Preparing your home for your new baby should be completed several weeks before your due date. You'll want to have the nursery set up, plenty of clothing and feeding supplies, diapers and bathing equipment. Even if you'll be nursing the baby, you should have a supply of bottles on hand. The best way to insure that you have everything you need is to prepare a checklist. When purchasing newborn clothing, keep in mind that a full term baby will quickly outgrow the newborn sizes, so you'll want to be sure that you have the next couple of larger sizes on hand. With babies, what fits on Monday can be potentially outgrown by Friday and you don't want to be caught short. Much of the clothing is likely to be received as gifts from baby showers. If some small baby care items are duplicated, you may want to consider keeping the extras. Basically, for newborn clothing you should have 6-8 undershirts or onesies, 5-8 nightgowns with drawstrings, 5-6 footed snap-up sleepers, 4-5 pairs of booty socks, 1-2 sweaters, 2-3 caps or hats, 3-4 bibs, a snowsuit if it is winter, and a limited supply of outerwear due to the habit babies have of outgrowing clothes so quickly.
One of the most important items in the nursery is the crib. It should be equipped with a quality mattress and bumper pads. Be sure to purchase a new crib that adheres to current safety standards. The upright slats should be no greater than 2 3/8" apart to prevent the baby from getting it's head stuck between them. Our sponsors have safety information available on their cribs, so be sure to select one that will keep your baby safe and sound. You'll need two sets of crib bedding and two waterproof mattress pads. Some parents prefer to initially have the newborn sleep in a cradle or bassinet, and later move the baby to the crib; this is simply a matter of preference. Additionally, you'll want to equip the nursery with a changing table. Some are fitted with shelves to keep diapering supplies handy.
Other items you'll need in your home include a high chair with a safety strap, a baby bathtub, a diaper pail, a nasal aspirator, 2 pacifiers, a calibrated medicine spoon, a rectal thermometer, diaper rash ointment, 2 or more crib blankets, 6-8 receiving blankets, 2-4 hooded baby towels and several baby washcloths, tear-free baby shampoo, baby bath gel or soap, baby lotion, a soft baby hairbrush, nail clippers, 3-4 dozen diapers, (and waterproof pants if you're using cloth diapers), a diaper bag, a good car safety seat, and an infant carrier. You'll want to go ahead and equip your home with outlet covers, safety latches and gates for doorways and stairs, and corner guards for furniture. If you are nursing, you should have a few bottles and nipples on hand for milk you've expressed, and you should have a breast pump. If you're bottle-feeding, you should have a dozen bottles, a bottle brush, and equipment for sterilizing the bottles.
Some of the optional items you may wish to consider are a good rocking chair, a stroller, a backpack or front pack carrier, a stationary walker, (note: rolling walkers are considered terribly unsafe for babies), a chest of drawers for the nursery, a cool mist humidifier, a swing with a safety strap, and a playpen. Chances are good that you'll receive many of these items as gifts, so you probably won't have to purchase all these items yourself. Our sponsors will be happy to help you make sure you find everything you need for your new baby.
About the Author
Mellijojo is a new writer at our bedding and pillows online home decorating website who specializes on baby bedding and finding great crib bedding sets
