Who hasn’t heard this sentence: “Babies need nothing but love.”
Period. Pause. And on we go:
And warmth, and security, and peace and quiet, and a safe environment, and something to drink/eat... oh, and clean laundry, oh, and maybe diapers... and, according to legal regulations, a car seat if you want to drive with the baby... oh, and don't forget the official procedures – and off you go, and the mind reels! Because now you're thinking about what you want to do with or for the baby, what's absolutely necessary, and what can you do without?
After all, it is not just a question of “what do I have to buy”, but also the underlying financial aspect of “what can I buy”.
In general, I can only recommend that you think about new purchases in the following order:
- Do I really need it? (Weighing the costs and benefits, but also priorities and attitudes toward certain issues: e.g., the question: Do you want to breastfeed?)
- Do I already have it? (Are there things in your household that I can repurpose for this purpose or do you already have on hand, like washcloths?)
- Can I make it myself? (e.g., is a nursing scarf really necessary, or will a regular scarf suffice?)
- Can I borrow it? (Especially for large purchases or things where you're unsure whether you even need them, like a bassinet or playpen)
- Can I buy it second-hand? (This would be especially worth considering for furniture, baby baths, clothing, or even toys.)
Buying new items should be your last resort, unless it's a safety issue (e.g., car seat) or hygiene. Even with the items you've purchased, you can then recycle them (rent them out, sell them, donate them, or keep them for your next child).
Even during my pregnancy, I found it helpful (and entertaining) to sign up for baby clubs or certain apps. Without wanting to advertise this, whether these resources come from drugstore chains, baby product manufacturers, or other providers is a matter of taste and independent of when and what information on certain topics arrives. Both in baby clubs and online, you can find lists for the initial supplies that help you get an overview and make a realistic decision.
Because the most important and, at the same time, most wonderful thing is preparing for your little treasure. The imagination and hope in your head of what it will be like, what it will look like, what I will be like as a mother... and so on.
My tips and approach:
Create a checklist for initial equipment
- Ask friends for tips (especially parents of multiple children)
- Wishing meaningful gifts for the birth
- Consider summer/winter baby
- When making large purchases, pay attention to neutral colors and patterns that you like for a long time or that “do not go out of fashion” (e.g. if you want several children)
- Please note delivery times for furniture or strollers (up to 3 months)
- Plan preparation time: e.g. wash new clothes several times (advantage of used clothes: 1x wash is enough)
- Do not buy too much at the beginning, many things are given as gifts at birth or can be quickly purchased when needed (e.g. toys)
Don't let yourself be confused or confused. Think about what you want (and don't want): For example, do you want to breastfeed? Do you want to carry the baby? Do you want to take the baby out in a stroller? Depending on your answers, you may or may not need certain items.
Now don’t forget about yourself and plan your personal things:
What do you need after giving birth during the postpartum period? For example:
- Is there someone there for you during the postpartum period?
- Is your fridge and freezer stocked with healthy, balanced food? Or can someone go shopping for you?
- Do you have the right types of tea in your household (no sage tea if you are breastfeeding, etc.) and enough still water (if you don't have drinking water from the tap)?
- Do you have the appropriate (not normal!!) pads in stock (here: no tampons!)?
- Have you already bought a suitable ointment for your nipples and nursing pads? It's not uncommon to experience leaks, especially at night, and need to change your nursing pad.
From my point of view, I can highly recommend the following things, which are actually helpful in the beginning – even if it is only for the “feeling of security”:
- Muslin diapers and wipes (as a base, for covering, for cuddling the baby, for wiping when spitting up, for holding in the crook of the arm – especially on bare skin to prevent sweating)
- Waterproof bed pad (whether it is used as a base for naked play on the floor or in a baby class, or as a base for changing diapers…) and fitted sheets
- Oily wool (for your own sore nipples and for the baby, because creams for sore bottoms do not help all babies)
- Thermos flask (for warm water to clean the diaper area or for preparing pre-milk at night)
- the right sleeping bag (we could write a whole chapter about that… because whether it’s summer or winter, sizes, natural or synthetic materials, buttons or zippers…)
- Pre-milk powder (and a bottle with a teat in case the planned breastfeeding doesn't work or, in the worst case, something happens to you as a mother that prevents you from breastfeeding)
- Pacifiers – especially night pacifiers that glow in the dark (for calming and comforting if the Big 5 (diaper, hunger, thirst, warmth, cold) have already been dealt with and are not helping)
- Other care, bathing and hygiene items such as a hairbrush, finger cot, hooded bath towel (preferably 80 x 80 cm or 100 x 100 cm), baby thermometer, bath thermometer, nail scissors.
What I was missing from most lists were the following things, which really made everyday life and nights with the baby easier:
- Heat pad (for baby's tummy)
- Exercise ball (for gentle bouncing to calm the baby)
- Night light for the sockets (especially in the hallway or bathroom etc.)
- Car mirror for the rear seat
- Burp cloths (also called triangular cloths)
From a personal point of view, shoes for the baby are completely unimportant and not necessary at the beginning.
There are also many optional features that not everyone needs or wants to use. But they're definitely worth considering:
- Baby monitor (Even though we don't have a house, it's a worthwhile purchase for us and we still use it daily. Remember that you might be visiting friends who have a house, or going on vacation, etc.)
- Steam sterilizer (not absolutely necessary for breastfeeding in the beginning – pacifiers can be boiled, but if formula must/should/may be given, then this device is definitely practical and will be used several times a day)
- Breast pump with filling and storage utensils (such as breast milk bags)
- Co-sleeper, bassinet and/or playpen (playpens are definitely for longer)
- Radiant heater for the changing table
- Diaper pail (important: lockable to avoid odors!)
- Baby bath (optionally usable for the beginning would also be: sink or laundry basket)
- Stroller including sunshade, mosquito net, rain cover and
- Footmuff
- baby carrier
- Storage option such as a padded baby/play blanket
- Baby bouncer and/or high chair with baby seat attachment
Make your everyday life enjoyable and practical with the things you need and enjoy! Because this is the first time you're preparing so intensively for a baby. And maybe it won't be the last. Smile.
Your Melissa // 34 years old, simply a mom of a baby boy
Always seek medical advice
Important note: This article contains only general information and should not be used for self-diagnosis or treatment. It is not a substitute for a consultation with a doctor.
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