First-Time
Moms List of
Essentials
by Crystal
Paine
Kathrynne
and her
Mama- three
weeks old at
her baby
shower. I
can hardly
remember her
being so
tiny!
Although I'm
definitely
not an
expert, I
have had a
baby and
experienced
"first-time
mom
syndrome" so
I have
learned a
few things,
but ask me
eight
children
from now and
you might
get a
different
perspective.
:)
Trying to
discern what
the basic
essentials
are for a
new baby can
be
overwhelming.
There are so
many choices
and
possibilities
out there.
Just go into
the baby
section of
any store
and it can
almost make
you dizzy! I
remember
wishing I
could have a
list of
essentials
as well. I
searched the
internet and
couldn't
come up with
anything of
that nature,
so, I
finally just
decided to
try and
figure it
out myself.
Looking
back, we
didn't have
enough of
some items
and too many
of others,
but we
survived!
That's the
beauty of
motherhood.
You live and
learn and
keep on
living and
learning.
That said,
here's my
list of
recommendations:
List of
Essential
Items For a
First-Time
Mom
____Things
to Buy_____
-Diapers and
wipes. Buy
at least two
packages of
newborn
diapers.
We went
through
about 1
package per
week.
Kathrynne
has always
been a
slow-grower
so she
actually
stayed in
newborn
diapers for
a few
months. But,
I've been
told that
most babies
outgrow
newborn
diapers
fairly fast
so don't buy
a
closet-full
of newborn
diapers! We
now use
cloth
diapers and
I doubt that
I will ever
go back to
disposables,
but I
wouldn't
have tried
to use cloth
the first
month as a
first-time
mom--
actually it
might have
been too
much to try
using them
in the first
three
months.
-Onesies. At
least 10.
We went
through
these faster
than I ever
imagined
possible,
especially
at first.
The last
thing you
want to have
to do is
lots of
laundry, so
stock up on
onesies.
-Gowns and
Sleepers. At
least 10,
I'd
recommend 5
each.
We also went
through a
LOT of
these. I
like the
soft knit
kind best.
-A few nicer
newborn
outfits.
We didn't
have this at
the
beginning
and it was
hard because
Kathrynne
had three
baby showers
after she
was born and
we had to
scramble to
find her
something to
wear to
dress her up
for the
occasion.
-Socks.
A few
newborn
pairs will
do.
-Diaper Bag.
I suggest
something
practical,
durable,
stain-hiding,
and roomy.
-Play-yard
(or crib).
We use this
instead of a
crib and it
has worked
out
excellently
for us since
it had a
bassinet top
we used for
the first
few months
and now we
use the
regular
play-yard.
It's
portable and
take up less
space.
-Stroller.
-Carseat.
-Burp
cloths.
I honestly
never used
these with
Kathrynne as
she spit up
maybe 3-5
times in her
life. But,
I'd suggest
you get a
few in case
your baby is
the
opposite!
-Blankets.
At least
5-7.
You will
want around
4 receiving
blankets and
3 warmer
blankets. A
quilt to lay
on the floor
when your
baby is a
little older
is also very
nice to
have.
Other
Necessities:
Cotton
balls,
Q-tips,
thermometer.
___Things to
Borrow____
-Sling. -
See if it
works for
you before
you invest
in one.
Definitely
check out
New Little
Blessing
for some
great
selections.
The same
goes for any
other baby
paraphernalia
such as a
swing, baby
bath-tub,
bouncer, and
so forth. I
recommend
you borrow
one first or
wait and see
if you
really think
you need it
before you
buy it.
------------------------------------
The best
advice I
received on
what to buy
was from my
mom: Don't
buy
anything.
Unless you
know that
you won't be
having any
showers or
receiving
many gifts,
I recommend
you don't
spend a lot
of money on
baby things.
As a
first-time
mom, you
will
probably
have more
than you
need just
from gifts
you receive.
Kathrynne
had three
showers
after she
was born and
received
plenty of
things from
those, in
addition to
many other
gifts she
received.
Just
recently, we
went
shopping for
clothes for
Kathrynne
because she
couldn't fit
into all the
12 month
clothes I
have waiting
for her and
she didn't
have any
Winter
clothes.
While we
were
shopping, I
realized
that it was
the first
time we had
ever taken
her shopping
for clothes
since we've
received so
many
generous
gifts!
Crystal
Paine is a
24-year-old
homeschool
graduate
from Topeka,
Kansas. She
is the
blessed wife
of Jesse and
joyful
mother of
Kathrynne.
Visit her
site,
Biblical
Womanhood,
for books,
articles,
encouragement,
and
inspiration!
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