Welcoming a baby in 2025? Here’s our guide to the essentials that will see you through the precious first few weeks. From their coming-home outfit to their first night’s sleep, the equipment for your home that you’ll rely on daily, to the pushchair that will get you back out to your favourite coffee spot, this is our definitive guide to your newborn must-haves.
Coming Home from Hospital
There are some newborn baby essentials you’ll definitely need ready from day one, from the moment they’re born. Get their first clothing ready for when they arrive – a sleepsuit, bodysuit and baby hat - and if you’re taking your newborn home in the car, the hospital won’t let you leave without an appropriate car seat, either.
Newborn Clothing
Sleepsuits (with integrated feet), bodysuits (long or short-sleeved, depending on the season) and a little hat are the very basics a newborn will need from day one. From there, build out a wardrobe of essentials – all-in-ones, co-ords, little outfits and booties. Our Welcome to the World clothing collections include everything their little wardrobe could need in the softest, most gentle fabrics that are suitable for newborn skin. You’ll also find a selection of basics in smaller sizes, ideal to fit pre-term and tiny babies. Don’t forget to pick up the perfect coming-home outfit, as well as a pramsuit to keep them warm if you’re taking them home during a colder season.
Car Seats
If you’re giving birth at hospital and taking your baby home in the car, you usually won’t be able to take baby home without a safe and suitable newborn car seat. If you’re struggling to choose or unsure of the regulations, try Let’s Talk Car Seats, our free in-store service, where our team of experts will help you find the right car seat for you, and make sure you leave feeling confident when it comes to fitting it in your car. Simply click here to book an appointment at your preferred store.
Don't forget... Stock up on plenty of nappies, cotton wool (for cleaning and bathing them in the early days) and wipes.
At Home
You’ll need a few things ready for your first day and night at home together. Think somewhere safe and suitable to sleep, equipment to help with feeds, bathing products and somewhere comfy to change their nappy and dress them each day.
Moses Basket or Bedside Cribs
Your newborn will usually sleep for the first 6 months in a Moses Basket, standalone crib or bedside crib. A bedside crib is a safe alternative to co-sleeping, giving you the benefits of being next to your baby, such as proximity for peace of mind and ease of closeness for feeding and soothing. Plus, if you know you’ll be having a c-section and will struggle to get in and out of bed through the night, a bedside crib is really useful. As newborns spend most of their time sleeping during the day a Moses Basket that you can move around from room to room is handy for keeping them close as they do. Our clever bedside crib Lua can even be moved around your home so your little one can nap wherever you are.
Changing Mats
A changing mat will make changing and dressing your baby comfy for them. Our range are padded, made from soft quilted jersey for true comfort. Choose between our Essential Changing Mats and our Luxury Changing Mats with built-in pillows.
Bottles, Steriliser, Breast Pump, Bottle Prep Machine…
However you choose to feed your little one, the right equipment can make all the difference. If you’re breast-feeding and choosing to express, a pump and a few bottles will help you stock up on a supply of milk for baby. If you’re exclusively bottle-feeding, stock up on bottles and a bottle steriliser. Extra bits of equipment, such as a bottle prep machine, are a game-changer when prepping milk, saving you precious time that you’ll be grateful for at 3am.
Season Appropriate Clothing
Whether you’re expecting a summer or winter arrival, make sure your little one is dressed for the weather when they leave the hospital, when out and about and - really importantly - when putting them to sleep at night (WTTW White, our newborn collection of elevated essentials (think sleepsuits, all-in-ones and hats) in pure white, made from the softest, most gentle cotton. Discover outfits, separates, and co-ords for those first few months with our WTTW collections of seasonal, stylish newborn clothing.
Muslins
Stock up on muslins – you truly can never have enough. As absorbent as a towel but lightweight and extra-soft, they’re essential to have around for mopping up after feeds. Pick up a couple of multipacks, and then see how you get on once your little one arrives.
Bathtime Essentials
A baby bath makes bath times safer, more comfortable for them, and easier for you to manage. They help baby to sit up whilst you wash them, stopping them from slipping down. A thermometer will help you make sure that the water is the perfect temperature for your little one, or you can buy a digital tub that will do it for you.
Getting Out and About
After a few days, you’ll probably feel ready to take your little one out of the house. A pushchair is great for getting you out on a stroll for some fresh air, and a suitable car seat is essential for any car journey. Don’t forget to take a fully packed changing bag whenever you go anywhere!
Pushchairs
While a pushchair isn’t strictly a day-one necessity, most new parents start using theirs early on, and it’s going to be your go-to for getting out of the house with your little one in those early weeks. During the newborn phase, you’ll need one that comes with a carrycot or a seat that you can convert into a lie-flat position. When it comes to choosing your pushchair, the most important thing to consider is your lifestyle. Whether a light and compact one for public transport or an all-terrain option for off-road walks, we have one that’s right for you.
Changing Bags
A must-have for when you’re out and about, every new parent needs a changing bag! Fill with nappies, wipes, spare bodysuits and feeding equipment. Look for a bag with separate sections (handy for storing any outfits that get wet) and useful added features – such as insulated bottle holders. Many bags come with a travel changing mat too, so you change your baby wherever you go, regardless of the facilities available.
Adapting to Life with a Baby
Once you’ve got your little one home and settled, there are a few essentials to think about upgrading as they grow.
Playmat and Toys
Once your baby is a bit more alert and interested in their surroundings, it’s time to start stimulating their senses with toys and playmats. Your little one will love anything with bright colours, hidden noises and gentle flashing lights – just make sure you check that any toys are suitable for your baby’s age. ‘Tummy time’ toys are a great way to encourage their physical development and strengthen their neck and back muscles ready for crawling, once they’re ready.
Seating Equipment – Booster Seats, Rockers and Swings
You’ll soon want to put baby down for short amounts of time so you can get jobs done. When you need a moment to put washing away or make a cup of coffee, you need somewhere safe, age-appropriate and comfortable for your baby. Your options include a rocker, a baby swing and a baby seat. Alto is our genius new baby swing, with Smart technology, a touch screen and Bluetooth connectivity (as well as integrated toys), allowing you to choose between 5 different swing speed settings, various tunes and white noise, depending on whether you want to entertain or soothe your little one. Plus, the stylish Cashmere shade is aesthetically pleasing.
Our Bug is a great option as a seat that’s suitable from 3 months – it’s somewhere they can sit and play with built-in activities, and as they grow, it can be used in other daily situations, like as a booster seat strapped to a dining chair.
Weaning Bowls, Plates and Cutlery
Once your baby reaches 6 months, you might be thinking about weaning. For this, you’ll need weaning bowls or plates and some cutlery. Our brand-new weaning ranges have heaps of added features you’ll find useful as a parent. Our First Mealtime Silicone Set is a complete mealtime set with all the essentials for introducing them to solids. A sectional plate has 2 smaller sections and one large - designed for testing new tastes and textures; bowl with suction bottom; chunky short-ended fork and spoon for developing grip and hand-to-mouth skills.
We’ve really thought about the design of this set and added additional grippers to the fork for better food adherence and suction bottoms to the plate and bowl for less spillages. There’s also a matching silicone bib with multiple neck attachments to catch their mess. Made from LFGB food grade Silicone (more odour resistant and durable, so they won’t break when dropped - or thrown - from highchairs), this set is also wipe clean, dishwasher safe and microwave safe. Choose between 3 gorgeous shades – all tonal and stylish, so they still look great in your kitchen – which you’ll find isn’t always a given with children’s weaning products!
Highchairs
Our Scandi-inspired Juice highchair is designed to grow with your little one, adapting into a chair as they get older. And Snax is our best-selling wipe-clean highchair, with a comfy padded seat, adjustable height settings and three recline adjustments, so your child can always join you comfortably at the table.
A portable booster seat that straps to a dining chair (such as Bug) is a handy purchase - use it at home or while you’re out and about. It’s great to take to restaurants or friends’ houses, where a highchair might not be available.
Cotbed & Mattress
Once your little one has outgrown their Moses basket or bedside crib, they’ll need to move into a cot or a cotbed, which is a cot that converts into a toddler bed. This means you’ll also need to get a mattress to keep them comfy, cool and supported.
Handy to Have
These items aren’t essential but could help you and baby feel a little more comfortable in the early days.
Baby Grooming Kit
These handy grooming kits include all of the little things you might need in a travel-sized pouch, such as nail scissors for keeping sharp fingernails at bay and an oral thermometer to check baby’s temperature.
Room Thermometers
A room thermometer will give you peace of mind when it comes to putting your little one down for a nap, helping you choose the right clothing and thickness of blanket.
Self-Care Products
Among the madness of bringing home your newborn, don’t forget to make time to look after yourself, too. We recommend having a few self-care products around the house to look after your physical and mental wellbeing. Think stretch mark cream or nipple cream to soothe sore skin, lovely bath products or a scented candle to enjoy when you get an hour to yourself.
When it comes to getting ready for your new arrival, it’s important not to overwhelm yourself or feel guilty for not buying something that somebody else has. Every parenting journey is different, and what’s useful for another family might not work for yours. So, once you’ve got these essentials nailed, take your time to figure out what else your little one needs – and don’t forget to treat yourself, too.
