Among all of the advice that you might get when you are pregnant, there is very little that concerns the things you should and should not buy when preparing for your baby. There are some winners and some wastes of time and money when it comes to preparing your nursery. Use this guide to save your new family some money.
Diapers
Don’t: Newborn diapers in bulk. Most babies grow so quickly that they will soon outgrown the newborn diapers within days. Some babies are even born too large to fit the newborn size.
Do: Size 1 and 2 diapers. You can fold the tops over to allow for the healing belly button. If you do need a smaller size, most hospitals will send you home with enough to get you through. By the way, most babies stay in size 3 diapers the longest.
Don’t: Wipe warmer. I haven’t tested a wipe warmer in years, but from what I remember, they can cause all sorts of hot spots. Most babies are fine with room temperature wipes.
Do: Cheap washcloths. A newborn’s skin can be sensitive to store bought baby wipes. A cheaper and more gentle solution is to take inexpensive wash clothes and use some warm water to clean your baby at diaper changes. You can also use a little bit of mild soap mixed with water and baby oil to do the job. I would keep this in a spray bottle and spray the cloth.
Don’t: Changing table. A changing table may be a little convenient when your baby is little, but you will soon find multiple diaper changes a day means that it is a pain to carry baby up to the table each time. So you’ll naturally start changing your baby elsewhere, from the floor to, yes, the kitchen table.
Do: Invest in a thick changing pad that can be secured to your existing baby dresser and a travel changing pad. The thick secured pad will do the same job as a changing table, without the expense of the extra furniture. When you are done with diapers, you can still use the dresser. The travel pad will come in handy for a hygienic way to change your baby everywhere else around the house.