The baby train goes faster than a roller coaster; but once you're on it, you won’t ever want to get off. The following list of items will be major splurges for most people, but I appreciate saving up for quality goods. All it truly takes to raise a child is love, food, and water; so take this list with a grain of salt.
#1 Breastfeeding Basics
The first few days at the hospital are great for many reasons. You have a relatively quiet baby, you are taken care of by nurses, you are fed three times a day, and your milk does not yet leak like an old faucet. When you come home from the hospital, most of these things will change, so being prepared for the wild ride that is called breastfeeding will be a great relief. I have found that the greatest preparation I made for breastfeeding, second to doing research, was purchasing the necessary supplies. I say necessary, but these are in fact all extras that simply make the process easier. Nothing truly is necessary for breastfeeding, other than a mother with endurance, food, and water; however, these gadgets ease the process tremendously.
Boppy [the well known baby prop pillow that wraps around your tummy]
Haaka [the best way to catch extra milk during the first two weeks before pumping is allowed; the best way to relieve breasts quickly without setting up an entire pump; the best way to release milk without encouraging additional production (a con of electric pumping)]
Reusable Breast pads [pro: more economical and healthier for airflow; con: the use of multiple sets a day requires doing laundry every other day and more milk is lost in the soft fabric]
Disposable Breast pads [pro: no need to rewash and not as much milk is wasted; con: the plastic liner’s lack of airflow can irritate sore nipples (though I have never experienced this) and the monetary cost is greater]
Milk Containers [milk from separate sessions can easily be refrigerated in these handy containers that show ounce amounts]
Milk Bags [freeze milk in 2-4 ounce quantities and store for emergencies or stressful times; freezing milk is especially important during the first week when colostrum still tints the milk yellow and flow is high, just don't be afraid to actually use this milk whenever you are having a rough day; always thaw milk in warm not hot water to prevent curdling]
Milk Savers [silicone envelopes that rest in your bra to collect milk; especially useful when a nursing baby causes the other side to leak during a feeding]
Vitamin D Drops [our pediatrician recommended that all breastfed babies be given vitamin D since most babies are kept indoors and thus not in Vitamin-D-giving direct sunlight]
Comfy chair and side table [ideally find a chair with back support and a foot rest; a recliner is a great option]
#2 Bottle Feeding Basics
Fed is best! Every parent will need a bottle at some point, even if it is used for breastmilk. In reality, many parents will also use formula once in a while. Therefore, paying attention to bottle procedures is not only necessary at some point but also highly useful for on the go parents, AKA all parents. Formula, my favorite being Europe's organic Loulouka, is also a great tool for supplementation, which some babies may need if they are struggling to gain weight.
Glass Bottle [use at home whenever cold milk needs to be warmed or when warm water needs to be heated for formula]
Plastic Bottle [use at home when milk is fresh and therefore already warm; use on the go when milk will be cool or lukewarm]
Bottle Warmer [a great tool that always heats milk to the proper temperature so that milk is not mistakenly curdled]
Sterilizer [sterilize and dry all feeding supplies whenever you have a chance; admittedly, I don’t do this frequently since my dishwasher has a sterilize function]
Formula [European organic standards assure that less aluminum will be present in your child’s formula; supplementing with a single bottle of formula at night can allow a Dad to feed baby in the night without a Mom having to worry about pumping that bottle in advance; Formulaland also has great deals on European formula, though they sometimes run out of stock]
#3 Convenient Changing Station
A simple folding table is all your baby needs when it comes to easing the diaper changing process. You could opt for a simple roll out mat if space is an issue, but I do highly recommend some sort of flat surface that does not need to be set up for each use.
Keekaroo Baby Changing Pad [easily wipe down when dirty; place a receiving blanket on top if your baby is fussy about cool surfaces in the night]
Healthy head support pillow [this indented foam pillow works great on top of the Keekaroo baby changing pad and helps prevent baby from getting a flat head]
Baskets [one for diapers and one for everything else]
Aquaphor Baby [the gentle healing balm that we use on our baby from head to toe; the stronger zinc oxide formula can be used for diaper rashes that won’t go away]
Wipes Warmer [we always leave this on when at home]
Luv’s Diapers [size 1 is a great place to start; Luv’s are the only brand that our son does not leak through]
Munchkin Diaper Pail [we love this easy to use diaper pail and it’s snappable diaper bags]
#4 Safe Sleep Spaces
My husband and I will tell any new parent about our bassinet and newborn lounger. These two items are simply convenient when it comes to easily accessing your baby at night and during the day. Even more important, the Love to Dream swaddle has been our family's #1 baby item. One of our greatest struggles in the hospital especially but also when we got home was our son’s ability to undo his swaddle. We would awake in the night to fussing, because someone was out of his swaddle yet again. Our boy simply liked to hold his hands up at night, and thus, always fought his way out of a tight swaddle to do so. The genius Love to Dream swaddle keeps our boy secure but allows him to hold his hands up (a self-soothing response) which in tern allows us to sleep at night.
HALO BassiNest Luxe [the soothing station lets your baby fall asleep on a vibrating mattress and the flexible walls let you reach into their bed for their binki without you having to get out of bed yourself)
SnuggleMe Organic [a daytime bed that can rest on the sofa, keep your baby’s head propped up after a feeding, and cocoon them during a nap]
Two way zipper footies [footie pajamas are the greatest baby clothing invention to date, enough said]
Love to Dream Swaddle UP [a two way zip swaddle that allows your baby to self soothe by keeping their hands up while sleeping; this swaddles' two way zipper combined with a pair of two way zip footies allows you to change your baby’s diaper in the night without completely undressing them!]
Binki holder [attach any type of pacifier to this adorable holder so that your baby’s binki does not fall out]
Basket [store sheets, mattress protectors, and blankets in a basket next to your bassinet]
#5 Out of the house system
Leaving your house will now take a bit of prep work. Feed the baby, burp him, change him, put him in the car seat, and then get yourself and your things in the car all before he gets hungry again. Oh, and did I mention also be dressed and have your diaper bag packed before you walk out that door?
Diaper Bag [two footies, two one piece warm weather outfits, 2 packs of wipes, 10 diapers, aquaphor, two bottles, formula and water or cool/frozen milk, changing pad, hand sanitizer, disposable diaper bags, two binkis in a container, three burp cloths]
Bassinet Stroller [change your baby’s diaper in the middle of a store and let him take a snooze in a comfy flat space while at a restaurant, simply park the stroller next to your table]
Carseat [I would go for the lightest yet safest stroller on the market]
Car mirror [this will give you tremendous peace of mind while driving]
Purse [water, coffee, snack, peri bottle, feminine products, dermoplast, tucks pads, wallet, sunglasses, phone, hair tie, deodorant, Advil]
Nursing dress [anything similar to a tank top will work]
Nursing bra [thick straps make this one great]
#6 Awake Time Fun
Though your baby will be sleeping a lot of the time, it will still be nice to have a fun zone for them when they are alert. A play mat and bouncer will be key when you don’t feel up to holding your baby in your arms.
Play Mat [practice tummy time for a few minutes a day to foster your baby's motor skills and development]
Bouncer [a simple chair that props your little one up will allow for comfy and fun play time while you eat your dinner]
Baby Carrier [snuggle your baby hands free while walking around the house]
Bath [make sure your room is warm and prep towels, clothes, and soap to alleviate any nerves]
Books [baby books are great, but they will honestly enjoy you reading anything aloud]
Baby keepsake book [take photos of your baby smiling and record all of his “firsts” in a baby book]
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