Ultimate List of Baby Things to Buy Before Birth
I’m in the final weeks before our fourth baby is to be born. I am one of those practical, planner moms, and this pregnancy has focused me even more. Considering I have an (almost) 6 year old son, an (almost) 4 year old daughter, am (almost) 2 year old daughter and another baby on the way, I know our life is about to change dramatically – again! It does with every baby. That’s why I want to share my ultimate list of baby things to buy before birth with you.
When your new baby finally arrives, it is a time like no other! You don’t get these first days back, exhausting as they may be. Your days and nights will be spent feeding the baby and changing diapers and adjusting to your new normal. The last thing you need to worry about is running out of toilet paper. That’s why I suggest planning ahead a bit with this baby list.
I know you’ve already been shopping for a crib and clothes and car seat. Maybe you are like me and have those items from a previous pregnancy. This checklist of baby things to buy focuses on the practical, everyday things you need to keep your house running smoothly in the days after baby arrives.Â
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Important Stocking Up Before Baby Questions:
To get started, I want you to think about 3 simple questions. Your answers to these three questions will shape your shopping before baby arrives.
- What do you know you will need?
- What do you regularly use?
- What is on sale right now?
I, personally, aim to stock up for one month after baby arrives. It’s easy to send your husband out for milk, yogurt and bananas but it’s much easier if you don’t have to worry about venturing out yourself with a new little one in the first couple weeks. You may feel up to venturing out before then but it’s great to know you don’t HAVE to.
Some of these things I buy on my weekly grocery shopping trips when I see a good sale. Some things, I order on Amazon. I love the convenience of shopping online! Everything else? I plan a big shopping trip in the final month to make sure I am ready for baby to arrive.
New Mom Tip: If you are not a member of Amazon Prime, you may want to consider signing up for a free 30 day trial right before the baby is due. That way, if you run out of anything you can order it with free 2 day shipping without ever leaving your house. Amazon Prime is a life saver when you are a new mom!
Here are some of the things on my list of baby things to buy before birth. Adapt this for your family as you see best!
What food should I buy before baby is born?
Let’s start with the most obvious. Maybe people will bring you meals after a baby, but maybe they won’t. Either way, you want to be prepared so you don’t have to think much about food when you have just come home from the hospital.
I try to stock our freezer with some of our favorite freezer meals in the month before baby. I also buy and freeze meat, making sure to cook several pounds of hamburger so I can quickly make a casserole for dinner when necessary.
I also do a big Aldi shopping trip to stock up on pantry basics. Your food shopping list will also be different if you already have kids, and depending on their ages.
Here are some of the other food things I try to have in our pantry before baby arrives.
Food Shopping List Before Baby:
- Snack Items for Kids – Goldfish, Fruit Snacks, Individual packets of things
- Snack Items for Mom – Belvita biscuits, granola, etc.
- Granola bars
- Frozen meals (Homemade or store bought or a combination)
- Peanut butter
- Applesauce and applesauce cups
- Crackers
- Cereal
- Pasta and pasta sauce
- Macaroni and cheese
- Frozen veggies
- Chocolate
- Caffeine (A necessity for every new mom and dad)
Bonus New Mom Tip:
Sign up for Walmart grocery pick up! Even if you don’t shop at Walmart regularly, I have found grocery pick up to be a lifesaver when baby arrives!
Out of milk? No problem. Need more newborn diapers? Easy! Need more yogurt and bananas for the other kids? Grocery pick up to the rescue!
Walmart grocery pick up is always free when your order is $35 or more. Plus, their app makes it so easy to place a quick order from the comfort of your couch while nursing. Place your order and schedule it so your husband can pick up the groceries on his way home from work. You will be glad to have new groceries (and diapers!) and your husband will be glad they will bring the groceries out to his car.
Here’s $10 off your first order when you sign up here.
Trust me. Sign up. You’ll be glad you did – even if you only use it once or twice!
What paper products should I buy before baby is born?
There is a time for convenience and having a new baby is one of those times. Give yourself permission to use paper plates as much as you want, especially those first couple weeks! Be sure you have plenty of toilet paper on hand, too. Here are some of the other paper products I make sure to have stocked in the house.
Paper Products Shopping List:
- Paper plates
- Paper towels
- Toilet paper
- Kleenex
- Napkins
- Ziploc bags
- Trash bags
- Foil and plastic wrap
What toiletries should I have on hand before baby arrives?
The goal here is to think of everything you, your husband and your children use on a regular basis. Think about all the basics because the last thing you want is to run out of toothpaste late at night! These are the toiletries I make sure we have before our baby is born.
Toiletries / Personal Products Shopping List:
- Shampoo
- Contact solution
- Foundation
- Facial wipes
- Pads
- Deodorant
- Toothpaste
- Razors
- Iboprofuen / Tylenol (Kids and Adult)
What things should I buy for baby before baby is born?
I’m sure you have already been shopping for baby by now but make sure you have plenty of the baby basics on hand – not just the cute clothes unpacked and washed! Diapers are at the top of my list. In fact, I’ve written a super detailed post on how to stockpile diapers for a baby here. These principals work whether your baby is already born or not! At minimum, here’s what you need to buy before baby is born.
Newborn Baby Shopping List:
- Diapers – Newborn (4+ packages) and Size 1 (6+ packages)
- Wipes – 12 packages or more (or a big box like this)
- Nursing pads (these are my favorite)
- Pacifiers
- Desitin and AD (some work better on some babies than the other)
- Gripe water (works much better than gas drops for our babies)
- Baby shampoo
What should I buy for our household before baby is born?
Think of everything you need to keep your household running somewhat smoothly in the days after you bring baby home. Lysol wipes are on the top of my list, as well as all the various detergents and soaps for the laundry that never seems to end with a new baby.
Household Shopping List:
- Laundry detergent (Free and Clear at first, in case your baby has sensitive skin)
- Lysol wipes (Amazon is a good place to stock up on these, too)
- Dish detergent – bottle and for dishwasher
- Hand soap
- Batteries
There you have it – a complete newborn baby shopping list! What else would you add to the list? Let me know in the comments so I can add it to the list!
One of the only other things I would add is some fast food gift cards, or set aside some cash, so your husband can pick up a meal when you need him too. Chick-fil-a, Culvers, Pizza Hut, Panera and Red Robin are some of our favorites, but again, pick what your family likes!
I love that list and I like to add breastfeeding bras also on your list. It will save a little money and essential thing. Thanks for your helpful and informative post.