| | Preparing for Baby
Preparing for your new baby can take a fair bit of time, effort and research. Available space, your parenting expectations, and even baby’s temperament can all impact what you need for baby. Your journey toward adoption may also impact your preparations for your new baby. Some people find it comforting to have the nursery decorated and waiting for their child, while others prefer to wait until their baby is home in their arms to decorate his or her room.
The Essentials
While a decorated nursery is not critical, some basic items are necessary. The one item that every parent and family will need is a good quality car seat. While the right car seat is one that fits your vehicle, do choose a rear facing car seat with a five point harness for the safest ride for your new little one. Parents can choose between a convertible car seat that will last baby longer, and a somewhat more convenient infant car seat that can be removed from the vehicle. Most families prefer the infant seat for a newborn, both for convenience and baby’s comfort. If baby has been born early, or is smaller than typical, you may need to consult with the baby’s health care providers about specific car seat needs.
Baby does need somewhere to sleep. For some families, co-sleeping is an option, or perhaps they choose to attach a co-sleeper to their bed. A bassinet or Moses basket is a popular option for the first few months as well. Most parents will find a crib useful at some point along the way, even if not immediately. Be certain any crib you choose meets current safety guidelines and is easy to operate and use one handed (or with a simple foot release). Avoid soft bedding in the crib, bassinet, or Moses basket.
Diapers and feeding gear are also critical for baby. Many parents find that they have to try a few different diaper brands, and may even want to experiment with cloth diapers, before choosing the diaper that best fits their baby. A package or two of newborn diapers, left unopened, is a reasonable option; however, you likely do not want to stock up on diapers until you know what works best for your baby. The same is often true with feeding supplies. Babies are prone to a preference of their own, so choosing a few different bottles to have on hand can be a smart choice, assuming that more are easily available at a local store. The hospital will have started baby on formula, and it is usually best to keep baby on what has been offered. Some parents find a bottle warmer handy, but it is certainly not critical. Much of the time, the hospital will also provide a pacifier, and baby may do best with what she is used to taking.
It can be helpful to have a basic layette on hand. If you are sure of baby’s gender, that can be helpful, but cute, simple and practical newborn pieces are available in gender neutral colors. Gowns, onesies and sleepers are popular for newborns for a reason. They are soft, comfortable, and allow for easy diaper changes. Tiny socks and hats are also essential for baby’s comfort and warmth, as is a stash of receiving blankets for swaddling and parents’ shoulders. Do expect to need a bit more in the way of baby attire than you might expect. Diapers leak, babies spit up, and you may find yourself changing baby’s clothes more often than you expect.
|
