- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Babies: 0 - 3 Months
~Lily~
member
Newborn essential suggestions?
~Lily~
member
I want to make sure I am equipped with all the essentials when my baby is born. What are your suggestions of what I should make sure to have on hand and what brand suggestions? I also plan on breasfeeding.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Newborn essential suggestions?
a boppy... we had 2. One for our bedroom and one for downstairs. Makes feeding so easy and kinda props up ds so he won't spit up as much. That and our portable swing... didn't use it much till 1 month; but loved it!!
and lots of changing pad covers; ds pee'd all over the place!
thanks! i didn't know about that book
Breast Pads (I think Lansinoh is the best)
Breast Cream (not a fan of Lansinoh as it is so sticky, I use a natural organic kind that is so much nicer)
a lot of diapers...buy both newborn and size ones unless you know you are not having a big baby (my DS never wore newborns, we just returned them, but I was so glad I had size 1s available)
wipes
A&D ointment
vaseline (if you have a boy and have him circ'd you will need this)
mylicon (gas drops...you just never know)
breast compresses (hot/cold packs because you WILL get engorged and may end up with a clogged duct)
a supportive sleep bra (you will wear this night and day...I suggest buying 3 of them and Bravado is by far the best)
at least a hand breast pump to help witht he engorgement
burp clothes (i just use the cloth diapers....those fancy burp clothes suck)
big water bottle (you will be thirstier than you can ever imagine....I kept 2-32 oz bottles filled at all times...one upstairs and one downstairs)
thats all i can think of right now.......
Grooming kit - their nails are really long and seem to grow incredibly fast
Infant Digital thermometer - the kind for rectal readings, some grooming kits come with this, it's a must
Infant Medicine kit - Johnson's has one that includes Desitin, Infant Tylenol, Mylicon - all necessary and I used all the first week he was home
Bouncy chair - DS is in his most of the time, gives him a different view then just laying flat
Swaddle Me - Swaddle Me helped DS sleep longer and stay contented, but after a couple weeks he didn't like his arms in so we kept them out but even with it just wrapped around his stomach and securing his legs, it helped him sleep much better and longer when we used it
Receiving blankets - lots of them, I think I had 12 and I couldn't imagine using them all but amazingly by weeks end most of are used, you find all kinds of uses for them - covering baby, swaddling, barrier between baby and foreign lands (bathroom changing tables!)
Swing - I didn't start using it until about 6 weeks, should of started earlier, it helped to finally get him to take long naps (3 hrs in the afternoon) in it.
Diaper Genie II - makes life easy - that's all I can say!
Pampers Swaddlers Sensitive - good quality diapers to start with until you find which ones your baby can tolerate (my baby gets rashes from cheap Huggies)
The brands are a completely personal decision...
A few items that I felt were essentials:
Snugglenest to get DD to sleep in her crib
Receiving blankets - you can never have too many
Nasal aspirator -- keep near the chair where you feed her. The first day we brought her home and she started choking on fluids from the womb and I freaked out because I didn't have the aspirator right next to me.
Gripe water -- for the hiccups, gas, colic
hth!
oh yeah......
super duper heavy long maxi pads
witch hazel for a sitz bath (you will need a lot fo this if you tear or have an episiotomy)
numbing spray (dermoplast)
tucks pads
advil/tylenol
I only used the boppy for a couple of weeks...though it was nice in the hospital and when we first came home. I would have zip up sleepers, diapers, wipes, flannel burp cloths, some desitin or something for a rash, , changing pads, swaddle blankets (we were so glad we had these since DD loved to be swaddled but would wiggle out of the normal blanket), diaper disposal system and definitely get some bra pads for yourself! I like the Lansinoh pads and cream. I also liked having the vibrating bouncy seat. We have the fisher price papasan chair.
For yourself I would also have some ibuprofen,colace, wet cottenelle wipes, pads for bleeding and tucks pads. I used all of those and I had a vaginal delivery.
Stuff that I love that is not necessary but very handy include the swing, tiny love gymini playmat, and the graco pack n play for sleeping and changing when we first came home. Now that DD is five months the FP jumperoo is her best friend! : )
I ditto that book. It is great!
I did not buy the tucks pads and other stuff - and I am glad I did because I had a c/s and did not need them. I figured I would send DH to the drugstore once we got home and I knew what I wanted. I would get:
Colace, nursing bras that you can sleep in, a swing, cheap gerber pre-fold diapers for burp cloths (get a ton), baby washcloths (they are softer), baby wash, comfy bear bath sponge (perfect for the sponge baths you give before the cord falls off), changing pad covers, diapers, wipes, fingernail clippers
I am living in nursing bras and cami tops with a long sleeve shirt over. That way, when I nurse or pump, I just take off the long sleeved top and can pull down the cami. Then my stomach is still covered so I don't get cold. Also invest in some comfy pants that will not bind you in case you have a c/s - you don't want anything rubbing your incision. And either way, you will need stuff inbetween your maternity size and pp size.
Besides all of the other items suggested, I would highly recommend at least 50 wash cloths. I use these during feedings, burping, and I use them for diaper changes too instead of wipes. Even with this many I still do laundry once a day.
I second Baby Bargains.
A sling or wrap
Zipper footed sleepers--make the many night changes soooo much easier.
Bouncer (we have the FP Rainforest)?
Terry cloth burp cloths - very absorbent
Back-up formula (I EBF, but the night my milk came in I was post-op, had a high fever, and was hugely engorged with flat nipples. My tiny baby couldn't latch on and was hungry, and I had to send DH to CVS at 2am. Should have been prepared.)
Nasal aspirator
Nasal saline drops
Bear bath sponge
Most importantly (not equipment-related): ?the phone number of a reputable lactation consultant. This was the most important thing we had those first few weeks!?
?
Katie, Duke Gardens, 6months
Zach, Duke Gardens, 6months
Photo courtesy from the amazing Ever You Photography!