The Complete New Baby Checklist

With baby #2 arriving shortly my life has been in full prep mode and creating my new baby checklist! I know from experience how fast those newborn days fly by and I wanted to make sure I could fully enjoy those baby snuggles without worrying about cooking, cleaning, running to the store, paying last minute bills, etc. If you have a baby on the way I thought I’d compile all my prep lists into one nicely organized master checklist so you can make sure you’re all set too!

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New Baby Checklist

1. Baby Items Checklist

Make sure you have everything you need for baby ready to go!

Necessities:

• Baby Clothes
• Baby Hats & Socks
• Baby Blankets/Swaddles — these swaddle blankets are the most amazing thing EVER, the perfect size, so soft and totally multi-functional. They were a total lifesaver with my daughter and I can’t wait to use them again with my little boy. (If you click through all the patterns on amazon, you can sometimes find one that is on sale significantly!)
• Diapers and Wipes — we use and love EverydayHappy diapers. They are all-natural, toxin- and carcinogen-free and are delivered straight to our door each month!
• Coconut Oil — for diapering
• Crib & bedding or a waterproof mattress cover for your bed if you’re planning to co-sleep.
• Baby bottles & formula (if bottle feeding)
• Burp Rags
• Carseat

Less-Urgent:

These can be bought later or bought now if you have time.

• Nursing Cover (if breastfeeding)
• Breast Pump (if you’ll be returning to work)
• Pacifiers
• Stroller
• A Good Baby Carrier — there are so many great ones out there, here are a few good ones to consider:
  • Ring Sling — especially great when they are small, quick and easy to put on (great for errands).
  • Moby Wrap — a lot of moms swear by this one for newborns through a few months old. My daughter never liked it and it felt like too much fabric for me but each baby and mom is so different.
  • The Ergo — is an amazing structured carrier. Quick and easy to put on and has great support for longer periods of time. The Ergo was one of our favorites! Bonus: Dads usually more likely to wear this one. Note: You will need an infant insert for newborns.
  • Wrap — I’ve never owned one but would love to one day. They take a little more practice but if you have a friend or a baby wearers group in your area an experienced mama would be the best to learn from.

2. Wash All Baby Clothes and Baby Blankets

3. Don’t Forget: Necessities for Mom

• Nursing Bras — Bravado Designs nursing bras are my all-time favorite. Their new active nursing bra, Body Silk Seamless Yoga is one of the most comfortable bras I’ve ever owned. Great for the end of pregnancy and flexible on size for those first few weeks postpartum and beyond!
• Nursing Pads — these disposables ones are amazing!
• Lots of Maxi Pads
• Dry Shampoo — this is the one I really like.
• Glass Water Bottle — especially if you’re planning to breastfeed, it’s important you are drinking plenty of water throughout the day.

4. Stock Up On Groceries

Here’s an example list, change what you need to make it fit you and your family’s preferences:

• Nursing Snacks
  • Dried fruit: apricots, raisins, etc.
  • Nuts
  • Fruit cups (mandarin orange cups in 100% juice are my fav!)
  • Granola Bars
  • Beef Jerky
  • Etc.
• Peanut Butter & Jelly
• Bread
• Noodles & Spaghetti Sauce — easy meal for after baby arrives
• Eggs
• Yogurt
• Cereal & Milk
• Oatmeal
• Juice
• Fruit — apples and oranges are great since they stay fresh in the fridge for quite some time.
• Toilet Paper
• Paper Towels
• Paper Plates

5. Make Freezer Meals

Stock your freezer: 

I kept mine simple, here’s what my freezer is stocked with:

• Homemade Chicken Stock
• Homemade Chicken Soup
• Cooked Ground Beef — which will be turned into several different meals:
  • Spaghetti
  • Macaroni Hamburger
  • Quick and Easy Burritos — our favorite is mixing ground beef with these already cooked Madras Lentils.
  • Bean Dip — mix together a can of refried beans, some ground beef, a scoop of sour cream, handful or two of cheese and some spices — easy and yummy!
• Chicken & Rice — I’ll have to share my favorite, super-easy recipe for this sometime soon, until then I’m sure you can search Pinterest for tons of yummy ones.
• Chili — I made a huge pot in the slow cooker, we had it for dinner and then I froze the extra in meal sized portions.

More freezer recipe ideas:

• 12 Easy Freezer Recipes (Breakfast, Soup & Dessert Recipes)
• 10 Delicious Main Dish Freezer Recipes
• White Chicken Chili

6. Pay All Bills

Get ahead on them as much as your budget allows. I did my best to pay everything that would be due between 36 weeks through 42 weeks + 4 weeks postpartum. I realize that’s quite a length of time but it’s such a relief to not have to think about them once they are paid. It’s basically like going out of the country for 2 months.

7. Gather Birth Stuff

If you’re having a home birth you’re midwife should supply you with a list of what you’ll need to gather. If you’re having your baby at a birth center or hospital make sure you have a grab bag and carseat ready to go.

8. Decide on Baby’s Name

Names are hard! There’s a lot of pressure knowing your little one is stuck with their name their entire life. Some people are able to figure out the perfect name right from the get go, for the rest of us it takes a little time sometimes. Reading through name ideas online may help. Check out these great resources:

Baby Boy Names:

100 Reader Favorite Baby Boy Names

Baby Girl Names:

37 Gorgeous Letter “E” Baby Girl Names

100 Reader Favorite Baby Girl Names

9. Childcare Plan for Older Siblings

Where are older siblings going during birth? Who will be watching them and what’s the plan for after baby is born?

I also recommend making a special basket of fun snacks/new toys for older siblings, stashed away in a closet that you can pull out after baby arrives. They are going to be going through a huge adjustment with new baby around and taking up a lot of your attention, having something new and special for them reminds them that they are still important too!

Are you, or someone you know, expecting a little one? Check out these freebies!

BONUS Freebies!

Use the code MAMA4 below to redeem any or all you want.

1. Free carseat canopy with code MAMA4 (Regular price: $50!)

2. Free baby carrier with code MAMA4 (Regular Price: $40!)

3. Five free pairs of baby leggings with code MAMA4 (Regular Price: $50!)

4. Free nursing pillow with code MAMA4 (Regular Price: $40)

For the complete list of freebies head over to 7 Best Baby Coupons.

Am I forgetting anything? Add to my list in the comments!

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