Yes there are many things to prepare for the baby, baby delivery, and things that would make expecting mothers life easy in general. It is best to prepare and buy these things little by little throughout the entire pregnancy so as not to overwhelm yourself. Here is the list of the things to prepare:
Things to bring to labour and delivery.
- For Mum:
- Nightgown and bathrobe
- Slippers
- Nursing bra
- Breast pads
- Socks
- Underwear
- Scrunchies / hair ties
- Toiletries
- Napkins / sanitary pads
- Clothes to wear when going home
- Anything that soothes the mother like photos or music
- Comfortable pillow
- For Baby:
- Going home outfit
- Blanket
- Sets of clothes
- Diapers
- Alcohol wipes and cotton
- Car seat
- Documents needed for the hospital:
- Identification cards
- Insurance card
- Ultrasound results
- Other hospital paper works like blood tests, etc
- Names of your obstetrics and gynecologist, paediatrician,and companion.
- Other things to consider before and when you arrived in the hospital:
- Car keys
- Parking ticket
- Snacks for the mother and companion
- Money
- Phone, camera and/or video camera, plus chargers and batteries
- Baby nursery essentials
- Crib, floor bed, cradle or bassinet
- Firm, flat mattress that fits well in the crib (remember that only less than two fingers should fit between the mattress and the crib)
- 2 to 4 fitted crib sheets
- Feeding chair or rocking chair
- Diaper changing table or cabinet with changing pad
- Baby mat
- Baby mobile
- Baby basket or toy basket
- Toys
- Music player to play white noise
- Optional: diaper pail or diaper rubbish bin
- Baby bedding
- 1 to 3 washable crib mattress pads
- 2 to 4 fitted crib sheets
- 4 to 6 soft, light receiving blankets
- 1 to 2 thicker blankets (during winter)
- Baby gear
- Infant or convertible car seat
- Stroller / pram / baby carrier
- Baby swing or bouncer
- High chair / feeding chair
- Baby clothes
- 4 to 8 onesies
- 4 to 8 bodysuits (snaps at neck / wide head opening / snaps at crotch)
- 4 to 8 one-piece pyjamas
- 2 blankets
- 1 to 3 jumpers (front buttoned / wife head opening)
- 1 to 3 rompers
- 4 to 8 socks or booties
- Shoes (unnecessary until the baby walks but you can definitely purchase soft shoes)
- 1 to 3 hats or beanies
- Mittens
- Winter jacket if necessary
- Diapering must-haves
- 5 or more dozens of cloth diapers and liners or 2 to 3 large boxes of disposable diapers
- Changing table
- Diaper pail or bin
- Diaper bag
- Diaper cream
- Unscented baby wipes
- Soft wash cloths
- Toilet training potty or baby toilet training seat
- Bath items
- Baby bathtub
- 2 to 4 soft towels or hooded towels
- Baby shampoo
- Baby body wash
- Soft wash cloths
- Baby hair brush
- Feeding essentials for bread fed babies
- Breast pump
- 2 to 4 feeding bottles and nipples
- Bottle brush
- Breast milk storage (you may store your breast milk in the freezer and reheat it)
- Nursing bra
- Breast pads
- Nipple cream
- Breastfeeding nursing cover
- 4 to 8 bibs
- Burp cloths
- 2 to 4 dummies / pacifier*
- Baby bottle cleaners
- Optional: bottle sterilizer, milk warmer, baby feeding pillow
- Feeding essentials for bottle fed babies
- Baby formula
- 10 to 12 feeding bottles and nipples (both 4 or 8 ounce; the bigger the baby become the more milk they consume)
- Bottle brush
- Bottle sterilizer
- 4 to 8 bibs
- Burp cloths
- 2 to 4 dummies / pacifiers*
- Baby bottle cleaners
- Optional: bottle dryer, bottle sterilizer, milk warmer, baby feeding pillow
Health grooming and health essentials
- Baby nail clippers or file
- Baby thermometer
- First aid kit
*Note: Prolonged use of dummies or pacifiers may affect the baby’s teeth.
