The arrival of a new baby can be life-changing and exciting. The journey is filled with twists and great memorable experiences for new parents. Therefore, it pays to be prepared for your baby’s arrival to reduce the anxiety that often comes with newborns. However, most parents often wonder what essentials they need to usher in the tiny human in this world. Well, here is a checklist of baby essentials that you will require to care for your bundle of joy.
Clothing Essentials
While you may want fancy clothes to show off the tiny human, your baby needs simple clothes. Make sure that they are made of safe, natural, soft, and comfortable fabrics. Also, avoid buying too many newborn clothes because they grow and outweigh the clothes too fast. Some must-have garments, regardless of the season, include cotton sweaters, onesies, zip-up sweaters, sleepsuits, and rompers. Additionally, you require socks, hats, anti-scratch mittens, soft baby booties, and t-shirts.
Nursery Essentials
You need a comfortable and safe room or space for your tiny human. Ensure that the nursery includes a diaper changing station, a sleeping place, and storage space for the baby’s clothes. Some necessary nursery essentials you might need before your baby arrives are a dresser, a baby mobile, and a hamper. You might also need a rocking chair, crib and mattress, baby monitor, vaporizer or humidifier, and changing table.
Bath Items
Your doctor will advise you to sponge bath your newborn before the umbilical cord falls off. Therefore, you need a few bath essentials to use within the first week or two. Ensure that you have a baby bathtub, baby washcloths, baby sponge, and hooded towels for bathing your newborn. Also, new parents require at least a bottle of baby lotion and a baby bath wash. Please remember to shop for baby-friendly bath essentials that won’t irritate your baby’s sensitive skin.
Diapering Essentials
You cannot adequately prepare for a new baby’s arrival without buying diapers and a diaper bag. You may choose to use disposable diapers, reusable cloth diapers, or both. Besides the diapers, you need baby wipes that come in various options. To cater to your entire newborn baby’s needs, be sure to buy changing pad covers, table pads, and grasping toys to distract the little one during diaper changes. When purchasing a diaper bag, consider its functionality and comfort since you need to carry it around. A diaper bag backpack stylish design would be a great idea.
Items for Going Outdoors
You might want to go out and explore the world with your newborn a few weeks after birth. Therefore, you need a few essentials to cater to your baby’s needs while out. Invest in a sling, soft front wrap or carrier, a wet bag if you use reusable diapers, and a travel bag big enough for your baby’s essentials. A portable bed, stroller, rear-facing infant car seat, and car sunshades are also necessary.
Nursing Essentials
New mothers need nursing essentials in preparation for a newborn’s arrival. The list of nursing essentials varies depending on whether you choose to breastfeed or formula-feed the little one. Prepare a few nursing bras, comfortable nursing night ware, nipple cream to prevent cracked nipples, and breast pads. You also need a breast pump to express breast milk, a sterilizer for baby bottles, enough baby bottles, a nursing pillow, and baby bottle brushes.
First-Aid Kit
You may not need a cabinet full of baby grooming and first-aid products. However, a few essentials are necessary, such as baby nail clippers, a digital thermometer, and a medicine dropper. You also need a nasal aspirator or bulb syringe. Baby pain relief medicine is also necessary as your little one gets older.
It’s not overwhelming to prepare for a new baby’s arrival. The list of essential items makes the process easier and helps you prepare adequately. It’s also vital for new parents to remain calm and create time to bond with their newborn babies.