Baby checklists
Birth and the first weeks
First Week Home with Baby Checklist
31 items · 25 must-haves · Baby's week 1
Survival checklist for the first week with newborn
Admin
- Schedule Pediatrician VisitSchedule within 3-5 days of birth. They check weight (expect 5-7% loss from birth weight — more than 10% is a concern), jaundice levels, and feeding. Write down questions in advance — you will forget them otherwise.
- Add Baby to InsuranceYou have a 30-day window from birth. Call the number on the back of your insurance card. If you miss this window, you wait until open enrollment — potentially months without coverage for the baby.
- Birth Certificate AppliedHospital paperwork completed
- SSN Application SubmittedApply at hospital or SSA office
- Meal Train Set UpOPTIONALWhen people ask what to bring, tell them DoorDash or grocery delivery gift cards. Or set up a Meal Train (mealtrain.com) so friends sign up for specific days. Cooking is nearly impossible in month one — you'll eat one proper meal a day.
- Photo Backup SetupOPTIONALCloud backup for precious photos
- Ask for Meal Delivery Gift CardsOPTIONALWhen friends and family ask what gift to bring, tell them DoorDash, Uber Eats, or grocery delivery gift cards. Not flowers, not clothes the baby will outgrow in a week. Meal delivery is the single most useful gift a new parent can receive — you will use it every day for a month.
Feeding
- Feeding Schedule TrackedEvery 2-3 hours around the clock. Baby's stomach is the size of a grape on day 1 — it fills fast and empties fast. Track time, side (breast), and duration. If baby hasn't eaten in 3 hours, wake them. This is critical for weight gain.
- Wet/Dirty Diaper LogDay 1-2: 1-2 wet diapers. By day 4+: 6+ wet diapers and 3-4 dirty diapers per day. This is how you know baby is eating enough — output tracks input. If diaper count drops, call your pediatrician.
- Lactation Support ContactHospital lactation consultants are free during your stay — use them. After discharge, get a contact number. If breastfeeding hurts beyond the first few days, the latch is wrong. A single consult can fix weeks of pain.
- Formula Backup ReadyPACKHave backup even if breastfeeding
Health
- Umbilical Cord CareKeep stump dry and clean. Fold diaper below the stump so it stays exposed to air. No submerging in water until it falls off (1-3 weeks). Watch for redness, swelling, or foul smell — these are infection signs that need immediate attention.
- Jaundice WatchCheck skin color in natural light (not under yellow bulbs). Look at whites of eyes and chest. Mild jaundice is common and usually resolves. But if skin looks deeply yellow or baby is excessively sleepy and hard to wake for feeds, call your pediatrician immediately.
- Temperature MonitoringRectal thermometer is the only accurate method for infants. 100.4°F (38°C) or higher in a baby under 3 months = call the pediatrician now, any hour (ER if you can't reach them within minutes). No fever medicine first. Practice using the thermometer before the baby arrives.
- Car Seat RecheckVerify baby fits properly for ride home
- Circumcision CareOPTIONALIf applicable, follow healing instructions
- Skin-to-Skin TimeContinue bonding through skin contact
- Signs of EmergencyKnow the emergency signs: fever of 100.4°F or higher in a baby under 3 months (call the pediatrician now, any hour; ER if you can't reach them), difficulty breathing, blue lips or skin, unresponsive or limp, projectile vomiting, blood in stool. Post this list on the fridge. Mom's urgent warning signs are in the Postpartum Recovery - Mom checklist.
- Know Fever Emergency ProtocolMemorize this: rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher in a baby under 3 months = call the pediatrician now, any hour (ER if you can't reach them within minutes), no waiting to see if it goes down. For babies 3-6 months, call pediatrician after-hours line. Know how to use the rectal thermometer BEFORE you need it — practice on the baby during a calm moment.
Support
- Limit VisitorsSet rules BEFORE delivery: who can visit, when, for how long (30-60 min max), hand washing required, no visits if sick, no kissing baby's face. Dad is the gatekeeper — communicate these boundaries so mom doesn't have to.
- Accept Help OfferedWhen someone offers to help, say yes and give them something specific: bring a meal, do a load of laundry, hold the baby for 30 minutes so you can shower. Vague offers fade — specific requests get done.
- Partner Shift ScheduleExample: Dad covers 8 PM - 1 AM, Mom covers 1 AM - 6 AM. Or alternate nights. The app assigns this — neither partner is nagging the other. Both of you need at least one 4-5 hour uninterrupted sleep block to function.
- Screen Time LimitsOPTIONALAvoid social media stress, focus on baby
- Postpartum Doula ContactOPTIONALIf hired, schedule first visit
- Night Station Set UpBefore the first night home, set up within arm's reach of the bed: stack of diapers, wipes, barrier cream, burp cloths, a change of baby clothes, water bottle for mom, snacks, and a dim night light. Zero overhead lights — they wake everyone up and destroy sleepiness. At 3 AM, everything needs to be grab-and-go.
- House Stocked for Survival ModePACKBulk buy before delivery: paper towels, trash bags, toilet paper, laundry detergent (fragrance-free for baby clothes), dish soap, hand soap, toiletries. Also stock one-hand foods — protein bars, trail mix, pre-made sandwiches, fruit. You will not have time or energy to shop for weeks. Set up DoorDash/Uber Eats account if you don't have one.
- Protected Time for Each ParentEach parent gets minimum 30 uninterrupted minutes per day. No baby, no chores, no questions. Agree on the time window (e.g., 2-6 PM for dad). Use it to eat a proper meal, watch something, or just sit in silence. This is not selfish — it is the maintenance that keeps you functional.
Mom Care
- Pain ManagementTake prescribed/OTC meds as directed
- Peri CareUse peri bottle, sitz bath as needed
- Stay HydratedWater bottle at every spot she sits — feeding chair, bed, couch. Breastfeeding depletes fluids fast. She should drink every time she feeds. Dehydration leads to reduced milk supply and headaches.
- Cooling Pads and Recovery Supplies AccessiblePACKAfter vaginal delivery, mom is changing cooling/maxi pads every 2 hours for the first 1-2 weeks. She may need help walking to the bathroom. Keep a supply of pads within reach plus a bag in the bathroom for disposal. Stock witch hazel pads, peri bottle, and pain spray where she can grab them without asking.
Check it off together
Make a free account to tick items off as you go. Your partner sees the same list, ticks included.