Baby essentials for the first 3 months with pictures

What are the 4 needs of a baby? A baby’s needs are surprisingly very basic. They need warmth, to be fed, to feel safe and loved. In this article we will look at baby essentials for his first 3 months, physically and emotionally.

1) Warmth

Babies does not have the ability to regulate their own body temperature and thus need their mother to dry them and keep them skin to skin with a blanket over them for the first hour or two or at least in warm clothing and a blanket and still keeping the, close to you.

2) Fed

Giving birth is not just hard for the mother, it is also hard work for the baby and usually baby will want to start drinking within the first hour.

3) Safe

Babies do not want to be shaken, and bumped and shout at. They are fragile and depend upon us for their every need.

4) Loved

Research has shown that orphan babies that got feedings in a sterile environment with no direct human contact were dying. The conclusion was that loving human contact is so important for a baby, they absolutely need it to flourish, be happy and grow well. Hold your baby, hold him close.

My dearest daughters

Oh, precious newborn babies.

I know everything feels so overwhelming now, but drink in every moment, especially how they look, sound and smell. It changes so quickly.

This is both the hardest time and also the sweetest time of having babies I am sure. Hard because your body most likely feels like it has been hit by a train (even if you gave birth naturally), and getting used to little sleep because of all the night feedings and diaper changes. But also the sweetest because for only the first month your baby has the most precious wrinkles, the sweetest little heart melting cry and that unique baby smell. Enjoy them!

Love

Your mother

Now let’s get practical:

New born baby essentials – Clothing

Newborn baby shopping list

I know the temptation will be to buy the scented lotions, soaps and wipes, it does smell nice. But studies have shown over and over that babies can develop allergies from the smallest of scented items. When at all possible pass up the scented options and just enjoy your baby’s unique smell for as long as you can. It does go away too quickly.

Be prepared, in the first few months baby can go through as much as 10 diapers per day! It might be a good idea to put diapers on your registry or if you receive any cash gifts to put that aside for diapers.

• Diapers (always buy more than you think!)
• Wipes (as much as possible)
• Diaper rash cream (I like sudocrem)
• 5 x Long sleeve vests (that fasten between the legs)
• 5 x Short sleeve vest (that fasten between the legs)
• 10 x Onesies (the zipper ones work great for night time changes)
• 2 x Hats when going out
• 2 x Socks (just because they are so cute, they never stay on!)
• 2 x Muslin blankets (doubles as a burp cloth)
• 2 x Receiving blankets
• 2 x Fluffy warm blankets
• 2 x Waterproof sheet for cot
• 2 x Sheet for cot
• Mosquito net (if applicable in your area)
• 2 x Towels
• 2 x Washcloths
• Baby soap
• Tissue oil for massaging baby and for cradle cap

For my complete list on Amazon for a new baby you can check it out here.

New born baby essentials – Equipment

Diaper bag

If you are planning on getting more that one child it really pays to get a decent diaper bag. This literally becomes your handbag for the next 2 years, so get one that looks nice.

Car seat

We bought a Doona car seat/stroller when our second baby was about 7 months old and screaming non stop in our previous car seat. We are not one day sorry that we bought it. It is a little pricey and a little heavy to put in and take out of the car, but all the positives outweighs the negatives by far.

The pro’s are:

• Car seat and stroller in one
• Very comfortable for baby, supporting their back at the right places
• Newborn removable support
• Small compared to other strollers
• Very easy to steer in small spaces.

Con’s are:

• Price
• Weight
• Small wheels (it does not drive easily on a bumpy, rocky road)

Cot or crib

I love having my babies next to me during the night while I still breastfeed them. We tried different options but finally settled on the Next to me baby cot, and we haven’t looked back.

Pro’s:

• It has a belt that fastens under the main bed so the cot is safe and will not move.
• It also has the zip down side.
• It can adjust in height so it is at a comfortable height next to your bed.

Con’s

• It is only safe up to 9 months when baby starts to stand up as the sides are not designed to keep a standing baby safe.

Baby monitor

We never thought having a baby monitor is worth the investment. But. How do you let baby nap safely in the room while siblings (and toddler) run around freely? We started using a baby monitor now with baby nr 5 and it does make life A LOT easier. I don’t know what we would have done without it. I can put baby down for his nap in my room and close the door, not worried that siblings will bother him or that I won’t hear him when he wakes up.

Pro’s:

• Can work on electricity or battery.
• It has video and audio.
• Has an alarm when battery gets low.
• Measure temperature where baby sleeps.
• Can communicate over a large distance if there are not too many walls between camera and monitor.

Con’s:

• About 6 hours battery life.
• Camera must be plugged in at all times.

Baby carrier

Babies want to be close to their momma and carrying them in a wrap or carrier free up your hands to tend to other children, make lunch or switch the laundry.

I love to carry my babies with a stretchy wrap when they are newborn and up to about 6 kg. When they get heavier than that I feel they are more secure in a more sturdy wrap like the one below.

Swing

A baby swing is a little bit of a luxury for me. I got one when our 4th baby was born and I must say, it does help when you need to put baby down for just 5 minutes to get the other children out of the bath, or you need to finish dinner. It is not meant to keep your baby in for hours as their back can get uncomfortable and when used very regularly it can influence their development negatively, so use with caution.

White noise machine

When a baby is inside the womb it never is truly quiet. Baby hear mothers voice, heartbeat, intestines and any other noises from outside. Researchers have found that when babies struggle to sleep by themselves it sometimes help to put on some loud white noise which imitate the womb. Bonus if the white noise has the rhythm of a heartbeat. As a short term solution you can also try to put a loud clock near the baby, this also imitate a heartbeat a little and help to soothe an unhappy baby for a little bit.

New born baby – Toys

Babies love to look at themselves in the mirror. If you buy just one thing, let it be safe plastic mirror.

• Soft rattle toys
• Mirror

Unnecessary baby stuff

• Lots of toys
• Dresses and clothes that is difficult to take off (one cute piece for a photo shoot is more that enough)

Newborn medication

I do recommend following a more natural and conservative approach in general regarding medication, but it is important to have certain medications on hand in case the specific problem goes beyond your control.

If you are interested to read more about natural remedies that are safe and effective for babies and small children: post coming soon.

Always, always read the labels of medication, especially pain medication. All pharmaceutical medication has side effects and you should educate yourself extensively on this. No none can force you to give any medication to yourself or your child. Make sure you know all the facts and do not just trust someones word for it. Your family and babies health is in your hands, do not just give medication willy nilly. This is serious. Make informed decisions.

First aid and medical supply list

• Saline nose drops
• Nose frida
• Nebulizer with saline or hypertonic solution
• Baby vicks
• Flash light
• Medicinal syringes
• Pain medication (age appropriate, and I like to have two types, one with ibuprofen and another with paracetamol in case of severe pain (ex. after surgery) you can alternate these without overdosing, but consult with your care provider before administering to your baby as all strong medication has side effects that you should know about)
• Colic calm (help relieve gas)

Medication to avoid

Medication with side effects that you are not comfortable with giving to your baby.

Medication non prescribed for your baby’s age or weight.

Emergencies

• Baby bottle
• Formula

Support

Keep a list close by with the next peoples numbers. Do not feel bad to call any of them with questions you may have. Sometimes we just doesn’t know the answer to something, and google is not always the best place to find answers. Rather call a trusted source with personal experience:

Your husband

In the ideal situation. Your husband just went through the most life changing event with you. He became a father and you became a mother. He loves you dearly and he is your biggest support. In the middle of the night when there is no one else, your husband will be there. Lean on him, trust him, communicate with him. Talk about expectations and how to handle different situations. Teach him what is going on in your body physically and hormonally so he can try to understand how you feel. Do not ignore him and let him think he is not needed, that is a sure way to hurt him very deeply. Make sure you share what you learn about baby with him so he can be on the same page as you on how to handle your precious baby.

Pediatrician

Be sure to talk to you pediatrician about what to do in specific situations to make sure that you are on the same page. If you feel uncomfortable AT ALL with your pediatrician, search for another one. One very controversial topic is breastfeeding. You need the support of you pediatrician in all areas that you feel strongly about, because they have the power to influence you in times when you are doubting yourself and feel the most vulnerable.

Breastfeeding consultant

If possible search for a good breastfeeding consultant late in your pregnancy and schedule one visit before baby’s birth.

I am a big proponent for breastfeeding and personally I am willing to go to great lengths to establish and continue breastfeeding for as long as I humanly can.

For a more in depth discussion on breastfeeding you can read here, post coming soon.

Nurse

A nurse can be of great help in cases that are not as serious, such as a rash that you are not sure about, or wondering if baby has an ear ache, etc.

Your loving mother

What can I say, there is no better comfort than a caring, loving mother that just knows how you feel and what you need without any words spoken.

Thank you to all the loving mothers out there, you are a great blessing to your daughters that go through the young mothering phase!

A caring friend

Oh what is the worth of a caring friend when you just need a shoulder to cry on because of exhaustion? Someone that is also going through the things you do and can sincerely listen to you and give some advise where needed?

Facebook groups of like-minded mothers

Do not use these groups as an authority in serious cases, these groups are fantastic for times where you had little sleep, feel discouraged and do not have any other support to turn to. These groups will convince you that you are not alone on this difficult, but so worth it, journey. Not at all.

Conclusion

This is a very tender and special time for your family. Rest as much as possible, take a lot of pictures and treasure this time because it goes by too quickly, believe me.

For more baby related reading:

17 Ways to soothe a crying baby

Preparing for a positive, calm, birth

You need an anti-inflammatory diet if: