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A good wrap. We had a Moby, but I would have done the Solly wrap had I known about it then: http://sollybaby.com/

When baby wouldn't sleep, we'd wear her. I could work, do house stuff, and go on walks with her right there. It was so amazing.

For LO#1 is was a swing. I know though that some babies don't like the swing, or prefer a bouncer, but for us, it was a total lifesaver. She would take 3 hr+ naps in that thing. I recommend one with an optional cord so that you don't burn through batteries. We have a Fisher Price rainforest one...I got it off Craigslist for $25.

Hmm... or maybe a pack-n-play...she slept next to me in one for the first 4 months or so and it was really useful when traveling. You could store it in the trunk of your car after the newborn stage.

SwaddleMe Velcro swaddles

Ktan

Ergo. Baby can't sleep? Ergo. Baby won't let you do anything? Ergo. Want to get out during baby's nap? Ergo.

This swing was amazing for us: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=15262756&KPID=13815318&mr:trackingCode=5A248E66-7315-E311-A497-90E2BA285E75&mr:referralID=NA&mr:filter=78759736606&camp=PLAPPC-_-PID13815318&mr:ad=54619426126&kpid=13815318&mr:device=c&mr:match=&mr:adType=pla_multichannel&cagpspn=plab_13815318&mr:keyword=&eESource=CAPLA_DF:15262756:TRUS

And a rock and play. That was crucial for our LO.

#1 - A Nosefrida. That thing is seriously a lifesaver.

#2 - A humidifier. We had a winter baby and had to run the heat, and his poor ears kept cracking. It fixed the issue, and we run it every night. A tip: only use distilled water in it! Prevents mold

The Miracle Blanket, for sure!

Another vote for the NoseFrida! My second must have is a good swing.

A diaper wallet with an integrated changing pad.

baby carrier - whatever kind you like. I have mostly used the soft structured ones, but i hear amazing things about wraps so i am hoping to learn still.

And in the early newborn days, i would say a swing was our saviour for the first few months, he had amazing naps in there.

@Eko: The Moby was great, but not very stretchy. Sometimes I felt like it was kind of stiff. It was wonderful for the newborn days, but once she got bigger, and we could do the kangaroo cary, I felt like the fabric was really bulky. The Solly wrap is thinner, and hugs the baby better (which seems more secure). The Solly seems more comfortable for mama and papa too.

@Anagram: I totally agree!! We got a swing, and she hated it. It took up a good deal of floor real estate.

I know you said ONE thing, but we also loved the Boppy Infant Lounger. http://www.target.com/p/boppy-newborn-and-infant-lounger-green-sunday-stroll/-/A-14385815?ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001&AFID=google_pla_df&LNM=14385815&CPNG=Baby&kpid=14385815&LID=9pgs&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=14385815&kpid=14385815&gclid=Cj0KEQjw_byiBRCu9qm5lc28ufgBEiQAWq-taxkzbX2V3-VuVKnrY9cBN9sLzFEHWSFH3ZOphGyUMu8aApBz8P8HAQ

It was small, and we would take it everywhere. Our couch, the kitchen table while eating dinner, our bed while folding laundry. We'd swaddle her and lay her in it so we could get things done. It worked until she could roll over at 4 months.

A tie between a wrap and white noise machine. We have the homedics one, $20, works great. And I had registered for a ktan carrier but it wasn't comfortable for me, so I returned it an used my friends borrowed moby for four months. It was seriously a life saver. C only napped in that for months and months.

We also live in boston and I would say a good, all terrain stroller is key too. Which one depends on your apartment and storage situation, but you need something sturdy for the bumpy sidewalks and crappy weather.

For me it was our stroller. We went on lots of walks and did a lot of errands to get out of the house, and i used it (and still use it!) many times a day. We have the britax b-agile and i love it. I did some babywearing but it made me feel clausterphobic to have him attached to me all the time and he preferred to be able to wiggle anyway.

I think a lot of these things are incredibly personal to you and your baby, and since you dont have much space i would echo what others have said about waiting to get much until baby is here

also, if you arent sure about babywearing but want to give it a try, you can make your own no-sew wrap like a moby. You just need 5 yards of jersey fabric and that will make 2 wraps. Then if you really like babywearing you can try other options later i made a diy one last time and will be using it again with baby 2

A&A blankets. If you are pressed for space, these are great. They double as so much - swaddle blankets, comfort objects, car seat covers, burp cloths.

Not necessarily for newborn days, but an activity mat with toys that hang down like this: http://www.skiphop.com/product/treetopactivitygym.html LO much prefers it to the bouncer or mamaroo that we have since she can move around herself and it gives her lots o see and play with (you can switch out the hanging toys to mix it up). Lo is 7 months now and has used hers multiple times a day since about 2 months

Rock'n'play. She slept it it for all night and naps for 5 months (she was very small). We could rock her to sleep and tiptoe away in the early months, and it folds up flat for travel and storage.

Rock n Play, that was our number one need for LO. We used it as a bassinet and she would take long naps in that! And it was portable so we could take it to holiday celebrations and grandparents houses and she was comfortable.