The Basic Items Needed to Bring Home Your Baby

When you see those two little pink lines on the pregnancy test, so many thoughts go through your mind. One of the big concerns is all the things you need to buy for this little bundle of joy that is coming your way in a few months! Here is a list of the absolute items necessary to welcome your new family member! Since new-born babies mainly eat, sleep and go potty the list is fairly simple and will cover those areas specifically!

A sleeping baby is a new mom's best friend! Despite the smallness of a 7 pound infant, they can turn any woman's life completely upside down in only a few days! Creating an atmosphere of relaxation and comfort for your baby to catch some ZZZ's is essential. A crib is an absolute necessity to keep your baby safe while you catch up on other things, or your own sleep! Purchase a crib mattress that is firm and waterproof. The only other essential sleeping item is a few crib sheets to create a cozy atmosphere. Bumpers, quilts and crib skirts are cute, but not necessary. A bassinet or play pen will serve the need temporarily, but your baby will eventually grow too large for these items.

The next area of items needed concerns feeding! The feeding of an infant is so simple, but can be so stressful as well. Breast feeding is the desired method of feeding for many health professionals and mothers alike. While all you really need are your breasts, there are other items that will help you succeed with breastfeeding. A breast pump will come in handy many times, breast pads will prevent any leaks getting through to your shirt, and lanolin will come to your rescue as many veteran nursing moms will attest to! Nursing bras make the job easier and more comfortable. If you are bottle feeding, purchase 4-6 bottles and plenty of formula. Spit up rags are a necessity as are bottle brushes to clean into the depths of the bottle.

Diapering is another huge area of baby care during those first few weeks. A newborn baby may poop up to 8 times in a 24 hour period. This is completely normal, but doesn't help with diaper conservation! Purchase 2-3 packs of newborn size diapers, and another 2 packs of size 1 diapers. If you don't use all the newborn diapers, you can easily exchange them for the size you need. Lap pad make great changing pads, and you will need to purchase many wipes! I always buy wipes in bulk, as you never want to be in a situation where you don't have enough! Ask your pediatrician which type of diaper rash ointment they recommend, and purchase 2 tubes, one for your home and one for your diaper bag. A diaper bag is also a necessity in a new mom's life! Look for one that has many pockets and is a dark color. Bathing materials are very simple for a newborn. Look for a very gentle bath wash, and a few baby washcloths. A

You will also need to dress your infant upon arrival. Newborns like to be warm and cozy, so warm and cozy clothing is how you should plan to dress them. If it is the cool season, purchase 4-5 warm sleepers and plan on your infant living in them for the first few weeks. Diaper changes are extremely easy and changing outfits is a snap. Purchase a 5 pack of onesies for under the sleepers and your infant will be nice and cozy. If it is summer, you can purchase more onesies, and fewer sleepers, but the same rule applies. Keep the infant warm and snug when necessary. Receiving blankets are also great to wrap the baby up tightly. There are many swaddling blankets on the market, and I would recommend one of those for your necessity pack. Socks, hats and cute outfits can come later, but sleepers and onesies are an absolute necessity in the first few weeks. You may want to purchase one nice newborn outfit for pictures, but don't plan on your little one wearing it for long!

One last necessity you need to purchase before the arrival of your little one is an infant car seat. The hospital will not let you take your baby home until you have one and they see the baby is safely situated in it. There are many on the market that is another story in itself! Do your research and choose the one that you feel will meet your needs the best!

So, in review, you need a crib, feeding items, diapers, wipes and ointment, sleepers and onesies, bath soap, and a car seat. Seems so simple, doesn't it? When you are shopping you will bombarded with so many lists of things you "need" to have, but remember the retailers want you to buy all the stuff regardless of whether you will ever use it. Once the baby is born and you are adjusted to motherhood, you can hit the stores knowing better what you want and what you can't make it without!