Things Needed to Prepare to Bring a Baby Home After Giving Birth

Transportation

• The car seat is probably the most important baby item of all as it is designed to keep the baby safe in the event of a car accident. Many hospitals have policies that will not allow parents to leave the hospital without a properly installed rear-facing infant seat. Additional accessories may be a head support or a weather boot, especially if baby is due in the winter. A stroller is an ideal accessory for taking baby on walks and many strollers and car seats come together as a matching set, or part of a travel system. Parents who don't plan on many outings may want to consider a baby carrier or sling. These are functional for occasional outings and in the home, when parents just need their hands free but still want their baby close to them.

Safe Sleeping

• The baby will require a safe place to sleep. It is inevitable that as the baby grows, at some point he will need a crib, however, bassinets and co-sleepers are acceptable for the first few months of the baby's life. The only accessories that are essential for the crib are a firm mattress and fitted sheets. Some parents may choose to use a bumper as well. Many nursery sets come with blankets, duvets and decorative pillows, but these items are not only unnecessary, but The American Academy of Pediatrics advises against their use, as they can increase the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Entertainment

• Swings, bouncers and gliders are useful when parents need a break and can provide entertainment for the baby. All of these items usually incorporate motion, which many babies find soothing. Swings are a popular choice because you can generally use them until the baby is older. Travel-size swings are perfect for small homes or apartments, and they are more economical than full-size swings. Gliders are meant to calm a fussy baby through movement and sound, however, they are specifically meant for newborns and are outgrown quickly. Bouncers are relatively economical, your baby can use them for a fair amount of time and are easy to transport.

Feeding

• Items for feeding will largely depend on if the mother plans to breastfeed, formula-feed or do a combination of both. If she plans to breastfeed she will need nursing pads, nursing bras and may consider nursing tops and a breast pump. Nursing pillows are also helpful to the breastfeeding mother and are multi-functional as they can be used as the baby grows to help them learn to sit. If the mother plans to bottle-feed or do both, she will need bottles and may consider a bottle warmer, bottle cleaner and sterilizing bags. A highchair will be useful once the baby starts solids, usually between 4 and 6 months.

Bathing

• Designed to be comfortable for the baby, an infant tub also eases the bathing process for parents. Many can be used for different stages, with a sling that snaps into the main tub that is designed to support a baby too young to sit up. As the baby grows, you can remove the sling can and the baby can sit in the tub. Hooded towels are the right size for an infant and help keep his head warm after the bath. Baby soaps and shampoos are gentle to a baby's sensitive skin and eyes.

Health and Safety

• A bulb aspirator, baby nail clippers, rectal thermometer and baby acetaminophen are some of the most essential small items for parents to have on hand. Safety and medicine kits can be purchased that contain all of these items and include additional products such as baby gas drops, ibuprofen for infants as well as other medicines formulated for babies. It is advisable that parents do not purchase whole medicine kits until after the baby is born as baby medicines generally have short shelf-lives and a lot of them can't be administered to an infant younger than 6 months, posing the issue that they may expire before the baby uses them.