Basic Things You Need to Welcome Your New Baby

You must be very excited to have your newborn come home with you from the hospital or your birthing center! While it is never too soon to start shopping for basic necessities (and why not some extra trinkets and gadgets here and there, too) for the little one growing in your womb, most expecting moms or parents seriously start shopping during the third trimester when you can almost feel your baby with you at home. Whether you're in your first or second or third trimester, this is a list of things that will be very helpful for you to have before your baby arrives. Don't put buying or acquiring these things off to the last minute since as soon as your newborn arrives, your hands will be full!

1. Basic Clothing and Linens for the Baby. Even before my husband and I knew the sex of our baby, we already bought five sets of clothing for her - all in white! It was an exciting time, plus it was checking off one big item on our list just during my second trimester. If you are not particular about dressing a baby girl in pink or a baby boy in blue, then you don't have to just buy white. Buy a variety of colors. Yellow and green clothing are great for either a baby girl or baby boy, too. Remember to get: tops, bottoms, frogsuits (not a necessity but these are so cute!) or one piece body suits, mittens, booties, bonnets, and blankets to keep your baby warm.

2. A Rear-Facing (or Convertible) Car Seat for Your Baby. Especially if you will be delivering outside of your home, a carseat is a must-have in bringing your baby home. This can easily be overlooked with all the excitement going on about what you will dress your baby or the toys you want to get your baby, but remember: Safety First! Rear-facing carseats are the most recommended for newborns and babies. Here are a few suggestions: the Britax Marathon 70 Convertible Car Seat, this cute Graco SnugRide Infant Car Seat, or the Safety 1st Alpha Omega Elite Convertible Car Seat.

3. Your Baby's Crib. Depending on your personal style, there are a variety of cribs available - you definitely won't run out of options! To be on the more practical side however, you may want to consider these cribs, which look elegant as they are, but with the added element of being convertible to a full-size bed frame for when your baby is older! The DaVinci Kalani Convertible Baby Crib is a sleek, simple crib which can be converted into a full size bed with railings, while the Delta Shelby Crib and Changer also has a detachable changing table with drawers, with parts of the crib convertible to a full size headboard and footboard for when your baby is older.

4. Bathing Needs and Toiletries. While you don't have to bathe your baby right when you come home, after a few days or weeks, you and the baby will be ready for the baby's very first bath. Remember that your baby is very delicate and only needs minimal soaping and washing. To make this sometimes tense time a lot easier and more convenient for you and your baby, you may want to purchase these in advance: Fisher-Price Precious Planet Whale of a Tub, which makes bathing look a lot more fun, or the First Year's Infant to Toddler Tub with Sling. As for toiletries, it's best to start with a gentle baby shampoo/soap such as the Johnson's Vanilla Oatmeal Baby Wash.

5. Diapers and Changing Mat. With the fun of having a newborn, comes the even more exciting part of cleaning up after him or her. Stock up on diapers as you may not have the time or the energy to go out and buy diapers on a weekly or even monthly basis. There are several brands of disposable diapers out there, so feel free to ask friends and relatives for their recommendation. Two popular brands are Pampers and Huggies. While you can change your baby right on top of your bed, some mothers prefer to be more organized and use changing mats. You may also want to invest in a portable diapering kit such as the The First Years Deluxe Fold and Go Diapering Kit or the Skip Hop Pronto Diaper Changer Kit.

6. Bottles and Breast Pump. If you are breastfeeding and will be staying at home with your baby, bottles and a breast pump are not really a necessity. However, if you are planning to go back to work or if you are not planning to breastfeed your baby (please note that breastfeeding is highly recommended by health professionals and mothers alike), bottles and a breast pump are a good investment. Philips Avent Bottles are particularly well-reviewed, and you can also get the Philips Electric Breast Pump to help you to express your milk while you're away from your baby.

There are definitely other items you can get your newborn, but be sure that you have the things listed above first, to ensure a smooth and panic-free transition for you and your baby.