Baby registry and hospital bag: what your newborn really needs

As your due date approaches, between excitement and a thousand thoughts it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the question: “Have I got everything?”. Between the baby registry and the hospital bag, the risk is filling bags with useless things and forgetting the essentials.

In this Fiocco Baby guide you’ll find a carefully considered list of what your newborn really needs in the first days, with particular attention to bodysuits, rompers and practical clothes to use right from the start.

1. When to pack your hospital bag

It’s generally recommended to pack your bag around weeks 34–36, so you can reach the last weeks feeling calm, with no last-minute rush.

You can keep the bag somewhere handy at home, together with the paperwork required by the hospital, so that everything is ready when you need it.

2. What to pack for your newborn: the essentials

Each hospital may have its own specific list, but generally your baby will need:

• Cotton bodysuits: 5–6 short- or long-sleeved bodysuits depending on the season, ideally wrap-over or with easy snaps.
• Rompers: 5–6 all-in-one rompers or soft two-piece sets, with closed feet to keep little hands and feet warm.
• Hats: 2–3 light hats for the first hours/days, to protect them from changes in temperature.
• Socks or soft shoes: 2–3 pairs, if the rompers don’t have closed feet.
• Blanket: 1–2 blankets in cotton or soft fabrics, depending on the season.
• Bibs: 3–4 bibs for feeds, to keep bodysuit and romper clean.
• Wraps or muslins: 2–3 light wraps for changes, feeds or swaddling.

It’s always a good idea to prepare changes as separate sets (e.g. in little fabric bags or pouches): bodysuit + romper + socks + hat, so it will be easier for whoever is helping you to grab the right outfit when needed.

3. How to choose clothes for the first days

In the first days it’s important to go for clothes:

• in soft cotton that breathes;
• with few stiff seams and no annoying inside labels;
• easy to put on and take off (front openings, snaps at the front or crotch);
• in light or neutral colours, which instantly convey a sense of freshness and tenderness.

The first outfits will often be photographed and remembered forever: choosing a special outfit for leaving the hospital is a small gesture that makes that moment even more emotional.

4. What to put on your baby registry

A baby registry helps you avoid duplicates and receive truly useful gifts, coordinated with the style you’ve chosen for your little one.

Some ideas to include:

• a basic layette with bodysuits and rompers in newborn / 1 month size;
• a few outfits in size 3–6 months, for when they’ve grown a little;
• blankets and multi-purpose wraps in soft fabrics;
• a selection of matching accessories (hat, bibs, socks);
• a special outfit for their first outing or the first family photos.

You can also divide the list into price ranges, so everyone can choose the gift that best suits their budget without giving up on something useful.

5. What to avoid or not overdo

Often, when looking at layettes, you feel like buying everything. In reality there are some things it’s better not to overdo:

• too many clothes in the tiniest sizes (newborn or 0 months): they’ll wear them for a very short time;
• very structured little outfits or ones that are uncomfortable for lying down: in the first days they’ll spend a lot of time in your arms or in the crib;
• too many out-of-season clothes: they may not be right when the time comes to wear them.

6. Fiocco Baby’s advice

Every mum has her own way of experiencing the wait: some want everything ready months ahead, others feel calmer keeping things essential. The secret is finding your own balance, starting from what you and your baby really need.

In our shop you can choose bodysuits, rompers, outfits and blankets designed especially for your first days together, with lots of sweet, coordinated ideas for your hospital bag and your baby registry. If you’d like help creating a tailor-made mini Fiocco Baby registry, write to us: we’ll be happy to suggest the right pieces based on the season and your needs.