When creating a baby registry while you’re expecting, stores often offer parents guidelines to help pick and choose what they need. However, they never distinguish between what is needed and what is purely optional.
This is usually something parents end up discovering only after baby is born and consequently several new items collect dust on the shelf or end up in the garbage.
To help you figure out and what you need, here are some items most parents actually end up using.
Humidifier
Humidifiers have all the same benefits for baby as they do for an adult. A newborn’s skin is especially sensitive so the moisture a humidifier adds to a room helps ease the effects of dry air. That moisture in the air will also be less harsh on the baby’s nasal passages and sinuses, making them less prone to illness.
Thermometer
Babies have different norms when it comes to body temperatures. Still, one of the first things the on-call nurse asks when a concerned parent calls the doctor’s office is if the baby is running a fever. Keeping a thermometer on hand will help give you peace of mind in case baby isn’t running a fever after all, or it can provide you with the information the nurse needs to decide the next course of action. There are many different types of thermometers (forehead scanning, oral, and ear) but most doctors agree that rectal thermometers are the most accurate.
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Nail clippers
Almost as scary as disarming a bomb, clipping the baby’s fingernails are a must to prevent scratching not only on the baby but for parents and visitors too!
Nasal Aspirator
When those winter months are harsh and the humidifier just isn’t cutting it, the nasal aspirator can be of great use in helping to clear a little blocked nose. There are several different aspirators in addition to the one that comes standard in most baby medical kits, like the Oogiebear Infant Nose & Ear Cleaner.
Sleep Sac
Blankets are considered hazardous to have in a crib with a newborn. Sleep sacs are recommended as an alternative. The baby’s legs will be covered and there are options for the arms to be swaddled or remain free. Either way, there is no danger of material getting in the way of the baby’s ability to breathe.
Gripe Water
This is good to keep on hand just in case your little one has tummy problems. Gripe water uses natural ingredients to help settle the baby’s stomach when gas is causing discomfort.
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Monitor
Unless you live in a small enough space where you can easily hear the baby from another room, a monitor is a great asset. Monitors can be purchased with different ranges so it is best to do some research to figure out what will be best for your home. Monitors now also come with the option of talk-back, video, or movement detection.
