Gauze rolls (1/2 to 2 inches wide) for making bandages.Adhesive bandage strips in various sizes and shapes (including "butterfly" bandages).Antibacterial ointment for cuts and scrapes.Topical calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream for insect bites and rashes.Saline nasal spray or saline drops to loosen mucus before you use the bulb syringe.Bulb syringe or nasal aspirator for drawing mucus out of a stuffy nose.Medicine syringe (these come with medications, but it doesn't hurt to have an extra on hand).Non-aspirin pain reliever/fever reducer ( acetaminophen and, if 6 months or older, ibuprofen).Cotton balls for applying liquids (like calamine lotion) and for cleaning supplies with alcohol.Tweezers for removing splinters and ticks.Rubbing alcohol to clean thermometers, tweezers, and scissors.Petroleum jelly or a water-soluble lubricant (for rectal thermometers).Digital thermometer (most can be used rectally or in the armpit).And remember to SMILE – the simplest, most effective communication for your baby.With a well-stocked medicine cabinet, first-aid kit, or medicine bag (which can be stored out of reach and is portable), you can quickly deal with rashes, fevers, cuts and scrapes, and other common children's ailments – as well as handle the ins and outs of daily baby care.
Eye contact: make sure you’re seeing eye-to-eye whenever you can.Stick out your tongue: give it a try and see if your baby copies you.It's so simple but great for your baby's development. Try peekaboo: smile and then hide your face with your hands and then repeat a few times.Play ‘ready, steady… go’ games: sounds silly but at even an early age, if you repeat this phrase and use slow pace and intonation your baby will anticipate the ‘GO!’.Talk to them all about what you’re doing and going to do throughout the day – it gets them used to the sound of you chatting. Use intonation: make your voice change so that you sound interesting when talking to your baby.They will also be in tune to your voice and using it is the easiest way to support language development. From the early days of life your baby will show an interest in your face and try to copy you." "There are some very snazzy toys on the market that sing and dance, but none of these toys are as good as you and your ability to play and communicate with your baby from day one. New baby checklists can be helpful, but sometimes the best things in life are free… especially when it comes to communicating with your newborn, says NHS Speech and Language Therapist, Francesca Ellis. Consider hiring a breast pump from your local maternity unit rather than rushing out to buy one that might not get used,” recommends Pam. “Bottles if you choose to bottle feed, a steriliser, and if you are breastfeeding, a good supportive feeding bra and breast pads. These have a multitude of uses, including wiping up dribbles.
Get a folding one for journeys and either a change bag or good rucksack with lots of pockets. “If your flat or house has an upstairs, get a simple inexpensive changing mat for upstairs, as well as downstairs to reduce the amount of legwork,” says Pam.
And mums: if you're breastfeeding, choose tops and outfits with buttons down the front and get yourself a big headband for all the days you can’t be bothered to wash your hair. Get yourself a coat with plenty of pockets and a hood, as it’s difficult to push a pram and hold a brolly when it’s raining. You need things that are easy to clean and need little or no ironing. The essentials are vests and sleepsuits – and if your baby is born in autumn or winter, some warmer items. Some parents also like to use slings for the first few weeks, which are great for skin-to-skin contact.ĭon’t go overboard – you’ll probably get several outfits as presents. If you do have a car, for example, you might go for a ‘travel system’, which basically means a buggy that you can attach a car seat and carrycot to, though some of these can be expensive. Spend time thinking about this also, as it all depends on how you will be travelling, your baby’s needs and your budget.
Remember that babies soon outgrow their initial beds,” says Pam. “You could also use the carrycot part of your pram if you get one. There are few options here including a moses basket or cot but think carefully before you choose something. “Get a nappy bin, or try inexpensive, fragrant nappy sacks,” says Pam. What?ĭisposable or reusable, you’ll need a lot. “A wise lady in a baby shop gave me some great advice when I was pregnant that stuck with me: as long as you’ve got stuff sorted for eating, sleeping and travelling, you’re sorted for when they’re newborn,” says mum Claire.
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