Since this pregnancy is our third baby, I haven’t been really on top of preparing for baby girl’s arrival. The good thing is I know the necessities I need to cram into getting these next few weeks. The bad news is there really isn’t that much time to get it especially with the holidays and a kids birthday party to get through before then! But I wanted to go ahead and make a list of what I need and start marking off as much as possible because until then I’m going to freak out about it. As much as I’d love to have the perfect nursery set up before baby gets here (and still kind of hoping I can pull it off), I’ve prioritized my list of things I actually need before the baby gets here, and then I can work in the extras afterwards. Here’s what’s on my list:
Bassinet. I feel like new moms always put a lot of focus on having the perfect crib set up. You know – the crib, the sheets, the crib skirt, the mobile, the art above the crib. But none of my kids have slept in their cribs the first 6 months of their life. Instead they sleep in a bassinet, in the rocker,
Newborn rester. I’m not sure rester is even a word but what I mean is some place to set baby down. Whether a newborn lounger, a rocker, a swing, etc. you need a safe place to put your newborn because as much as we’d love to snuggle them all day that just isn’t a possibility.
Diapers and wipes. Well this one is a given. Newborns go through diapers like crazy. They also outgrow diaper sizes like crazy. I’m stocking up on both sizes 1 and 2 diapers before this baby comes and plenty of wipes as well!
Sleepers. Babies don’t need lots of cute little frilly dress outfits. What they need is a ton of sleepers. Ones that cover their feet and I even prefer the ones that fold over their hands as well. I’ve already ordered a lot of these in 0-3 month size and will probably order more – but this is pretty much all I’m buying in that size because newborns really just need to be comfortable and snuggly!
Probiotic. As soon as we brought Tripp home from the hospital Maddie Grace started walking around saying “stinky baby” – and she was right. The kid was very gassy and it smelled terrible. I asked the doctor about why he was so stinky and the doctor said my sweet breastfed baby had some type of imbalance in his gut that was causing it. I had no clue that baby probiotics even existed then so I figured there was nothing we can really do. But probiotics help babies way beyond being gassy. Studies have found that the good bacteria B. infantitis has gone missing in many present-day babies in the U.S. The presence of B. infantitis reduces harmful bacteria linked to eczema, allergies, diabetes, and obesity. I already have Evivo in my freezer to use when our baby is born. Evivo is the best probiotic for babies because it’s the first and only probiotic proven to restore a baby’s gut microbiome to its original, natural state.
Newborn picture outfits. Typically newborn pictures are done in the first 2 weeks of baby’s life and with a newborn you may not have the time to find the perfect outfits for newborn pictures for your whole family, especially if you want monogrammed baby accessories in those pictures. Make sure you order any sentimental swaddles/blankets, as well as outfits for the rest of your family who will be in the pictures, before baby comes so you aren’t doing it last minute!
Bath Tub. Babies do need baths so having an infant tub on hand is a good idea to go ahead and get before the baby is born so you aren’t running to Target to get one.
Glider. If you only put one piece of furniture in your nursery, let it be a glider. One of my favorite memories with my babies is rocking them as newborns and the glider is the best place to do that. For the new baby I just ordered an extra wide one so that my first two babies could get in there with us!
Muslin Blankets. These are one of the things I recommend going ahead and taking to the hospital with you when baby is born. They are so versatile and can be used for a number of things. Swaddling baby, nursing cover, burp cloth, just to name a few.
Baby carrier. I honestly think every mom with a new baby needs a baby carrier. Not only does it help you have some hand free time, but it gives you extra snuggles with your sweet baby and is good for strengthening muscles in your baby (wearing the baby counts as tummy time). I like to have a soft wrap and a structured carrier with newborns!
Obviously this list might differ some based on different situations. If you don’t plan on breastfeeding you’ll want plenty of formula and different types of bottles (different babies have different preferences) stocked up. If you plan on going back to work or pumping for other reasons you’ll want pumping supplies stocked up. If you plan on breastfeeding you’ll probably want nursing pads, nursing bras, nipple cream, and other nursing supplies on hand.
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