What Should Be Kept at the Grandparents' House for a Newborn?

Traveling with a newborn, even when it's just to visit the grandparents, involves packing and carrying an arsenal of items that your baby might need. One way to cut down on the stress and make visiting more convenient is to keep duplicate items at the grandparent's home. This saves you time and energy when packing and ensures that your child will have her needs met while you are away from home.

  1. Necessities

    • Parents who routinely visit the grandparents often leave extra diapers, baby wipes, diaper rash cream, baby pain reliever and a pacifier there in case of emergencies when visiting. This includes any medications your baby may need, such as cold medicine or ear drops. Store grooming aids, such as baby fingernail clippers, baby bath products and baby washcloths, in a small pouch or bag and leave it at the grandparent's house for those overnight stays. How many items you choose to keep there depends on the amount of room, how far away you live and how often you visit.

    Sleeptime

    • Newborns need a safe and comfortable place to sleep, even if you are only visiting for a few hours. If room allows, keeping a small cradle or bassinet at the grandparent's home makes nap time and bedtime easier for both you and your baby. Include sheets, blankets and sleepwear.

    Feeding Time

    • Parents who visit the grandparent's home frequently, typically leave canned formula -- if your baby is formula fed -- and extra bottles. This prevents rushing out to the store in the middle of the night if you misjudge the amount of formula or misplace a bottle. You will also need bibs and burp cloths. Once your baby starts eating solid food, add baby spoons, dishes and utensils to the list.

    Toys

    • Even young babies get bored and need toys to occupy them. Consider leaving an assortment of rattles and small toys at the grandparent's home. If your baby is attached to a special stuffed animal or other pleasure item, consider buying two identical items and leaving one at the grandparent's home.

    Clothing

    • Leaving a few outfits of clothing with the grandparents prevents problems with unexpected soiling of clothes, but does pose the risk of your baby outgrowing the clothes between visits. One alternative is to swap out the clothes with each visit to ensure you'll always have the right size on hand.

    2. Previous:

    Next:

    • How to Use a Snugli Baby Carrier
      Snugli baby carriers can be a convenient way to bring your little one with you when enjoying outdoor activities or events where space is limited. They are fairly easy to use once you get the hang of them and they will grow with your child, usually up
    • Week 20 of Pregnancy
      Woohoo! Halfway point! Do a victory lap around the block! Ha, no, fuck that noise, you do what you want, you’ve earned it, honey. Between constipation, heartburn, snoring, headaches, dizziness, leg cramps, nausea, constant peeing, extra
    • What do you need to let your friend carry a baby for you?
      It is not appropriate to ask a friend to carry a baby for you. Surrogacy is a complex and personal decision that should not be taken lightly. It involves significant legal, ethical, and emotional considerations, and its crucial to have a thorough und