What is ABSOLUTLY necessary to buy for a newborn?

Question

Im looking for real advice from real Mothers here. I do not have the space in my current apartment for the crib/dresser/changing table etc.

I need to know as a Mother, what were the things you could not get by without. Looking back, what did you use the most and were most appreciative of when caring for your newborn baby?

After 5 months my husband and I will be moving to a new apartment that has 2 bedrooms and will be able to get the non-necessary items.

I appreciate your help so much as we are just starting to look at what to buy for our May Due date.

Sorry! Side note - My father is a woodworker and he is building us the most beautiful bedside bassinet for the baby that we can use until we move and are able to fit a crib. We are not going to co-sleep.

Answer 1

First of all, congratulations on the coming arrival : )

I have 3 kids myself, so I know what you're going through. Here's my list:

Crib
Diapers, wipes, lotion, soap and diaper rash creme
Onesies (or baby t shirts)
Lightweight footie pajamas
socks
dreft laundry detergent
Bottles and nipples
receiving blankets
quilt or heavier blanket

I hope this helps. I put the dreft on this list because I didn't have baby washcloths or towels. (they were so expensive). I just set aside a few of my own and washed them in Dreft or baby Ivory. That softened them up just fine.

You will also have that relative or friend that will buy the cutesy little outfit. Other than the one you want to bring the baby home in, you wouldn't have to worry about those outfits until a later date if you had the little footie jammies and onesies with socks.

Good Luck and God Bless : )

Answer 2

You can do the changing on another surface such as a bed or a little changing mattress on the floor. A dresser isn't that necessary - it depends on haow much storage space you have already as to whether you need this or not. A crib is something that you will need, someplace you can put down the baby safely when you have something else to do (shower etc), but for the first five months, it doesn't need to be a very big crib, you could probably get a portable crib which is smaller, then later when you have a real crib, you can use the portable one when you go away from home with the baby (relatives etc.)
Another thing that is absolutely necessary is a car seat, a stroller too ( there are stroller systems where the car seat clips right on top & you don't have to wake your baby up.)
Congrats!

Answer 3

Hi There,

Congrats on the forthcoming new infant...!!

I have had five babies so now a little about the essentials.... as far as furniture goes if yur dad is building a crib that is big enough for bub from now until you move house then that is it!

Every other conceivable item can be done without!

With the exeption of a baby carseat buy one that is suitable for newborns to two year olds, they change position as bub grows they seem a little more expensive but cheaper than buying two or three different seats as bub grows.

A high chair is handy but you wont need it for a while yet probably until you move to the new apartment. Though I must confess my bubs tended to spend more time being fed on my lap than in a high chair.

There were times when I bathed bub in the laundry tub and it did the job very well and as the washing machine was right beside it I dressed bub on the top of the washing machine!

Nappy changes can easily be done on a towel on your bed or lounge.

As far as clothes are concerned by the time I'd had one or two bubs I realised that until they were about one year old they need nothing other than singlets, cardigagans (sweaters), Bondsuits, and nappies. Bonds all in one suits come in full length size, short sleeve and no sleeve so there are bond suits for every weather. A couple of cardigans which can be worn over the bondsuits and that is all they NEED to wear. So save your money for other things!

Oh and if you ask a physiotherapist who deals with infants you will find they would prefer you place your baby on a rug on the floor than in a swing..... the resistance the floor gives helps build bubs muscles and really not one of my babies minded not having a swing.

Answer 4

Firstly you would definitely need a crib or somewhere for the baby to sleep in (and a swaddle blanket). You would also need a car seat so you can get the baby from hospital (if you are having the baby in hospital). I think it depends on your lifestyle and what you plan on doing when your baby is born. Maybe you need to answer a few questions: Will you bottle or breastfeed? If you bottle feed you would need a steriliser and bottles If you breast feed it might be an idea to get breast pads, nipple cream and maybe a breast pump and bottles if you are going to express Will you want to go out and walk your baby in the park? If so, you might need a pram/buggy. Will you use resuable nappies or disposables? If so, you would need some of either or both (whatever you decide to do). Plus some nappy cream!! Do you want to give your baby a dummy? Obviously, you would need a few vests (onesies) and sleep suits. You won't need much in the way of toys as many people will buy you stuff and they aren't needed until they are a good few months old. Anyway, I hope that helps. What an exciting time! I forgot to mention you would need stuff for you too. I wish someone had said to me beforehand to get some pile/haemorroid cream as after giving birth you will need some. Plus lots of paracetamol/painkillers. Plus make sure you have lots of baggy clothes because you might not feel like or properly fit into your maternity clothes. It takes a little bit of time till your body is back to normal and you want to still feel good!

Answer 5

pretty much nothing. glycerin & lavendar oil can be bought at the 99c store to use for soap.(please don't use the commercial kind, it's full of so much junk even if they say its not, & if u do then the best are the kind w/out parabens or sodium sulfates). Blankets you already have can be run thru the dryer about 10 times to swaddle the baby up(i'm sure you've seen this before, but just to give you a picture you lay it across the front of the baby, wrap both sides around back, flip the sides over like it makes a twist at the bottom, and bring it around front rolling them together like you would for a towel) Use what you must but the gold standard is 100% wool, down, cotton, or silk(ok, so maybe thats for movie stars only, but hey, if it's available...)Please tell me you're planning on nursing your baby. Hands down it is the best gift you could ever give him/her. It's free, provides sssooo many more health benefits than formula, contrary to rumour does not hurt, and is the most natural thing a mother can do(there are even laws protecting mothers who breastfeed). If there is some reason you do choose formula, however, I highly reccommend Baby's Only Organic made from soy, even if you choose a nonorganic variety soy is best...trust me, if you really want to know all the reasons not to give dairy based send me a message theres too many to list.If you go this route they may be a few cents more but glass bottles are much better. A car seat is very important so you'll need one of those, but the local fire dept. usually has them for free. Of course you'll need diapers. If you choose disposables(which I would only reccommend for extended trips), seventh generation & other gel-free brands are the best. However, I would highly reccomend cloth. The cloth diapers of today are a far cry from grandma's days. most come with highly absorbent liners and if you sign up for a service they take dirty ones & leave enough clean ones for a week for as little as $50 a month. You don't particularly have to hold your baby all the time, but if yours is anything like mine theyll want to be held all the time, and to get anything done with two hands you'll need a frontpack(I really liked the Snugli brand blue one. It has adjustable straps, can be worn for up to a 2yr old, has a pocket, and mine was about 22 bucks). As for clothing, same as blankets but appropriate for the weather. At least 15 outfits(shirts & pants or dresses if its a girl) & 8 sleepers. If it's a winter baby then defintely hats hats & more hats(same for socks & mittens) & a bunny suit. And finally, after all my jabbering on...one more thing you're absolutely going to need no matter what is a good friend who can do everything from make a couple dinners to listen indefinitely to go have 'away from baby day' with. Okie dokie...now that I've gone on & on & on...I hope this helps. Good luck with your new baby and congratulations!!!!!!!!

Answer 6

A friend of mine has the same situation. She does not have any of those things for her baby yet. She actually has a swing that is for laying a newborn down in. It is not a seat, more like a very small bed and that is what the baby is sleeping in. A changing table is not necessary you can change the baby anywhere, lay down a blanket on the floor, on your bed, on the couch. They too are planning on getting things when they move into a bigger place in about a month and they are getting by just fine.

Answer 7

First of all, there are lots of junky items out there that will never be put to use - - don't fall into the habit of seeing cute little baby things and thinking you need them, and you really dont

Some necessities are some of the obvious - bottles, diapers, burp cloths, pjs, receiving blankets....

Word of advice - don't overbuy. You will do laundry a lot, so don't need a thousand onesies and clothes. The baby grows so fast that a few outfits and onesies is all you need. Buy a size bigger, so the baby can grow into it. Congrats!

Answer 8

bottles. diapers wipes. as long as you have a bed you don't need a changing table. get the sheet for the bassinet ( at least two of those trust me) lost of baby blankets and onesies the baby will go through a lot of clothes the first few weeks and you will be happy to have extra. scratch mittens for the baby. hats for there head. a baby book is always fun for keeping track of baby. special soap and a baby wash tub. could not get by with out that. teething rings. bottle warmer was a great help. diaper bag just a small one you don't need the whole tadoo. and a stroller that is needed for mall trips or even trips to the store and a car seat a bouncer helps too to calm the baby i thought i could not live without that. also breast pads for you and nipple cream. good luck. and have fun.

Answer 9

The bassinet sounds beautiful and good choice deciding not to cosleep!

Onesies! More and more onesies, socks! Maybe a few of those night sleepers that double as blankets and zip up the front (trust me, they are very safe and keep baby just warm enough)
A few nice learning toys, plastic mirror books, black and white objects (as your child won't see color for awhile), when they do see color RED! Rattles for auditory stimuli. Pacifiers, lots of bottles if you are not planning on breast feeding and make sure that the nipples are appropriate flow for your little one! ( No need for a gusher if they gag!)
I think that is it! Really babies don't need alot of stuff, I know society would dictate otherwise. But, traditionally I asked my grandma and got exactly what she did with all of hers in the 50s never had a need outside of that!


Amy

Answer 10

A baby needs diapers, wipes, receiving blankets, clothes, a place to keep the clothes, and a carseat. I really feel like a sling is a necessity, too (http://www.mayawrap.com). The rest of the stuff isn't necessary. A travel swing is nice if your child likes it, but you won't know that until he or she is born. We lived in a one-bedroom apartment until my daughter was almost 2 years old, so we did without a lot of the stuff people say you "need" but we did fine.