Preparing for When Baby Arrives
Congratulations, you are expecting a baby! Whether it is your first or your fourth, preparing for a new baby is a very exciting time for you. There are all sorts of new gadgets and doo-dads on the market every year and it can be overwhelming. Here are some of the tried-and-true basics you’ll want to stock up on before baby arrives:
Breast pads. Some women need these more then others. If this is your first, stock up with some disposable ones and a few washable ones so you can see what works best for you.
Breast Pump. There are often programs available for new moms who want to rent a breast pump. If you use one of these services, ensure that the breast pump is sterilized to prevent infections!
Burp Cloths. You absolutely can not have enough of these. If you want to try to make your own, there are tons of tutorials on Pinterest to get you started.
Swaddling Blanket. We recommended the Zen Swaddle from Nested Bean (or you can win one here.)
Bassinet. You may find that you use this a lot less then you expect and babies out grow them quickly. If you have your heart set on having one but you’re on a budget, look for a playpen that has a built in bassinet option.
Baby Clothes. If this is your first baby, you will probably receive a lot of clothes as gifts once the baby arrives but there are a few things you need to stock up on before baby arrives. This should include sleepers, undershirts, hats and other seasonal clothing, socks and perhaps one or two dressier outfits if you already know what you are having in advance. Keep in mind, babies can be messy. A newborn may throw up or have a diaper leak, causing them to need to be changed multiple times per day. Unless you want laundry to be a daily chore, be prepared with enough sleepers and undershirts for a few days at a time.
Diapers. If you ask for advice when choosing a diaper, you’ll get different opinions from each parent you ask so it can be hard to decide which brand to buy before baby comes. But, the last thing you want is to be shopping for diapers straight out of the hospital! Be prepared with a large box of diapers to get you through the first week or so (the average newborn goes through 70-98 diapers a week) and if you find the brand you picked isn’t working well, you can always change up the brand later one.
