Brain Top Off!

When you are expecting a baby, there are so many things to do to prepare for his or her arrival. It’s best to set up the nursery well before your due date just in case. You never know if your baby will decide to arrive two weeks early. You don’t want to end up making a run to Babies ‘R’ Us before you even get home from the hospital.

Obviously you will some sort of baby bed. You may or may not want to put your baby in a crib right away. Many new parents prefer to let the new baby sleep in their room. You can get a cradle or bassinet that will sit right next to your bed so you don’t have to go far to get the baby when he or she wakes up in the middle of the night.

Your baby will require a lot of daily diapers and baby wipes. You would be surprised at how many you’ll go through in the beginning. A newborn baby can go through anywhere from 12 to 15 diapers each day, so you’ll want to have at least two or three packages before you go to the hospital. That way you won’t have to run to the store to buy more until you are feeling better.

Other things you will need are baby wipes, clothing and bath supplies, such as baby shampoo, baby bath, baby washcloths and towels. Of course you should have some diaper rash cream on hand, and it can’t hurt to go ahead and get some baby Tylenol. You may not need it right away, but you will definitely want to have some on hand before your baby gets his or her first shots.

One item you absolutely must have if you are breastfeeding is a good breast pump, such as the Avent breast pump. Having an electric breast pump with good suction is necessary to help you produce more milk so you will be able to keep breastfeeding your baby longer. A manual breast pump can be used in a pinch, but if you use it often your hands may start to ache from the repeated motion.

You don’t have to get every item before the baby is born, but you definitely need a good car seat. Make sure you get one that is designed for newborns. Not all of them are. Newborn babies need a rear-facing car seat. You might want to get one that converts for use with older babies. They are usually cheaper in the long run.

If you don’t get everything ahead of time, that’s no reason to panic. As long as you have a car seat, diapers and a place for the baby to sleep, you’ll be all right for a few days before you have to go shopping for more supplies.

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