While you certainly are filled with joy on the anticipation of the arrival of your newborn, one thing is clear; you will need to make sure everything is on point for safe arrival. Not entirely sure how to prepare for childbirth? You can find the guide to what your newborn will need below to be useful in preparing adequately for the arrival of a baby.

Shopping for Baby Arrival

Many things can make the list to buy for your baby's arrival. You want to keep it simple but memorable, so you want to focus on the essentials. When the big day comes, you can get all the other toys and baby dresses. You can find a list of the essentials broken down by categories in the sections below.

Essentials

Some of the critical things you have to make preparations for when planning the arrival of your newborn include

1. Feeding

You have the option of either breastfeeding or using baby formula, but either way, you want to ensure everything is available for mealtime. Some of the things you want to include in your list are

Breast pump
Storage containers for milk and formula
Variety of bibs
Burp cloths
Breast pads, pillows, and bras for mum.

Some others can also be useful when preparing newborn food. But you may use them in the house already. They include:

Cooking pots
Plates
Thermos flask
Cutlery etc.

2. Clothing

Another essential thing you have to take care of is your baby's first wear. This is important as the little one will need to start their wardrobe as soon as they arrive. While you may be tempted to shop all the fashionable wears you can lay your hands on, it may be best to buy in batches.

Babies grow up quickly, and you don't want to end up with a wardrobe full of undersized clothes six months after their arrival. Except you can afford it or plan another baby to follow suit, you want to buy clothes a few at a time. You can use this basic clothing checklist to make yours.

Sleepsuit
Tops
One-pieces
Caps
Socks
Long pants
Gowns (for females)

Babies are often fussy sleepers, so make sure to find quality, comfortable sleepwear that will help them sleep better. With their sensitive skin, babies may need hypoallergenic clothes to prevent skin rashes and irritation.

These are just the ones you will need for the first few weeks of arrival. After a few months, once you begin to go out with the little one, you can shop for other kiddie’s fashion according to their age.

3. Sleeping

You also want to make available a sleeping area for your newborn. You could set up a room for your precious little one, but you can also arrange their sleep area in your bedroom if you can make room. Remember, it has to be cozy enough to accommodate the little one peacefully. Some of the things you will have to make available include:

Crib and mattresses
Waterproof covers
Baby blankets
Mosquito net
Baby monitor

You can find more useful resources here https://www.verywellfamily.com/where-should-your-baby-sleep-2634687 on planning your newborn's sleep area.

4. Diapering

It will take a while before the little one learns how to use the litter, so diapers are a must when getting ready for the arrival of your newborn. You could decide between reusable options or go for disposable ones. But diapers are not the only thing you want to have available for diapering. Some others include:

Reusable/disposable diapers
Changing pads
Disposable wipes
Towels
Rash prevention ointments
Safety pins
Garbage bags for used diapers

5. Bathing

Bath time will also need to be taken into consideration when planning the arrival of your baby. The shower may not be best for bathing a newborn, so having the right alternative is a must. They include:

Infant bathtub
Baby soap and sponges
Soft-cotton towels
Combs and brushes
Antiseptic cleaners

You could introduce a lot into your baby’s bath time, but you should avoid using chemical products on newborn skin. An organic option may be best and avoid using adult bath products on babies. More details on this site about proper bath time for babies. You can also find useful information on starting a nursery the right way.

Final Note

It is a long list of essentials when shopping for the arrival of a newborn. But having all you need for a safe arrival is all that matters. So start by checking through the items on the list above and cross-check it with yours. And least I forget, congratulations on your bundle of joy that’s around the corner. All the best.

Baby Shopping 101 | A Guide to What Your Newborn Will Need