Things You Need For Your Baby’s Arrival

The beginning of a new life is a new beginning for the whole family. It is one of the best opportunities to spread unconditional love, say kind things, and be inclusive and welcoming!

Baby Shopping Alert for new Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Godparents, and Friends trying to find meaningful gifts.

When you are expecting a new baby in the family, suddenly old photographs of parents and grandparents as babies appear as if by magic.

Idea: Why not make a baby book with as many generations of old photographs as possible? Do a genealogy search and make an artful hand-lettered chart with the names and dates of parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents. Go back as far as you can. It is easier now to find ancestors than ever before, and important to get the information from grandparents that babies will need in their search for relationships when they grow up.

Idea: Vintage baby clothing is so cute that it is often replicated now, albeit with a twist or two. In fact, there are so many things available now. If you are handy with sewing, why not revitalize some precious item of clothing worn by a relative of the new baby? Or make something from scratch that resembles an old portrait.

Before the birth of my first grandbaby, when my son and his wife would visit, I brought out old pictures. One very cute photograph was of my son, only 6 months old, wearing a little blue knitted sweater with a hood. It was adorable. It had been lovingly made by his grandmother, who, although no longer with us, has left us with many a fine memory of her handiwork.

Food Prep For The Parents!

As well as buying a wide array of items in preparation for your baby, it’s also important to stock up on necessary items for you as the parent. Being a new mom and dad is extremely demanding in terms of time and energy, so you need to take care of yourselves, too. Stocking up on delicious and nutritious freezer food will help you get a good meal after a busy day and save you a ton of time in the long run. Whether you’re buying some mouth-watering ling ling dumplings or you’re trying out chicken fried rice dishes for the first time, there are so many wholesome and delicious meals for you to add to your freezer. Looking for dishes that can be prepared quickly and easily in a matter of minutes will help you keep your energy levels up when you need it the most. Meal prep in your freezer is also ideal if you expect guests to come over and meet the baby. You can serve them a quick and tasty meal with minimal effort, as you’ll no doubt have plenty of baby rocking, feeding, laundry, and changing to do. Food Planning and Food Prep can be the best thing you do for yourselves during this busy time in your life!

Idea: Visiting a home with a new baby… Bring food!

New Family Relationships and Children of the Heart.

The traditional family unit is often joined by those who are not so-called “blood-related” but nonetheless very precious to all concerned. You may be adopting a baby as a couple or a single parent. You could be a grandparent, or great-grandparent by marriage, or a stepmother or stepfather. You could be having a child through a surrogate mother or the surrogate trying to find the right balance in the relationship. One of the baby’s parents may be your adopted child or even a foster child that you helped raise and feel close to. All of these relationships deserve special thoughts, consideration, and love.

Are You Going the Surrogate Route?

There are so many considerations you need to make when it comes to preparing for your baby’s arrival, and one of the key things you need to consider is when you are planning to give birth through a surrogate. It is important to make sure you understand what this process will entail, and you need to think about how surrogacy can affect the lives of all concerned. You need to think about how surrogacy can impact you as a couple emotionally, as well as how the surrogate might feel about things. Both the parents and the surrogate are wise to seek professional advice and help.

Using a surrogate agency is definitely a viable option for those who are looking to have children but have not been able to conceive naturally. Many things can help you prepare for your baby’s arrival via surrogacy, not the least of which are meetings with the surrogate beforehand. Arranging for professional counseling and helping to consider all of the involvements can save everyone years of heartache.

Clothing and Baby Furnishings Change, but quality items are always appreciated!

We often don’t think of baby styles changing that much over the years, but they really have. From our grandparents’ days to when you were a baby, the availability and styles have really progressed. There are also more concerns about safe products for babies and more environmentally conscious items.

Previous generations knew nothing of organic or not organic cotton back then, but it makes a lot of sense now. Organic cotton clothing that is soft on baby’s skin, cuddly for you, too, and much better for baby’s skin. So much is now available to choose from. Did you know a newborn’s skin is five times more sensitive than an older child’s or an adult’s? Organic Cotton is produced using much less harmful chemicals, greatly reducing your baby’s exposure to hidden toxins.

More important than lesser issues is to be mindful that time passes, that you are making memories, and, most of all, that you are making sure that your baby is loved and adored.

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Choosing An Infants First Clothing.

• Season-appropriate clothing with wide head openings for ease of baby changing.
• One Piece Bodysuits and Rompers
• Easy Open at the Bottom Pajama Gowns. These have little elastic sewn into the bottom, so they don’t ride up too easily.
• Sleep Sack Blankets and Swaddle Transition Sleep Bags are age-old ideas. We used to get these as gifts, lovingly made by hand. Now, those who are not handy at sewing or have little time can buy amazing Sleep Sacks in stores or online.
• Baby Socks and Booties
• 3 or 4 Infant baby hats. Sun Hat, Infants’ first hat, and hats for warmth. A sun hat or two with wide brims for those outdoor airings in summer. A baby’s skin is more sensitive to the sun in the first year. Hospitals recommend bringing a lightweight cap to add to the outfit you take your baby home in. Always take a sun hat, even for a short walk. In winter, you need warm hats; knitted hats are always good. Most heat loss is through the head.
• Several Cute Two-Piece outfits for the daytime. Two-piece outfits are easy to change without undressing all of the baby’s body. Of course, tops can get soiled, too, so keep a little baby bib on hand. When you show off, baby, they will be dressed up and ready to ogle and aah over.
• 4 or 5 Every Day and Dress-up outfits to start with. Babies grow fast, so buy appropriately. There is no harm in buying a little larger since roominess is good at an early stage. Now that moms and dads are finding out the sex of their baby earlier than birth, ‘Baby Reveal’ parties are starting to be all the rage… It makes it easier to buy clothing. There are also many gender-neutral choices for those who love a surprise.
• 8 to 10 “Sleepers” or one-piece outfits. These are great for both daytime and night wear. One-piece outfits with wide head openings and easy diaper change zippers or snaps. Make sure to take into consideration the season your baby will arrive. Lightweight wear is for spring to summer babies, and warmer wear is for fall to winter babies. Make these easy care and organic cotton products to give the baby the softest feel. Babies come in all sizes. For the first outfits, newborn to 3 months sizing will usually be good. If your baby has a larger birth weight, you may want to wait to purchase too many. You want to ensure you have enough changes between laundry, especially for the first few weeks when the new mommy is recovering.
• 7 – Baby Sleepers with no zippers or snaps and instead have an opening at the bottom with soft elastic for easy middle-of-the-night changes.
• 2 or 3 – Blanket Sleepers – lightweight for summer, heavier for winter.
• 6 to 12 – Soft Organic Cotton square swaddling cloths to wrap baby in. These are awesome as they last and are so useful until your baby is older. It can be used as a mommy’s shoulder drape for privacy, a little light blanket in a stroller or other baby carrier, a spit-up cloth, and many other little emergencies.
• Two to four soft-knitted or other sweaters, like the ones we used to have, are heirlooms in and of themselves. These days, they can be purchased at church bazaars or at a local seniors center, where they are often made as fundraisers. They are handmade and beautiful.
• 3 dress-up outfits for those show-off moments with family and friends.
• A baby carrier helps the new mom and dad “wear” their baby. For heavier babies, you may want a little wearable carrier that supports the baby to help the mom’s hips. Choose one that is adjustable and works well, and then you can attach it to the grandparents or aunties.
• 5 “Baby Booties” to keep tiny feet warm when outfits don’t have feet in them. Baby socks are good, too, but they habitually fall off. Knitted booties are still amazing. Check out your local seniors center if you can’t make them yourself.
• 4 Soft and absorbent baby bath towels. A baby bathtub. Remember never to leave your baby unattended, even for an instant. Have everything close at hand that you might need at bathtime.

Besides being very soft to the touch, organic cotton clothing will last longer and withstand more washings. There are many cute designs, too. Some have an easy diaper change opening on the bottom to ensure that those midnight diaper changes won’t be hard on either mom, dad, or baby. After all, who wants to fumble for zippers and snaps in the middle of the night?

Traveling with Baby

• Stroller with Bassinet – They make them nowadays with 3 or 4 functions in one carriage or stroller, such as an insertable for a car seat, a bassinet, and a stroller with expandable options for a growing toddler. I wish the springs were a little cushier and bouncier. The old-style prams may not have been foldable or convertible, but there was nothing like the rocking action of the generous springs to soothe a tired and fussy baby to sleep.
• Car Seat that meets the most recent safety standards.
• A Diaper Bag – There are many new functional models these days. Some include changing stations for use away from home.
• A “Baby Changer” fits on the tabletop, floor, or bed and can be taken anywhere with you.
• Travel Bassinet
• You might also want to find a tabletop travel change pad with sides that prevent rolling. It’s useful everywhere a baby needs to be changed.
• A full set of Baby Care Items in a Diaper Bag – saves packing at the last minute.
• Pack some extra Baby Clothing in the diaper bag.
• 2 Receiving Blankets and/or Baby Blankets
• A soft, breathable, multi-purpose breastfeeding cover and car seat canopy that also fits on a stroller or baby carrier.
• A Fleece Baby Suit and a Warm Blanket to keep baby warm in the car seat in winter.

What You Need for Baby in the Nursery.

• 0 to 6 months Bedside Sleeper Convertible Bassinet. Several kinds are available that allow babies to sleep alongside mommy without danger. Note about Co-Sleeping.

The Case for Co-Sleeping: This means the baby sleeps near mom but not in the same bed. Having the baby in a bassinet where they can easily be reached is best. Another solution is to have the baby in a small yet approved bassinet that sits on top of the parent’s bed in the middle between mom and dad. Closeness but with sides that would alert a parent to any rolling over they might do. Never take any medication or other substances that could make a parent have such a deep sleep you would not wake up. The baby needs a firm breathable space underneath. They should always be placed on their backs. Nursing or feeding a baby in bed is preferable to a chair if there is any chance mommy or daddy might fall asleep.

• Japan – it is common practice to co-sleep with babies and even older children. The infant mortality rate is slightly lower in Japan than in North America. 
• According to the SIDS Family Association Japan, the rate of SIDS deaths has decreased in line with an increase in breastfeeding as well as a decrease in maternal smoking. As little as thirty years ago, it was more common to see a woman smoking than not. Believe it or not, smoking was allowed in the hospital room or corridor at that time. It’s just horrible if you were one of the minorities who did not smoke.  In the USA, most parents will say their babies sleep separately when polled, but upon further questioning, they will admit they co-sleep, especially in the first few months. So, as long as you take the necessary steps for safe co-sleeping, you won’t have to feel guilty about not following the sleep-alone method.

Please Note: I am not a doctor or health professional; please do your own research. Any advice in this article or on this website is from personal experience only.

• A Baby Crib that converts into a child’s bed. A Breathable Mattress and four fitted breathable yet washable mattress pads and 3 or 4 fitted breathable bottom crib sheets.
• Change Table: When you buy the insert, ensure it is long enough for your growing toddler.
• A Diaper Pail and Liners keep the smell inside. If you have a home where the bedrooms and washroom are upstairs, and the main floor has no washroom, you may want to set up a changing area downstairs as well, so two diaper pails can be very useful.
• Regular-size, extra-soft washcloths are handy for easy cleanups. They are also handy when changing a baby boy. Place one loosely on top after loosening the diaper to conveniently catch any last-minute pee that can occur just before you get the next diaper on. A neat trick is to take a little baby wipe that is cool to the touch. Draw it across the baby’s tummy gently, and it can prompt a last-minute pee that will be soaked up by the washcloth or hand towel and easily laundered.
• Dresser Drawers, closet organizers, and hangars for the closet. Surprisingly, the KonMari folding method can make small spaces work well. Just a little extra effort for the laundry, and everything is ready and within reach in a snap. And believe me, there are always moments when you must put your hands on something quickly!
• Diaper Caddy

• Glider or Rocking Chair – Nursing Chair. Make sure there are comfortable padded arms (or a Nursing Chair without arms) and a small stool to rest a mom’s feet. A large comfortable armchair is a good choice, but not if you might fall asleep. In the olden days, nursing rockers were much smaller and had no arms to hinder movement or for a baby’s head to bump against.
• Footstool or Ottoman
• An adjustable nursing pillow was extremely useful at our grandchild’s home. It was great for moms, and because it was worn around the waist and adjustable, it formed a convenient soft platform on which to rest your arms when holding and rocking the baby to sleep. Daddy, grandparents, and visitors could wear this pillow. Babies can get heavy; this provides a little shelf to support the helper’s arms. Never let go of the baby while in use. It is just an aid.
• An easy-to-move exercise ball – can be used by daddy and others to help with gentle rocking. Easy to move into the living room. Baby is with you wherever you are. This is not to nurse the baby on but to use as a gentle rocker. Also, don’t overdo the ball; it can put extra pressure on your hips if overused. Also, always place it with a couch or heavy chair behind you so that when you or a caregiver sits down, it does not roll out from behind them.
• Baby Monitor
• White Noise Maker
• Hanging Mobile- Music Box
• First Aid Kit, Thermometer, and Baby Scale
• 2 to 4 Newborn Pacifiers – they may not take any… (trouble nursing or taking a bottle or pacifier? Ask your doctor to check to see if there is a minor ‘tongue-tie’ that prevents baby from latching on properly)
• 1 Dozen Baby Bibs with easy magnetic clasps. These catch the drool and are useful even before eating solid foods.

Most parents prepare a separate room for their baby’s nursery. Remember, for the first six months, your baby is recommended to sleep in your room in a bassinet. Close is best for everyone. There are side sleeper bassinets that make it safe to have the baby close and also easy to reach over and comfort your little one in the middle of the night and for nursing.

Keeping Your Baby Clean and Dry

• Disposable diapers or cloth – newborns will need 10 or 12 changes per day.
• 12 Cloth diapers for emergencies if you can’t get to the store or they happen to be out of the ones you need. Sometimes, if your baby has any diaper rash, a breathable cotton diaper can be the answer; you need a waterproof pad liner underneath.
• Foldable bathtubs can save space. Some fit in the kitchen or bathroom sink. If your bathroom is large enough, it is great to have a changing table and baby bath set up in there. Make sure you have room around the bathtub set up to reach. Never leave a baby alone for a second. Bathtime is fun for mommy and daddy to bathe their baby.
• 3 Hooded Soft Baby Towels
• 6 or more Baby Washcloths
• All-natural unscented Baby Bath Soap
• Cotton Balls and distilled water for Newborn eye-washing
• Q-Tips for drying Creases between those little precious toes and other areas. Not for inside the ears.
• Baby Hairbrush and Gentle Cradle Cap Massage. These are inexpensive little plastic or silicone tools with a soft on your baby’s skin’s flat surfaces. Use it to help wash your baby’s hair and give a gentle massage while in the tub.
• Unscented Water-based Baby Wipes – Remember, a clean baby has less chance of developing a diaper rash.
• Plenty of size-appropriate Diapers
• 6 Receiving Blankets – these will last a long time and have many uses, from soft, lightweight blankets to privacy blankets for nursing, and are great to throw over your shoulder when your baby needs to be burped.

• 2 or 3 Waterproof Pads. These are handy to use underneath an impromptu change area and easy to carry in a diaper bag. You may find you need these in various handy spots.
• Baby Oils help prevent “cradle cap.” There are delightful new baby oils now that are said to be healthier than the traditional variety. In years gone by, it was recommended to smooth a little baby oil on after a bath. This practice is not necessary for all; you be the judge. Newborns should not be bathed every day for the first couple of weeks. After that, a daily bath is a fun time.
• A natural Diaper Cream or Organic Coconut Oil. With the right diaper cream and water-based wipes, it is possible that your baby will never need to experience a diaper rash.
• “Free-From Unscented Baby Laundry Soap.” laundry is done almost every day. Artificially scented laundry soaps are not always clean, and the fragrance can cause sensitivities.
• Ask your doctor about baby vitamins and ‘acidophilus drops for digestion. As a doctor recommends, Probiotic Acidophilus Drops can help relieve tummy cramps and colic.
• Keep some Baby Tylenol on hand. If you have a doctor’s visit for any possibly painful procedure, ask your doctor if you can administer it beforehand to lessen the period of discomfort afterward.

Feeding Your Baby

• Nursing Baby
• A breast pump & mom’s necessities
• Burp Cloths or multi-purpose lightweight
• Receiving blankets
• Nursing Bras and Clothing
• Patience. – It takes time to figure it all out, but it is worth it. Many moms feel sad when it is time to give up breastfeeding—such a short time but one that gives your baby a great start.

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• Bottle-Feeding Baby
• 1 Dozen Newborn Baby Bottles with newborn nipples (be ready to change types to suit baby)
• Bottle Cleaning Brush and Microwave Sterilizer Bags
• Baby Formula.
• For a large birth weight baby, you may find they grow really fast, and even though you are breastfeeding well, you may need to supplement with some formula. Everyone is different.

Playtime & Early Brain Development Resources.

• Learn some nursery rhymes and songs.
• The Baby Shuffle Dance comes naturally. I call this the instinctive rocking of a baby that almost everyone starts doing when holding a baby and walking around. Give a grandma your baby, and you will instantly see the Baby Shuffle Dance begin.
• Hold your baby with its tummy down and rock gently for a fussy baby. Baby’s stomach rests facing downward on your forearm with her head supported in the crook of your arm and anchored into your own body for stability. Gently soothe and rock. In this position, you can lift the baby up so you can softly sing or make whooshing or buzzing bee sounds, which will often help soothe your baby.
• Holding your baby is incredibly important. Oh yes, we know you have to put them down and teach them to sleep and self-soothe at some point. This will be easier after all the cuddling and holding you do in the early days.
• A Baby Play Gym for early development that grows with each stage in the first year.
• A Baby Bouncer
• Baby Play by Month: invest in a book with illustrations on baby development through the first year. Know what to expect and learn about interesting things and exercises you can do with your baby at different stages of development. Every day is Play Day!
• Positive Speak Instills Self-Esteem—Never use negative speech toward your baby. Say “good boy,” “good girl,” or “good baby.” When they are crying, soothe them by saying, “Oh yes, tell me all about it. I want to hear your story.” Never say, “You gave us a hard time; you are trouble.”

Remember, babies are little sponges that will squeeze back out every word or deed you give them
…sometime in the future.

• Picture Story Books—Cloth Books, have them ready. An early cloth book filled with crinkly-sounding pages can be great right from the start.
  It is never too early to start introducing age-appropriate educational toys and materials. Playtime is learning time. What color is this or that? Play counting games while rocking. Be inventive; it all helps.
• Tape-recorded classical and children’s music. Make sure the sounds and music they listen to are upbeat and positive.
• Avoid TV Screen time until a baby is two years old.
• Windows to look out of- Things to See
• Comforting Parenting & Grand-Parenting.
• Lots of smiles and ooh-ga-ga happy faces.
• Toys with different sounds like ‘soft and crinkly,’ tinkle sounds, and rattle and bell sounds. Later, things that open and close with keys and things.
• Always encourage your baby, toddler, and growing child at every age. Praise every little effort. This is a lifelong practice that helps children grow, be proud of themselves, and keep learning.
• Hugs! Hugs and more hugs are more important than you imagine. It is said that everyone needs at least four hugs a day for survival, six or eight for maintenance, and twelve for growth. The practice of hugging a child throughout their lives is good for their emotional, cognitive, and physical development. We all have circumstances and situations in our lives that can be challenging and difficult. Hugging can help all of us overcome anything.
• Remember, what you do now lasts a lifetime.

The list of things your baby may need, and you too, of course, they just go on and on.

• Swings, Bouncers, and Baby Carriers
• A Play Yard
• Teethers and Soothers.
• Toys
• Toddler Foods, Utensils, and Containers
• A Highchair

Create a Baby Registry.

Everyone wants to give you something you will love and treasure for your baby! There are baby registries galore. The room available in your home may be limited, so gently ask for things you need and want. People have their own ideas of what to give; some things are great, and some are not so useful. No one wants to find that their gift is not being used when they come to visit.

Baby Gifts & Thinking Ahead: What to say when people ask?

• Make a list of things you need
• Educational Funds can be a good way to use cash gifts.
• Shower Planning: Showers before the baby arrives are great and a traditional way for family and friends to shower you with necessary things. It is also a way to involve your family more and enlist help for later. If your baby is arriving shortly after a Holiday, you can ask for Baby Gifts instead of personal gifts.
• Sip & See Baby Viewing and Family Events: A baby’s arrival is not just a baby but a new member of your extended family. The arrival of a baby tends to bring the whole family together and even heal old wounds. Be sensitive to even those who have seemed estranged in the past, and welcome them again into the family circle. The beginning of a new life is a new beginning for the whole family. A new opportunity to spread unconditional love, say kind things and be inclusive and welcoming.
• Plan the Thank You Cards ahead of time. Yes, I know these are not the social norms among the new generation, but remember, many of those giving can be from a previous and more formal generation.

Accept and Appreciate Every Help Remember, everyone comes from their own frame of reference. Some people are steeped in tradition, others from their own experience, and still others from our modern and trendy times!

Wearable blankets or Sleep Sacks are not a new idea; a friend made me one when my son was a baby, and it got used a lot! These days, you can buy wearable baby blankets that are not only cozy and soft but also have a built-in weight that mimics a mom’s hand soothing her baby. If you are trying to get your baby to sleep just a little longer to give you a few added winks yourself, you might want to consider a special sleep sack with a weighted faux hand.

Babies need some things for such a short time, so why not ‘family-share’ some items with friends whose children have grown beyond them? Share with friends and relatives, borrow, or even rent some items that are useful only for a brief period. You also have the benefit of finding some things that have been tried and tested. What do you do if your baby just does not sit in that $400.00 contraption?

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Find out why holding a baby most of the time is so important! Follow the link to this blog post entitled, “Holding Babies, Why It Is So Important.”

Color Yourself Happy This Holiday Season