Newborn Essentials Curated by Himani And Kalyani
Newborn Essential Baby Products (0 to 1 Year)
The arrival of a new baby is a very special experience filled with love, excitement and anxiety. Preparing for this event is no easy task. So here we are to help you with newborn essentials based on our observations and experiences.
Preparation is good, but over preparation is a waste!
All of us parents want to give the best to our babies. The market is full of a crazy variety of products and yet choosing the right one which will suit your needs and budget is a problem. But before we head to the ‘what’, ‘why’ and ‘where’ of shopping, let’s give ourselves a minute to think about ‘how much’ is enough and essential. That’s why we call this newborn essentials. It is observed that most times parents end up overspending on newborn essentials and even worse – not using everything they bought. This tendency not only imbalances our expenditure and budget, but also leads to more waste products which harms the environment and in turn our children.
Love and care is all that the baby really needs!
Lets Shop for the Baby
Everyone has a unique taste and appetite for shopping. Keeping in mind the needs of the working as well as at home moms, here is what we would like to recommend for newborn essentials. All our choices are purely based on the love for the products and are not commercially driven. Although products may have affiliate links.
Feeding Essentials
Nursing Pillow
A horseshoe nursing pillow gives space for the baby to settle on. Soft washable material is necessary for comfort and hygiene. These U shaped pillows can double up as supports to make your baby comfortable after a meal.
Nipple Cream
Any nipple cream is good as far it contains 100% pure lanolin. It prevents and heals cracked, itchy and bleeding nipples. Using it throughout the pregnancy is even better. Pigeon Nipple Care works wonders. It’s a trusted brand and is easily available. And don’t worry, even if it goes in the baby’s tummy, it is harmless.
Nursing Bra
Nursing Bras provide convenient hooks, are made of breathable and absorbent materials for the new mom. They are usually thick and cover the full cup. They definitely help to avoid awkward moments.
Breast Pads
Soft, absorbent cotton breast pads are essential for working women. Though there are many disposable brands available online, we would recommend these washable ones as they are more eco friendly and a one time investment.
Nursing Cover
Investing in a longer nursing cover that envelops the baby and mom from all sides is a good solution. You then can opt out of buying nursing tops!. Bamboo fabric is ideal for tropical weather as it keeps the baby and mother cooler. In case, you want to try other options, look out for cotton, free flowing and non transparent material.
Breast Pump
Electric breast pump is a permanent item in a working woman’s bag. They are extremely convenient to use, save time and mom can attend office guilt free!
Manual Breast Pumps are a cost-effective option. For mothers who don’t need to express milk on a daily basis, the pumps are compact and long lasting.
Feeding Bottle
We personally find Philip Avent bottles very convenient and easy to use because of their wide mouth and natural flow nipples. But if your baby is suffering from colic, Dr. Brown bottles are a good option as it controls the gulping of air. In the first 2 – 3 months a 120 ml is good and you can upgrade to 240ml plus. Please note that glass bottles are a bit heavy for them to hold and drink milk independently.
Bottle Wash and Brush
An effective anti bacterial wash prevents smelly bottles and removes milk stains. Pigeon wash helps maintain necessary hygiene for the newborns. A bottle brush with a sponge on the top or sides ensures deep cleaning and keeps the bottle scratch free.
Milk Storage Bags
Cost effective, leak proof and pre sterilized, these milk storage bags are not only our choice but Amazon’s as well! They are a fantastic option to create your stash and occupy less space and easy to stack
Formula Dispenser
Though making formula milk is super easy, when we need to make it in the middle of the night or while travelling, these dispensers make life easy and mess free. All we need to do is use our muscle memory.
Baby Clothing
There are hundreds of clothing options listed online. But since it’s about your baby’s tender and delicate skin, it’s necessary and important to get the suitable materials. Cotton, bamboo and muslin are best suited for babies.
Swaddles
Do invest in good quality swaddles as they can be used in multiple ways even after the baby grows out of swaddling, like blankets or covers for the strollers or just to comfort the baby.
Bodysuits/Onesies
While choosing baby clothes, make sure you choose something that is comfortable and easy to wear. Instead of going for fancy and cute patterns, go for the functionality of clothes. At least for a few months, rompers are the best choice. Especially the front open and footless ones as they can be used for a longer time and easily worn.
Caps, Mittens and Socks
Caps are a good protection for their delicate heads and help keep them warm in air conditioned environments or outdoors.
Baby nails grow really fast and they can scratch their delicate skin because of their uncontrolled movements. So socks and mittens are a good addition to the list. Always look out for breathable material.
Baby Skin Care
Diaper Rash Cream
The delicate baby skin is bound to get a diaper rash. We have tried a few brands and have found Sebamed Diaper rash cream to provide rapid relief. The traditional pure coconut oil also gives excellent results.
Shampoo and Wash
Babies do not need a separate shampoo to wash their hair. Aveeno or Sebamed body wash are suitable for the baby’s tender skin and hair and are tear free.
Clothes Detergent
Baby laundry detergents are necessary as the newborns have very sensitive and gentle skin. It is a MUST for babies who are prone to eczema. Pigeon baby detergent is gentle on clothes and has a mild, pleasant fragrance.
Body Cream
‘Creams’ are more effective than ‘body lotions’ as they moisturise and nourish the skin for a longer time. We have found the Cetaphil Baby cream to be very effective.
Mosquito Repellent
Using a patch is always a safer option as there is no direct contact with the skin. As the baby grows up, you can use any herbs based mosquito repellent
Diapers, Bags and Others
Cloth Diapers
Using cloth diapers is not as tough as perceived by most parents. The latest designs of cloth diapers have adjustable sizes,removable bamboo material inserts and are easily cleaned in the washing machines. They might seem a bit pricey to begin with, but they last long and are so good for the baby’s skin and their greener future.
But if you still find the normal diapers to be more convenient, we suggest two brands – Pampers and Huggies – premium and platinum range. They are super absorbent, leak proof and easy to dispose of.
Wipes
For new borns you can even use cotton and plain water. But as the baby starts solids, wipes come very handy especially for outings and travel. They will have a special place in our diaper bag for a long time. We definitely suggest using alcohol free, water based wipes which are not harsh on the baby skin.
Changing Mat
While choosing a Diaper Changing Mat, always try to get a bigger size. So even if your baby flips during diaper change, it will still not soil the other surface. Using changing mats made of absorbent material is even better, as babys surprise you many times by passing urine and these mats are a saviour.
Diaper Bag
Shoulder diaper bags are very popular, but we believe that the backpack designs are easier to carry especially if you love to travel! The weight is distributed equally on both the shoulders and your hands are free.
Baby Carrier
While choosing a baby carrier, two key points must be taken into consideration. Firstly, the baby should be in its natural sitting position, and secondly, the comfort of the wearer. If the baby’s weight is evenly distributed, it can easily be carried for hours. Because of the parents’ warmth they even sleep happily!
Crib
Baby beds / cribs are a big investment for the parents. Not only because of the price but because they occupy a lot of space! The Graco portable dome bassinet is a wise choice as it can be used in 5 ways. It is also easy to pack and carry!
Bath Chair
Foldable bath chairs have adjustable inclination and can be used for new born babies as well. They dry easily and dont occupy much space in your bathrooms.
New Mommy Essentials
Lactation Cookies
Lactation cookies are an easy and tasty snack for the always hungry moms . They are a powerhouse of nutrition for the mothers postpartum recovery and promote breast milk supply.
Iron Calcium Rich Food
These are mostly recommended by the doctors. There are plenty of options available in the retail stores as well as online, but always consult your gynaecologist before randomly purchasing something.
Body Massage
Post natal massages are a treat for mothers. They assist in faster recovery and well being of the new mother. They also help to massage the breasts and clear the ducts which ensures a smooth flow for babies and avoids engorgement. For more details, refer: https://pnsingapore.com/
https://www.mummysmassage.com/
Now that you are ready with the essential product list, it’s also a good idea to know the essentials of nurturing. Do tune in to the podcast ‘UpBringing’. Your partners in Parenting – Himani & Kalyani
Visit https://upbringing.buzzsprout.com/ to know more
