The time has come. Your pregnancy journey has come to the point where you have to start thinking about what your baby will need when he or she arrives. A number of things may cross your mind, but do you really need all of that right now? Is it a must-have or a nice-to-have? When creating your shopping list, you will need to know the must-haves. We asked our team what they found their babies 100% needed and listed them below.
1. Crib and Add-ons
Where your child will sleep is something you need to think about. You may choose for your child to sleep in a crib or co-sleep with you in the same bed. If you decide that crib sleep is right for you, you will need a crib, mattress, and linens. Look at customer reviews and consumer reports to ensure that you are getting a structurally safe crib and safe add-ons. You also need to think about how much you need to spend on these items. You shouldn’t skip out on a good quality mattress and crib but you also don’t need to overly spend on something just because of the branding.
If you decide to go the co-sleep direction, you need to pay close attention on how to create a safe sleep space for your child. The mattress should be firm and any blankets and pillows you have should not cover your baby’s face. Lay your baby on their back to sleep and do not swaddle them in a blanket. Furthermore, make sure your child can’t fall off the bed and get stuck between the bed and the wall.
2. Travel Gear
Travel gear are items that you will need for your baby when you go out. This includes a stroller, baby carrier, and car seat, all of which need to be of good quality to ensure your child’s safety. You should also think about the different options that are available for each type of travel gear. For example, there are normal strollers and jogging strollers, with the latter being more lightweight and can turn more smoothly.
3. Bouncy Seat/Baby Swing
A bouncy seat or baby swing is great to have as you can place your child there while doing chores or other tasks (while still keeping an eye on them of course!) and your child can be kept entertained. Plus with the bouncy seat or swing, your child will be jumping around, thus working out their lower body muscles and building strength.
4. Newborn Clothes and Blankets
You will need a lot of clothing and clothing accessories for your baby as these items can get dirty very easily. A onesie is a go-to item as it is easier to put on your baby and can cover them up. But you also need to keep in mind that your baby will grow very quickly. Thus, you shouldn’t buy too many clothes of one size. In terms of blankets, you will need a number of receiving blankets and cloths so that when you are trying to make your child burp, or there are other mishaps, you have something to wipe away the mess in an instant.
5. Breastfeeding Items
These items are necessary only if you decide to breastfeed your child. You will need a breast pump along with bottles or bags to store the milk as you may produce more milk than your child can drink. You should also acquire nursing pillows to help ease the position you and your baby are in when you are feeding them. Additionally, burp cloths, as mentioned above, and bibs are items that can help minimize the mess that comes with breastfeeding your child.
6. Diapers and Other-Related Items
Diapers are probably the first thing that come to mind when you are thinking of items for your baby. You should buy many diaper packs as you will go through a number of them daily. And when you need to change your baby’s diaper, you will of course need a changing pad (preferably waterproof) and wipes to clean up your baby’s bottom.
7. Other General Must-Haves
There are also other items that don’t fit in the categories above but are still necessary to have on hand. This includes:
- Pacifiers
- Diaper bag
- Formula and baby bottles
- Babyproofing gear such as outlet covers
- A highchair and bibs when you need to feed them
- Bathing and grooming items such as baby shampoo and nail scissors/clippers
- Thermometer
- Infant medicine, like Advil or Tylenol
Going through the pregnancy journey can be stressful and tiring at times. You have to take care of yourself, or your partner, and think about what the baby needs when they arrive in the world. When looking for those baby must-haves, it can get overwhelming. But don’t worry. The baby has you and you have Amazon.