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.

Preparing for a newborn - Travel

A list of items for a newborn in regards to travelling:

Car Seat

The safest option for a newborn baby is a car capsule but they only last for a few months until baby is too big to fit in it. Still for peace of mind I recommend starting with a car capsule, which can also be hired from local councils for a minimal fee, instead of buying them.

The RACV has information from tests they performed on child restraints to help you choose the safest restraints. You can see how child restraints rated here.

They also have a calculator where you can enter your child's age and weight to determine the best child restraint for your child here.

Strollers 

I love my stroller.  It's a Swallow Beema that we got from Ebay second hand, cheap, in good condition and with all the extras (sun shade, rain cover and bassinet).  It's also the number one stroller recommended by Choice.

These are the features I think are you need in a stroller:

• Big wheels make such a difference to manoeuvrability.  I do like the fact that ours has three big wheels.  It is very easy to steer and to get up and down stairs. 
• Being able to use it with a newborn.
• A detachable bassinet for when baby falls asleep and you want to take them inside somewhere without disturbing them.  Plus we used it as a porta-bed instead of a portacot when Em was small enough to fit in it.  I also sometimes put her in the lounge room with me.
• Check that your stroller fits in your boot! Baby shops will allow you to try out the strollers in your boot. Then you can go to Ebay and save yourself some dollars.

Slings

I have two slings which I both love.  For a newborn I recommend the Hugabub (there are cheaper versions you can get online though).  It is tricky to put on but you do get the hang of it very quickly.  It keeps baby very close to your body and distributes the weight evenly over your shoulders and hips.  It is so versatile with many different positions you can put baby in.  Em used to sleep in it and I still use it now sometimes. 

I got an Ergo later on, which I can't recommend highly enough.  You can use the Ergo for a newborn but you have to buy a special insert and I didn't think it would be as cosy for a small baby.  It is very quick and easy to put on and all the weight is distributed on your hips rather than your shoulders.  It's also ergonomical for babies as well as the person wearing it. That means you can use it for hours at a time.  I bought my Ergo online (so much cheaper than in stores).  The only problem with it is that you cannot put baby facing outwards in it.  But Em doesn't seem to care about that.

Nappy Bag

We have two nappy bags, one big one that I use when heading out for a whole day that I pack full of nappies, food and toys. And a smaller one that looks more like a handbag and I put things like my wallet and phone in as well as Em's things. I got both from department stores, which were so much cheaper than the baby stores.

Car Mirror We found having a car mirror useful to see what Em was up to in the car, like if she was sleeping.

Portacot

If you don't have a bassinet and plan to visit people for long periods of time or to go away then you will need a portacot. I can't comment much on them because we got given a second hand one for free.

Preparing for a newborn - Feeding.

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

Lansinoh

If you are going to breast feed you will need Lansinoh or something equivalent. It is used to soothe, heal and protect sore cracked nipples and is safe for babies who breast feed. I recommend buying a tube before you go to hospital. You only use a very small amount each time so a small tube is fine. You can find Lansinoh at chemists in the baby items section.

Breast feeding pillow

There are special breast feeding pillows, which I can't comment on because I have never used one. I was given a triangular pillow as a gift and I was very happy with it. What I liked about it is that I could buy spare covers for it. I have 3 covers for the pillow. I don't know if you can buy spare covers for the special breastfeeding pillows or not. I found having the covers was very useful when there were leakages whilst feeding. I could simply whip off the cover, throw it in the wash and replace it with a clean cover.


Flat Cloth Terry Towel Nappies

I bought three packs of flat cloth terry towel nappies.  They were so useful, such as:

1. Between baby and pillow whilst feeding (or use cotton wraps) to catch leakages;
2. To wipe up leakages;
3. Carried in nappy bag to put over change tables whilst out; and
   
4. On change table between baby and change mat at home.

Maternity Bras and Singlets

You need to go to a bra store to be properly fitted for maternity bras.  As for maternity singlets I loved Bonds Bumps Maternity Singlets. I also bought a few cheap singlets in a slightly bigger size and wore them with maternity bras under and a T-shirt over the top, so that the singlets could be pulled down over the bra for feeding and hide my stomach.


Breast Pads

I recommend buying reusable breast pads.  They cost more than disposables but overall they will save you money.  Plus they feel nicer than disposables and are better for the environment.  I love Swaddlebees Organic Velour Breast Pads because they are the biggest ones I could find, so provide better coverage.  They also felt the nicest.  If using disposables I liked Johnson & Johnson breast pads.

 

Breast Pump

At first I used a manual breast pump, which worked well for me but once my flow settled down it was very hard to get any milk out.  Eventually I got an electric breast pump and found I could get a lot more milk with no effort on my part.  An electric pump is a lot more expensive, so you might want to start with a manual first.  However, an electric is a lot easier to use and I do recommend it over a manual pump.

Bottles 

If you do breast feed you might still want bottles so that your baby can be fed expressed milk while you go out.  At one stage Em wouldn't take a bottle at all and I tried Tommy Tippee Closer to Nature and that worked.  Probably because it's shaped more like a breast.  You will also need a bottle brush & steriliser.

Bibs

Having some small bibs was very useful for burping (vomiting). I used to put bibs on Em when driving too because she would often vomit in the car.

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.