A Washington State Guide for New Parents
A plain, step-by-step checklist of the time-sensitive things to do in your baby's first year, with the deadlines that are easy to miss and a link to the official source for each one.
Welcoming a baby is a lot at once. This roadmap focuses on the practical, paperwork-and-deadline side so nothing important slips by. Check off each item as you go. The progress bar above keeps track for this visit.
Washington's state program can pay you for time off to bond with your baby (and to recover, if you give birth), generally up to 12 weeks, with more possible in some situations. You usually apply once your leave begins, and claims have filing deadlines, so read the rules early and give your employer written notice.
Apple Health (Medicaid) covers pregnancy for many Washington families based on income, and a baby born to a parent on Apple Health is typically enrolled automatically for the first year. Apply through Washington Healthplanfinder; you can do this any time, including during pregnancy.
WIC provides monthly food benefits, nutrition support, and breastfeeding help for eligible pregnant people, new parents, and children up to age 5. Enroll during pregnancy so support is in place when the baby comes.
Infant care in the Seattle area is scarce, and licensed programs often have waitlists up to a year. Many families start looking during pregnancy. Child Care Aware of Washington can help you find options and see if you qualify for help paying.
Pick a pediatrician or family doctor and confirm they take your insurance. Install your rear-facing infant car seat ahead of time, and have it checked for free by a certified technician, a correctly installed seat is required to bring your baby home by car.
Newborns are too young for most vaccines, so the people around them are the shield. The pregnant person should get the Tdap (whooping cough) vaccine during pregnancy, and parents, grandparents, and regular caregivers should be current on Tdap, flu, and COVID before meeting the baby. Why: whooping cough and flu can be dangerous for an infant, and surrounding the baby with vaccinated adults lowers the risk.
You can save your baby's umbilical cord blood in a private bank for a fee, donate it to a public bank for free, or do nothing. If you want to bank or donate, you usually arrange it weeks ahead and bring a kit to the birth, so decide early and ask your provider.
Write down your preferences for labor and delivery, take a hospital or birth-center tour, and consider hiring a doula for support. Why: knowing the place and having your wishes written down makes the day calmer, even when things change.
Get pets used to baby sounds and smells ahead of time, and handle any vet or training needs. For older kids, read books about being a big sibling and talk through what will change. Why: a little preparation eases the adjustment for everyone in the house.
Most of these fill up, so sign up during pregnancy. Many hospitals run their childbirth and newborn classes for free or bill them to insurance, and several offer them in Spanish and other languages. Ask your birth hospital what is included with your delivery before paying out of pocket.
A multi-week or weekend class covers labor, comfort and pain-relief options, when to go to the hospital, and what recovery looks like. Why: knowing what is normal lowers fear on the day and helps you make decisions when things move fast. Take it early enough to finish before the due date.
Diapering, bathing, soothing, sleep, feeding cues, and reading early illness signs, all the day-to-day care nobody is born knowing. Why: a few hours of practice with a teacher saves a lot of guessing in the first sleepless week.
Learn latch, positioning, how to know the baby is getting enough, and where to turn when it hurts or stalls. Why: most early feeding problems show up in the first days, and knowing the basics ahead of time makes them far easier to solve.
An infant CPR and choking-response class, often paired with general baby safety. Seattle Children's "Babysafe" is a well-known local option. Why: these are the skills you hope never to use, but you want them already in your hands, not something you look up in an emergency.
Classes like Conscious Fathering focus on partners, grandparents, and anyone else who will care for the baby, so support does not fall on one person. Why: when more than one adult knows how to soothe, feed, and change the baby, everyone gets more rest.
Most hospitals offer a maternity tour and a class lineup tied to where you will deliver. EvergreenHealth (Kirkland), Overlake (Bellevue), Valley Medical (Renton), Swedish, and UW Medicine all run parent classes. Why: seeing the unit and finishing paperwork early makes arrival calmer.
PEPS runs Seattle-area groups matched to your baby's stage, where new parents meet weekly and trade real-life help. Why: the early months can be isolating, and a steady group of parents on the same timeline is one of the best things for your own wellbeing.
Once the baby arrives, parent-infant classes give you somewhere to go, plus play, milestones, and a teacher to ask. Bellevue College has parent-infant and "Infants and Wobblers" classes (birth to about 15 months), and North Seattle College runs a parent-education program. Why: these build routine, friendships, and steady, low-cost guidance through the year.
This part is general newborn-care guidance, not Washington-specific. A useful rule: buy less than you think, especially in newborn sizes, babies grow fast, and you can always restock. Borrowing and secondhand are great for most gear; buy new for the car seat and crib mattress.
A bassinet or crib with a firm, flat mattress and a fitted sheet, and nothing else. No pillows, bumpers, loose blankets, or soft toys. Always place your baby on their back to sleep. Plan for the baby to sleep in your room (not your bed) for the early months.
If buying used or accepting a hand-me-down, check it hasn't been recalled and that all parts are present and sturdy. You'll lower the crib mattress before your baby can sit or pull up.
Two to three fitted sheets, a couple of waterproof mattress protectors, and wearable blankets or sleep sacks instead of loose blankets. A white-noise machine, blackout curtains, and a baby monitor are optional. Why: sleep sacks keep your baby warm without the suffocation risk that loose blankets in a crib can pose.
A changing table or just a pad on a low dresser works. A comfortable chair near the crib makes night feedings easier.
Breast, formula, or both, any of these can work. If you plan to breastfeed, arrange lactation support in advance; many parents hit early questions in the first days. Free help is available.
Nursing pillow, a couple of nursing bras, washable or disposable breast pads, and nipple cream. Your health plan often covers a breast pump, check before buying one. Add milk storage bags or bottles and a way to label and date them.
A few bottles with slow-flow newborn nipples, a bottle brush, a drying rack, and, if using formula, the type your pediatrician suggests. A dishwasher basket or simple sterilizer helps. Don't stock up on one bottle type until you know your baby likes it.
You'll want burp cloths everywhere. Set up a spot with water, snacks, and a phone charger where you'll spend a lot of time feeding.
Later in the year you'll add a high chair, soft-tipped spoons, small bowls, and bibs. Introduce single foods a few days apart to watch for reactions, skip honey before age 1, and avoid choking hazards (whole grapes, nuts, hard chunks). Ask your pediatrician about timing and allergens.
Simple homemade purees (cooked and blended fruits, vegetables, or grains) freeze well in ice-cube trays, then move to labeled bags for single-serving portions. Store-bought pouches are fine too. Always check temperature before serving.
Have newborn and size 1 on hand, but don't overbuy the newborn size. Decide cloth, disposable, or a mix. Stock plenty of wipes.
A changing pad with washable covers, diaper cream, and a diaper pail or a steady supply of bags. Keep a small kit in each part of the home so you're never far from supplies.
Bodysuits, footed sleepers, socks, a hat, and (in cooler months) a warm layer. Buy a few newborn pieces and more 0–3 and 3–6 month sizes, newborn clothes are outgrown quickly. Add a couple of swaddle blankets.
Launder new clothes, bedding, and swaddles with a fragrance-free, baby-safe detergent before your baby wears or uses them. Why: newborn skin is sensitive, and washing removes manufacturing and shipping residues that can irritate it.
An infant tub or sink insert, a mild baby wash, soft washcloths, and a hooded towel. Add baby nail clippers or a file, a soft brush, a bulb syringe or nasal aspirator, and a digital thermometer (a rectal reading is most accurate for newborns). Why: until the umbilical cord stump falls off (usually a week or two), give sponge baths instead of tub baths, and a few baths a week is plenty, frequent washing dries delicate skin.
Tip-overs are a serious hazard. Strap dressers, bookshelves, and TVs to the wall with anti-tip hardware. Do this early, well before your baby is mobile (often by 6 months).
Outlet covers, cabinet and drawer latches (especially for cleaners and medicines), corner guards, safety gates at stairs, and cordless or tied-up blind cords. Move choking hazards and small objects up high.
Test smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors. Post your pediatrician's after-hours line and the free Poison Control number, 1-800-222-1222, where you'll find them fast.
Saline drops, the bulb syringe, the thermometer, and infant pain/fever medicine, but only give medicine at the dose and age your pediatrician approves. Consider an infant CPR class.
Set the water heater to about 120°F (49°C). Why: a baby's thin skin burns far faster than an adult's, and tap water hotter than this can cause a serious scald in seconds.
Store any firearms unloaded and locked, with ammunition kept separately, and keep all medicines, vitamins, and cleaners up high or locked away. Why: safe storage is one of the most effective ways to prevent the most serious childhood injuries.
Send in the card or register online with the manufacturer. Why: it's the only way the company can reach you directly if there's a safety recall.
A rear-facing infant car seat is the one item to buy new and have checked. Add a stroller and/or a soft carrier or wrap. (See the free car-seat checks in the "Before birth" section.)
Why it matters: a moving car is no place to hold a baby in your arms, so newborns ride buckled into a rear-facing seat, it's the single best thing you can do for crash safety, and it's required to leave the hospital by car. Two types fit from birth: an infant car seat (rear-facing only, clicks into a base that stays buckled in the car, and lifts out as a carrier, most are rated from about 4–5 lbs, so they fit small newborns) or a convertible seat (used rear-facing first, then forward-facing later, but it stays installed in the car). Buy this item new so you know its history and that it isn't past its expiration date. If your baby is premature or very small, the hospital may do a short "car-seat trial" before discharge to make sure they breathe comfortably while reclined. Then have it installed and checked by a certified technician, because incorrect installation is the mistake parents make most.
Diapers, wipes, a full change of clothes, a burp cloth, a spare bag, and feeding supplies. Keep it packed by the door so leaving the house is one less decision.
For the birthing parent: maternity pads, a peri bottle, comfortable high-waisted clothing, and anything your provider recommends. Recovery takes weeks, set up a comfortable spot to rest and feed.
Arrange family, friends, a meal train, or a postpartum doula for the first weeks. Agree in advance on who does what at night. Accepting help is not optional luxury, it protects everyone's health.
Sadness, anxiety, or feeling overwhelmed beyond the first couple of weeks deserves support, it's common and treatable. Save the Perinatal Support Washington warm line now so it's there if you need it.
Cooking is hard with a newborn. Make and freeze easy, reheatable meals, soups, casseroles, baked pasta, breakfast burritos, and label each with the date and reheating notes.
You'll often eat while feeding the baby. Keep granola bars, nuts, fruit, and a refillable water bottle within reach. Set up a grocery-delivery account for the first weeks.
Most hospitals let you complete admission and insurance paperwork ahead of time, so check-in is faster when labor starts.
IDs and insurance card, going-home outfit for the baby plus the installed car seat, comfortable clothes and toiletries, phone charger, and any birth preferences. Have it ready early in case the baby comes sooner.
Adding a newborn to a health plan has a deadline (often about 30 days). Know your plan's rule now so there's no gap in coverage. (Apple Health babies are usually enrolled automatically, see the "First 2 weeks" section.)
Name a guardian for your child in a will, review beneficiaries, and consider life insurance. If you want to save for education, you can open a Washington 529 account any time.
A new baby is a tax dependent, so update your W-4 withholding, and if your employer offers a Dependent Care FSA, a birth usually opens a window to enroll. Why: these adjust your paycheck and lower the cost of childcare, but only if you act within the enrollment window.
Review the named beneficiaries on your retirement accounts and life insurance, and consider a trust so money is managed for your child if anything happens to you. Why: beneficiary forms override a will, so out-of-date ones can send money to the wrong person.
Each qualifying child can earn you a federal Child Tax Credit, worth up to about $2,000 per child (the amount can change, so check the IRS). Why: it directly lowers your tax bill, and part of it can come back as a refund, but only if you file and claim the child.
If you pay for childcare so you can work or look for work, a federal credit covers part of that cost. Why: it is real money back on daycare, though you cannot use the same dollars for both this credit and a Dependent Care FSA, so plan which to use.
The EITC is a refundable federal credit for low- and moderate-income workers, and it grows once you have a child. Why: it can be worth thousands, and you have to file a return to get it even if you owe no tax.
This is a state cash refund of up to about $1,300, modeled on the federal EITC. You apply through the Department of Revenue after filing your federal return. Why: it is separate money on top of any federal credit, and families filing with an ITIN, including immigrant families, can qualify.
Free tax preparation through United Way and VITA can file your return and these credits at no cost. Why: the credits are only worth it if they are claimed correctly, and trained volunteers do it for free.
The hospital files your baby's birth registration. While doing that paperwork, you can also request a Social Security number through the "enumeration at birth" process, it's free, and the card is mailed to you. You order certified copies of the birth certificate separately afterward (see First 2 weeks).
A small heel-stick blood sample screens your baby for a set of rare but serious conditions that are far easier to treat when caught early. Washington requires the first screen by 48 hours of age; the hospital usually does this for you.
A quick, painless hearing screen is done before you go home (or by about 1 month). If your baby doesn't pass, follow-up testing by 3 months and support by 6 months help catch and address hearing loss early.
Washington law requires children under age 2 to ride rear-facing in an approved car seat. Have it installed and checked before discharge so the trip home is safe and legal.
Your baby's first checkup usually happens within a few days of coming home. The doctor checks weight, feeding, and jaundice, and answers your early questions. Schedule it before you leave the hospital if you can.
Washington recommends a repeat blood-spot screen a week or two after birth to catch conditions the first test can miss. Your pediatrician's office usually handles this at an early visit.
Add your newborn to your insurance, or confirm Apple Health coverage. Babies of Apple Health parents are usually enrolled automatically, but it's worth checking so visits and vaccines are covered from the start.
You'll need a certified birth certificate for things like benefits and travel. In Washington you order copies yourself, about $25 by mail (allow several weeks), faster online for a higher fee, or often same day in person at many county health offices.
Call your doctor or go to the ER for a rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher in a baby under about 3 months, trouble breathing, refusing to feed, far fewer wet diapers than usual, or yellowing skin or eyes (jaundice). Why: a newborn's immune system is immature, so a fever or these signs need fast attention.
Breastfed and partly breastfed babies usually need a daily vitamin D supplement (commonly 400 IU). Why: breast milk is low in vitamin D, which babies need for healthy bones. Ask your pediatrician about the product and dose.
Keep the cord stump clean and dry, fold the diaper below it, and stick to sponge baths until it falls off on its own in about one to two weeks. If your baby was circumcised, follow the care steps you were given. Call the doctor if you see spreading redness, pus, or a bad smell.
Jot down feedings and wet and dirty diapers, on paper or an app. Why: steady wet diapers and weight gain are how you and the doctor know your baby is getting enough to eat.
Once your leave has begun, file your claim with the state. Benefits aren't automatic, and claims must be submitted within a set window, so don't wait. Keep weekly claims up to date to keep payments coming.
These checkups track growth and start your baby's routine immunizations. In Washington, recommended childhood vaccines are provided at no cost for the vaccine itself through enrolled providers; ask your clinic about any administration fee.
Book and keep the parent's own follow-up visit around six weeks. It checks physical recovery and includes a mood screening. Why: postpartum problems, including mood changes, are common and treatable, and they are easy to overlook when all the attention is on the baby.
Regular checkups continue on the standard schedule, with more vaccines and developmental check-ins along the way. Your pediatrician follows the recommended childhood schedule and will tell you what's due at each visit.
Confirm your childcare spot well before your leave ends. If money is tight, the Working Connections Child Care subsidy helps eligible working or studying families (generally with income below 60% of the state median); you pay a small copay and the state covers the rest.
WIC continues through age 5, and Apple Health coverage is renewed periodically. Watch for renewal notices so food benefits and coverage don't lapse.
Plan a first dentist visit when the first tooth appears or by age 1. Wipe gums and brush new teeth with a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste, and avoid putting your baby to bed with a bottle. Why: baby teeth can get cavities, and early habits protect them.
With your pediatrician's okay, begin iron-rich first foods around 6 months, and introduce common allergens like peanut and egg early rather than holding off. Skip honey and cow's milk as a drink until age 1, and avoid choking hazards such as whole grapes, nuts, and hard chunks. Why: good timing and variety support nutrition and may lower allergy risk.
Once your baby turns 6 months, they can get a yearly flu vaccine, and everyone in the household should get one too. Why: flu can be serious for babies, and vaccinated family members add a layer of protection.
Crawling and pulling up arrive fast. Lower the crib mattress, put up stair gates, secure cords and small objects, and never leave your baby alone in or near water, even for a second. Why: most home injuries become possible the moment a baby is mobile.
Notice milestones like rolling, sitting, babbling, and responding to their name. If anything concerns you, request a free developmental evaluation through Washington's Early Support for Infants and Toddlers, with no doctor's referral needed. Why: early help works best, and there is no harm in checking.
Everyday talking, reading, singing, and floor play build your baby's brain and your bond, and free library story times make an easy routine. Why: back-and-forth interaction is what drives early language and learning.
Keep your baby rear-facing, and move to the next seat only when they pass the height or weight limit of the current one, not by age alone. Why: rear-facing is safest, and a seat is outgrown by size, not by a birthday.
Around 12 months, start offering a cup, begin phasing out bottles, and ask your pediatrician about whole milk if you are weaning from formula. Why: an early, gradual switch is easier on teeth and habits.
None of these are required, and plenty of families skip them. Wait and see what your baby actually likes before spending, and borrow or buy secondhand where you can.
A safe spot to set the baby down for a few minutes. Never let a baby sleep in one.
Gives the baby somewhere to do tummy time and reach for toys.
Keeps your hands free, and many babies settle in it. Check that it supports the hips and keeps the face clear.
Some babies take them, some do not. Offer once feeding is going well.
Can help with sleep and night feedings. A phone app works too.
Convenient, though a cup of warm water does the same job.
Any bag works, but a dedicated one keeps supplies organized.
For tracking milestones and saving memories, if that is your thing.