These are the top baby items we used everyday for our newborn (to 3 mos).  With so much stuff to buy, and now with baby registries, you can fill your nursery, empty your pocketbook, and still ot have what you need or have too much of what you don't.

The Graco pack and play with bassinet and changer in Renassaince.  He slept perfectly next to our bed, making it easy for me feed him at night, and it made him easy to pick up after my c-section.  The dark blue with the contrasting white lines were visually stimulating to him, so that when I had to set him down he was safe and stimulated.  We also took our newborn on 2 trips in state and 1 out of state.   Hotel beds are notoriously unsafe and not many rewalatives have a safe crib set up for guests.  But with the pack and play our son slept safely and comforatbly everywhere we went-- an invaluable home and Travel tool!!!  plus when you are done using this as a bed it's a  safe place to put your toddler to play when you can't watch them.

It's the law that you must have a car safety seat, I suggest getting the safeest.  The bRitax Companion is the only car seat to protect your infant in a side impact crash, plus it is the only on the an anti-rebound bar.  GET THE SAFEST CAR SEAT!!  We thankfully never had a crash with out son but I was gratful every time I drove that he was secure.