Pregnant women patiently anticipate the coming of their new bundle of joy. If you have done this plenty of times, you already know the drill and the essentials. If you are a newcomer, there is no shortage of advice from feeding the baby to bathing and securing newborn essentials. In this case, it is crucial that you acquire essentials as it can help easy handling.
Here’s a list of essentials:
Crib
For new mothers, it will take many months to adjust to the new role and that is fine because motherhood is not a one-night thing. As you go along, you will master it. Expect many sleepless nights. It is part of the process. With this, you need to decide whether you secure a crib or a family bed. If you want your baby to sleep somewhere, you definitely need a crib.
When choosing for a crib, you have to make sure that it is sturdy and comfortable. Apart from the sturdiness and comfort, you also need to check if it is safe. For example, do not choose slats with 6 centimeters gap. You also need to be cautious with hand-me-down cribs because it might not be safe to use.
Changing table
A changing table is another essential. The ideal one is a changing table with drawers. For this changing table, the topmost surface will be used to change the baby comfortably and with ease. The diapers and clothes of the baby are also within arm’s reach, which will make things easier for you. You can also store other supplies like baby wipes and baby powder.
When choosing a changing table, base it on the safety strap, storage, barriers and the height. The safety strap is important for security purposes. In the case of storage, you have to decide whether to have open shelves or drawers. Open shelves are easy to reach. The drawers, on the other hand, can help you hide the supplies that might be tempting to reach when babies grow up. The traditional changing table is flat but to be safe, you need to look for a table with barriers on each side. Lastly, you need to check the height of the table. The height of the tables varies. To avoid back pain, make sure that it is proportion to your height.
Linens
If you consider a crib, the next thing that you have to consider is the linen. The good news is that you can utilise a waterproof mattress pad or you can simply put a waterproof pad on top of the fitted sheet. You also need blankets and crib sheets. Babies do not need a pillow, stuffed animals or comforters. Be careful with these things because it can lead to suffocation.
Diapers
You can choose between a cloth and disposable diaper. Most parents these days consider the disposable diapers because it is easy and convenient to use although it is kind of costly. When using diapers, be wary of the diaper rash.
Clothing
Do not forget the clothing. Start by buying at least 7 “onesies”, 4 infant gowns, 4 swaddling blankets, 2 sweater, 2 caps and 5 pairs of booties or socks. If you want, you can also buy sleepers.
