Preparing to bring home a new baby is an exciting time – and a busy one! But fear not – we’re here to take the stress out of getting ready for this memorable milestone, with our ultimate list of baby essentials that will help you shop for everything you need to welcome your little one home.
Clothing
Make sure you have enough clothing essentials on hand to accommodate the numerous outfit changes your baby will require each day as you begin to construct their wardrobe. Additionally, keep in mind that your baby won’t be a newborn for very long, so buy clothing in a variety of sizes.
Some of the basic clothing your little one will need are:
- Bodysuits
- Sleepsuits
- Baby Shirts or Frocks
- Swaddle cloths and blankets
- Socks and booties
- Hats and caps
- No-scratch mittens
Diapering
Although it should go without saying that diapers are a need for newborns, selecting the ideal kind for your child can really be challenging and at times, confusing. When deciding between cloth diapers and disposables, try to keep in mind that each variety has advantages and disadvantages and that the best course of action is always to choose what is best for your family and way of life. However, many families use both cloth and disposable options, so you too could experiment with both to determine which type you prefer.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 2-3 packs of disposable diapers or 15-20 cloth nappies (which should be enough for atleast two days)
- 1-2 packs of disposable wet wipes
- 1 bottle of diaper rash cream
- A cloth-diaper detergent, if you will need to wash diapers
- Waterproof changing mat for diaper changes
- A diaper pail or receptacle (for soiled diapers)
Make sure you have plenty of diapers on hand because newborns can go through 8 to 10 a day. Additionally, keep in mind that they will outgrow the newborn size in a couple of weeks, so avoid overbuy.
Bath Items
Doctors advise giving your infant a sponge bath daily for the first week or two until the umbilical cord falls off. Thereafter, daily bathing could be done with the infant seated submerged in water. Bath time should last no longer than 5-10 minutes. However, care must be taken to make sure the water is at the correct temperature of 37-38 C (a waterproof thermometer could come in handy) and baby lotion can be used after the bath, to prevent the skin from drying out.
Tip: Place a warm wet washcloth on baby’s chest and tummy, this will help keep baby calm and enjoy his/her bath time.
Consider these basic bath time items:
- 3-5 soft washcloths
- 1-2 hooded towels
- 1 baby sponge
- 1 bottle of baby bath wash
- 1 bottle of baby lotion
- A baby bathtub and bath net
Gear
You’re most likely aware that your child will require a cot, stroller, and car seat. However, don’t let these other crucial infant supplies escape your notice.
The following are some essentials that may not be on your list, but should be:
- Feeding chair
- Sleep bag / baby carrier
- Baby bag
- Foldable waterproof changing mat
Feeding Items
When you bring home a newborn, a great deal of your time will be spent on feeding them. Whether this will be breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, our newborn checklist has several items that might make the process easier.
Take into account the following requirements when feeding your baby:
- 10 burp cloths
- Breastfeeding pillow, nursing pads and nipple cream
- Breast pump
- Breast milk collector
- 5-8 bottles, if bottle-feeding
- A bottle brush if you’ll need to wash bottles
- A variety of bottle nipples, in different sizes
It’s true that gearing up for the arrival of your little bundle of joy can be quite challenging and maybe even a little scary – but being prepared before the arrival of your little one, is bound to pay off by making the first few days of parenthood less stressful.
