But You Also Really Need: Baby Mittens
Until those oddly soft yet sharp nails firm up, you’ll want to play defense and keep them away from baby’s precious face when he fusses and fidgets. Why mittens don’t come with every infant onesie, like those little hats, is beyond me. And oddly, they’re not that easy to find. My favorite was from Giggle, which my husband discovered after our week-old son ended up with itty-bitty, very red scratches all over his face after a nap.

Everyone Says You Need: Wipes
Yes, this one’s a no-brainer. You need your favorite wipes to clean tushes, faces, hands,  stroller straps, tables and so on.

But You Also Really Need: A Wipes Travel Case 
Throwing the whole pack with the adhesive pull-back sticker into your bag is a mistake. It’s heavy and bulky, and all of your wipes can easily dry out if the package isn’t sealed exactly right. A fabric-covered plastic holder, with your choice of cute design, lets you decrease the quantity you have to carry and keeps things sealed and moist.

Everyone Says You Need: The Sleep Sheep
Or any of the assorted turtles, giraffes, and ladybugs that are supposed to soothe your little love into a peaceful slumber with either the ocean, rain or what sounds like a vacuum cleaner.

But You Also Really Need: A Sound Machine
The aforementioned noisy animals are cute, but they only do their thing for a short period of time, not all night, and they don’t take the place of some heavy-duty white noise. Yes, you can get away with a fan for a while, but as soon as the season's change and the temperatures drop, you’ll be in trouble. Sound machines don’t have to be expensive—the one we have (pictured below and recommended by another friend with a newborn) is just $45—but they’re worth their weight in gold if they help baby sleep through the night.

Everyone Says You Need: Pacifiers
If your kid worships at the altar of the binky, you’ll swear by them…until you drop one on the dirty, germy supermarket floor and can’t find your backup.

But You Also Really Need: Pacifier Holders
Such a simple concept, you’ll be annoyed that someone thought of it before you did and probably made a gazillion dollars: One end loops around the pacifier ring, while the other clips to your baby’s shirt. Voila! No more dropped—or thrown—pacifiers. Until your kid figures out how to unclip the clip, which is probably a little way’s down the road. (I think we made it to 18 months.)