First Year Essentials for Your Baby

Welcoming a baby into this world can be quite hectic and full of challenges. On top of going through a long pregnancy, carrying a child and giving birth, there’s a lot of stuff to think about when it comes to supplying the necessities for the newborn baby. That is why this list will help you keep things organised and gather all of the essentials for your baby. 

Diapers

First and foremost, you need to get quite a lot of diapers for your baby. Babies can go through 8 to 10 diapers a day so you need to be quite equipped. You also need to make sure you buy the ones that are soft and comfortable for your baby. Also, you may be torn between choosing disposable diapers or cloth ones. Remember that both have their advantages and pluses as well as minuses. It might be the best option to alter between those two and see what’s best for your baby’s sensitive skin. 

Here’s what you need:

2 to 3 packs of disposable diapers or enough cloth diapers to last 2 days1 or 2 packs of baby wipes or about 12 cloth wipesA bottle of diaper rash creamDetergent for cloth diapersWaterproof pad for diaper changingA diaper pail or receptacle

Bath Items

The next on the list are bath items. Remember that baby’s skin is very sensitive and prone to irritation. Bathing with harsh soaps can be bad for the baby’s skin. That is why you need baby shampoos and creams that will help soothe the baby’s skin after the bath.

Here’s what bath items include:

3-5 baby washcloths1-2 hooded towels1 baby sponge1 bottle of baby bath wash1 bottle of baby lotionA baby bathtub

Grooming/First Aid

You won’t necessarily need tons of grooming items for your baby at first, but as your baby grows you will eventually have to trim their nails which tend to grow fast. You will also need the first aid kit in case you need to take your baby’s temperature, clean out their nose, and so on.

You’ll need:

Baby nail clippersDigital thermometerMedicine dropperBulb syringe/nasal aspirator

Clothing and Layette

You may want to show off your cutie in adorable little baby clothes, but you won’t need that many fancy clothes for your baby in the first year. Babies grow out of their clothes so fast and before you even know it, you’ll be buying more and more clothes. That is why you need to prioritise comfort over looks. It’s important to invest in soft high-quality newborn baby clothes and make sure your baby is not too cold or too hot in the clothes they’re wearing. 

This list may be useful:

5-8 onesies or some other kinds of outfits3-4 baby sleepers or sleep sacks5-7 pairs of baby socks1 or 2 hats

Making your shopping for baby clothes online is a great option for you since you'll be busy with your newborn. Also, think about how often you plan to do laundry before shopping for baby clothes. 

Lastly, it’s recommended that babies don’t sleep with blankets but use baby sleepers or sleep sacks instead. 

Bedding and Sleep Needs

Speaking of sleeping slacks, you should also equip the nursery with bedding and all the other sleep needs for the baby. This includes the newborn crib, cradle, or bassinet. For the first 6 to 12 months, it’s recommended that the baby sleeps in the same room with you, so pick the bedding option that fits your bedroom the best. Also, make sure to get bumpers, pillows, sleep sacks, and some soft toys for the baby’s bed.

Here’s what you need:

A crib/cradle/bassinet or any other safe sleep space for your baby (if you’re borrowing a crib from another family member or a friend, make sure it has all of the pieces and meets the current safety standards)Crib mattress3-4 fitted sheets for the cribA waterproof crib mattress coverBaby monitor

Feeding Supplies

If you decide to only breastfeed, you won’t need that many supplies. However, it’s still useful to have feeding supplies for those days when you might not have time or energy to breastfeed your baby. 

In case you plan on formula feeding, you should discuss the formula brands with your doctor to get all of the necessary information about how to formula feed, how much to use, and so on.

On top of that, no matter how you choose to feed your baby, you will need tons of burp cloths.

You will need:

10 burp cloths5-8 bottles (if you're bottle-feeding)A bottle brush (for washing the bottles)Different types and sizes of bottle nipplesA breastfeeding pillow, nipple cream, and nursing padsBreast pump

Conclusion

Overall, in the first year of your baby’s life, you mostly need to focus on making sure the baby is warm, comfortable, healthy, well-fed, and sleeping well. That is why you need to get comfy diapers, soft clothes, high-quality bedding, and feeding supplies for the baby. That is pretty much all you need for now. 

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