If you are expecting and have been wondering how to prepare for a baby, the first thing is to understand that babies don’t always arrive on their due date. They may come early unexpectedly and if you don’t have certain item ready and waiting, the first few days at home may be a challenge.
The obvious items when thinking about how to prepare for a baby are a crib, a changing table, and a rocking chair, but once you have those, there are still plenty of things that can make the newborn stage easier for both parents and baby. It is recommended that you acquire and set up everything you will need for your baby before they arrive, no later than 37 weeks.
How to Prepare for a Baby with 5 Essential Items
Chicco Car Seat
A car seat is possibly one of the most important items to have before your baby arrives. It is the only way to take your baby home safely after they are born and hospitals actually require parents to have a car seat properly installed in your vehicle before you leave with your newborn. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends that children stay in a rear-facing car seat until they are at least 3 years old or reach the maximum height and weight limits to sit rear-facing. Preparing for a baby includes shopping for a car seat that you are going to be able to use from infancy to toddlerhood.
The Chicco Fit2 Infant and Toddler Car Seat is one car seat with two stages that allows newborn babies to ride securely in the same car seat until they are toddlers up to 35 pounds. Stage 1 has all the traditional functions of a rear-facing infant seat while offering more reclined positioning, ideal for sleeping babies. Stage 1 can be transitioned to Stage 2 in seconds, creating more leg room and a more mature seating position for growing toddlers.
The carry handle, canopy, harness tightener, and headrest can all be adjusted with one hand. The Chicco Fit2 Infant and Toddler Car Seat is also compatible with Chicco strollers to be used when you take babies on the go. The seat pad is both removable and machine washable to keep your car seat looking clean and new.
SHOP:
Fit2 Infant and Toddler Car Seat
EXPLORE AND CONNECT:
Chicco | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube
Baby Delight Bedside Me Bassinet and Bedside Sleeper
If you plan on having your newborn sleep in your room after they are born, you will want to have a bassinet and bedside sleeper set up and ready for their first day home from the hospital. The Bedside Me Dreamer Bassinet and Bedside Sleeper is a safe, comfortable place to sleep for your little one to be close to you. This sleeper can be used in two different modes. The bassinet gives your infant a private sleeping area in any location. The lightweight design allows you to move the Bedside Me Dreamer from room to room easily letting baby be wherever you are.
If you want a co-sleeping experience without having your child physically in the bed with you, this bassinet quickly and easily turns into a bedside sleeper in seconds. By unzipping the side panel and securing the Bedside Me Dreamer to your bed, you can have your baby directly next to you. This mode gives you easy access to your newborn without ever having to leave your bed. You can nurse them, comfort them, and regularly check on them throughout the night. The 6-position height adjustment will raise the bedside sleeper to the exact height you require to be level with your mattress.
Breathable, mesh walls surround your baby giving parents a clear view of their child while keeping the air circulating around them. The cover and sheet are both removable and washable. The storage pocket on the side is a great place to keep a bottle or a pacifier for quick access. No tools are required to assemble the Beside Me Dreamer and it can be built in just a few minutes.
READ MORE: 5 Rules for Safe Co-Sleeping
SHOP:
Beside Me Dreamer Bassinet and Bedside Sleeper
EXPLORE AND CONNECT:
Baby Delight | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest
Ubbi Diaper Pail
How to prepare for a baby includes stocking up on diapers. A newborn baby goes through 10 to 12 diapers a day. Putting this many diapers in an open trash can where the smell will easily permeate throughout the whole house is not enjoyable for anyone. The Ubbi Diaper Pail is unlike any other diaper pail on the market. What sets this diaper pail apart from others is that it is economical. The Ubbi doesn’t require any special bags, saving parents money by being able to use a reusable cloth liner or household bags like regular kitchen trash bags instead. This pale can hold up to 55 diapers before having to be emptied.
The Ubbi Diaper Pale is made of powder-coated steel with rubber seals that effectively help to control the odor. The sliding lid also keeps odors locked in by minimizing air disruption with quick and easy opening and closing. The Ubbi also includes a child-proof lock to keep children from getting into the dirty diapers. This pail comes in twelve color options and patterns to easily match any nursery theme.
SHOP:
Diaper Pail
EXPLORE AND CONNECT:
Ubbi | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube | Pinterest
Boppy Newborn Lounger
The Boppy Newborn Lounger is the perfect place to lay your baby during supervised, awake time. The recessed interior is designed to cradle your baby in a relaxed and secure position. The slight incline of the lounger is the ideal position for feeding, making it easy for baby to take a bottle. You’ll want to take this support pillow with you everywhere and doing that is easy with the cloth handle at the top. The entire lounger is machine washable and comes in several adorable prints.
READ MORE: Think About Safety as You Prepare For Your New Baby
SHOP:
Newborn Lounger
EXPLORE AND CONNECT:
Boppy | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube | Pinterest
Putska Diaper Caddy
We’ve all heard the saying that babies mostly eat, sleep, and poop and it is no secret that parents find themselves changing diapers several times a day and throughout the night. However, it’s not just the diaper they will need when changing. Supplies including wipes, diaper rash cream, baby powder, and a changing mat all come into play during the process. The Putska Diaper Caddy is a spacious and sturdy diaper caddy that will keep all of these items easily accessible. The interior dividers and exterior pockets allow you keep all of these essentials organized while the foldable design and carrying handles make this caddy completely portable to take everything with you wherever you need it.
SHOP:
Diaper Caddy
EXPLORE AND CONNECT:
Putska | Facebook | Instagram
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Parents new and old know that when it comes to a new baby, preparation is key. You will be overwhelmed enough with caring for a new addition to your family, you don’t want to be worrying about certain supplies you need. How to prepare for a baby includes getting everything ready well in advance so you can not only have peace of mind but make life in general with an infant much easier to navigate. Congratulations on the soon to be arrival of your little one!
WANT TO READ MORE?
For more suggestions on how to prepare for a baby, check out 10 Items That Make Life With a Newborn Easier.
Photo Credit: Sasha Staton
