Preparing for a new arrival can be stressful for even the most organized of parents. What do you really need and what’s just hype? What if you forget something important? And how will you get it all ready? This new baby checklist will help you figure out all the essentials before your baby arrives.

Gear

Strollers, car-seats, and carriers are must-haves. A good stroller will accompany you everywhere so look for one like the Britax B-Safe 35 Car Seat that is sturdy and reliable. Car-seats should be FAA-approved like the ones from The Baby Cubby where you can find a great selection of carriers.

Clothes

Comfortable day clothes and sleepers are vital for your newborn. It’s best to purchase varying sizes as you never know how big your baby will be on arrival or how much they’ll grow in the first few weeks. You can find a wide variety of Tea Collection infant clothes that are adorable, cozy, and reasonably priced.

Many new moms are too caught up with baby brain to think about themselves, but remember to buy some nursing bras if you decide to breastfeed. You can find great nursing bras that will keep you comfortable while you adjust to motherhood.

Sleep

Grab yourself something simple like a bassinet or Moses basket for the first few weeks after your newborn joins the family. You can look into more permanent cribs or consider the option of co-sleeping down the line when you’ve had some time to adjust. A simple bassinet is perfect.

Diapering

Whether you decide to go for cloth diapers or disposable ones, make sure to stock up in a variety of sizes. If you do choose disposable, buy twice the amount you think you’ll need – however much you think that little angel can pee, you’re underestimating it! Stores like The Baby Cubby are great for diaper bins that won’t let any smells escape.

Bath

You don’t need to buy much to bathe a brand-new baby – a simple bathing tub will work just fine for a newborn. You can focus on bath toys and lotions when you’ve gotten into a bath time routine with your baby.

Feeding

If you’re formula feeding then you’ll need to stock up on some bottles and tubs of baby formula, but you can always test the waters with your baby once they’re born to figure out which they prefer. If you’re breastfeeding then, as mentioned above, the most important thing is a good nursing bra.

Care & First Aid

You can buy basic baby first aid kits from plenty of stores and realistically, you won’t know what you need until your baby arrives so it’s best to play it safe and get a simple range of items. A good pair of baby nail scissors are invaluable so stock up on a user-friendly pair.

You can always buy more once your baby arrives, but it’s certainly easier to get the essentials out of the way beforehand so you can concentrate on bonding with your little one.

What’s on your checklist before your baby arrives? Head over to The Baby Cubby and let us know your top picks!