Things To Buy To Prepare For Baby
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A baby monitor. Parents were just fine for millennia without baby monitors, but they are pretty darn handy. We go deep on baby monitors here, along with our picks for best baby monitor across several key categories.
TOP TIP: If this is your first baby, chances are many of your friends and family will be gifting you a surplus of baby essentials! You can leave most of these items till later to see if loved ones have already gifted them to you, such as newborn baby clothes, towels and baby skincare.
There is no shortage of advice for new parents on what to buy, how much to buy, or when to buy it. While there are a few absolute necessities, many items for the baby or the nursery can be acquired according to personal preference. Here, we discuss the bare necessities you'll need to have for your newborn.
We discovered this cute little toothbrush teether which I really like because I can feel like those new tiny teeth are getting cleaned while my baby is gnawing on it for teething relief.Diapers
I'm a journalist slash wife and mom taking things one day at a time just like you. Oh Yellow is for new moms to get ideas from pregnancy through the first years of baby & toddler life. This mom thing can be hard and you're not alone.
If you've never cared for an infant before, it's hard to know what you'll need that first year. Looking at a baby costs calculator like this one can help. That said, some costs are more negotiable than others. For instance, you can save money by borrowing or thrifting baby clothes and checking out books at the library. Other essentials will be a more regular part of your budget:
Diapers: Diapers are another recurring, necessary expense that can add up. One in three U.S. families struggles to afford diapers, according to the National Diaper Bank Network. Think about how you want to diaper your baby. Will you go cloth or disposable If you need assistance, local diaper banks, mutual aid groups and places of worship can often help.
Health care: Hospital costs will depend on your health insurance and the services you (and baby) end up needing during your pregnancy and delivery. Make sure to bring your insurance information to your doctor's office and ask what's covered, or what might come up, so you can plan. That may also mean calling your insurance company yourself.
Moving into a bigger home: Everyone likes having extra room, but babies are small, sleep a lot, and don't need a ton of space. Plus they won't be going to elementary school instantly, so you don't need to worry about your school district just yet. You can have a baby in a studio apartment.
Having the latest model of everything: Babies need clothes, and sometimes they need accessories like strollers, cribs and high chairs, but you can get a good amount of these items gently used (or even brand new) and free! Facebook marketplace, neighborhood listserves, Buy Nothing groups and thrift stores can be good places to find baby gear.
Bottles should be cleaned after every feeding. If your baby does not finish drinking a bottle within 2 hours, throw away the unfinished formula. Germs can grow quickly if breast milk or formula is added to a partially used bottle, or if a used bottle is only rinsed, rather than cleaned.
If your baby is less than 2 months old, was born prematurely, or has a weakened immune system due to illness (such as HIV) or medical treatment (such as chemotherapy for cancer), sanitizing feeding items daily (or more often) is particularly important. Daily sanitizing of feeding items may not be necessary for older, healthy babies, if those items are cleaned carefully after each use.
Being prepared means being equipped with the proper supplies you may need in the event of an emergency or disaster. Keep your supplies in an easy-to-carry emergency preparedness kit that you can use at home or take with you in case you must evacuate.
There's no crystal ball to tell you whose eyes your baby will get. But your doctor might recommend preconception tests if your family history or ethnicity puts you at high risk of having a baby with a genetic disorder. A simple blood or saliva test can see if you carry genes for cystic fibrosis, fragile X syndrome, Tay-Sachs disease, or sickle cell disease.
If you're not a regular flosser, now's the time to make it a habit. It's good for your baby as well as your smile. Pregnancy raises your chance of gum disease, a health problem that may also make early labor more likely. So have your teeth cleaned and checked, and brush, floss, and rinse with an antiseptic mouthwash daily.
Among its other drawbacks, smoking can make it harder for you to get pregnant. And lighting up during pregnancy can raise the likelihood of problems like premature birth, low birth weight, and miscarriage. It also puts your baby at risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
If you work, consider what you want to do once you've had your baby. Some companies provide paid time-off after you give birth. Others offer unpaid time-off. You may also be able to use sick days or vacation time before you go back.
Now's the time for a grown-up getaway. Whether it's to a fancy restaurant or a relaxing beach, go somewhere solo or with your partner that you wouldn't take a baby. This is a good chance for some "me" or "we" time before you're too uncomfortable, you can't travel, and you're focused on being a parent.
Bring baby supplies, including lotion and diapers, into the house so they can get used to the smells. Also set new rules, like staying off furniture or out of the nursery. Borrow baby clothes and pretend with a doll so your pet gets used to sharing your attention.
Babylist is a free, all-in-one baby registry that lets you add any item from any store, as well as things like help, favors and cash funds. Your registry should be as unique as you are. Start your Babylist now.
If your baby uses only ready-to-feed formula or you only use low-fluoride bottled water for formula, talk to your health care provider. After age 6 months, your baby may need fluoride supplements. This might be done by using fluoridated bottled water called nursery water. Or you may need to give your baby fluoride drops.
Carefully measure the amount of water and formula. Too much water might mean your baby doesn't get enough nutrients. Too little water might cause your baby to have digestive problems or not have enough fluids.
Use the formula within one hour after the beginning of feeding. Throw away formula left in the bottle and do not store it in the refrigerator. Bacteria from your baby's saliva can grow in the formula.
Even for partners who had a well-established balance of household roles before, having a baby means some of those responsibilities may need to shift. And some new, baby-specific tasks will be added to your plates.
Find out if your workplace provides parental leave for non-birthing parents. Some do (and it may or may not be paid). Before the baby comes, dads-to-be should understand any vacation time or parental benefits afforded to them in their jobs and make any arrangements needed to take time off when their baby comes.
As you prepare to be a parent, considering how your budget will accommodate a new family member can help ensure your family remains financially healthy. Some of the bigger expenses in the early years can include things like:
Children of this age will not understand much about what it means to have a new brother or sister. However, let your child hear you talk about the "new baby" and feel your excitement. She may not understand why you are excited, but your attitude will rub off on her and she will feel excited too.
When the new baby arrives, try to do something special for your older child. Reassure her that she is still loved. Some ideas include giving her a special gift, letting her spend some time alone with dad, grandma, or another special adult, or taking her someplace special.
Wait a while before telling your preschooler about the baby. Explain it to your child when you start buying nursery furniture or baby clothes or if he starts asking about mom's growing "stomach." Picture books for preschoolers can be very helpful. So can sibling classes (ask your hospital if it offers them). Try to tell your child before he hears about the new baby from someone else.
Be honest. Explain that the baby will be cute and cuddly but will also cry and take a lot of your time and attention. Also, make sure that your older child knows that it may be a while before he can play with the new baby. Reassure your child that you will love him just as much after the baby is born as you do now.
Involve your preschooler in planning for the baby. This will make him less jealous. Let him shop with you for baby items. Show him his own baby pictures. If you are going to use some of his old baby things, let him play with them a bit before you get them ready for the new baby. Buy your child (boy or girl) a doll so he can take care of "his" baby.
Time major changes in your child's routine. If you can, finish toilet training or switching from a crib to a bed before the baby arrives. If that is not possible, put them off until after the baby is settled in at home. Otherwise, your child may feel overwhelmed by trying to learn new things on top of all the changes caused by the new baby.
Set aside special time for your older child. Read, play games, listen to music, or simply talk together. Show him that you love him and want to do things with him. Also, make him feel a part of things by having him cuddle next to you when you feed the baby.
Ask family and friends to spend a little time with your older child when they come to see the new baby. This will help him feel special and not left out of all the excitement. They might also give him a small gift when they bring gifts for the baby. 59ce067264