I need help with this, too!!

I made this list to help out my newly pregnant friends. I know it looks crazy long, but it is because it is so detailed:
  Newborn necessities checklist
(CR = Consumer Reports)

Baby 411 book
Happiest baby on The Block DVD (REALLY, REALLY HELPS!)

Tooling around
_____Car seat. (CR recommends: Baby Trend Flex-Loc Adjustable Back , Graco SnugRide with EPS or Chicco KeyFitt, all under $200)+ extra base
_____Stroller. (CR: Baby Trend Snap N’ Go) I found the snap N go system so much simpler than getting some elaborate travel system, especially since we both drive small cars. I’ll need to get an umbrella type stroller soon, now that Rowan can sit up, but for the first 5 months or so a Snap n go is all you really need.
_____Sling or strap-on soft carrier. No matter what you pick, your child will prefer something else.
____ Head support pillow for car seat (This kind: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2580937 The kind that arch over the top of the head just seem to annoy them and don’t actually offer much support. This will also come in handy potentially in the bouncy chair/swing. This might be good as well: http://www.amazon.com/Leachco-Prop-Os-Support-Natural/dp/B00 005NEAD/ref=sr_1_20?ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1260477505&s r=1-20
_____ Mirror for rear seat - http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2402035

Beds and linens
____Crib. (CR recommends stationary sides) I got a very nice one from Craigslist that converts to a toddler bed and later a full size bed for about $150. It’s pretty silly to buy them new.
_____Crib mattress. Worth getting a brand new one
_____Bassinet/cradle (if you don't want to put your baby in a crib right away). A Pack N’ Play and/or moses basket works, but the moses basket won’t work for long because it is a lot smaller. At 5 months, Rowan is still sleeping in his pack n play in our room.
_____Two to three fitted crib sheets and two Pack N Play sheets if you get one
_____3-4 receiving blankets. Look for big ones. The Circo brand ones seem to be especially small.
_____Two mattress pads/covers, waterproof
_____Changing pad + covers (Although, after a while you give up on using the cover because your child ends up pooping on it every other day, but later you can put them back on.)
_____Baby monitor (don’t need fancy video or anything, just get something simple, but digital. Graci imonitor has worked well for us)
_____ Swaddle (SO much easier than swaddling with a blanket, we liked kiddopotamus/summer infant)
_____Infant swing AND/OR bouncy seat. (Again, whichever one you don’t get will be the one your baby prefers. If you have the room, get one of the swings that can also go from side to side. Some swings also let you adjust the angle of the back, which is nice. )
____ Crib wedge – a LOT of babies have reflux, so you might as well be prepared. Anyway sleeping with a slight incline is supposed to be better for their digestion)

Diaper duty
_____Diapers. Disposables: At least one 40-count package of newborn (birth weight under 8 pounds) or of
size 1 (birth weight over 8 pounds). Cloth: Two to three dozen, plus six to 10 snap-on, waterproof
outer pants, and two to three sets of diaper pins, eight to 10 all-in-ones or diaper system covers;
two to three dozen diaper system inserts.
_____Diaper bag.
_____ Lots of wipes
_____ Diaper “pail" (We actually bought a med sized trashcan form ikea with a lid and it has worked just fine. Maybe when he starts solids we’ll have to get something more elaborate, but so far there isn’t an odor problem).

Dressing baby
_____Four sleeping outfits or one-piece sleepers with attached feet (Depending on the season the baby is born in you might want cotton or fleece or not really need them. It was hot when Rowan was born so he slept in a plain onesie and the swaddle).
_____ At least one “wearable Blanket" or sleepsack
_____Six side-snap T-shirts. (I liked onesies better, I don’t think he wore t-shirts until he was 9 months or so)
_____8-10 onesies in newborn size and in larger sizes (You can never have too many. Get some with long sleeves for the size he/she will be when winter comes)
_____A small baby cap (the hospital will give you one the standard lightweight stretchy one, I liked it better than any of the purchased ones).
_____Six pairs socks/booties. (again, get a variety of sizes, the newborn ones don’t fit for very long at all)
_____Two to three soft, comfortable daytime outfits that are just plain cute. Get only a few items in newborn size. Then, go for clothing in the 3-6-month size.
_____Cotton sweater or light jacket, depending on the season.
____ bibs (won’t need much right at the beginning, but once they start drooling you’ll go through 3-4 a day)
_____ Brimmed hat for summer babies


If you're planning to breast-feed:
_____Three to five nursing bras. (but you can’t even buy them until a couple weeks after the birth because you don’t know how big you’ll get.)
_____ two or three nursing tank tops (great to sleep in and you can wear them until you can buy a bra)
_____A box of washable or disposable breast pads.
_____Breast pump if you expect to use one (This sounds crazy, but get a used one. These things are way overpriced and you can get used ones cheap on Craigslist and replace all the “personal" parts pretty cheaply.)
_____Four baby bottles with newborn nipples for feeding expressed breast milk. You can get the small size, but you’ll eventually need the larger size anyway. (We used the Born Free bottles)
_____Bottle-drying rack
_____Bottle brush
_____Insulated bottle holder for diaper bag (the hospital may give you one and some diaper bags come with them)
_____Three packs of cloth diapers for burp cloths.
_____Boppy (It has SO many uses)
_____Nipple cream (You’ll probably be given samples and it goes a long way)
_____ Pacifiers (clear, lightbulb shaped) (we used Born Free)
_____Nursing coverup. (Also great for doing things like pumping breast milk in the car)
_____A rocker or glider (or any chair you find comfy for breast feeding. It should help you sit up pretty straight and it needs to have arms, I actually got a chair at ikea that is more like a bouncy chair than a rocker)


Bathing/Grooming
_____Plastic infant bathtub.
_____Three soft hooded towels.
_____Two packs of baby washcloths.
_____Baby body wash that doubles as shampoo (I like Burt’s Bees)
_____Pair of blunt-tip scissors or baby-sized nail clippers (Although I found it easier to use cuticle trimmers)
_____Diaper ointment (I like Dr. Smith’s)
_____Soft brush and comb.
_____Mild laundry detergent.

Medicine chest essentials
_____ Infant's Tylenol.
_____Cotton pads/swabs.
_____Nasal aspirator (the hospital will send you home with a perfectly nice one, but if you want to get fancy they even have battery powered snot vacuums now, which I thought was totally stupid but then I bought one and loved it)
_____Rubbing alcohol.
_____Eucerin cream
_____Humidifier (especially if your kid is going to go to daycare. We’ve now been using ours every night for months. Forget the “cool mist" kind, they grow stuff too easily, get one that heats the water).


Extras: Nice but optional
_____Night-light.
_____Play mat or activity center (Won’t be interested in it really until they are a few months old)
_____ Snuggle bed/incline for use in bed (we just don’t put Rowan in bed with us unless we’re actually awake and we didn’t do it at all until he was about 3 months old)
_____ Exersaucer (Won’t really be able to use it until about 4-4.5 months old

Holy crap, I might just print this out and take it with me when I register! Love that you included your favorite brands and models too. Thank you so much!