| Baby Equipment can cover a vast variety of areas | | | | newborn and for the first 6 months or so and the only |
| when it comes to looking after your baby. What is | | | | thing that really soothed him was taking him for walks |
| essential can also be another mind field to a new | | | | in a sling or walking around the house with him in a |
| mother and we can often get lost in the look of | | | | sling. A sling is also a great way to keep your son |
| something or the want for it, rather than actually | | | | close to you for the first 6 months of life (considered |
| needing it. That can lead to a lot of wasted money | | | | the In-Arms phase). Your baby loves being closed to |
| many people can't afford and also may result in | | | | you and you will not spoil him for giving him what he |
| forgetting the crucials. | | | | needs. |
| In all honesty my idea of essential is completely | | | | Muslins/Cloths - In relation to my son's acid reflux, a lot |
| different to most. I never had a crib or a changing | | | | of mop cloths were needed! I was lucky to have lots |
| station or a nursing chair. In fact my most expensive | | | | of spare from buying lots for my son's diapers. Try to |
| purchase was reusable diapers. | | | | get a good back up stock of mops. Babies are |
| I do however consider some items essential for a | | | | inevitably messy little things and this will save you have |
| baby and have a few that many people seem to | | | | to do washing everyday. Cloths are also great for |
| never own. This is my essential list of baby equipment: | | | | mopping up once your baby is grown so don't think this |
| Clothing - Every baby needs clothes and lots of them! I | | | | is a wasteful expense - it isn't! |
| had my fair share of second hand items from eBay | | | | Nursing pads - If you intend on breastfeeding or if not, |
| and also hand me downs from when my Husband | | | | nursing pads are really quite crucial. Your breasts will |
| was a little boy, however I was not prepared for how | | | | leak and being very full to begin with and you will need |
| messy my little boy was going to be. My son | | | | a continuous supply of pads to help absorb it! |
| unfortunately had some acid reflux issues and for the | | | | Breast pump - This is on the essential list because it |
| first year of life was constantly throwing up and I had | | | | was essential for me the first week. I managed to get |
| to change him every 5 minutes. Make sure that when | | | | Mastitis where your breasts get very full, lumpy and |
| you buy clothing you buy a lot of it. You can never | | | | you feel like you have been hit by the flu. I needed a |
| have too much! Getting second hand is a great way | | | | pump to help relief some of the excess milk I was |
| to go and eBay is a good choice for this. eBay is also | | | | producing. Despite nursing my son, I still had problems. I |
| great because you can often get very cheap new | | | | also found (Even though this is not recommended in |
| items too. I bought a lot of new organic items for my | | | | the first 6 weeks) that pumping milk and putting in the |
| son at very cheap prices. | | | | fridge allowed my Husband to feed our son while I got |
| Car seat - A car seat is another essential item. You | | | | have a nice 4 hour nap during the day. You need as |
| will need it as soon as baby is born if you have a | | | | much as rest as you can so every little helps! |
| hospital birth, so this is definitely a piece of equipment | | | | This is my personal list of essential items. It may not be |
| you want ready! | | | | what everyone else's is but other items I had did not |
| Baby sling - I found a baby sling to one of the most | | | | get used instantly or as often as the ones mentioned |
| essential items I could own. I have used it nearly | | | | here. Hope it helps. |
| everyday. My son was very colicky when he was a | | | | |