Getting ready for baby? Here’s our checklist of the things you need to have and the ones that are nice to have for baby’s arrival.
What can you read in this article?
- Checklist for baby’s arrival: all the essentials for welcoming a baby into your home.
- A new must-have when traveling with your baby.
- A list for Mommy’s needs too.
You have a baby on the way and you’re in the process of preparing for the arrival of your little one. You’ve already done the important steps. You’ve chosen a doctor and where you will give birth. You’ve done all the lab tests and the ultrasound. You may have already taken baby classes. So what’s the next step in anticipating the arrival of your little one? Preparing your home and baby’s things.
Whether you’re a first-time mom or you’re welcoming the new addition to the family, you need to make sure that you have everything you will need for your baby’s arrival to make it easier for you to take care of her. You might want to pick up a few things for your post-partum care too.
When is a good time to prepare baby’s things?
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There is a great deal to consider when getting ready for the arrival of your new baby. One of them is having enough time to prepare for baby’s needs.
Some women wait until the 25th week or until they find out their baby’s gender before buying things like clothes and beddings. It is also advisable to have your hospital bag ready before the 34th week because you can give birth any time after that.
So the safest answer to the question above is, “As early as possible!” You can start preparing your baby’s things while you still have the time and the energy to do it.
Don’t know where to start? Don’t worry, mama! We’ve come up with an extensive checklist of the things you will need for baby’s arrival.
Checklist for Baby’s Arrival
For baby’s room
For the first couple of months, your baby’s life will revolve around two things – sleeping and feeding. Have you thought of the sleeping arrangements when the baby comes home from the hospital?
Is your baby going to have her own room? Is she going to be your new roommate? Will she share your bed?
Research revealed that co-sleeping (sleeping in close proximity with your child) helps in breastfeeding and boosting your milk supply.
Image source: iStock
Meanwhile, the American Association of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that the baby should sleep in the same room with the parents, but not on the same bed to reduce the risks of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Instead, baby should be placed on a separate firm surface with a fitted sheet and no other objects around it.
Whether you decide to put baby on a separate room, a crib beside your bed or to share a bed, you want to make sure that your child will be safe and comfortable in her new home.
- Baby’s crib or a co-sleeper bassinet
- Mattress
- Bumper
- Fitted crib sheets
- Mattress protector
- Changing table (optional) or changing pad
- Chest of drawers for baby’s clothes
Dressing up baby
One of the cutest parts of preparing for baby is getting those adorable baby clothes. Whether you decide to use brand new clothes or hand-me-downs, the important part is that baby will be comfy and she has enough to accommodate tiny accidents (nappy or spit-ups) and outfit changes. Make sure your child has clothing for when it is warm (choose cotton fabric) and when it is cold (sleep suits are better than blankets)
- Mittens
- Booties or baby socks
- Newborn hats or bonnets
- Diapers — cloth or disposable
- Nappy liners (optional)
- Tie-side or button shirts – long and short sleeves
- Pajama bottoms
- Sleepsuits/frogsuits
- Bibs/burp cloths
- Lampin/flat cloth diapers
- Safety pins/diaper clips
- Face towels for spit-ups
Clean-up time
Here are some items that should be accessible to help you clean baby during spit-up or diaper changes.
- Baby wipes or washcloth
- Cotton balls
- Cotton buds
- Nail clippers
- Nappy rash cream
- Nasal aspirator for suctioning mucus
- Baby oil for massaging baby’s tummy during ‘gassy’ episodes
- Ziploc bags or small trash bin to store soiled diapers
- Thermometer (to check baby’s temperature)
For baby’s bath time
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Make sure you have these items ready and within arms reach when you are giving baby a bath:
- Baby bathtub or a large basin
- Bath mat
- Soft hooded towel
- Bath sponge/washcloth
- Baby wash/cleanser
- Baby shampoo
- Baby oil
- Soft brush for baby’s hair
- Diapers
For caring for the umbilical cord stump
- Sterile cotton swabs
- 70% isopropyl alcohol
Related articles:
- 4 Important Things To Remember When Bathing Your Newborn
- 6 best breastmilk storage bags in the Philippines
- 5 things to consider when buying a car seat for your child
For baby’s feeding time
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If you decide to breastfeed your baby exclusively, you won’t really need anything else other than your breasts. But should you decide to pump and store breast milk in the future, you may want to buy some accessories to help you with it.
If you are going to bottle-feed your baby either with expressed breast milk or formula milk, you will need the following:
- Milk bottles & small-sized/newborn teats
- Bottle scrub brush
- Bottle warmer or thermal water carrier
- Bottle sterilizer (steam, electric or UV)
- Tongs (to handle bottles that have been sterilized)
- Bottle drying rack
- Milk dispensers (for formula milk)
- Milk storage containers (for breast milk)
Note: Breastmilk is best for babies up to 2 years and beyond.
Additional must-have: infant car seat
If you own a private vehicle and you wish to travel with your child, you need to have an infant car seat. This is in compliance to Republic Act (RA) 11229 or the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act, that mandates the use of child restraint system among children 12 years old and below. This is to ensure their safety while traveling. And if you want your child to get used to staying in a car seat, it’s best to start early.
You also need a diaper bag if you plan on traveling with your baby.
Nice-to-have accessories
Now that we’ve covered the essentials, here’s a short list of some items that could also help you in caring for your baby and entertaining her going forward.
- Wind-up mobiles and other toys
- Baby Monitor
- Air purifier or humidifier for baby’s room
- Walker
- Rubber protectors for sharp edges
- High chair
- Baby bouncer
- Stroller
- Baby carrier
- Baby books made of cloth or board material
- Toy mirror
- Pacifier
- Night light
Mommy’s must-haves
Don’t forget about yourself, mommy! You just gave birth and you also need some TLC. Here are some things that can help you with post-partum care and breastfeeding.
- Clothes with front opening for breastfeeding/nursing wear
- Nursing bras
- Nipple cream
- Breast pads
- Disposable panties (optional, for when you have just given birth at the hospital)
- Sanitary pads/maternity napkins
- Bedroom slippers
- Breast pump (manual or electric)
- Nursing pillow
It’s better to prepare early and research on brands trusted by other parents.
Whether you’re buying brand new things or you’re using hand-me-downs from your child’s siblings, it’s important to check the items first if they are in good condition. Always make sure that they are clean before using them. It’s also good to prepare early so you can research on the items and local brands trusted by most parents. Share this list with your partner or family so they can help you complete them as well.
This list may be long, but rest assured that you’re a step closer to welcoming the new addition to your family.
Do you have anything to add to our checklist for baby’s arrival? Leave a comment and let us know!