Baby Essentials for Baby’s First Month
Getting ready for a baby’s arrival in the last few weeks of your third trimester is so exciting but can also seem a bit overwhelming. Between getting your hospital bag ready and making sure that the nursery has everything baby needs, you may be wondering if you’re truly 100 percent ready.
As a first-time mom, you’re going into this blind with only the advice from other moms or by doing your own Google search. While some guides will make you think your baby needs every new gadget on the planet, we’re here to tell you that unfortunately, your baby doesn’t care about having the latest baby product.
Stick to the basics for the first month and get to know your baby. Once you’ve spent enough time together, you’ll be able to tell if you need to upgrade on some things. In the meantime, here is a list of essentials all babies need within the first month of being home.
Diapers
Newborns need a diaper change every two to three hours. If you’re not quite sure about which brand of diapers to get, you should get a small pack of different brands so you can decide once you’ve done a few diaper changes which brand you prefer.
There isn’t a brand that’s better than the other when it comes to diapers. It all comes down to preference. Just make sure that you have enough whether you use disposable diapers or cloth diapers. The same goes for wipes.
Bedtime necessities
When dressing your baby for bed, keep midnight diaper changes in mind. These baby gowns from Sandstone Ave make diaper changes quick and easy since there are no buttons or zippers to deal with. They also keep the baby’s upper body dressed and warm which keeps them comfortable.
There’s nothing more uncomfortable for your baby than being warm and snuggled up just to have a bare chest exposed to cold air in the middle of the night as parents unzip a onesie for each diaper change.
Be sure that you have a few swaddles to wrap your baby at night. The reason to start with a few is that you may find that your baby doesn’t like to be swaddled, if that’s the case you’ll want to have one or two sleep sacks on hand that you can try instead of a swaddle.
If your baby will be sleeping in a bassinet next to you for the first few months, you’ll need a bassinet insert. This provides your newborn with a little extra support. If your baby will sleep in a crib you must have a baby monitor, a few crib sheets, a waterproof crib mattress cover, and a night light.
When it comes to putting the baby down for a nap or bedtime, using baby blankets is a great way to cuddle and add an extra layer of warmth that babies usually love. Once the baby is asleep, the swaddle or sleep sack is enough to keep the baby warm during the night.
Clothing
When it comes to clothing, it’s best to stick with basic, budget-friendly pieces. Babies don’t stay in the newborn stage for very long and will outgrow everything faster than you can blink.
However, newborns do tend to need a few outfit changes during the day whether it’s a diaper mess or spit up so you’ll want to have enough basics for everyday wear and a few dressier pieces for a day out, family pictures, or other events.
Basic onesies are essentials, especially during the day. These custom onesies from Spunky Stork are a great way to add a little twist to a basic onesie for an outing or pictures. Be sure to have both long and short sleeve onesies to dress the baby according to the weather.
Bath time
It may be a surprise to know that your baby doesn’t need a bath every night. Since their skin is still getting used to the outside environment, it can do more harm than good. Soaps, no matter how mild, can still dry out a baby’s skin creating a type of rash.
Pediatricians recommend bathing your baby just a couple of nights a week. For this, you’ll need an infant tub, a baby sponge, baby wash and lotion, washcloths, and a hooded towel.
And that’s it. This list will get you through your baby’s first month at home. During this month you’ll get to know more about your baby and what they like or dislike and what they need that you don’t already have. That’s why it’s important not to go overboard to save you both time and money.
Besides, you’ll have plenty of years to shop for your little one so take advantage of this first month that they don’t require too much.
