Becoming a new parent can be an intimidating experience. Even for parents who already have children, it can be easy to forget everything that is involved in preparing for having a new baby in the house. This checklist will help you to keep track of the essential things you will need to acquire and do for your new baby:

- Get baby’s room ready. One of the most basic needs that your baby has is the need for shelter. Your baby has to have a place to eat, sleep, and keep out of the rain. To sleep, he needs a crib and a mattress. The crib should follow safety guidelines, and be sturdy and secure. You need a couple of sheets that you can cycle between cleanings. A pillow is not necessary, or even recommended.

- Get ready to feed your baby. In addition to a place to sleep, your baby needs a place and tools to eat. Initially, this might involve breastfeeding. To get ready for breastfeeding, you might consider a breastfeeding class or finding a breastfeeding coach. By around the age of six months, you’ll want to use a highchair. You will probably want a mat to go under the highchair to catch falling foods, unless your highchair is on a floor that can be easily cleaned. Your baby will also need bottles early on, and plastic sippy-type cups later on. Once your child is learning to feed himself, plastic spoons and bowls are also extremely helpful. And, of course, baby bibs are a necessary addition to the dinner table.

- Get baby’s clothes ready. You want to have soft clothes that are both durable and roomy. These will include some one-piece outfits (also called “onesies”), some one-piece blanket sleepers, some cotton t-shirts, leggings and pants. Diapers, either cloth or disposable, are also essential. Depending on the climate where you live, it is also a good idea to have some sweatshirts, jackets, hats and mittens. You’ll also need socks and/or booties. Shoes are generally optional during the first year; in fact, it is better for a baby learning to walk to not wear shoes.

- Get ready to move your baby. You’ll want to make sure you’ve got a baby carrier, car seat and stroller. Make sure that, if you aren’t buying these items new, that there aren’t any safety recalls on any of them.

- Get your paperwork ready. Make sure you’ve got any paperwork done for your insurance company. If you have a flexible medical spending account through work, try to set aside enough to cover the prenatal and delivery and infant well visit epxenses. Make sure you know when you need to go back to work, and that you have arranged childcare for when that happens.

- Get the house ready. While it will be a while before your baby is mobile, it is never too early to start thinking about outlet protectors and getting small or breakable items out of your baby’s reach.

- Get your other children ready. Make sure that they have some idea of what to expect, and how having a baby will be changing their lives, as well.

- Get yourself ready. Read up on not only pregnancy and childbirth, but parenting. Have discussions with your spouse about childcare responsibilities. Talk about everything from diaper changing to discipline.

There will always be things that you don’t think about or didn’t expect. However, by following the checklist above, you will be prepared to meet the majority of new-baby challenges.

Posted in Baby and Toddler

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