mommygaga

As a new mother, it’s hard to know exactly what you need, and how much of it! I found that a lot of the things I got for my son were not necessary. There were also some items I overlooked. Remember, every baby is different and requires different things. Here is a helpful list of items to point you in the right direction.

Diapering
• Newborn diapers/cloth wraps w/safety pins or velcro strips (gauge the size and growth
rate of your infant before purchasing tons of newborn diapers…they grow out of them quickly)
• Diaper Pail (I recommend Diaper Genie II, works like a charm to seal odors completely)
• Baby Wipes or Extra Washcloths
• Fold-up Changing Pads (for when you’re on the go, especially for when you are in a public location)

Nursing
• Nursing Pillow
• Washable/Disposable Nursing Pads (leaking is inevitable, especially around feeding time!)
• Bottle Warmer (whether you are breast or bottle feeding)                
• Bibs/Burp Cloths

If you are breastfeeding (always recommended by doctors):
• Nursing Bra (one that has flaps that open to expose the nipples) • Nursing Cover (for those times that you must nurse in public)
• Electric/Manual Breast Pump (Electric is recommended, esp. if you will be returning to work or away from your newborn for most of the day. Manual is good for less of a pumping need)              
• Breastmilk Storage Containers/Bottles

If you are bottle feeding:
• Formula/Fresh Water (I used Nestle’s Good Start)
• Bottles (start with the smallest, slowest flow, then gradually increase dependent upon your infants appetite)
• Bottle Brush (choose one that also has a nipple sized cleaner to get in those nooks and crannies)

Clothing/Layette
• Newborn gowns/sleepers (cotton or fleece, dependent upon the season)
• Receiving Blankets                                                                                  
• Socks/Booties
• Infant Caps                                                                                                
• 4-6 Onesies/Tshirts
• 1-2 pairs of bottoms (dependent upon the time of year and the sex of the baby: pants, dresses, skirts, etc)
• 1-2 Sweaters or other sleeved items for layering

Infant Care Products
• Shampoo/Baby Wash Products                                                            
• Hooded Bath Towels/ Infant Washcloths
• Baby Lotion (they do get dry skin!)                                                         
• Diaper Rash Cream (Balmex is a fav of mine, works like a charm)
• Baby Brush/Comb                                                                                    
• Infant Safety Nail Clippers
• Pacifiers
• Infant Bath Tub ( I had a convertible one that changed to a toddler tub for when my son was able to sit up)

Baby Gear
• Infant Seat (You must bring this to the hospital before your baby can be released)
• Stroller (I had a travel one that fit my car seat. It was easy to go from car to stroller and back without disturbing baby)
• Infant Swing/Bouncer (My son loved both of these. He slept for hours in the swing and gave me a well deserved nap in the process!)
• Infant Carrier/Sling (keeps baby close to mom and moms’ hands free!)
• Diaper Bag

Health & Safety
• Thermometer (digital is the most accurate)                                     
• Infant Acetaminophen Drops (check with your doctor for brands and dosages)
• Nasal Aspirator                                                                                       
• Baby Monitor (you can literally hear EVERYTHING that the baby is doing… breathing, turning coughing, whimpering, crying, etc)
• Night Light (more for mom than baby, it’s hard to see when the room is soooo dark!)

Furniture & Accessories
• Crib/Bassinet                                                                                          
• Waterproof Mattress (My son spit up, drooled and sweated in his crib daily)
• Crib Bedding/Bumper                                                                           
• Crib Mobile
• Dresser                                                                                                   
• Rocking Chair/Glider
• Changing Table/Other Safe Changing Area                                    
• Changing Pads
• Clothes Hamper

Just For MOM
• Nursing Gown/Loose Pajamas                                                          
• Comfortable clothing (It will be a while before you get back into those pre-pregnancy clothes!)
• Tube of Breast Cream (for breastfeeders, I used Lansinoh)       
• Large Box of Maxi Pads (You are gonna need them! I bled for a month after birth, tampons are not recommended)
• A break! (Ask the new Dad, Grandma, Grandpa or close friend to take over while you recharge)