One of my major projects this summer was to figure out what essentials I needed to buy before the baby was born. As many blogs reminded me, I could always buy things for the baby after he or she was born. But what things should I have prepared before the baby arrives? I read many online resources, I asked many moms, and the lists all varied in one way or another. The following list is not one that I would recommend, it’s just what I ultimately decided on buying and why. (Two things to note: 1. I am not including the items I bought for myself in this blog, like nursing bras and pads, though they are a part of many baby essentials lists. 2. Any item listed with an asterisk (*) I bought in China, and the link provided is just an example of the item. All other items were purchased in the US when Ben visited there on a business trip.)
Baby carrier and teething cloths
One thing all of the essentials lists I found included was a baby carrier. This can be either a sling that you tie with a very long cloth around your body, or it can be one of those sportier carriers that have buckles and built-in lumbar support. A baby carrier is essentially an item that lets you carry the baby around but keeps your hand free to do other things. I spent a lot of time investigating the different brands and their features, and I ultimately decided on the ErgoBaby Omni 360. I chose this one because of the consistently good reviews and versatility of this brand. Both Ben and I could use it, and we would be able to carry the baby in many different directions (e.g. facing in and out, with the baby on either our front or our back). It would also grow with the baby up until 45lbs.
Car Seat / Stroller and Accessories
Car Seat Canopy Cover / Breast Feeding Cover
Another essential on everyone’s list is a car seat. Unlike most places in the United States where you cannot leave the hospital after delivery unless you have a car seat, there is no such requirement in China if you do not own a car. Even so, how was I going to get my baby home from the hospital if I didn’t have a car seat? I was not willing to take my newborn in my bare hands or a baby carrier on a 90-minute drive from Shanghai to Kunshan. It’s simply not worth the risk. As such, Ben and I decided to get the Doona car seat that can also transform into a stroller because it best suited to city dwellers who don’t own their own vehicles. When we take the subway, we can push the baby around, but if we need to jump into a taxi, we can buckle the baby in with a safe car seat.
To accessorize, I got the matching rain cover and diaper bag. I love this diaper bag because it’s very roomy, and it attaches conveniently to the stroller. They’ve also made it so that you can easily remove items from the bag without having to detach it from the stroller first. As for the canopy cover / breastfeeding cover, I got that to protect the baby from the sun on very hot days. I can also use it while breastfeeding to maintain some modesty in front of my conservative father-in-law, and because I frankly wouldn’t put it pass someone to take a photo of the black foreigner with her boob out breastfeeding her baby.
Diapers and Accessories
Alva Baby Pocket Diapers (36 One-Size fits all, 24 newborns, 20 Gerber Prefolds, 12 bamboo inserts, 600 disposable inserts, 5 Snappi diaper pins, 2pc wet/dry diaper bag)
Disposable newborn diapers for first week
Not surprisingly, everyone’s essentials list included diapers, whether cloth or disposable. Cloth diapering has come a long way in the last few decades. There are many different types, like all-in-ones, which are just like your disposable diaper, but you can wash it and reuse it. The thing with all-in-ones is that they tend to be expensive and dry very slowly. You also have the old-fashioned cloth diapers (called prefolds) that you fold around the baby and secure with a pin. However, the pins have also developed over the years, and many people are a big fan of Snappi diaper pins.
I plan to use a combination of the prefold and pocket diaper system. With pocket diapers, there is diaper shell and an insert you put in the diaper to absorb moisture. When it comes time to wash the diaper, you separate the insert and diaper shell. I like this system because it’s the most versatile, and the separation of the inserts and shell makes drying the diaper much faster. Also, in a bind, you can use many things as an insert, for example, prefolds. Prefolds can also be used for many other purposes, as I’ll discuss further below. Besides reusable inserts for pocket diapers, there are also disposable ones that you can use, say on the go. This way you can just toss the insert and put the diaper shell in your wet/dry diaper bag.
I spent the most time researching diapers because cloth diapering options are diverse enough to warrant a whole class on the topic, maybe even a dissertation. That diversity doesn’t mean that cloth diapering is complex. It can be quite easy, especially once you get the hang of it. Also, over time, it becomes a very affordable option that can be used for multiple children. My primary reason, though, for cloth diapering is that it can be more environmentally friendly. It’s a lot less disposables to put in a landfill, though it is more laundry. As such, I wanted to make sure I picked a laundry detergent and stain remover that would be effective at knocking out strong smells without pouring strong chemicals into our water systems. I also wanted it to be something that I could get fairly easily in China as having these products shipped from the US was not environmentally friendly and unrealistic in the long run.
Of course, cloth diapering will be very new for me, Ben, my in-laws, and my mother. So, I have bought some newborn disposables for on the go (e.g. on the way home from the hospital) and the potential moments of exhaustion or frustration. As it is, my father-in-law is already making a fuss about our decision to cloth diaper. It’s so inconvenient, he laments. In truth, cloth diaper or disposable, I’m not sure he was ever planning to change the baby’s diaper; he just has an opinion about it.
Burp cloths
Babies spit up a lot in those first few months as their gastrointestinal systems continue to develop. So, while burping them, it’s a good idea to have a burp cloth to protect one’s clothes. Burp cloths can also double as nursing pads to prevent awkward breast leaks, and they can be used while breast feeding in order to catch any overflow. The burp cloths I bought are the same Gerber Prefolds mentioned above under diapers. These cloths are super absorbent and versatile. They can be used for many purposes.
There’s a lot of debate about formula usage for moms who plan to breastfeed like I do. Some women say don’t buy formula. It’s like having a hot take-out meal on your counter the night you plan to attempt that complex recipe you’ve had on your fridge for months. You will likely give up on the recipe and just serve the take-out. The presence of formula, in other words, will weaken you. Other women say to have some just in case your milk doesn’t come in for a few days, or there’s not enough to satisfy your baby’s needs.
I chose to buy one tin of formula just in-case. After the baby formula scandal in China about a decade ago, there’s been a lingering concern about the quality of baby formula available in China. So, some foreign moms who have given birth in China recommended I bring formula from the US to bring to the hospital where I plan to give birth. If formula is necessary, they suggested I use the one I brought instead of the one the doctor prescribes. I spoke to the hospital staff, and they said it was okay to give the baby formula I brought if necessary. I imagine I may never open that tin of formula myself, and it may be one of the things I give away laer. However, I do have it if I need it, and when my mother comes to China to visit, she can bring more if necessary.
At this point, I’ve not bought bottles or a breast pump. I still need to do more research on the benefits of bottle-feeding breast milk, and as I mentioned at the beginning, I can always buy these items after the baby is born. Should an occasion arise where I need to pump, I can hand-express milk, though I wouldn’t argue that it’s as easy as using a pump.
Sleep Time
There’s a lot of debate about where the baby should sleep. Some minimalist moms will tell you that you don’t need a crib because co-sleeping is the best way to go. Others will warm you of the risks of Sudden Infant Death syndrome. The American Association of Pediatricians recommends that during the first year of life babies sleep in the same room as the parents but in a different bed, like a crib or bassinet. Recently, though, the AAP is not as strict about co-sleeping, originally suggesting that it should never be done, and many other in-bed options have been created to allow the baby to sleep next to you but in a more separated space. There are also many guidelines available about how to make co-sleeping safer.
I decided to go with the crib in the bedroom option mostly because it was the most versatile. After one-year-old, the baby will likely be sleeping in a separate room, and the crib I bought can adjust for different stages of the baby’s growth. In fact, not only can it be used later for a toddler bed, it can be transformed into a full-size bed for a teenager. In other words, I can use this crib for many years to come. Does that mean that I’ll never co-sleep with the baby? No, not at all. We’ll see what happens, but I feel fairly confident the crib will be used eventually and maybe even right away. As new parents, Ben and I will likely be too afraid to start co-sleeping from the very beginning.
Bath Time
Especially during the first few months of life, babies really don’t get very dirty, but you will still need to give them a bath a couple times a week with soap. On other days, just wiping them down with water is more than enough. When using soap, I want something that will be gentle on the baby’s sensitive skin, while again being more natural and eco-friendly. After some research, I decided to try Honest Co.’s baby shampoo and body wash.
The hooded baby towel and baby wash cloths were not super essential, but I did want to get towels specifically for the baby to use, and the hooded ones are so cute and can help keep them warm while you dry them off. The wash cloths actually came with the towels for free, so that was just a bonus. The towels I bought can also double as blankets at other times.
Newborn Clothes
I looked at a variety of books and websites to come up with the above clothing options for our newborn. I also based my choices on the fact that the baby would be born in the heat of summer. For instance, I knew I wouldn’t need a newborn jacket in August. I ended up having more swaddle wraps, hats, and other clothing than I’ll probably need simply because we got gifts and giveaways after I had already purchased most of our items. I did ask that no one buy us any baby gifts, giving gift cards if they were really inclined to offer us something. However, I know people are sometimes more comfortable picking up a cute top instead of a gift card. At this point, I have kept some items in their original packaging so that I can give them away to other expecting moms should we find that we have more than we need.
Medical Needs
As I mentioned in a previous post, I have a good friend who is also a pediatrician. She gave me a list of medical items that she would recommend getting in the United States. The list above is based on her recommendation, with the exception of the manicure safety set. Whether or not a manicure safety set is essential is also not agreed upon. However, after some research, I decided ultimately to get one. I also received a digital thermometer for the baby as a gift from one of Ben’s colleagues, and I’m feeling pretty ready to handle the minor aches and illnesses that the baby might experience in those first few months of life.
As I close, I’m not sure if this kind of post is interesting, but the research that lead me to order these items took up a significant amount of my 6th and 7th month of pregnancy. If readers mention they find this kind of thing interesting, then you can expect a future post about what I decided to include in my hospital bag and why. That focuses more on the items that I bought for myself, the new mama.
**The featured image is of booties Ben’s mom knit for the baby.
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