What All Does A Newborn Baby Need

Happy Baby Organic Infant Formula

Whether you plan on formula feeding or breastfeeding, having an extra tub of formula on-hand is always a good idea. Breastfeeding can be hard, so even if you plan on going au natural, having a back up supply *just in case* will give you some peace of mind. Happy Baby Organic is made to simulate breastmilk and has lots of great reviews from pleased parents with full-tummied babes. And, of course, there are plenty of other wonderful baby formula options for you to choose from.

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Essentials For The Hospital

The hospital may provide some items like:

• a few newborn diapers
• swaddle blanket
• samples of formula if youre bottle-feeding

Youll want to have an installed rear-facing car seat. In the United States, hospitals wont let you leave with your baby without a rear-facing car seat, even if you arent driving home from the hospital.

Youll also want to have the following:

• formula, bottles, and sterilizing equipment, if you plan to bottle-feed

You dont need to bring a breast pump to the hospital. If the hospital wants you to pump breast milk, theyll give you access to a hospital-grade pump during your stay.

If you want help learning to use your own pump, you can bring it along.

How To Play With A Newborn

It might not seem like your newborn wants to do much other than sleep and eat for the first months of life. But rest assured your little ones brain is developing rapidly.

A newborn will recognize their parents voices in their first days of life. Talk and read to them often. They also love to see faces.

In the first few months, you can introduce them to the following:

Your newborn wont remember you playing with them, but theyre learning important skills during this time, like interacting with you and the world around them.

If youre concerned about your babys development, talk to their pediatrician.

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How Much Sleep Do Babies Need

For babies between 3 and 5 months old, they need 10-12 hours of sleep at night and 3-4 hours during the day, on average. And, babies 6+ months old typically need 10-12 hours of sleep at night and 2-3 hours during the day.

Keep in mind that because these are averages, some babies will naturally fall above this number and some will fall below. Those who fall below average in the amount of sleep they need tend to be more active and observant babies though not always. These schedules are usually the most challenging and it will be harder to follow the textbook schedules out there. If you arent sure if your baby falls above or below the averages, you may want to log your babys sleep for 1-2 weeks. The total amount will stay relatively constant unless you have other sleep problems.

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Best Foldable: Dream On Me Jett Non

Amazon

• Mattress pad is thin

A foldable crib is a helpful way to stash a full-sized crib in a vacation house, grandparents house, or anywhere else where it may need to get put away. Ideal for small spaces, it folds flat and has lockable wheels so its easy to transport.

The three-position mattress keeps pace with a growing baby. Available in five colors, this crib comes with a 1.5-inch mattress pad that stores flat in the crib when its folded. Purchasing an additional crib mattress will be necessary.

Price at time of publish: $198

Dimensions: 38 x 26 x 36 inches | Weight: 36 pounds | Max Child Weight: 50 pounds

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Summer Essentials For Newborn Babies

In addition to the detailed checklist mentioned earlier, here are several items you will need for a baby born in summer.

• Baby vests: Bodysuits or vests with popper buttons and envelope necks are ideal summer-wear options. Pick light colours and fabrics to keep the baby cool when the temperatures are soaring high.

• Sleepsuits: Newborn babies live in sleepsuits for the first couple of months. Carefully chosen sleepsuits in the right fabric can make the season comfortable for your little one.

• Sunshade for the car or pram: This one is ideal for travel. Fix a shade on your babys pram and on your car windows to protect him from heatstroke.

• Summer hat: Pick a lightweight hat with a rim to shield your babys eyes from the sun.

• Muslin cloths: Most rocking chairs, prams and car seats have synthetic fabric which makes babies sweat. Lining the seats with good quality cotton or muslin sheet will keep your baby cool when he is sitting over it.

• Sunblock: Sunblocks are essential to protect a newborn baby for any sun damage. Check with your babys paediatrician for the best type of sunscreen you can use on your newborn babys delicate skin.

Also Check: What To Teach A Newborn

To 8 Bodysuits And/or Onesies

Simple cotton bodysuits are the foundation of a newborn wardrobe. Theyâre inexpensive, easy to launder, and easy to get on and off tiny baby bodies.

They come in two styles: the traditional pullover, and foldover, which is usually called side-snap or kimono style. According to Salwa Khan, founder of Cubbiekit, pullover style is made with an envelope neckline so you can remove the baby’s clothing by sliding it down instead of over the head in case of a diaper leak.

During the newborn phase, many families find they prefer the side-snap variety. âNewborn babies have limitedâbasically non-existantâneck control and typically donât like anything going over their heads,â says Salwa. âThatâs why the kimono style is popular for parents with newborns.â

Bodysuits also come in short or long sleeve varieties, so youâll also want to consider the temperature and season, says Salwa. âParents should ask themselves, âAt what time of the year is my baby going to be born and how warm or cool do I keep my house?â The ideal temperature for newborn sleep is between 68 degrees and 72 degrees. For newborns in colder temperatures, opt for long sleeve bodysuits and layer from there. For newborns in warmer temperatures, opt-for short sleeve bodysuits and layer from there.â

You might experience stains early on with spit up and other bodily fluids, so this Gerber 5-pack organic long-sleeved onesie bodysuit is a staple in our recommendations for expecting parents.

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Baby Checklist For 4 To 6 Months Old

Much of what youve already bought will suffice as your baby grows. For instance, you wont have to replace her blankets every few months. But some of her needs will change as she grows into new clothes, cuts her first teeth, begins grabbing objects and starts putting everything into her mouth.

Diaper Rash Cream Or Ointment

Not all babies develop diaper rash, but the treatment is nice to have on hand. This is on the list of things youll need a constant supply of when the baby is still in diapers. I especially loved this brand > > Boudreauxs Butt Paste

Experienced mom tip: the quicker you can change your babys diaper after a poop, the less diaper rash cream youll need. The poop contact with skin is highly irritating and the cause of most diaper rashes, in my experience.

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What Kinds Of Clothes Do Newborns Need

Clothes should be comfortable, soft and easy to take care of.

Stretchy jumpsuitsthat fasten at the front are best, as well as tops with envelope necks, which are easier to get over your babys head. Jumpsuits with zips can make dressing your baby quick and easy too.

Clothes made from cotton are a good choice. Cotton clothes will keep your baby cooler in hot weather than clothes made from synthetic fibres. Cotton also washes well and is gentle against your babys sensitive skin.

Its also important to look out for clothes with a low fire hazard label. Newborn rompers and jumpsuits should have this label.

Its best to avoid buying newborn clothes with beading, threads, ties, drawstrings and attachments. These can be choking risks and strangulation or suffocation risks.

Newborn Baby Care Basics: What To Know When You Leave The Hospital

What to pay attention to, the kinds of schedules to follow, and what you dont need to worry about at all.

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This guide was originally published on May 6, 2019 in NYT Parenting.

Life with a newborn can be magical and also overwhelming, exhausting and terrifying. I still remember the day I brought my son home from the hospital and thought: How do I care for this tiny, needy creature? Where is his owners manual? But hard as being a new parent can be, youre probably going to do fine. Babies are a lot stronger than parents may give them credit for, said Dr. Jennifer Shu, M.D., an Atlanta-based pediatrician and co-author of Heading Home With Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality. Over time, too, parents learn to detect and understand their babys needs, desires and schedules. Caring for a newborn a baby under 28 days old is not easy, but it does become more manageable, especially with the right advice on hand. For this newborn guide, I spoke with three pediatricians and a certified pediatric sleep consultant, collecting tips on what parents should pay attention to, what kinds of schedules they should follow, what they should do and what they dont need to worry about.

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Gerber Baby Caps In Gray/white/yellow Sheeps

This dreamy set of five includes one of our favorite newborn hat designs: a knit cap designed to look like a lamb, complete with ears! Of course, the rest of the soft and perfectly snug newborn baby hats are adorable too. And a five-pack for under $10? Now thats a steal.

Buy it: $9 for a set of 5, Target.com

Baby Checklist For 0 To 3 Months Old

This is the biggest list, because youre buying items that will last well into babys first year. And you wont want to run out on emergency shopping trips after bringing baby home from the hospital.

Aim to have the 0-to-3-month items purchased at least a month before the due date. If youre considering any delivery services, such as Amazon Mom for diaper and formula deliveries, nows the time to set them up, too.

Budget tip: If you purchase a stroller, crib or high chair secondhand, make sure it’s safe. Examine all buckles, harnesses and moving parts, and perform a quick search on the Consumer Product Safety Commission‘s website to see if the product was involved in a recall.

We dont recommend buying a used car seat because of the possibility that its safety has been compromised as the result of a car crash, but local law enforcement agencies often inspect them for free, so take advantage of this option if you must buy used.

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Products You Need To Buy When Having A Baby

Alisa Baer, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician, nationally certified child passenger safety instructor, and co-founder of The Car Seat Lady. In her 21 years in the field, Dr. Baer has consulted with many of the leading car seat manufacturers in the design and development of their car seats.

Right after you learn that you’re having a baby, you learn that babies seem to need a lot of stuff! If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t worry. This list will help you figure out what to buy for baby. There are millions of products available for purchase, but the following products are the most common needs or wants for newborns.

Best Baby Carrier For Hot Weather

The mesh fabric on LILLEbabys Complete Airflow baby carrier allows for ventaliation so baby stays cool and comfy. You can wear it any which wayfront, back or hipdepending on whats best for you and your little passenger.

Suited for: 7 to 45 poundsBuy It: LILLEbabys Complete Airflow, $125 to $135, target.com

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Best Hypoallergenic Baby Wipes

Pampers Sensitive Baby WipesSometimes a big name brand is popular for good reason. Take Pampers, which certainly knows its way around baby bums. These baby wipes couldnt be more mildtheyre dermatologist-tested, perfume-free, hypoallergenic and help restore the skins natural pH. Twenty percent thicker than regular Pampers wipes, theyre also heavy lifters.

Buy it: $7 for 168 wipes, CVS

Up & Up Sensitive Skin Baby WipesAvailable only at Target, these hypoallergenic baby wipes are one of the best bargains around, but they dont skimp on quality. Let us count the ways. Theyre soft and durable. They have no chemicals, fragrance, alcohol or preservatives. Plus, theyre manufactured in facilities that are free of nuts, gluten and wheat processing.

Buy it: $5 for 192 wipes, Target

Bloom Baby Jumbo Sensitive WipesBig wipes mean fewer swipes per job. These big boys not only have babys bottom covered, theyre also specially formulated with all natural ingredients to gently clean, protect and nourish delicate skin.

Buy it: $31 for 640 wipes,

Baby Dove Rich Moisture Baby Wipes

These hypoallergenic baby wipes are made for the hands and face, but they pull double-duty, since they can be used for newborns teeny tushies as well. Alcohol-free, fragrance-free and highly moisturizing, these wipes earned a 2017 National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance.

Buy it: $5 for 30 wipes,

What Essentials Do You Need For Your Newborn

Having a few essential items on hand for the hospital and when you bring your newborn home will help ease the transition.

Make sure you remove these items from their packaging. Familiarize yourself with the instructions and assemble them, if necessary. This will ensure theyre ready to use as soon as you need them.

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Changing Table Or Pad

Speaking of diapers, youll need a place to change the baby. For many, this means a changing table .

Technically, you can forgo the table and simply use a changing pad. If so, I recommend keeping the pad on the floor instead of the bed. Constant diaper changes on the bed took a number on my back.

And even if you do have a changing table, I suggest having a portable changing pad as well . Having a second changing pad means you can change diapers in more than one location. And of course, a portable pad is a must when youre out and about.

Should Baby Sleep In Your Room

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies should room-share, or sleep in their parents rooms for at least the first 6 months of life.

They should be in their own crib, bassinet, or other separate sleep space. This may help prevent sudden infant death syndrome . Plus, your baby will be close by, making it easier to feed and comfort them.

The AAP advises against sleeping in the same bed with your newborn since it increases the risk of SIDS or injury to baby.

Your baby should also sleep on their back, which is the safest position for them. Avoid using blankets, pillows, or crib bumpers. Instead use swaddles, sleep sacks, and pajamas to keep baby warm at night.

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What Is A Baby Carrier

For centuries, moms have been wearing their babies. While the modern baby carrier is typically constructed from a stretchy piece of fabric or a durable, structured material with straps, belts and buckles, it still serves the same purpose: to keep baby close to your body so your hands are free. Sure, there seems to be a neverending assortment of carriers to choose from, but the very best baby carriers offer parents and babies comfort and safety, style and plenty of snuggle time.

What To Pack In A Diaper Bag

Anytime you leave the house with your newborn, youll want to be prepared with a well-stocked diaper bag. Diaper bags come in all shapes, sizes, and patterns. They range from a simple, over-the-shoulder bag to the trendy, fashionable bags that celebrities use.

A diaper bag is meant to hold necessary baby items when youre on the go: diapers, wipes, changing pad, baggies for dirty diapers, diaper cream, extra clothes, bottles, bibs, and burp cloths. Some come equipped with extra pockets for pacifiers, keys, phones, or other small items.

Keep the bag packed and ready to go . Itll be easy to grab when youre ready to leave the house with the baby.

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