Everything You Need to Prepare for Your New Baby

Having a baby is incredibly exciting, and there’s simply nothing like bringing your baby home for the first time. However, it should also be noted that babies are also quite a big responsibility. At times, it may feel like your baby needs everything under the sun! To ensure you’re prepared to bring your newborn home, here’s everything you need to prepare for your new baby.

Clothing

While you may be excited to dress up your newborn and really show them off, it may be better to focus on dressing your child in simple, more expendable outfits at first. Your newborn will quickly outgrow clothes at lightning speeds, and babies are nothing, if not messy. You’ll find yourself with more than a few soiled outfits, and it’d be a shame if the outfits you were really excited about ended up becoming too small or ruined before you got a chance to show them off.

Regarding diapers, you’ll need to choose between disposable and cloth diapers. Neither choice is incorrect, but you may want to consider which is right for you—the convenience of disposable diapers or the reusability of cloth diapers.

Bedding

For the first 6–12 months, you should plan on your baby sleeping in the same room as you. This allows you to quickly respond if they wake up at night, and it provides your baby with the comfort of knowing you’re also in the room. Regarding the bedding itself, it may be tempting to spoil your baby with soft toys, pillows, and blankets, but it’s recommended you go for a more minimal approach in the beginning. Keep the baby’s crib more utilitarian than anything. Lastly, make sure you have waterproof bedding covers or padding to account for any midnight messes.

Feeding

The last thing you need to prepare for your new baby is feeding supplies. If you choose to breastfeed, you may choose to look into the variety of breastfeeding supplies that soothe discomfort, but you otherwise don’t need much. If you instead choose formula feeding, you’ll obviously need bottles, but you should also talk with your doctor about various formula brands and types to decide which option will be the most beneficial for your baby.