Newborn checklist: everything to prepare before your baby arrives
What you actually need, organised by category. Tick items, add your own, come back any time.
Expecting your first baby and not sure where to start? This newborn checklist covers everything you should have ready before the birth: hospital bag, nursery, paperwork, feeding gear and post-partum care for mum.
It's written for first-time parents, based on what babies actually need in the first months — no endless lists of useless products, just the essentials. Your ticks are saved automatically in your browser, so you can pause and come back any time without losing progress.
We recommend starting around the sixth month of pregnancy: you'll have plenty of time to prepare without forgetting anything and reach the birth with a clear head.
When to start?
Month 5 – 6
Choose the hospital, book antenatal classes, first nursery purchases, paperwork.
Month 7 – 8
Baby clothes, feeding gear, bath and hygiene products.
Month 9
Hospital bag ready by the door, diaper supply stocked, key numbers saved.
Practical tips from midwives
- 1Wash baby clothes before use with a neutral or baby-specific detergent: newborn skin is very sensitive and new fabrics can contain industrial residues.
- 2Pack the hospital bag by the end of month 8 and keep it near the door. Tape a list of contents on the bag so your partner can find things without calling you.
- 3Keep digital copies of paperwork (ID, health card, pregnancy notes) in a shared cloud folder with the partner: in an emergency you want everything within reach.
- 4Don't buy too many 0-1 month clothes: babies grow fast and often skip straight to the next size. Better to stock up on 1-3 month bodysuits.
- 5Save key phone numbers (midwife, paediatrician, hospital) before the birth. Sounds obvious, but in active labour you don't want to be searching contacts.
- 6Fill the freezer with prepared meals in the last weeks: cooking will be the last thing on your mind in the first days at home.
Done with the checklist? Now create your baby gift list
When the checklist is complete, share a baby gift list with friends and family. No duplicates, no surprises, all coordinated in one link.