Types Of Baby Thermometers
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, there are three main types of digital thermometers to consider: multi-use, temporal artery and tympanic . The AAP recommends taking babys temperature rectally for the first three years, as its the most accurate method. Forehead thermometers are the next most accurate, followed by oral and ear. Its most difficult to receive an accurate reading from the armpit. Heres a deeper dive into the pros and cons of each.
Essential List Of Things To Buy Or Put On Your Registry
Although I could have sat down and written out a truly exhaustive list of every single thing you could ever need to have to care for a newborn, I dont think thats the most helpful thing I can do.
So I dug deep and narrowed down the list of absolute must have baby items to only the things that you will REGRET not getting if you dont purchase them beforehand.
These items are key as in, you will regret it if you forget them! Now that I think of it, perhaps I also need to write a post about the most forgotten baby items?! Ill put that on the list.
Okay.back to what all you need to get before your due date
I would personally put all of these on a baby registry so your friends and family can buy them for you. I find that most people LOVE getting practical things for new moms and if you have a lot of people buying for you, you need to put more items than you think on your registry.
In hindsight, I should have registered for more practical basics essential things like diapers and wipes instead of the cool gadgets that I didnt really end up using.
Its so practical to register for things that would cost you money when the baby comes, and people love getting things like this for you!
We didnt register for enough things and had to go back twice to add items because people started getting us multiples of stuff we already had because they had no clue what we wanted!
That makes no sense I know but it is honestly what happened when people ran out of things to buy.
Newborn Baby Essentials: The Ultimate First Year Shopping List
If youre expecting, youve definitely started thinking about all the baby essentials youll need in the upcoming months. Some things are obviousclothing, a crib, diapersbut other baby essentials are easier to overlook.
Thats why the baby experts at Mustela have created the ultimate first year shopping list. Weve thought of everything, so you can put your mind at ease and focus on other, more important thingslike preparing your babys room and deciding on a name!
Lets take a look at all the newborn baby essentials.
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Newborn Baby Essentials: 60 Must Have Items For Every Baby
If youre expecting, youve definitely started thinking about all the baby essentials youll need in the upcoming months. Some things are obviousclothing, a crib, diapersbut other baby essentials are easier to overlook.
Thats why the baby experts at Mustela have created the ultimate first year shopping list. Weve thought of everything, so you can put your mind at ease and focus on other, more important thingslike preparing your babys room and deciding on a name!
Lets take a look at all the newborn baby essentials.
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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How Many Newborn Baby Clothes Do I Need
Want to make sure you have enough newborn baby clothes without blowing your budget on dozens of cute outfits you dont need?
Newborn baby clothes are so adorable it can be difficult to stop yourself from buying everything you spot.
This post is all about helping you to decide how many newborn baby clothes you actually need to buy.
The truth is that when it comes to newborn size baby clothes you only need a very small number of outfits three to five maximum because they will grow out of them so very fast!
The secret to shopping smart for your newborn is to focus on buying 0-3 month size clothes, which you may find your baby fits from day one after being born.
This article will give you a checklist of what clothes you actually need to buy for your baby before they are born, including guidance on what size clothing to buy and how many.
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Must Have Baby Items: What To Buy Before The Little One Arrives
Heres the thing
A newborns material needs are few. This newborn must haves list includes the basics needed to help baby sleep and stay warm, fed, and clothed. Thats it! (Dont worry Ill include some more fun items at the end that I really enjoyed so you can have a well-rounded registry!
Assuming youve started your registry , lets get to adding these items to it!
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Grow By Gerber Baby Organic Mittens
Your peanut starts growing nails during week 12 of pregnancy, and they pretty much never stop growing from there. Trimming or filing baby’s nails can be tricky and a chore to maintain.
These scratch-proof mittens keep your little one’s hands covered and are an easy solution to prevent scratches on her sweet face. The mitts are made of soft 100 percent cotton, come in a variety of colors and are machine washable. Plus, the gentle elastic helps them stay put on her tiny hands and wrists. You’ll get three pairs in a package.
Bringing Home Baby: The 20 Essentials You Actually Need
When I was pregnant with my first child, friends offered a heap of advice on all the baby gear I absolutely had to have. I ended up creating not one, not two, not three, but five different registries to account for all those necessary items.
Of course, no one ever sets out to be that excessive. But with the wave of parenthood approaching, I wanted to cover all my bases. When it comes to our kids, even the most rational and levelheaded among us can succumb to that nagging fear: If I just buy X, then Ill win at parenting . . . or at least not mess up so badly.
It doesnt have to be like that. Before you go wandering glassy-eyed through the aisles of Babies R Us, check out this list of 20 must-haves built from hard-won wisdom and experience in the child-rearing trenches.
1. Car seat: Car seats are mandatory by federal law, and the hospital wont let you take baby home without one. Baby car seats, or infant buckets, snap into a base and have a carry handle. There are numerous brands available to fit your budget and style.
2. Soft carrier: When you cant put your newborn down but want to move around with your hands free, soft carriers are lifesavers. Styles range from sling to wrap to front-to-back convertible, so talk to a friend, try a few out and keep your receipts!
6. Nursing wear: A nursing mom should have two good nursing bras or tank tops, plus nursing pads so you dont leak through all your shirts.
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Best Baby Lotion Organic
Your precious baby deserves the best organic baby lotions made with the most delicate and naturally extracted ingredients. The best organic baby lotions on the market do not have to equal the cost of gold. Our search revealed that the best natural baby lotion is made with simple ingredients from local name brands. The most popular ingredient found in these organic moisturizers is calendula and coconut-derived ingredients.
Honest Company Organic Healing Balm, $13, Honest.com
The Honest Companys organic healing balm is the best organic baby lotion. Designed for everyday use for the entire family, this organic baby lotion is specially formulated to be ultra-gentle so that it is the safest baby lotion even for newborns. The versatile baby lotion uses certified organic oils, extracts and beeswax to produce the best natural baby lotion on the market.
Pros:
- Only certified organic and vegetarian ingredients are used. Free of petroleum, mineral oils, fragrances, dyes, and parabens.
- Great for rashes, cuts, sensitive skin, chapped lipsjust about anything
Cons:
- Thicker than Vaseline so its harder to spread
- A little gritty to the touch at first
Earth Mama Organics Baby Lotion, $18, Earthmamaangelbaby.com
Pros:
- Used for eczema, diaper rashes, and rough patches on babys skin soothes and smooths their delicate skin with no harsh chemicals and ingredients
- The light, orange popsicle scent makes this the best smelling baby lotion
Cons:
Puracy Organic Baby Lotion, $14, Puracy.com
Pros:
Changing Pad And Covers
Youll need a changing pad to place on top of the changing table. Make sure you can permanently attach the pad to the dresser so it doesnt slide around, and that the pad has safety straps for the baby.
Youll also need to get at least two changing pad covers that you can wash regularly or after messy changes.
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Itzy Ritzy Sweetie Soother Pacifier
Why pick this one? This pair of stylish pacifiers from Itsy Ritzy feature a one-piece cable design on the handle and are available in a multitude of colors for when youâd like to coordinate with your babyâs outfits.
Made from food-grade silicone, the pacifiers are also free of BPA and latex. The pacifierâs nipple is both soft and durable, which is good for when your baby starts teething. Two extra-large air holes ensure the pacifier is comfortable for your baby.A pacifier pod is sold separately if youâd like to have a way to store both pacifiers neatly and cleanly.Highlights: The pacifiers can be cleaned in the top rack of your dishwasher or sterilized in a microwave steam bag.
Price*: about $8.97 on
Best Baby Rectal Thermometer: Fridababy Quick
As scary as it sounds, taking a rectal temperature provides the most accurate readingespecially in young children. Basically, a rectal reading is considered the gold standard among pediatricians. Making the process quick and painless for parents and baby is the FridaBaby Quick-Read Rectal Thermometer. A stopper design prevents you from inserting the thermometer too far , and readings take only 10 seconds. Plus, the large back-lit display makes temps easy to read . If the best baby thermometer is the most accurate baby thermometer, this one just might be the right pick for you.
Considerations: Some users report that the battery can die quickly and without warning.
Buy it: FridaBaby Quick-Read Digital Rectal Thermometer, $16, BuyBuyBaby.com
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Breastfeeding Essentials For Nursing Moms
- Nipple Cream: This can also be called Nipple Butter and it will SAVE your nipples as a new mom nursing those first two weeks! Use it religiously.
- Nursing Bras: Make it easy on yourself and stock up on 2-3 nursing bras to make those frequent feedings much easier.
- Nursing Pads: Protect your nursing bras and clothing from leaking by using disposable nursing pads those first three months as your supply regulates.
- Nursing Cover: Bring this along with you for feedings while out and about.
- Breast Pump: Your health insurance should cover this for free! You can order this in month 6 or 7 of your pregnancy to ensure its shipped to your house in time.
- Haakaa Manual Pump: The Haakaa is a new hack for building your freezer stash! Wear it on your other breast to collect breast milk that wouldve otherwise leaked and been wasted.
- Breast Milk Storage Bags: If you decide to pump at any time, youll store any extra breast milk in these storage bags to freeze.
- Breast Milk Storage Bottles: If you pump and bottle feed, youll store your recently pumped milk in the refrigerator in these.
Breast Pump And Pump Parts
Even if you decide to nurse exclusively, buying or renting a pump gives you an option to hand the baby to someone else to feed. Pumping, especially in the first few days, also helps stimulate production and increase milk supply.
Tip: Check with your insurance provider to see if theyll cover the cost of a breast pump.
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Best Baby Carrier For Hiking
For a serious hike with a baby on your back, your best baby carrier is a frame carrier, like this one from the outdoors company Deuter. Built like a hikers backpack, you can unload it while keeping your kid inside with the kickstand, this baby carrier becomes a makeshift stand-alone seat. And because you may be using it for several hours at a time, theres storage for toys and pockets for parent necessities. Purchase a hood accessory and rain or shine, youll be able to trek with baby in tow.
Suited for: Up to 48.5 poundsBuy It: Deuter Kid Comfort 2 Child Carrier, $250, rei.com
Hats With A Wide Brim
For older babies, I particularly like this UPF 50+ sun hat. During 6-9 months is when you often see babies start to crawl. With them moving around a lot, this hat has a wide brim to protect the face, but its not too huge to obstruct his or her vision.
Its light and can be easily folded for the diaper bag. It has a chin strap for windier days.
The best part is that theres an adjustable toggle so you can loosen or tighten the width of the hat so its always the perfect fit and stays on your babys head.
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Introducing Baby To Pets
If you have a dog or cat at home, theyll probably be aware of a change during your pregnancy or when you set up the nursery.
Allow your pet to sniff the new baby furniture and accessories. Play recordings of baby noises for them so they can become used to the noises.
After baby is born, bring something with the babys scent, such as a blanket or item of clothing, for them to sniff. Theyll recognize the smell later when you bring the baby home for the first time.
Its important to always supervise your pets interactions with the baby during the newborn stage. Never leave your baby alone in an area where a pet has access. A pets attempts at welcoming a new family member may not be safe for a small baby.
If your pet is being overly friendly or aggressive, try to find positive ways to redirect their attention away from baby. That can help reduce feelings of jealousy or resentment.
New Baby Necessities What Do You Really Need For A Baby
I hate clutter, we lived in a small house, and I was determined to gather only the new baby necessities when my first was born and yet I STILL ended up with a bunch of stuff we didnt use!
Im going to sort of blame this on the internet. If you google what do I need for a baby youre gonna get ALL KINDS OF LISTS that insist you need changing pads, carriers, bottle warmers, pacifier clips and on and on.
I am here to tell you that a newborn actually needs VERY LITTLE.
This is good news for parents on a budget and also those who just dont want to fill their homes with stuff they wont ever use!
I also want to encourage you to WAIT to buy baby stuff until the third trimester, for the most part!
Even though I was 100% committed to not collecting too much stuff, its really hard not to! You didnt honestly know what a new baby really needs until youve had one.
You feel like you truly need it all for the baby.
Looking back, now that Ive done the newborn thing twice, I know what really needs to be on the list of things you need for a new baby and what doesnt.
These are things that still make my newborn necessities list a couple of them might seem frivolous to the most hardcore minimalists, but these are the things I would buy again, or tell my daughter to buy for her new baby.
These things are also the absolute best gift ideas for a new baby, in my opinion, because buying mom things she will actually use/need is always a good idea.
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Burt’s Bees Baby Burp Cloths
Yet another multitasking must have, these absorbent, 100 percent organic cotton burp cloths wont just absorb any spit up and other baby-related spills they’re also big enough to double as on-the-go changing pads. Plus, theyre soft on babys skin and completely cover your shoulder for mid-meal burps. The tri-fold towels easily fit in your diaper bag, and the buzz-y bee patch adds the right touch of sweetness. You’ll get two cloths in a set.
Size: 16 x 11.8 inches
Chicco Physioforma Soft Silicone Orthodontic Pacifiers
Why pick this one? The nipple of this pacifier is angled upward and shaped so that itâs flatter at the bottom and rounded at the top. There are tiny ridges on the flat side to encourage your little oneâs tongue to sit against it. In this way, the manufacturer claims, your babyâs tongue will be coaxed forward, which helps to clear the airways.The base of the nipple is thin so that your little one can close their mouth over the nipple more easily than over a thicker nipple base.This pacifier is made of silicone with a satin feel. Itâs both BPA and latex free.Once your baby is older, you can buy this same pacifier in designs for 6- to 12-month-olds, and for toddlers older than 16 months.Highlights: This pacifier comes with a storage case that also doubles as a sterilizer. Simply place the pacifier in its case with some water and microwave it for easy sterilization.
Price*: about $5.99 on
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