Before the baby

Posted on 9 February 2016

Having your first baby is an exciting time, but working out whose advice to take and what to stock up on can leave your head spinning. Mediclinic Infohub makes it simple, with mother of three Jacqui Commerford sharing her advice.

One of the quirks of having a baby is the amount of advice you’ll receive, whether you want it or not. There are millions of people out there who’ve had one child or more, and apparently that makes many of them experts on how you should care for yours. And when you’re completely overwhelmed by your newborn, the contradictory advice can make your hair stand on end.

Someone once suggested I pick two to three people I trust – perhaps a health professional, a parent and a fellow mom who parents their children in a way I’d like to emulate – and only follow their advice, otherwise trusting my own instinct. It was a great strategy and helped me to stay sane while politely telling the busybodies to move on.

Getting ready for your baby, in practical terms, can also be confusing. The shops are full of items you ‘have to have’. As a mother of three, two of whom are currently newborn twins, here’s the list of stuff I use every day (add to it as you please):

• Nappies, of course (newborn babies use about eight per day)
• Wipes – the gentle ones with no fragrance
• Bum cream
• Vaseline
• Receiving blankets – at least four
• Blankets
• Burp cloths or muslins – a couple of old towels will do
• Nipple cream (Bepanthen bum cream is the best) if you’re breastfeeding
• Dummies (otherwise known as pacifiers, they do just that. Like them or not, newborn babies love to suck and it calms them)
• A cot or bassinet – even if you plan to co-sleep, baby needs a place to rest during the day
• Cot mattress and 2 x sheets (or more)
• Gentle baby wash for bathing
• Baby vests – to wear under all clothes with buttons, so they don’t rub on baby’s soft skin
• Baby clothes
• Bottles plus newborn teats – one set for emergencies if you’re breastfeeding, at least two sets if you’re bottle-feeding.
• Pram and infant car seat – or travel system which includes both.

Some niceties which make life easier but you can get by without:

• Feeding chair
• Changing table
• Baby monitor
• Colourful toys for stimulation (stimulating your baby is very important, but some colourful ribbons and your loving voice chatting to them is more than enough to start with)
• A sling or wrap – great for getting close to baby, comforting them when they’re niggly and carrying them when you need to keep your hands free.

I asked some moms what, apart from absolute essentials, they found to be their most useful baby item.

• A metal frame with toys on it that hangs over the baby’s changing mat, says Rochelle, mom to 1-year-old Jade. ‘Keeps baby entertained during changes,’ she explains.
• Black-out blinds was Bridget’s lifesaver for her daughters Kate and Meg.
• The Nurture Nest sleeping pillow, recommends Marisa. ‘They will sleep anywhere and everywhere, as long as they’re on it,’ she says.
• Floor mat and mobile for my twins – it’s tricky to carry both babies at the same time, so being able to keep one or both entertained while I get things done is incredibly useful.

My last piece of advice (I say with my tongue firmly in my cheek) is not to get too carried away with buying before the birth. Ensure you’re equipped with the basics and you can add items as you need them afterwards.