Newborn Essentials Checklist: What to Buy Before Baby Comes Home | Pediatrician's Product Guide

Dr. Sandip Gupta

A pediatrician shares the essential product list he made after twin babies were born in his brother's home — which newborn items are genuinely needed from day one and should be bought before delivery or before the baby is discharged from hospital, and which can wait. Items covered in this video: Baby clothes Soft cotton material only. Two types: full-body sleeping clothes covering arms, legs and body that open from the front, and small shirt-and-pant sets. Buy only 3 sleeping clothes and 3 pairs of shorts and pants to start — babies grow fast and outgrow clothes within a month or two, so don't overbuy. Mittens, socks and caps — about three each — to protect from cold, because a baby's skin is very soft and thin and babies get cold easily, especially in winter. Swaddle cloth: swaddling makes the baby feel held, so the baby sleeps easily on the bed. Two or three are enough. Baby detergent (Meemee or Mamaearth) for washing. Always wash, dry and clean new clothes before putting them on the baby — never use straight from the market, because sensitive skin and the starch in new cloth can cause rashes. Sleeping Guidelines generally do not recommend making the baby sleep in the parents' bed; a separate cot is recommended. Set up the baby cot with proper foam bedding and a proper sheet. Rocking baby cots with music help the baby sleep. Baby cots are costly (around ₹8,000–9,000), so rental services (RentoMojo) let you try one on a low monthly rental and return it when the baby outgrows it — useful because bought items often end up being donated. Baby stroller and car seat Strollers cost around ₹5,000–10,000 to buy and are not needed once the baby learns to walk; available on rent from about ₹199 per month. A car seat is needed if you drive with the baby — to the doctor, for vaccination or on outings — as it keeps the baby safe and properly secured in the car. Also available on rent at low cost. (The doctor mentions his discount code CP20 for 20% off rentals.) Diapers Disposable diapers come in two types — strap/tape style and pull-on. The strap type lets you open the front to check if the baby has passed urine or stool; the pull-on type has to be removed fully each time, with more chance of spillage. Recommendation: use disposable diapers mainly when taking the baby out of the house and at night. In the daytime use a cotton langot or cotton-based diapers with pads (Superbottoms). Cotton allows air in, keeps the skin soft and dry and maintains skin texture, and the cotton diaper changes colour when wet so you know to change it. Never leave a soiled or wet diaper on for long — it causes diaper rash. Preventing diaper rash At every diaper change, clean and dry the area and apply a good diaper rash cream, or coconut oil. Sebamed diaper rash cream and Bepanthen nappy rash cream are the two recommended. Wet wipes Choose wipes with natural ingredients — no parabens, sulphates, chemicals or fragrance, and alcohol-free. Meemee and Mamasparsh are recommended, containing aloe vera and vitamin E. If wipes are not available, a soft cotton cloth dipped in lukewarm water works fine for cleaning. Water-resistant changing mat Place it under or over the bedsheet so urine, stool or vomit does not spread, and use it during diaper changes. Keep one or two, since diapers need changing frequently. Mosquito net Soft, delicate, foldable nets for babies. Mosquito bites cause rashes on sensitive skin and spread malaria, dengue and chikungunya in India. Since babies under 6 months mostly stay asleep on the bed, a mosquito net is the most effective 100% protection. Mosquito repellent patches can be placed on the bed or cot but are not 100% effective. Sleeping bag Opens from the front, makes carrying easier and helps the baby sleep more comfortably. One or two per baby is enough. Bathing items For the first few days only sponge bathing — wipe the body with a damp cotton cloth — until the umbilical cord stump falls off, generally in 7 to 10 days. After that you can bathe with water using a bath tub or a foldable bath chair. A soft cotton bath towel for drying, then a lotion or cream. Recommended baby skin creams: Atogla, Sebamed or Cetaphil; and the matching lotions. For massage, cold-pressed virgin coconut oil is better. Shampoo: Spoo shampoo is recommended, or Sebamed or Cetaphil shampoo. For bathing, soap is not used because it is alkaline. Use a baby bar — Dermadew baby bar, Teddy bar or Cetaphil baby bar — these are gentle, with pH below 5.5, and protect the skin from dryness and rashes. On Himalaya products: they cost much less; if your baby has no problem with them you can continue, and if your experience is not good, change products in consultation with your doctor. Feeding The main recommendation is exclusive breastfeeding — only mother's milk for 6 months, no bottle or formula feed. Feeding items are discussed last for this reason. Formula is sometimes needed, as it was for the twins in his family who were unwell initially (they used NAN 1 and NAN 1 X, mentioned without promotion). A separate detailed video covers how to prepare formula and which to choose. Feeding bottles: gravity-flow bottles (LuvLap) where milk drips on its own, and anti-colic bottles (Philips Avent) where milk comes only when the baby sucks — closer to the natural mechanism, so it doesn't interfere with natural sucking, and the colic/gas valve reduces gas going into the baby's stomach. Philips Avent is what he recommends for bottle-feeding patients. Bottle sterilizer: Philips Avent, LuvLap or Baby Hug, costing around ₹2,000. Breast pump for when the baby cannot suck well initially: manual and electric types; the LuvLap automatic electric pump was used and found good, or Philips. Flask or thermos: water for formula must be boiled, and boiling repeatedly is not practical — boil 1 litre at a time and store it in a flask that maintains at least 70°C. Bibs / feeding towels: to stop milk leaking from the bottle or brought-up milk from wetting the baby's clothes and making the body cold. The video mentions a downloadable checklist of all products, available by commenting "checklist". Questions this video answers: What should I buy for a newborn baby before delivery? How many clothes does a newborn actually need? Why should new baby clothes be washed before wearing? What is a swaddle cloth and why is it used? Should a newborn sleep in a separate cot or in the parents' bed? Is it worth buying a baby cot, stroller or car seat, or should I rent? Which type of disposable diaper is better — strap or pull-on? Should I use cloth/cotton langot or disposable diapers in the daytime? How do I prevent diaper rash? Which diaper rash cream is good? Which wet wipes are safe for a newborn? What is a changing mat for? How do I protect my newborn from mosquitoes? When can I start bathing my newborn with water? When does the cord stump fall off? Which soap, bar, shampoo, lotion and cream are safe for baby skin? Which oil should I use for baby massage? Are Himalaya baby products safe to use? Which feeding bottle is best? What is an anti-colic bottle? Do I need a bottle sterilizer and a breast pump? Why do I need a flask for formula water, and at what temperature? What are bibs and feeding towels for? Relevant for: expecting parents, new parents preparing before delivery or hospital discharge, and families setting up for a newborn at home. Disclaimer: All information and suggestions given in this video are general health information. They are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Product mentions are the doctor's personal and clinic experience, not promotions. Please take your doctor's advice or consent before using any suggestion or product for your baby.