The birth of a child is the most important event in the life of every family. Expectant mothers, finding themselves in this status for the first time, are in an exciting state, anticipating the meeting with the baby and organizing in their heads everything that needs to be prepared for this. Many people prepare intuitively, some resort to the Internet, others make lists of necessary things on their own. Trusting your intuition, it’s easy to forget something, so the best option is to make a list and then double-check it on the Internet, which is what this article suggests.
When to prepare for the birth of a child
Parents should consciously approach the arrival of a new family member, gradually filling the house with the necessary things, thinking through every little detail. A woman should not dump all her worries on the future father, who will have to hastily independently prepare the home for the return of his wife and child from the maternity hospital, instead of rejoicing at the accomplished event. If a couple adheres to superstitions that there should be no baby items in the house before the baby is born, you can negotiate with the store by booking the item before the due date and order delivery after birth.
Preparing the room
Important to remember! A woman after childbirth is emotionally and psychologically confused if this is her first child.
Therefore, before the couple’s life is divided into “before” and “after,” calmly, without fuss, you need to prepare to provide everything necessary for a small family member.
Storage
No matter how many closets there are in the house, for some reason there is always little space in them, and with the appearance of children's things in the household, there will be even less space. Think in advance about where and what you will store to make your life easier.
In the first months, it is more convenient to keep children's clothes in drawers: free up a couple of sections in your own closet or buy an additional chest of drawers. To separate socks from hats and other small items, use special dividers or cut cardboard boxes. And don’t forget that over time the child will probably need his own closet with hangers for clothes. If you have stocked up on things to grow, don’t forget to sort them out by size in advance and put them in boxes, labeling them.
If you don’t have a convenient place to store the stroller (a lockable hallway where the baby has no access is ideal), you can use special wheel covers or regular shoe covers to keep it clean after a walk.
The scale of the changes will depend on what kind of living space you have.
Clothes for children
Newborn hat size
You should not buy a large number of rompers, vests and bodysuits for the birth of your baby. The baby is growing rapidly; the issue of clothing must be approached practically. Do not buy more than 6 pairs of romper pants and 6-7 shirts. In just a month, the clothes bought for a newborn baby will be too small. It’s also not worth taking less than 6 pieces of clothing - the child will burp after every meal, which means getting his shirt dirty if the mother does not have time to lay out a towel or napkin. While the stained clothes are drying after washing, clean replacements should be on hand.
It is most convenient for children of the first year of life to use a bodysuit, rather than shirts or undershirts. The child is often picked up, he fidgets in the crib, which is why the baby's vest comes out from under his pants, twists, and tucks under. The bodysuit fits tightly to the body, no matter what happens, that’s why it is called “body” - translated from English as “body”. They come in both long and short sleeves and are securely fastened with buttons in the diaper area.
Bodysuit
Additional Information. You should not dress your newborn every day in fancy caps, headbands, or ruffles. This type of clothing is good for photo shoots. The rest of the time, no elements should irritate the child.
Clothes for walking should be comfortable. Newborns don't need onesies with sleeves at all. It is much more convenient for them to keep their hands close to their body; there are special walking envelopes for such children.
What is not recommended to buy
Shopping for a newborn (the list will guide parents to the necessary items) should include the required number of things for the baby. If you take, for example, blouses that are attractive in appearance, while the list is missing diapers, or formula because it was sold at a good discount, what you bought may not be useful at all.
To avoid unnecessary expenses, the shopping list for a newborn can be reduced to the essentials, buying the rest when needed
Unnecessary purchases for a newborn (according to experienced mothers):
- Blouses without a smell and without fasteners: small children do not like things that are put on over their heads. You can try T-shirts with a wide neck and a boat neckline, but some moms don't like the fact that this type of neckline stretches quickly.
- A lot of clothes are sizes 56, 62 or 68. Babies grow very quickly and may not have time to put on some things.
- Bright clothes: these colors are attractive, but for an older, not newborn baby. It is better to choose pastel colors: light pink, sky blue, beige, soft peach, dim light green.
- Clothes made of synthetics: in them the child can sweat or freeze, and get diaper dermatitis.
- Items with snaps or buttons on the back: fasteners at the back will irritate your baby's skin.
- A large pack of diapers, since products from a certain company may not be suitable for a particular child.
- Formula milk without pediatrician's recommendation.
Immediately before purchasing the necessary things for the baby, the list will have to be adjusted, since close families may already have purchased something in advance. In addition, among your friends you will probably find mothers whose children have already grown up, and whose things that have become small are in excellent condition.
Nutrition for a newborn baby
Clothes sizes for newborns
The best food a baby can get is mother's milk. It usually appears in a woman on the third or fourth day after childbirth. Until this moment, the baby feeds on colostrum secreted from the breast.
If on the 4th day milk has not begun to be produced, and when you press on the nipple there is no secretion, you should prepare and purchase an adapted milk formula for the baby. It will not be superfluous to have one jar at home even if the child is breastfed, especially if the woman does not have any milk left in her breasts after feeding. If suddenly the required volume in the second breast is not gained by the next feeding, the mother can always supplement the baby with formula.
Formula milk
Attention! You should not give preference to cow's or goat's milk. They are not suitable for infant feeding. The composition closest to breast milk is adapted infant formula. The curdling of cow's and goat's milk in the baby's stomach makes any natural regurgitation deadly and can even cause constipation.
Studio apartment
Saving space will clearly be a priority. Skip the full-size crib, buy a compact bassinet for the first months and consider the option of co-sleeping with your baby. Your best bet is transformable items. This is, for example, a chaise longue for a newborn, which turns into a high chair, a cradle-car seat, and a folding changing table. In the kitchen you can set up a small play corner for your baby: put a developmental mat there and a basket with toys. If you have a balcony, you can use it as a place to sleep during the day - or insulate it and turn it into a playroom.
What does a newborn need for walks?
Clothes for newborns in winter
Babies almost always sleep during walks, so you need to solve not only the problem of how to prepare for the birth of a child, but also how the child will walk. If your mother plans to go for walks with a stroller, it is important to choose it correctly before purchasing it. All devices presented in stores are good in their own way. You just need to pay attention to the features of your life in order to make the right choice.
What you should pay attention to when choosing a stroller:
- Will a woman be able to roll it out on her own, without outside help, with a sleeping child inside: are there any obstacles in the form of steps or high thresholds? If she cannot walk with the stroller on her own, you need a model whose cradle can be easily removed. Thanks to this, a woman can leave the stroller at home or in a stroller, and carry the cradle with her sleeping baby in her hands.
- If your family uses an elevator, you need to know its dimensions so you can buy a stroller that fits in it.
- It should be noted that the child will walk lying down until he is 7-8 months old. After which you will need a stroller for a sitting baby. If you don’t want to buy a new stroller in six months, you should pay attention to transforming models.
- If a woman is forced to go shopping with a stroller herself, it is worth taking a closer look at models with a lower basket and a bag included.
Stroller
Safety
Even a very small child who cannot crawl is able to put into his mouth everything he can reach. Therefore, carefully examine all the objects that will be in the crib or on the changing table - could the baby accidentally bite off any part or twist it around his neck? The mattress should be hard so that a small nose cannot accidentally bury itself in it, and toys with button eyes and stringy tails have no place in a crib.
Even though it will be several months before your baby starts exploring the apartment, you can make it safe from the very beginning. Place medications and household chemicals out of reach, and move fragile and glass items to the highest shelves. You also need to check the presence of a “children’s” mode on your household appliances (washing machine, stove), and if it is not there, buy special protective caps for the buttons and a barrier screen for the hob. Sockets and corners of furniture must be covered with plugs. And in advance, get into the habit of not putting knives on the edge of the table, cooking food on distant burners and turning hot pans with the handles away from you.
If you want to minimize shopping and rearranging, keep in mind that these are things you can do without.
- Crib. Co-sleeping with a child in the parent's bed is a convenient method practiced by thousands of families.
- Baby changing table. Many mothers easily change a diaper on the sofa or bed by laying down an ordinary absorbent diaper.
- Bath. From birth, babies can be bathed in a large bathtub, after wiping it with soda.
- Manege. If you have completely secured your home, you can safely let your baby go “free swimming”.
What baby care products are needed?
Children do not need fragrances and fragrances; the best hygiene products are those that have almost no smell, are colorless and are appropriately labeled “children’s” on the packaging.
Hygiene and bathing products
All you need to bathe your baby is liquid baby soap. They should wash the child after each bowel movement, and also wash the entire body, including the head, no more than once a week. The baby must have his own towel. An important addition to any swim is a water thermometer. With its help, parents can easily get water at the right temperature to make bathing comfortable for their child.
Important! You should not bathe babies in hot water; children experience severe discomfort at temperatures exceeding 36.6 degrees.
First aid kit for newborns
Taking care of safety and possible symptoms of illness in advance is a rare occurrence in the life of expectant parents. Few people think about troubles in advance. But from the first days of life, your home medicine cabinet should contain medications for a newborn that will help you properly care for the umbilical wound. Among the medications necessary for a child are:
- antiseptic (Boneacin, Miromistin);
- hydrogen peroxide;
- cream with zinc;
- anti-bloating remedy (Espumizan emulsion, Bobotik);
- antipyretics and painkillers (Ibuprofen syrup, Paracetamol syrup - approved for use for children from 3 months, will be useful during teething);
- antihistamines (Fenistil drops - may be useful after vaccinations or insect bites).
Umbilical wound
Nesting instinct
What motivates the expectant mother, who covers the whole family with a wave of her inexhaustible energy?
The need to create comfortable conditions for the unborn child.- Concerns about home safety, space, and cleanliness.
- The need to stock up on essentials
- The need to free the house from unnecessary things and protect the unborn child from all possible risks in the apartment.
General home preparation
Housing must meet safety and practicality standards for comfortable living. If there are smoking relatives in the family, they need to be warned that there is no tobacco smoke in the room where the child lives. There is no need to wash the floors and walls with chlorine; its fumes can cause respiratory allergies. It is enough to carry out wet cleaning with clean water and then maintain the cleanliness of the room.
How to prepare a nursery for the birth of a baby
The nursery should always be cool and humid. Preparing a room for the birth of a child comes down to making sure there is room for a crib and the ability to open a window for ventilation without risking inviting a flock of mosquitoes and flies. Therefore, the window should be equipped with a mosquito net if it did not exist previously. It is necessary to ventilate the room both in winter and in summer so that the child always breathes fresh, cool air.
It is the moral duty of every man to buy a humidifier for the children's room. If this is not done, then every heating season the child will suffer from drying out of the mucous membranes of the nose and breathe with wheezing. You can find a whole list of devices that humidify the air in stores, differing in both their operating principle and functionality.
Humidifier
Baby cot
The bed in which the child will sleep can be equipped with a pendulum, that is, have the function of a swinging cradle. This feature is optional, but it greatly simplifies the process of putting the baby into the crib.
The sides should not have sharp edges, because after 8 months the child will begin to stand up, leaning on them, it is important to eliminate the risk of injury. When a toddler starts teething, he will definitely try to chew on the wooden parts of the crib; for this purpose, the handrails often have a special coating that can be chewed.
Everything you need to know about the crib when you give birth to your first baby is that he doesn’t need a pillow at all. Only in case of neck curvature, but then an orthopedic pillow is prescribed by a doctor.
Dream
Choosing a crib, mattress and bedding is just the beginning; the next step is to think about where to put it all. It is better for the child to sleep in a well-ventilated, quiet and dark place, away from the radiator. If the crib will be in your bedroom, plan how to rearrange the furniture and reorganize the space. If you are going to sleep with your baby, it makes sense to buy a good hard mattress for your bed.
Remember that in the room where the child sleeps there should not be an abundance of carpets and soft toys: these “dust collectors” can cause allergies. An important factor for good sleep and baby health is sufficient humidity. To ensure this, buy a humidifier or air washer. The power of such devices varies; select a suitable model in advance depending on the size of the room.
Young children are sensitive to sunlight and often wake up with sunrise. You'll likely quickly appreciate the ability to completely darken a room at any time. To do this, you need to hang light-proof roller blinds or attach a thick lining to regular curtains.
Not essential things, but they will make life easier for mom
If the child is bottle-fed, a thermos will become an indispensable assistant. It is convenient to use at night when the child is hungry. In order not to run to the kitchen, heat the water, and then mix boiling water with the cooled part to the desired temperature, it is enough to prepare water at the desired temperature in the evening and pour it into a thermos. You should also place a jar of dry milk formula near the crib with the baby. As soon as it’s time to feed, the mother will prepare food for the baby in a minute: pour water from a thermos into the bottle to the required level, pour in the correct number of spoons, shake it and give it to the baby.
Fitball is designed not only to help in sports, but also in motion sickness of children. A woman tired from the day, carrying a baby in her arms, slightly jumping up and down to rock her to sleep is not a sight for the faint of heart. When you have the opportunity to take a pillow on your lap, put your baby on it, while swaying from side to side on an elastic but soft fitball, you can relax and watch your favorite TV series.
Night feeding
Modern stores offer everything you need for the birth of a baby: from ready-made feeding kits to slings, which, along with kangaroo backpacks, make it easier for women to go to the grocery store. There is no need to carry a large stroller with you, which is not possible to walk everywhere. Having secured your child in a sling scarf or a kangaroo backpack, it is very convenient to walk along the narrow rows. Not all mothers are comfortable with this method of carrying a child; some are unable to adapt to it.
Hygiene
You will have to change your baby's diaper several thousand times, and it is better to do this in comfort - you cannot do without a changing table. There are a variety of options: a compact folding model, a wall board, a changing tabletop for a chest of drawers or a separate table. Decide what will be more convenient for you. And you can hang a mobile above the table to distract your baby during boring hygiene procedures. If space allows, it is worth getting an additional changing surface in the bathroom so that you can comfortably dry your baby and lubricate him with cream after bathing.
You will also need a place to store diapers, creams and wipes. It’s convenient to keep all these little things in soft baskets or boxes so that you can move them from place to place if necessary. To save space, you can use hanging organizers that are attached to the side of the crib, changing table, or simply on the door. And don’t forget to put a bucket nearby for used diapers or wipes. It’s very inconvenient to run with garbage through the entire apartment every time!
If you plan to use reusable diapers, get a large plastic container with a lid. You can pour water with stain remover into it and put used diapers there during the day to make the washing process easier. Think in advance about how you will store bath toys, because after each bath they must be completely dry to avoid mold. A convenient solution is a special mesh with suction cups.
Ignore or believe?
When conception had not yet occurred, many women did not even think about the question of whether it was possible to buy things before the birth of the child.
However, in an interesting situation, some expectant mothers become overly suspicious, which is actively taken advantage of by various “well-wishers.” Representatives of the older generation, especially from the outback, with good intentions, begin to teach a pregnant woman everything in a row, including various signs and superstitions. What to do:
- First of all, you need to calm your nerves and enjoy your position as much as possible. A pregnant woman should bear a healthy baby; she doesn’t have to think about other problems. Did you buy things in advance? Fine. Left your purchase for later? Good too;
- Another option is to surround yourself with positive people who will not intimidate the expectant mother with various superstitions and scary stories about the unsuccessful outcome of childbirth. If this cannot be done, you just need to sweep unwanted thoughts aside;
- in the end, you can simply make the final decision: buy a dowry or do it after the child is born into the world. However, following this advice is not so easy, since each woman has her own temperament, upbringing, and personal characteristics (including suggestibility). Traditional pregnancy fears and anxieties also come into play. And yet any decision will be correct, since each of them has its own advantages.
The best assistant in this matter can be women's and mother's intuition. If you are convinced that a baby wardrobe item purchased in advance will bring both you and your child exceptional joy, feel free to go shopping.
If you are afraid of premature purchases, then it is better to trust your emotions and spend time not on fruitless thoughts, but on something more pleasant.
What things should you take to the maternity hospital?
Getting ready for the maternity hospital is an extremely important moment. It’s best not to fuss and think about what you’ll take with you. To avoid forgetting anything, you can write a list of necessary things.
So, what does mom need:
- The most important thing is documents
- Phone and charger
- Comfortable clothes and linen (robe, warm socks, slippers, underwear that will not cause discomfort if there is a seam on the stomach, a nursing bra), as well as towels
- A couple of packs of thick postpartum pads
- Nipple cream
- Postpartum bandage
- Necessary utensils
- Chapstick or lip balm
- Drinking water and heartburn remedies
What will the baby need? First of all, you need to check with the maternity hospital whether you can bring any things with you for the baby (don’t forget to wash and iron them first).
- Packaging of diapers
- Two vests
- Two pairs of sliders
- Anti-scratch mittens
- A cap without ties, as well as a cap with ties
- Diaper cream, crease oil and cotton pads
The benefits of purchasing in advance
If the expectant mother is distinguished by pragmatism, it is worth considering the problem of whether it is possible to buy things for a newborn in advance, from the point of view of healthy rationalism.
After some thought, mothers settle on the option of purchasing in advance, because, indeed, this option has many advantages. Let's look at them in more detail:
- it's comfortable. The birth of a little lump into the world is a revolution in the life of a woman and the family as a whole. There is not enough time for anything, and if you buy things in a hurry, you can end up with a pile of unnecessary or unsuitable clothes. But imagine that it still needs to be washed and ironed... That’s why it’s much more convenient to buy a dowry in the second trimester;
- it's practical. Agree that no one knows better than a mother what a baby should wear after birth. A woman must take into account all the nuances: color, style, quality, etc. If you shift this responsible responsibility to relatives or a spouse, then there is a risk that mom simply won’t like the things she didn’t buy;
- it's nice. Many expectant mothers experience a lot of indescribable sensations when choosing tiny suits for their future newborn baby. Agree that it is very pleasant to cuddle pink or blue booties, envelopes, vests and other things.
Thus, the decision to buy clothes for future use is completely justified and correct. Mom prepares everything in advance, enjoying these chores, and after giving birth she spends all her time exclusively on the child.
But let's consider another option.
Cleaning and disinfection of the apartment
Cleaning the apartment and carrying out the necessary disinfection before the birth of the baby is a mandatory and responsible process. But it is better to entrust it to the future father and relatives, because the future mother will not have time to deal with these matters - she will be in the maternity hospital.
What should dad take care of so that the apartment is clean when mom and baby arrive?
Cleaning ceilings, walls and lamps from dirt and dust.- Cleaning batteries (radiators), furniture and carpets.
- Washing windows with sills and frames
- Cleaning and washing bathrooms, bathtubs and toilets.
It is important to remember that all disinfectants must be hypoallergenic and as gentle as possible, and the floors should not be slippery (special decorative protective coatings can be applied - they will protect the floors from the child’s future art and prevent accidental falls).
Required and Required Purchases
Regardless of whether a woman believes in the superstition that one should not buy things for a child before birth or not, there are some kind of mandatory items. Both superstitious and rational mothers should worry about purchasing them in advance.
Must buy:
- children's bed with linen. There is no time left to choose and buy a crib after returning from the maternity hospital - the baby must immediately take its rightful place. It is worth entrusting the purchase of this accessory to a spouse who is better versed in all the technical intricacies;
- stroller You should also purchase it in advance, and you should choose a high-quality model from a well-known company. A possible (also the most preferred) option is a transforming model that “turns” into a cradle or car seat;
- diapers, envelope. These items will be required in the maternity hospital upon discharge, so you should think about purchasing them in advance;
- baby care products. Various powders, napkins, some medications - all this should be purchased in advance by asking your gynecologist or obstetrician.
The first vehicle for a child must be chosen very carefully. This article by our technical specialist describes the best strollers for newborns from the most popular companies and brands.
There is a list of things that may also be needed, but you can wait to purchase them, for example:
- children's wardrobe A narrow and low chest of drawers for a child’s things is also necessary, since it is unreasonable to keep clothes and other baby accessories in an adult closet;
- changing table. Not everyone agrees that this accessory is definitely needed to care for a child, which is why we added a changing table to the list of desired items;
- baby seat If the stroller does not transform into a car cradle, transportation will have to be purchased separately. By the way, even with a newborn child you only need to ride with a special restraint device. By the way, the device can be borrowed from friends to transport a child home;
- sling An extremely useful device, which is a type of sling. The mother will be able to carry the child, and her hands will be free.
This is just a short list of what parents may need when giving birth to a newborn child. Naturally, it is necessary to purchase clothes, but only the mother can decide when the purchase will take place, before or after childbirth.
