Congratulations on your impending new arrival! A prevalent thing for people to do before their new little one arrives – whether first or subsequent – is to have a baby shower. A ubiquitous part of these baby showers is the creation of a baby registry, both to help you keep track of what you need and to inspire others who might wish to get you something to help you. But what exactly is that? Let’s have a look at some of those new baby essentials to get you started!
The Nursery
Whether you plan to have bubs in your room with you for the first few months or not, there’ll come a time you need to set up their own room – and you’ll need a few things to have in your room with you anyway. Sleeping space is extremely important for wee ones, as sleeping is something they do a lot, and it needs to be comfortable and safe. While you probably won’t expect someone to run out and get you the latest, most expensive cot or bassinet, the process of finding one to add to your registry can make it easier to sort out which one you want. There’s more than just the cot and bassinet to think of, too – you’ll need a mattress suitable for your child and bedding to go with it. Don’t forget, though, that young babies don’t need pillows, so that’s one thing you can leave until a little later!
You may want a change table or a good-sized change mat if you prefer to use the floor. Depending on your preferences and circumstances, other options can include baby monitors and a feeding chair. Many breastfeeding mums find rocking chairs wonderful to help settle their babies – and themselves! – during feeding time.
Alternatively, when it comes to the nursery, you may prefer to have help rather than things – a baby registry can also include offers of help in decorating or putting together furniture! Don’t feel restricted to having your registry only include store-bought items. Help can be just as needed, if not more!
Clothing
You’ll need a good stock of onesies, hats, and socks. Try to space out the sizings – babies grow surprisingly fast, and what fits them when they’re first born may well end up too small within weeks. Other than that, this tends to be almost entirely personal preference. Make sure when baby arrives, you’re not dressing them in clothing that’s too loose or too tight. One common suggestion is to put socks on inside out so stray threads don’t end up wrapped around their toes. Mittens are another very popular item, and not only to keep their fingers warm. Baby nails, as soft as they are, are also very sharp and grow quickly, often leading to scratches on their faces. A nail trimmer is a great idea, but a few pairs of good, light mittens can be a real help, especially at night.
Feeding
Whether you’re breastfeeding or not, there are a few feeding supplies that will often be extremely useful. Burp cloths are among these – burping baby after a feed commonly results in “spitting up” or “spilling”. This is when a little of the milk they’ve had comes up with the burp, generally spilling over your shoulder, hand, or the floor, depending on the burping position you’re using. A burp cloth can be quickly and easily put in place to catch these spills, making it much easier to clean up afterwards. You’d be amazed at the way milk can stain clothing!
Grabbing a breast pump can be an option for some. There are many reasons someone may choose to express milk, not least of which is letting other family members have the experience of feeding baby – and it’s an amazing bonding experience, as well as letting mum have some time off. Haakaa has three generations of breast pump available. The Gen 1 has a 100ml capacity. The Gen 2 comes in 100ml and 150ml and also includes a handy suction base to keep the pump safe from accidental knocks, keeping your hard-worked-for milk right where you left it. Finally, the Gen 3 is convertible, letting you use it as a pump, bottle, storage container, feeding spoon, or sippy cup, letting you use it from birth to toddlerhood.
Nappies
Cloth or disposable, you’ll need a huge stash to get started. Newborns need a nappy change every 2-3 hours, which means 8-12 times in any 24-hour period. That means you’ll have to have a lot of nappies to hand, regardless of the type you go for. If you’re using cloth, you’ll need to factor in soaking, washing and drying times to make sure you’ve always got some ready to go. Of course, it’s not just about the nappies themselves; wipes (again, either disposable or reusable), barrier cream, and a bag to put it all in when you have to duck out will all be required. Again, this will all come down to what you need and prefer. While you’ll need to pick something to start with, you can experiment with different choices until you find what works for you.
Bathtime
Baths for newborns are less about getting clean and more about relaxing and getting used to the whole process. They’re also great for establishing a bedtime routine. After a while, they associate the bath with the time they need to sleep, which can greatly help. So, what do you need? The baby bath itself is a great start. Even if you have a bathtub at home, they’re often too big for a tiny baby, so a dedicated baby bath is a fantastic idea. There are various styles, so hunt around to see what you like. You’ll need a baby towel, as well. These are often hooded, which lets you dry bubs off quickly everywhere, keeping them warm. In those first days and weeks, soaps and lotions aren’t always necessary – unless they have skin issues that a medical professional has recommended you treat with specific products. After those early days, however, things like an Oatmeal Baby Bath Milk can be an excellent addition to the bath water. It helps lock in moisture, preventing dry skin, and has soothing lavender to help settle them for bed. Once dried off from their oatmeal bath, the addition of a baby-friendly lotion balm can help complete their bathtime routine.
Babyproofing
While this isn’t as urgent, as this is more for when baby becomes mobile, it’s still good to have things ready to go before you need them since babies get good at wriggling around far faster than you expect. Baby gates for the stairs (top and bottom), cover for your electrical plugs, and locks for any baby-height cupboards that you don’t want them having access to are just some starters. If you have a lot of cables in your house, cable tidies can be a good idea for an inexpensive baby registry gift – and it’s nice to have one regardless of having babies around, just to decrease the clutter!
These are, of course, just a start. There are things you’ll find beneficial here and others that may not be necessary for you, for whatever reason. It comes down to what you like, need, and your general lifestyle. By including a range of items at a range of prices, you also make sure you’re accommodating your friends’ and family members’ budgets rather than only selecting the most expensive options. Plus, making a baby registry is fun, even if you don’t end up sharing it with anyone! It helps you organise things logically to make sense of what might otherwise be a pretty chaotic time.