As a mum-to-be, you need to gather all the necessary stuff and prepare your home and mindset not to be taken aback by unforeseen situations that may appear. Keep reading to understand better the things you need when the big day comes.
Clothes
A newborn baby's size can be between 48.2 and 50.8 centimeters and usually weigh between 2.5 kg and 4.5 kg. Therefore, there's no need to stock up on too many clothes because newborns grow about 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters a month and gain from 140 to 200 grams weekly. You want to avoid spending money unnecessarily to throw clothes away, especially when you will be spending lots of money on clothing in their first years of life. To reduce clothing expenses, you can choose one size ahead of your baby's size and roll their sleeves up. Let's be honest: baggy clothes are comfy for everybody!
To ensure your baby’s wardrobe has everything they need, get the following pieces of clothing:
- Around 10 short-sleeved and long-sleeved onesies, depending on the season
- Some pyjama sets
- Around ten pairs of socks and two pairs of soft booties
- Cotton hoodies
- Sun hats
- Anti-scratch mittens
- Bibs
- Swaddles
You can skip swaddling your baby if they are already happy and can sleep well without being swaddled. This technique has been progressively losing ground for new moms. Nevertheless, research shows that swaddling increases the quality of sleep, the chances of soothing your crying newborn and resembles the environment that was in your womb. Get a few swaddling blankets as a backup plan if they struggle to nap. They are multi-purposely helpful and can be used as changing or car blankets too.
General supplies
Babies need grooming as well. And it is good to have on hand things like:
- Baby thermometer
- First aid kit
- Petroleum jelly
Put the necessary ones in your backpack or a pushchair to ensure you don't leave without the essential objects.
Diapers and sensitive skin-wipes
Build up stocks of diapers because you can expect to change your infant's diaper every two to three hours and use around 12 a day. Consequently, ensure you never run out of baby wipes and anti-itch soothing baby cream because they can irritate sometimes.
Air purifier
You can have an air purifier as a preventive measure even though your child doesn't suffer from respiratory issues. It filters the allergens and irritants out for an overall improved quality of the air you and your baby breathe.
Sterilising utensils
You can boil the bottles, though sterilizing them is safer, quicker and more effective. Get a microwave steam or electric steam sterilizer regardless of whether you breastmilk or formula-feed your baby because it protects your baby against infections and germs. Keep in mind that it is advisable to sterilize the baby bottles once a day. Also, if you want to breastmilk, have milk-storage bags, nursing pads and a breast pump always on hand.
Suitable prams and pushchairs
A pushchair makes transporting your baby easier and enables you to share the world with your loved baby. They can be comfortable for both of you and look stylish at the same time.
Buying a suitable pushchair can be hard when there's so much variety. You can opt for a pram or a travel buggy and pick one with special wheels for heavier terrain. They must be foldable, sturdy, easy to transport and to drag on all kinds of terrain. Maxi-Cosi recommends a pram with a parasol and a mosquito net to defend your baby from the hot summer burning sun and from insect bites.
It is good to choose an easy-to-carry one if you live in an apartment, and make sure it is compatible with car seats if you travel by car. You must pick a good-quality comfy one because you need to lie your baby flat to protect their back, breathing and development, so don't be stingy about a few more pounds.
Find a pushchair that suits your needs too. For example, one or two spacious pram baskets attached will serve many purposes and help you carry less weight on your back and shoulders. Also, have a carrycot as a backup plan for when you cannot take the stroller with you.
A crib or bassinet
Both cribs and bassinets deliver pretty much the same features and offer a safe sleep for the newly born. A crib has the following advantages:
- It is stable and sturdy
- It has a prolonged lifespan
- It can be used as a toddler bed
- Come in a wide variety of styles, sizes, colours and shapes
And a crib's downs are these down below:
- It can be costlyIt occupies more space
- A basinet's conveniences are:
- Allows you to move your baby around the housIt is cheaper
- It is easier to lean overIt doesn't take up much space
A bassinet's cons are:
- It has weight limits
- It is only suitable for a baby's first few months
Car seat
Babies should sit in the back of the car, rear-facing, to minimize all the injuries in an unexpected and unfortunate car accident. Plus, carrying them in the front seat with activated airbags is illegal.
You should own a baby car seat and practice fitting it in the car before they are born. You have to try them in your car, and it might take some time before you find the perfect one. Buy one for your child's newborn baby size and weight, and opt for a lightweight one if you have back pain.
Conclusion
There are basics and essentials that you need in order to increase the newborn's comfort and protection. But these necessities differ from family to family, from budget to budget and from home to home.
Ensure you have the financial and mental means to offer a healthy environment for your baby.
And don't be shy to ask for acquaintances' pieces of advice or if their children no longer use clothes and objects. Because you can return this favour by donating the things you can dispose of and make someone's motherhood experience easier as well. This is the gift that keeps on giving!
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