Every parent to be or new parent feels extremely overwhelmed, but don’t worry — it’s totally normal. The best way to help (at least a little!) try to calm your nerves is to prepare, as much as you can. The other issue is that it seems like everyone has their own ideas of what you need for your newborn. How can you determine what’s actually a necessity? Well, we’ve boiled it down to the absolute essentials so you can feel a little less stressed and focus on preparing.
Newborn Essentials
Baby Clothes
Let’s face it, the reality is that infants go through a whole lot of clothes. Before they learn to control their bodily functions, things are going to be messy and that means you’ll need a bunch of clothes to change them into. Try to avoid fancy clothes (think things like lacy items) since they tend to be quite expensive and they’re also not great for babies. You will need socks, hats, and sleepers. Bodysuits are always a great idea, and try to get them with feetsies and also zippers instead of snaps, trust us. Don’t buy too much of any one item, since they’ll outgrow them before you know it!
Baby Clothes
Breastfeeding & Bottle Feeding
While breastfeeding is an important part of your baby’s first 6 months of life, sometimes complications arise. It’s good to have a bottle feeding kit, as well as bottle covers and pacifiers on hand. Make sure they’re BPA free. After about 6 months, babies start to eat solid foods so you can get a feeding kit that has no-spill bowls and fruit nibblers.
Breastfeeding & Bottle Feeding
Diapers
While you might think that this would be the most unpleasant part, when it’s your baby, you won’t mind changing their diapers. You’ll be doing it between 10 to 12 times a day, so trust us, you’ll get so used to it you won’t even bat an eye. It’s best to stock up on as many diapers as possible and make sure they are allergy and rash free. It’s also a good idea to get a diaper bag so outings will be a lot easier.
Diapers
Safety Essentials
This category is crucial. Safety essentials include items like baby monitors, bed rails, safety rails, pet fences, finger guards for doors, corner guards, and more. Try to study your home carefully and see what needs to be done in terms of baby proofing. As your baby grows, finger safety guards and corner guards become even more important. Baby monitors are a great way to check on your baby from afar to help keep your peace of mind.
Safety Essentials
Travel Kit
If you’re a big traveler, then you should think about investing a travel kit, which will help you make sure your baby is safe, comfortable, and content during your travels. These tend to include a car booster seat, seat belt holder, neck support pillow, and more.
Travel Kit
