What must haves will you have when your baby is born?

[sarabei]

I'm a first time mom, so I have no idea what I actually NEED when baby is born. I'm of the thinking that less is better, but my mom, sil, and pretty much everyone around is shocked that I haven't picked out a baby bed, car seat, etc... yet, and I'm not due until January.

I know that I'll need a car seat, because I will not be having a home birth, and diapers. I'll be breastfeeding, so no formula or bottles. The baby will be in our room, maybe not for along time, but definitely right at first, so I don't plan on having a dedicated nursery for him or her either (our house is fairly small, and I have a stepson who lives with us and a stepdaughter who visits and has her own room, so that limits space even more). They are both teenagers, so sharing a room won't really be an option for awhile (and then they'll be on their own). I know a few basics, like clothes and toiletries and whatnot, but what do you think are the bare essentials for a newborn?

[moonmama22]

Bare essentials?
Carseat - like you said
diapers
sling?
co-sleeper/bassinet/crib???
bathing needs
clothing


anything else - stroller, Boppy, swing, breastpump, etc... is not really essential and could always be taken care of afterward if you find them necessary.

[MissMorgan]

Don't worry about not having stuff picked out - I'm due next month and we don't have a car seat! (Or anything else but some clothes that people have given us as gifts!)
I asked this same question a while back and got some great responses:
http://www.mothering.com/discussions...851&highlight=

[sarabei]

Thanks, MissMorgan! I thought this had probably been asked before but am still figuring out the boards, how to search,etc... Thank you!

Moonmama, thank you! That is kind of what I was thinking, but I wasn't sure if there was something obvious that I was just missing!

[HeatherB]

My essentials are cloth diapers, soft clothes, blankets, and me.

Obviously a car seat is critical, too (and we need to get a new one this time). Oh, burp cloths are a good one to have on hand, too. So useful for everything! I tend to just use prefolds for burp cloths (real prefolds). Amazing, simple little devices they are!

Other than that, baby really doesn't need much. For you, cold compresses to sit on after birth, something for engorgement (cold packs, Booby Tubes, cabbage leaves), a pump if you intend to begin building a stash of milk, and Lansinoh/lanolin cream. I also always get nipple shields by Medela to help with latch. For some reason, I always end up in major pain, but they help a TON. The combination of those and lanolin speeds healing for me.

I do like to have a safe place to lay baby, which could be a bassinet, moses basket, pack'n'play, crib, swing, hammock, or even your bed (when small, and if you don't have animals).

And how can I forget baby carriers/slings?! :doh I love snuggly, stretchy wraps with newborns, but ring slings and pouches are fabulous, too. Just make sure you have the right size (if necessary) and someone to help you get the adjustments right to ensure your comfort and baby's safety.

[xekomaya]

There is so little you really need that I almost didn't post. Just wanted to add a thought.

Before my first came I started getting nervous that we wouldn't have what we needed in time (I put off all my shopping until late). Then I stopped to think about it and realized that literally everything you need, you can send you husband to Target for while you're in labor.

It may not be ideal for your crunchy lifestyle, but the thought took the stress off for me. I did end up with the essentials for the first few days, and everything else I ordered one handed while stuck in a chair nursing

[newlywaaz]

babies eat, sleep, poop, and bond. So, if you have boobs, cozy clothing (inc. socks and hats), diapers, and a sling, you're set! Everything else is peripheral, and can probably wait.
Other things I enjoyed having:
wipes & wool covers/longies
more slings
a few receiving blankets
cosleeper (had one for my second kid and then gave it away=( will have to find another)...these really save on space in your room and last until your baby can pull up to standing. plus: room for stuff underneath.
thermometer
a mirror that velcros onto your back seat so you can see baby in the rear-view mirror
basket near where I nursed with water, snacks, knitting, wipes, and a book.
um..... that's about it for at least the first 4 months!

[MyFullHouse]

Something to deal with their nails!

I didn't think of that with my first, and I forgot with my second, so now it's always at the top of my list, lol.

Some moms are fine with just chewing their baby's nails down, but I like to be able to see what I'm doing. Clippers, a file, whatever. All of my babies have been born with sharp nails, and the first two definitely did scratch themselves within the first 24 hours!

I also like to make sure I have plenty of my favorite menstrual pads on hand. I have a wonderful dh who doesn't mind running out to the store for me, but he can never seem to find my favorites.

I'm not big on baby lotion, but it's good to have some sort of moisturizing agent on hand. My babies' hands and feet tend to crack and peel by the end of week 1 if I don't lube them up regularly. I don't know if it bothers them, but it looks terribly uncomfortable to me!

[mistymama]

My must-haves

carseat
diapers/wipes
sling
clothing
comfy chair or couch for nursing

and then in the "nice to have" category -

Somewhere to lay baby while I cook, do laundry, ect - I personally like a bouncer
boppy or some sort of pillow to help with breastfeeding support
co-sleeper - it's nice to have a spot for baby where I'm not worried dh is going to crush him
wipe warmer - total luxury and some people hate them, but I like having ready, warm cloth wipes for my babies.

[JessieBird]

Here are my must-haves -

for baby:
- car seat, installed and inspected
- 10 disposable diapers, and full stash of cloth diapers
- lots of cloth wipes and burp cloths (can be one in the same)
- a few items of 3-6 mos clothing (many babies never fit nb/0-3 and it doesn't really matter if clothes are a bit big)
- receiving blankets - I prefer jersey knit cotton instead of flannel
- wrap-style carrier (like Moby wrap)
- somewhere for baby to sleep if not in your bed

for mama:
- contact name and phone number for lactation consultant just in case (or schedule and address for drop-in breastfeeding clinics / LLL meetings)
- information on where to rent a pump just in case you get terribly engorged or get lumps/mastitis in those early days
- lots of your favourite heavy-flow menstrual pads
- lots of favourite comfy underwear
- lots of comfy clothes
- easy-prep foods in the freezer, pantry stocked with all your favourite comfort foods

That would do it for me! Good luck!

[Ellen Griswold]

I completely agree with everything that everyone said. The only other thing that I did like is a bouncy seat, but that's not a must have. My second child liked her bouncy seat so much for her first morning nap, but not the other ones , that she would cry until I put her in it. This is our third baby, but I don't have anything saved, and a bouncy seat will be on my list because of that. However, like I said, I don't find it to be a must.

[butterflies]

I never had a nursery set up either and with my second, we didn't even bother buying a crib.

My list would be:
car seat
diapers and wipes
a safe place to set down baby (can be a bassinet, swing, moses basket, bouncy seat... you definitely don't need all of them but it's nice to have one)
blankets
clothing
bunting, hats, etc if you live in a cold climate and are due in Jan
thermometer

lansinoh
nursing pads (i leak a LOT- these are a must for me)
menstrual pads
comfy nursing spot

A carrier is probably an essential for me because its nice to just pop the baby in and go for a walk. I get a little stir crazy inside for days on end.

[eastvillage]

I found that my Boppy pillow and a sling were musts for me!

[terra-pip]

I agree with everyone here. We cosleep and breastfeed so we find we need a lot less than mainstream parents as well. Even if you're having a homebirth I would pick out the car seat and practice using it. That was the most stressful thing for me when I was a new mom, what brand? what kind? etc. We actually got a convertable and I was so worried about it being installed right we went to the local hospital that had a car seat inspection program and the woman who showed us how it works suggested that we use a rear facing carrier and that we get one where the base stays in and the seat can come out separately. It took me a while to figure out how to take it apart and change the straps and put it back together, make sure it was in there good and at a 45 degree angle etc. Two kids later and a third pregnancy and I am an expert at booster seats but my husband still has to deal with the carrier installation. LOL. And you may have to go somewhere after baby is born...never know.

My other essentials:

Arms reach cosleeper (used with my other two and I love them) the bassinet model has lockable wheels so I'll even move it into the front area of the house during the day so baby can nap or wiggle on their own while I am doing other things or something with my older kiddo.

A mesh bedrail: baby doesn't always sleep in a colseeper! Sometimes in our bed, sometimes in cosleeper. So the mesh bedrail makes me feel safer.

And then little bassinet sheets/water proof pads for under the sheets and swaddle blankies or zip sleepers blankies etc...the options are endless here.

And that's sleeping.

Clothes: this is all personal taste imo and based on the weather your little one will be born. I tend to buy more than I need. I get a few newborn sizes but mostly get 3-6 month sizes, they outgrow the tiny clothes fast. Onesies, shirts, footie sleepers, gowns (some people don't like them but I love the gowns when they're newborns) little pants, socks, any special outfits that grab my fancy. And don't think you have to buy everything new. I resale shop a lot.

A bouncy seat: The options/styles are endless...but I find this a life saver. Sometimes you need to do something where baby needs to be somewhere other than your arms or in a sling.

And a sling/carrier: I love NewNatives and Moby's. And then a front carrier for when the babes bigger. But you can wait to get that later.

Toiletries: this is all personal taste too. But something to bathe, maybe lotion, dipe cream, something for the umbilical cord (we use goldenseal). Something for baths. Little washclothes and towels. Burp cloths. I've never used a baby tub. I always bathed with them...that's just personal taste too I think.

For breastfeeding: as many nursing bras as you want. Some Lansinoh. Some nursing pads (I use the disposable kind..but they make cloth reusable, I've used those in the past too). Cold cabbage leaves in your bra does feel good for engorgement. Pump and storage bags and bottles if you feel you need them for going back to work or babysitters etc. I've never used bottles but I have used an Isis in the past and stored milk with my first. I didn't with my second. I don't find it terribly necessary, but some people like the safe feeling of having the stored milk.

Diapers: cloth or disposable, some wipes (cloth or disposable). I have a changing pad thing that fits on a dresser but I find I hardly ever use it...I end up changing dipes on the floor, the bed, the couch. I've never bought an actual changing table. You have time to research your diapering options.

And then your postpartum supplies.

Wow this was long but really that's still not a lot in comparison to the loads of stuff marketed to moms out there!!

[tzs]

i would say wait on the sling until babe is here because you really don;t know what you're going to prefer. i was suuuure i was going to have a ring sling but after trying just about everything (ring, ergo, mei tai...) i settled on a wrap sling and loved it until she got heavier and it started getting saggy. but just because i think it's great for newborns (and alot of people here!) doesn't mean you'll want that one. if you can...borrow.

also the nursing tanks that you can get really cheaply at target. they are so comfy at first when you don't want to wear a bra and pretty supportive. i still wear them at night because now i feel like i need the lift since the bazoombas are so huge.

it's a cultural thing for us not to buy anything before the baby is born so it's totally doable. i just sent hubby to target to buy some onesies and socks (dd was born in the fall and it was getting chilly) and diapers. swaddlers were essential for us but we got a ton as gifts but you can always pick those up on a target run as well. and then we needed the carseat and that was it. i actually used the carseat as a place to put her for a few weeks as well. stick it in the bathroom and i got a shower everyday.
lot's of stuff came home from the hospital supplies (nipple cream, more diapers, a swaddle, pads, ice packs, wipes, pacifier.)

[Knitting Mama]

ITA with tzs about carriers. I was coming in here to say that if you have any back problems at all, you might want to consider getting something other than a sling. Even with my tiny newborn (she was 6 lbs 3 oz at birth), a sling that only goes over one shoulder was killing my back after only a little while. I use a non-stretchy gauze wrap personally; have used it since Cecilia was teeny and still use it now at 3 months!

Otherwise, we way overbought for Cecilia! She's our first as well. Turns out all I really needed was me, cloth diapers (we had to use preemie sized disposables at first because nothing in our stash was small enough!), snuggly clothes, and my wrap. We co-sleep in our family bed, so no co-sleeper here, and Cecilia never spits us, so the birth cloths weren't even necessary! Oh, and our car seat.

[Norasmomma]

Originally Posted by MyFullHouse

Something to deal with their nails!

For sure, baby nail clippers are an essential, I can't bite their nails

Nipple cream(IDK if everyone cracks at first, but I do and ouch.

Pads-breast and menstural

Car seat for sure, they won't even let you leave the hospital without it.

Dipes, wipes(for me sposies until all that gross meconium is gone)

A winter baby needs a nice warm hat, footie jammies and that's about it

Nursing clothes-I love Motherwear nightgowns and camisoles, especially in the winter for layers

For myself I do think a breastpump is essential, I pumped with both my kids and froze my milk from day one, and both my babies got a bottle after our breastfeeding relationship was solid, at about a month. I like to know that IF something were to happen to me, they'd be fed, plus it gives me a little break.

I'm gonna say-FREEZER MEALS! It is so nice to stock a freezer with yummy food for after baby, did that with both of my kids-made life easier.

For our DD we had a bjorn-type carrier, then I got a sling when she was a few months old. With DS I had a Moby and OMGosh soooooo much better, I use my sling now more with him.

I think a lot of this is dependent on you and your parenting philosophy. With DD we had a crib, she hated it, and we ended up co-sleeping. With DS I ever even set up the crib and my friend just constantly was asking when we were going to do it and why we wouldn't For myself bottles and pump supplies are essential, for others they aren't, you need to figure out what your individual needs are. HTH.

[philomom]

A legally binding will for guardianship of your precious should something happen to you and hubby.

A membership to the zoo, natural history museum or children's museum.

A subscription to Baby Bug.

Car seat, sling and lots of cloth diapers.

[diana_of_the_dunes]

+1 on food in the freezer. My mom and I had a cooking party a few weeks before I gave birth, and we stocked up my freezer with lots of meal-size portions. I was hungry all. the. time. for the first few weeks breastfeeding.

A big water bottle to keep wherever you are nursing. As soon as my LO latched on, I was thirsty. I dunno if that happens to anyone else, but I was always asking someone to bring me water.

A book, laptop, DVD player... Something to do while nursing what will feel like eternally. Even though I generally only nursed every 2 hrs, I felt like it was all I did. And it would take 20-30 minutes each time. I was BURNING through books and magazines.

Cloth dipes... We used x-small Thirsties and newborn prefolds. Our LO was big (9 lbs 7 oz), but I can't imagine smalls fitting any newborn. Fair warning though: he grew out of them in 3 weeks. And newborns poop. A lot. At least 8 covers is good so you can launder every other day. Maybe.

Enjoy! It goes by quickly!

[Nicole730]

What I use the most in the beginning is:

Cloth diapers/wipes
Onesies, sleepers, hats
Receiving blankets, thin cheap ones - used more for wiping up leaks of all sorts than as a blanket
Stretchy wrap, like a Moby
Nursing tanks
Car Seat - we like our Graco Safeseat, higher limits than the Snugride

Originally Posted by diana_of_the_dunes

A big water bottle to keep wherever you are nursing. As soon as my LO latched on, I was thirsty. I dunno if that happens to anyone else, but I was always asking someone to bring me water.

This happens to me too!!! And I can never remember to have the water bottle nearby.