Information on Baby Checklist

Home >> Parenting & Families >> Baby Checklist

Baby Checklists

As important as it is to prepare for the birth itself, there are some important andpractical details to consider about life after your baby's arrival. New parents-to-be are often concerned about the amount of clothing and equipment they willneed when their son or daughter finally arrives—and how much it will cost. Ifyou have the financial resources to outfit a designer nursery and a four-season in-fant wardrobe, you will find no shortage of catalogues and showrooms to ac-commodate you. But most young couples with growing families are stretchingtheir pocketbooks in several directions. You should he relieved to know that it possible to meet a new baby's needs exceptionally well without creating a new-:-n penthouse. After all, infancy is the one stage in a child's life when he is not-:rested in material things. The newborn doesn't care where his clothes and:ipment came from. Modest surroundings that are rich in parental love and1ierness will yield far better results than showcase environments that are emo-nally impoverished. Remember—the greatest person who ever lived was bornstable.

Actually, it is extremely unlikely that you will have to buy everything youtd and want for the new baby. If you have older children, or friends and rela-s with children, a number of items can usually be borrowed or handed downthe new arrival. Friends may throw a baby shower or two for you before and, after the big event, indulgent grandparents and other well-wishersperhaps descend on you with all manner of gifts. If you are a single parent.-ou have had to deal with opposition and obstacles to your pregnancy, yourl crisis pregnancy center (CPC) can assist you with a variety of baby supplies.

Many new parents are able to obtain needed supplies at a fraction of the original cost by visiting local garage sales and thrift shops. Babies and children outgrow clothes so quickly that many secondhand items that have been worn very(and look brand-new) can be purchased for a few dollars. Used nursery furniture and equipment can also be picked up at bargain prices, but make sure that whatever you buy meets current safety standards, especially if it is more than a years old.

It's a good idea to create your need/wish list before you start purchasing itemsfor the nursery. You can use your list to keep track of what you've already ac-quired so that shopping trips for baby gear will be shorter and more focused. Thegoods you will need, commonly referred to as a layette, will fall into the following basic categories.

Clothing

While there is no magic formula for deciding how many of each type of garmentto acquire, the following list covers the basics:

• Small, lightweight (receiving) blankets-3 or 4

• Sleeper sets with feet-3 or 4

• Light tops (gowns or sacqucs)-2 or 3

•T-shirts or undershirts-3 or 4

• Socks or booties-3 or 4

• Sweaters-2 (heaviness depends on climate)

Hats-2 (level of protection depends on climate)

Infant sleeping bag (bunting)—1

As you acquire clothing for your baby, remember three important principles:

Think ahead. Most newborns outgrow newborn-size clothes in a very fewweeks, if not days, so favoring somewhat larger sizes for much of the wardrobeis a wise idea. This is especially true for those cute but costly dress-up outfitsthat may hang idly in the closet after a few outings. If you receive a number ofthese as gifts, don't remove the tags and boxes and consider doing some dis-creet trades for bigger sizes at the store where they were bought. If you are buy-ing outfits for the next few months, consider what the future may holdweather-wise.

Think safety. Be sure that no garment is too snug around your baby's neck,hands, and feet and completely avoid any accessory such as a necklace or a longribbon that could become tangled around the neck. Buttons, beads, and othersmall objects attached to shirts or pants may be a hazard if they can become de-tached and find their way into little hands, mouths, and airways; it's a good ideato reinforce buttons and bows, which requires only some time, a needle, andthread. Snaps are safer and handier. Infant and toddler clothing should be flame-retardant—a safety feature that will be stated on the label. Prewash the babyclothes you buy, whether secondhand or fresh from the department store. Usedetergents without perfumes or other ingredients that might irritate the baby'sskin. Many brand names offer such products (such as Tide-Free); this information will appear on the label. This will assure not only that used garments are.-nitary but also that new clothing is free from any detergents or other chemicalsduring the finishing processes.

Don't worry about shoes at this point. Not only are they unnecessary beforebaby can walk, but they may interfere with normal growth of the feet.

Think convenience and comfort. Since diaper changing is a frequent activity babies, easy access is preferable to a complicated, multilayered outfit wheneanup is necessary.

Diapers

Diapers you will need to decide whether you want to use cloth or disposable diapers, orleast which you would like to start with.

Disposable diapers are abundant in every supermarket and most notable their convenience. When it's time for a change, take them off, dump any solid-aste into the toilet, fold them up, and throw them away. Manufacturers alsompete with one another to sec who can create the most leak-proof diaper bymbining superabsorbency with cleverly engineered plastic linings that prevent:The or stool from escaping onto bedding or furniture. For all of these advan-.es, however, disposable diapers have their drawbacks. Not only are they morestly than cloth diapers, but their plastic liners do not disintegrate, raising envi-- nmental concerns. (Over two thousand diapers enter dumps and landfills every year for each baby using disposables.)

Cloth diapers are less expensive, even when you use a diaper service. But they7:-_ust be laundered by someone. If that someone is you, wash them separatelym other clothing after rinsing them out in the toilet. Use hot water and a dou-- rinse and avoid fabric softeners and scented additives, which can provoke.shes on some infants' skin. Since newborns will soil as many as ten or more di-; ,:rs a day, you will need a stockpile of three or four dozen. You will also needns or clips (unless you use the newer models with Velcro fasteners) and somee of waterproof protective covering, unless you buy the all-in-one versions.

Diaper services bring the convenience level of cloth diapering nearly up tot of disposables and still at less cost. Shop around for prices, delivery sched(twice weekly is typical), and policy regarding whether you rinse first or sim-toss the diaper, waste and all, into the pail the service provides. The price ofservice should be weighed against the cost of laundry supplies and utility bills-hen you do the job yourself, as well as your time and energy, which may be in_:y short supply. While cloth diapers may appear kinder to the environment, it-.,)uld be noted that diaper services (or parents at home) must consume considerable amounts of water and energy to clean them. Ultimately your choice be-tween disposable and cloth diapers should he compatible with your family's timeand budget constraints.

Furniture and other hardware

This is where your biggest onetime expenses lie and where some judicious borrowing of equipment from friends and family will be helpful.

A cradle or bassinet is a portable sleep space, allowing you the convenience of changing your newborn's sleeping quarters relatively easily. In some families, a cradle whose gentle rocking :has calmed restless infants for many decades and is handed down from generation to generatior. Bassinets don't sway, but they do have the advantage of being portable. Be certain that the legsthe bassinet are stable and sturdy so it cannot accidently collapse.

If you want the new baby right next toown bed or elsewhere in the house, a cradle bassinet will allow you more flexibility. However_within three or four months your baby willgrow it, and he will need to graduate to a crib.

A crib can be the newborn's sleeping place from day one and will be in use for two to three years. Since your baby will spend time in a ci-rtwithout direct supervision, this must be a con:-pletely safe environment. In order to prevent falls and other types of accidents, cribs manufacturfover the past several years have had to comply with a number of safety requirements. If vc baby is going to be using an older model, youneed to check the following: • The slats in the crib should be no wider tha:1 two and three-eighths inches apart. • Unless they are supporting a high canopy, corner posts that extend above the rails are a potential hazard because they may entangle loose clothing. They should be unscrewed or cut off.

Paint on an old crib may contain lead, and any flakes of paint acciden-tally swallowed by a curious baby could cause lead poisoning. When indoubt, sand off the old coat (taking care not to inhale it yourself) andapply some high-quality enamel in its place.

•The headboards and footboards should be solid and without decorative cutouts that could trap a head, hand, or foot.

In addition, you should check the following before you place your baby in •new or old:

•The mattress pad should fit snugly into the frame. if you can wedgemore than two fingers between the pad and the crib side, the mattresspad is too small. Remove any extraneous tags and thin plastic wrappings.If you use a mattress cover, be sure it is made of thick plastic that,ideally, can be zipped around the pad. Don't place pillows or any softbedding material other than a fitted sheet under the baby. His head orface might become accidentally buried in the soft folds, especially if hehappens to be face down, which could lead to suffocation. (This may beone of the conditions leading to the tragedy of sudden infant deathsyndrome, or SIDS.) Sheepskin, down mattresses,feather beds, and wavy water beds pose similar risks.

•Bumper pads, securely tied into place, should line the inside of the crib.When your baby can pull up to a standing position, the pads should beremoved, since they can assist a baby's attempts to climb over the rail.The same is true of large stuffed animals that a toddler might use as asoft step or launching pad for a trip over the side.

•The side rails should latch securely in place, with the release mechanismout of reach of exploring fingers. When fully raised, the rails shouldextend at least twenty inches above the top of the mattress. As your babygrows and eventually stands up, the mattress will need to be lowered.

•If you hang any mobiles above the crib, be sure they remain out of reacha few months from now when your baby begins to move toward (andgrab for) interesting objects.

•For many reasons—sun exposure, shades, cords, and, worst of all, thepossibility of a disastrous fall—never put a crib next to a window,whether open or shut.

changing table can be a convenient one-stop location for diaper duties atBut it is also notorious for being the place from which a baby takes his firstou use a changing table:

Never step away, turn around, or otherwise divert your attention fromthe job at hand unless you pick up the baby to do so. Babies seem tochoose this moment to show off their newability to roll over—and then take a fast tripto the floor. Never answer the phone or thedoor if it means walking away from your baby.

•To reduce the likelihood of such a fall, makesure you have all the changing gear—newdiaper, wipes, etc.—within reach before youstart.

•The table should have a two-inch guardrailaround its edge and a safety strap to help yousecure the baby. However, these should not beconsidered a substitute for your undividedattention when your infant is on the changingtable.

•Don't distract an older baby by letting himhandle a can of baby powder (which hemight accidentally unload into his or yourairspace), play with a disposable diaper(whose plastic liner he might rip off andchoke on), or suck on some other miscella-neous object on the changing table.

Car seats

Unlike a changing table, a car seat is an absolutenecessity. Automobile accidents are a leadingcause of death in children, and proper use of carseats could prevent hundreds of tragic losses ev-ery year. As a result, every state has passed lawsrequiring their use. Most hospitals will not allowyou to take your new baby home without one,and many will loan or rent you a scat if you can-not buy one.

Each infant, toddler, and young child musthe properly secured into an appropriate car seat every time he rides in a car—noexceptions. Holding a baby in your lap, even if you are wearing a seat belt, cancause him to be crushed between you and the dashboard in an accident assuming that he hasn't been thrown through the windshield first. Even if the time to buckle everyone in place will be far longer than the drive itself, do it because most accidents occur within a few miles of home at speeds below 30 miles an hour. The death of a child for any reason is always a horrible loss for a family, but the pain is greatly magnified when that loss could have prevented.

The car seat for a newborn should be either an infant or convertible model manufactured since 1982, the year federal safety regulations were enacted.&use the newborn has no head control, he must face backward to preventdangerous, rapid forward movement of the head during a sudden stop. The seatshould position him so that his upper body is angled upward but not sitting up-egls since he can't keep his head from flopping forward. You may need to use rolled-up towels or diapers to pad the seat and keep him from slouching. The center of the backseat is the safest location for him, and thus you should amid putting him in the forward passenger seat. This means that, should he start as is fuss, you will have to resist thc temptation to turn around and tend to himyour vehicle is in motion.

An infant car seat can have the distinct advantage of doubling as a carrier or even a comfortable napping spot for a small baby when you're not in the car.However, the reverse is not true: You should never usc an infant carrier as a car seat. Once your baby outgrows the infant car seat (usually between nine andoseive months of age, or about twenty pounds), it will have little usc until an-other baby enters your life. A convertible seat can be reconfigured to face forwardlisen your baby reaches his first birthday and will accomtnodate him until he is forty pounds. It will be, however, too heavy and cumbersome to serve any other purpose.

It is very important to read directions carefully, to make certain the seat can carhe anchored securely in thc car(s) that will carry your baby, and to see that any ev-prospective chauffeurs (grandparents, for example) know how to use the seat properly.

Other safety measures to consider in regard to baby car seats include:

If your car has a passenger-side air bag, you should never place your baby -noin the forward passenger seat. As was just noted, even without the air bag, anthe backseat is a safer location for an infant seat. But if an air hag is as-present, it can cause serious or even fatal injuries to a baby if the bag inflates during an accident.

When your car is sitting in the sun, cover the infant seat with a towel,since plastic and metal parts can become hot. Even if a towel has beenused, check the temperature of the seat, belts, and buckles with yourhand to be sure you're not depositing your baby into a veritable fryingpan.

At some time (or perhaps most of the time), your baby will wail indig-nantly when put into the car seat. Make sure there is nothing physically annoying him (such as a hot buckle or a stray toy poking his leg), talk oryrsing sweetly to him, and press on. But do not give in and take him out of the seat to restore cairn to the car. if for some reason your baby's cryinghas reached an unusually distracting pitch, pull off the road and tend to his needs. But then buckle him in before you continue.

•Do not, under any circumstances, ever leave your baby—or any children— unattended in your car. Amazing and terrible things can happen whileyou "just dash into the cleaners for thirty seconds." Aside from physicalrisks to your baby, such as becoming overheated on a warm day orchilled when it's cold, there's always the exciting possibility that an olderchild will discover how to release the brake—or at least find the horn.And, while we would rather not think about such horrific possibilities,children left unattended in a car present a prime opportunity for apredator who is seeldng his next victim to abduct and abuse.

Baby carriers - front and back

Many parents find front and back carriers extremely helpful during the firstseveral months of a child's life. They allow a parent to tend to a variety of activ-ities with hands free and baby close and secure. Front carriers are most useful forthe first three to six months, after which a baby's increasing size, weight, and activity may begin to strain a parent's back and shoulders. Carriers may be config-ured so the baby is in an upright position with legs dangling through leg holes(like a backpack worn backwards) or in a "sling" arrangement in which the baby can lie horizontally as in a hammock. Of the two, the sling is somewhat more ver-satile; the baby can be placed in a variety of orientations (not merely staring atMom's or Dad's chest), the weight can be adjusted or shifted to either shoulder,and some parents are able to continue carrying babies this way comfortably wellpast the first birthday. One variation on the sling is configured to allow an infantfour months or older to be carried on one hip, an arrangement some parents findmore comfortable.

When buying a front carrier, you may want to wait until you can take yourBaby with you and then "try him on for size." Pay attention to these details:

• How would you rate the padding, distribution of weight, and generalcomfort? Would you be able to walk around for extended periods oftime with your baby in this particular carrier?

• How easy (or difficult) is it to put on and adjust, or remove, the carrier?

• How well supported are the baby's head and body?

• Does your baby seem contented in this arrangement? Some babies willbe more calm and comfortable in a sling, while others may seem toprefer a vertical carrier.

If you choose a front carrier, you may find that carrying your baby for ex-Imded periods of time in a front pack is convenient for you, soothing for your baby, and a bonding experience between the two of you. Some parents:nose babies seem to cry a great deal if not held may find that a comfortable front carrier calms the infant—and maintains the parents' sanity. However, you::st not use a carrier when you are driving or riding in a car.

A back carrier is most useful after a baby has gained steady head control, atpoint you won't need to worry about the position and support of the head (which you cannot see). If both parent and passenger find the carrier agreeable, It may remain in service through the toddler months. As with front carriers, it is a wise idea to try on various models with the baby in place. One potential disadvantage of this arrangement is that you can't see or talk directly to the baby. This may become a bigger problem if he is irritable or begins to shift himself around by pushing against the frame. When using a back carrier you must also remember to bend your knees if you are tending to something close to the ground. If bend at the waist, the baby may topple out of the carrier.

Carriages and Strollers

These familiar items are useful when you have some distance to cover with your and you don't want to carry him. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and-some plain and simple and others loaded with bells and whistles. There are convertible models that can he changed from a carriage to a stroller when a baby beomes mobile and jogging (or even racing) strollers for those who want to dome serious exercise while the baby comes along for the ride.

Unfortunately, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, are more than ten thousand emergency-room visits every year involving children under five who have been injured in carriages or strollers.

If you acquire one of these now or during the coming months, look beyond price and durabil-ity to these safety features as well:

•Look for a wide base that will not tip over easily.

•Check the seat belt. Is it securely attached to the frame? Is it strong? Is iteasy for you to fasten and unfasten?

•Check the brakes. Do they securely lock the wheels? Are there brakes ontwo wheels rather than on just one? Are they easy to use? Will they beout of reach of inquisitive fingers when your baby becomes a curioustoddler?

•If there is a basket that holds your supplies or parcels, for stability itshould be placed low and in front of or directly over the rear wheels.

Your safety awareness will need to continue as you utilize a carriage orstroller for months into the future:

• Make sure the equipment is appropriate for the baby's size. Once a babycan sit up on his own, it won't be long before he can fall out of acarriage, so he must graduate to a stroller into which he can be moresecurely fastened.

• Always use the seat belt, even if your baby (or older child) protests.

• Don't hang a purse or shopping bag over the handle—the leverage maytip the carriage or stroller backwards.

• Keep older children away from the stroller as you fold or unfold it.

Other Parenting Artcles:

Home :: Contact Us :: About Us :: Privacy Policy :: Terms of Use :: Site Map