What You’ll Need When Bringing Your New Baby Home

Having a new baby is both an exciting and daunting time for parents. It’s understandable that you’ll want to have everything perfect and organized for the arrival of your little one, but with the wealth of advertising and parenting advice out there, it’s easy to become overwhelmed and not know where to start. In the list below, I’ve compiled some of the most important things you’ll need for bringing your baby home to make baby prepping easier so you can enjoy your newest family member.

• Something to wear: babies grow very quickly, so you don’t have to go crazy here. It’s important that your baby has comfortable clothing that’s also appropriate for the weather, typically a few onesies, some vests, and a couple of dressy outfits will suffice.

• Food and feeding equipment: your baby will be hungry a lot, so it’s a good idea to have the ability to feed them quickly and efficiently when needed. If you’re going to breastfeed, a good quality breast pump and sealable containers to hold expressed milk when out and about will make your life much easier. A bottle warmer to make sure the milk is at the perfect temperature is also a good idea, and if you’re bottle feeding, then plenty of baby formula will always come in useful during those first few weeks.

• A baby carrier: very young babies like to be close to their parents, so if you have things to do during the day, then a good baby carrier or sling to hold your baby close and keep your hands free is a great solution. These can be found in many different styles and price points, so you’ll be able to find something that suits your needs.

• A car seat: if you drive, then a car seat is an absolute must have before you even leave the hospital with your baby. Obviously car seat safety is of the highest importance when choosing the model you buy for your baby, but you should also consider other aspects, such as whether you want to move the car seat around with you, such as to use on a stroller, or if you want a convertible one that grows with your baby. If you’re unsure what to look for, then a child car seats guide can prove very helpful in keeping you up to date.

• A bed: babies definitely need a lot of sleep, so having a safe, comfortable place for this is a must. Most new parents want to keep their new baby as close to them as possible, so having a smaller crib or bassinet that can be moved around and kept next to your bed is a great solution for those early days, and then a bigger cot for when they’re ready to sleep on their own.

All of the above can be found easily online and offline at most retailers, and it’s important to remember that higher price tags don’t automatically mean higher quality. You should take into consideration your own lifestyle, your budget, and whether or not you plan to have more children when buying items for your new baby. Many of these can be re used for a good few years, so you don’t have to buy every single thing you see listed as the latest trend for new parents in magazines.