Essential Baby Gear You'll Need To Buy Before Your New Baby Arrives
Published 10 November 2021 at 17:46
Tickikids Blog Dubai > After-School Activities > Essential Baby Gear You'll Need To Buy Before Your New Baby Arrives
Baby’s arrival is one of the most exciting and joyful moments in life. It’s one of those moments that you want not to meet unprepared. However, it is important to narrow the list down to the essentials, since most of the things can be categorized as “nice to haves” rather than must-haves. You can put off the nice haves for later. Listing baby gear is as thrilling as the very expecting of the baby, but it has to be made thoughtfully. Check our list of baby gear essentials and welcome your most beloved miracle with all that it needs.
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Dressing essentials
The baby quickly overgrows the clothes, so it is not advisable to accumulate the clothes, at least for the first few months. However, the number of pieces is individual and depends on many factors. With a washing machine and dryer, you’ll need less. If it’s not the case you might need more clothes, to be able to change them more often. Anyway, there are some pieces you’ll certainly need on your reach, and they include bodies, especially those with wide openings around the neck, for easier dressing, one-piece pajamas (they are very practical especially with the buttons over legs, for easier diaper changes) cotton socks, caps (depending on how often you want to put it), thin and cotton gloves, diapers and swaddling blankets.
For the first 3 months, fabric softener should not be applied when washing the baby’s clothes, so as not to cause any allergic reaction on the baby's skin. The detergent should be mild and in smaller quantities. It is recommended to wash all the fabric at 60 degrees and iron it for additional sterilization.
While purchasing the clothes for your baby, you should consider a few important things. In the first place, focus on the basics. There might be a lot of pieces that will attract your eyes, but all you need are practical and comfortable items your baby will be able to use every day. Save your fashion wishes for later times and some special occasions. Next to this comes the choice of fabric options. There are many brands that have organic material available. These are the best option because they are free from chemicals and soft for the baby’s skin. Help both yourself and the baby by buying clothes that are rather functional. You need easy access for diaper changes, especially at nighttime. To protect cute little feet, newborn booties are the ideal way. They usually don’t fall off which helps your baby not be Cinderella. And, of course, colors. Play on the safe side. Before your baby arrives, it is most wise to buy neutral-colored clothes. However, later you can play with the colors, prints, and patterns as much as you wish. In all this, your budget matters. You don’t need too much at the beginning, so you can make it easier for yourself.
Parents tend to end up having more clothes than needed, and the main problem is that the clothes get overgrown quickly and are not usable any longer. Be mindful and spend wisely.
Hygiene essentials
Caring for a baby’s hygiene is crucial, thus most of the attention should be directed to these essentials. In the first period, and later, you will mostly need disposable diapers, wet wipes (always choose those that do not contain alcohol, parabens, fragrance and are ph balanced), cream for butt region, and for diaper rash treatment (chose sensitive and adjusted to the baby skin), baby ear sticks, baby nail clippers, thermometer, and saline solution for the nose, and of course, sterile gauze and antibacterial powder for baby belly button. Special attention is given to the baby’s belly button since it is really important to take proper care of it.
As for bathing, use almond or olive oil, to avoid allergic reactions shampoo and soap can cause. You should buy a large bathtub and at least two towels, and for little tiny hair, you should have one baby hairbrush.
Compared to adult skin, a baby's skin is extremely delicate and sensitive. That is why it is extremely important to take adequate care. You should avoid using cosmetic products at the beginning, as pediatricians suggest since they can be very aggressive for the baby’s skin.
If you decide on trying products, bear in mind the characteristics both skin and the products have. The very surface of the baby’s skin lacks the protection adults have. It is pH neutral and requires delicate and hypoallergenic products.
It is not recommended to use moisturizers in the first months. Instead, use some natural oils which can moisturize the skin without causing any harm. Use wet wipes only when you cannot clean the region at the home, since using water is the best for the first months.
However, if you are a lover of fragrances, and you want your baby to smell enchanting, you should pay attention to the labels and composition of the perfumed products. You shouldn’t apply them directly to the thin and sensitive skin of the baby. But for hair and clothes, make sure that they are pH neutral and cannot trigger any allergic reaction. Always come back to natural oil, especially almond, which can be used in bathing, moisturizing, and massage. We must mention trimming a baby's nails which can be a daunting task in the beginning due to its constant movements. Use nail clippers and special scissors and try to do that while the baby is sleeping, in order to do it more calmly and correctly. All in all, be careful with the products and make choosing the right products for the baby’s hygiene a responsible and analyzed task. Pick ones with no irritating substances and adjust to fragile and sensitive skin.
Baby’s Top Gear
Once you want your arms to get some rest, you will be thankful for the baby's top gear. Going for a walk or a drive with the baby also requires equipment. It includes a baby carrier, stroller, infant car seat, and baby swing. Nowadays, it is possible to choose strollers, like the ones at https://www.littlebabygear.com/, that contain convertible car seats with them. This is both efficient and economical. Strollers are used in the long run, so pick wisely and invest in their quality. They ought to have enough space, to be practical and easy to handle, and of course, comfortable for a baby's outside adventures.
A car seat is mandatory for any transport. Baby carriers are also must-haves, when you cannot use strollers but need your baby close to you. It keeps them warm and comfortable. It is a great alternative for holding the baby but for your hands - free time as well. They can also serve as a great nap place. When it comes to swing, it helps you soothe your baby, and facilitates her sleep, and it also has calming and entertaining elements as well. No doubt that both you and your baby will get some nice rest thanks to it.
Feeding essentials
How many feeding items you will need, depends on how you will feed your baby. If you breastfeed, you’ll probably need a breast pump and a lot of burp cloth. If you're using formula feeding, you will need a bottle and a bottle brush, bottle nipples of various sizes, and a nipple cream for you as well. Regarding feeding, if you choose formula feeding you must get informed on what is the best one for your baby. All in all, do have enough burp clothes (you will soon see why), as well as more than one bottle, to have them available when needed.
Feeding your baby is one of the most important tasks in a baby's first days of life. It is not only a matter of storing the food but also of the hygiene of the baby's oral health and the feeding items. Proper cleaning and taking care of the feeding and feeding items are essential. The baby bottle is the most basic one which is used to store milk and water. The most important part of it, being the teat, must be taken seriously since it has some crucial roles. It helps suction, reduces risks of proliferation of bacteria, and can help in reducing gases. That is why it should be washed regularly and dried correctly as well. All the baby’s utensils, not only the bottle, should be always clear. You must develop good hygiene routines- take care of your handwashing at the same time, since you touch the baby’s items most often. As for breast pumps, the best time to use them is one hour after the baby eats, or while the child is feeding on the other breast. This instrument is essential for feeding. Having burp clothes and bubs is something you’ll be grateful for. They prevent remains of food, spills, or vomiting from making the baby’s clothes dirty. Again, choose those made of hypoallergenic fabrics. Wash them by using mild detergents and separate them from other baby clothes.
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Room essentials
Before you dive into decorating, keep in mind essential furniture and some items for the baby. The first place occupies a baby cot and mattress, along with the sheets of fine and breathable materials. You also need waterproof covering for the bedding, pillows, cotton blanket, and waterproof changing mats. Of course, there are a lot of additional and optional things, but priorities matter the most. You can add a baby monitor and a night lamp to these since you’re aiming for an ideal atmosphere and sweet dreams for your baby.
In a nutshell, the basic furniture you will need is a cot with all the things coming along with it. You can also have drawers for organizing towels, diapers, and cosmetics. While arranging the basic furniture, keep in mind to have clothes, diapers, towels, handkerchiefs, and cosmetics on your reach. Also, leave enough space for some additional furniture and details you can add later. Make sure you prepare the basics for the beginning and then you can let your imagination create magic out of your baby’s room. It is hard to resist all that adorable furniture but there will come time for them. For a fresh start, the basics will be more than enough.
Very often neglected aspect included in furnishing the baby’s room is considering the clean air for the babies. Think of having air purifiers. Also, make sure the baby’s room gets enough ventilation. Also, you can have an air conditioner as well. These are important because they can remove air pollutants and bacteria, providing a healthy environment for the baby. Air conditioners reach the set temperature faster and have a sensor inside the remote control that measures the temperature and activates the automatic program setting. Some of them also have an Anti-Fungus function, which prevents the appearance of fungi and the spread of harmful bacteria, and maintains a healthy and pleasant environment.
Relax. Focus on the essentials and avoid overbuying things you probably won’t need. You will welcome your little one prepared and you’ll be ready to live your new fairy tale. Don’t get stressed and overwhelmed, since this is one of the most beautiful arrivals and most beautiful creatures you expect. Make this treasure a real pleasure and turn the buying of baby’s gear into an unforgettable experience.