A COMPREHENSIVE CHECKLIST OF ESSENTIAL ITEMS FOR YOUR NEWBORN

Congratulations from all of us here at Nightingale! 

We must warn you though, that there are loads of things to prepare! Trust us, we've been there and done that... twice!! If this is your first time, you were most likely surprised by the amount of baby stuff you need to buy before the big day. Even if you have some experience already, it is still  very easy to miss something along the way. That’s why we wanted to provide you with a newborn checklist.

When it comes to this checklist, the most important thing is to differentiate between essential, nice-to-have, and things you  absolutely don’t need (we’ll come to that later). Ask  any  parent  around and they'll tell you that they regret buying at least half of the items on their list. For example, a bottle warmer is probably a waste of money and electricity, when a bowl of hot water does the job. For that reason, we’ve made a list which, in our opinion, contains only the most essential items for your new baby. Even better, we’ll tell you why they are essential and what you should look for.

Note: We did not include items specific to season/weather as we trust in your common sense. If there is no quantity next to an item, it usually means only 1 is required, but do read on.

You can also view the checklist in 1 page using the link: 

http://pix.9tingale.com/nwbrn1​

Items should be made of bamboo/cotton blend or 100% cotton as they are gentle on the skin. I personally prefer bamboo blend fabric since they feel much softer against the skin.

• Bodysuit (6+) – Hands down to whoever invented bodysuits! They help keep your baby warm and comfy while  protecting  the umbilical cord of newborns against accidental scratching. Trust me, your baby will look super cute whether you go with plain white or a colorful design. Mix between short and long sleeve. Do get the long sleeve with mitten cuffs as it saves you from buying mittens separately.​
• One-piece (4+) – for whenever you want to go out and show the whole world how lovely your little angel is. Quick and easy to put on and take off than normal clothes. Again, be sure to mix long and short sleeves.​
  
• ​Pants (4+) - When it gets chilly, you just have to put a pair on with the bodysuit and you are good to go!​ 
• One-piece pajama (4-6) – mix again but buy more long sleeve as it's usually cooler at night.​
  
• Newborn Hat (1-3) – to protect your baby’s head from the sun and wind. Also limits excess heat loss from the head.​
  

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You want to breastfeed your baby exclusively? Nice! You think formula is the way to go? Great too! Combination? Go for it! Whatever your choice  is,  the  following  items  can  be  really  helpful.  My  personal experience is whatever makes YOU and your baby happy works best.

• Bottle (4+) – Your pumpkin needs to be fed 6-8 times per day in the first 6 months. Fewer bottles means more frequent washing, so you can buy as many as you want but we think 4 is the absolute minimum.  Go for glass because it is easier to clean and no concern about chemical components as in plastic. A good thing about a bottle is that you know how much food your baby has.​
  
• Bottle brush – A good brush should have soft bristles so they won’t scratch the bottle and especially the teat. Please use it exclusively for the baby bottle!​
  
• *Breast pump – A hand pump does the job but if you can, buy an electric one, it would save you so much effort and time (something you won’t have much). Sometimes, you can even squeeze in a quick powerful nap!​
  
• Breast pads – Mix between reusable and disposable. Reusable pads are gentler on the nipples  and more  economic  should you  plan  to breastfeed for more than 6 months. Disposable pads are convenient and normally can absorb more than the reusable ones. We don’t put quantity here as the amount of leak varies from mom to mom. You’ll be able to figure out how many you need along the way.   Or you can use washcloths - fold one into  a  good  size  for  your breast. They are just as absorbent as reusable pads but they are a lot more economic and safer for the environment.​

• Milk storage bag – Pretty self-explanatory. Similar to above, buy it as you go. You want something which is made from food-grade and BPA-free material, has double-zipper, and can be labeled.​
  
• *Nipple cream – Helps to ease the pain, and there will be pain!

      *for breastfeeding​​

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• ​Crib – If you can afford space for a crib then please get one instead of spending money on a bassinet or co-sleeper because your little one will outgrow one of those in no time! Please make sure the crib, (even if  used) meets the latest safety standards as stated​ here*. 
• Mattress – Firm & flat is the only way to go as your baby’s spine and bones will need a lot of support. If the mattress feels good to you, it’s probably too soft for your baby.​
  
• ​Fitted crib sheet (3+) - If it doesn't come away from mattress when your baby wiggles that means less hazard.​

• Waterproof mattress protector (2+) – Trust us, the last thing you want is to wash a wet mattress (and maybe you don’t even know how to) after constantly being deprived of sleep. Fitted sheet is preferable.​
• Swaddling blanket (2+) – Reminds your baby of the good old days inside mommy’s tummy. It helps to reduce startle reflex which means he/she can sleep better and longer. Remember to choose thin/breathable fabric so that your little one doesn't get too hot.​

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​*https://onsafety.cpsc.gov/blog/2011/06/14/the-new-crib-standard-questions-and-answers/​

• Diaper bag – Where else are you gonna keep the nappies, wipes, washcloths, and a million more when going out  but a diaper bag?! You don’t really need to get an exclusive changing bag ‘cos any roomy bag will do (and yes, diaper bags are expensive). The key thing is to have multiple compartments to organize stuffs. Washable is also a must.​
  
• Changing mat/pad – To be fair, you can use a towel or blanket but a soft, waterproof, foldable, wipe-down mat beats them anytime. Our old mat even has built-in pockets for nappies, wipes, and cream, which is so convenient.​
  
• Washcloths (10+) – Where should we start? The benefits of washcloths cannot be listed in a few sentences but we’ll try our best. Super soft and absorbent. They are the ultimate choice for cleaning the most tender and sensitive skin. Instead of 100% cotton, go for a blend of bamboo/cotton like our Nightingale Muslin Washcloths as they are far more superior. Can you have too many washcloths? There is no such thing! Spray them with a simple wipe solution (water + baby shampoo + baby oil) for reusable wipes; or run through warm water and rub your baby’s gums for oral care. What else? Use them as burp cloths for feeding, washcloths for bath time, or a teething toy alternative. You want some more? We’ll continue this saga another day.​
  
• Nappies/diapers – When you think you have bought enough, do yourself a favour and go buy some more. Better yet, request nappies as the only baby shower gift. You’d want something soft, elastic, and most importantly has a notch cut out from the top to leave room for your baby's umbilical stump.​
  

• Wipes – Did we forget to mention nappies and wipes always hang  out together? You’ll also go through these like crazy. The good wipes should be without any of the harsh chemicals (like sodium lauryl sulfate, alcohol, chlorine or ammonium), but still contain an effective
  antimicrobial to make sure things are getting clean down-under.​
  
• Nappy cream – It breaks our heart to see those annoying red patches on the little bum. One way to prevent this is to apply a thin layer of cream at each nappy change. If possible, choose a nappy cream with organic skin-loving ingredients such as  shea  butter,  oatmeal extract, calendula, aloe vera, rosehip and jojoba oils.​

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• Baby bathtub – A lot of people say this is  not essential  when  they  can do it in a normal bathtub. I do not disagree but let’s consider its practicality. It will kill your back bending down to wash the baby.  What going into the bathtub with your baby, you ask? That’s fine but how can you get him or her out when you are soaking wet?  It only works if there is another adult around. Just listen to us and go buy a soft baby bathtub made from foam or polyester that has a sling to support the little one.​
  

• ​Washcloths - Alternative choice to  a  soft  brush.  You  can  use extra washcloths with patterns like ours to  keep  her interested and to make bath time more fun!​

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• Car seat – It’s required by law and we trust you are not risking your baby’s safety. If you don’t have a car but travel by taxi frequently, a car seat is much safer than sitting on your lap. Seats that are compatible with your stroller (below) would sometimes make your life a lot easier.​
  
• Stroller – That’s right, no pram. Yes, we’ve been there and we know how elegant and attractive a pram would look with your angel in it.  But it’s the size of a wagon, costs a fortune, and can only be used for   6 months (if you’re lucky). Instead, buy a pushchair with a detachable carrycot. From our own experience, the  perfect  pushchair needs  to be easy to push around, ideally light weight, has a simple and quick folding  mechanism,  has  a  reversible  seat,   and   can   hold   a decent amount of storage.​

• First-aid kit – Choose a waterproof, durable box that’s easy to carry. There is a long list of what you must have in the first-aid kit but here are the common ones: first-aid manual, age-appropriate painkillers, dressings, antiseptic cream and wipes, and antihistamine cream. We will cover this in details in another post.​
  
• Nail clipper – You are staring at those little precious eyes only to discover the horror when you discover a nasty scratch cause by those fingernails near the left eyebrow. Yes, your baby did it and will do it again and again. It’s time to clip those fingernails.​
  
• Thermometer – Get something that can read temperature through both the forehead and the ear. Forehead reading is fast and easy but not so accurate as ear reading. You’ll mostly use the forehead mode for the first six months until the ear canal is big enough for the ear mode.​

We have also prepared a 1 page version of this checklist so you can save to your phone and take it out when shopping for your newborn

http://beacon.by/newborn-checklist-1page​

.  We  hope  you  find  this  checklist  useful.  But again,  this  is  only  our  opinion.  You  might  have  different ideas on what’s essential for your baby, or you might want to find out more. Whatever it is, we would love to hear from you.

Do let us know by sending us a message anytime via Messenger on m.me/9tingalebaby or by clicking the button below. 

Alternatively, you can also email us at [email protected].