Newborn essentials...

Between my shower and the shopping spree my mom and I had at BRU today, I *think* I'm pretty well set, but what are the essentials for the baby when s/he first comes home?

for sleeping:
bassinet & crib w/sheets for each
swaddle me
sleep sacks & sleeping gowns

for changing:
diapers
wipes
cream
changing pads

for eating:
bottles
bibs
burb clothes
breast pump
boppy

for bathing:
shampoo/lotions
bath tub
robe
wash clothes
towels

clothing:
going home outfit
I have a bunch of onsies, side snap shirts and one piece rompers. I know I'll get a ton of clothes at the hospital once we know boy/girl...but what does the baby wear the first few weeks?

then there's the "gear" - car seat, swing, bouncey seat, snapNgo

I have a few receiving blankets and pacifiers. I need to get detergent to wash everything...

are there first aid/sick baby items I should have on hand or buy as needed? (I have a thermometer)

what am I missing? Even with all that, I feel very unprepared

TIA!

Re: Newborn essentials...

Wow... thats a lot of stuff. Sounds like you have all your bases covered to me. As far as what baby wears the first few weeks, my boy was 7 lbs. 2 oz. I would say pretty average but was seriously too small for even some newborn 0-3 months clothes for the first few weeks. So next time around I might buy a few preemie/smaller outfits.. but not too many cause they outgrow them soooo fast. I would say that newborns mostly end up onezies and swaddled in a blanket. Sadly, you won't really know what you need or are missing until baby is here. That is the way it worked for me. I bought sooo much stuff... half of it I never used and then I started figuring out other things I needed as time went by. I think you've covered all the essentials and then some.

Re: Newborn essentials...

One thing I recommend are sheet savers. They are savor for the night. DS diapers leak durning the night and all I do is change that sheet saver not the sheet.

Re: Newborn essentials...

I just had a kit with all of the first aid essentials like the nasal asperator (a must) combs, brush, etc. Also it is a good idea to have mylicon (for gas) and infant tylenol on hand but I honestly didn't have them until weeks after the baby was born.

Re: Newborn essentials...

Infant Tylenol ( for when they get those first shots), if you are bfing definitely the Lansinoh, have white noise handy just in case ( I needed it weeks 3-8), the little noses Saline spray and Diaper Rash spray were helpful, nail clippers (their nails grow FAST). There are also these great stain wipes in BRU that are in a pink package (Toddler Wipes?) that get out all the stains (formula- even red wine from my couch)

JMO= Something I got that I didn't really use...I only used his robe one time and he's almost 5 months old.

Re: Newborn essentials...

Yes -- I forgot about nail clippers, diaper rash stuff (we like boudreaux's butt paste) and also a variety of bath items because you don't know which your baby will do best with. our dd can only do avenno on her body because everything else is too harsh on her skin.

we also never used the bathrobes that we recieved, and we got many. in retrospect i would have returned them for more washcloths and thick baby towels because they are really not necessary.

Re: Newborn essentials...

Definately get the Lansinoh ointment and the Mylicon drops. Both have been lifesavers for me. Perhaps maybe Vaseline or A&D ointment -- this is what my ped. said to use at each diaper change. Also, don't forget breast pads for yourself.

Re: Newborn essentials...

For clothes in the beginning they just wore one piece outfits, I think they were called sleep and plays.

Do you have hats? I am not so sure if they are needed for a June Baby, but I used hats alot with my two.

Also if you think you have enough bibs, still buy so many more. I was amazed at how many friggin bibs you go thru. I ahd a bunch and Erica gave me two packs of 5 bibs and I was like what the hell will I do with all these and it was still not enough, LOL.

Also nail cliper and a nasal aspirator are a must.

Re: Newborn essentials...

What I would add...

Medical...
Vaseline for a boy - if he is circ.
Nasal aspirator & Saline drops
Mycolin gas drops
Cotton Balls & Rubbing alcohol (belly button/cord care)
Diaper Cream

Clothes...
Hats
Mittens (I never used them but many people I know did)
Stretchies or dressing gowns (not sure what you have - I like a weeks worth - for sleep and/day)
Bibs

Kevin lived in one piece stretchies in day for his first few weeks. He slept in those dressing gowns and sleeps sacks or swaddle wraps.

Message edited 5/22/2006 8:10:25 AM.