As a first-time parent preparing to bring your baby home, you may be asking yourself questions along the lines of “what does my baby actually need in the first few weeks at home?”
The answer is, not much! New parents tend to over-prepare and buy every little thing they think their baby needs, but remember that you only have to stick to the basics to get through the first few months.
To help you out, we’ll share below our list of actual essentials that will make you feel more prepared to bring your baby home.
Baby clothes
Every parent knows how exciting it is to shop for baby clothes, but don’t get caught up in what looks cute that you forget that baby clothes need to be comfortable.
Look for soft, cosy, and durable clothing that can hold up through all sorts of stains and frequent washings. It’s best not to buy too many clothes as babies outgrow them at lightning speed.
During the first few months, your baby might only need five onesies, three baby sleepers, and seven pairs of socks. You may add in a few swaddle blankets if you wish to swaddle your little one.
Baby cots
When it comes to baby essentials, baby cots in Singapore are always at the top of our list.
Your baby will be snoozing at least 16 hours a day or more, so they will need a comfortable space to rest and sleep in upon coming home.
While baby cots in Singapore could get generally expensive, you could get many years out of them if you get a convertible crib that could double as a toddler bed, and eventually a daybed.
For the safety of your baby, it’s best to buy a new baby cot. That way, you’re sure that it meets the latest safety standards.
Packs of diapers
Newborn babies go through at least ten diapers a day, so make sure that you have packs of diapers on hand. In a week, they may go through no less than 70 diapers.
The problem is, choosing the best kind of diaper for your baby can be a little stressful. Do you go with cloth diapers or disposable ones?
Your choice will ultimately boil down to what works for your family and your lifestyle. It’s worth noting that both types of diapers have their pros and cons, which is why many parents do a combination of both at first to see which they like best.
Changing table
Since you’ll be changing lots of diapers, you’ll need a safe space to keep your little one comfortable. This is where changing tables come in.
Changing tables usually have shelves or drawers where essentials like diapers, wipes, and fresh sets of clothes could be stored within a hand’s reach. Some even come with a strap to hold your baby in place in case they roll unexpectedly.
This fixture is quite pricey, but it will get endless use during your baby’s first few months, so it’s a worthy, functional investment.
Bottles and nipples
Whether you plan to breastfeed or bottle-feed, bottles and nipples are must-haves that should never be absent from your baby’s nursery.
The number of bottles and nipples you’ll need depends on whether you’ll be mainly breastfeeding or bottle-feeding. It’s safe to have at least eight bottles if you’re planning to mostly bottle-feed.
Meanwhile, three bottles should be enough if you’re mostly breastfeeding. That way, you have an alternative in case your baby has a hard time latching.
When it comes to the nipples, start your newborn with the slow-flow kind, and then move on to the faster-flow ones as they get older.
