Looking Forward to Baby - 6 Baby Must-Haves
Have you looked up baby registry items recently? It can be quite overwhelming, especially for a first-time parent or parent who has a large gap between children, to sift through the essential baby items and luxury items to find only what they truly need. Sure, items that make life easier are great to have, but if you want just the basics, we’ve got the list for you!
1. Car Seat:
Unless you don’t own a car and don’t plan to leave the hospital in one, as a new parent, you’ll need to purchase a car seat. In the United States, each state has laws requiring that babies leaving the hospital in a car have a proper car seat. While that doesn’t mean that it must be a carrier type infant seat, they are a convenient and popular choice. Many parents will buy an infant carrier and purchase multiple bases for it, so they can easily buckle the infant carrier into each of their vehicles. Oftentimes these are sold as a set with a matching stroller. (There is also a kind of infant carrier that has wheels that will convert the whole thing into a stroller!) Since most hospitals have policies that require staff to inquire about (or even see) a car seat before discharge, a car seat is something you want to make sure to have in your vehicle before you plan to take baby home. Some parents will install the car seat a few weeks before the baby is born so they are ready if labor begins earlier than anticipated. Others choose not to do that in case something goes wrong. Convertible car seats can also be a convenient, long-lasting option. Parents using an infant seat generally switch their children to a convertible seat anywhere between 9 months and 2 years, depending on their child's size. They can be adjusted as your child grows and can convert into an appropriate seat for various sizes and stages. There are many car seats to choose from, so research and pick the one that is best for your family. Just remember, if you’re planning to reuse one from one of your previous children (if applicable), make sure it is still well within the expiration date!
2. Feeding Supplies:
No matter how you decide to feed your child, every new parent will need to buy some feeding supplies. If you are inducing lactation, you’ll need a breast pump. Hospital grade pumps are great for inducing lactation. Check with your local hospital or a lactation specialist to find out how to rent one. You’ll also want to purchase extra pump parts for sanitary reasons and in case something breaks. Unless you are exclusively breastfeeding, you’ll need bottles. Don’t forget breastmilk storage bags, bottle cleaning supplies, a lot of burp cloths, formula (if applicable), and a breastfeeding pillow (good for bottle feeding too). Some bottles cause babies to swallow a lot of air, which leads to gassiness, which leads to fussy babies! It’s good to buy a couple of different kinds of bottles to see what your baby prefers before purchasing a lot of one kind. One awesome product for parents whose children are born via surrogacy is the supplemental nursing system. The SNS can be used by men and women, and it can be filled with formula or breastmilk. This is a great way to bond with your baby! It also helps increase milk supply in people who have induced lactation. Keep in mind that if you’re breastfeeding, you’ll need to buy items for yourself, like nipple pads, ointment, ice packs, etc.
3. Diapering Items:
Babies poop a lot. They also pee a lot. Diapers are very important! There are disposable diapers or cloth diapers. Cloth diapers have come a long way since the safety pin days. While some people don’t like them, they can make life easier at times. Instead of running to the store every time you run out of diapers, you can just throw them in the washing machine. Cloth diapers can be environmentally friendly, helpful for babies with sensitive skin, and less expensive than disposable diapers. Some parents who choose to use cloth diapers will do it exclusively or use cloth diapers during the day and disposable diapers at night. On the other hand, disposable diapers can be more convenient and practical (especially if you live somewhere with a shared laundry unit!) They are quick to use, generally easy to find for purchase, and can be less messy than cloth diapers. Having friends and family participate in a “diaper shower” is fun too. You can either make this a baby shower activity or ask that people ship them to you at home. It’s a great way to try various brands of diapers and to stock up on different sizes. (Draw a name for a prize to encourage participation.) Some stores will even allow you to exchange unopened packs or different sizes, which can be nice with how quickly babies grow. The hospital usually provides a small pack of diapers and wipes to use while you’re there, and you can take any remaining ones home with you! Speaking of wet wipes, you’ll want to stock up on those as well, and try the unscented ones if you find that baby has sensitive skin. Different brands can be helpful too. You’ll also want to keep diaper rash creams, ointments, and powders on hand. Designate one or two spaces in your home where you keep these items, so you always know where to find them. A good diaper bag helps keep everything contained when you’re on the go, and it’s smart to pack it before the baby is born. If you choose to install the car seat ahead of time, it’s easy to set the diaper bag in it so you’re prepared. (Bonus – many diaper bags come with a changing pad, which can make life SO much easier.) No matter what kind of diapering products you decide to use, it’s all the same at the end of the day. Do what works for your family!
4. Place to Sleep:
A crib, bassinet, or portable play yard is another must-have. You can determine which is the best option for your needs, and the most important thing is to ensure that baby has a safe place to sleep. Whichever type of bed you choose, make sure the baby’s sleeping area is firm, flat, and free of suffocation hazards. Keep it simple: a bed with safe sides and a tight-fitting sheet. (Buy a spare fitted sheet to use while the other is in the laundry.) Babies usually won’t get cold in a normal temperature room if they are wearing pajamas or a sleep sack. Putting blankets, stuffed animals, pillows, crib bumpers, and other items in a baby’s sleep area is unsafe. We won’t try to advise you on specific products, and there are certainly more details to consider. We encourage you to research baby sleep safety to educate yourself on important safety guidelines.
5. Clothing:
Of course, your baby will also need some clothes. Fortunately, family and friends LOVE to buy baby clothes! Zip-up pajamas and sleep sacks are easier than ones with snaps in the middle of the night. What’s even better is if they zip up from the bottom, because baby won’t feel as cold as they would with a bare chest. As you shop or go through hand-me-downs, keep clothing sizes and seasons in mind. Size 0-3 months clothing is NOT the same as newborn size clothing! Three months is a long time for a baby to grow, and they sure do! You don’t want to accidentally pack a special outfit to bring the baby home from the hospital only to find out that it’s way too big. Make sure clothing makes sense for the time of year, too. Another thing - Some babies love to be swaddled. Some absolutely hate it. Regardless, it’s good to have a few swaddling blankets on hand, because you won’t know what your baby prefers until you try it. Don’t get discouraged if they don’t find it soothing. Each baby is different, and their preferences sometimes change. For some parents, swaddling is amazing, and they swear by it, so buy a few cute swaddling blankets and give it a try. Sleep sacks are a good alternative for babies who don’t like to be swaddled or who have learned to roll and it’s no longer safe to swaddle them.
6. Baby Carrier and/or Stroller:
You could argue that this category is only a necessity based on individual circumstances. You don’t have to wear your baby, but using sling, strap, or cloth-type baby carriers can be a game changer! There are so many great ones out there. Not only are they great for bonding, but they can be a good alternative to using a stroller if you live in an area where you often take public transportation or find yourself having to maneuver cramped spaces and a stroller isn’t practical. You can also breastfeed baby while they’re in the carrier, which makes multitasking so much easier. (Imagine getting all your grocery shopping done while the baby is nursing!) The carrier can enable new parents to continue to be active after having a new baby. It’s nice for parents to find a way to still do the things that make them happy before they had kids, like walking or hiking. If a baby carrier isn’t for you, there are a lot of amazing strollers to choose from as well. Many infant carriers come with a matching base and stroller to ease transitions when you’re out and about. That would be an easy choice if you’re already buying an infant carrier and base, but if not, find one that works well for your needs. If you have another child close in age, you might consider looking into strollers that can accommodate multiple children. While they tend to be bigger and more cumbersome, they can be quite beneficial!
There are a lot of baby items marketed to new parents that you might buy and never use. Hopefully this list of items helps you understand what baby items are necessary versus excessive. If you’re having a hard time determining whether something is a necessity, ask yourself if it helps meet your baby’s basic physiological needs – food/drink, shelter, clothing, sleep, health, air, etc. If the answer is not an immediate “yes”, that item might not a be necessity. However, if you’re set on the essentials and find something that you like or that you think will make your life easier or better (and it’s safe), go for it!