Top Ten Must Haves with a Newborn

1. A swaddling blanket

Any blanket can be used for the swaddling method such as a receiving blanket or other small blanket. However, swaddling blankets are usually made of a breathable fabric with either a bit of stretch to them or just enough bigger than a receiving blanket to get a perfect wrap, or “burrito” as we call it, around your wee one. The ideal swaddle is as follows: swaddling blanket, fold in half,  lay baby in the middle (blanket can either be at neck or shoulder height), pull either side very tightly around baby to where you can tuck it behind them. Pull up bottom of blanket towards their belly so feet are snug. Pull the other side of the blanket as tightly as possible, ideally ending up wrapped behind them. Be sure the swaddle has not covered their nose.

Keep baby on their back and walk away. If done correctly the baby shouldn’t be able to break free of swaddle without consulting the Houdini handbook of escape artistry, and you should have a decent hour (or more!) of baby free sleep.

2.  Diapers/wipes. This might sound like a “duh” moment, but truly it is essential! The right fit diaper is ideal to lessen laundry, diaper rash, and give comfort. In my humble opinion, Pampers does the best. They are expensive but rarely leak and hold up to their promise of absorbing amazing amounts of stuff. At the infant stage I prefer them. As kids get older I really don’t care what brand it is as long as they don’t leak (which leakage sometimes depends on the shape of your kid..no-butt babies tend to lose things out the leg holes…some diapers wrap tighter around the thighs than others). Wipes – the fewer you have to use the better. If they rip as you take them out of the container, that’s a sure sign of crappy wipes (tee-hee). Walmart brand wipes (and diapers) are great and friendly on the budget!

3. Nursing Cream: I am one of those poor souls that experiences more discomfort nursing than I’d like to admit. Some creams have attributed to my nursing woes. But I have recently been introduced to a lighter cream than the usually loved Lansinoh lanolin cream (great product, too heavy for me…doesn’t breathe enough). Gerber’s Nuk gentle moisturizing cream is light and less sticky. It is applied via a giant Chapstick like applicator (unlike most creams you have to use your finger tips…germs?). And like most creams it doesn’t have to be washed off prior to a feeding. Target didn’t have it but Babies R Us and online stores do.

4. A good watch, smart phone app, or timer

Feeding frequency and duration are closely monitored in the first week of a babies life. As a nursing mom the quantity consumed cannot be measured in ounces like a formula fed baby and thus the duration and frequency recorded helps determine how the babies weight has increased or decreased since birth. It also helps me know when the cries are likely more food related than gas, tired, or other.

I like the free app Similac offers on the iPhone. It is one of the few feeding tracker apps that allows you to adjust the feeding time if you forgot to enter or track it at the time it happened. It also reminds you which side you fed on first at the last feeding. It also allows you to track diapers and sleep activity. I used this app with Rory for the first month or so until we were on a consistent three hour schedule that the feedings started to hit around the same time each day. It also helps me to know if I haven’t fed long enough and explains if they cry for a feeding earlier than I expected because the previous feeding wasn’t really a “full feeding”.

5. A big drinking cup with a lid.

It’s really just that. Mine is the awesome 32 ounce from the hospital. It has a handle and a straw.  I was so excited to get a new one to replace my 3.5 year old one from Ryder’s birth. Two of these cups a day and I feel great!

6. Music for nursery

These little babies have been living with a heartbeat in their ears forever.  The rhythms of music, be it classical, lullabies, or other sweet sounds, are comforting to the baby and to me! It’s nice to have it drown out the sounds outside of the nursery as well.

We use an iPod with docking station. This has been great for Ryder as he grows. He now uses his for audio books at night. But even if you don’t have an iPod, a simple radio tuned into a classical station does the trick (in the car too! The music trains them to hush on trips as well).

7. Squirt tube Vaseline

This only applies to little boys who have been circumcised. They will need loving amounts of the stuff applied at diaper changes. Using q-tips instead of fingers is recommended to avoid infection, but I find the squirt tube a step up. It’s a little more expensive than a tub of the stuff but much easier. Plus you don’t need a tub for 10 or so days of application.

8. Gas drops

There are different types on the market.  We like the natural version called gripe water. Little Tummies puts out a great one that can be found at Target and other big box stores.  Gripe water gas drops help calm the tummy as they are growing through the kinks and cramps of fluffing out their bellies as they grow. Remember how new their systems are and sometimes they get backed up like the rest of us. This product is safe, yummy, and won’t interfere with eating/ appetite.

9.  BabyBijorn or other hands free carrier

The Bijorn is a buckled on to mommy/daddy hands free baby carrier. I liked It even with one kid because I could keep my shopping cart free, hands free, and yet baby was close to me and lots of free cuddle time while getting something done! It also helped me lose baby weight as I would shop. Squatting down for things with a 8-20lb kiddo strapped to your middle does wonders! It’s also great to have when strollers won’t fit in certain stores or busy locations or if your hands are occupied guiding siblings.

10. Nook eReader or other entertainment for mommy. (side note, my little brother, Alex Parker of buyalex.com worked on one of Nook’s ad campaigns. Check out his work here)

Nursing, although sweet cuddle time, is a consistent and frequent activity for those first months. It can get a little boring and lonely at times (especially when you are around environments that give you ugly looks if you don’t quarantine yourself to the distant corners…as if mommies don’t need to be a part of the party too!)

I found my Barnes and Noble Nook and/or iPhone ideal to keeping sanity amongst the feedings. The Nook is super easy to nurse and balance with one hand or even balance on my knee. My iPhone allows me to answer short emails (yes, office work does require attention after maternity leave!), keep up with Bible reading, and other communication while feeding.

*11. Okay, I know I said 10, but this is actually the most important to me:

Aside from my mother, mother-in-law, and close friends who help overall sanity by sending meals, playing with Rory and Ryder, and whatever else I need, there is the undeniable need for my closest buddy, Chris.

Not available at the big box stores or online (at least not that I know of), my buddy is there to intercept my wildest of woes. As much as I hate to admit it, I hit emotional walls hard and out of nowhere, especially in the first few weeks. Between painful nursing, sleepless nights, overwhelming responsibilities outside of baby world,  there is nothing better than having a less sleep deprived pal to reassure I haven’t lost my mind.  That I am not a horrible mother for not making muffins for my children and rather throwing them yet another plain rice cake for breakfast.

He is my pal that won’t throw it in my face later that it I was an emotional wreck and totally blew a lost pair of socks out of proportion (or he is the one that could call me out and I could love him for it later). If you don’t have one of these pals before you have a kid, I highly recommend you put it first on your list. I couldn’t survive baby world without him.