Essentials for a new baby?

Question

My sister is due to give birth in a few weeks and whilst me and my husband are buying her something, i wanted to put together a gift pack of 'essentials' too, like baby wipes, nappy cream, baby lotion etc.
Just wondered if any experienced parents out there had ideas for they needed/ran out of quickly/wished someone had got them (or they had got themselves!) when the baby was born? Thanks.

Answer 1

You can never have enough nappies and muslin squares - these are great for pukie babies and burping. Also sudacrem and soft baby wipes for at first. Moisturising baby bath is a good one and scratch mits, breast pads, nappy sacks, dummy just in case, soft bibs and a treat for mum.
If your sister likes wine treat her to a small single serve bottle as that is about all her alcohol tolerance will be or a bottle of her favourite lager. Sounds awful but it tastes wonderful when you have been really good and abstained for 9 months.

Answer 2

all the baby needs is love, and food, and warmth. Creams are a waste of time, babies skin is the softest ever, and therefore do not need creams. A gentle bath with Johnsons baby bath, a good dry, and a clean nappy, Disposables are best because of no nappie rash, Let the baby stay out of napies time to time, especially in the sun, as this is good agains nappie rash. And, the only reason a baby will cry is, a)if hungry b) if tired (c if the nappy is cold. A baby can stay in a lets say dirty nappy a couple of hours, like if you are out in a situation where you cannot change them, as long as IT IS WARM. Cold wet nappies make babies cry, tiredness, (too much stimulation before bed) makes them cry, and hunger. If a baby is well fed, warm, has love, and food, and a routine, routine is important. They do not cry much at all. It is when they grow up they windge!! Good luck, and do not pander to all the advert, they are for you, the payee not the healthy bouncy baby. o.k. may not be p.s. or the modern way but a dummy is not just about qietness, it is developing their facial muscles for later on eating you out of house and home. Pluse, it does comfort them, and much better than a little stump of a thumb when they turn 20, and proberbly still suck it. My baby is now 29 happy healthy and not many hangups, but hes a hippy, good.

Answer 3

Best bet (Considering almost everyone's got a different opinion and a selective memory) - go into your local pharmacy / store - wander into the baby section and browse - you can bet that they have all the essentials you need and your common sense will tell which they are. You'll also have the opportunity to decide on a few extras that may be not be essential but obviously convenient - If common sense doesn't to the trick ask a sales assistant what the top selling lines are - that'll quickly sort the essentials from the impulse buys.

Answer 4

Baby nail clippers, non-scented wipes, diapers, changing pad, diaper cream like balmex, baby tylenol or fever reducer (but don't use unless directed by dr.), infant bulb syringe for clogged up noses, something like kaolectrolyte - {a powder that can be added to water to supply essential nutriens if the baby is sick and cannot keep milk/formula down}, box of disposable rubber gloves, baby vics vapor rub patches (in an emergency you can put these on the mattress near the babies face - never directly on an infants skin).

Answer 5

You can never have too many baby grows and bibs. It's all very well buying the cute clothes but you soon realise that they are impractical. By the way, make sure the baby grows are the next size up from newborn cos they grow out of them really quickly!
Scratch mits are an idea aswell.

Answer 6

I would not bother with baby lotion! I have an 8 week old, and you can never have enough baby wipes and zinc and castor oil cream is best for the bum and creases in the thighs (I have only found it in Boots baby section). Something for mum to wear perhaps as maternity clothes will soon not fit her and her normal clothes will not either.

Answer 7

Cotton wool pads are great for washing babies face and bottom-- a small sponge for the bath- scratch mitts- you always forget them-- a bath thermometer- baby moisturising cream- sometimes baby's have dry skin-
Nappies- wipes- nappy sacks- baby book to remember weight, time of birth etc!- bibs-
that's all I can think of- oh enichea for the mum- it helps with the discomfort and maternity pads for mum- you never have enough- breast pads?
good luck- you can spend a small fortune!!!!

Answer 8

Ive just had my baby shower and i got a great bag of goodies off a friend with femfresh wipes and mini shampoos and things for hospital, bibs and scratch mitts cotton wool and ear buds a johnstons baby bath starter kit nappies and wipes, a book for me to read and a magazine for my partner when we go in to hospital, plus loads more little bits it was great and just full of essentials and so appreciated. Another great thing to put in if shes breast feeding is breast pads and those giant maternity pads for down there. Always do some with wings and they come with a wipes too. trust me she will appreciate them.

hope you love being an auntie xx

Answer 9

Nappy sacks, nappies, cotton wool, cotton wool pads, muslin squares (handy for anything), thermometer (relatively cheap but will stay in the change box forever), nice cream (with Vitamin E) for your sister (sometimes you just feel like nobody is interested in YOU when you have your baby...nice touch), box of soft tissues, small bibs, small sox (just in case for chilly toes)...the list could go on. But most of these things are quite cheap even for good quality ones but will probably get used everyday. Good luck with Auntiehood.

Answer 10

Gas drops, wipe warmer, and mittens!

Baby's have fingernails when they are born, and they flail their little arms and always scratch their face. It's hard to cut their nails because they are so thin and you risk cutting their finger. Buy a pair of mittens in the baby section and keep the beautiful baby from hurting themselves.
Have you ever wiped your butt with a cold wet rag? Get a wipe warmer!
Especially if she is breastfeeding, get gas drops (even if she's not, though). There is no stopping a screaming baby when their tummy hurts, and the gas drops are safe and very effective.