What to Expect the First Year (11 page)

Rompers.
These are one-piece, short-or long-sleeved outfits with or without legs that typically snap at the crotch and down the legs. Consider buying 3 to 6.

Two-piece outfits.
These are smart-looking but not as sensible as one-piece (two pieces are twice as tricky to put on and take off), so try to limit yourself—it will be hard!—to 1 or 2 of them. Look for two-piecers that snap together at the waist so the pants don't slide down and the shirt doesn't ride up.

Nightgowns with elastic bottoms.
While stretchies can also stand in as sleepwear, some parents prefer nightgowns for their babies, especially in the early weeks, when the easy-open bottoms make those middle-of-the-night diaper changes a snap (without the snaps). Consider buying 3 to 6 nightgowns—and avoid gowns that close at the bottom with drawstrings (strings over 6 inches are a safety hazard). Sleepwear for children must meet federal standards for flame resistance—a label will tell you whether or not a particular outfit is designated as safe-for-sleep or not.

Blanket sleepers or sleep sacks.
These sleepers keep baby cuddly warm without a comforter or blanket (which should be avoided because of the risk of suffocation or SIDS;
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). These wearable blankets provide plenty of kicking and arm-waving room and can keep a baby cozy during those nights when a stretchy or nightgown doesn't provide enough warmth. They come in lightweight cotton (for summer nights when the AC is on) and fleece (for winter sleeping—though to avoid overheating be sure not to dress your baby too warmly underneath the sleep sack). Consider buying 2 to 3 seasonally appropriate ones.

Sweaters.
One lightweight sweater will do the trick for a warm-weather baby, 1 to 2 heavier ones will be needed if baby's arriving in winter. Look for sweaters (or sweatshirts or hoodies, but without strings) that are washable and dryable as well as easy on, easy off.

Hats.
Summer babies need at least 1 lightweight hat with a brim (for sun protection). Winter babies need 1 or more heavier-weight hats to stay warm (a lot of the body's heat escapes through the head, and since a baby's head is disproportionately large, there's a lot of potential for heat loss). Hats should be shaped to cover the ears snugly but not too tightly. Another outdoor accessory to consider for an older baby: good-quality sunglasses (
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for more).

Bunting bag or snowsuit with attached mitts,
for a late fall or winter baby living in a four-season climate. A bunting bag is easier on, easier off than a snowsuit (no trying to negotiate feet into leg holes), but it may have to be retired once baby is more active. Some buntings convert into snowsuits. Any bunting you use should have a slot on the bottom for a car seat strap, to make buckling up easier and more secure.

Booties or socks.
As you'll soon find out, these are often kicked off within moments after they're put on (something you probably won't notice until you're halfway down the street or on the other side of the mall), so look for styles that promise to stay put. You'll need just 5 to 6 pairs for starters—add more as baby grows.

Bibs.
Even before you introduce your sweetie to sweet potatoes, you'll need bibs to protect clothes from spit-up and drool. Consider buying a minimum of 3 bibs—you'll always have at least one in the laundry basket.

Soft against baby's skin is a given, but here are some other practical hints for choosing the right linens. You'll notice that bumpers and crib blankets and comforters don't make this list at all—that's because none of them are recommended for use in a baby's crib or other sleeping area.

Fitted sheets for crib, portable crib, bassinet, and/or carriage.
Whatever colors and patterns you choose, when it comes to sheets, size matters. For safety's sake, sheets should fit very snugly, so they can't get loose in the crib. You'll need around 3 to 4 of each size—especially if your baby spits up a lot and you're changing the sheets often. You might also consider half sheets that tie or snap on to the crib bars and go on top of the fitted sheet. It's easier to change just the half sheet than to take up the hard-to-remove fitted sheet. Be sure the half sheets are securely attached. Also for safety's sake, don't use any top sheets or other loose bedding.

Waterproof pads.
How many pads you'll need will depend on how many surfaces in your home will need protecting: think crib (put the pad under the mattress cover), carriage, furniture, laps. At a minimum you'll want 1 to 2.

Quilted mattress pads for crib.
Again, the fit should be very snug. And skip the kinds that have plush tops. Two pads should be enough (one to use when the other's in the wash).

Blankets for carriage or stroller.
Blankets are fine to use over a baby who's buckled into a car seat or stroller (or a baby who's otherwise being supervised). But don't use any blankets on your baby during sleep (except for that swaddler or sack), since loose bedding of any kind is a SIDS risk factor. It's much safer to rely on sleep sacks or other toasty sleepwear to keep your little one comfortably warm. Buy 1 to 2 blankets and you're covered.

Towels and washcloths.
Hooded towels are best, since they keep baby's head warm after a bath (and weren't you eyeing that one with the puppy ears anyway?), and wash mitts are easier to use than standard cloths (plus they're often cuter). Look for soft towels and washcloths, and consider buying 2 or 3 towels and 3 to 5 washcloth mitts.

Burp cloths,
for protecting your shoulders when burping baby, for emergency bibs, and much more. A dozen burping cloths are a good start. If you find you're going through many more because your little one has proven to be a big-time spitter, you can always add to your collection.

Receiving/swaddling blankets, swaddlers with velcro, or zip-up pods.
Most newborns like being swaddled right from the start, especially during sleep, which is one reason hospitals routinely bundle them in receiving (or swaddling) blankets.
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for tips on how to swaddle your baby safely—and keep
in mind there are many easier alternatives to do-it-yourself swaddles, from velcro wraps (some secure baby's arms with swaddle “wings” within the swaddler) to snug zip-up pods (two-way zippers allow you to access the diaper region without unswaddling baby) to hybrid swaddle sacks (swaddle on top, sack on the bottom). Since you may have to do some switching around to see what type works best for you and your baby, don't overbuy. Also remember to check the weight minimums and maximums for a swaddler (a very small baby needs to grow into certain kinds—and a very large baby may outgrow them all in no time). You probably won't need more than 4 swaddlers, total.

So, it's a given your baby will need diapers and lots of them—but the question is, which kind? From several subgroups of cloth to a bewildering range of disposables, there are evermore entries in the diaper derby, but no conclusive winners. How will you choose the diaper that best fits your baby's bottom (and your bottom line)? First, check out the options:

Disposable diapers.
They're the first choice of parents by far, and there are plenty of reasons why. Among the perks: Disposables are convenient to reach for and a cinch to change (even for brand new parents), plus they're easy on the go (you can dump dirty diapers in the trash instead of carting them back home for laundry or pickup). What's more, since they're ultra-absorbent and have an inner liner that keeps wetness away from baby's tender skin, they don't have to be changed as often as cloth diapers (a change for the better, some would say). The extra absorbency and snugger fit also makes them less prone to leaks.

Of course, there's a flip side to these favored features. For one thing, a super-absorbent diaper can lead to too-infrequent changes, which can lead to rashes. For another, when fluid is soaked up so efficiently, it's harder to gauge how much your little one is peeing—making it tougher to judge whether he or she is getting enough to eat. (Much) later on, the ultra-absorbency in disposables can make potty training trickier: Because toddlers are less likely to feel wet and uncomfortable, they may not be as quick to say bye-bye to diapers. Having to shop for and lug the diapers home is also a potential disadvantage, but this drawback can be avoided if you order online.

Another con is price. While cloth diapers come with a greater initial investment, they're way cheaper over the long haul than disposables. (And heads up: It will definitely be a long haul before your tot is out of diapers.) Something else to add to the con list: If you pull too hard, the tabs on some disposables can easily rip (and inevitably it'll happen when you're on the run and you're down to the last diaper). Also on the minus side: Disposable diapers definitely aren't the greenest way to manage your baby's BM—disposables account for 3.4 million tons of landfill waste per year and don't decompose. (There are some disposable insert liners that are flushable and biodegradable. You use them with nondisposable covers, so they're like a hybrid diaper.)

Wondering about going green when it comes to disposable diapers? While there are no conclusive studies to show that any of the chemicals (such as dioxin), chlorine, dyes, and gels that lurk in traditional disposables are harmful, a few babies can have allergic reactions to some of that stuff. Choosing from the (small) array of truly greener disposable varieties can potentially
help avoid such allergies and help you feel better about doing your part for the environment. But there are many shades of green, so you'll have to do your homework before settling on one brand. Some diapers that claim to be environmentally friendly actually contain chemical gels, chlorine, or plastic. Others contain corn or wheat, which can be allergenic for some babies. And still others are either not biodegradable at all or are only 60 percent compostable. Better than zero percent, certainly, but important to factor in. You'll also want to try out a few brands until you find one that works for you and your little one's bottom, since some green disposables aren't top notch when it comes to poop control. One last consideration: These “eco-friendly” disposables are typically not wallet-friendly.

Cloth diapers.
Available in cotton, terry cloth, or flannel, cloth baby diapers can come either as prefolded pieces of cloth liners or as all-in-ones (diapers and covers that look similar to a disposable diaper). Unless you're using a diaper service (which rents out cloth diapers, washes them, and delivers clean ones to your door), cloth diapers will save you some money compared to disposable diapers for the same amount of time. If you're worried about the dyes and gels used in some disposables, or want to diaper “green,” cloth diapers are the way to go. Another consideration: Since cloth diapers are less absorbent than disposables, you'll need to change diapers more often (a con if you consider diaper changing a chore, a pro if you find more frequent changes results in fewer rashes). Another plus: Potty training (when the time comes) may be easier to accomplish, since cloth-bottomed tots are likely to notice wetness sooner—a possible incentive for graduating to underpants.

The downside to cloth diapers, however, is that they can be messy, although some come with disposable liners that make them easier to clean, and they're more cumbersome to change, unless you use the all-in-ones (which are more expensive and take a lot longer to dry). You'll be doing more laundry, too—probably 2 to 3 extra loads per week—and that means higher utility bills. If you use diaper companies to launder the cloths, remember they'll be using plenty of chlorine to disinfect them, so they're not the completely chemical-free option, either. And, unless you're using disposables when you're out, you'll probably have to carry a few poopy (and smelly) diapers back home with you. Something else to keep in mind: Many cloth diapers aren't that absorbent initially, thanks to their natural materials, so it'll take a number of washings in hot water (at least 5 or 6) before they reach optimal absorbency.

Have a fear of diaper commitment? Some parents decide to use cloth diapers for the first few months—a time when a baby usually spends more time at home than on the go—and then graduate to disposables as the logistics of toting cloth become too much like hard work. Others do the diaper combo right from the start—cloth when they're convenient, disposables when they're not (or at bedtime, when greater absorbency can spell a better night's sleep).

Also, prepare to … yes … go with the flow when it comes to your diaper selection. Some babies end up with a sensitivity or even an allergy to a certain type of disposable diaper, other babies may just be the kind of heavy wetter or messy pooper that's just not easily contained by cloth. It's always possible you'll be ready for a change of diapers after you've logged in a couple of months of diaper changes.

If you're using disposable diapers, buy one or two packages of the newborn size and then wait until after baby is born (so you'll know how big your baby is) before stocking up on more. Baby's born smaller than expected? You can quickly order or pick up a stash of preemie size. If you're using cloth diapers and plan to wash them yourself every three or so days, purchase 2 to 3 dozen (more if you'll be doing laundry less often), plus 2 dozen disposable diapers (once you know baby's size) so you can use them for outings and emergencies. If you're planning to use a diaper service, sign up in your eighth month and they will be ready to deliver as soon as you do.