If you are a new mom getting ready for baby can be confusing. There are so many things you have to do to get ready for this new little person who will be entering your life soon! There are many resources to turn to that can give a lot of great advice…however it's not a very good idea to cram yourself with tons of information. You are in a very delicate place right now and it would be very easy to get stressed out! Being stressed can harm you and the baby. It can be a little overwhelming, so I am going to give you a hand. Here are some important things to remember when preparing for your new baby.
Think Simple. You don't need to overload your nursery, babies don't really need a lot. The media will tell you to buy pretty much everything, because they want to make money, however you don't end up using that much. You only really need the necessities which include:
- Crib. You can also use a bassinet until the baby is around 3 months old. Basinets are nice because they allow the baby to sleep in your room until you get used to having a new baby.
- Diapers. You will need around 2 packages of new born diapers. Babies usually grow pretty fast and more than two would be a waste. If you have the urge to stock up on diapers you could buy two packages of three sizes. That way you are prepared. It's not necessary to do so however.
- Onesies. Also known as body suits. These are essential, they help baby hold in their body heat during the winter and help keep baby cool in the summer. You don't need a whole lot of newborn size onesies, I would go with around five.
- Pajamas. Baby will most likely be in pajamas more than anything else. Babies sleep all the time, when they are new, and the most comfortable thing for them to wear are pajamas. They also spit up a lot so I would recommend around seven to ten pairs of pajamas. When you are a new mommy laundry is not the most convenient thing to do.
- One or two toys. Don't overload on toys right away. Newborn babies don't play with them anyway, buying only a few will be okay at first, hold off on more until baby is able to have tummy time.
- Baby shampoo, lotion, and diaper ointment. Only buy one of each, it takes a long time to go through in the beginning.
- Blankets and burp rags….you can never have to many of these.
- Bottles/Breast Pump. Of course you need these. In the beginning you will only need 4oz bottles, however it may be cheaper to buy a whole package that comes with 4oz and 8oz bottles. I recommend using Dr. Browns bottles, they have a ventilation system that stops ear infections. It works wonders!
- Books. A child is never to young to be read to! The more you read to your child the faster he/she will develop. Most children who are read to when they are you will continue to read as they get older. Please read to your child, it's the best thing you could do for them! I know that at times it can be difficult because they don't have a very long attention span, it helps to choose short books at first and as they get older their attention span will get bigger and the books become longer.
- Don't forget about you! You will need some very comfortable pajamas for the first couple weeks, maybe even months. You could also splurge on some bubble bath and scented candles. Make sure that you take some time out for you, have Dad or Grandma watch baby while you relax! Being a Mom is hard work, you deserve it!
Those are the essential things every new mom needs, babies don't need much else. The only other thing that I urge you to do is make sure you take out time for yourself. Don't let yourself become overwhelmed, babies can sense their mommies feelings and become stressed out. A stressed out baby is very hard to put to sleep, it's also very hard to get them to stop crying. I know that it can be kind of hard to get away from baby for a little while, but it's the best thing for you!
