Initial baby supplies: What do you need?

Annalena Mülln

Mother, founder of family support Lebensvoll, pelvic floor physiotherapist, specialized scar therapist, physiotherapist, expert in abdominal separation - Tupler Technique® trained professional

If you are currently wondering, "What does our little treasure need?" you are in the midst of a very changed, exciting, and thrilling time. You are going to be parents! Enjoy this phase consciously until the birth!

A first set of equipment for your soon-to-arrive newborn is essential to keep them warm, transport them well, and care for them. But do not buy too much at first. Why? You will surely receive clothing and much more as gifts, and perhaps your baby is bigger or smaller than expected. Or they feel colder than others and need several layers. Don’t worry, you will learn all this through caring for your child.

To save you stress, I want to give you a compact checklist of the most important things for your baby’s first set of equipment.

Table of Contents

When can you get the baby's initial equipment?

Feel free to gather the baby's initial equipment gradually starting from the middle of the pregnancy, that is, from about the 20th week of pregnancy.

Initial equipment

With the following checklist, you have everything your baby needs at a glance:

Basic Equipment Clothing Line

  • Clothing in size 56 and 62 (if you are expecting a small child, also in size 50)
  • 5 bodysuits (feel free to try whether you prefer wrap bodysuits or the classic ones)
  • 3 rompers (one-piece suits for babies are handy and require less work)
  • 2 pants with waistbands
  • 4 tops / pullovers
  • 4 pairs of socks (at least one will get lost)
  • 1 thin cap (for a head circumference of 34 cm, which fits most babies)
About baby clothing

Checklist for a summer or winter baby

If you expect your baby in summer, you will also need:

If your baby arrives in winter, the first outfit should also include:

  • 1 lined romper (for example, a wool walking suit)
  • 1 thick cap for outdoors
  • 1 jacket (there are also some with a foot muff attached, so you have both)

On the road with baby

  • 1 baby car seat to safely transport your child (Take a look at the seat beforehand, install and remove it in the car several times, and fasten and unfasten the straps.)
  • 1 Snuggle Wrap Blanket
  • 1 stroller
For on the go

Initial care supplies

  • 2 packs of newborn or size 1 diapers (First, see which size you need for your baby. They also make wonderful gifts.)
  • Cotton pads and wet wipes (Many parents use water with a little oil or breast milk to care for the diaper area.)
  • 2 Washcloths
  • 2 Hooded bath towels
  • 1 Baby bathtub or
  • 1 Bath bucket
  • 1 Bath thermometer
  • Almond oil or breast milk as bath additive
  • 1 Fever thermometer
  • 1 Heat lamp
  • 1 Changing dresser or
  • 1 Changing station with changing mat
To the changing pads

Feeding your newborn

Breastfeeding accessories for initial equipment:

  • Nursing bras (for comfort and support during breastfeeding)
  • Nursing pads (to absorb leaking milk)
  • Nursing pillow (for support of baby and mother during breastfeeding)
  • Nipple ointment (for caring for sensitive or cracked nipples)
  • Nursing clothes (that facilitate discreet breastfeeding)
  • Muslin cloths


Little tip: Muslin cloths or burp cloths are versatile, e.g., as a base or for wiping.

For feeding with the bottle:

  • Baby bottle
  • Nipple with the smallest hole
  • Pre-nutrition for feeding up to the first birthday
  • 1 bottle brush
  • Muslin cloths

Initial sleep equipment

  • Co-sleeper, family bed, or baby crib (Discuss beforehand what suits you best.)
  • Nipple with the smallest hole
  • 4 Baby romper
  • Baby monitor
  • Pacifier as a sleep aid
  • Sleeping Bags
To the sleeping bags

Other Furniture

  • Playpen
  • Child's chair with newborn attachment

Initial equipment Playing

To the Toys

Back to the magazine