20 Things You Need to Pick Up on Your Last Pre-Baby Target Run
Car seat? Installed. Stroller? Assembled. Expectant parents need to buy so much stuff. And just when you think you’re all done checking every item off the list of baby things to buy before birth, you realize there’s a whole host of little necessities you didn’t think of yet. Don’t worry, we’re here to clue you in on the items you almost certainly still need to grab (and in some cases, stockpile). These are the everyday newborn baby essentials hardly anyone gets at their shower. Luckily, you can always count on Target to carry every last item you’re looking for in one convenient place. One last swoop through the aisles with a big red cart (or two) will have you fully equipped—finally—for the first few months with your new little person. No time to shop in-store? Most of these Target baby items are also available online.
Swings, monitors and toys are just a few examples of baby gear that take batteries. Whether the devices you’ve bought take Ds, Cs or AAs, you’ll save money with rechargeables. Trust us: There’s little worse than a bouncy seat that stops vibrating just as baby starts to nod off.
Buy it: Energizer Recharge Power Plus AA Batteries, $12 for a set of 4 batteries, Target.com; Energizer Recharge PRO Battery Charger, $15, Target.com
What’s that? You never really thought about how you’d eat if you were holding something (or someone) most of the day? Understandable, but we strongly suggest stocking a supply of zero-prep, healthy snacks that can be eaten with one hand. Think nutrition bars, string cheese, mixed nuts, roasted pumpkin seeds and peanut butter sandwich crackers.
Your most thoughtful veteran mom friend may drop off a lasagna when you bring baby home. But then what? Let’s be real, cooking probably isn’t going to happen often. Unless your mother-in-law is staying with you indefinitely (in which case you need a whole other list), quick and easy freezer meals are your new best friends.
Buy it: Healthy Choice Beef Teriyaki, $3, Target.com
If you’ve never been a fan of cleaning wipes, now is the time to rethink your stance. You know how everyone always tells you to sleep while baby sleeps? It might be good advice, but invariably what we all end up doing when baby sleeps is attempt some kind of clean up—and fast. Wipes make that possible, which puts them high on the list of baby things to buy before birth.
Buy it: Clorox Fresh Scent Disinfecting Wipes, $3, Target.com
You may not be cooking much, but if you’re bottle-feeding or pumping, you’ll have countless bottles, nipples, rings and pump parts to clean on a daily basis. Go with tabs over gel (it’s that one-handed thing again).
Buy it: Method Dishwasher Detergent Power Packets in Lemon Mint, $11, Target
It’s one of the most enduring mysteries of new parenthood: How can one (tiny) additional person increase the laundry threefold? Prepare to use up laundry detergent faster than ever before. Stock up on a gentle detergent that’s safe for newborns.
Buy it: Honest Company Baby Laundry Detergent, $15, Target.com
See the enduring mystery above. Baby will basically live in bodysuits for the first few months, and between spit-up, drool and the ever-dreaded diaper blowout, it’s clear why extra outfits are on the list of newborn baby essentials.
Buy it: Cloud Island Side Snap Long Sleeve Bodysuits, $10 for a set of 3, Target.com
This isn’t something you want to run out of when you’re home alone with baby and it’s downpouring. Target’s brand has a great price (yay), is two-ply so it’s both gentle and ultra-absorbent (amazing) and is septic-safe to reduce the chance of a clogged toilet (priceless).
Buy it: Up&Up Soft & Strong Toilet Paper, $12 for set of 12 rolls, Target.com
Okay, this one you don’t need us to tell you. But considering how crucial these are, it bears repeating. It’s hard to predict how many of which size you’ll need. It depends on your baby, of course, as well as the brand of diaper. They all fit a little differently, even when they’re the same size. For now, make sure you have one large package of newborn diapers and three large packages of size 1 and call it a day.
Buy it: Pampers Swaddlers Diapers, $43 for 140 diapers, Target.com
Even if you got a pack or two at your shower, buy more. Aside from the obvious, here are 10 of the 99 things you will clean with them: your hands; baby’s hands; the pacifier after it drops to the floor; the car seat and its environs after baby spits up in it (that’s a whole pack right there); the high chair tray; the inside of the diaper bag when something leaks; the stroller bar; toys except maybe plush (though you’ll try); and stains on the clothing you or baby is wearing. Oh, and the car dashboard, because the wipes are right next to you, and then it feels like you accomplished something. See why we chalk them up as newborn baby essentials?
Buy it: Up&Up Cucumber Baby Wipes, $14 for set of 8 packages, Target.com
A soon-to-be parent who has never actually seen diaper rash may imagine noticing baby’s bum looking a little pink, then turning to their partner to say, “Next time you’re out, maybe pick up some rash cream.” In reality, diaper rash looks horrendous, breaks your heart and always seems to appear full force out of nowhere. The value of preparedness can’t be overemphasized, so add these to the list of baby things to buy before birth, stat.
Buy it: Honest Company Rapid Relief Diaper Rash Cream, $10, Target.com
But first, coffee! If you never quite understood that catchphrase, just wait a few weeks. If you don’t already have a Keurig, you might want to think about getting one. It’s just so much easier. Did we mention there’s huge value in being able to do things one-handed?
Buy it: Keurig K-Cup Pods Flavored Coffee Collection Variety Pack, $30 for set of 42 pods, Target.com; Keurig K-Classic K50 Single-Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker, $140, Target.com
What for? For when you’re trapped on the couch under a finally-sleeping infant and your phone is dying. You’re welcome.
Buy it: HeyDay 10-Inch Lightning to USB Charge Cable, $25, Target.com
A ponytail may become your go-to look, not only because it’s as fast as it gets, but because you’d be surprised at how hard 4-month-olds can pull hair. Pick comfy, soft ones that go with anything, but be careful not to lose them (they’re a choking hazard).
Buy it: Scunci Ponytailers, $4 for set of 40 elastics, Target.com
While you’re in the hair care aisle, snap up a can of dry shampoo. Even if you’ve never used it before in your life, there will be times as a sleep-deprived new parent when a shower just ain’t happening (again).
Buy it: Batiste Clean & Classic Original Dry Shampoo, $8, Target.com
You’ve baby-proofed everything—except for, well, baby! Newborn nails can be surprisingly sharp, and trust us, no parent likes to see their child accidentally scratch themself. The first line of defense? No-scratch sleep mittens. The second? Special nail clippers designed for little hands. (These ones even have a peep hole so you know exactly where you’re cutting.)
Buy it: Goumikids Baby Organic Cotton Striped Mitts, Target.com, $14; Fridababy NailFrida The SnipperClipper Nail Care Set, $13, Target.com
Don’t freak out—we know baby is in good hands. This one is actually for you. Fumbling in the dark to soothe your newborn brings a whole new meaning to bumps in the night (hello, after-hours bruises!). And don’t get us started on opening up all those new baby products—sharp plastic packaging is notorious for cutting fingers. Of course, with one more family member to look after, it never hurts to restock your first aid supplies anyway.
Buy it: Johnson & Johnson All Purpose First Aid Kit, $17, Target.com
Chapped nipples are no joke. We’ll leave it at that. This all-natural moisturizer won The Bump Best of Pregnancy Baby awards, so you know it’s good.
Buy it: Motherlove Nipple Cream, $12, Target.com
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