You’ve been counting down the days until your little one arrives, and with less than four weeks to go, you couldn’t be more excited. For months in advance, you and your partner have been reading every baby-related book you thought possible, checking every article for further information, and asking every friend for their advice, too.

And up until today, you felt completely and utterly prepared.

That was, until your friend with a one-month-old newborn rang and decided to talk about how completely overwhelmed she is, as she didn’t buy half of the things she actually ended up needing.

When you’re preparing for the arrival of your little one, it can feel like there’s an endless list of things to get. And even when you think you have absolutely everything, someone somehow manages to prove you wrong!

However, it’s important to remember that if you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s always best to go back to the basics. Remember, babies don’t actually need as much as you think they do, especially when it comes to sleep. All you need to do is get the essentials, and rest assured, you’ll all be absolutely fine.

So, we thought it might be helpful to run you through our list of sleep equipment essentials for your baby, so you can return to feeling prepared and excited!

What sleep equipment is necessary for my baby?

Sleeping bag. These are incredibly useful, as you can buy a different sleeping bag appropriate for the changing seasons and for the size of your baby! Sleeping bags are a great alternative to using top sheets, which can be tricky to tuck under the mattress.

A Moses basket or crib When your baby is about three months old, you can move them into a full-sized cot.

3–4 cotton bottom sheets (cot-size)

Although the above are the absolute essentials you will need for your baby’s sleep, there are also some handy extras that will come in handy, such as:

Handy extras:

A baby monitor. A baby monitor is a very popular choice for many parents when shopping for their baby’s sleep needs, as it allows them to hear their baby when they are in a completely different part of the house.

A mobile (or another musical toy for the cot). When a baby is falling asleep, having something soothing, such as a mobile or musical toy for the cot, can be very helpful. As long as it's securely attached with nothing hanging down, the baby can grab it and pull it down on themselves.

NB: Your baby’s first cot must comply with safety regulations and have a mattress that fits.

What sleep equipment does my baby need?

From Unii’s Baby Sleep Journey, we look at essential sleep equipment.