The question of the Baby Starter Kit This becomes all the more urgent as the due date approaches. Expectant parents want to get everything they need so that everything is ready for their little one’s arrival. But what do you actually need for a newborn? Specialty stores recommend dozens of items—some more important than others—to new parents. Having reliable information about “baby essentials” can therefore help you save money as well.
An Oversupply of Baby Essentials
Mothers and fathers have several options when they want to purchase their first baby essentials. The local baby store offers expert advice and personalized service. Expectant parents receive personalized advice from knowledgeable sales associates and can get answers to any questions they have about baby essentials. This usually results in a slightly higher retail price.
Buy Baby Essentials Online
Pregnant women can find a wide variety of options online for a baby’s starter kit. From the comfort of her own sofa, the expectant mother can make her selection online, and with just one click, the baby essentials are conveniently delivered right to her door. Several retailers have established themselves in the online market for baby essentials; here is a small selection, and a search engine will bring up countless other online stores specializing in baby essentials:
Mail-order shopping is another way to conveniently purchase essential baby items from home. The downside of buying online is the lack of in-person advice. You also can’t examine the products you want before purchasing them. However, a longer return period makes exchanges easier and ensures that online shopping is safe and simple. A better value for the money is another reason to shop online.
Expert Advice on Baby Essentials
Most expectant mothers attend a childbirth preparation class during their pregnancy, often together with their partner. The midwife providing care is there to offer advice and support, including help with putting together a baby’s initial supplies. During the class, which prepares them for childbirth, expectant mothers receive a helpful checklist of items needed for a newborn.
Less Is More When It Comes to Baby Essentials
Even though the selection of baby essentials seems almost endless, a baby needs much less in the early days and first few months of life than most expectant mothers think. A checklist can help you avoid unnecessary purchases:
Baby Essentials: Clothing
- 5–6 bodysuits, size 56
- 5–6 onesies, size 56
- 6 pairs of socks
- 2 pairs of mittens to prevent any scratches on the face
- 2 pairs of pajamas
- 2 sleeping bags
- 2 sets of clothing for outings (thickness depending on the season)
- 2 little hats
Essential Baby Items for Sleep
- A bassinet for the early days
- Baby Cradle
- Crib
- Medium-firm mattress (firmness depends on the baby's age)
- waterproof mattress pad
- 2 bed sheets
- 1 baby monitor
- 1 Mobile
- 1 music box
- Crib bumpers for protection in a crib
- Baby Blanket
Tip: Instead of buying lots of different sleeping arrangements for your baby—such as a bassinet, a cradle, a crib, and a travel crib for when you’re on the go—there’s also an all-in-one solution that combines everything and offers many other benefits as well. We’re talking about a spring cradle. The spring cradle can be easily set up almost anywhere, providing your baby with a familiar sleeping environment wherever you go—one that carries the familiar scents of home and thus signals a safe environment to your baby. Thanks to its supportive sides and ergonomic shape, your baby is cradled very naturally, just like in the womb. The cotton fabric ensures optimal moisture regulation. The sheep’s wool mattress does not absorb germs and, thanks to its naturally occurring lanolin, has strong anti-inflammatory properties. All in all, it provides a very natural and healthy sleeping environment. For more information, visit the manufacturer’s website at www.federwiege.at.
Warning: Parents should not use pillows or thick blankets for babies under one year of age. The risk of sudden infant death syndrome is minimized by using a sleep sack. It is also recommended that babies sleep on their backs!
Essential Baby Supplies for Care and Feeding
- 10 cloth diapers
- 1 Nursing Pillow
- 1 breast pump, if needed
- 2 nursing bras
- Baby bottles and nipples in age-appropriate sizes (for milk and tea)
- Pacifier as needed
- Bottle Sterilizer
- 2 packs of diapers (smallest size)
- Diaper pail
- Changing Table with Changing Pad
- Baby Bathtub
- Baby care products (your midwife will be happy to advise you on which ones to choose)
- Hooded Towels
- 1 baby thermometer
Essential Baby Items for Mobility
- Stroller
- Stroller Accessories (Insect Net, Sunshade, Footmuff)
- Baby Sling
- Spring cradle
- Car Safety Seat
- Baby Blanket for Outings in Nature
- A hat and gloves to keep you from getting cold outdoors
- Jacket, depending on the season
- Diaper bag for all your essentials, even when you're out and about
Having Fun Shopping for Baby Essentials
In addition to the need to buy the baby’s initial supplies before the new family member arrives, expectant parents really enjoy browsing specialty stores and online shops. Buying tiny onesies and cute little hats heightens the anticipation for the new arrival, and choosing the right stroller together is a lot of fun. Expectant mothers’ instinct to “build a nest” does the rest, and when the baby is on the way, everything needed for the baby’s starter kit is ready and waiting for the new arrival.
