Bringing a newborn baby home, especially when they are the first child, can be intimidating. Such large and unknown changes can cause stress for the parents. Shopping for a newborn is very exciting, but it can also be overwhelming. Some parents spend more than they need to when buying for their children. Creating a newborn baby shopping checklist can help you avoid doing that, and can also be used as a guide when preparing for your new arrival.
Make a List
When shopping for your newborn baby, make a checklist of the main items you need to buy for your baby. If you fail to do this, you run the risk of not only forgetting things, but also buying a lot of unnecessary items. Therefore, to make sure that you don’t forget all the essentials for your child, be organized and use a checklist.
Only Buy From Reliable Stores
Once you find a store that sells the item you want at the lowest price, check the reputation and reliability of the store. This is very important because cheaper does not always mean better. There are hundreds of thousands of stores online, many of which sell products fraudulently. Beware of them and buy only from reliable and trustworthy online stores.
Aim for Simplicity
When purchasing clothes for a newborn, remember that simplicity is best. Simple clothes without exotic additions are oftentimes the best type of clothes that you can buy for your baby. Clothes with extra additions like lace, glitter or sequins or with fabric containing harsh chemicals and dyes can cause itching and rashes on your newborn’s skin. Therefore, before you press the “Buy” button, make sure that the clothing you are purchasing is appropriate for your baby’s age.
Comfortability
Comfort is what should be at the top of your priority list when you buy a baby product. Just like anyone else, newborns love to feel comfortable. And when they feel comfortable, they feel happier, which helps them sleep better. Since a newborn baby usually sleeps for more than 18 hours a day, make sure that the product you are about to buy for your loved one will be soft and smooth on his or her skin. To keep your baby happy and comfortable, consider buying items made of fabric such as cotton.
Pay Attention to the Sizes
Since children grow like weeds, you should be very careful when choosing the size of products for your child. In fact, the general rule is to choose products that are one or two sizes larger than your child’s actual size. To avoid clothing that is too small, consider checking the size charts along with the product description. Also, do not buy too much clothing in advance, because your baby will never wear half of it.
Quality
When shopping for newborn baby outfits, you need to make sure that the clothes are made of the highest quality materials and that the clothes were designed with newborns in mind. The material should be durable and show no physical signs of a shaky structure. While a particular brand or certain designs may appeal to you, you need to make sure that you are buying a high-quality, long-term product.
Collections for Appeal
If you are in the process of buying newborn baby outfits, you should consider purchasing Collections for Appeal to improve and coordinate the attractiveness of your newborn’s wardrobe. Collections for Appeal is an effective way to display the personality of the child, as well as the personalities and preferences of the parents.
Essential Things to Include in a Shopping Checklist
Clothing
You will need to buy an outfit for your baby to wear when leaving the hospital. Get a t-shirt, baby outfit, diapers and pins. When purchasing clothing for babies, remember that your baby will do not wear it for more than a few weeks. Children grow quickly in the first few months, so they will soon outgrow the clothes you buy. Get a few pieces in newborn size. You can buy more later if you need to.
The basic clothes needed for a newborn are: bodysuits, hats, socks and sleepwear items. Get long sleeves and short sleeves. Buy some receiving blankets. As you won’t travel too much with your baby for the first few months, don’t buy too many shoes, hands or outdoor hats. Instead, go for blankets.
Bathing
Get a large plastic bowl to bathe your baby in. Keep a few soft towels designed for your baby to dry them after bathing. Baby shampoo, soap and a baby washcloth are some of the other essentials. In the first two weeks, it is recommended to sponge bath your baby.
Transport
You will need a baby car seat so that you can safely and comfortably transport your child. Before you buy a baby car seat, try out several and read reviews, since not all baby car seats will fit perfectly in your car, and some are better than others. You will also need a stroller to take the baby out for a walk. A newborn baby backpack is also useful for when you want to carry your baby while keeping your hands free. You will also need to purchase a diaper bag so you can change your baby’s diapers when and where you need to.
Diaper Bag
Get plenty of diapers for your baby. Parents suggest that you will need 10 to 12 diapers per day. Depending on your needs and preferences, you can go with diapers or disposable devices. You will also need a diaper bag. Shu, co-author of The House With the Newborn, recommends that new parents keep wipes and diaper cream in their bags too. You should also keep extra clothes, a hand sanitizer, disposable bags and a baby sedative.
Feeding
After you decide whether to breastfeed or bottle feed, you should consider what items you will need to raise a healthy baby.
For breastfeeding you will need:
- 3 to 5 bras
- Nursing pads (washable or disposable)
- Breast pump
- Nipple cream
- Breast milk storage containers
- A breast pillow
Sleeping
Newborns spend about 18 out of every 24 hours sleeping. The safety of your baby during this period is of utmost importance. Providing a safe, comfortable and familiar place to sleep will help your baby develop good sleep habits, which in turn will make your sleep better. You will need a sleeping location (a crib with a mattress, a portable crib, bassinet or Moses basket), mattress pads, 3 fitted sheets, 6 – 8 receiving blankets and a small fan to monitor air circulation and create white noise.
These are some products and accessories that can make life easier with a newborn. There are several companies which produce high-quality newborn baby goods that can provide everything you need for your baby.
