Let’s face it, the idea of bringing baby home can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. There are plenty of products on the market to help make your baby's transition to life outside the womb go more smoothly.

The sheer number of items deemed “must haves” for new parents is mind-numbing, so it can be helpful to break it down into categories, like sleeping, bathing and traveling.

Sleeping Gear

While you'll eventually want a crib, your newborn likely won’t find it very comfortable for the first few months. Many moms are instead opting for bassinets or co-sleepers that can keep little one nearby in the middle of the night. In fact, it is recommended that babies sleep in their parent's rooms, whether in a crib or a bassinet for the first six months of life to help prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Prices for bassinets range from $50 to $200 on the high end but don’t concern yourself with all the bells and whistles. Since the 1930s, babies in Finland have been sleeping in cardboard boxes and have some of the lowest infant mortality rates in the world, so a simple straightforward bassinet will serve you well.

Bathing Gear

Few things are more slippery a writhing newborn, so a good infant tub can help the process easier, especially for new parents. There are a wide variety of baby tubs available to today’s parents and the choices can be confusing. It’s best to consider what will serve your needs best and go from there. If space, for instance, is a concern, you might want to consider a sink insert tub, like the Blooming Baby Bath, which can turn your sink into a baby spa, but be easily stored away when not in use.

Don’t worry if you find the bathing experience nerve-wracking, there is really no need to bathe your infant everyday, three times a week is sufficient.

Traveling Gear

When venturing out with a baby, a good diaper bag stocked with supplies is always important, but perhaps nothing is as important as a good car seat.

Car seats play a vital role in keeping children safe, reducing the risk of injury by 71 to 82 percent. Infants, toddlers, and children have different requirements in a car seat and it is important for use the appropriate seat to ensure your baby’s optimum safety. Make sure you look up how to pick out the right car seat to fit your needs. Some car seats might be appropriate for your infant but might not fit in your particular vehicle. For an infant, the federal guideline is for a rear-facing infant car seat or a convertible car seat or an all-in-one seat, that will transition from rear-facing to front facing as your child ages.

Other items that make getting around easier with babies are strollers and baby carriers. Some strollers will work in conjunction with your infant car seat, allowing you to easily take the car seat out of the car and click it into place on the stroller. Sometimes car seats and strollers are sold together as travel systems, but you can buy them separately, just check for compatibility.

While some babies are perfectly happy in the stroller, some babies miss the closeness of mom and prefer to be carried in a baby carrier. There are many options on the market, ranging from soft wraps to ring slings to buckle carriers. There are many helpful tips on finding the right carrier to fit your needs. Many moms find themselves using carriers at home to help them get things done around the house.

Don’t get overwhelmed thinking about all the things babies need, because your little one needs you most of all.