# What do I actually need for a newborn? | Clever Mum

> Less than the lists say: somewhere safe to sleep (crib + new firm mattress), a car seat, 5–7 sleepsuits and vests, nappies and cotton wool, a couple of

*   [ Home ](/) 
*  › [ Mum Answers ](/answers) 
*  ›  What do I actually need for a newborn?  
 
   
Gear

 
#  What do I actually need for a newborn? 

    
 
Quick answer — What do I actually need for a newborn? 

 
Less than the lists say: somewhere safe to sleep (crib + new firm mattress), a car seat, 5–7 sleepsuits and vests, nappies and cotton wool, a couple of muslins, feeding kit for your route, and a pram or carrier. Everything else — wipe warmers, changing tables, shoes — is optional. Spend the savings on a good pushchair and takeaways.

   
## The genuine essentials

* **Safe sleep:** a crib, cot or Moses basket with a new, firm, flat mattress — the mattress is the one thing safer-sleep guidance says to buy new, not second-hand.
* **Travel:** an R129 infant car seat (non-negotiable for the hospital drive home) and a pram, travel system or carrier — see our [pushchair guide](/best/best-pushchairs-uk) for choosing by lifestyle rather than showroom.
* **Clothing:** 5–7 sleepsuits and vests in newborn plus a few 0–3 months. Babies live in sleepsuits; "outfits" are for photos.
* **Changing:** nappies, cotton wool, a changing mat. Any flat surface works — the table is furniture, not equipment.
* **Feeding:** kit for *your* route — nursing bras and breast pads, or bottles, a steriliser and formula. Not both ranges "just in case".
* **A couple of muslins** — burp cloth, sunshade, emergency bib, comforter.

## Confidently skippable

Wipe warmers, nappy disposal machines with branded cassettes, changing tables, newborn shoes, a "full set" of bottles before knowing if baby takes that teat, and most of any 40-item checklist published by a shop. Second-hand covers clothes, toys and even prams beautifully — the exceptions are the car seat and the mattress, which you buy new. Put the savings toward the pushchair, where quality genuinely shows.

  
 **Go deeper:**  [What a baby really costs](/baby/how-much-does-a-baby-cost-uk/) 

 
 **Buying guide:**  [Best newborn essentials / baby registry](/best/best-newborn-essentials-baby-registry-uk/) 

   
## 
More Gear questions

 
 *  [What’s the difference between a pram, pushchair and travel system?](/answers/pram-vs-travel-system/) 
*  [Do I really need a baby monitor?](/answers/do-i-need-a-baby-monitor/) 
*  [What car seat do I need for a newborn?](/answers/what-car-seat-newborn/) 
*  [How many sleepsuits and vests does a newborn actually need?](/answers/how-many-sleepsuits-newborn-need/) 
*  [Do I need a wipe warmer or bottle warmer?](/answers/do-i-need-a-wipe-warmer-bottle-warmer/) 
 
 
 [Browse every question we answer →](/answers/) 

  

Health answers describe NHS guidance and are not medical advice — for anything urgent, call
      111 (or 999 in an emergency). Spotted something out of date? Email
[editors@clevermum.co.uk](mailto:editors@clevermum.co.uk).