Hellobee Boards

There are some good guides in the blog section. I think it really depends on your lifestyle/budget.

My list of essentials:
Crib or place for baby to sleep
Stroller
Car seat
Carrier
Bouncer or rock n play
Swaddles
Nose Frieda
Accessories for feeding the baby whether it be BF or FF (bottles, pump, formula, boob care items, nursing bras/tanks, etc).
Clothes
Diapers and changing supplies

Everything else is optional and will really depend on you and your baby.

I am a minimalist:
-crib (mattress, 3 sheets)
-gowns and or footie pajamas
-diapers/ wipes
-baby bath tub (baby soap)
-car seat
-blessed nest nursing pillow
-stroller with bassinet (doubled as extra place to set baby)
-wholesome baby diaper cream
-Australian gold lanolin if you are nursing
-ergo with infant insert
-blankets for baby (for car seat etc.)

I second Lucies List...so helpful!

Our must haves were : crib, stroller, car seat, baby K'Tan carrier, swing (borrowed...used for naps for 5 months), swaddle blankets, humidifier, nursing pillow, Earth Mama Angel Baby nipple cream, and an exercise ball for bouncing her to sleep! I used the exercise ball for my whole pregnancy too.

Here were ours!

For the nursery:
- Crib with at least 2 sheet sets
- Changing pad and diaper genie (wouldn't make it on some people's list, but I LOVE having a designated changing area and it has made things so simple for us.)
- Humidifer
- Sound machine
- Nightlight or lamp with soft lighting (you really don't want to turn on the overhead light during MOTN feedings/diaper changes.)
- Crib soother (like a light-up aquarium style one, it made the crib transition wayyyy easier)

Gear:
- Breast pump
- Rock n Sleep (great for newborn sleep and super easy to transport for naps at the grandparents or wherever)
- Swing (OMG this saved my life on exhausted bad sleep days)
- Car seat (we got a car seat/stroller combo, but you could also skip the stroller and babywear, so not necessarily a must have.)
-Infant tub and soap (unless you have something at home you're comfortable using, like a big kitchen sink - ours wouldn't have worked)
- Something for tummy time. Could be a boppy with some toys, could be an activity mat, but you'll likely need something.

Other stuff:
- Bottles and stuff to wash them (bottle brush, drainboard if you don't have one, etc.)
- Swaddle blankets (love the A&A ones)
- Nosefrida
- Thermometer
- Nail clippers
- Meds like infant tylenol, teething tablets, diaper rash cream, etc. (You want to already have this stuff the first time you need it - going to the store with a sick baby sucks!)
- Some basic clothes - onesies, footie pajamas, socks etc.
- Diapers and wipes
- Baby monitor

I second the Baby Bargains book, it gave useful reviews on a lot of things we were looking for.

Some sort of swaddles. We used A&A blankets for the first three months, then used the SwaddleMe. Loved both and still use the A&A blankets for a lot of other things.

Lots and lots of towel/burp cloths/flannel receiving blankets/cotton rags/whatever to wipe up spit-up and drool, soak up breast milk or formula. We have 12+ and it seemed like I had to do laundry every other day because we used them to wipe up everything.