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| health > story page |         |
Shopping for your newborn: What your list should includeJuly 28, 1999
By Amy Chamberlain
(WebMD) -- Linda Corrado hasn't had much time to rest since she had her baby. From the minute she came back from the hospital, her newborn's cries have kept her busy feeding, bathing and tending to the baby's numerous needs. Fortunately for Corrado, 6-day-old Katarina is her second child, so the New York City resident knew what to have on hand. "Before I had a baby, all I could think about were cute Baby Gap clothes and mandatory crib blankets," Corrado says. "But gifts from friends provided what I really needed, like side-snap shirts, baby nail-clippers and a nasal aspirator." Getting prepared for a new baby can be a smooth process, says Gemilyn Bringas, newborn-parenting instructor at California Pacific Medical Center's Lactation Center in San Francisco. She says parents often get bogged down creating a long list of expensive items, or they make the mistake of overlooking the obvious. She offers concerned parents-to-be the following tips: 1. Find out what works well in the first week -- newborns will let you know. 2. Just because a product says "baby" on it does not mean you need it. 3. You know a lot more than you think you do -- go with your instincts. Buying big is the key to clothes shopping, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Most newborns require larger sizes than you might expect and, in any case, they tend to outgrow "newborn" sizes within a week. New moms also should shop for themselves before the baby comes. "I wish someone had given me advice on what nursing bra to buy, or how many nursing pads I would need," says Anne Wilbur, a mother of two from San Anselmo, California. Veteran moms suggest having several nursing bras on hand (so you won't have to do laundry every day if your breasts leak) and plenty of nursing pads. Nursing pads need changing as soon as they become damp, to prevent bacteria from growing. Experienced parents also recommend keeping an extra stash of cloth diapers for burping and spills in addition to changings. Tiny soft washcloths are great in the bathtub and for feedings. Other linens you need include:
Hygiene and first aid for newborns When it comes to stocking your bathroom, don't fret about buying everything right away. Things to consider for the medicine chest include:
Functional, not fashionable: The list of furnishings Assemble the dresser, bookshelf, toy chest and crib ahead of time. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends buying your crib new, which ensures that it meets current Federal safety regulations and industry voluntary standards (ASTM). Also, don't forget the following:
Wilbur suggests setting up a rocking chair where you will be nursing. "Test it out; make sure you feel comfortable. You'll spend a lot of time there," she says. And last, but certainly not least, you should buy a rear-facing car seat. Babies should use the rear-facing seat until they are 20 pounds. Children weighing 20 to 40 pounds should use a car seat that is front facing. All car seats should go in the back seat. Lastly, a diaper bag to store all your essentials will make your list complete.
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Motherhood - The first weeks RELATED SITES: American Academy of Pediatrics LATEST HEALTH STORIES: China SARS numbers pass 5,000
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