Must Haves for the Day you Bring Baby Home
When you are expecting a baby, you are often caught up in making sure you have everything you could possibly need for your newborn. A lot of new parents get caught up in the hype of registries and well meaning advice. Sometimes we also get caught up in advertising. I found out quickly that not everything that you list on your registry or that someone says you must have, do you actually need. In fact, if you are working on a budget or you are short on space and need to choose wisely, making the right decisions on what to have on hand is important. So here is my list of "must haves" from the first day you leave the hospital. As a first time Mom, I formed this list from experience:
Car Seat-The hospital simply will not let you leave with your newborn unless you have one. So this is the first must have on my list.
Diapers/Wipes/Diaper Ointment-Babies eat and then poop, these items are at the top of the must have list to have on hand. There is simply no getting around this.
Formula/Bottles-Even if you are nursing your baby, it is necessary to have these on hand. Afterall, you are still learning how your baby will react to nursing, so having a back up plan is a necessity. The hospital will most likely send you home with some to have on hand in case of emergency or just to get you started. Make good friends with the nurses in the maternity ward and you will find yourself leaving with more then the rest of the new moms!!
Onesies and Sleepers-Ultimately, these are the only clothes you need for your newborn for the first few days, or even weeks. Although newborn clothes are absoulutely adorable and I am sure you received TONS of outfits at your shower, your baby will be most comfortable in onesies and sleepers.
Crib/Portable Crib/Bassinet/Cradle-Whichever you choose, you will need somewhere for your newborn to sleep.Blankets-Swaddling an infant is important within the first few days after they are born. It keeps them secure and reminds them of the womb. You can never have enough blankets.
Burp clothes-Do not be without these vital items when you bring your newborn home. They are great for more than just protecting your clothes from spit up or other bodily fluids that you will experience. They are great for wiping things up, can be used as lap pads for changing your baby anywhere such as the bed or couch. They can also be used by being rolled up and placed on the sides of the baby while they sleep to stabilize them. (I actually learned about this in the hospital). They are also a big help when bathing your baby. They can be placed in the sink as a cushion or used as a quick towel for clean up afterwards. There are hundreds of uses for burp clothes and I am sure you will find a few more of your own..trust me.
Baby Toiletries/Washclothes/Towels-Things get messy...fast. Having babywash and shampoo on hand along with ointments, powder, lotion, cotton swabs and alcohol pads (for the belly button) is necessary. Baby washclothes and towels are important too.
Ultimate Care Kit-It should include a brush, nasal aspirator,nail clippers, baby scissors (for those of us who are too scared to use the clippers at first), thermometer, cradle cap comb, and tweezers.
Some people would say a stroller is a necessity from the day you come home with your new addition. In my opinion, this can wait. While you will need it if you want to travel or take walks, it is not a must have for the first 2 weeks after giving birth.
So there you have it. If you think our list should have been longer, feel free to let us know what you think. Check out these other helpful sights too.
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