Buying for baby

Shopping for your new baby is exciting; the gorgeous nursery furniture, the miniature size of the clothing, and the knowledge that your brand new baby will be soon be here. It's easy to get carried away and snap up ten tiny overalls in an 0000 size, or end up crowding out the nursery with giant soft toys.

Reality often hits home with new parents when they discover their babies growing out of their clothing and accessories faster than they can sing 'Incy Wincy Spider'

Taking your time to choose quality, essential items is a worthwhile investment. Once you know you have all you need - a splurge here and there is half the fun!

For that newborn stage, what baby clothing, accessories and furniture do you really need?

 

Click here to download our Wardrobe Shopping Checklist (50KB PDF)

 

Click here to download our Nursery Shopping Checklist (50KB PDF)

 

Newborn clothing

Socks
Baby socks often seem to disappear in the washing! - but 4-6 pairs of socks should do it, with some thicker, warmer booties to go over the top when the weather is cool. With baby boys, you might have some accidents with wet socks happening at nappy-changing time!

Singlets
Around 6 singlets in cool weather - more if the weather will be hot and your baby will be dressed in just a singlet and nappy on many days.

Bibs
Some parents buy a set of pristine, white embroidered bibs, and then end up with a 'happy-chucker' who needs a new bib after every feed time.  Other parents will find they rarely need to use bibs for their baby. It's something that's difficult to gauge until you have your baby - but a couple of soft terry-towelling bibs rarely go astray.

Hats
Soft cotton beanies for baby under the often cold air-conditioning of a hospital (after birth) are wonderful.  A woollen beanie for outside wear in cold weather will keep your baby's head toasty-warm. A sunhat for outside wear in warm weather is essential.

Jumpsuits & Growsuits
Around 8-10 of these. Growsuits are very practical and keep baby covered from neck to foot. Be sure not to buy too many in a tiny size. For some babies, a 0000 size will be too small from birth.

Jackets and Jumpers
Be careful not to overbuy on these. They may be gobsmackingly cute, but will be the one of the first things that your baby grows out of.  Choose styles that suit the season,  and that are soft and easy to put on a newborn. Newborns are floppy and can be difficult to dress - stiff denim jackets are best for older children.

Baby Wraps
If you intend on wrapping your baby, at least 4 wraps are good to have. These should be in a cool fabric such as muslin or cotton. Never wrap your baby in a heavy material such as a blanket. The wraps can be used way beyond the first months.

Sleep Suit
Some parents choose to have their baby sleep in a 'sleep suit' rather than under blankets. Sleep suits are like mini sleeping bags, except they have fitted arms and necks. Using sleepsuits rather than blankets, a baby cannot wriggle under the covers.

Nappies
In an age of disposables, nappies are sometimes not thought of as a clothing item. But with the new modern cloth nappies out there, there are fitted nappies made of washable materials such as cotton and hemp, with every type of colour and pattern imaginable! Whether disposable or cloth - around 6 to 8 nappies per day are usually needed.

Special Outfits
Who can resist buying these?  And yes, your family and friends will think your baby looks adorable in his or her beautiful little 'going-out' clothes.  Just keep in mind that this first month will pass in the blink of an eye - and you probably do not want to end up with dozens of expensive outfits that your baby did not even get to wear.

Nursery furniture

Cot
Consider the décor of the nursery before buying the cot. Also consider whether you are intending using the cot for subsequent children, or if you need a cot which converts to a bed when baby becomes a toddler.

Portacot
Portable cots are brilliant for taking outdoors, out visiting, or simply at home while you're busy cooking dinner! While not an essential, many parents swear by them.

Change Table
Your back will thank you if you give yourself a comfortable space when changing baby's nappies - wriggling babies can make nappy-change time a wrangle! Baby cannot fall off the floor - but if getting down on the floor is a strain for you, a change table which has a restraint strap might prove the easiest option. Some change tables come with drawers, making them a useful piece of bedroom furniture way into the future.

Sheets and Bedding
Three or four sets of cotton summer sheets, and two sets of winter brushed cotton sheets will normally be enough. Two or three blankets and a couple of cot-sized doonas. You might like to buy a set which has everything included - for gorgeous colour-coordinated baby bedding.

Baby Monitor
Not all parents use these, but some find them very useful - to hear baby while outside hanging washing, or due to the difficulty of hearing baby from one end of the house to the other in a large home.

Prams
Look before you jump! A pram is a like a mini-vehicle that transports your child around - wheels, brakes, straps, safety regulations (and let's not forget style and colour!) are all important. Head over to our fact sheet on prams for an overview on prams: Prams and strollers

Car Seat
It is a legal requirement for children under the age of one to have an appropriate car restraint, from the time they leave hospital. A car restraint for a newborn must have the Australian Standards mark, and must be properly fitted. Newborn car restraints can also be rented. Reference: A simple guide to car restraints (PDF)

Baby Care Products
You don't need a cupboardful of these, but you can try the products which suit you and your baby. If cradlecap becomes a problem, try gently massaging baby oil into baby's head (avoiding the 'soft spots') for ten minutes before a bath - wash the oil off with a little baby shampoo during the bath. Lavender or chamomile scented bath products can help soothe a baby, having them calm and relaxed in time for bed.