Email: "Before Bringing Baby Home"
*To:		<--TO Email REQUIRED!
*From:		<--FROM Email REQUIRED!

What do you need in those first few weeks after you bring your baby home? You’ll read what the experts had to say, and then checked in with parents - and find that people have very different ideas of what’s essential. And, when you consider that humans raised babies for thousands of years without plastic bottles or rubber crib sheets, it’s clear that “need” is a fuzzy concept.


Still, your baby will require a few basics: A place to sleep, a safe seat in the car, clothes to wear, diapers and some key items for eating, getting around, and staying safe.





CLOTHING:


•One-piece outfits (4-7): One-piece bodysuits dramatically simplify dressing. Look for clothes made in a soft fabric with wide head openings and loose-fitting ankle and leg cuffs. Also, look for finished seams so there are no rough or scratchy parts, and avoid zippers, which can pinch tender skin.


•One-piece pajamas or nightgowns (4-7): Nightgowns with drawstrings at the bottom are useful because you won’t have to fuss with snaps during nighttime diaper changes. Make sure that whatever you choose is warm so your baby is more likely to sleep comfortably.


•Cotton shirts (4-7): Choose soft shirts, preferably with snaps at the neck for easier fitting. Undershirts are good for layering and also will protect your newborn’s skin from any seams or roughness in his outer garments. Choose undershirts that snap under the crotch so they don’t ride up.


•Sweater or jacket (1): Most babies don’t like having clothes pulled over their heads, so warm up your baby with a sweater or jacket that buttons down the front.


•Fleecewear or snowsuits: If you have a winter baby, we recommend finding a one-piece fleece suit to keep her warm on your outings. They’re often hooded and come in many styles. Snowsuits are a little more expensive and not necessary since your baby is unlikely to be playing in the snow. In either case, buy big.


•Sock and booties (4-7): Stores may sell shoes for newborns, but you don’t need them for the simple reason that your baby isn’t walking. So, warm your baby’s feet in socks or booties.


•Cap or bonnet: (1-3): You’ll want a broad-brimmed hat for a summer baby, or a soft, warm hat that covers the ears for a winter baby.


Diapers:


Much about your life in these early weeks involves changing diapers. You’ll want to be prepared. About 80 percent of parents opt for disposable diapers. Other choose a professional diaper service, and even fewer wash their own at home.


Decide which kind of diapers you want to use and stock up ahead of time. Keep in mind that you’ll be going through 10 to 12 diapers each day during the first few weeks. If you do plan to use disposables, we recommend buying at least three large packs (about 150 diapers). If you plan to use cloth, you’ll need six to 10 packs (12 diapers per pack) of pre-folded diaper-service-quality diapers. For cloth, you’ll also need a diaper pail, diaper covers, and rubber pants. Go with diaper wraps made withVelcro otherwise you’ll be stuck using pins or clips.


Front pack or sling: Newborns love being held close; the warmth of your body and the thump of your heart will soothe like nothing else. A pack or sling also leaves your hands free to do other things.


Stroller: For a newborn, you’ll want a stroller that reclines — babies shouldn’t be propped upright until they’re about 3 months old or until they’ve developed strong neck muscles. If you’re shopping for a new stroller, look for wide wheels, adjustable straps and easy steering.


MEALTIME:


Bibs (4): Bibs keep spit-up and drool off clothes — need we say more?


Bottles and nipples: Even if you plan to breast-feed exclusively, having a few bottles and newborn nipples at home is a good idea. If you plan to use formula exclusively, you’ll go through roughly 10 four-ounce bottles a day.


SLEEPING:


Crib: You can get by without a crib at first — your newborn can sleep in a padded laundry basket or drawer if necessary. But, unless you plan to have your baby share your bed, you’ll need a crib eventually. You’ll also need a firm mattress, a couple of sheets and blankets.


Receiving blankets (4): Use this versatile item to swaddle and comfort your baby, as an extra layer for warmth, in place of towels, for catching spit-up or whatever else you can think of.


SAFETY:


Car seat: The law requires that your child sit in a car seat while riding in any car —even on the way home from the hospital. For a newborn, you have two choices: an infant seat designed to be used until your baby weighs 20 pounds or a convertible seat designed to be use by both babies and older children (though not at the same time).


Plastic bathtub: Using a tub specially designed to hold a wriggling baby will keep your baby safe an give your back a break as well.

Share: