Every current and new parent needs to make sure that they have the right items for a family’s first child. Newborns come with a lot of things, some of which are better left for the hospital staff to provide. Here is a list of essentials every newborn should have!
Newborn Baby Wardrobe Essentials
Bibs: The first six months is a time of extreme drooling, spit-up, and even vomiting. It’s important to get quality bibs that are made of cotton because they are soft to the baby’s skin. They also won’t cause any friction between your baby’s lips and teeth.
Burp cloths: It may seem silly, but burp cloths can be a lifesaver. When the baby starts to feed, it can result in excess spit-up or a messy chin, or even your clothes. You will want to get a few to use for yourself as well.
Burp rags: Burp rags are just as important as burp cloths because they help clean up the excessive spit-up off of your skin. If you are breastfeeding, there is also the chance that you will leak milk onto yourself. You will want to get a few burp rags per infant to ensure that you have enough for him or her to use.
Chew toys: A newborn loves to chew on things (such as your hair), so it is important to have something for the little one to chew on!
Cribsheet: Babies are not very good at self-soothing, and if you put them on a cold, hard mattress, it will make them uncomfortable (and most likely cry). Make sure you get a crib sheet that is soft and comfortable enough for your baby.
Crib toys: I like to buy some toys for the baby’s crib. When the child is older, the toys that you bought for him or her will be used for a time before they are discarded and replaced.
Newborn Baby Nursery Essentials
A baby’s room calls for some items other than the ones mentioned above. I recommend that you get these items if you are planning on giving your newborn a nursery:
A bassinet: This can be used when the baby is small and before he or she outgrows it. The infant will most likely grow out of it after six months, but there’s nothing wrong with having a bassinet in their room.
A crib: When the child is able to move around more freely, they will need something to sleep in, and a crib is a perfect choice for this. Make sure that you get a crib made of sturdy wood because even newborns can be strong enough to flip over some cribs.
Rocking chair: The baby may never need this item, but it makes a great little toy.
Books: There are so many books made for babies that you can find at the store. It can be a fun time for parents to read their child the book in bed or get it read to them by someone else. My little one’s love books, especially “Goodnight Moon” and “Green Eggs and Ham.”
A changing table: When the baby is too big to use a bassinet, you will have to get something else. A changing table will make diaper changes much more convenient than on top of a bed or floor.
Baby monitor: It will be useful to have a baby monitor in the nursery in case the baby wakes up at night or if you have to leave the room. This way, you won’t have to listen for crying and can figure out what it is that the baby wants.
A crib mobile: This is one of my favorite items because it keeps my babies entertained even when they are not asleep. Some of them even play music for you!
Vibration pad: Babies like being caressed, and this vibration pad will send vibrations through some of your child’s limbs to give him or her a nice sensation.
Toy basket: A toy basket is nice for organizing your baby’s toys, but you will have to keep it out of their reach and make sure that anything that goes into the basket is one hundred percent safe for them.
Nursing pillow: Not having a nursing pillow is like having a screw loose in my book. The pillow should be large enough that you don’t have to get up and lean over your baby, but small enough to accommodate the width of their neck. This way, it doesn’t put any pressure on their spine while they are nursing.
Nursing bras: These bras come in so handy for breastfeeding because they can easily be removed and washed.
Blankets: When the baby is cold or just needs something to cuddle, blankets can come in handy. A blanket that keeps the child warm will be much better than one made of cotton because it will cover more of the body and not just their arms and legs.
Newborn Baby Diapering Essentials
Changing a diaper can be a nightmare if you don’t have the right tools. There are so many special things that make diapering newborns easier, but here is a list of some of the absolute necessities:
Diaper bag: To put all your baby’s diapers, wipes, and other essentials in, you will need a diaper bag. This way, you won’t have to carry everything around with your hands or in your pockets.
Wipes: Baby wipes are almost essential to diapering an infant because they are much better than using plain toilet paper. They are also more sanitary and safer for the infant (the chemicals don’t sting their bottoms).
Diaper cream: Even with all the added precautions, babies will still get diaper rash. This can easily be treated with diaper cream and doesn’t have to be too frequently used.
Changing pad: A changing pad is essential because it allows you to clean up after the dirty deed without having to worry about getting anything on your clothes or body. The changing pad should be cleaned every time you change a diaper as well (which should be after every single use).
Newborn Baby Bath Essentials
Bath time can be tons of fun, but it can be frustrating when you don’t have everything that you need. Here are some of the essentials for giving your child a bath:
Shampoo and body wash: These are both essential for cleaning baby hair and making sure that the skin is clean. It is best to get organic products that are safe for a baby’s sensitive skin. You will want to shampoo your child before their first bath, but you don’t have to use body wash until after their first few baths.
Hooded towels: Getting a hooded towel may seem over-the-top, but they are nice because they keep the baby warm after they come out of the bathtub or while they dry off.
Baby bathtub: Most people start bathing their newborns in the sink and then move them to a baby bathtub after about three months. There are still some that bathe their baby in the sink until they are much older, but I don’t recommend this because it is harder to clean up.
Bath toys: Bath time can be very entertaining for babies and parents, but sometimes it can get boring so you may have to have some toys on hand in case your child gets bored! You can even get toys that suds up or lights up while they bathe.
Baby lotion: Baby lotion is just as important as shampoo and body wash because it will keep their skin soft and moisturized.
Bath seat: This may seem like an unnecessary item, but I would highly recommend getting one of these because they are great for giving your child food while they are in the bathtub (you can use a small pillow or towel to support it).
When do newborns start smiling?
Newborn babies don’t start smiling until they are about 2 to 3 weeks old. This is because the pathways that connect the motor cortex to other parts of the baby’s brain develop very slowly during this time, so he can’t smile right away. Even after your child smiles for the first time, it will take a few weeks before his facial muscles become strong enough to smile on their own.
How often do you bathe a newborn?
A newborn baby should be bathed about once per day. Be aware that you will have to be careful when bathing your baby, as he is very likely to slip and fall in the water. If you have a tub, it may be better if you bathe him in the sink instead. Another way to prevent slipping in the water is to wrap your child up completely before you lift him out of the bathtub. You can even use a rubber mat that can help increase his grip on the wet floor of the bathtub or sink.
When do newborns start sleeping more at night?
Most babies will start sleeping more at night around 4 to 6 weeks old. This is due to a chemical called melatonin that your body produces as you get older. Newborns don’t have a high enough level of melatonin yet, so they naturally want to sleep during the day and be awake at night, which can make it very difficult for them to get any sleep while they are small.
When can babies hold their heads up?
Most babies won’t be able to hold up their heads until around the age of 6 weeks, but each baby is different. Some babies will start to support their head between 2 and 3 weeks, while others may take a little longer to learn this skill.
How often should I feed my newborn?
Newborn babies should be fed every 3 hours at first, so their bellies don’t get too empty. After 2 weeks, most babies will start to eat every 4 hours and will grow out of the newborn stage after about 6 weeks, when they can go for longer periods between feedings.
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