.

There are a few items you'll need to have on hand every day.

Baby wearing is a convenient (and snuggly!) way to transport your baby and help them contact nap, while you still have your hands free.

You’ll need all of the baby wipes. Wiping bottoms, wiping hands, wiping snot, wiping apple puree off the walls… Babies are gorgeous, messy creatures.

Dummies are a personal choice, and it’s not recommended to use them before four weeks of age, so there’s no need to rush out and stock up. 

Baby nails get sharp, fast! Not only can they accidentally scratch you, they can also scratch themselves, so having some nail scissors or nail file on hand that are specifically designed for tiny little baby fingers will come in handy.

Again, there’s usually an age limit before you can start giving babies Panadol, but it’s worth having some on hand for when teething starts, which can be as early as 3-4 months.

A temperature is a good indicator of fever and other illnesses in young babies, so having one on hand means you can easily check to see if your baby just feels hot, or if they’re unwell.

Sleep - one of the most talked-about and contentious topics in parenthood!

The most ideal sleeping arrangement for the first year of your newborn’s life, or at least the first six months, is for them to be in the same room as you in a cot next to your bed. According to the Red Nose Foundation, this can reduce the risk of sudden expected death in infant syndrome.

Extra measures for your baby’s sleep safety include looking for a cot that meets the Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 2172 and a firm mattress, so when you are choosing a cot, make sure it complies with this standard.

You may prefer to start your newborn in a bassinet or crib for the first few months, especially if you don’t have room for a full cot in your own bedroom. Bassinets and co-sleepers don’t have the same strict requirements as cots, so ensure you choose one that does meet safety standards

There may be leakages so have at least two sets of baby bedding, consisting of sheets and mattress protectors. Blankets are not recommended by Red Nose, so keep bub warm with a swaddle or…

For newborns, a sleeping bag that enables them to be swaddled will help them feel the same comfort they had when they were in your womb. It may also help them to sleep better. Babies should only sleep on their backs for the first six months of their life. Once your baby starts rolling, you should stop swaddling the arms, advises the team at Happiest Baby, the creators of the Sleepea 5 Second Swaddle. This is so your baby can push up with their arms if they roll onto their tummy with their face on the mattress.

Though not an essential, a rocking chair can be an incredibly beneficial tool for helping get your bub to sleep, so it might be worth adding one to your nursery.

It’s safer to change your baby on a changing mat on the floor so there’s no risk of them falling off anything. However, consider whether you are prone to back problems, or if you prefer more comfort for your back, and if so, changing on the bed, or buying a nappy change table may suit better. Here are some other items you'll need.

You will, of course, need nappies. But don’t feel you need to rush out and buy a year’s supply. Just get enough for a few weeks, and stock up as you need them. Your place is already going to be jammed with new baby stuff.

Dirty nappies need to go somewhere, and for hygiene reasons it’s probably best they don’t go into your kitchen bin. A specific nappy bin that lives in the nursery by the change table is convenient, and often designed to keep smells at bay.

Unless your baby has some kind of skin irritation like nappy rash, then a cream isn’t really necessary. And if you do buy nice lotions and creams for bub, make sure they have simple ingredients and avoid ones with foodstuffs in them, like oats and avocado oil.

To prepare for feeding time, you might find the below useful.

Nipples can get sore and cracked when breastfeeding, so a nipple cream can help bring some comfort to you.

If you’re finding that your nipples are painful rubbing on the material of your bra/clothing, then silver nipple shields could be the answer.

A simple night light will help you see when you’re doing night feeds. You could even opt for red night lights, which are said to help increase bub’s melatonin so they sleep better.

More of a nice-to-have than an essential, but a breastfeeding pillow can definitely make feeding a bit more comfortable.

When it’s time to start solids, a high chair is going to be handy so you can sit bub up for meal times.

Solids are a messy affair, so having lots of bibs (more than you think you need) around the house will help keep mess out of bub’s clothing.

If breastfeeding is not available for you and you need to bottle feed, you’ll need the following items.

Grab a tin or two of formula to feed bub if you’re not expressing breastmilk.

The formula and /or milk has to go into something, right?

If you’re expressing, a breast pump will make it all the more easy. You can read our guide on how to choose the best breast pump.

A basic baby wardrobe should include these key items.

At least five, with long and short sleeves, depending on the weather.

Adds an extra layer of warmth.

To protect their precious new skin from the sun.

At least two - bonus if your mum or nan knits them.

To keep those tiny little piggies nice and warm

It is totally fine and safe to bathe your newborn in the kitchen sink or laundry tub, as long as it’s clean and safe and you always stay within arm’s length reach of your baby.

With that in mind, you only need a couple of bathing essentials.

If you do opt to buy a baby bath, choose one that drains easily, doesn’t need to be carried and is safe for bub.

Face washers are handy to give bub a good scrub-a-dub-dub, and you’ll need a few towels to dry them off, too.

In the early days, babies don’t need soaps or shampoos, just bathing them in water is fine. 

For more information, visit our guide on which baby bath products to avoid and what to get instead.

The drive home from the hospital will be the first one for your newborn and so you will want to have this arranged in good time before birth.  Choose an approved rear-facing child car seat that meets the Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1754. Services are available that help you have the car seat professionally fitted before your baby’s arrival.

For those exciting first ventures out with your newborn, you will need to find a pram or stroller that meets either Australian Standard AS/NZS 2088:2013 or AS 2088:2022: A rain cover for the pram is also a must-have for wet weather.

For the car, we also recommend getting a window shade—ideally one with bright colours and pictures, as your baby will love it.

It's also a great idea to prepare a bag or backpack specifically for when travelling out with the newborn. Have this all prepared so that you’re not having to put one together when the baby comes. The bag should contain:

• Nappies, portable changing mat, disposable nappy bags
• Lots of tissues and baby wipes
• Bib
• Change of clothing for the baby
• Milk bottle
• Spare dummy
• Baby wraps

Your baby will love spending time being bounced on a baby bouncer while you watch them enjoy and giggle with glee.

Rattles, anything bright and colourful. You will discover that many items you already have at home will do. Just be mindful to choose toys specifically designed for newborns, and be sure to avoid anything with small pieces.

The most important safety item in a new parent's arsenal, aside from their own eyes and ears, is a baby monitor. Take a look at our guide for what to look for in a baby monitor.

As your baby grows, safety equipment such as baby gates to keep the baby confined and away from high-risk areas in the home and child-resistant locks are a must. Be sure to check out our full guide to baby-proofing your home.