After having 3 babies of my own, I know a thing or two about what items are necessary and which ones are luxury items.
Car Seat - to bring baby home (it’s the law); they will not let you leave the hospital even if you are taking the bus.
Mylicon- Infant gas drops. 3 out of 4 babies get painful gas. I swear by this product. When I go to baby showers I always give the mom the unwrapped box in her hand. This little treasure gave me restful nights when baby was gassy. Be mindful of gassy foods too if you are breast-feeding.
A swing - Oh my gosh – you have to get one! If you have to construct a make shift swing with a sheet and 2 chairs (that’s some old school island stuff) do it. But keep an eye on baby. Swings have been my savior for cranky babies. They love the swaying motion.
Sound Machine – Choose the one with the heartbeat. For 9 months baby heard your heart beat while in his/her safe haven. Playing a heartbeat near the basinet or crib is very soothing to newborn babies.
Frozen Duck Sauce Packets - Yes the ones from the Chinese food store. Don’t throw them out; stock up for teething time. Those small packets can fit into baby’s tiny hands and into his/her mouth easily. The cold soothes sore gum and reduces swelling. If he/she happens to bit into it, it is duck sauce and they get a treat.
Safety Locks & Plugs- Secure all bottom drawers, cabinets with chemicals and the toilet. For some reason splashing around in the toilet, or dumping an entire roll of toilet paper seems like fun. Leave one bottom drawer or cabinet stocked with a bunch of plastic containers and two wooden spoons for days of exploring baby.
Baby oil - for massaging your baby of course. All that activity is tiring and they need some relaxation time too. If baby is not crawling yet, he/she still needs a massage. Think about how you feel lying around all day; after a while you get sore don’t you? Massage your baby everyday before bed at night. This will help him/her sleep longer and sounder.
