Javascript required
Skip to content Skip to sidebar Skip to footer
Home / What You Need When You Have a Baby

What You Need When You Have a Baby

Checklist for basic baby needs

Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin

As you prepare to bring your sweet newborn abode, yous may be asking yourself: "What does a baby really demand in the first weeks at abode?" The respond is: not much.

Of course, if yous consult a babe registry suggestion list, or ask a baby gear store, information technology probably sounds like your babe needs everything under the dominicus! Some parents want all of those cool baby products and gadgets that can brand life with the niggling one more than convenient. But for minimalists, parents on a budget, or new parents who are a bit overwhelmed, it'due south OK to stick to the basics. We promise—your baby won't notice the difference.

That said, existence prepared with the following items volition become you lot through the first days and weeks without having to make any last-minute runs to the store or online purchases, and will ensure that your baby is comfortable, well-fed, and has everything they need.

How to Fix for Baby: What Do You Actually Need?

Clothing and Layette

Although you may want a few cute outfits to show your little one off, your babe doesn't need annihilation fancy in those start few weeks, so sticking to unproblematic, plainly, budget-friendly clothing is fine.

It'south best not to purchase too many newborn clothing items because your baby volition outgrow them at lightning speeds. At the same time, you will exist going through lots of outfit changes, as newborn article of clothing can get messy, speedily.

What Yous Need

  • v-8 onesies, or other soft outfits, depending on how oftentimes you desire to practise laundry
  • 3-4 infant sleepers or sleep sacks
  • 5-vii pairs of babe socks
  • 1-2 newborn hats, depending on climate

When making these purchases, take into consideration how oftentimes you plan on doing laundry, and what the atmospheric condition is going to be like when your babe volition be born.

Well-nigh doctors still recommend newborns article of clothing hats in the start few weeks of life, but if you lot alive in a warm climate, you can usually forgo the lid.

Go on in mind information technology'south now recommended that newborn not slumber with blankets, so having some babe sleepers or sleep sacks on hand is essential.

Diapers

Diapers are an obvious newborn basic, yet choosing the best kind of diaper for your baby can actually feel confusing and stressful—who knew?! If you are torn between using cloth diapers or disposable, try to remember that at the finish of the day, both have their pluses and minuses and doing what works for your family and your lifestyle is e'er the best choice. That said, many families do a combination of cloth and disposable, so you can try out both and see what you like best.

Newborns can go through 8 to 10 diapers a 24-hour interval, and so make certain you accept plenty of diapers on hand. Remember, too, that they will outgrow the newborn size in a thing of weeks, so don't stock up also much.

Bath Items

For the first week or two, until your baby'southward umbilical cord falls off, doctors recommend giving your baby a sponge bath. Subsequently that, y'all don't really need to bathe your infant daily—3 times a week or so will suffice.

Bathing your baby too often can dry out or irritate their pare. Don't worry, though, between spit-ups and diaper changes, there will be lots of opportunity to do a little "spot cleaning" in between baths.

You can become minimalistic with your purchases here. That said, y'all want to have newborn-friendly soap and lotion, as baby peel can be very sensitive. Many of united states of america bathe our babies in baby bathtubs, but using the kitchen sink is just fine, provided it'southward been recently cleaned.

Grooming/First Aid

At first, you lot don't demand to stock your cabinets with a ton of baby training products or a full-fledged outset help kit. Yous will definitely demand a mode to trim those baby nails (they grow and so fast!). You'll as well need to be able to take your baby's temperature, and clean snot out of their nose, should the need ascend. Babies can be very stuffy at first!

What You lot Need

  • Baby nail clippers
  • Digital thermometer
  • Medicine dropper
  • Bulb syringe/nasal aspirator

You tin can agree off on purchasing baby pain relief medicine until your infant is a little older, every bit it is not recommended that newborns receive OTC pain relief medicine until after three-half dozen months of age, depending on the medicine and doctor recommendations.

Bedding and Sleep Needs

Whatever bed yous choose for your newborn (crib, cradle, bassinet, co-sleeper), it is recommended by the American University of Pediatrics that your babe sleep in the same room with you for the first six-12 months of life. In addition, bumpers, blankets, pillows, and soft toys are no longer recommended in infant beds. Talk about going minimalistic!

Although the AAP doesn't recommend sharing a bed with your babe, most breastfeeding mothers will fall asleep with their baby in their bed at some point, so information technology'south wise to keep a checklist of safe bedsharing guidelines on hand.

What You Need

  • Crib, cradle, bassinet, co-sleeper, or other safety sleep infinite for baby. If the crib has been used earlier, make sure information technology has all of its pieces and meets current safety standards
  • Crib mattress, or a mattress that fits properly in the cradle, bassinet, or co-sleeper
  • 3-4 fitted sheets for crib, cradle, bassinet, or co-sleeper
  • 1 waterproof crib mattress cover, unless your crib mattress is already fully sealed, or a waterproof pad to lay under the crib sheet
  • Baby monitor

These days, diapers are pretty absorbent, so you shouldn't accept to be cleaning upwardly too many heart-of-the-night messes. Still, make sure you have waterproofed your mattress, and that y'all accept several sheets bachelor for bedding changes. Brand sure to have a babe monitor around, too, as you lot will want to closely monitor your (hopefully sleeping!) baby when you get out the room.

Feeding Supplies

If yous are breastfeeding, y'all don't need much more than your breasts—and the contact information for a skilful lactation consultant or breastfeeding back up group should you run into a breastfeeding challenge (as we well-nigh all exercise at some betoken).

If you plan on formula feeding, it's proficient to discuss formula brands and types with your medico as well as how much formula to have on hand when you lot bring your baby dwelling.

Nonetheless you feed your baby, you lot will need a lot of burp cloths. Trust us.

If you programme on bottle-feeding, brand sure you have a scattering of bottles available to avoid middle-of-the-dark washing. A bottle brush is essential, but you can wait to encounter if you'll demand a canteen drying rack or bottle washing dishwasher handbasket.

Breastfeeding moms don't need much, but you'll want a few useful tools similar nursing pads and nipple cream—and a breast pump in case you lot need to pump for your newborn.

Gear and Piece of furniture

Contrary to pop belief, the just furniture you truly demand for your newborn is a place for them to sleep and a place to store their wearing apparel. Many of united states opt for much more than that—a irresolute table, dresser, plant nursery gliders, toy bin, boisterous seat, babe swing, etc.—and decorating the baby'south room can be a highlight. But if y'all wish, yous tin can concord off on those things until your baby is older, and y'all have a better idea of what they truly need.

You lot practice demand a mode to send your baby around. Car seats are mandatory, and hospitals won't let you get out unless y'all have a properly installed car seat in your machine. Across that, a stroller or a baby carrier are awesome and necessary for many of u.s.a., but you tin can also await on those if you lot choose.

You can purchase an infant-only or convertible model with a lower weight limit appropriate for newborns. Your baby will be rear-facing, and the Academy of American Pediatrics recommends, "children remain in a rear-facing car safety seat every bit long equally possible, until they reach the highest weight of summit allowed by their seat."

A Word From Verywell

That's it! See, information technology wasn't equally overwhelming as you idea information technology would exist, was it? While there are many baby products on the market that make a parent's life easier, the truth is, most are wants, not needs. And while it may exist tempting to buy every gadget on the shelf, remember your babe mostly needs a loving and circumspect parent and volition exist merely as happy with the basic items.

You can fill your registry list with these babe essentials and add on annihilation else yous find and honey. And remember—you tin can always add more than infant dress and other products to your registry, or just shop for the bonus items after your babe arrives.

What You Need When You Have a Baby

Source: https://www.verywellfamily.com/bare-necessities-basic-baby-needs-293962