What do I need to take care of my baby? What equipment is really necessary?

Having your first baby can be quite scary at first. He does not come with a user manual! Here is a list of basic equipment you will need to take care of your new-born baby: all the essentials necessary to clean, feed, change baby and even the basic pharmacy for common baby ailments.

• 1 mini-tub, possibly vertical (looks like a bucket) or a chair to use in your own bathtub
• 1 changing mat (to lay on the changing table)
• 2 changing mat fitted covers
• 1 diaper bin (with a sealed lid, otherwise it is better to throw them immediately in the outside container)
• 12 linen towels: useful for everything (to dry your baby's bottom as well as to protect your clothing from regurgitation, also very practical to use in bed under the baby's head)
• Optional 1 balance: to follow the weight gain (especially if baby is breastfed)

• 1 small soft hairbrush
• 3-4 small cotton towels
• 1 pair of small nail scissors with rounded tip
• 1 mild baby shampoo
• 1 cleansing gel without soap
• 1 cleansing milk or lotion

• 1 thermometer
• 1 baby nose cleaner (sucking the snot out)
• 1 box of saline solution in single doses (for nose and eyes)
• 1 infant paracetamol syrup (preferably with pipette)
• 1 infant ibuprofen syrup (preferably with pipette)
  Warning: always check carefully from what age a medicine can be given to your child!

• 1 package of diapers for infants (size adapted to the baby weight, start with new-born size)
• 1 pack of wipes (if you plan to use them)
• Alternatively, a pack of cotton wools and a large bowl (if you plan to clean your baby's bottom with water rather than wipes)
• 1 tube of cream to treat red bottoms (such as Bépantène)
• 1 tube of emollient and protective fat cream (such as Vaseline).
  Caution: It is recommended to avoid using talc powder on an infant

• 6-8 bottles (1-2 only if you plan to breastfeed)
• 1 sterilizer
• 1 bottle brush to thoroughly clean the bottles
• 1 bottle warmer (it is recommended not to use the microwave because of the risk of burns)
  Warning: ALWAYS test the temperature of the milk on your forearm before giving it to your baby!
• 1 breast pump to express your milk if you are breastfeeding (very handy for 1/ having a stock of milk, 2/ involving daddy for example by giving a bottle at night instead of breastfeeding... mummy can rest and 3/ stimulating milk production)
  Warning: the breast pump should also be sterilized!

• 1 car seat (Maxi-Cosi for example)
• 1 diaper bag with foldable changing mat in plastic (to change baby whatever level of hygiene the support has...)
• 1 pushchair ideally choose a stroller that can be scalable from lying completely flat, or alternatively one on which you can attach the Maxi-Cosi (however lying down is the optimal transport position for baby’s fragile spine)

Have you also checked:

• What to buy for your baby’s room?
• Packing your hospital bag: what will you need for birth and labour?

Inspiration for baby names can be found here:
Baby names with 3 letters
Baby names with 4 letters
Baby names with 5 letters
Baby names with 6 letters

Here you will find baby names with a specific initial or last letter from A to Z.
Baby names starting with letter: A   –  B   –  C   –  D   –  E   –  F   –  G   –  H   –  I   –  J   –  K   –  L   –  M   –  N   –  O   –  P   –  Q   –  R   –  S   –  T   –  U   –  V   –  W   –  X   –  Y   –  Z 

This webpage offers information about your baby birth. Read our best articles:

• Labour contractions »
• The worries every new parent »
• Preparing for birth »
• Lose my extra weight »