So you’re bringing home either your first baby or your first baby in a while. You’re going to need to have a lot of supplies on hand. Beyond diapers and formula, though, what do you need to ensure your baby has the safest few first months of existence possible?
To help you with your newborn checklist, here are six first aid, health, and safety items you’ll want to have on hand before you bring home your newborn.
1. Cabinet Latches
Yes, they’re annoying for the rest of the family. Yes, they’re necessary.
Cabinet latches keep cabinets and drawers closed and inaccessible to babies. And while you might not need these before your infant starts crawling, do you really want to have to worry about outfitting your entire house with safety latches only after you’ve realized that your child can very speedily get away from you?
No.
So, check this little to-do chore off your list before you have the baby, so it’s one less thing to worry about in the months to come.
(The same thing goes for fireplace bumpers and corner guards for your coffee tables and end tables.)
2. Baby Gates
You need baby gates for both the tops and bottoms of each staircase. Again, while your baby may not be in danger of toppling down the stairs just yet, the time will be here quicker than you know, so you might as well get this chore done ahead of time.
Plus, baby gates can come in handy even before your infant learns to crawl. For example, maybe you want to keep the nursery door open, so you can hear if your child needs you, but you want to keep a wandering pet out of the room. A baby gate can easily slide into the doorframe and keep Fido out.
3. Baby’s First, First Aid Kit
You could build your own first aid kit for your infant, compiling all of the necessary supplies, but there are brands that produce infant-specific first aid kits that already contain everything you might need (even the Red Cross sells an infant first aid kit).
Just make sure that it has (or that you add to it) the following items:
– Infant pain reliever (non-aspirin and liquid)
– Hydrocortisone cream
– Benadryl
– Gas drops
– Rubbing alcohol
– Water-soluble lubricant
– Antibacterial ointment
– Tweezers
– Bulb syringe
– Saline drops
– Adhesive bandages
– Cotton balls
– Electrolyte solution
– Gauze, tape and scissors
4. A Digital Thermometer And A Rectal Thermometer
Invest in a digital thermometer that can take readings without touching your infant (the kind that allows you to just point and measure). This will make it easy to take temperatures while your infant is sleeping, so there’s no need to wake them in order to take their temperature via the armpit or rectally.
However, on top of this, also have a rectal thermometer on hand, as many parents appreciate the accuracy they provide.
When your baby has a fever, you want to have all your bases covered.
5. A Baby Monitor
If your nursery is right beside your master bedroom, or if you plan on co-sleeping, you may think that you don’t necessarily need a baby monitor. However, there are still instances where they can come in handy.
For example, maybe you want to watch a movie downstairs while your baby is asleep. You still want to be able to watch and hear them, even over the sound of your movie, without having to get up every few seconds to go in and check on them.
Likewise, you may want to be able to monitor if your baby stays asleep, if you happen to hear a bump upstairs or a loud noise outside.
Baby monitors simply provide an added layer of convenience and comfort when it comes to parents worrying about their child’s safety.
6. Nail Clippers
This might seem like an odd safety item, but once you’ve felt the pain of an infant’s razor-sharp nail drag down the side of your face, you’ll realize why it’s included on this list.
Newborns’ nails grow very quickly, and are often very sharp. You want to keep them regularly trimmed (you may have to trim them a few times per week), to protect both yourself and the baby from scratches.
Once You’ve Brought Baby Home…
Once your baby is home, make sure to store all of your extra first aid and safety equipment in a convenient spot. Let any babysitter or family member know where they can find it, if needed. Additionally, keep a list of emergency numbers, including your pediatrician’s number and that of poison control, where it can easily be found, such as on the fridge and additionally in your first aid kit.
We hope you enjoyed this in-depth article to help you with your newborn checklist. Here are other related posts we are sure you will also love:
- 3 Breastfeeding Must Haves For New Moms
- 5 Great Gift Ideas for Moms to Be
- Why Your Family Needs an Emergency Kit (And How to Make One!)