Essentials for a newborn baby

When you have a new baby, you are likely to be very excited and preparing for the birth will be an enjoyable event for you and your partner. Shopping for a new baby can seem like a mammoth task and you may feel bombarded with information about what you will need. But buying for a new baby is not as complex as it may seem. There are just a few essentials that will allow you to get through the first few weeks and other items can easily be bought as and when you need them

Clothes- during the first few weeks of your new babies life, it will need comfortable and warm (depending on the weather) clothes. Your baby may need changing frequently so a number of simple and easy to change outfits is usually the best. New babies skin is delicate and so super soft fabrics like Bamboo are ideal. You can find more information on choosing clothes for  a new baby in the post organic clothes for a newborn baby.

Pram - the most expensive is not always the best. Pick the pram that best suits your lifestyle. Some things that you will want to consider are the amount of time the baby will be in the pram and its comfort, how far you will be pushing it and on what terrain, your own comfort and how easy it is to push, how easy it is to fold into a car or manouver on public transport, budget and how long it will last (some will convert into pushchairs prolonging their life).

Car seat -this is an absolute essential if you travel by car at all. If you are having your baby in hospital and traveling home by car, this will need to be bought in advance. Some prams have car seats that can be moved from the pram to the car. Again which one you buy will depend on your lifestyle but as a carseat is an important piece of safety equipment, it is advisable not to buy second hand and to check for safety ratings. It is also really important to ensure that it is fits (and is always fitted) correctly in your make of car.

Cot/ crib/ moses basket and bedding -this really comes down to your particular choice of sleeping arrangements for your baby. Many parents start with a moses basket in their bedroom and move the baby into a cot in their own room at a later date. You can also get a dividing wall for a cot to make it smaller for a new baby and a cot bed which will last as your child grows. You should get  a new mattress for your baby that conforms to safety standards, a fitted sheet and a number of blankets that can be layered according to the temperature. Bamboo blankets are ideal as they are both soft and thermo regulating keeping baby warm in winter and cool in summer.

Nappies - whether you choose disposable or washable nappies, you will need a stock ready for the birth. If using washable nappies, you may also need liners, washing solutions, buckets etc. You can find out more details from our posts why choose washable nappies? and which washable nappies to choose? Biodegradable nappies and organic bamboo baby wipes  are also eco friendly options.

Bottle/ feeding equipment - If you plan to breast feed, you will not need any specific equipment although you may consider getting a pump and bottles for expressing milk and clothes/ bra designed for breastfeeding to make your life easier. If you plan to bottlefeed you will need bottles, a method of sterilising and some formula.

Pictures - natural organic cotton sleepsuit and giftset for the Bamboo Baby basics range.

Also available Bamboo Maternity and nursing wear, bamboo baby blankets and bamboo baby clothes.