Newborn Essentials: What You Really Need (and What You Don’t)
- annarochdeus
- 14 hours ago
- 5 min read
Preparing for a baby’s arrival is a deeply emotional and exciting time. It can also feel overwhelming. A quick online search for “newborn essentials” often leads to endless lists, adverts, and products promising to make life easier many of which you may never use.
If you are pregnant or have recently welcomed your baby, I want to gently reassure you: you do not need everything. In fact, having fewer, well-chosen items often brings more calm, clarity, and confidence during those precious early weeks.
This guide focuses on the true essentials for a newborn; practical, thoughtful items that adapt to your lifestyle, your home, and your baby’s needs. Because every family is different, and your choices should support you, not overwhelm you.
1. A Pram: Choose for Your Lifestyle, Not the Trends
A pram is usually one of the first big purchases parents consider and one of the most confusing.
Rather than asking “Which pram is the best?”, a more helpful question is:
“Which pram suits our life?”
Consider:
Do you live in a city with narrow pavements or small lifts?
Do you need something lightweight and compact?
Will you walk on uneven surfaces, countryside paths, or near the mountains?
Will you use public transport often or need it to fit into a small car boot?
There is no universal “perfect pram”. The best pram is the one that:
Fits your daily routine
Is easy for you to manoeuvre
Feels comfortable and practical
Take your time to test different options, fold them, lift them, and imagine real daily use. A well-chosen pram can support you beautifully but it doesn’t need to be the most expensive or the most advertised one.
2. A Safe Place for Your Baby to Sleep: The Cot
Whether or not you plan to co-sleep, having a cot is important.
A cot provides:
A safe sleep space for your baby
A place for naps during the day
Somewhere to gently put your baby down when you need free hands
Even families who bed-share benefit from having a cot. It offers flexibility and supports your baby’s natural need for rest throughout the day.
You do not need multiple sleep spaces, just one safe, calm place where your baby can rest.
3. A Portable Sleep Insert: A Game-Changer for Gentle Transitions
One item I truly recommend is a portable newborn sleep insert (sometimes called a carrycot insert or soft nest). This is an example of one: Baby nest.
This allows your baby to:
Fall asleep comfortably at home
Be transferred gently into the pram or cot
Stay asleep during transitions
Without an insert, moving a sleeping baby from cot to pram often wakes them. With it, you can lift and place your baby without disturbing their rest which can be incredibly helpful in the early weeks.
I recommend including a link or visual example in your blog, as many parents are not familiar with this item, yet find it invaluable once they use it.
4. A Baby Sling or Carrier: Closeness and Freedom
A sling is one of the most practical and emotionally supportive newborn essentials.
Babies are biologically wired to seek closeness. Being held:
Regulates their breathing and temperature
Helps them feel safe and calm
Often reduces crying
For parents, a sling offers:
Free hands
Ease when moving around the house
A gentle alternative to the pram for short outings
There are different types:
Soft fabric wraps
Structured carriers with more support
There is no right or wrong choice, what matters is that it feels comfortable and secure for you. Many babies actually prefer being close to a parent’s body rather than spending long periods in the pram, especially in the early weeks.
5. Clothes: Less, Softer, and Practical
It is very tempting to buy lots of newborn clothes — and completely understandable. However, babies grow incredibly fast. Many newborn outfits are worn only a handful of times, sometimes just for a couple of weeks.
What to keep in mind:
Buy fewer clothes, but practical ones
Prioritise comfort and ease
Choose 100% cotton whenever possible
Avoid stiff fabrics, tight waistbands, or complicated fastenings
Look for:
Easy-to-change designs
Soft, stretchy materials
Weather-appropriate layers
Before use, always wash new clothes with a gentle, newborn-safe detergent. This removes chemicals from the manufacturing and shop process and protects your baby’s sensitive skin.
6. Swaddles and Sleeping Bags: Supporting Better Sleep
Swaddles
Swaddling can be incredibly helpful for newborns. It:
Reduces the startle (Moro) reflex
Helps babies feel contained and secure
Often leads to longer, more settled sleep
Some babies initially resist swaddling. This does not mean they dislike it. With gentle consistency, many babies grow to love the feeling of containment. It is often worth trying again after a few days.
Sleeping Bags
As babies grow and move more, sleeping bags become one of the safest and most practical sleep solutions.
Benefits:
Maintain consistent body temperature
Cannot cover the baby’s face
Do not move during sleep
Reduce the need for loose blankets
Sleeping bags are a safe, reliable option that supports uninterrupted sleep for both baby and parents.
7. Feeding Essentials: Keep It Simple
Breastfeeding
If you plan to breastfeed, the beautiful truth is: you don’t need much at all.
Your body and your baby are the main essentials.
Items like nipple shields:
Should not be bought “just in case”
Are easily available in hospitals and pharmacies if needed
If breastfeeding challenges arise, it is far more helpful to seek personalised support rather than buying multiple products in advance.
Bottles and Breast Pumps
If breastfeeding is going well, bottles are generally not recommended during the first four weeks, while feeding is being established.
A breast pump can be useful if:
You plan mixed feeding later
You need to increase milk supply
You want flexibility in the future
That said, you do not need to buy one immediately. Pumps can be rented or borrowed from hospitals if needed.
Again, wait and see. You can always add items later.
The Most Important Essential: Support
It is easy to focus on shopping lists, but the most valuable things you can give your baby are not found in shops.
Your presence. Your responsiveness. Your love. And your support network.
The early weeks are not about having everything prepared perfectly. They are about adjusting, learning, resting, and being held emotionally and physically.
Less equipment often means more space for connection.
A Gentle Way to Build Your Support Network
Support does not only come from family and friends. Feeling informed, prepared, and emotionally held makes a profound difference as you approach birth and the early weeks with your baby.
This is exactly why I created the Birth & Baby Antenatal Workshop, a warm, intimate space designed to help you feel confident, supported, and grounded as you prepare for birth, feeding, and the newborn period. It is especially supportive for parents who may be navigating pregnancy and early parenthood away from their home country or usual support systems.
In the workshop, we focus on practical knowledge, emotional preparation, and realistic expectations, all within a gentle, nurturing environment where questions are welcomed and no concern is too small.
You can find more details about the workshop here:
Because sometimes, the most important thing you can prepare before your baby arrives is feeling supported, informed, and not alone.
You can read my previous block where I talk about the importance of Pregnancy Friendships.
Final Thoughts: Trust Yourself
You do not need to be fully prepared. You do not need to have everything. You are allowed to start simply.
Babies need very little and parents need reassurance, compassion, and confidence far more than products.
If you ever feel unsure, overwhelmed, or in need of guidance, gentle professional support can make all the difference. You are not meant to do this alone.
With love,
Anna
Doula · Lactation Consultant · Gentle Sleep Coach
Supporting Expat Families in Spain
