Preparing For Baby – The Essential Baby

View All Blogs


Preparing For Baby The Essential Baby Checklist

Typically in the third trimester, women get a nesting instinct, and start to prepare for their baby's arrival. These instincts can be anything from house cleaning, renovating a baby's room to buying baby stuff. Leading up to the day that your baby arrives, there are some things you need to do and buy (or beg or borrow).

checklists

Sleep a lot

Not only does a pregnant woman need plenty of rest, but after your baby is born, you probably won't get a decent nighs sleep again until he or she becomes a teenager an experienced mum told me this and I laughed but I am not laughing anymore.

Be prepared and buy some essential baby things before your due date

Friends of mine had a premature baby they weren't prepared (and who is for such an experience?) but they really weren't prepared. All of a sudden they had to shop for baby things, sandwiched between spending time at the hospital. Here is a quick checklist. Note that the following list is as comprehensive as possible, but by no means exhaustive. Take note of the things you need and try to get them through baby showers, generous family and friends or obtain second hand items from other parents try not to max out your budget buying everything yourself!

Essentials

Nappy Change

  • There are so many on the market, buying nappies can be confusing. Disposable versus cloth, cheap versus expensive, commercial versus eco, so many decisions to make! Sizing for a newborn is important here Premature Nappies If your baby is on the small side, you have multiple babies or a premmie baby, try Huggies Neonatal Premature Nappies (up to 3kg) or Pampers Premmie Nappies Micro size 0 (1-2.5kg). Small Nappies For nappies, remember that most newborns swim in regular sized newborn nappies (unless you give birth to Hercules), so buy some spare nappies in a small size. Some good choices include Moltex Nature n.1 eco nappies Newborn 2-4kg or Bambo Nature Nappies Newborn 2-4kg.
  • Newborn Nappies When you bring your regular-sized baby home after a week or so, try regular sized newborn nappies, such as Huggies Nappies Newborn (up to 5kg), Babylove Newborn Nappies (up to 5kg), Pampers Nappies Baby Dry Size 2 (3-6kg), Pampers Nappies Sensitive Mini (3-6kg), Naty by Nature Babycare Nappies Size 1 (2-5kg), Moltex Nature n.1 eco nappies Mini 3-6kg or Bambo Nature Nappies Mini 3-6kg . *Some advice here buy 1 box at a time of newborn nappies as so many new parents buy too many boxes of them. If your friends or family want to buy you nappies, tell them to buy you a gift card or infant size (4-8kg).
  • Cloth Nappies If you are choosing cloth nappies, such as Bumgenius nappies, a pack of 24 would be the standard number of nappies needed for your baby. You will also need a bucket with a secure lid for soaking/cleaning.
  • Baby wipes Newborn skin is so delicate, so try and go for a natural wipe with no nasties. Lots of hospitals use Reynard wipes – these are dry wipes made from woven cloth that are moistened with water. If you want a pre-moistened wipe, Huggies Fragrance Free Wipes, Johnson & Johnson Fragrance Free Wipes and Curash wipes are more of the popular commercial brands.
  • Creams and Ointment Sorbolene Cream such as that made by Johnson & Johnson is good for cleaning and moisturising. While ointments provide a protective barrier between wetness and baby's skin and are good for helping to prevent and treat nappy rash. Sudocrem, Bepanthen or Gaia are tried and trusted brands.
  • Change mat Purchase a simple padded change mat, like that from Mother's Choice, and place on a table or similar (I put mine on the top of our washing machine).

Bathing

  • Toiletries Soap for washing. Keep it simple - scent-free soap is fine, and can clean every part of a baby. However, there is a growing market for baby toiletries, such as shampoo, shampoo/conditioner, bubble baths, liquid soap, moisturiser, talc, etc. Also, you will need to decide whether to go for a commercial brand or an eco/organic one. Have something to wash your new baby with apart from your hand is good some people use a face washer but a natural sponge is more hygienic and softer.
  • Baby bath I have bathed my new babies in a kitchen sink, bathroom sink, a clean bidet and a bucket (I travelled a lot with my babies). If none of these takes your fancy, buy a little baby bath. They are portable and take a lot less water to fill then a regular bath as well as saving your back. Also keep in mind that a lot of hotels, or friend's and family's places may just have a shower recess and babies do not like showers! Flexibath is a great product and can be folded neatly for storage. If you are limited for luggage, try a little blow up bath like the Munchkin Safety Duck Tub.

Grooming

  • Soft brush New babies often don't have much hair so a comb is not high on the priority list. Dreambaby make a nice brush and comb set.
  • Nail clippers or round-tipped nail scissors Baby nails are sharp, and if you don't keep them clipped, they can easily scratch themselves especially on their face (note: some carers also use no-scratch mittens to cover a baby's hands). Look for Dreambaby Baby Manicure Set or Nail Clippers with Holder and Safety 1st No Scratch Mittens.

Clothing

Don’t choose expensive designer outfits (let someone else choose and pay for those!). Simple bodysuits or all-in-one jumpsuits, singlets and pyjamas are fine – remember that your new baby is going to be spending most of its time in bed. Bonds Baby have some great baby basics clothing. Be mindful of sizing – size 0000 is for newborn babies only, and they quickly grow into size 000 after a couple of weeks. Also consider some warmer clothes for going out, like a couple of little cardigans or jackets, some bootie socks and a beanie (a lot of body heat is lost via the head) and a sunhat for sunny days. An outfit for special occasions is always nice, but you will probably get one as a gift.

Sleeping

  • Beds A bassinette is a small bed for babies and can be conveniently wheeled around the house. A crib or cot is a bigger bed designed for infants with railings (so they baby won't fall or crawl out) If you want to put your baby straight into a cot, buy one that converts from a cot to a bed (very clever and cost effective) and always use a mesh barrier (breathable) around the inside of the cot so baby doesn't get stuck between the railings.
  • Bed linen Stick with natural fibres like cotton and wool, which are less likely to overheat a baby. 2 sheet sets, a couple of blankets and a mattress protector should suffice.
  • Bunny rug or muslin wrap Keeps baby cosy while at home or on-the go

Traveling

  • Car Seat You will need one to get home from the hospital. This is a big expense (apart from the baby itself). Do your homework and shop around. Go for one that has a high safety rating, such as the Safety 1st One Safe Infant Capsule Seat. There are also many convertible car seats on the market that can go from rear to forward facing that enables baby to be in it for longer, such as the Safety 1st Sentinel II Convertible Car Seat.
  • Pram or stroller This is also a sizeable expense. A pram is like a bassinette with wheels and allows a baby to sleep comfortably. Choose carefully and wisely will you go for a conventional 4 wheeler or an off-road 3 wheeler? There are lots of multi-functional prams now that can fit car seats so you don't have to wake up your baby to move from the car to the pram, and some convert to strollers where a baby sits upright. Remember that a good pram should last 2 babies and my best advice is find one that is long enough to allow a child to sleep very comfortably until it is at least 3 years old, which is essential for going out.

Breastfeeding

  • Breastfeeding pillow It is funny that would-be mums get all the advice on the planet about pregnancy and childbirth, yet relatively little on breastfeeding. Breastfeeding can be difficult and uncomfortable, so get comfortable with a pillow, which support both a mother and baby while feeding. Pillows by Fertilemind, Boppy, and Dr Brown's are all good.
  • Breast pads Whether you choose to breastfeed or not (or can't), you will need breast pads to prevent milk leakage onto clothes. There are 2 types washable and disposable. Most mums go for disposable. Avoid bulky hard ones that show through clothing - a bad look on any day with any outfit. Try Johnson & Johnson breast pads, Rite Aid, Avent, Dr Brown's, Pigeon or Chicco.
  • Breast Creams Breastfeeding can make your nipples sore, so a cream is helpful to soothe and protect them, such as Lasinoh or Dr Brown's cream.
  • Breastfeeding bra This type of bra holds a pad firmly to the breast and can be undone at the front for easy breastfeeding. Cotton ones are the most comfortable.

Bottle Feeding

  • Bottles Alternating between bottle and breast feeding, or just want to bottle feeding, there are a mind-numbing array of baby bottles on the market! If you are alternating between bottle and breast, a wide neck bottle is best. Go for anti-colic bottles such as Dr Brown's, Pigeon, Avent or Closer To Nature, and a couple of bottles should be fine, but if you are exclusively bottle feeding, 6 would be sufficient. Remember, most baby bottles come with newborn teats.
  • Microwave or Electric Steam Steriliser
  • Bottle brush

Other things

  1. Baby bag to carry all the essential baby stuff while you are out and about
  2. Thermometer
  3. Bibs for catching spilt milk, spit-ups, vomit and dribble

USEFUL EXTRAS

(surely the above list is enough?!)

  1. Baby Carrier. I strongly recommend one, and I could not have lived without a baby carrier when I had my babies, as I travelled a lot and didn't have a licence or car to get around at the time. But this is not the only reason to get one. Travelling on public transport, walking on sand or tourist tracks or going to the city is much easier without a pram. Manduca make one of the best baby carriers on the market, and are really comfortable for both baby and carer (plus they convert to a baby backpack when bubs gets heavier).
  2. Portable cot for sleep overs. I think the Baby Bjorn Travel Cot Light is one of the best, as it is extremely light (and therefore very portable).
  3. Baby Sleeping bag. These are great for travelling, as you just place bubs in the bag and away you go. Baby stays nice and cosy in these, without the need for sheets or blankets. Bubbaroo has a great range of colours, sizes and cloth weight.
  4. Breast Pump. If you are expressing breast milk, you will need either a manual or electric breast pump
  5. Breastfeeding cover/scarf. These are really popular nowadays, to allow a mother to breastfeed discretely in public. I could not have comfortably attended that 5-star wedding all those years ago without one! Jolly Jumper make a nice soft breastfeeding cover in different colours.
  6. Microwave steam steriliser bags. Great for sterilising baby bottles while on the go -all cafes and restaurants, most homes and international flights, as well as many hotel rooms have a microwave. Dr Brown's make good ones, and they can be reused many times.
  7. Portable bottle warmer. It saved my sanity many times while stuck in bad traffic jams and waiting in long queues. Cherub Baby have a car bottle and food warmer and Bambinoz and Cherub Baby have a great portable bottle warmer.
  8. Bottle warmer. This takes the guess work out of warming a bottle of milk. Avent, Closer To Nature, Mam and Chicco all make convenient electric bottle and food warmers.

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

  1. Nappy Bin - A lot of parents and carers now use a nappy bin to place used nappies in. Sangenic, Angelcare and Munchkin are among the most popular. Be mindful though that you will then have to buy the matching bags to go with these nappy disposal systems.
  2. Dedicated changing table/station this is quite fancy and a more expensive option. It contains all baby change needs in the one place.
  3. Bouncer or rocker placing a baby in one of these allows them to sit up a bit and look around while they are awake (rather than lying flat on their back and staring at the ceiling). They are also comfortable enough to be used while sleeping.
  4. Baby Monitor most parents and carers will hear their babies cry! However if you are outside, or entertaining, you may not hear them. Avent make a variety of good quality baby monitors.
  5. Dummy/pacifier/soother this is a personal choice and use depends on each individual baby. I never used them, as my babies didn't like them. My daughter used to gag on them and my son spat them out (because no milk came out when he sucked on them which is fair enough). Note here that once a child is hooked on a dummy, there is usually no turning back and they will want the same type/colour all the time (no substitutes will do).

View All Blogs


Blog structure pregnancy newborn baby toddler little kids