It’s Saturday afternoon, and you’ve dedicated a few hours to splashing out on new clothes and accessories for the most important person in your life – your new baby.

This isn’t a new routine for you. In fact, it’s become pretty standard! Because just like the classic stereotype of a new parent, you’ve been in and out of every baby shop in your town a million and one times, even when you know there’s nothing you haven’t seen already.

And even now that your baby is a few months old, and you’ve tried to convince yourself you don’t need anything else, what will start off as a simple outing to get groceries will still inevitably turn into a full-blown, baby-related shopping trip.

This scenario is completely standard when it comes to new parents. However, as much as it may feel like you need to pick up every different colour of baby grow, dummy, and muslin, it’s also useful to come down to earth about what essentials should actually be at the top of your list.

So, to start with, what are the essential clothes you will need for your baby?

If you have a friend who has a slightly older baby, they may be happy to pass on their clothes and even equipment to you, and in turn, you can pass them on to others. It’s the best form of recycling!

When buying clothes, important things to consider are:

They should be comfortable. When it comes to the bare essentials, your baby will first and foremost need to be comfortable. So try to buy cotton, stretchy, and soft clothes.

They should be easy to put on. Remember that dressing a baby won’t always be the simplest task in the world, especially as they grow. Therefore, don’t go for clothes that are fiddly or difficult to dress your baby in. Avoid clothes that need fastening from the back or have a small neck opening. It’s also best to avoid ‘little adult’ type clothes such as button-up shirts, jackets, jeans, etc. These are very inconvenient, un-stretchy, and generally uncomfortable for little babies. Plus, they will outgrow them very quickly!

They should be easy to wash.

So, for the first six months, your baby will most probably live in babygrows, day and night. But you should be getting the following for them at the bare minimum:

Six cotton vests (long or short-sleeved, depending on what season it is).

Six pairs of socks (stretchy, towelled socks are better, as they tend to stay on the baby’s feet).

Six to ten cotton front-opening babygrows

A couple of cotton hats.

Two to three cardigans (these are much easier to put on the baby than jumpers).

A warm, padded suit for outings in the winter.

Now that we’ve looked at what essential clothes you will need for your baby, let’s move on to what equipment you will need for them.

What essential clothes and equipment will you need for your baby?

Four packs of newborn nappies, if you are using disposables. Remember that you will have to change a newborn’s nappy about sixty times per week at the beginning of their life.

Three large rolls of cotton wool These are for washing your baby and wiping their bottom.

A pack of baby wipes for outings These are very helpful when you are out and about and need a convenient, quick solution to cleaning up your baby.

A buggy or this can wait if you buy a sling.

A car seat.

A crib or Moses basket. These should come with a mattress that's British Safety Standard-certified.

Three or four cot sheets and a baby sleeping bag This bag should be appropriate for your baby’s size and the season. These are very useful for keeping a baby warm and comfortable at night and stopping them from kicking off any covers. Never use duvets or quilts with babies who are under one, as these may cause them to suffocate or overheat.

Around ten muslin squares Muslins are great for protecting your clothes from dribble, wiping up baby sickness, etc.

Is there any other useful equipment I might need for my baby?

These items aren’t essential, but you may find them useful when you have a baby in the house.

A baby monitor. This is ideal for hearing your baby when they are in a different part of the house.

bouncy sling-type chair. This allows you to sit your baby safely in a chair when they are awake.

A baby-carrying sling. This is perfect for a colicky baby or simply for manoeuvring your baby around. If you have a sling, you may not need a buggy until your baby is bigger.

A fleece or soft, thick rug. This will allow you to lie your baby down comfortably and give them some space to kick around.

A wipe-down nappy changing mat. You could just use a towel instead of this.

A nappy bag. You can use any bag as long as it’s big enough to fit a toy or two, a water bottle, a small pot of nappy-rash cream, a pack of wipes, a baby-feeding bottle, three or four nappies, and your phone, wallet, and keys.

What are the essential clothes and equipment I need for my baby?

For Unii’s Newborn Journey, we look at the essential baby clothes and other products you’ll need.