A master list for moms and dads
Consumer Reports Video
BUYING ADVICE
Newborn necessities
Here's a checklist of what you should have on hand before your baby arrives.
Tooling around
_____Car seat.
_____Stroller.
Beds and linens
_____Crib.
_____Crib mattress.
_____Bassinet/cradle (if you don't want to put your baby in a crib right away).
_____Two to three fitted crib sheets.
_____Four or more waffle-weave cotton receiving blankets for swaddling baby
_____Two mattress pads.
_____One to two waterproof liners (for crib or bassinet).
Diaper duty
_____Diapers. Disposables: One 40-count package of newborn (birth
weight under 8 pounds) or of
size 1 (birth weight over 8 pounds). Cloth: Two to three dozen, plus
six to 10 snap-on, waterproof
outer pants, and two to three sets of diaper pins, eight to 10
all-in-ones or diaper system covers;
two to three dozen diaper system inserts.
_____Diaper pail (with refills or bags as needed).
_____Diaper bag.
Dressing baby
_____Four sleeping outfits or one-piece sleepers with attached feet.
_____Six side-snap T-shirts.
_____Four to six one-piece undershirts that snap around the crotch.
_____A small baby cap (although the hospital will probably give you one).
_____Six pairs socks/booties.
_____Two to three soft, comfortable daytime outfits. Get only a few
items in newborn size. Then, go for
clothing in the 6-month size--your baby will grow into it quickly. But
don't buy baby sleepwear
that's too big--it's a safety hazard.
_____Cotton sweater or light jacket.
Summer babies
_____Brimmed hat.
Winter babies
_____Snowsuit with attached mittens or fold-over cuffs, or heavy bunting.
_____Heavy stroller blanket.
_____Warm knit hat.
Feeding time
If you're planning to breast-feed:
_____Three to five nursing bras.
_____A box of washable or disposable breast pads.
_____Breast pump if you expect to use one (manual or electric).
_____Four small baby bottles with newborn nipples for storing
expressed breast milk.
_____Bottle-drying tree.
_____Bottle brush.
_____Insulated bottle holder for diaper bag (the hospital may give you one).
_____Three packs of cloth diapers or burp cloths.
If you're planning to bottle-feed:
_____Six 4- to 5-ounce bottles, plus nipples, rings, and a dishwasher
basket if you use a dishwasher.
Bathing/Grooming
_____Plastic infant bathtub.
_____Three soft hooded towels.
_____Two packs of baby washcloths.
_____Baby body wash that doubles as shampoo.
_____Pair of blunt-tip scissors or baby-sized nail clippers.
_____Zinc-oxide-based diaper rash ointment.
_____Soft brush and comb.
_____Mild laundry detergent.
Medicine chest essentials
_____A pain-and-fever reducer recommended by your baby's doctor, such
as Infant's Tylenol.
_____Cotton pads/swabs.
_____Nasal aspirator.
_____Digital rectal thermometer.
_____Rubbing alcohol.
_____Petroleum jelly.
Keeping baby happy
_____Pacifiers.
Extras: Nice but optional
_____Baby monitor.
_____Changing table.
_____A rocker or glider.
_____Sling or strap-on soft carrier.
_____Boppy, a doughnut-shape pillow designed to make holding baby
during breastfeeding or
bottlefeeding easier.
_____Nursing coverup. Attaches at your neck and allows for private
breastfeeding when you and your
baby are in public.
_____Infant swing.
_____Bouncy seat.
_____Night-light.
4 comments:
ooh, a tip i learned from another new mom: layer the crib mattress with alternating layers of waterproof mattress pad and crib sheet. when baby wets/dirties crib, just peel off!
ADDITION:
-mylecon gas drops - except i've seen natural alternative stuff.
that list is enormous!
Hey Emily- Congrats on the pregnancy (a little late in getting the news)so excited for y'all though! Definitely get Mylicon drops & a Boppy pillow! Don't go too overboard with the tiny clothes cause you never know how fast your child will grow(my daughter was really little for ages and stayed in newborn for almost 6 months but my son was huge and lasted in newborn clothes for about 6 days). Hope all's well!
~Laura (Raulston) McCarthy
I tell new moms everyone needs a good sling (not something you can buy in a big box store generally, Target has one option) and an amazing miracle blanket. These two items will get you more sleep and less crying. One of my best friends here has a 9 yo and a 4 yo and she told me as soon as she got pregnant "i don't do slings, you are going to have to deal." (I lead a sling group locally that is really popular.) She called me from the hospital for suggestions and now owns three (or more?) by four months. She bought the miracle blanket the first week. She has definitely convinced others.
Definitely think of your floor space as you buy. A lot of baby crud is big and unwieldy!
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