Preparing for a newborn - Output

Change table

I highly recommend getting a chest of drawers and change table in one.  It's been very useful having all of Em's clothes easily accessible while at the change table.  Also a chest of drawers provides more storage. 

You can also buy a change table attachment from baby shops, that you put on top of your own chest of drawers.  We planned to purchase one of those and then buy a set of drawers to go with it but we managed to get a set of drawers and change table in one from Ebay much cheaper than in store.


Change table covers

You will need two change table covers and I also used flat cloth nappies between baby and change table cover for extra protection from leakages.


Nappies

For a new born I think you do about 8+ changes a day.  I now only do about 4 or 5.  So make sure you buy a few bulk packs of newborn nappies.

Later on I also started using modern cloth nappies, which are like disposables in that they are very easy to put on, but they don't end up in landfill like disposables. Plus you are actually supposed to put baby poo in the toilet anyway, because putting it in the trash is a health hazard.

I actually enjoy using the modern cloth nappies because I feel like it's more natural against Em's skin, it feels nicer for her, it is still easy to use, I feel more motherly and I feel like I am doing my bit for the environment and Em's future.  They aren't that much extra work.  Washing them is very easy and you already have to do extra loads of washing anyway.  I also buy flushable inserts which you place between baby and nappy and then you dump poo plus liner into the toilet.  Very easy. 

I use a combination of cloth and disposables now, but try to use cloth as much as I can.


Face washers

I bought a pack of small face washers that I use to dry Em's bottom off after cleaning her and before putting her nappy on to prevent nappy rash.


Wipes

Wipes make the job of cleaning up baby output much easier. You can buy ready made wipes but you can also make your own using face washers or cut up old towels or material. I use ready made wipes for poos and for urine I use a face washer and sometimes some sorbolene.


Nappy rash cream

I recommend Sudocrem.  It's just Zinc (no other additives) and works very well.

Baby bath

While technically nothing to do with baby output as such, it is for cleaning a baby so I thought I'd put it here. You don't actually need a baby bath. You can use a sink instead. But we got given one for free and did find it useful.

Baby bath seat

Once Em moved to the big bath and had good head control we got a baby bath seat to help her sit up in and then she could use her free hands to play.