Becoming a new parent can fill you with several emotions from excited to nervous. To help alleviate some of the stress that comes with preparing for the new arrival, we have created a comprehensive buying guide of things to buy before baby arrives. With everything on the market today, it can become overwhelming to decide which items are absolutely necessary for when the new baby arrives. Therefore, use our list of the most important things to buy before baby arrives that the new mom needs, as well as the products needed in a nursery after she brings the baby home.
For the Baby
Accessories
Among the things to buy before baby arrives are accessories. When you’re rushing to ensure everything else is in order for the new baby, oftentimes, the little things are overlooked. For the sake of your baby’s comfort when they come home it’s important to stock up on some extra, useful items. You can find ideas for some of the necessary accessories below.
- Diaper Rash Cream: It’s easy for a newborn’s skin to become aggravated. This cream fights off discomfort for them and stress for you down the road. Go for natural products that won’t further irritate them.
- Grooming Supplies: You will need things such as a nail file, comb, and brush. Clipping a newborn’s fingernails is tough, so it’s easier to file them down in the beginning. Also, they have specific baby combs and brushes that are gentle to keep their hair maintained without hurting them.
- Pacifiers: A soothie is a good choice and size for newborns to keep them comfortable when you can’t. It’s also helpful to have orthodontic pacifiers for when they’re older and you need to start considering their budding teeth.
- Thermometer: It’s impossible to avoid fevers. Though you can feel if the baby is warm with your hand, you need accuracy in the form of a thermometer. The rectal types are the most accurate in these cases.
Necessities
How do you determine what are the necessary things to buy before baby arrives? Well, you have to consider things such as the way they eat, what happens when they get sick, and so on. These are among the first things you should stock your nursery with. That way you know when the time comes you are not scrambling to clean up your baby’s accidents, or stressing for ways to soothe them when they’re sick.
- Bottles & Formula: They’re essential if you’re not breastfeeding, or if your baby can’t eat yet. Talk with your doctor about which formula will be best. As for the bottles, stock up on a mixture of types for newborns as well as for older babies so you can transition them when ready.
- Diapers: You’ll go through these the most whether they’re disposable diapers or cloth ones, as babies relieve themselves often. Do not, however, overwhelm the nursery with newborn sizes as they’ll outgrow them faster than you think.
- Disposable Wipes: These are not only useful for cleaning up after diaper changes, but they can also help keep the cord area clean. Avoid fragrances at first as they can bother the newborn.
- Medication: Illness can strike at any time, so speak with your doctor about what’s best to have on-hand such as to treat fevers or calm irritable stomachs. Also, keep close a medicine spoon and eye dropper to deliver the medication easier. Also, a bulb syringe is beneficial to suction mucus.
Furniture & Gear
Shopping for your baby’s furniture and gear is just as important as the furniture shopping you did for your home. Your baby requires comfort and safety when they sleep, bathe, and leave the home with you. So, when you’re looking for things to buy before baby arrives, it’s vital that you don’t put off purchasing any of these items to ensure the well-being of your child.
- Bathtub: Babies cannot yet bathe in a regular tub, and newborns can hardly do sink baths at first. A baby bathtub will be a tremendous help as it keeps them secure more than anything.
- Car Seat: You can’t leave the hospital without one as the baby won’t be safe when riding along with you. We recommend purchasing a convertible car seat in advance so that you can practice installing it correctly.
- Crib/Bassinet/Co-Sleeper: There are several ways your baby can sleep. If you are comfortable with them being in a crib, then you can have one already set up in the nursery. However, bassinets keep them close by your bed, while co-sleepers are designed for those who want their baby actually in the bed yet still safe.
- Stroller/Baby Carrier: As you won’t be in the house all the time, a stroller allows you and your baby to get some air without you carrying them. With the baby carrier, you can keep them close to you and have your hands free to do other tasks whether it’s outside or inside the home.
Clothes & Shoes
Your baby will need something to come home in just as much as you will. Beyond that, they probably won’t be sitting in a diaper all day, so having a wardrobe waiting will save you from worrying about whether or not they’re comfortable. Remember to pre-wash everything with a gentle detergent to curb any reactions they may have.
- Blankets: Receiving blankets serve a multitude of purposes from keeping them warm, being used as a changing mat, or just a surface for them to lie on. Swaddling blankets help them feel secure, while heavier blankets are best for colder temperatures.
- One-Pieces/Body Suits: These include onesies, rompers, etc. They’re easy to put on over your baby’s head, and they’re just as easy to slip off when you need to change your baby. In fact, they’re mostly what your baby will wear most of the time.
- Pajamas: Pajamas and gowns aren’t just useful at night for their comfort, but for the first few weeks. Many are made with the umbilical-cord stub in mind as they’re looser around the area to prevent rubbing against it.
- Socks/Shoes/Leggings: When the blankets won’t do, socks, booties, and leggings maintain your baby’s comfort and warmth. You can also begin putting shoes on your baby’s feet to help them get ready to walk when the time comes.
- 100% cotton is soft against delicate skin
- Measures aprox. 30in x 27in size
- Machine washable cold and tumble dry low
For the New Mother
Accessories
Your due date can approach faster than you think. Though you’ve narrowed down things to buy before baby arrives for that little bundle of joy, you can’t forget about yourself. Your comfort is important as well, so there are items that can alleviate stress and reduce pain you may experience after giving birth.
- Breast Care: Your nipples are going to feel sore and tender, especially if you’re breastfeeding. There are many creams available that keep them from drying out and causing you more pain.
- Burp Cloths: Babies spit up. You can’t exactly prevent it considering how often they eat throughout the day, so a burp cloth can leave you prepared for any messes and save your clothes from damage.
- Diaper Bag: These handy (and fashionable nowadays) bags have compartments for everything the baby needs when you travel such as wipes, clothes, medicine, etc. It keeps their items secured and easily accessible so you don’t have to worry about finding anything.
Clothes
Likewise, with how you prepared for the pregnancy, you’ll need specific post-pregnancy clothing items. Your body has undergone yet another change, and you’ll understand it all once you return home. As long as you have these clothing items, you should feel more at ease.
- Breast Pads: Leakage can be a task to clean up, as well as embarrassing, so be sure to have breast pads even if you’re breastfeeding or not. They keep the leakage conspicuous and away from your clothes.
- Nursing Bras: These type of bras make for a much easier time breastfeeding as many unclasp right in the front so you don’t have to remove the bra.
- Nursing Cover: They are designed to provide you and your baby more privacy when you’re breastfeeding out in public. By being covered, your baby isn’t distracted by anything else going on around them so they can focus purely on feeding.
Necessities
Out of all the things to buy before baby arrives, there are certain necessary items that will make your post-pregnancy transition far easier. Necessities include things to make feeding time a smoother task as well as helping your body return to its previous state by relieving you of any post-delivery discomfort.
- Breast Pump: By pumping your breast milk and storing several bottles, you’ll save on time. Also, it allows you to get rest so someone else can feed the baby, or it lets you run errands or return to work without worry.
- Ice Packs: Soreness and swelling occur after delivery or around an incision site if you had a C-section. An ice pack is used as a numbing and anti-swelling agent.
- Maxi Pads: Bleeding (postpartum vaginal discharge) will occur after you give birth, and that’s where maxi pads come in. They absorb well and keep you comfortable and your clothes clean.
Conclusion
Parenthood for the first time can be scary no matter how excited you are. If you want to eliminate at least some of anxiety, there are many things to buy before baby arrives that will ease your worries. We know for sure the above list will act as a guide for you. If you have anything you want to contribute, leave your thoughts in the comments below.
Last update on 2021-01-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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