Preparing for a newborn - Sleep

A list of items for a newborn baby in regards to their sleep:

Wraps

Wraps help babies sleep better because they are tight and secure (womb like). You'll hopefully learn how to wrap your babies during birth classes or at hospital. You will need at least:
- 3 Flannel wraps
- 3 Cotton wraps
- 3 Muslin wraps

But you might want to get more than three cotton ones. Wraps were also useful for covering up whilst breastfeeding, for using as a travel play mat and for wiping up vomit. I also used them under baby whilst breast feeding to catch nappy leakages. So maybe even 6 or 9 cotton ones would be useful.

I found the smaller sized wraps more useful at first but as Em grew I needed the bigger sizes.

Cot

You can use a cot from birth but I did get a bassinet because I wanted Em in our bedroom and a cot wouldn't have fit. If you buy a second hand cot make sure you get a new mattress. Old mattresses have been linked to SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).

Bassinet

You don't need a bassinet because you can put a baby in a cot from birth. However, I found it very useful because it is higher up so you are not bending over so much to put baby down for naps (even with the cot on its highest setting you are still bending over a lot and it puts strain on your back!) and it seemed more cosy for Em. I do recommend getting one but it is an extra expense and something you don't need.

Sleep suits

You probably need at least ten sleep suits in size 000 for a newborn but having more than ten sleep suits may be useful. You may have to change your baby a few times a day if their nappy leaks, plus with a newborn it's easiest to just leave them in sleep suits all day. Newborns tend to dislike being dressed and undressed too often.

Singlets

You probably want at least ten singlets in size 000. They can be worn under the sleep suits for extra warmth, or on hot days a nappy and singlet may be enough clothing.

Sheets

Normally you get sheets in a pack with fitted sheet, flat sheet and pillow case, but you can purchase them individually. You don't need the pillow case at all as SIDS guidelines state not to use pillows in cots because of the risk of suffocation. You need a fitted sheet and a flat sheet can be used between a blanket and baby. For a bassinet I used cotton wraps as a flat sheet. You will also need to buy two protective fitted sheets (mattress protector) to save the mattress from leaking nappies.

Blankets

Two blankets are needed (cot and bassinet sized if needed). They can be folded over for extra warmth. On very warm nights I used a cotton or muslin wrap to cover Em.

Sleeping bags

You can buy sleeping bags for newborn babies but I think newborns prefer to be wrapped because it is tighter and more secure. Once they start rolling or getting out of their wraps it's time to think about sleeping bags. I prefer sleeping bags over using sheets and blanket because once Em started moving she was always outside of the covers! With a sleeping bag she stays in her covers where ever she moves.

I'd heard great things about Grobags, so I bought a couple to try, but I found that they are very expensive for no added benefit over cheaper bags (overseas they are a lot cheaper and nothing special. Somehow they became very popular in Australia and the importer made them very expensive so everyone thinks they are best. I like Living Textiles bags, which are the same as Grobags for half the price. I also like Snugtime but they are different to Grobags.

Rocking chair

Great for rocking your baby to sleep. I got mine second hand from Ebay and it was one of the best buys I made. It was so useful when my feet were hurting from pacing around trying to get Em to sleep. I was able to get off my feet in a rocking chair and still be moving. It was also very comfortable for breast feeding Em in, especially in the early days when I was trying to get the hang of it. Plus I still use mine now for reading Em stories in before bed.

Lamp

So you can have softer light in the room and not wake baby (or you) up so much.