Traveling With A Baby
This list will also be helpful for nomadic families or travel lovers who don’t want to give up those weekend getaways and vacations abroad just because they are having baby. If you travel frequently, it’s important for your babys comfort that you can easily create a similar environment on the road as the one at home. Therefore, you dont want too many specialty items at home that you cant easily take with you to be part of your babys daily routine.
The Ultimate Maternity Hospital Bag Checklist
Are you all set for the big day? Your baby might arrive earlier than expected, so itâs worth having your baby hospital bag organized and packed around month eight of your pregnancy â just in case.
This checklist will help you prepare everything youâll need for yourself and your new baby. Plus, thereâs a mini-checklist for birth partners well. Perhaps pack your bags together so you can double-check that youâll each have everything you might need. Once all the bags are packed, keep them handy, either in the car or near the door, so youll be ready to go at a moments notice.
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Get Ready For Sleepless Nights
Its pretty common knowledge that the second you say hello to your new baby you say goodbye to a decent nights rest for the next 6 months to a year or two if you decide to co-sleep like I do. So how can you prepare for sleepless nights? Here are some ideas: Both parents should get lots of rest in the weeks leading up to babys due date, make some energizing smoothies in batches and freeze them, stock up on your favorite caffeinated tea or coffee, stock up on these 27 foods that give you more energy!
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Your Ultimate Checklist Of Baby Essentials
There are a ton of to-dos when prepping for babys arrival, and shopping for all the baby essentials is not least among them. From setting up the nursery to gathering the gear for sleeping, eating and diapering, its easy to keep busy buying baby must-haves. After all, the amount of baby supplies a newborn requires can take any mom-to-be by surprise. But how do you figure out which are the baby items you can forget about, and which are the essential baby items you cant live without? Dont stress: Were breaking it all down for you. Read on for a complete list of things you need for a new baby.
In this article:
Baby Checklist: Preparing Your Home
Getting your home ready can be a good way to prepare yourself, your partner and your other children for your new babys arrival.
Where baby sleeps Its safest for your baby to , sleeping in a cot next to your bed, for the first year of life or at least the first 6 months. These sleeping arrangements can reduce the risk of sudden unexpected death in infancy .
If you need to adjust the temperature of the room where your baby sleeps, use a heater or fan only when your baby isnt in the room. Turn off the appliance before putting your baby in the room. But its best to adjust your babys clothing rather than heating or cooling the room.
Where to change nappies Its safest to change your babys nappy on a mat on the floor so your baby cant fall. But some parents do find its easier on their backs to change baby on a change table or bed.
If you’d prefer to use a change table, you can find out about safe change tables in our article on safe baby furniture. And if youre changing your baby on a bed or change table, remember to keep one hand on your baby at all times so that your baby cant roll off.
Where to bath baby You can bath a newborn in the kitchen sink or laundry tub, so long as its safe and clean. And no matter where you bath your baby, always stay within arms reach of your baby.
Most of the things you need to do to make your home safe for your newborn are about knowing what to expect, rather than making major changes.
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Moms Hospital Bag: What To Pack
- Your insurance card, photo ID, and any documents you’ll need: The hospital will ask to see these when you arrive, so be sure to pack them in an easily accessible spot.
- Birth plan: If you have one, make sure its handy, so you can share it with your care team when you arrive.
- Comfortable clothes: These are a must to ensure you’re comfy while healing and caring for your new baby. Pack some loose-fitting favorites to wear during your stay, like a robe, nightgown, leggings or sweatpants, and a nursing tank top. Don’t forget some warm socks!
- Toiletries: Include shampoo, conditioner, soap, deodorant, chapstick, contact lenses , a toothbrush, and toothpaste in your go bag.
- Nursing supplies: Youll need nursing bras, pads, your breast pump , storage containers, and nipple cream if you plan to breastfeed.
- Pillows: You can’t be sure that the pillows the hospital provides will be suitable for you, so bring some tried and true pillows from home so you can be as comfortable as possible during your stay.
- Slippers or comfortable shoes: You’ll want something easy to slip on for those middle-of-the-night feedings.
- Books, magazines, music, and a tablet: Load these items with comforting movies or shows that will help you pass the time. And dont forget chargers for any electronics
Packaged Snacks Stashes And Water Cups With Lids
Those first few weeks of breastfeeding were tough. When I’d finally get my baby latched on, I’d settle back into the chair, couch, or bed, and immediately get hit with undeniable, dying-in-the-desert thirst along with hunger pangs. But I couldn’t move because that would disrupt the latch we’d just worked so hard for. So usually I’d shout for my husband to bring me water and snacks. But sometimes he couldn’t hear me or wasn’t home.
My solution? Hide PACKAGED SNACKS around your house. Before you go into labor, put them under your mattress, between couch cushions, inside of decorative pottery, EVERYWHERE!
And you’ll usually only have one hand available, so don’t sit down with a bottle of water. And don’t sit down with an open top cup because like me, you might be clumsy from sleep deprivation and that water will spill. You need a jumbo cup with a lid and straw.
When baby is hungry, first fill your cup. Literally. You won’t want to, because when your baby is crying all you can think about is making your baby feel better, but learn from my experience, please, so you don’t spend that precious breastfeeding time feeling thirsty and deprived.
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How Many Pacifiers Do I Need
Pacifiers have been the topic of some heated debates in mommy communities. When your baby uses one at naptime and bedtime, their risk for sudden infant death syndrome decreases. In-case your newborn is prone to ear infections, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies sleep with one until 12 months.
So, how many pacifiers do you need? Luckily, the short answer is not many!
Most pacifier brands come in sizes 0 to 6 months, 6 to 12 months, and 12 to 18 months. If youre lucky, your baby will take the first brand you choose. But, some little ones are picky, and youll have to try a few to get the shape they like.
Unless youre breastfeeding, you can start pacifier use from day one. Introducing a pacifier early will increase the chances of your baby taking to it.
Once youve found the pacifier brand your baby likes, youll need to buy a minimum of two pacifiers per size group. If youre a strategist, you can buy about four: one to use, one that youre cleaning, a spare, and one to keep in your diaper bag.
Having your spare in the car is a good idea if you travel a lot. These numbers exclude replacements for hygienic or other reasons.
Following the AAP guidelines, youll only buy pacifiers for two size groups. But, if you notice any of these signs, youll have to size up earlier:
- Your baby spits the pacifier out.
- The pacifier shape imprints on your babys cheeks.
- Your baby sucks hard on the pacifier in an attempt to keep it in their mouth.
Best Baby Forehead Thermometer: Braun 3
A thermometer that can do it all? Enter the Braun 3-in-1. Not only does it provide color-coded, age-specific temperature readings from up to one inch away , this baby thermometer can also be used to check the temp of bath water or food. Plus, all of those readings take only two seconds. Its no wonder this option is a Best of Baby 2021 winner.
Considerations: To get an accurate reading, the thermometer must be held at the correct spot and distance, which can take some practice.
Buy it: Braun 3-in1- No Touch Thermometer, $55, Target.com
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Newborn Baby Checklist Printable
Now that youve got a great handle on newborn essentials, check out my newborn schedule and get a feel for what those first few weeks might look like. If youre just getting started planning your baby shower, browse these modern baby shower games you can play at your shower.
Filed Under: Preparing for baby
About Ashley
Ashley Bryant is a wife, mama, certified potty training consultant, baby sleep guru, and founder of Mom Like You Mean It. Read more about me here.
Best Baby Carrier For Dad
Because its designed to fit so many body types, BabyBjorns Baby Carrier One is great for fathers and mothers to share. And with fathers having a hand in engineering the design, its no wonder the Swedish brand is committed to using #DadStories to highlight the supportive global community of men rocking this best baby carrier for dad.
Suited for: Up to 33 pounds Buy It: BabyBjorn Baby Carrier One, $152,
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How Many Newborn Diapers Do I Need
Wondering how many newborn diapers to buy? Chances are, its not as many as you think. Most newborn diapers fit babies up to 9 pounds. Given that the average newborn weighs between six to nine pounds at birth, most babies outgrow newborn diapers within the first few weeks of life.
Even if your newborn is on the smaller side, they will likely outgrow the newborn diaper stage after a few weeks. After all, most babies gain more than two pounds within their first month of life! Some babies skip newborn diapers altogether and go right into size 1 diapers.
After the first few days of life, most newborns need around ten diaper changes a day. This means that the average newborn will only need one or two packs of newborn-sized diapers .
You can confirm that your babys newborn diaper fits correctly if you can comfortably fit two fingers between the diaper and the babys belly, and one finger between the diaper elastic and your babys thigh. If your baby is between sizes, or if youre experiencing a lot of diaper leaks, that usually means its time to size up.
The bottom line? Buy diapers based on weight, not age. And if you want to add diapers to your registry, consider registering for larger sizes that your baby can grow into.
Newborn Baby Needs: Diapering Essentials
Diapers/wipes: Babies go through 8-10 diapers per day when they are first born and slightly less as they age. Dont stock up on too many newborn diapers as they quickly grow out of them. Here you can learn more about the cost of diapers and how to save.
Diaper cream: An absolute must. Its also a good idea to have baking soda on hand as a baking soda bath really helps with diaper rash.
Things I dont think are necessary: Diaper pails .
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Newborn Baby Shopping Listsleep Essentials
Newborns will spend the overwhelming amount of time sleeping during those first few months, and really, even the first year. Besides feeding, these things are the most crucial!
Im a huge proponent of helping your child learn to sleep well from day one, and that starts with having helpful tools to recreate that womb like experience for baby as they transition to life outside of your womb.
White noise machine: I had a very cranky baby on my hand the first time around before I really understood what the fourth trimester was all about. Now that I have two kids and am studying to become an infant sleep consultant, I know even more about sleep and with that said, do not underestimate the power of a white noise machine. The womb is very noisy and its hard for babies to sleep in complete silence. My four year old still uses a sound machine to this day!
Zippered onesies: Ive included how much to purchase for each age range below in the clothing category, but zippered onesies/sleepers are an absolute must!
Swaddle blankets/swaddle sacks: Another huge help in getting baby to sleep during those first few monthsswaddles! If youre confident in your swaddling skills you can use swaddling blankets or theres tons of products that make swaddling a breeze, which I preferred for my kids, as they always seemed to wiggle out of the swaddles. Swaddle blankets also make really great breastfeeding covers, as you can just tie them around your neck in a pinch.
What A Newborn Baby Needs
If babies could talk, they would probably tell us that they have very simple needs. They need to be loved, to be fed, and kept warm and safe.
There are a lot of items you can buy for a new baby. This can be overwhelming for new parents. When you come home with your newborn, you will not need too much. Plan in advance to have some essential items ready.
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How Often Should You Change Breast Pads
Whatever option you go with, make sure to change out your nursing pads whenever theyre wet. Not only will this help reduce the chance of irritation or infection from bacteria, but it will also reduce the risk of leaking through your bra and shirt.
On average, most women find they need to change their breast pads out every 3-4 hours, totalling 12-16 pads a day, or 6-8 sets. But, of course, this is just an average. Every person is different in how much milk they produce.
Best Baby Underarm Thermometer: Vava Smart Baby Thermometer
Attempting to hold a thermometer under a wriggly infant or toddlers armpit can be like wrestling an alligator. But the VAVA Smart Baby Thermometer is attached to a comfortable, silicone patch you can apply to babys underarm this allows for both a secure hold and 24 hours of temperature monitoring. Caregivers are alerted to high temperatures with both beeps and LED lights, making sure you never miss a fever.
Considerations: The thermometer is on the pricier side and is best used for monitoring as opposed to one-time, quick readings.
Buy it: VAVA Smart Baby Thermometer, $80, Vava.com
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How Do You Financially Prepare For A Newborn Baby
Did you know that parents spend up to $12,000 in their childs first year of life? Thats insane. While theres not a lot you can do to make that number smaller, there are some things that can be done before your baby is born to make that number hurt a little less or in the very least not get any bigger.
There are also some other finance-related topics that should be addressed before you welcome your expensive new addition, which you can learn all about in this post about financial must-dos to prepare for a new baby. Below is a short list of financially related preparations that can be completed before your baby arrives:
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Best Overall: Woolino 4 Season Ultimate Baby Sleep Sack
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Shoulder snaps for easy removal
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Two-way zipper make overnight diaper changes a breeze
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Safe from 2 months until 2 years of age
Who else recommends it? BabyCenter, Good Housekeeping, and Babylist all picked the Woolino 4 Season Ultimate Baby Sleep Sack.
What do buyers say? 89% of 2,300+ Amazon reviewers rated this product 5 stars.
This Woolino sleep sack is our top choice for all seasons because the merino wool inner layer and organic cotton outer layer are designed to keep your babys temperature regulated so that its just as comfortable during the winter months as it is during the summer months. We also like that it has two snaps at each shoulder so you can slip your baby in and out to put it on as well as a zipper at the bottom for easy diaper changes.
Finally, this sleep sack has amazing longevity, because its safe for babies as young as 2 months old up to 2 years. It is one of the most expensive sleep sacks available, but the simple fact that it will fit your child until they are 2 years old means this is the only sleep sack you need to buy. And since its machine washable, you really can get away with just having one.
Price at time of publication: $100
Material: Merino wool and organic cotton | Age Range: 2 months old to 2 years old | Machine Washable: Yes
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