From diapers and baby wipes to onesies and burp cloths, there is no end to the list of products new moms need. Friends, family members, web articles, and blogs can be great resources for recommendations on the essential items to purchase. However, many of these sources focus on obvious needs like pacifiers, bottles, and swaddles but fail to mention some very basic materials that may come in handy in the first months after the birth of your child. Stocking up on these items ahead of time can save you from numerous shopping excursions during those exhausting days with a new infant.
Here are ten useful products that are often forgotten:
Waterproof pads:
Waterproof pads help protect new crib and bassinet sheets from leaky diapers, spit-up, breast milk, or formula.. They can be used anywhere from play mats and changing tables to the couch or even your own bed. Waterproof pads can be key in saving surfaces you care about.
Tissues and paper towels:
Extra boxes and rolls of these basic household items are essential. Burp cloths will be used frequently, but they will need to be laundered. Disposable tissues are handy in a fix after a sudden spit-up crisis. Whether wiping Vaseline off your fingers in the middle of a diaper change, drying drool on your infant's chin, or soaking up a puddle of spilled milk, tissues and paper towels can save the day.
Hand sanitizer:
The last thing you may want to consider as a new mother is entertaining company immediately after returning from the hospital. But friends and family will be eager to visit. Keep hand sanitizer easily accessible and encourage anyone who comes close to your baby to use it. Don’t forget to use it yourself.
Floor mat:
A floor mat in front of the changing table can be useful in the nursery, especially if you have a baby boy. A rubber mat can protect the carpet or floor below from sudden, unexpected accidents with unpredictable little body parts! A foam mat can also be easier on your feet and knees, as you’ll be standing in this spot often.
Magazine rack:
If you are breastfeeding your baby every few hours throughout the night, you may be sitting alone in the nursery. A rack next to an armchair, rocker, or glider in your baby’s room gives you a place to store magazines and other reading material to help you pass the time.
Trashcan:
Diaper pails such as the Diaper Genie or Diaper Décor are useful for containing dirty diapers, but stepping on a pedal to lift the lid can be one more irritating step at 2:00 in the morning. Sometimes you just want to toss the trash in a regular old wastebasket. In addition, not all trash in the nursery is diapers. An extra place for plastic packaging, crumpled wrapping paper, and dirty tissues can help keep the nursery clean.
Thank you cards:
Purchase some thank you cards and stamps as you near your due date. Gifts for your baby may continue to come in after you’ve given birth. Having stationery on hand will save you from a trip to the store during those first weeks home from the hospital.
Good books and TV shows:
Interesting books and entertaining television shows will keep you occupied when you are nursing, pumping breast milk, or folding laundry. Buy some new novels ahead of time or record a new series you’ve been hoping to catch.
Mild detergent:
New moms face a great deal of dirty laundry! You may need to do your own laundry as well as your baby’s multiple times a day. Purchase some mild detergent ahead of time. Stick to dye-free, perfume-free brands.
Mini flashlights:
If your baby sleeps in your room in a bassinet or co-sleeper you may find yourself checking on him or her at every tiny grunt and whimper. Rather than turn on a light every time you hear a noise, try keeping mini flashlights nearby or some kind of small light that you can leave beside your bed. This way you can use minimal light to check that your baby is safe without startling the baby or anyone else who may be asleep in the room.
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