to fit a tiny baby hand in a sleeve of that cutest polka-dotted shirt which you so lovingly chose to buy.
A list of first clothes for a baby who cannot crawl yet
Summer:
– cotton bodysuits with short sleeves – 3—4 pcs.;
– cotton footed pants – 3—4 pcs. (but you could go directly to sleepsuits if you want);
– cotton sleepsuits (same as bodysuits but with long sleeves and closed feet) – 3—4 pcs.;
– cotton caps – 2 pcs.;
– cotton blanket (throw) for walks;
– newborn mittens
There is no need to buy any warm sweaters or other types of warm clothes for walks in the summer. If necessary, it is easier to cover a baby with a cotton blanket or a swaddling blanket.
Summer lasts three months (sometimes one and a half in Siberia), and by autumn you would already need to buy clothes of a bigger size. Well, if you really want to buy that cute little sweater… Who would stop you? But I suggest buying it in a bigger size (3—6 months).
Autumn/spring:
All the same things as for the summer, plus:
– knitted cap;
– warm hat;
– warm knit sleepsuit or a light fleece one without lining;
– fleece sleepsuit with a lining;
– light bunting suit (60—80 gram fill insulation);
– warm fleece throw blanket.
You can buy all winter clothes in autumn as well. However, if your baby is born at the end of April, for example, there is no need to spend money for a winter bunting suit which will already become small for him/her in the upcoming autumn. It is better to take a non-expensive warm envelope blanket and a fleece throw.
Winter:
All the same things as for the autumn/spring, plus:
– warm woolen socks;
– winter bunting suit (250—300 gram fill insulation) instead of a light version mentioned in the previous list (you can buy that closer to spring)
I would recommend buying a bunting suit made in your home country or the one with similar climate. For example, our Siberian son Matvey felt very warm in his Finnish bunting suit by Kerry (Finnish brand). It easily resists cold up to —25 °С, and is very convenient to put on and zip up.
It is better to buy a bunting suit a little bit bigger than your baby’s size so that you will not end up buying a second one in the same season (because children grow fast, and in the first few months – very fast).
This is just a suggested list of clothes. Quite possibly, moms with experience will point out some important things, in their opinion, that are absent from this list. Let’s put it this way, I wrote about the basic sets which you will definitely need, and the rest you can decide for yourself and buy what you consider to be important.
Let’s continue.
22. Sterilizer: for bottles, pacifiers, baby rattles and breast pump. It is not an essential thing but quite a useful device to have in your household. Just pour some water, push the button – and all your things are clean in 6 minutes.
23. Breast pump. Manual one is the most popular. Even if you manage to avoid breast engorgement, it is a useful device, in case you need to express some milk to feed the baby when you are away.
24. Bottles (for water, expressed breast milk or an infant formula) must fit to your chosen breast pump. It is better to choose bottle teats with the smallest flow.
25. Pacifier. Every mother decides for herself whether she gets her baby used to pacifiers or not. In the beginning, having my head full of “natural parenting” during the pregnancy, I decided that I will never give Matvey any pacifiers. Then I realized that, as in the case with any extreme theories, it is better not to be so opinionated. Most importantly is that the baby, as well as his parents, feel comfortable about it. Matvey did not suck on his pacifier 24/7, but sometimes I would give it to help him go to sleep. If I needed to calm my baby down, I would always hold him or give the breast. The pacifier was not a replacement for his mother, and he did not develop any addiction to it. People who think that pacifiers are universally evil tend to dramatize too much. In any case, it is up to you to decide. If you end up buying a pacifier, buy two (as a rule, one always gets lost when you need it or falls on the floor). A special clip with a chain will prevent a pacifier from falling.
26. Baby bouncer. This is not essential but a very useful thing. Baby put in a bouncer can always stay next to mommy and watch her when she is busy.
27. Baby bathtub. Newborn child can be bathed in a normal big bathtub but a special baby bathtub will save you water and time for pre-washing. When a baby learns to sit, such a bathtub is also convenient. We used a special bath support in the beginning, but only for the first week. You could easily do without it. A bath stand, on the contrary, is very useful as it will save mommy’s back.
28. Baby care products:
– baby soap;
– soft hair brush;
– baby scissors or nail clippers;
– nasal aspirator for that tiny nose;
– cotton pads;
– moisturizing cream;
– nappy cream (if your baby develops a rash, but you do not need to buy it beforehand);
– baby laundry detergent (it is better to use it for all the things which come in contact with your baby’s skin: baby clothes, bed sheets);
– baby shampoo.
29. Baby medicine cabinet. A minimum of things which you will need:
– bath herbs (you can buy special kits for babies or separate packs of chamomile and beggarticks);
– bepanthen;
– hydrogen peroxide;
– paracetamol suppositories (for infants);
– baby oil;
– saline solution for nose (nasal drops for babies, not spray);
– thermometer (electronic one is better, ideally the one which can immediately tell the temperature).
As for the special medicines which must be present in your home, please consult your pediatrician.
30. Baby rattles and other toys. In beginning one or two rattles is enough. They help to distract your baby from crying, but mainly are a source of entertainment for mommy and daddy, not the baby.
31. Baby crib mobile. Another non-essential but useful thing. Babies are fascinated by the way the toys are moving. However, they will not be interested in a mobile right away. It will happen when your baby learns to focus on something and starts to understand that it is not that boring to lay in bed.
ІІ. Things to buy for a new mother
While making a list of baby essentials, do not forget to make a list for yourself as well.
1. Comfortable maternity bras – 2—3 pcs. They support swollen breasts and expose the right amount of breast for breastfeeding when you need it, in one swoop. You will also need nursing pads. In the very beginning when your lactation is still not settled and out of control, milk comes in big quantities and wets your lingerie.
2. After birth belly wrap. I cannot estimate the efficiency of this thing as my after birth period happened