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Brief Guide to What to Buy for a New Baby |
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Nothing brings forth unsolicited, but well meaning, advice quite like the imminent arrival of a new baby. You may have reached this page because you are overwhelmed by helpful hints, tips, must-dos and don’t forgets. Or you may be bored, waiting for the baby to make a debut and whilst idly surfing found this page, wondering if it includes anything you’ve forgotten. Maybe you are buying a present for a friend, or maybe you really haven’t a clue and are hoping this brief guide will give you all the answers.
This guide can only offer suggestions for the things mothers have found useful in the past; hopefully it proves useful and takes away some of the anxiety you may be feeling. It is so very exciting shopping for a new baby – although that excitement can quickly wane if it involves trudging around shops whilst heavily pregnant on swollen feet, feet that seem to have outgrown all but the most boat-like of your shoes. If that sounds familiar, try www.babyshop.co.uk and www.bambini.co.uk for further ideas. The following is a brief but by no means comprehensive list of what to buy for a new baby, whether it is for your baby or as a present for another baby. |
| Muslins |
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You know, those white oversized hankies that new mothers drape over their shoulders and some even name-tag. The reason they are so popular is because they protect your clothes from those charming posits of sick that at first seem sweet, then quite smelly and finally damned irritating when you really have tried to step out into the world in clothes that don’t resemble something you may have worn in the 80’s, when sloppy leggings were almost OK. I would suggest a bumper pack of 12 to start with and head for John Lewis rather than Mothercare because the muslin is finer and softer when washed, but the price is the same.
Muslins can also double as a ‘snuggly’ or comforter or whatever daft name you use, despite the fact you swore you wouldn’t resort to baby speak. Once your baby stops being sick over them they can become quite attached to them after having them so close to their face in the early days, so that the feel and smell becomes familiar and comforting - also infinitely more appealing than a dummy. |
| Clothes |
These are obviously the most fun thing to shop for, but knowing when to stop is the tricky part. If you don’t get that right, you will be left in a few months with shelves full of beautiful, tiny garments that you kept saving for ‘best’ but by the time the occasion comes, ‘best’ is too small.
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| Nappies |
| Unavoidable and I am sure by this stage you have made up your mind whether to make overly generous contributions to landfill sites, run your washing machine into the ground or employ the services of a nappy laundering company. Whatever you have decided, be sure to have plenty of nappies on hand but again, bear in mind your baby will quickly grow and you really don’t need, in the early days, to stockpile nappies of the same tiny size. 2 to 3 packs of newborn size disposable nappies or 15-20 “real” nappies or recyclable nappies should suffice. |
| Baby Wipes |
| A lot of mothers, especially when they see the price of these things, begin by using cotton wool and warm water, finishing off with a dab of Vaseline. This method does the job admirably. However, when you begin to venture into the world beyond your bedroom, baby-wipes come into their own. Usually, once you have begun to use them, it’s very hard to go back to cotton wool and water. Baby-wipes become an indispensable part of a mother’s (and father’s) kit and it doesn’t just stop at your baby’s bottom – you will find yourself with a packet in the car (great for cleaning emergency spills on seats), dabbing wine off your best jumper and even once round the loo-seat for a quick refresher! What can I say, look out for buy one get one free offers and always have a pack to hand. |
| Prams, Pushchairs and Car-seats |
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Once upon a time new and expectant parents shopped for these items individually. Today, more and more people are opting for fully integrating, interchangeable combinations of all of the above – see www.infant.co.uk for more ideas.
Some sort of carrying device is essential, a sling, such as a ‘Baby Bjorn’ is very good and allows you and your baby to stay very close in the early days – before the baby becomes too heavy. |
| Moses Basket |
| Not a must have, but a lovely to have. They are easy to move around the house to keep your new baby near to you at all times, or quietly further away from you, and give a secure, safe and cosy place for a new baby to be cocooned in. They come with pretty but washable liners and, usually a foam pad to sleep on. If you are given, or lent, a Moses basket that has been used before, it is easy to update it with a new pad and stretchy cotton liners. |
| Blankets |
| The cotton aerated ones are great as they provide a constant temperature and avoid over-heating. 4 or 5 of these would be a good starting point. It is possible to buy some beautiful blankets – and these make a lovely gift – to use as a top blanket. |
| Sheets |
| 4 or 5 of the small soft sheets to fit in the crib will be sufficient to start with. Yet again, as lovely as the baby looks in the Moses basket or crib, the baby will quickly grow and need bigger bedding. |
| Toys |
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A new baby does not need any. But of course you will buy your baby something bright and stimulating so that he or she does not miss any opportunity for advancement, or just because you want to as they all look so lovely in your baby’s room.
You don’t need to have everything absolutely ready before the baby arrives – babies have a habit of arriving when you are not prepared anyway. Shops don’t close after the baby arrives, anything you don’t have can be bought after the event and new babies are very portable. Try www.babyshop.co.uk for more ideas. All your new baby needs is you, to look at, hear, smell and feel secure, safe and cherished when you hold him or her. The things your baby needs most can’t be found on shopping lists. |
| Comments, copyright and linking |
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