In the beginning at the newborn stage, this schedule plays a big factor into their well being as many newborns and infants confuse day and night and you will have a baby that sleeps all day and wants to be up all night. This is not good for your health and the health of your relationship in the house so keeping that firm schedule will help introduce sleeptime for your baby and help them discern the difference between day and night.

Another important item in baby care regarding a schedule is trying to have your baby sleep on their own in the crib. If you let your baby sleep in bed with you each night, it’s going to be a tough habit to break so in addition to their schedule, try to create some independence when sleeping on their own and you may find longer and more well rested sleeps for your baby when they are by themselves and not in your bed with you.

Also in the beginning stages of life for your baby, the swaddle can help your baby from startling themselves and hitting themselves with their hands. This may keep them asleep long and let them adjust better to a sleep schedule. However, be sure to not swaddle for long as it’s just a temporary fix in the beginning stages of life and can cause problems if used to long.

No one or parent is perfect and you can always stick to a schedule or routine, however, do your best to be consistent as it will only help you in the long run and make for a more well rested, happy, and fun baby to be around.

It’s always best to ask your doctor check your baby whenever you as a parent sense something is not right with your baby. However, sometimes there is not a specific baby care tip and definitive answer or reason why your baby is bumping his or her head on the crib or anywhere else for that matter. Some of the common reasons a baby bumps his head are as follows:

The baby can be bumping his or head because the baby is over tired and frustrated.
The baby might bump his or head when he is frustrated. Frustration could be that the baby is not feeling well or the baby is hungry and doesn’t know how to tell you he or she is hungry.
The baby may bump their head as they realize that they get what they want they bump their head, which is their parents run to the rescue and stop them from bumping their head.
A baby can also bump their head against the crib mattress just to get comfortable and help steer them to sleep.

Some of the ways we’ve seen can help with your baby bumping their heads is to be very loving and caring with your baby during this time. Be sure to hold your baby and help them through this tough time for them and let them know that you’re there for them. If it’s possible, sometimes if you ignore the head bumping (if it’s not on a hard surface) the baby will grow out of the phase and stop bumping their head. If you over focus on it and stop the baby each time, you don’t want the head bumping to turn into a way of the baby throwing a tantrum and getting what they want. Therefore, proceed with caution when you constantly baby the baby from their head bumping. Ultimately, it’s almost good to ask your doctor about this and get advice from any one possible including other mothers to help you and your baby through their head bumping phase.

Here are some baby care tips for a healthy and happy baby.

• Ensure your baby is properly fed. It’s good that your baby feels he/she is eating enough food, milk, or formula so your baby is not fussy through out the day. Overfeeding your baby may cause gas and upset stomachs so getting know your baby’s que’s for when they are full or when they are finished with their bottle will be important to keeping their gas levels down. If you do have a gassy baby, always properly burp your baby and make sure to get a good burp from your baby especially before putting them down to sleep. If not, your baby may be uncomfortably when sleeping and tend to spit up more often.
• Ensure your baby has proper sleep. Sleep training can be one of the toughest moments of your babies first year of life, so prepare for some good nights and some bad ones. When your baby has proper sleep, he will also tend to be less fussy and a more happy baby overall. Try the sleep train methods with letting your baby cry for a little and then stopping in to them know your there. Then, let your baby cry a few more minutes longer and stop back in again. Try to leave your baby in the crib and soothe them there… If your baby can learn to self-soothe in the crib, then the baby won’t really on your to pick them up all the time. Therefore, leaving the baby in the crib and trying to put back to bed there can help your baby. Another good time for nap time is put your baby to nap in the crib as opposed to a bouncer or a pack and play. Getting the baby used to sleeping in the crib will make them more comfortable in the crib. If your baby takes short naps, sometimes let your baby wake up and do their thing in the crib and then see if they put themselves back to sleep on their own before you step back in.
• Ensure there is proper playtime and activity. Keeping your baby stimulated is a very important part to your baby care development. If you let your baby lounge around all day and never take them anywhere, they will tend to get more fussy, but enrolling your baby in classes such as swim classes, music classes, baby gym, and more classes to interact with teachers and other babies will keep your baby stimulated and make them more happy during the day and also make your ques for sleep much more visible. If your baby is overly tired from a swim class, you will definitely know it, but if you are home all day with no activity for the baby, you may mistake a tiredness at home for being hungry.

Good luck and hope these baby care tips will help you maintain a happy and healthy baby!

One of the toughest travel items to deal with when bringing your baby along is not having

Baby Care Tips for traveling on the plane.
• Bring enough baby food on the plane in case the plane gets delayed. The most important baby care tip and primary care item is ensure you have enough food to get through the entire flight. You should also remember to bring extra food in case your plane gets stuck on the runway or the trip takes longer than expected and you may not have access to baby food.
• As your ears will pop on the plane, you can imagine the pressure your baby might feel in their ears on the plane. Therefore, it’s important to let your baby suck on something to help ease the pressure in their ears. We have seen good progress with feeding the baby on the way up and also start to feed your baby again as you descend. If you are not able to feed your baby, or it’s not the right feeding schedule for your baby, then you can let them suck on a pacifier or anything to get them sucking and ease the pressure of ascending and descending on the plane.
• Many parents will sit with their baby in their lap and this is fine as you can save money of having to buy another seat. However, having the baby in their own seat will make the flight much more easy for you and your baby, especially for longer flights. A good baby care tip could be to bring the car seat on the plane and put the baby in the car seat next to you in the seat you have for the baby. Your baby is used to the car seat and the movement on the plane may relax them as does the car, and in turn the baby may sleep throughout the entire plane ride. If your baby doesn’t normally sleep in your arms, then it may be tough for your baby to adjust and fall asleep in your arms on the plane. They may scream and get upset as your baby wants to be comfortable too, and missing their normal sleep routine location may cause problems for your baby and make for a more restless flight. If you don’t have your own seat for your baby, then you can always ask the flight crew or flight attendant if they can shift some people around to open up a seat next to you for your baby. While this doesn’t always work, you might be surprised how often it does as the passenger sitting next to you may rather sit in a different location, then potentially deal with an unhappy baby next to them during the flight

Hope you enjoyed these baby care travel tips and good luck flying on a plane and traveling with your newborn baby!

TOO HOT?

Newborn babies can’t tell you if they are too hot or cold, but there are ways to check. Place your hand across your baby’s back underneath their clothes, or on the back of their neck. They should feel warm, not hot or cold. Feeling a baby’s hands and feet is not an accurate way of telling whether they are cold or hot, as a baby’s hands and feet are usually slightly cooler than the rest of his or her body.

CLOTHING

As a general rule, your baby needs one more layer of clothing than you do. For example, if you are wearing a t-shirt, then your baby will need a singlet and t-shirt. In very hot weather, your baby may need less clothing. Cotton clothing is great for summer newborns, as it is light and breathes well.

SUN PROTECTION

Your newborn’s skin is soft and raw, and offers no protection from the sun. Use specially designed sun shades, or a cloth nappy or blanket over the car seat or pram to protect your baby from the sun when out and about. When at the beach or park, try to choose a shady area to sit, or take an umbrella or pop-up tent to offer your baby shade.

HYDRATION

If you are breastfeeding, then your breast milk contains both foremilk to quench your baby’s thirst, and hind milk which is your baby’s food. Your baby should not need any fluids other than breast milk, but you may need to give shorter feeds more frequently to keep your baby hydrated. If you are bottle-feeding, you may need to offer your baby cooled boiled water from a sterilized bottle or teaspoon to ensure that he or she has enough fluids in very hot weather.

SLEEP

On hot, sticky summer days and nights, you may find that your newborn has trouble settling to sleep. Open some windows in baby’s bedroom to keep the room cool, but be sure that baby’s cot or bassinette is not in a draft. If you can’t open windows, you could try using an electric fan in baby’s room, once again making sure that it does not create a draft on baby.
If you wrap your baby when he or she is sleeping, remove one layer of clothing before wrapping to ensure that your baby does not get too hot. Muslin is great for wrapping summer babies – it is very light and breathes well. Muslin wraps are available from baby stores, or you can buy plain muslin from a fabric store and make your own.

You’ll feel guilty about these things, more so if you love your job and don’t want to give it up. So how can you best ease the transition and get the best of both worlds as a working mum?

• Ease back in if you can

See if you can negotiate part-time hours in the first few weeks after you return to work, or perhaps even work from home a couple of days a week. This helps you to get used to the idea and to the new system and will also help your baby get used to new childcare arrangements, be it a nanny, childminder, a relative or into daycare, as it means she won’t be spending all day without you. At the very least, even being able to get to work and hour later and leave an hour earlier will help you and shouldn’t cut too much into your productivity. In fact, because you’ll feel more relaxed you might get more work done in your reduced hours. Talk to your boss before you go back about reducing your hours on a trial period, say for the first month. After you’ve eased back into work and you and your baby are getting used to the new arrangements you can start to work a full day again.

• Organise your mornings

Mornings will need to run like clockwork and parental teamwork is essential to achieve this. Start preparing the week before you return to work so you can work out any kinks before day one, and arrange for your baby to go to her carer or daycare for a couple of hours in the morning that week so you can get your mind around what exactly you need to do in order to leave on time. It’s also essential to get used to being apart from her and saying goodbye. Your routine needs to be as simple as possible so pare it down by leaving out anything you can possibly do later, such as putting on your make-up – take five minutes to do it at your place of employment if you can. Even sorting out what you are going to wear the night before can save you valuable time and probably stress in the mornings.

• Share the care

If you’ve been at home for some time with your baby you may have both fallen into the habit of doing most of the household chores yourself simply because you’re at home to do them. Be prepared to have to ask your partner to pick up his share again once you return to work – it might not be something that occurs to him automatically! He needs to step in with dropping off and picking up your baby from her carer. If it looks like it’s going to be difficult to keep up with chores while you both are working outside the home, look into the possibility of hiring someone to assist – even if it’s just to do laundry and change the beds, it will help make things easier all round and hopefully stop any tensions that may develop between you and your partner.

• Be smart with your time

Set your alarm clock 15 minutes earlier than you need in order to spend some time with your baby before you leave for work and be sure to carve out some time for her in the evenings too. And keep up with the friends you made while you were at home with your baby – they can be a great emotional support for you and if any of them are stay-at-home mums they may also be a good source of practical help if there is a problem and your baby needs to be picked up early from nursery, or if her nanny is unwell and can’t look after her.

There are some good aspects to going back to work, obviously having a wage again is going to be important, but many gurgle mums report that having a lunch break in the middle of the day where they have a whole hour to themselves can be really valuable; if it’s for a quick shop or running errands, not having your baby with you will make things quicker and easier. It can also be handy if you have a gym membership and can scoot off for a quick work out during your lunch hour – perfect to help regain your pre-pregnancy figure and help you feel good about yourself.

• Stay alert at work

You’ll miss your baby terribly at first but if you can, try to keep your emotions in check and separate home and work issues. Your boss needs to know she can rely on you to be 100 percent at the office, so if you feel a few tears coming on, take yourself off to the bathroom for a few moments! And think about how you do things at work too – if you’ve always been a micro-manager it might be time to step back and delegate more jobs to ease some of the pressure.

• If you are breastfeeding…

Breast milk is best for babies and experts recommend you breastfeed for at least the first 12 months of your baby’s life. However this can be tricky if you’re working outside the home. In order to continue breastfeeding while working, you’ll need to get into the habit of expressing breast milk at work if you can – either in your office, if you have one, or in a room set aside for the purpose. You’ll also need a small refrigerator to store your breast milk. Start pumping a month or so before you return, so you’ll have a supply already stored, and if your baby has never fed from a bottle, get her used to doing so (this might be easier if your partner tries it first – if you do it, your baby may refuse and want to nurse instead). Once you’re at work you’ll need to take two or three 10-15 minute breaks during the day in order to keep up your milk supply. If your boss is dubious, let her know you can schedule one of these in your lunch hour and are happy to substitute the others for refreshment breaks or screen breaks if you use a computer. If you have work colleagues who smoke you might also want to point out that the time you take to pump milk is likely equal to the time they take for cigarette breaks!

• And finally…

There are some things which are guaranteed: you will miss your baby like crazy when you first go back to work and you will feel incredibly guilty for having to leave her. This feeling won’t last forever and whilst you’ll always feel a little guilt, you will get used to being back at work and away from your baby. The important thing is that you are both happy. Seeing your little one enjoying daycare and you starting to enjoy your job again is a wonderful feeling. Many employers love to employ parents because they are hard workers, excellent at multi tasking and rarely turn up to work with a hangover! Even if you work part-time or leave earlier than your colleagues you’ll probably work just as hard to get your work done on time.

• Quality time

Working parents also report that the time they do spend with their children is always good quality time. Once you do get home from work, make sure you spend all the time with your child, doing the bedtime routine and reading bedtime stories together. Make sure you tell your baby that you can’t wait to get home from work and see her every night. Also make sure you put aside housework until she is in bed. Stay-at-home mums probably have to do a great deal of housework whilst looking after the children, but your luxury is that you can get home and dedicate the next few hours to your baby and think about housework later. It is a great feeling to walk in to the house after a busy day and see your child’s happy face beaming at you, so pleased to see you. It’s not only good for you to go back to work, but also as a good role model for your children. As long as you get the balance right and get to spend quality time with your baby before and after work, you’ll shock yourself by actually enjoying being back at work.

Signs of Illness

Does your baby look different? Has your baby’s skin lost color, or is it rosy? Are there any rashes?

Does your baby have a fever? Any of these changes could indicate illness. If you notice any of them, or other worrisome changes in your baby, call your baby’s medical professional.

Has your baby been acting unusual? Is your baby crying more often than usual? Is your baby more short-tempered than usual? Is your baby sleeping more or less than usual? Does your baby seem worn-out?

Has your baby’s eating habits or stools changed? Has your baby thrown up more than once, or has thrown up harshly? Are her stools more hard than usual? Are her stools more runny than usual? Do you need to change more dirty diapers than usual, or not much at all, meaning she isn’t urinating as much as she should? Check for any changes in color in her urine or stools. Anything like this could mean she is sick or dehydrated. You should contact her medical professional as soon as possible.

Does your baby’s breathing seem different? Does your baby have trouble breathing? Does your baby sound congested? You can check by putting your ear to her back, and listen to her breaths. Is your baby coughing?

Steps you and others should take to decrease the chance of your newborn getting sick:

1. Wash your hands before handling your newborn.
2. Wash your hands before and after a diaper change.
3. If anyone is sick, they should keep their distance.
4. Newborns need at least 3-7 baths per week. They don’t need as many as we do simply because they don’t get as dirty as we do, and they have resilient skin.
5. Keep their play toys clean by washing with soap and warm water. Make sure they are thoroughly dry, and clean them often, depending on how often your new baby uses them.
6. Keep their sleeping area clean. Wash their crib with soap and water. You might also want to change their sheets daily, because of the way newborns drool and spit up.
7. All bottles should be sanitized before the baby uses them.
8. Pacifiers should be cleaned continuously throughout the day with soap and water.
9. Be sure to keep your baby warm and cozy in the winter, and comfortably cool in the summer.
10. A humidifier or air filter placed in their bedroom can help keep the air they breathe clean as they sleep.

The Nursery

* Cradle, bassinet, or crib: If you choose to have your baby sleep in your room at night, a cradle or bassinet is a nice option for the first few months. When the baby gets bigger, you will need to get a crib. When choosing a crib, make sure it meets the latest safety standards and that there are no more than 2 3/8 inches between the slats.
* Crib mattress: Unfortunately, most cribs do not come with mattresses so you will need to purchase one. Pick out a mattress that has good back support, is not too soft, and meets all the fire-retardant regulations.
* Musical mobile for crib: This isn’t essential, but a nice addition to the crib. Find one with the figurines facing down so that baby can see them better.
* Dresser: You will need a few drawers to store baby’s clothes and toys.
* Changing area: This can be on top of a dresser or a separate changing table. It is a good idea to purchase a pad to lay baby on top of when changing. Never take your hand or eyes off baby when changing him or her, especially if your changing area is off the ground; babies can roll off the table at the blink of an eye.
* Rocking chair or glider: Although not essential, it’s nice to have when feeding baby. Pick one out that has padded arms for extra support and comfort. A footrest adds additional comfort, especially if breastfeeding.
* Nightlight: Not essential, but it helps you see during those middle of the night diaper changes and feedings.
* Tape or CD player: Lullaby music is a nice way to lull baby into a peaceful sleep or soothe baby when he or she is upset.

Crib Linens

* 1 quilted mattress pad
* 2 fitted crib sheets (smaller sizes are sold for cradles, bassinets, or port-a-cribs)
* 2-4 waterproof mattress pads or waterproof sheets
* 2 light blankets
* 1 sleep positioner: This is not essential but it does helps keep baby sleeping on his or her back or side. It is sold in most baby stores.

When making the crib, you have a few options. You may choose to use a waterproof mattress pad on the bottom and put the fitted crib sheet on top of that or you may want to look in to purchasing a waterproof pad/sheet (called sheet-savers) that goes on top of the fitted crib sheet. These can be found in most baby stores and make cleaning up accidents easier since all you have to do is change the top sheet of the crib. If you go this route, be sure to get one that snaps or ties on to the crib railings (you do not want the ones that you just place on top of the fitted sheet – these can increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome).

If you choose to use the waterproof sheet savers you really only need 1 fitted crib sheet and 2-4 waterproof sheet savers. The fitted crib sheet should require few changes since the waterproof sheet savers on top will keep it dry. You do, however, want to get multiple waterproof sheet savers since you will need to change those regularly.

Note: Babies don’t need pillows or fluffy comforters in their crib! They also should not sleep with stuffed animals or toys. They could cause your baby to suffocate since he or she is not strong enough to roll over or push them away.

Diaper Time: What You Need for the Changing Table

* Diapers (plan on using 70-90 per week for the first six weeks, then 50 per week)
* Disposable diaper wipes (alcohol-free)
* Diaper rash ointment or cream (such as Desitin or A&D)
* Rubbing alcohol to wipe around base of umbilical cord
* Cotton swabs to apply rubbing alcohol
* Petroleum jelly to apply on circumcision (so the baby’s penis doesn’t stick to the diaper)
* Pad for baby to lie on during changing
* Diaper pail to dispose of soiled diapers

Layette: Baby’s First Clothes

* 6 undershirts that snap on the bottom or tie on the side, commonly called “onesies” (3 in three-month size and 3 in six-month size)
* 3-4 infant gowns with elastic bottoms or draw strings. These make for easy diaper changes. All you have to do is pull the gown up over the belly to change the diaper and then pull it back down when finished. There is no stumbling around trying to snap the gown back together, which is especially nice when it’s 3 am and all you want to do is get baby back to sleep so that you can get back to sleep.
* 6 sleepers/stretch suits (3 newborn to three-month size and 3 in six-month size). These are nice to put baby in during the day, but are not essential items. When buying these, make sure you get the kind that zip up the front. These are easier to get baby in and out.
* 3-4 pairs of booties or socks with stretch elastic band at cuff
* 3-4 receiving blankets
* 1 blanket to cover swaddled baby in crib
* 1 sweater and hat

Bathing Baby: What You Need

* Baby bathtub (sloping with foam pad or flat with molded sponge insert)
* 4 terry cloth bath towels (hooded towels are OK, but not necessary)
* 4-6 washcloths
* Tearless shampoo
* Baby soap. Many brands make baby shampoo and soap all in one.
* Brush and comb
* Rounded-tip nail scissors or clippers. Baby’s nails grow quickly and can scratch his or her face.
* Bulb syringe nasal aspirator. These are used to suction excess mucus from baby’s nose and mouth (the one you receive in the hospital is a keeper!)

You may want to check with your baby’s doctor before the first bath. Some doctors recommend that you wait until the umbilical cord has fallen off and the circumcision site has healed before giving your baby a tub bath. In the meantime sponge baths work great.

Washing Baby’s Laundry

It is a good idea to wash all clothing and bedding in a detergent safe for babies. Some popular brands are Dreft and Ivory Snow. These products have been tested for their safe use for all skin types, especially infants.

Wash all infant clothing, bedding, and towels, prior to first use.

To remove tough stains (such as spit-up), spot-treat the item with one of these detergents or soak prior to washing.

Feeding Baby

* 12 nipples and covers
* 1 bottle and nipple brush for cleaning
* Dishwasher basket for bottles and nipples (optional, but makes for easy cleaning)
* Infant formula and measuring cup (if you are not breastfeeding). Use the brand recommended by your child’s doctor.
* 12 Burp cloths
* 6 Bibs
* 12 bottles. Even if you are breastfeeding, you should have bottles to use for pumped breast milk.

The Diaper Bag

When buying a diaper bag, pick one that has lots of pockets and places to store individual items. Also, keep in mind that your diaper bag often becomes your purse, so find one large enough to keep your wallet, keys, glasses, cell phone, and other items you need for yourself.

It’s a good idea to keep this bag packed with the following items at all times so if you need to leave the house in a hurry (especially if you have to take baby to the doctor unexpectedly), you’ll be ready:

* 5-6 diapers
* Disposable wipes
* Diaper rash cream or ointment
* Pad to lie your baby on top of when changing the diaper
* Plastic bags to wrap dirty diapers in until you can find a trashcan to throw them out
* Change of clothes for baby: Infant onesies, a pair of socks, hat, baby outfit.
* Blanket
* 2 clean bottles and powdered formula (if bottle feeding)
* Burp cloth
* Pacifier (if using)
* Baby toy or rattle
* Sunscreen for babies older than 6 months.
* Baby Tylenol

Other Baby Essentials

* Newborn-size pacifier: Many lactation consultants recommend not using a pacifier if you are breastfeeding to prevent nipple confusion in your baby.
* Infant car seat: This can also be used as a baby carrier. And you can find stroller frames that the infant car seat can snap into so that you don’t have to carry the car seat at all times, which can get heavy. If you decide to get a stroller that your infant car seat can snap in to, make sure you get one that fits your infant carrier.
* Breast pump for breastfeeding moms: Breast pumps allow you to pump milk so that someone else can feed your baby. This is important if you need to leave your baby for a significant amount of time (for example, if you are working). Breast pumps also come in handy when your breasts get engorged and baby is too sleepy to help you out. With a breast pump you can pump some of the milk out and save it for when baby is ready to eat.

The Baby Medicine Cabinet

Discuss the use of over-the-counter medications or treatments with your doctor.

* Thermometer: There are many types available. Some doctors prefer that you use a rectal thermometer to get the most accurate temperature. A digital, plastic thermometer that you can place under your baby’s armpit may be easy for you to use for the first six months. There are also digital pacifier thermometers that can be used. Ear thermometers can be used after age 3 months.
* Calibrated medicine dropper
* Pain reliever/fever reducer medicine: (acetaminophen, such as Tylenol infant drops, is recommended). Infant Motrin works great to relieve inflammation associated with teething. Do not use aspirin!
* Mylicon drops to relieve gas.
* Teething rings to soothe teething gums. Talk with your doctor about using a teething gel since some contain benzocaine and can cause allergic reactions.
* Small gauze squares to clean wounds.
* Hydrogen peroxide to clean wounds.
* Wound cream such as Bacitracin Antibiotic or Johnson & Johnson First Aid Cream. Do not use Neosporin on babies under age 6 months, as it contains an ingredient, neomycin, which can cause sensitivity in infants.
* Small bandages.
* Cool mist vaporizer. Good for when baby has a cold.
* Infant sunscreen for babies over age 6 months. If you live in a very sunny climate and your child is exposed to sun often, talk to your baby’s doctor about applying sunscreen earlier.
* Pedialyte or Ricelyte to be used as directed by your child’s pediatrician for fluid replacement during diarrhea.

Baby Gear: Nonessentials (But Nice to Have)

* Baby monitor
* Swing
* Baby book: Essential if you want to record your baby’s firsts.
* Infant seat: A “bouncy” seat is great! It gives you a safe place to put baby while you do things for yourself.
* High chair: You will use it when baby is 4-6 months old
* Baby sling or pouch: These come in handy when you need to have your hands free to get things done around the house, but still carry your baby.

It’s best to get your bag packed at least four weeks before your due date, just in case!

We’ve put together a list of things that lots of mums – and their birthing partners -  find useful to have with them.

Before the birth:

Your maternity notes.
Your birth plan (if you have written one).
Change for the carpark and money for snacks and drinks.
Loose clothing such as a nightshirt or big T-shirt. Pack a few just in case they get messy.
Warm socks and slippers (hospital floors can be cold!).
Dressing gown.
Toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash (if used) and your make-up bag and beauty products.
Hairbrush and, if you have long hair, hair bands.
A pillow, if you wish to use your own.
Deodorant.
Essential oils if you choose to use them.
Snacks and drinks for you and your partner (cereal bars and energy drinks will give you a much needed boost).
Books, magazines, ipod, puzzles – anything that will keep you entertained.
Your camera or video equipment.
Maternity knickers.
A TENs machine, if you’re using one.
If it is hot, you may want a mini fan or a face spray.

For after the birth:
Nightdresses (a couple, in case you have to stay in longer than expected). If you are planning to breastfeed, it’s a good idea to get nightdresses that are specially designed for breastfeeding or have button fastening at the front.
Dressing gown.
Very important: shower gel, moisturiser, shampoo and conditioner (treat yourself to a luxurious brand, you deserve to feel pampered after giving birth).
Maternity sanitary towels.
If you plan to breastfeed: nursing bra, breast pads, and nipple cream/guards. Breast pump (this is optional as most maternity units have breast pumps, but they are usually shared so you might want to use your own – check with your maternity unit).
Shawl or pashmina (optional), so you can look glamorous when guests arrive.
Comfy clothes (this is no time for skinny jeans!) and flat shoes to go home in.

For your baby:
Two/three newborn baby grows (sleepsuits).
Two bodysuits (with sleeves if it is cold, without in the summer).
A baby blanket (cellular blanket).
Baby hat and scratch mittens.
A going home outfit – if it is winter make sure you pack a warm cardigan; in the summer a hat to keep the sun off little eyes is essential.
One pack of newborn nappies.
Cotton wool or baby wipes.
One pack of muslin cloths – essential for pretty much everything, but come especially in handy when your baby possets (brings up milk).

For your partner:
A spare set of clothes for labour and after the birth. He or she may be there for the long haul so make sure they bring a change. Maternity units are set at a higher temperature so that babies are kept warm at all times, which means they’ll probably be more comfortable in lighter clothes.
Books, magazines, CD player/ipod, food and drinks.
Camera and video equipment.
A list of friends’ and family phone numbers plus lots of change or phonecards in case calls cannot be from the hospital.
Change for car parking, drinks, snacks etc.

Going home:
Infant car seat – most hospitals won’t let you leave until they see you have a car seat for your baby. Buy it in advance of the birth and practise fitting it properly.

Mum’s tip – You’ll be surprised at how little you had with you when you arrived at the hospital, and how much you take home. Flowers, gifts for you and the baby, not to mention your baby, baby bag, toys etc! A good tip is to ask friends and relatives to take a few things with them when they come to visit (flowers, for example) so you won’t have so much to carry when you leave.

Daily skin care will keep your baby comfortable and clean, without irritating her sensitive skin.

The best time to care for your baby’s skin is either when you are dressing the baby in the morning, changing the baby, or getting ready to put the baby to bed for the night.

Some babies find their skin care routine or bathing stimulating, others find it relaxing.

See what works best for your baby and time their skin care accordingly. While your baby won’t need a bath every day, your baby will need skin care every day.

You will need a bowl of clean, lukewarm water, a towel, and a baby washcloth. Make sure the room where you are cleaning baby is warm so that baby will not become chilled.

Some babies enjoy having their clothes removed, while others don’t. If your baby does not like having her clothing removed, undress and redress her in stages. If your baby likes being naked, just make sure that she stays warm.

Begin by cleaning your baby’s face. Using the warm water, dampen the baby washcloth. Gently clean around baby’s eyes, nose, mouth, and ears.

Be sure to clean baby’s scalp, and carefully clean the baby’s neck and chin, where there may be many folds of skin. Using the towel, dry baby’s head and face. You can use cotton swabs to clean baby’s ears, but do not insert them into baby’s ears, or any other orifice.

The next step is to clean baby’s chest, underarms, arms and hands. Pay special attention to any skin creases. Again, dry baby as soon as you are finished, and keep baby covered with the towel so that she stays warm. If your baby still has her umbilical stump, avoid getting it wet. If you do, pat it dry gently. The cord itself does not need to be washed.

Next, clean baby’s legs and feet, paying special attention to skin creases and tiny toes. Again, dry baby right away and keep baby covered with the towel to stay warm.

Finally, remove baby’s diaper and clean baby’s genitals and bottom. Dry baby, apply diaper cream, baby lotion or baby powder as desired, and replace baby’s diaper.

Right after baby’s bath is a good time to apply baby lotion or oil and do a bit of baby massage if you are so inclined. Just make sure to be gentle, and do not let baby become chilled.

After applying baby lotion or powder if desired, put baby into clean clothes. This is also a good time to gently brush baby’s hair.

It is a good idea to get your baby used to oral hygiene early. Using a clean, damp washcloth, gently clean your baby’s gums.