This check list covers everything that a first-time parent will want and need to purchase. I have used every one of these products during the first few months at home with my newborn. Hopefully you find the level of detail to be helpful - I tried to be as descriptive as possible for you about the products that worked for my family as well as provide safety advice and useful tips.
I have not been endorsed by any of these products. Before purchasing any of these products, please do your due diligence to find out if any have been recalled.
I hope you find this list useful and I wish you the very best on your journey into parenthood.
BABY GEAR
£ Baby’s Crib
·
Do not put crib bumpers,
pillows, toys, or blankets in the crib. They are a health risk to the baby
before they are able to roll over by themselves.
·
Talk to your doctor once
your baby can roll over and back on their own to discuss what you can place in
the crib.
·
Do not put the crib over
the wall or floor heater – you will want to keep the temperature in the nursery
consistent and don’t want them next to the heater when it is on.
·
Tip: keep a fan in the
nursery too. Your baby will sleep better with constant white noise.
·
It is against health
codes for a business to sell cribs with a drop-side (in the past there were
cribs that lowered one panel so that you could easily pick up the baby. Too
many accidents occurred though.) If you buy a used crib, do not buy one
with this feature.
£ Crib Mattress
·
Sold separately from the
crib.
£ Fitted sheets for the
crib
·
no other blankets until
the Pediatrician gives you the OK.
£ A Crib Mobile
·
These days you can find
any theme you like on sites like: amazon.com; etsty.com; zulilly.com.
£ Baby Monitor
·
You can purchase the
traditional audio monitor or a modern video monitor.
£ High Chair with Booster
Seat combo
·
For when your child
starts to eat solids and can sit up on their own.
£ Diaper Bag
·
Choose one that is
decent sized, has easy front pockets to quickly shove something in or pull
something out, and that both parents wouldn’t mind carrying (or buy one for
each parent).
£ Car Seat Canopy
·
I highly recommend the
Mother’s Lounge because of the chic patterns, steal of a price (under $20), and
they fit most car seat makes and models.
£ Car Seat Liner
·
This is a thin insert
that you put between your baby’s body and the car seat that prevents less
sweating for your baby by allowing more air circulation.
£ Bumbo Seat
·
This is a dense foam
type of seat for when your baby can lift their head up but not sit up on their
own yet.
£ A Jumperoo
·
For when your baby is a
old enough to sit on their own and begins showing interest in standing. The
baby sits in this and can strengthen her legs by bouncing up and down. They
also are great for stimulation and play, as they have different sounds and moving
parts for the baby to play with.
£ Baby Carrier and/or Wrap
·
I cannot rave enough
about ErgoBaby Performance Carrier. Moby Wrap are great too.
·
This is my #1 recommended product. It allows you to hold your baby anywhere while keeping your hands
and arms free. Your baby will love it because they desire to be held. You will
love it because it not only makes it easier when you go out into the world but
is nice at home too when you want to get some chores or activities done.
·
Tip: YouTube videos on
how to tie.
·
Tip: Skip buying the
infant insert for the carrier and swaddle your baby in a blanket instead. It
works just as good, is just as safe, and saves you some cash.
£ Baby Swing
·
Seriously. This is my #2
recommending product. It is going to
save you your sanity.
·
Choose a model that
comes with a wall-plug – most are battery only (yikes).
·
We love our model:
Fisher Price Cradle ‘N Swing Snuggle Bunny
£ Pack & Play
·
We bought one with a
removable sleeper and diaper changer and used them both all the time her first
2 months. Well worth the extra cost.
·
They come in travel
versions too, which are smaller and lighter weight and great for the family
that lives in smaller quarters or visits other homes regularly.
·
Tip: purchase a fitting
play yard sheet too. This way if there is a diaper incident or other mess, you
can wash.
£ Rocker / Glider Chair
·
As a mom, I so enjoy my
rocker. Babies crave motion, especially newborns. Rockers allow you to bond
with your baby and give your feet its much-needed rest. There is nothing more
peaceful than rocking my baby to sleep in my arms as we sit comfortably in the
Glider chair
£ Stroller
·
These days you can find
a stroller & car seat combo package. The car seat buckles in to the
stroller so that you can take your newborn on walks or out in public.
£ Car Seat
·
When possible, always
buy new so that you are sure the car seat is not a recalled model. If you
buy or are given a used model, research online the specific model and try to
find out the year your model is too.
·
Graco has a massive
recall in 2013 and 2014. Research this.
·
Most infant car seats
now provide a base that stays buckled in to the car and the car seat snaps in
and out of it. Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy.
·
Use the LATCH system
whenever possible
·
ALWAYS seat rear-facing
and in the back seat (research current stats for the age, weight limit, and/or
height limit to when you can transition to forward seating seats and boosters.
·
When possible, position
the car seat in the middle seat. This is the safest spot for the baby.
·
Ask your doctor or the
hospital about local “car seat installation” sessions – these are free and are
instructed by certified people who can teach you the correct ways to buckle in
your baby into the car seat and then how to correctly secure the infant seat
into the car.
£ Infant bath
·
Bath time is such a fun
bonding times for your baby and you.
·
Get hooded towels, a
rubber duckie, and baby wash cloths and you are good to go!
·
Baby and I enjoy the
“First Year’s Infant to Toddler Tub with Sling” model because it
transitions as your baby grows. Plus, it is designed to fit right on the
kitchen sink, so you don't have to hurt your back bending over the regular tub.
£ Bouncer seat
·
Your baby will love this
and so will you.
£ Activity Gym
·
For tummy time and back
time. This is great for independent play time too.
£ Plush baby blankets
·
Super soft and work great
on cold days or for laying out on the floor during tummy time.
£ Muslin swaddle blankets
·
Light-weight and work on
warm days and for sleeping in the crib AFTER the doctor gives you
permission.
CLOTHING
£ You will likely receive more outfits as presents than you may
anticipate, because many people cannot resist the adorable clothes and teeny
weeny sizes.
£ Dreft baby laundry
detergent
·
Wash everything before
baby arrives.
·
As you buy new clothes,
wash them before you put them on the baby.
£ Baby hangers and / or a
dresser for storage
·
I also bought some
inexpensive bins for storing go-to’s like towels.
£ Swaddle Wraps &
Sacks
·
Yes, a blanket works.
But this is SO much easier and keeps the baby wrapped up better.
·
Get a Halo Swaddle Wrap.
Trust me! For our first days at home, this was a necessity, therefore This is my #3
recommending product.
£ Sleepers size newborn
& 0-3 Month
·
Long sleeve, pant leg,
cuff on wrist to cover the hands. (at least 6 in each size).
·
Babies tend to scratch
up their face with their finger nails, so covering their hands is a good idea.
My baby would knock off mittens, so I preferred these long-sleeve sleepers with
the built in hand cover instead.
£ Onsies
·
Sizes newborn and 0-3
Month
·
Long sleeve and short
sleeve (at least 6).
£ A Hat
·
At least one in new born
size and one in 0-3 months.
·
Your baby cannot control
its temperature yet. Keep a hat on him/her for her first few days; you can
remove it after the 3rd day or so.
£ Socks
·
For their little toes
and feet that you will kiss over and over again.
·
Socks work great as hand
mittens too – they stay on longer than mittens.
GENERAL CARE AND HYGIENE
£ Diapers – Pampers
Swaddlers
·
I LOVE Pampers brand the
most.
·
Buy in sizes Newborn and
1 first .
·
These are my favorite.
When the diaper is soiled a blue line appears, so you know when a new one is
needed with just a glance.
·
Check out Diapers.com…
we order a case of diapers and wipes and have it mailed to the house.
Stocking up is always a good idea. It is cost-effective and you don’t end up
going to the store every week.
£ Wipes
·
Pampers Sensitive is the
brand I like the most, but each parent has their own preference
£ Diaper Genie and bags
£ Diaper pad (with diaper pad cover)
£ Disposable underpads
·
Place under the baby
when changing diapers –especially for you first-time parents who will need time
to change diapers in the beginning.
£ Thermometer
·
Rectal works best
(unfortunately).
·
Ear thermometers are OK
but not as accurate.
£ Bulb Syringe Aspirator (the nose suction thingy)
·
Forget the cute little
pink or blue ones at Target. You need the hospital-grade large ones.
·
Sometimes you need to
suck over and over again to get the boogies out. Your little one may cry and
scream, but those boogies need to come out. So when you are done, know that
somewhere I am thinking “good job mommy/daddy!”
£ Mommy’s Bliss Gripe Water
·
This is a natural remedy
if your baby has gas. Follow instructions on the box.
£ Gas Relief Drops
·
This is another remedy
for gas relief. Follow instructions on the box.
£ Vitamin D in liquid drop
form (talk to your doctor about this).
£ Baby bath towels and
wash cloths.
£ Baby shampoo, wash, and
lotion.
£ Diaper Crème
·
Buttpaste (yup, that’s
what the brand is).
£ NO baby powder
·
It is for toddlers.
·
It is not for newborns
and young infants as they are not supposed to inhale it.
ENTERTAINMENT & EDUCATION
£ Children’s Books
·
It is never too early to
start reading to your baby.
·
Start with board books
so that your baby can touch and grab without ripping pages. Touch &
Play books are fun too, because they provide the additional sensory feature of
different fabrics and textures.
·
A few of my personal
favorites:
§
Twinkle Twinkle Little
Star by Kate Toms
§
Guess How Much I Love
You by Sam McBratney
§
Brown Bear Brown Bear by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle
£ Music, Music, MUSIC
·
Pandora’s “Heavenly Lullabies”
station.
§
It plays music like
Aerosmith, Adele, etc. in musical versions.
§
We use an iPod speaker
and play it all the time.
§
When you are up at all
hours of the night comforting your baby, the music will soothe you both.
£ TOYS!
·
Make sure they are age
appropriate to avoid choking hazards. For instance, avoid stuffed animals
with bead/glass eyes: your infant loves to put everything in its mouth and
could potentially get the eye off the toy and into its mouth and accidentally
choke.
·
Toys for your baby to
chew and gnaw on.
·
Taggies
§
These are toys with
little tags from ribbon placed all over, because one genius caught on that
babies always seem to find the tag on a toy and suck on it.
·
Toys that make sounds or
play music
§
Like the Fisher Price
Laugh & Learn puppy
£ A Harmony Lantern
·
Night-light Lantern with
swap-out screens. http://www.harmonylantern.com/ .
·
We received this as a
gift. It works wonderful as a night-light and I find it gorgeous. The
baby finds it mesmerizing as well. They offer so many insert options,
like ones for the holidays and others to match your nursery theme.
£ Crib Soother
·
This great for when your
baby is a few months old and wants some calming music/sound and light to fall
asleep to. Mine loved this Little Einstein Under the Sea soother.
BREASTFEEDING, PUMPING, &
FORMULA - OH MY!
Moms are going to do one of the following options: breastfeed
exclusively, pump their milk elusively, formula feed exclusively, or find
a combination of the three that works for them. I strongly urge you to be
sensitive to other moms and how they feed their baby. You are entitled to your
opinion on what you think is best, but don't forget that she is too and she may
not believe the same method that you use is right for her family. Correct me if
I am wrong, but one of the biggest annoyances is when someone else tries to
tell you that your parenting method is wrong.
First, let me begin with this: Breastfeeding is hard at first.
Nobody warned me about this! You and your baby are both doing it for the first
time. Some babies latch on with no problem; others, like mine, have difficulty
latching on. Some women produce enough milk and have the right flow. I was
lucky enough to produce enough milk, but my flow did not accommodate baby’s
needs.
Second: Pumping for the first time is so comical. You will be
amazed by how “the ladies” work, and proud of the quantity you produce. I hated
to pump at first, but then I got used to it. So, stick with it even if you
don’t want to… but then, if you still can’t or don’t want to continue, it is
your decision alone to switch to formula. My daughter responded the best
to Similac formula, specifically the Sensitive product.
£ Privacy cover – for feeding or pumping with privacy.
·
I recommend Bebe Au
Lait, it has piping at the neck so that can easily see what you or the baby are
doing. I’ve used one without and you end up holding the screen up the entire
time.
£ Breast Pads
·
Wear these so that
if/when you leak, your blouse and bra are protected.
·
I purchased a whole bulk
order off of amazon.com.
£ Lanolin Cream
·
for sore or cracked
nipples.
£ Nipple Shields
·
They help the baby latch
on and they save you some of the discomfort.
£ Medela Double Breast
Pump.
·
Check with your health
insurance plan, sometimes your coverage provides free or discounted
breast pump.
·
Tip: Pump both breasts
at the same time. This will save you a lot of time.
·
Tip: Buy an “Easy
Expression Bustier”!!! Trust me, it looks silly but you will need free hands
for your own sanity.
·
Tip: Buy multiple sets
of pump shields. This way you aren’t washing bottles and pump supplies after
every use. I have a set of 5 and do a wash 2xs a day.
£ Bottles
·
You can purchase packs
that come with 5oz bottles (you will not need an 8ox until at least after
3months), Slow flow nipples (for ages 0-4months), lids and caps.
£ Palmolive Baby Soap
·
For bottles, toys, and
dishes (you can find them in the soap aisle with other sink detergents).
£ Bottle brush and wands
· for scrubbing dirty
bottles, toys, and dinnerware.
·
Stock up, because you
will go through a lot over the months and they are inexpensive.
£ Bottle Drying Rack
PRODUCTS I SWEAR BY AND USE DAILY:
