If you are preparing to bring your newborn baby home, you may be confused and overwhelmed. It’s one of the biggest changes in your life and the responsibilities you have never experienced will be waiting for you. Not to mention the exhaustion from childbirth, the hormones, and the emotional rollercoaster.
If you are consulting baby gear stores or registry lists it may seem your baby will need so much stuff in the first few weeks. Maybe some of your friends are buying some expensive baby products and cool gadgets, while you are just asking yourself: “What does my baby really need?”
The answer is – they don’t need much and it’s perfectly ok to stick to the basics. Please relax, and continue reading. We will provide you all the info about necessary items, so you can be stress-free and sure that your baby is comfortable, well, and healthy.
Bedding and Sleep
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends sleeping in the same room with your baby for their first six to twelve months, although they don’t recommend sharing your bed. There is a variety of baby beds to choose from, so we will give you a few examples:
- Cribs
- Cradles
- Bassinets
- Co-sleepers
By adding blankets, pillows, bumpers, and soft toys you can make it more cute and comfy for your sweet baby. But please be careful, because a large number of accessories in the crib is not recommended for very young babies, so you may wait with all of the decorating for a few weeks.
Make sure the mattress fits properly, that it’s firm, flat, and doesn’t move around. Avoid using second-hand mattresses. There are plenty of other affordable choices and a wide selection of baby bedding “to make your baby’s nursery a special place”, as stated by the folks at https://babys-mart.co.uk/. Add some cute, fitted sheets to the crib, bassinet, or cradle, and make sure some of them are waterproof. Remember that the safest position for a baby to sleep is on the back, but that doesn’t mean you need to watch them all night. Just place them on the back every time, so they can get used to it.
Bath Items
Baby bathtubs and bath seats are a must-have. Giving your baby a sponge bath for the first week or two is highly recommended until the umbilical cord falls off. After that, you don’t need to bathe them every day, because it can dry out or irritate their skin. Make sure you do some “spot cleaning” between diaper changes.
Purchase a newborn-friendly lotion, soap, and shampoo, because their skin is very sensitive. A few baby washcloths and hooded towels will work and look super cute on your newborn.
Clothing
We all want the best for our baby and sometimes we can go overboard with adorable, fancy outfits. But be careful, because the baby will outgrow them very quickly. Not to mention how messy it may get. Always look for a quality material rather than design, so your baby’s skin won’t get irritated. Here is a suggestion on how to start:
- Five to eight onesies, or other soft outfits
- Five to eight pairs of baby socks
- Four baby sleepers/sleep sacks
- Two newborn hats
When buying, you should consider how often you plan to do laundry and what the weather is gonna be like.
Diapers
Diapers are an obvious basic, but many people are wondering what kind of diapers to choose, and if the baby can feel the difference. Both cloth diapers or disposable have their pluses and minuses and many families do a combination. So, why not try both and see what you like?
Babies can go through eight to ten diapers a day! That’s a lot, so make sure you have plenty of them on hand. Buy some disposable wipes and a diaper rash cream. If you have chosen cloth diapers, be sure to use a special detergent when washing them, so your baby’s skin stays healthy.
Feeding Supplies
If you are breastfeeding, this doesn’t really concern you, but if you plan on formula feeding it’s good to have a handful of bottles, so you can avoid middle-of-the-night washing. It’s a good idea to buy a bottle brush, some burp cloths, and different size bottle nipples. Nipple cream and breastfeeding pillows have proven to be very useful as well.
Grooming/First Aid
You don’t need much of it, but here is a list of essentials:
- Baby nail clippers (make sure to cut their nails, they grow very fast)
- Nasal aspirator (to clean snot out of their nose)
- Digital thermometer (should the need arise)
It may be tempting to buy everything under the sun for your newborn. But at the end of the day, a baby will be happy with basic items and the most important thing for them is your love and patience.
