Newborn Care: Essential Products for Baby

Baby Products: Furniture, Diapers, Strollers, and More ?Enter Search Keywords:Other search tools:Symptoms|Doctors|Medical Dictionary /* Basic styles to avoid the jumping when things load. */.bottom_header #reglinks { float:right; position:relative; margin:0px; padding:0px; height:22px; width: 330px; z-index:96; }.bottom_header #reglinks .login_rdr { display:none; width: 330px; }#reglinks .login_rdr ul#registration_hdr { float: right; list-style: none outside none; margin: 0; padding: 5px 0 3px 0; }#reglinks .login_rdr ul#registration_hdr li { background:none; display: inline-block; float: left; padding: 0; }Find us on:Skip to content Home & News WebMD Home WebMD News Home Free Health Newsletters WebMD Community & Experts See All Expert Blogs Health A-Z ADD/ADHD Allergies Allergy TV Alzheimer's Anxiety Disorders Arthritis Asthma Back Pain Bipolar Disorder Bipolar TV Breast Cancer Cancer Cancer Communities Cholesterol Cold & Flu Colorectal Cancer COPD Depression Depression TV Diabetes Erectile Dysfunction Eye Health Fibromyalgia Heart Disease Heartburn/GERD Herpes Hypertension IBS Incontinence/OAB Inflammatory Bowel Menopause Mental Health Migraines Multiple Sclerosis Osteoporosis Pain Management Parkinson's Disease Rheumatoid Arthritis Sexual Conditions Shingles Skin Problems Sleep Disorders Stroke See All Topics Videos A-Z Community & Experts Experts A-Z First Aid A-Z Games A-Z Tests & Tools A-Z Slideshows A-Z Drugs & Medications Center Find or Review a Drug Pill Identifier Drug News Mobile Drug Information Find a Vitamin or Supplement First Aid & Emergencies WebMD Community & Experts WebMD Ask the Pharmacist Healthy Living Women's Health Men's Health Pet Health Oral Health Emotional Health Mental Health Communities Find a Therapist Green Living 50+: Live Better, Longer Sex & Relationships Healthy Beauty Healthy Skin TV Sexual Health Communities See All Topics Women's Health Communities Skin & Beauty Community Men's Health Communities Healthy Eating & Diet Healthy Eating & Diet Food & Cooking Food-o-Meter Fit-o-Meter Fitness & Exercise Food & Fitness Planner Portion Size Helper Personal Diet Evaluator BMI Plus Calculator Eating & Diet Communities Digestive Disorders Communities Parenting & Pregnancy Parenting Pregnancy Children's Health Children's Vaccines Newborn & Baby New! Raising Fit Kids New! WebMD for Kids Parenting Communities Pregnancy Communities Trying to Conceive Communities Teen Health Teen Girls Teen Boys coming soon! New! WebMD FIT Teen Food Move Recharge Mood Pet Health Healthy Dogs Healthy Cats Healthy Pets Community WebMD Home Health & Parenting Center Health & Baby Center Essential Shopping Guide for Newborns Email a FriendPrint Article Essential Shopping Guide for Newborns webmd.m.share.init(); Font Size A A A webmd.m.fontSizer.init(); Newborn Care: What You Need for Baby What do you need for good newborn care when baby comes home? Moms, dads, and pediatricians offer their quick tips. By Wendy C. Fries
WebMD Feature Reviewed by Roy Benaroch, MD

Baby’s on the way and it seems there are dozens of newborn care “must-haves” on your long list.

At the top are modern necessities like infant seats, baby strollers, and cribs of course, but what else do you need to take care of your newborn?

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To find out, WebMD went to the pros -- pediatricians as well as new moms and dads in WebMD’s parenting community -- and asked them what items they found indispensable for newborn care.

From baby carriers to cameras, here’s a simple list of baby gear that got the thumbs up from new parents -- and a few items that didn’t make the grade.

Newborn Care: Diapers and Diaper Bags

Along with a safe car seat and a great crib, two baby care basics are diapers and a diaper bag. The question is, what kind, and how many?

Diapers:New parents are pretty evenly divided: Some prefer the lower-cost of cloth diapers, while others enjoy the convenience of disposables. Whichever you pick, you’ll need about 10 to 12 diapers daily.? Diaper Bag: Here you should think small, say moms in the know. Because your hands will be busy with a baby, less is more in the diaper bag department, with some moms raving about sleek, backpack-style bags.? Diaper Bag Basics: A well-stocked diaper bag holds more than just diapers, says Atlanta pediatrician Jennifer Shu, MD. Think a small camera for sweet moments, snacks for mom, and sun protection, too. Shu, co-author of Heading Home With Your Newborn, also recommends: Baby wipesDiaper changing pad or towelsPlastic grocery bags for messy diapersBaby pain reliever, like acetaminophenBaby foodExtra change of baby clothesDiaper creamHand sanitizer Newborn Care: Bathing

Newborns need a bath two or three times a week, says the American Medication Association. The AMA recommends sponge baths only for baby’s first two weeks, until the umbilical cord falls off. Bathing items that topped the list of moms and the experts include:

Baby tub or small plastic basin Washcloths or bath mitts Soft towels (hooded baby towels work well) Baby shampoo Baby soap

Lots of parents forgo a special baby tub and instead share a bath with baby. Though you can use mild adult soaps in those instances, products made for infants are best in the early months to avoid irritation, Shu tells WebMD. “When in doubt, talk to your pediatrician.”

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