Newborn Checklist

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You are going to be a parent and you won’t think about shopping!!! That never happens…..shopping for a mother and baby is always exciting. If you will visit a baby shop you will be surely lost in tiny things which are really as cute as baby and you may want to put most of them in your wish list for your upcoming baby ……….well no offence you can buy as much as you want but yes if you really want to spend on the things which will really help you in raising your baby then I would like to say out of 100 only 20 things you will be in need. There are lots of baby items which make your life easier and many are just silly. It’s up to you what do you like and what do you want to purchase but if you think how do I know what should I skip and which things are must? When should I start my pre-birth shopping? Then here is your newborn checklist:

When to Buy:

In some family they have ritual like they can’t buy anything until they receive baby and some gives freedom for facility. Well why I used the word facility is 1. I believe you should do pre-birth shopping because it’s good to see kids things around.  It will relax you, give you relief and excitement for something new in life. 2. If you will wait till birth, mother won’t be able to go for shopping so her wish might not be fulfill. 3. After baby you need to take care of mother as well as baby so it double your duty and shopping for baby adds pressure on you.

Well you might think then what shall we do? Shall we buy everything before birth? Or shall we start shopping once we know we are going to have a baby? Then I will suggest best time for pre-birth shopping is 7 to 9 months of pregnancy. Starts at 7 so you can get a chance to see so many varieties of baby items as in this month would be mummy will be healthy and fresh. Wind up before mid of 9^th months so would be mummy can take enough rest too as last month will be really very tiresome for her.

Baby essentials for normal baby:

We will divide baby products in 5 categories:

1. Bathing
2. Diapering
3. Clothing
4. Comfort
5. Safety measures

***Disclaimer: Products and brands name used in following is based on personal choice. I am not advertising any of these brands or products by any means.

 1. Bathing:

Massage mat: Massage mat is a precaution for your bed sheet.  If you will massage baby directly on bed sheet your bed sheet will be oily and so you need an extra cover on that. There is no word like massage mat but there are lots of soft and plastic layered mat are available in baby shops. You can choose your best.

Baby oil: You can’t think baby without massage and so you need baby oil. There are lots of baby oils available in market, select whatever you like according to the weather of your city. Olive oil or almond oil is good option for massage.

Bath tub: Large ranges of baby bath tub are available in baby shops. Check the details and buy which suits you best.

Top to toe: For baby shampoo and soap together is the best option so the Johnson’s top to toe is best. It is very mild and economic too. Aveeno is also very good option if you want to spend some more.

Hooded towel: Kid’s towel with hood is really good to use as its small in size as well as it covers your baby from head to toe.

Cream / moisturizer: Baby’s skin is really very soft so you might need mild moisturizer. Both Johnson’s and aveeno provide best baby cream.

Changing pad: Just like massage mat, I can say it’s just for precaution while changing diaper. So if you don’t want leave it. But yes for outside you will need at least one small changing pad but still I will say if you are planning to get a diaper bag , don’t buy separately as most of the diaper bags provides changing pad with it. Disposable changing pads are also available but I recommend normal one only.

Swaddle: There is a say, when we swaddle babies after bath they sleep well. Swaddle is just a piece of clothes with which you need to tie your baby in particular manner. If you know how to tie, you can use any soft clothes and if you don’t know just pick ready made swaddle from shops which are attractive too.

Baby comb/hair brush: Baby hair brush is recommended as normally we don’t share any grownup things with baby to prevent baby from unwanted infection. Baby brush is very soft so you can use it as many times as you want even if your baby has very light hairs.

 2. Diapering:

Diaper: You are going to need a lot!!! At least 7 to 10 in a day for normal baby in normal weather. You can choose clothes diaper or disposable diaper. Clothes diaper is cheap but you need to wash it. So it will add your work load. Disposable is nice. Best is pampers new born diaper but still you can use your choice of diapers based on cost and comfort. I admire if you will choose best quality diaper as it won’t give rashes to baby but still as I said it depends on weather. The best is use rash cream with diaper regularly.

Wipes: Don’t clean your baby’s personal part with running water only. Either use small clothes soaked in diluted Dettol (Dettol liquid with water) or use wipes. Lots and lots of wipes are available in market, my favorite is newbee.

Rash cream: Use best quality rash cream regularly to prevent your baby from rashes. People says rashes are because of diapers but truth is if you will combine good quality rash cream with good quality diapers and wipes, your baby can put on diapers for 24/7 without any problem. And trust me with that they will be more happy and healthy.

Diaper trash bin: Diapers stinks and so you need a dust bin which can prevent your house from bad smell and this is perfect for it. You won’t get any nasty smell at all. If you will ask me I will say this is must.

Diaper trash bag: This is small perfumed bag to throw the diaper so it will absorb diaper’s smell. If you have diaper trash bin you don’t need this one for home but this is really good choice for outside visits.

 3. Clothing:

You can buy whatever you like as per the weather. Just make sure even if so cold don’t make them wear very hot clothes. Use warm clothes with layers. Normally onsies with pants and top are common for kids. For night sleep wear are available which covers full body and comes with mittens and bootie too. You can buy all these things separately too. 1. Onesies 2. Sleep wear 3. Pants 4. Tops 5. Socks/bootie 6. Mittens 7. Hat 8. Thin sweater 9. Thin blanket 10.Thik blanket for outside 11. Warm jacket for outside. 12. Small napkin for baby.

Mittens are must as kids nails are very sharp and grow very fast so if you want make them wear mittens they will hurt themselves.

For cold warm sweater and layered clothes are recommended. Don’t make them wear hot sweater until its necessity.

You can buy either new born size or 0-3 months. Before baby you can’t decide her size so better to combine both the sizes. Newborn size won’t fit more than a month so better to choose 0-3 months clothes more.

Sometimes baby spit ups and to wipe it you need small napkin or handkerchief for her. Baby napkins are available in markets which are really very soft and gentle to use.

 4. Comfort:

Carrier / stroller: Going out with baby is not so easy. You need to carry baby all the times as well as her essential. For this many products are available in market from which carrier and stroller are best. Carrier is a place where you can put your baby and tie it to your body both the sides front and back. It’s good for first year. After that you have to buy stroller because of weight concern. Stroller is always good option for outing as you just need to pull it or push it. It has extra space for baby essential too so you need not to carry anything and will be useful till 4 to 5 years. For the first year of baby you should use car seat with stroller to support proper position.

Swing / bouncer: For baby sleep is must and for that normally we prefer swing. Automatic swing is also available. If you don’t want to buy a swing, you can go for bouncer. Bouncer has vibration effect and 3 positions. So even if your kid doesn’t use it for nap it can be used as a play seat or feeding seat till 2 or 2 and half years.

Crib: If you are planning to sleep with your baby only then no need to buy crib.  But if you want to put her on her own bed then you should buy crib with proper crib mattress as well as safety essentials for it.

Pacifier if you want to offer: Pacifier is not necessary but it soothes baby. Sometimes baby soothes herself with her fingers or hand which is definitely not good for her health as well as for you too as 1. You can’t clean her hands all the times. 2.  It takes longer time to wean. Don’t forget to check the size of pacifier before offering your baby.

Diaper bag: Going out with baby needs lots of baby stuff and so to organize it properly you need diaper bag. It’s okay if you choose any other bag of your style. The reason to buy a proper diaper bag is 1. It has many divisions to separate kid’s products as per requirement. 2. Changing mat is available with diaper bag 3. Diaper bags are available in all the sizes and beautiful design.

Feeding pillow: Well when we are talking about baby essentials how can we forget the mother’s comfort? Feeding pillow is a pillow which supports your body and baby at the time of feeding. Baby can get perfect position with pillow and provides comfort to mother especially if she has gone through C-section.

5. Safety measures:

Car seat: Car seat is must in USA and UK. In India it’s okay if you won’t use it. Car seat is for baby’s security and if you are thinking to buy it, first check that it fits in all the safety measures. Best place for car seat is opposite side of driving seat in back seat of car.

Audio/video monitoring system: You don’t need this really if your baby sleeps with you but yes if you have separate room for her you must have this device to make sure her safety.

First aid kit: New life is trying to settle down in new environment and so she needs first aid kit ready all the times. Baby first aid kit should contain 1. Nasal bulb to remove mucus from baby’s nose 2. Nail cutter 3. Thermometer 4. Ear bud use baby ear bud and do not exceed its use. 5. Vitamins drops suggested by her pediatrician 6. Any other medicines if her pediatrician suggested you.

Enjoy shopping