Must Haves for First Time Expecting Parents

Becoming a first time parent is daunting. You have so many things to worry about and so many fears. Not only are you concerned about the health of your new baby, but you also have to think about things like insurance, college savings plans, and of course what to get for the baby. If you walk into any baby superstore you’ll be blown away by all the items. There are dozens of cribs, dozens of car seats, seemingly hundreds of types of bottles, and loads and loads of other things you may or may not need. You thought all you needed was a crib, some bottles, and a bunch of diapers. If you are a first time parent many of the things that marketing will tell you are "must haves" are really not. In fact, there are only a few things you really need and everything else is just extra or for fun. Here’s a list of the must haves for parents expecting a new baby.

For sleeping you’ll need a few basics. Your baby will sleep a lot the first few months so you want her to be as comfortable as possible. Sleep sacks are one of the simplest yet greatest inventions in the baby world. A sleep sack will keep your little baby warm and comfortable but will keep them from getting tangled up in clothes or blankets. Get a bassinet for your bedroom for your baby to sleep in near you. You’ll probably find that your baby will sleep facing you most of the time.

If you are not going to nurse but still want your baby to get all the health benefits of breast milk then a breast pump is the way to go. In fact pumping is the new breast feeding. If you want to pump don’t feel guilty because your baby will be just fine. Pumps are not something you want to go cheap with. Pumping by hand or with a cheap pump isn’t any fun. The best breast pump on the market is the Medela Breast Pump. This pump is easy to use and to clean and the Medela Company is a reputable company that makes it easy to exchange any broken or missing parts and pumps. Make sure your baby bottles are BPA free. The jury is still out whether or not BPA is dangerous but why take the risk. Most bottles in reputable stores should be BPA free now.

A good changing table and changing pads are also a must. Make sure the table is at a level that will make it easy for you to use. You don’t want to have to lean forward ten times a day. This will destroy your back and any parent can tell you you’ll need the best body possible as your baby grows into a kid and starts playing. A matching crib is also a must for your baby’s room as well as a comfortable chair to rock her in at night and nap times. You don’t have to pay a lot on the chair but make sure you can rest your head back on it as you’ll be spending many late hours in the chair.

Of course you’ll need baby clothes. People love to buy baby clothes and you might be surprised how many items you get from baby showers. It’s easy to buy too many baby clothes and end up not using many of them. Remember your baby grows very quickly and some come home already too big for their newborn outfits. When you do buy baby clothes look for deals. You can always find deals on clothes your baby will wear later. An example is looking for next summer’s clothes this fall.

Having a baby is a wonderful experience that will change your life forever. There are so many things available that you may want to get but there are only a few things you have to get. The most important thing is that you love your baby and provide her with a happy and safe home. Read more on Medela Breast Pump.