24 WEEKS PREGNANT
What Does Baby Need? Shopping and Registering for Baby Showers
This week, you can
•
Determine what you need to have on hand before the baby arrives, what
can wait until after he’s here, and what you might not need at all
• Register for baby gifts
I’VE
GOT GOOD NEWS for you. Despite the shopping frenzy you might feel
obligated to embark on, babies come into the world with pretty simple
needs. They don’t pay any attention to the commercials that constantly
barrage expecting parents with the idea that babies need a bunch of
gadgets to be happy and healthy.
First,
let’s consider a newborn baby’s needs. Babies need to be warm, they
need to be dry, and they need to be fed. If you’re breastfeeding, the
third need is already taken care of. While bottles may still serve a
purpose for a nursing mom, you probably won’t need any for a while. And
even bottle-feeding moms don’t need an arsenal of nipples and bottles
right away, especially since the hospital will provide them during your
stay. That leaves “warm” and “dry,” and it doesn’t take too much to
provide for those needs.
While it’s good to be prepared for “wants,” there are relatively few things you’ll absolutely need
to have on hand before the baby makes her arrival. So don’t panic or
feel like you have to have everything you could ever want already
purchased ahead of time. Your baby will be just fine if he enters the
world without a fully stocked nursery. And remember, you can always
send a spouse or family member on a quick trip to a discount store or
pharmacy for a forgotten item.
If this is
your first baby (and possibly if it’s your second or beyond), a friend
or family member is likely planning you a shower. Baby stores and
department stores like Target offer you the opportunity to register for
gifts you’d like to receive by walking around and “shopping” with a
little scanner. It can be difficult to keep yourself in check as you
wander the stores zapping the barcodes on this adorable blanket or that
oh-so-cute outfit. So I recommend you make a plan before you ever set
foot in the store. Here are two lists you can consider while planning
your shower strategy. The first is the list of items you’ll want to
have on hand while your baby is very small. The second is a list of
items you can probably wait to purchase.
GET IT NOW
Clothing
As
with maternity clothes, consider your lifestyle before you decide how
many of each different item of baby clothing to purchase. How often
will you (rather, your spouse, friend or family member, or hired help)
do laundry in those early weeks? That will help you determine how many
of each of the following items to have on hand:
T-shirts or bodysuits (i.e., “onesies”).
You can expect a baby to go through at least one undershirt per day;
often two or more if she’s the type to “blow out” her diaper.
One-piece sleepers or gowns.
Your baby will probably live mostly in one-piece sleepers or gowns for
the first few weeks; be sure to have at least two on hand for every day
you’ll go before doing the laundry, plus a couple extra just in case
laundry plans don’t go as expected.
Baby socks.
You can never have too many of these elusive little items, since they
will go missing like crazy (did you know washing machines actually do
eat socks? It’s true—small items occasionally spill over the top of the
drum in top-loading machines.) A small mesh bag for keeping them all
together in and out of the laundry will help, but still expect a few to
go missing. Buy several pairs in the same color and style.
Receiving blankets.
Great for everything from mopping up milk to wrapping up babies nice
and snug, you’ll want at least four or five of these soft, lightweight
blankets on hand. Look for a couple of extra-large ones for swaddling.
Burp cloths, pre-fold or flat cloth diapers.
Babies create an awful lot of liquid of all sorts, and burp cloths and
cloth diapers are easy to fling over a shoulder or lap for extra
protection. Have several on hand.
A few “cute” outfits for photos, visits with Grandma and Grandpa, etc.
Don’t go overboard here. You have no idea how big your baby will be
when he’s born nor how fast he’ll grow. Some babies stay in the newborn
or “0-3 month” size for quite a while. Others will outgrow it
practically before they leave the hospital. You don’t want to invest
lots of money (or space) in adorable newborn outfits that never have a
chance to be worn!
Diapers. Just get one package of the newborn size—they are often outgrown really quickly.
Cloth diapers
are a great ecologically friendly choice and can be handed down from
baby to baby. The cloth diapers of today are not the fold-and-pin
nightmares your mother probably wrestled with! Nowadays, there is an
array of cloth diaper options that are just as easy to use as
disposables—promise. And laundering them is no big deal as long as you
get a system in place. No need to spend a mint on fancy “designer”
diapers (yes, they exist!). A couple dozen high-quality prefolds with
four to six covers with snap or Velcro closures will get you started.
For more information on different styles and brands and where to buy,
visit
thediaperpin.com.
Furniture and Gear
A place to sleep.
Perhaps you’ll be receiving a crib and/or bassinette or cradle as a
gift, or maybe you’ll be purchasing Baby’s bed yourself. If you’re
looking at cribs, consider purchasing one that converts into a toddler
bed later so you get more mileage from your purchase. Another option is
borrowing or finding your baby’s bed second-hand on Craigslist, on
eBay, or at a rummage sale. Just investigate the model, brand, and
serial number online before you use it for your baby—many cribs have
been recalled over the years because they have been found unsafe.
Somewhere to hang out.
Babies love to be held, of course, but you will have to put her down
occasionally so you can use the bathroom or take a shower. She’ll need
a place where she can be near you while she’s awake and you can’t hold
her. A Moses basket, a bouncy seat, a swing, or even an extra car seat
can fit the bill. If your budget is tight or space is limited, get
something portable so you can move it from room to room.
Other furniture for the baby’s space.
We’ll talk more about specifics next week, but it’s a good idea to get
the baby’s area set up ahead of time if possible. Whether he has his
own room or will be using a corner of yours, having a place to put all
the stuff you get at the shower will help you feel ready for his
arrival.
Medicine-chest tools
like nail clippers, thermometer, and a bulb syringe. Little babies’
fingernails grow amazingly fast and can be sharper than you’d think.
And you’ll want to have a thermometer on hand when they’re
little—newborns aren’t good at regulating their own body temperatures,
so if there’s any question of whether Baby’s too hot or cold, you can
reassure yourself. A note on the bulb syringe: The two-piece models you
can get in the baby aisle at the store are all but useless. Get the
one-piece blue kind you’d find at the hospital from the pharmacy
section.
A good carrier.
A well-made sling or supportive, soft infant carrier is a must-have for
new moms. Not only will it allow you to keep Baby close while going
about your business during the day, but it’s usually a more convenient
way to get around with a small baby than pulling out a bulky stroller.
Meagan loved her Moby Wrap or Ergo Baby carrier for longer trips, and
opted for a Mod Mum pouch sling for just puttering around the house.
There are endless options for slings, front packs, hip carriers, and
backpack carriers, so be sure to read reviews before you buy. A good
resource to help you choose is
thebabywearer.com.
CO-SLEEPING
Throughout the ages and still today in many
cultures, the idea of a baby sleeping in a crib would seem very odd. In
the West, it’s the other way around: Babies sleeping alongside their
parents has come to be regarded as strange and even dysfunctional. But
a growing movement of parents and experts embrace the idea of
“co-sleeping,” “bed sharing,” or “the family bed.” Benefits include
easier breastfeeding, better sleep for both Mom and Baby, and more
opportunity for bonding.
Though there have been some highly publicized
cases of babies dying while sleeping with adults, it’s important to
note that babies also die in cribs and other baby beds. Any sleep space
has the potential to be unsafe, and experts believe that when done
safely, co-sleeping is no less safe than crib sleeping.
Even if you don’t plan on co-sleeping, you may
change your mind when your baby is here. You may think you will “never”
take your baby into your bed, but until you’ve spent half the night
walking the floor with a screaming baby who finally falls asleep in
your arms (but won’t stay that way in the crib), it’s hard to know
exactly what you’d do!
I believe it’s important for all adult beds to be
baby-safe zones because you never know when you may decide you need or
want to sleep next to your baby, even if it’s just for a night or two
or a nap now and then. Here are some things to consider when setting up
a baby-safe adult bed:
1. The surface should be flat and smooth. Waterbeds and very soft mattresses are not safe for babies.
2. The sheets should be snugly fitted. Yank the corners to make sure they won’t come out and cover the baby’s head.
3. The bed should be pushed up against a wall, or have a mesh guardrail on one side to keep the baby from falling out.
4. Keep pillows and blankets away from Baby’s
head. Give Mom and Dad each their own blankets. Baby can sleep in a
“sleep sack,” which is a built-in sleeper and blanket in one. (This is
also recommended for crib sleeping.)
5. Only mothers should sleep next to their
babies. Extensive research conducted by James McKenna, Ph.D., at the
MotherBaby Behavioral Sleep Laboratory at Notre Dame University has
indicated that mothers and babies share breathing and movement patterns
and move in and out of sleep cycles at the same time. That is, moms
seem to have an instinctive sense of their babies as they sleep next to
them. Other adults—even dads!—may not have the same instinctive sense
of where the baby is at all times.
6. Moms who are under the influence of alcohol or medications that make them sleepy should not sleep next to their babies.
7. If you want to have Baby at arm’s reach but
aren’t comfortable with having her in your bed (or don’t feel your bed
is safe enough) consider the Arm’s Reach Co-Sleeper. It’s a “sidecar”
baby bed that sits flush with your bed. You’ll have easy access to your
baby at night, but you’ll both be in your own space.
Even if you plan on co-sleeping full time, you’ll
want someplace where you can safely put your baby down for naps when
you aren’t holding her. This may be a crib or bassinette. Or you might
opt for a portable playpen, which is convenient for taking to Grandma’s
house on the weekends, too.
A car seat. You’ll need one of
these before they’ll let you leave the hospital with the baby, and it’s
nice to get it far in advance so you can practice putting it in and
taking it out of the car. It’s best to buy these new or borrow one from
a trusted friend or family member who can tell you about its history.
If an infant safety seat has been involved in a car crash (even a minor
fender-bender) in the past, its integrity could be compromised and it’s
not considered safe to use. If you do borrow or buy used, be sure to
check the model for recalls.
A breast pump and/or bottles and formula
. If you plan on breastfeeding, you don’t necessarily need to buy a
breast pump or bottles. Many women never use them at all. But if you’ll
be returning to work while your baby is still small, or want to have a
stash of milk on hand for emergencies or outings, you’ll want to either
buy or rent a pump. Sometimes your health insurance will pay for the
expense, particularly if your baby is small or has a hard time getting
started with breastfeeding, so you might want to put this purchase off
until later. In either case, don’t waste your money on battery-operated
pumps from the big-box store. They aren’t effective and can be
uncomfortable to use. Avent makes a good manual model for
once-in-a-while pumping, but if you plan on using the pump regularly,
you’ll need to invest in a high-end electric pump. Medela and Ameda are
brand names to keep in mind.
As for bottles,
if you’ll only be giving them occasionally, one or two is plenty. You
can always purchase more later if or when there is a need. Opt for
glass bottles or BPA-free plastic ones like those found at
www.newbornfree.com.
Regular plastic bottles have been shown to contain chemicals that can
interfere with your baby’s hormone levels and have been linked to
certain cancers. Now that your kitchen has been cleaned out, you will
no doubt have space on a shelf you can dedicate to these products. As
your needs change, the bottles will one day give way to sippy cups and
some dishes for the baby.
If you won’t be
breastfeeding, you’ll need to have infant formula on hand as well as
bottles and nipples. You’ll be giving eight or more bottles a day in
the early weeks, so purchase accordingly. I wouldn’t recommend
purchasing formula in bulk just yet. Sometimes babies have
sensitivities to certain formulas and you may need to switch brands or
types. Formula is expensive, so it’s wise to wait and see whether the
type you’ve chosen is a winner before you invest in a lot of it.
A humidifier.
Your baby probably won’t need this right away, it’s true, but for
little babies, who can’t take cold medicine, a humidifier is one of the
most highly recommended comfort measures. And if your little one is
unlucky enough to get a cold in his first month or two of life, your
life will be a whole lot easier if you already have one of these tucked
away in the closet. Eventually you’ll need it, so you may as well put
it on your list (or pick one up) now.
A
small table-top water fountain produces moisture in the air and a
soothing sound that may help Baby relax. He has, after all, spent nine
months in a water environment. At the very least it may calm you on
nights when you’re both in the rocker in quest of sleep!
Mom stuff.
Don’t forget about your own needs when you’re purchasing and
registering. In the early days of motherhood, some items can make your
recovery a lot smoother. This includes nice, absorbent breast pads if
you’ll be breastfeeding, a heating pad or rice pack (nice for soothing
post-birth cramps), and nipple cream. A nursing pillow is a nice
investment and can make breastfeeding much more comfortable. Meagan
loved her organic Nesting Pillow from
blessednest.com.
The buckwheat filler adjusts around the baby, creating a supportive
surface to lift her up and hold her in place. That way Mom doesn’t have
to hunch over or struggle to keep the baby still while she’s getting
the hang of breastfeeding.
