Essentials
The complete baby kit
A practical newborn kit list, sorted into what you need before the birth, what is useful and what can wait. Sleep, clothes, changing, feeding, travel and babywearing.
In-depth guide 4 min read
What not to buy
Baby kit lists are often longer than they need to be. Some items are simply unnecessary; others are explicitly not recommended by safe sleep experts. Here are both.
Products that sleep experts do not recommend
This is not a matter of taste, but of safe sleep:
| Product | Why not |
|---|---|
| Cot bumpers | the AAP recommends having nothing soft in the sleep space1 |
| Nests, pods, sleep positioners | the AAP lists them among products that do not meet the standards for cots and are not recommended for sleep2 |
| Inclined sleep surfaces and loungers for sleep | surfaces inclined at more than 10 degrees are not safe for sleep2 |
| Duvets and pillows before the age of one | The Lullaby Trust does not recommend them3 |
| A breathing monitor “against SIDS” | the AAP says home breathing monitors should not be used to reduce the risk of sudden infant death, because there is no evidence that they do; if you use one, the safe sleep principles still apply1,2 |
Things that are often bought for nothing
- Lots of clothes in size 50. Many babies grow out of it in a few weeks, or never need it at all. See sizes.
- Shoes for a baby who isn’t walking.
- Wipe warmers, all-in-one sterilisers, special nappy bins – often unused; buy them if you find you need them.
- Several prams at once. First find out whether you will be carrying or pushing more.
- A nursery straight away. According to the AAP, in the first months your baby ideally sleeps in the parents’ room.1
- Toys for a newborn. What interests them most is your face.
- A breast pump “just in case”. If you are breastfeeding and don’t need to express, you don’t need one. You can buy one when you do.
How to avoid unnecessary purchases
- Buy gradually and wait to see what you actually use.
- Borrow from friends the things that are used only briefly (a baby bath, a play bouncer for supervised daytime use).
- When it comes to presents, give your family a list that suits you.
You will find a complete list of what you really need in the article The complete baby kit.
Where this comes from
The numbers in the text refer to these sources. The links go to the publishers’ own pages; we simply cite them.
- American Academy of Pediatrics:Sleep-Related Infant Deaths – Updated 2022 RecommendationsHome breathing monitors should not be used as a way of reducing the risk of sudden infant death.
- AAP News:New safe sleep recommendations can help pediatricians guide families (2022)
- The Lullaby Trust:Temperature (factsheet)
We last checked these sources on 13 October 2026.
Further along the path
Baby
Safe sleep for your baby
On the back for every sleep, a firm flat surface without pillows or covers, sleeping in the parents’ room on their own surface, a room at 16–20 °C. Based on the AAP 2022 and The Lullaby Trust.
2 min read
Baby
Newborn clothes – sizes and quantities
How baby clothing sizes work (50, 56, 62…), how many items to buy, and which fabrics and cuts work well. With a size finder based on length or the WHO growth standards.
In-depth guide 3 min read