OK, for some time now, I have wanted to make a list of things I needed for Mason when we first brought him home from the hospital, and have kept a journal documenting his growth and progress over the last few months. I thought I would post some of the list on my Blog for my own personal information, and also so that I can refer to it when I have baby number 2! I've found that our memory is good to us, and most women forget how hard it really is with a newborn, so if I don't write it down I might forget! : ) Since my friend Candice is ready to go shopping for some items that she will need for her newborn baby boy who is due in March, I thought it'd be a great time to create this list for both those reasons. Kerra and Britt, you also may find this helpful. I have made a list of things I NEEDED/or what I WISH people had told me I would need for the first 0-3 months! Please feel free to comment if there are other things any of you think would be nice to add to the list!!!
BREASTFEEDING:
1. Two good NURSING BRAS to begin with. I went from a small B to a large D, so don't buy too many nursing bras until you know what SIZE you will be AFTER your milk comes in! (I know, you've ALL been DYING to know this! : )
2. NURSING PADS (You will WANT the thick JOHNSON & JOHNSON brand to begin with).
3. You will need LANSINOH nipple cream (can be bought at any supermarket). You will be so sore if you breastfeed, and will LOVE this cream.
4. A blanket type shawl or HOOTER HIDERS to use to cover yourself up while you are nursing.
5. As embarrassing as it is to admit, I have to say I also slept in NIGHTGOWNS (aka muumuus) that button or zip down the front for easy access in the night. The day too, for that matter, since I feel like I just lived in my nightgown and nursed every hour or two for the first two months. (I bought mine at K-Mart in the old lady section)!
6. If you have one or get one, you can use a BREASTPUMP so that you don't become engorged. Sometimes babies will fall asleep after nursing for a few minutes, leaving you with the leftovers, so it's good to GET the rest of the milk out by pumping. Thanks to my friend Tosh, I have had a great Medela pump to use. (this is not a necessity)
7. If you are returning to work, or need to leave your baby, I suggest using AVENTBOTTLES which have a nipple shaped like the real thing. You can pump and store your milk in the fridge or even freeze it for awhile. I have 6 bottles which is all I need since I mostly breastfeed.
8. I suggest giving your baby FORMULA between 4-6 weeks so that they don't refuse the bottle and formula when they are older. If you wait too long, they will NOT take the bottle. I have known many friends who have tried to get their babies to take a bottle with formula, and they will simply starve themselves. My pediatrician suggested I give Mason one feeding of formula once a day. Now I only do it if we are in public or if Jeremy tends. It's great to have some of those options.
9. BINKIES - The hospital has green newborn binkies that are great for the first few weeks. Mason liked the Nuk Nuk brand more, and now just enjoys his fist and thinks binkies are gross!
MEDICINE, HEALTH & SAFETY:
1. MYLICON Infant Gas drops (can be bought at any supermarket). When baby pulls his knees to his chest while he is nursing, this is a good sign that he has gas. This stuff REALLY works for Mason.
2. VASELINE (You will need to put Vaseline on your baby after he is circumcised).
3. HAND SANITIZER (I keep one in every room, and one right on the changing table).
4. LITTLE NOSES SALINE DROPS (found at any Supermarket).
5. NASAL ASPIRATORS (I have 3 - One for Mason's room, my room, and the Diaper bag).
6. BABY FINGERNAIL CLIPPERS
7. RECTAL THERMOMETER - If your baby is 2 months or younger and has a temperature of 100.4 or higher, you must call your Pediatrician and/or rush him to Primary Children's Hospital. We had to do this with Mason when he was 2 months old, and I didn't know that 100.4 is the "magic number," as the Dr. in the hospital put it. (I got a 3-in-one from Babies 'R' Us which works well).
8. If you can sleep through the sound of a baby crying, then I suggest getting a BABY MONITOR. If you're like me and wake at the slightest sound, you won't need one!
9. TYLENOL Infants' drops (I first gave him this after he got his 2 month shots).
10. AQUAPHOR for dry, dry skin, or if they cut their lips while banging their toys into their faces.
11. DREFT laundry detergent.
DIAPERING:
1. DESITIN
2. PLASTIC GLOVES (I use these when I apply Desitin, so that I don't have to worry about transfering any sort of germs to the baby by accident if I can't wash my hands quickly enough).
3. SENSITIVE BABY WIPES I just like the Sensitive ones because I HAVE sensitive skin, so...?
4. NEWBORN SIZE DIAPERS & Size 1 Diapers
5. BABY WIPE WARMER Newborns are sensitive to cold wet wipes, so I have a wipe warmer. It may be more of a luxury, and not a necessity, but I think Mason likes it! : )
BATH TIME:
1. BABY WASH (I like Kiehl's from Nordstroms, but Aveeno is my second fav from any Supermarket).
2. BABY LOTION (Aveeno brand is fine, but I prefer Kiehl's. Johnson & Johnson brands seemed to make Mason's skin scaly).
3. WASH CLOTHS (15 or so).
4. TOWELS (5 or so).
4. Any baby BATHTUB will do. When they are sooo little, Jeremy and I just bathed with Mason since he was so fragile!
5. A Baby SCRUBBY BRUSH so that your baby doesn't get cradle cap.
CLOTHING:
1. ONESIES - I bought packs of 5 or so, so that I had two weeks worth of Onesies for Mason.
2. MITTENS (Babies 'R' Us has little mittens so babies don't claw their faces off like Mason does!)
3. 5 NEWBORN SLEEPERS (I mostly had 0-3 month size clothes for Mason, and had to go out and BUY Newborn clothing so that he could have something that fit for such a short time. I wouldn't go too crazy on NB clothes, because they grow out of them so fast. I just got a few sleepers at Target and called it good. If you want to buy cute outfits, I would honestly buy them for a 3-6 month old or a 6-9 month old, since THAT is when you will be taking your baby out the most to be seen! : )
4. HATS - Jeremy kept kifing the little blue and pink striped hats for Mason in the hospital because he thought they were so cute on him. Every time they would bring him to us from the nursery he would stick one in our bags....don't ask me why! I think they are itchy and ugly, but Jeremy kept putting them on him when we got home! It was funny. To cut costs, you may just want to do what Jeremy did! ha ha.. Mason always fell asleep faster if he had his head covered--they do say it helps them feel like they are still in the womb.
5. BURP CLOTHS (10 or so).
6. DREFT Laundry detergent (just for the first 2 months is all I used it for).
SLEEPING:
1. SLEEPSAC from Target or Babies 'R' Us. Mason never liked these from day one, but if you can get your little one to like them, then it's easier to not have to worry about the blanket getting over their face while they sleep.
2. WHITE NOISE MACHINE - We bought a little thing that hooks to the side of the crib that has the sound of a heart beat. It seriously helped Mason fall asleep!
3. HUMIDIFIER - this not only keeps the baby from getting congested, but it counts as white noise too.
4. BLANKET - I really like blankets from IKEA because they have a little elastic in them which makes swaddling a baby very easy to do. I also have some flannel blankets from my Mother-in-law that fit tight enough for him to stay swaddled up in.
BABY GEAR:
1. CAR SEAT/STROLLER that come together. GRACO brands meet the Consumer Report safety requirements and are the least expensive. BRITAX is the most expensive brand, but I have read that GRACO is just as good for half the price.
2. A GLIDER from Target. If you don't buy a swing, or anything else, I would at least suggest getting this. Since Mason has Acid Reflux, we have had to have him sleep in this, and it has been a lifesaver! If your baby starts sleeping in a crib, then you could put the baby in the Glider just for a change of scenery. Mason was afraid of his swing for the first 6 weeks, and only liked his Glider.
3. A SWING
4. A PACK & PLAY (Not a necessity. I got one from my sister, and Mason wouldn't sleep in it. If you plan on traveling, then DO get one)!
NURSERY:
1. CRIB & MATTRESS (I got mine at USA BABY for a very good price).
2. CHANGING TABLE (Matches my crib and was bought at USA Baby too. I prefer a changing table with drawers so it's like a dresser, but you could also use baskets on a shelf-type changing table).
3. ROCKING CHAIR (Even though I would have LOVED a custom-made, over-stuffed chair with a recliner, I had to settle for a Glider with an Ottoman)!
4. LAMP
5. ROOM DECOR
6. DIAPER GENIE (I would buy a few of the refill bags too, since the Diaper Genie fills up fast!)
7. LAUNDRY HAMPER
8. A MOBILE - Pottery Barn has some cute ones on sale right now. I got one for Mason, and he loves it!
TOYS:
1. PLAYMAT (TJMaxx has some cheap ones).
2. Age-appropriate toys (black and white objects for the first two months)
3. Mason loved a soft, bright -red ball from IKEA when he was 2 months!
BOOKS:
1. What to Expect When You're Expecting
2. Baby Wise
3. Baby Whisperer
You will have to take what YOU think is the most helpful information from these books. They have all been very resourceful for me, and I have taken bits and pieces of good advice to create a schedule and a routine which works for me and Mason!
I wouldn't worry about getting bouncy seats, Bebepods, or even a Baby Bjorn carrier just yet, since they are just too small to even enjoy them. I will shortly be posting about what I needed for a 3-6 month old baby, since Mason is now 4 months old, and those items will be included in the list!!! These are all things I FOUND helpful, and are pretty much all I needed to survive. Oh yeah, and I needed a loving husband who would help me in the night when I was so exhausted, and a nice Mom & sisters who would clean my house and cook for me for the first few weeks while I
