Bringing a baby into the world (and your home) can be an overwhelming experience. The changes a newborn creates in your life are stressful, exciting, and rewarding all at the same time. At Greenville OB/GYN, we’re dedicated to helping women enjoy happy and healthy transitions to motherhood.
One way to ease the transition for new parents is to be as prepared as possible. This means having all the essential items before the baby arrives. You’ll need a properly-packed bag for the trip to the hospital and a well-appointed diaper bag for when you’re settled in at home. Of course, you also need to make sure your home and car are baby-ready.
To make things a bit easier for you, we’ve put together a list of newborn must-haves:
The Hospital Bag
As you get closer to your due date, it’s a good idea to pack a bag for your trip to the hospital. Getting a head start on this is important. You don’t want to be scrambling to find these items at the last minute. An obvious place to start your hospital bag would be clothes for you and your baby to wear home. From there, you’ll want to consider packing the following items:
- Toiletries (for you and for support person)
- Massage aids for labor
- Pajamas, robe, and slippers
- Snacks for during labor or after delivery
- Baby book for recording thoughts, memories, and even footprints
Packing the perfect hospital bag will be a bit different for everyone. The idea is to have everything you need to make the delivery as comfortable as possible.
The Diaper Bag
There’s no getting around the fact that babies require a lot of gear. You’ll want a good-sized diaper bag with plenty of pockets to make sure you have everything you need close at hand. As the name would suggest, diapers are the stars of the show here. It’s a good rule of thumb to have two for every hour you plan to be out and about with your new baby. A good diaper bag will also allow for quick access to:
- Disposable wipes
- Diaper rash cream/ointment
- A portable changing pad
- Burp cloths and washcloths
- Hand sanitizer
- Change of clothes for baby
- Hat and/or sunscreen
- An extra blanket
There’s also food for the baby to consider. You can see why a large diaper bag with lots of compartments will quickly become one of your best friends.
Other Essentials
A car seat and stroller will also be on the long list of essentials for your newborn. If you plan to breastfeed, you’ll need a pump, nursing shirts, nursing bras, and other accessories. You’ll also need hooded towels, washcloths, gentle baby wash, and other key items for bath time. An infant thermometer is also a must-have, as well as a nasal aspirator.
The list of things you need for a newborn can be intimidating. You can always reach out to the caring professionals at Greenville OB/GYN if you have questions about how you can best prepare to bring your baby home. Be sure to keep an eye on our blog for further advice on effective newborn prepping.