Nothing but the Best for my Baby

As a mother of five, I’ve had opportunity to own and use just about every product for baby that there is. When I was expecting baby #1, I received a list like this one that I copied directly from www.medicinenet.com. There are several others available that are similar if not identical, but this one is from a doctor, so it’s the one I’m addressing. The italic notes are my comments on what real life showed us about what a baby really needs, and which products our children really loved, and we found to be the best.
Here’s the article:
Welcoming a baby into this world requires more than making sure he or she is healthy in your tummy. At some point, your little love will make his or her way out of your belly and you need to be prepared. This list should help you get all you need to take care of your baby during the early months. As your baby gets older, you will find other items that will make your life easier (like a jumpy seat or an exer-saucer!).
The Nursery
Cradle, bassinet or crib: If you choose to have your baby sleep in your room at night, a cradle or bassinet is a nice option for the first few months. When the baby gets bigger, you will need to get a crib. When choosing a crib, make sure it meets the latest safety standards and that there are 2 3/8 inches between the slats.
Crib mattress: Unfortunately, most cribs do not come with mattresses so you will need to purchase one. Pick out a mattress that has good back support, is not too soft, and meets all the fire-retardant regulations.
Yes, we’ve always had one, although all of our children preferred to sleep with us (the girls still sleep together because they don't like to sleep alone). The two oldest girls had a standard wood frame crib bought from our local retail department store; the second one was not yet a year old when she destroyed it. She was a quiet one (never stops talking now, go figure)and she never cried, so we didn’t always know when she woke up. She was more of a doer than a talker (still is and since she never stops talking… you can imagine all the doing she’s been doing). Her solution to her desire to get out of the crib was to stand up, grab hold of the rails and shake it like crazy until someone showed up and made her stop. She didn’t cry or scream, but actually seemed to enjoy this activity, grinning the entire time. One day, the slat cracked, right in half, and that was the end of that crib.
The next two slept in a Port A Crib that we had (I saw little point in buying another crib, since the next two were boys and I figured they would have no trouble tearing down that little stick cage in a pretty big hurry). The Port A Crib type bed worked out fine, we could take it on trips and the babies never had to sleep in a strange bed, however, it did not hold up well to general use. It was difficult to clean (standard crib mattresses have a plastic coating that can be wiped off), and after two children using it full time, it did not smell very good.
For baby #5, we were given a beautiful metal framed crib, with elaborate details, and it has been a gorgeous addition to our bedroom furniture.
Every child’s favorite place to sleep? Snuggled against mama’s chest.
Musical mobile for crib: This isn't essential, but a nice addition to the crib. Find one with the figurines facing down so that baby can see them better.
Who is this for? Mom or baby? If it’s for baby, why is baby laying in his crib needing something to look at? I bet he’d love to be looking at mama’s face.
Dresser: You will need a few drawers to store baby's clothes and toys.
This is a legitimate need. We bought a used, good quality piece that is simple and classic in design and will last his lifetime. My husband still uses the dresser he had as a child and it shows no signs of failing.
Changing area: This can be on top of a dresser or a separate changing table. It is a good idea to purchase a pad to lay baby on top of when changing. Never take your hand or eyes off baby when changing him or her, especially if your changing area is off the ground; baby's can roll off the table at the blink of an eye.
Had one, never used it. I tend to change baby wherever I am at the moment, usually on the floor; after a little practice, you get where you can do this quickly and don’t have to worry about making a mess on the floor. All body fluids wipe up easily from wood or vinyl floors, on carpet you could lay a towel under his bottom if you wanted. The most unusual place I ever changed a diaper? We were standing in line for the Jungle Cruise at Walt Disney World, when we realized that it was going to be quite a wait, and Jacob desperately needed a new diaper. Don held him up by the arms against his chest and I stripped down the pants, replaced the diaper, redressed him and we kept moving along with the line the whole time.
Rocking chair or glider. Although not essential, it's nice to have when feeding baby. Pick one out that has padded arms for extra support and comfort. A footrest adds additional comfort, especially if breastfeeding.
Have one, love it, babies or not, busy ladies need a comfortable place to sit in those spare moments that we have opportunity to.
Nightlight. Not essential, but it helps you see during those middle of the night diaper changes and feedings.
Okay, sure, not a bad idea. Mostly so I don’t step on a Lego or Lincoln Log; Hot Wheels cars are especially painful.
Tape or CD player: Lullaby music is a nice way to lull baby into a peaceful sleep or soothe baby when he or she is upset.
We all love music; Don and Caitlin both have excellent singing voices, Summer plays a little piano, and we have a large CD collection. I am no singing talent, and don’t play a musical instrument, but the sound my children love the most? The best lullaby ever? The sound of mama’s voice.
Crib Linens
1 set of crib bumpers
1 quilted mattress pad
2 fitted crib sheets (smaller sizes are sold for cradles, bassinets or port-a-cribs)
2 waterproof mattress pads or waterproof sheets
2 light blankets
1 sleep positioner. This is not essential but it does helps keep baby sleeping on his or her back or side. It is sold in most baby stores.
When making the crib, you have a few options. You may choose to use a waterproof mattress pad on the bottom and put the fitted crib sheet on top of that or you may want to look in to purchasing a waterproof pad/sheet (called sheet-savers) that goes on top of the fitted crib sheet. These can be found in most baby stores and make cleaning up accidents easier since all you have to do is change the top sheet of the crib.
Every crib mattress I’ve ever seen is plastic coated; this is easy to dry and wipe down as necessary. We use a fitted sheet (If he makes a mess on it, we change it, it’s small and thin and doesn’t add a lot to the laundry, otherwise I change his when I wash all the household bedding.)
If you go this route, be sure to get one that snaps on to the crib railings (you do not want the ones that you just place on top of the fitted sheet - these can increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome).
If you choose to use the waterproof sheet savers you really only need 1 fitted crib sheet and 2 waterproof sheets. The fitted crib sheet should require few changes since the waterproof sheet saver on top will keep it dry. You do, however, want to get two waterproof sheet savers since you will need to change those regularly.
Note: babies don't need pillows or fluffy comforters in their crib! They also should not sleep with stuffed animals or toys. They could cause your baby to suffocate since he or she is not strong enough to roll over or push them away.
I’m not arguing this point, we’re not really stuffed toy collectors anyway. I’m just wondering how the toy gets over baby’s face? If he is not strong enough to roll over, he’s not going to the toy. (I assume the toy isn’t moving to him on its own – if it is, you have a whole other problem- they’ve written horror films about stuff like that). It just seems that by the time baby is old enough to get to the toy and get it by his face, he would also be old enough to push it away if it was keeping him from breathing. God didn’t make babies completely helpless (they have a few instincts that help them survive – like wanting to breathe).
Diaper Time: What You Need for the Changing Table
Diapers (plan on using 70-90 per week for the first six weeks, then 50 per week)
We’ve used both disposable and cloth; I prefer cloth.
Disposable diaper wipes (alcohol-free)
You can make your own from Bounty paper towels, or you can just as easily use a warm wet wash cloth. This works well with cloth diapers as you just throw the whole bit into the diaper pail to be washed together. Using the same soap for wiping as you do for bathing lessens the chance of irritation.
Diaper rash ointment or cream (such as Desitin or A&D)
Babies who are breast fed and cloth diapered hardly ever get diaper rash.
Rubbing alcohol to wipe around base of umbilical cord
Cotton swabs to apply rubbing alcohol
Petroleum jelly to apply on circumcision (so the baby's penis doesn't stick to the diaper)
These are items you likely have in your home already, they have various other uses.
Pad for baby to lie on during changing
I wouldn’t spend money on this, a towel works fine. They are often included in a diaper bag.
Diaper pail
Breastfed babies aren’t nearly as stinky. We wash diapers (cloth) about twice a week and just keep them in an open top bucket. For disposables; a plastic grocery bag can be wrapped around an especially nasty one and tied up before putting it into your regular trash.
Layette: Baby's First Clothes
6 undershirts that snap on the bottom or tie on the side, commonly called "onesies" (3 in three-month size and 3 in six-month size)
3-4 infant gowns with elastic bottoms or draw strings. These make for easy diaper changes. All you have to do is pull the gown up over the belly to change the diaper and then pull it back down when finished. There is no stumbling around trying to snap the gown back together, which is especially nice when it's 3 am and all you want to do is get baby back to sleep so that you can get back to sleep.
I have to agree, I loved these.
6 sleepers/stretch suits (3 newborn to three-month size and 3 in six-month size). These are nice to put baby in during the day, but are not essential items. When buying these, make sure you get the kind that zip up the front. These are easier to get baby in and out.
3-4 pairs of booties or socks with stretch elastic band at cuff
3-4 receiving blankets
1 blanket to cover swaddled baby in crib
1 sweater and hat
This is only if you have a late fall or winter baby. Summer babies can get too hot if all wrapped up all the time. None of my children ever kept a pair of socks or shoes on until they were walking on their own all the time.
Bathing Baby: What You Need
Baby bathtub (sloping with foam pad or flat with molded sponge insert)
Had one, used it once, it seemed silly and awkward. I like to take baby into the tub with me when they are very little and then into the shower when they are a little older. In the tub, I sit up and lay him across my chest or on my lap with my knees lifted. By age one or so, I sit nearby and read while they play in the tub (It’s like their own personal giant swimming pool).
4 terry cloth bath towels (hooded towels are OK, but not necessary)
4-6 washcloths
Just used what I already had.
Tearless shampoo
Baby soap. Many brands make baby shampoo and soap all in one.
I buy one or the other, never both. Babies don’t really get all that dirty until they are big enough to play in the dirt, and even that is mostly rinsed off with water.
Brush and comb
This is something most people need, (except for guys like my husband who just shave it off and never have to worry about a comb or brush) but I wouldn’t bother with the special baby ones. By the time any of my kids had enough hair to need a brush, they could use a regular hairbrush.
Rounded-tip nail scissors or clippers. If you are afraid you may clip more than baby's nails, you can nibble their nails with your teeth. Usually this is easier during the first few weeks.
This is good advice. I’ve often nibbled his nails down while he nurses as that is usually when I notice that he is scratching me.
Bulb syringe nasal aspirator. These are used to suction excess mucus from baby's nose (the one you receive in the hospital is a keeper!)
I’ve never used one of these. I’ve had one with every child, but never had a need for it. We never had an excess mucus problem. But, I will mention that not everyone has their baby in the hospital… I personally had a home birth, loved it, would do it again, can’t imagine any better way.
Washing Baby's Laundry
It is a good idea to wash all clothing and bedding in a detergent safe for babies. Some popular brands are Dreft and Ivory Snow. These products have been tested for their safe use for all skin types, especially infants.
These are expensive. None of us have ever had problems with detergent, although I know some people are sensitive.
Wash all infant clothing, bedding and towels, prior to first use.
To remove tough stains (such as spit-up), spot-treat the item with one of these detergents or soak prior to washing.
If you go to yard sales or resale and you see infant clothing with yellow spit up stains; those were formula fed babies. Breastfed babies don’t spit up as often and if they do, it washes out easily; doesn’t stain.
Feeding Baby
6 bottles. Even if you are breastfeeding, you should have bottles to use for pumped breast milk.
This is not necessarily true. My oldest children were fed both breast milk and formula, but my youngest was given breast only from birth until he could drink out of a cup and then we offered him alternatives. If you feel you might need to pump milk in an emergency, the pump that you buy will have storage bottles and you can buy a nipple to fit and keep this in the case with the pump.
In thirteen months, Jacob never had formula and I pumped one time. He was ill for several days and not nursing as much as normal. This was a sudden drop off and I became engorged. When I couldn’t get him to nurse, I used a pump to bring down the swelling and saved the milk. I did try at one time to give it to him, but he had no interest in the bottle anyway.
12 nipples and covers
1 bottle and nipple brush for cleaning
Dishwasher basket for bottles and nipples (optional, but makes for easy cleaning)
Infant formula and measuring cup (if you are not breastfeeding). Use the brand recommended by your child's doctor.
Breastfeed! Then, you can take all of these items off of your list and buy something you really want.
12 Burp cloths
If you use cloth diapers, these can do double duty here. I mostly would forget to use it on the occasion that my child did spit up on me, but I figure I would have put the shirt in the laundry at the end of the day anyway.
6 Bibs
I can see a usefulness here, but I just never use them. I’ve even hung a bunch on the back of a chair in the dining room so they would get used, but just never really did. Again, with practice and patience, you get good at spoon feeding without getting it all over their clothes. When they feed themselves, that’s another story. My best suggestion? Take off their shirt and let them eat naked. Baths are fun, laundry’s not.
Diaper Bag: What You Need When You Are on the Go
When buying a diaper bag, pick one that has lots of pockets and places to store individual items. Also, keep in mind that your diaper bag often becomes your purse, so find one large enough to keep your wallet, keys, glasses, cell phone and other items you need for yourself.
I use a backpack (not a special expensive diaper bag/backpack combination, but just a regular back to school sale kind of back pack). It is pink, so my daughters are happy to help carry it. I keep it in the van most of the time and just add stuff to it as needed. Because it is a backpack, we can take it hands free, and it is big enough for an overnight bag. For short runs, I can put a few wipes in a Ziploc style baggie and a diaper in my glovebox (in the car) or in my pocket (on a walk or bike ride), and not need a bag at all.
It's a good idea to keep this bag packed with the following items at all times so if you need to leave the house in a hurry (especially if you have to take baby to the doctor unexpectedly), you'll be ready:
5-6 diapers
Disposable wipes
Diaper rash cream or ointment
Pad to lie your baby on top of when changing the diaper
Plastic bags to wrap dirty diapers in until you can find a trashcan to throw them out
Change of clothes for baby. Infant onesies, a pair of socks, hat, baby outfit.
Blanket
2 clean bottles and powdered formula (if bottle feeding)
Burp cloth
Pacifier (if using)
Baby toy or rattle
Sunscreen for babies older than 6 months.
Baby Tylenol
Okay, we just spent two weeks at Walt Disney World and here is what we carried into the park each day expecting to be gone from our hotel (home) from around 7am until at least 6pm. We used a tiny Tinkerbell back pack that we found in the toy section and my second oldest liked the bag so much she carried it the entire time. She never had to take it off to ride a ride and it never was heavy or uncomfortable for her. Inside, we packed:
One park map; essential
One small tube (3oz – this is the same size that airlines will allow you to carry on) of 50SPF sunblock. Our family is all very light skinned and we burn easily. This amount was enough for us to get through the day (all seven of us coating our exposed parts). We refilled this small bottle from a larger one that we kept in the room.
Four (4) disposable diapers – We never actually used that many in a single trip. Jacob rode in a carrier on my back all day, and babies are less likely to go when carried, so we were able to estimate when we need to change him. (About twenty minutes after a meal or snack and a large drink, and soon after taking him out of the carrier.) We use cloth at home and I usually keep a few plastic grocery bags in the pack for bringing home the dirties.
One sandwich sized baggie with about 15 individual wet wipes.
One change of clothes. It was hot, so this was usually just an extra onesie.
We tried carrying a sippy cup, but found that it was just as easy to let him drink out of a straw or nurse when he was thirsty. So, we gave that up after a few days.
That’s it. That’s all we carried. Nothing more and coincidentally, it was always more than enough.
Other Essentials
Newborn-size pacifier. Many lactation consultants recommend not using a pacifier if you are breastfeeding to prevent nipple confusion in your baby.
Babies comfort nurse. This just means they like to snuggle and suckle (what Jacob is doing as I try to type this with one hand – he is latched on, but not really drinking, mostly just holding on because it’s comfortable – of course, he is interested in everything going on around him, so he doesn’t really snuggle, he does more of a flopping around kind of thing, but he doesn’t let go. Letting baby nurse when he wants means I am the pacifier.
Infant car seat. Can also be used as a baby carrier. And you can find stroller frames that the infant car seat can snap into so that you don't have to carry the car seat at all times, which can get heavy. If you decide to get a stroller that your infant car seat can snap in to, make sure you get one that fits your infant carrier.
Car seats are required by law, although I used to stand up on the seat next to my mom in the front seat of a pick up truck and I’m okay. The infant seats that lock into a base in the car and also lock into the frame of a stroller are very nice and convenient. Keep in mind that many babies reach the twenty pound limit on these seats very quickly. I had a baby the end of August, we didn’t go very many places in September, and by October it was quite cold for taking a new baby for a walk; then winter. By spring, he was too big for the infant seat (we had used it all winter as a car seat, but only a few times with the stroller feature). The stroller itself has years of use, but the extra money for this convenience is just that, extra money for convenience.
Breast pump for breastfeeding moms. Breast pumps allow you to pump milk so that someone else can feed your baby. This is important if you need to leave your baby for a significant amount of time (for example, if you are working). Breast pumps also come in handy when your breasts get engorged and baby is too sleepy to help you out. With a breast pump you can pump some of the milk out and save it for when baby is ready to eat
I would suggest having one an hand or at least knowing where you can borrow one. If you borrow one, you should clean it thoroughly before and after each use, of course.
Baby's Medicine Cabinet
Thermometer. There are many types available. Some doctors prefer that you use a rectal thermometer to get the most accurate temperature.
Yeah, not doing that. I personally have an aversion to putting things in baby’s bottom. I’m not really thrilled about taking care of the stuff that comes out as it is.
A digital, plastic thermometer that you can place under your baby's armpit may be easy for you to use for the first six months. Ear thermometers can be used after age 6 months.
Both of these are simple to use. For your own sanity, it is nice to be able to say, “His temperature is 99, that’s not too high, and it’s not going up, he’s probably fine.” As opposed to thinking, “Hmmm, he feels a little warmer than usual, maybe he has a fever, maybe he’s sick, maybe… maybe … maybe.” Anyone who’s ever been a parent can tell you that your mind can really cause trouble when it comes to imagining all the horrible things that might be wrong with your child.
Calibrated medicine dropper
Pain reliever/fever reducer medicine (acetaminophen, such as Tylenol infant drops, is recommended). Infant Motrin works great to relieve inflammation associated with teething. Do not use aspirin!
Mylicon drops to relieve gas.
Baby Orajel or Ambesol to soothe teething gums.
Small gauze squares to clean wounds.
Hydrogen peroxide to clean wounds.
Wound cream such as Bacitracin Antibiotic or Johnson & Johnson First Aid Cream. Do not use Neosporin on babies under age 6 months, as it contains an ingredient, neomycin, which can cause sensitivity in infants.
Small bandages.
Cool mist vaporizer. Good for when baby has a cold.
Infant sunscreen for babies over age 6 months. If you live in a very sunny climate and your child is exposed to sun often, talk to your baby's doctor about applying sunscreen earlier.
Syrup of Ipecac to be used only as directed by the Poison Control Center to induce vomiting.
Pedialyte or Ricelyte to be used as directed by your child's pediatrician for fluid replacement during diarrhea.
I keep a basic first aid kit, but it doesn’t have all these things in it. My children are seldom ill, and if they were, I would purchase what was needed at the time. There are risks to using medicinal products past their expiration date, so buying a bunch of stuff just to fill the medicine cabinet, probably means throwing most of it away unused.
Nonessentials (But Nice-to-Have!)
Baby monitor
A few years ago, we moved into a large home and I can’t always hear what is going on in other parts of the house, so this is an item that I appreciate. I would never use it if I had to replace batteries though, so I made sure to get one that has the option of using battery or power cords.
Swing
We’ve had several and I like the idea, but baby’s favorite place is mama’s arms.
Baby book. Essential if you want to record your baby's firsts.
We do love to journal. More and more I find I’m doing it on the computer, but I try to keep hard copies of some things to give to my children some day.
Infant seat. A "bouncy" seat is great! It gives you a safe place to put baby while you do things for yourself.
Want time for yourself? How about letting dad or someone else have some time with the baby?
High chair. You will use it when baby is 4-6 months old
These take up a lot of space for the time they are in use. We are trying (and I don’t know how well it will work) for the first time to go without a high chair. We have a seat that attaches to the table, that is portable and that so far seems to be a good choice. We will see how the transition period goes; will he be too big for the seat before he is big enough to sit in a booster chair?
Baby sling or pouch. These come in handy when you need to have your hands free to get things done around the house, but still carry your baby.
This is one item that I would put on the essential list. There is no better place for your baby than with you, but I know that I still have to clean house, teach children, train and discipline, read stories, play with and cook for my crew. I have a fabric carrier with back pack straps (no frame-a hybrid between the sling and the hiking pack) that has proved to be an incredible asset. Jacob loves to ride in it, falls asleep against my back listening to the sound of my heartbeat. I can wear it all day comfortably, it’s never in the way, and I can do all the things that I could do if I wasn’t carrying a baby at all. If I want to be more involved with him, I wear it on the front.
Now, I’m not saying that this isn’t a good list; I’m sure they put a lot of thought into it; I’m just adding my two cents. But, I would like to share a list of THE BEST products on the market. I didn’t make up this list, but I’ve seen it several places and don’t know who to credit it to.
The Best infant seat: mama’s arms.
The Best Stroller: mama’s body
The Best infant swing: mama’s lap
The Best music for babies: mama singing
The Best sound for baby: mama’s heartbeat
The Best food, the Best milk warming device, the Best pacifier, and the Best tranquilizer: mama’s breast.
The list of things to buy was taken from Medicinenet.com and credits are as follows:
Reviewed by The Cleveland Clinic Birthing Services and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Edited by Charlotte E. Grayson, MD,, April 2004, WebMD.
Portions of this page copyright © The Cleveland Clinic 2000-2002