There's lots of things you think you will need and you feel like you can never be too prepared. I think there is such a thing is being overly prepared because taking care of a baby can go back to basics. I know for me it was quite overwhelming seeing all the new baby items out there since my last two kids were born 15 & 16 years ago!
This list is my personal opinion and won't ring true for everyone. I hope it helps you out.
- Baby Wipe Warmer ( I found it to be pretty bulky out on the changing table. I also think it dries up the wipes which wastes them. I actually take out a wipe before use and kind of squeeze it in my hand to "warm" it up before using it.)
- Long Sleeve Clothing ( I used long sleeve stuff during the first week Lucas was home and that's it. Even with an air conditioner running pretty much 24/7 it was way too hot to bundle him up. This kid is like a little space heater and gets sweaty easily. )
- Newborn Size Clothing ( This is something I also used only for about the first couple of weeks. My son was 6 1/2 pounds when he was born. He was a skinny little thing but let me tell you that size 0-3 clothing fits just fine. I found that Gerber and Carter's brand runs small so just get a few of their things in 0-3 months and you will be golden. )
- Expensive Diapers ( Everyone has different budgets to work with with is understandable. I consider myself middle class type of income so while I can afford the fancy stuff I choose not to completely make my wallet a slave to it. I only use the expensive diapers overnight. I'll go through about 3-4 and switch over to the cheapo stuff. I use Huggies Special Delivery )
- Mam Pacifiers ( These pacifiers were a big flop for me which is unfortunate because I got a bunch of them from free sample opportunities. I feel like they were made for preemie babies. It's built so tiny that the back cover and sides pressed up against my babies mouth in a weird way. He wasn't a fan of them either. )
- Baby Nest ( I have the Dock-A-Tot and used it for the first couple of weeks. My baby would start to eventually get fussy laying in it so I stopped using it. Your baby doesn't need this fancy expensive thing and you can probably just buy the foam wedge forms. I may revisit it later on but totally not needed! )
- Surplus amount of blankets ( Receiving blankets are something you probably will get a bunch of. As a Summer baby especially you don't need them or won't use them. I probably use about 3 in rotation. I lay it from the middle of his belly down over his legs because its too hot to bundle him. Get a couple of Muslin blankets for the Summer time. )
- Baby Hats ( Definitely don't need these in the Summer time and I feel like they are hazardous when baby is young. They can slip down onto the face and cause suffocation. )
- Surplus amount of baby pants ( It's been way too hot for my son to wear his pants and I end up taking them off of him after an hour wearing them. You may need 1-2 to put on your baby if you're taking them out to a doctor visit. )
- Baby Mittens ( You only need 1 or a 3 pack. They really do fall off very easily so your best bet is to use them during the first week or two then put it away. Keep your little ones nails trimmed instead.
- Surplus amount of baby socks ( Just like mittens the socks will usually fall off from kicking. It's hard to find tiny newborn socks so get a couple pairs to hold you over until baby is bigger. Don't worry ..baby feet don't stink. )
- Lots of Baby Bottles ( My sons favorite bottle? The Dr Brown freebie I got in a box. Try to get single brands if possible and let your child pick out what they feed most comfortable from. Once you figure that out with them you can buy a few more of the same one. Even if you breastfeed you will need bottles later on and you may decide to use a bottle for pumped milk. )
- Baby Milk Warmer ( I used it a few times and then I just made bottles at my desk. The gallon of distilled water I use to mix formula is already lukewarm since it just sits out anyway. I feel like there is no need to make it piping hot. )
- Decorative Bibs ( I haven't even used 1 of the like 30 I probably have. Bandana bibs are adorable but that's strictly for drool and fashion purposes. You don't want to get them stained with formula or breastmilk. )
- Sleep Sacks ( I have a bunch of sleep sacks ranging from long sleeve to no sleeve kinds. I used it in the beginning couple of weeks but once again it got too hot to use them. I will use them in a couple of months around October once it starts to get cool out. They should still fit him hopefully. )
- Baby Detergent ( Dreft? Smells outrageously wonderful but it's kind of expensive. If you want to stay away from the regular stuff there are a whole range of dye free detergents out there to choose from. There are also a bunch of natural type detergents. It doesn't need to be made for babies. It's a marketing scam just to make extra money off new parents. )
- Baby Crib Bumpers ( Your baby won't go rolling off to the edges just yet. If you do get any bumpers opt for the mesh screened ones that won't obstruct breathing plus you can see through them. )
- Plushies (Your little one won't be playing with toys for a long while. Plushies are cute but you don't need a ton of them other than for decoration at this point. )
- Footie Pajamas/ pants ( The feet portion of these things are weird most of the time. A lot of the time they are way too small. Once again it is also too hot for my baby to use these things )
- Baby Carrier ( You really won't be going out much. Holding a baby in these things get super hot in the Summer. Skip the carrier and opt for a sling. )
There are a few things I ordered after baby was home. Butt paste was not working well for my little one so I decided to try a combination of Aquaphor healing oinment and Anti Monkey Butt. The Butt Powder works really well but its a little expensive. A nightlight was needed because I didnt want to confuse my son turning on the full room light during night time feeds. I purchased a ball light in the shape of a moon. It's great and I use it every single night. It doesn't interfere with him and gives me enough light to see what I'm doing. I just ordered a diaper cover which I plan to use for overnight. I still need to see how that works but I'm hoping for the best.
Here's a little extra advice. DO take offers of used baby clothing especially for the first 6 months. It's fine to buy new outfits but you will be changing your kid frequently. People really won't be seeing your baby much so keep it casual for your sanity sake.
Let me just say that Water Wipes are just awful. They are so moist that it actually becomes too wet. The wipes are super cold on my son's butt. He would complain every time those things touched his skin. I absolutely hated them and you will more than likely get some freebie packs to try on your own.
You don't need baby diaper bags for dirty diapers. Once again marketing comes into play. Buy a big box of Dog poop bags readily available on Amazon. They are basically the same thing without fancy scents on them.
What are some things you didn't need with your new baby? Please share in the comment section. ^__^
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