Putting together all you need for your baby's first year of life can be difficult. 

This is especially true for first-time parents. You won't have an idea yet of what you need, after all. 

That’s why we've created a list of the first year's essentials for you -- use it when shopping in preparation for your baby’s arrival!

Infant Car Seat

Well, if you read our article on what to bring to the hospital for your due date, you can't even bring your baby home without this!

Get an infant car seat in particular. Some are only designed for bigger babies, not infants, so you have to get the size right to ensure your baby's safety.

Obviously, your baby needs clothes. 

We suggest getting ones that keep his legs sheathed separately, so you can use your car seat's crotch harness easily. 

Opt for organic and hypoallergenic fabric too, of course.

We're lumping several items into this section. Which of them you actually need depends on what you plan to do. 

Will you be breastfeeding or bottle-nursing your baby? If you're breastfeeding, the first thing you need to get is a good breast pump. 

We recommend a hands-free breast pump, because that will let you multitask while pumping milk. 

Try a wearable breast pump like the Elvie, which you can even wear while going about doing chores - or even going to work! 

Bottles are necessary to store the milk from your wearable breast pump too, of course. And they're still necessary even if you don't plan to breastfeed. 

If this is the case, you also need to prep formula powder. 

We advise preparing bottle brushes as well because it's important to have a way to keep the bottles clean.

These may be cloth or disposable diapers. Either way, though, take care not to stock a ridiculous amount - anything over a month's worth may be inadvisable. 

That's because your baby will grow very quickly. He may well outgrow the stocked diaper size before you can use them all!

Take care to size your stock appropriately, including the cloth ones. 

And if you're using cloth, remember to check that your chosen diaper cream works with them. 

Believe it or not, some creams work very poorly with cloth diapers - and may be close to impossible to wash off. We suggest looking for ones not based on petroleum or zinc for cloth diapers. 

You may also want to look for flushable cloth diaper liners for easier disposal of baby's stool! With those, you can just take the liner from the diaper and flush it down the loo.

This just means a bag with enough space and compartments for all your baby paraphernalia when leaving the house. 

Remember that you'll pack a lot into this - so pick something sturdy.

This is just common sense. Babies can produce a lot of disagreeable odours when they do their business in their nappies. 

You need something with a lid or a handy wet-diaper bag to control those odours and hold the dirty diapers until you can take out the trash - or get home to a washing machine. 

You should also pick up washable liners for the bin or bag to stop the odour from sticking to these containers. 

While you're at it, you may want to pick up some wet wipes or gauze for your baby wipes too.

Even little ones need these. Look for baby shampoos, soaps, and other mild products that won't irritate the baby's skin or scalp. 

Don't forget about oral care either - there are even tooth tissues and the like for young babies.

In particular, you need one that can accommodate an infant. Look for one that's both sturdy and lightweight. 

You certainly want your baby safe, but if you can barely move the stroller by yourself, that's not ideal. 

We have a lot of lightweight, durable (some are even all-terrain) strollers in our own baby online store in Singapore. Check them out if you need ideas on what to look for!

A changing pad will come in handy when you're so figuring out how to deal with diaper changes. 

Get one with a cover, obviously - for easy hygiene!

Rectal thermometers are more accurate than others for babies. Hence, you absolutely need one! 

This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pick up a digital thermometer or a forehead thermometer too, though. It just means you should pick up a rectal one for the most accurate results.

Most babies will need pacifiers to sleep better. Make sure you get ones that are made of a single piece of silicone, though, to avoid the chances of baby swallowing parts.

The baby carrier is necessary when you want to bring the baby with you without having to deal with a massive stroller. 

There are several types you can choose from, including backpacks and slings, so just pick whatever you prefer.

These should go with the high chair, usually around 6 to 12 months in. They include a plate, spoon, sippy cup, and snack cup for your baby.

This is typically only usable once your baby starts eating solids and can sit up to do so. There are exceptions with bouncer attachments, though, like the Hauck Alpha+, so we suggest those who want to get more use out of their baby items!

This is typically only usable once your baby starts eating solids and can sit up to do so. There are exceptions with bouncer attachments, though, like the Hauck Alpha+, so we suggest those who want to get more use out of their baby items!

If you need further advice on how to equip yourself and your house for your baby, feel free to get in touch with us. We’ve helped many new parents ready themselves for their new bundles of joy!

We can take you through your options for everything from nursery furniture to wearable breast pumps. For more information, simply reach out and let us know what assistance you need in particular.