Newborn Essentials: What You Actually Need vs What You Can Skip

The baby product market in the UK is worth billions of pounds annually, and it is very effective at persuading parents-to-be that they need a great deal of equipment before the baby arrives. Some of it genuinely matters. Much of it does not. And some of it is actively unhelpful or unsafe.

This guide cuts through the marketing and gives you an honest account of what you actually need, what is useful but not essential, and what you can safely leave on the shelf.

The Genuine Essentials

These are things you cannot really manage without.

A safe sleep space

Your baby needs somewhere safe to sleep from the moment they come home. NHS and Lullaby Trust guidance specifies:

• A firm, flat, waterproof mattress in good condition
• A cot, crib, or Moses basket that meets current British safety standards (look for BS EN 716 for cots, or equivalent)
• In your room for at least the first six months
• No loose bedding, pillows, cot bumpers, or soft toys

A second-hand cot is fine if it is structurally sound, but always buy a new mattress — second-hand mattresses are associated with a modestly increased SIDS risk and are not recommended.

You do not need a bedside crib, though they are useful. A standard cot beside the bed works perfectly well.

Feeding equipment

What you need depends on how you plan to feed.

If breastfeeding: You need very little. A good nursing bra (or two), breast pads, nipple cream (Lansinoh is widely recommended), and a muslin or two for wiping. A breast pump is useful but not immediately essential — wait until feeding is established before deciding whether to express. A hospital-grade pump can be hired from the NCT if needed.

If formula feeding or combination feeding: At least one bottle (or better, four to six), a bottle brush, sterilising equipment (microwave steamer or cold-water solution are both effective), and a good formula. Ready-made cartons of formula are ideal for the first few weeks — no preparation needed, no measurement errors, easy for night feeds.

If undecided: Have at least one bottle and a small amount of formula in the house. No decision needs to be made before the birth.

Nappies and changing equipment

Stock a small number of newborn-size nappies before birth — but not a huge amount, as some babies skip straight through newborn size, and you will quickly find out which brand you prefer. Two to three packs of newborn-size nappies are sufficient to start.

You need:

• Nappies (newborn or size 1)
• Cotton wool and a bowl of warm water, or water wipes, for nappy changes
• A changing mat — can be a simple padded mat on the floor, no dedicated unit required
• Nappy cream (Metanium or Sudocrem are both effective)
• A bin or nappy sack — you do not need a dedicated nappy bin

You do not need a changing table. Many families manage entirely with a mat on the floor or on a bathroom shelf. Dedicated changing units are convenient but expensive and have a short useful life.

Clothing

See our separate guide to baby clothes. In summary: primarily sleepsuits and vests, appropriate for the season, in 0–3 month size rather than newborn size.

A car seat

If you are driving home from hospital or will ever travel by car with your baby, a car seat that is suitable from birth is a genuine requirement. This means a rear-facing infant carrier (Group 0+) or an i-Size seat designed for newborns.

A car seat is one of the few items where buying second-hand carries a real risk — you cannot verify whether a seat has been in an accident (which compromises the structural integrity). Buy new if at all possible.

A pram, pushchair, or sling

Your baby needs to be transported. Whether you use a travel system, a pram, a sling, or a combination is entirely personal. A sling is a perfectly adequate and very practical primary carrying method, particularly in the early weeks. Research a proper carrier fitting from a sling library before committing to a purchase.

Nice-to-Haves

These items are genuinely useful for many families but not essential.

Baby carrier or wrap

If not your primary transport method, a carrier or stretchy wrap is enormously useful for hands-free carrying around the house, for settling a fussy baby, and for getting out and about in environments where a pram is inconvenient.

Bouncy chair

A simple bouncy chair or rocker gives you somewhere to put the baby other than the floor when you need both hands. Not all babies enjoy them, and some barely use them, so borrowing one from a friend first is sensible.

White noise machine

White noise can be helpful for settling some babies to sleep — it replicates sounds from the womb and can mask household noise. A free app on a phone or a smart speaker playing "white noise" is entirely sufficient; a dedicated machine is not necessary.

Muslin cloths

Buy more than you think you need. Muslins are used for winding, wiping, covering prams and car seats for light shade, as an impromptu changing surface, and for mopping up sick. Ten to fifteen is a sensible number.

Baby monitor

If your baby is sleeping in the same room as you, a monitor is unnecessary. If your house is large or you will put the baby to sleep in a different room during the day, a simple audio monitor is sufficient. Video monitors are useful but considerably more expensive.

Thermometer

A reliable digital thermometer is useful. A forehead or temporal artery thermometer is convenient; an under-arm digital thermometer is perfectly accurate if held correctly. You do not need a tympanic (in-ear) thermometer — they are less accurate in very young babies.

What to Skip or Borrow

Wipe warmers

There is no evidence they benefit babies and they require space, electricity, and increase the risk of bacterial growth in wipes. Skip.

Nappy bins

Nappy bins reduce immediate smells but are a significant ongoing cost (the refill cartridges are expensive and non-recyclable). A standard bin with a lid works.

Baby food makers

Your baby will not need anything other than breast milk or formula for the first six months. A food processor or blender you already own, or a simple hand blender, is entirely adequate for making purees when weaning begins.

Cot bumpers

NICE and the Lullaby Trust are clear: no cot bumpers. They are a suffocation risk and should not be in the sleep space. Some are still sold — do not buy them.

Baby bath support seats

Dangerous if the baby slips or is left momentarily unattended. Never leave a baby in a bath support seat unsupervised, even for a moment.

What to Borrow vs Buy

Borrow or buy second-hand: Moses basket, crib (buy new mattress), bouncy chair, baby gym/play mat, bouncers, most toys.

Buy new: car seat, cot mattress, breast pump (hygiene reasons — though hiring a medical-grade pump is fine).

The baby industry is remarkably good at generating urgency and anxiety around products. Most experienced parents, looking back, wish they had bought considerably less. Start with the essentials and add things as you discover you actually need them.