Being a new mother can be overwhelming. You’re not only dealing with hormones and recovery, you also constantly think about your newborn checklist and whether you have bought everything you’ll need for the next three months. Once your baby arrives, it will be sometime before you are able to be out and about. It is therefore important to be well prepared before hand. Below we look at the 7 categories of newborn basics that you need to add to your list.
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| Newborn baby essentials |
Wardrobe:
These include all the clothing items for your baby. From sleepers to mittens, oneses to socks. Among other things you’ll need:
- 8-10 sleepers with feet
- 4 or more oneses depending on the time of year
- 3 sleeping gowns
- 2 or more fun outfits for photo days and special occasions
- 2-5 pairs of scratch mittens. Babies are known to scratch themselves.
- 3 hats
- 3-5 pairs of baby socks
- Gentle laundry detergent to clean these tiny outfits.
In Nairobi, you can find quality newborn clothing in one of these baby shops in Nairobi, others we’ve left out along Biashara street, as well as kids’ shops and supermarkets near you.. If you are on a budget, visit one of the city’s second hand markets like Gikomba, Githurai, Kangemi,Toi or any other near you and you’ll get lightly worn pieces for a very good price.
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| Baby clothing |
Feeding:
To know what to buy for your newborn checklist feeding basics, you need to think about whether the baby will be bottle or breast-fed. Among the items you will need are;
- Breastfeeding cover
- Pacifiers
- Lanolin cream for the mom’s nipples especially in the first 2 weeks
- Breast pump
- Feeding bottles
- Burp cloths/ bibs
- Formula
- Storage bags and more
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| Feeding newborn essentials |
Bath:
For bath time, you’ll need a bathing station, baby soap, baby lotion and hooded towels.
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| Bathing essentials for newborns |
Changing:
You’ll be doing a lot of changing. For this, you’ll need changing mats, wipes, newborn diapers and more.
Crib:
Most of your baby’s early life will be spent in the crib. Among the items you need to think about are crib sheets, muslin blankets, cot bumpers etc.
On the Go:
These are for when you’re out and about. They include diaper bags, car seats and strollers.
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| Baby strollers |
Others:
Though not so basic as the other items in the newborn checklist, the items in this category make life with a newborn just a tad easier. They include swings, baby carriers and monitors.
Gift Sets:
This list can be overwhelming for a parent and even more so for a person looking for a gift to buy for a new mom. For those with no clue on what to get for a baby shower, you can never go wrong with a gift set. They are color coordinated and sex specific. It becomes very easy for you to choose the most appealing color for that small girl or boy. In the process, you help a parent strike off a few items from their newborn checklist!!
Until we see each other again,
