Photo by CC user oakleyoriginals on Flickr
As a first time parent, you may not have an idea on how to get started taking care of your child. To ensure that you leave nothing to chance, you need to create and maintain a working checklist. This will enable you to tick of essential items once you have purchased them. In addition, you will also be able to tick off tasks that you have accomplished. Here is a detailed newborn checklist that will ensure you have everything that you need.
Clothing
When you bring your baby home, here are the items that you will need to get started: –
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Sleepers – These are clothing items that will keep your baby covered from their necks all the way to their feet. You will need at least six to begin. They can easily be worn at any time of day or night.
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Sweaters – When you live in a cold area, you must have sweaters to help keep your baby warm. When they are small, it is challenging for them to maintain their own body temperature with ease.
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Socks – For keeping feet warm in all weather. Cold feet can easily cause illness.
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Vests – Make sure that your child has an assortment of vests to wear underneath all their other clothing. This protects the skin and helps keep warm as well.
* Remember, all clothing should be made from 100% cotton. These are unlikely to cause a reaction on your baby’s skin.
Diapers
Have some disposable diapers for when you leave the house with your baby. These are convenient and will make changing easier. While you are at home, you should use cloth diapers, with no less than 30 diapers available.
To clean up baby when they have made a mess, have some disposable wipes available. These should not be fragranced to avoid unnecessary chemicals coming into contact with our baby’s delicate skin.
* Keep a diaper pail handy to put all your dirty diapers together. This will make them easier to gather for a wash when necessary.
Bath Time
Baby Bath Tub
Your baby will be too small to fit into the bathtub when they are born, so you need to purchase a plastic bath tub for washing them.
No Tears Shampoo
Get yourself some shampoo that doubles up as a body wash. Ensure that you get a no tears formula, so that you do not have a problem in case any of the soap gets into your baby’s eyes.
Hooded Towel
When you finish giving your baby a bath, a hooded towel is the best item you have to dry them up and keep them warm. Ensure that it is relatively large so that you can easily wrap it all around the baby.
Medical Equipment
In the event that your baby is unwell, there are some items that you should have on hand for first aid, or diagnosis. These include: –
Thermometer
This tool will help you determine quickly whether your baby is unwell or not. A digital thermometer is best so that you can get the most accurate reading possible.
Nasal Aspirator
This is the best tool to have when your newborn has a stuffy nose. Babies generally do not know how to breathe through their mouths, so with this tool, you will easily be able to suck out mucus from a blocked or stuff nose. This helps you to easily clear the airway.
Sleep Time
Baby Crib
A baby crib is where your child will spend the bulk of their time, so make sure that you get a good one. It should come with a mattress and have narrow bars. With wide bars, your baby may get their head trapped.
Baby Blankets
These should be available in various thicknesses, so that you are able to safely cover up your baby both in cold and hot weather. Also ensure that you have some fitted mattress sheets so that you can make the bed easily. These will also stay on when our baby begins to squirm.
Baby Proofing
To save yourself the stress that comes with accidents in the home, ensure that you baby proof as much as possible. Accidents can happen in any room so be as prepared as you can be. Get the following: –
Catches
These can be put on your windows and cupboards to stop little hands from prying them open.
Safety Gates
If you have a home with stairs, these will protect your child from falling and getting injured. Ensure that you have some at the top and the bottom of the stairs.
There is so much that you need to put in place to keep your child safe and to cater to their needs with ease. This list contains basic items that can help you get started. As a parent, you can never be too prepared for your child.