Baby’s First Supplies

The last weeks before the birth have arrived and the baby will soon be at home with you. Your hospital bag is already packed. However, you may feel restless and still ask yourself many questions. Is something still missing from the supplies you’ll need for the baby? Have I thought of everything? Here are a few suggestions for you. The following list is neither complete nor binding. Over time, you'll figure out what else you might need. Not everything has to be bought new. In many cities there are special baby stores where you can find the most important items at much lower prices than in other specialised stores for children's supplies. If you Unemployment Benefit II (Arbeitslosengeld II), you can apply for a subsidy for these items. Help with getting supplies is also offered by organisations such as Caritas and pro familia.

For changing your baby, it's best to get a changing table, a changing station or an attachment for the bathtub. You'll also need a changing pad. This is a kind of pillow that serves as a base when changing diapers. If possible, place a cotton molleton cloth on the changing mat. Molleton cloths are mostly made of pure cotton. They are soft, very absorbent and wash well. It is also convenient to have a special diaper pail with a lid. For diapers, you can choose between disposable diapers or cloth diapers. Disposable diapers have the advantage that you can simply throw them away after use. Cloth diapers can be washed and reused. This results in less waste. If you want to use disposable diapers, you should buy them in the smallest size to begin with. A few flannels, wound protection cream and baby oil are also helpful for your first diapering supplies.

There are several ways to wash a baby. You can just wash them in the sink. However, you can just as easily use a wash bowl, a baby bathtub or a bath bucket. In addition to a wash cloth, baby towels with a hood, a bath thermometer and a bathrobe are also useful for washing your baby. To start, you should also have a soft baby hairbrush, a bath thermometer, a fever thermometer and a few pacifiers. When it comes to pacifiers, the selection is large, and so are the differences in quality. It's best to get advice at a specialty store.

You should not cut your baby's nails in their first weeks after birth. The nails are still very soft and the risk of hurting your baby would be too great. It's best to wait six to seven weeks before you cut their nails for the first time. From then on you should cut them at least once or twice a week because nails still grow very fast at this age. Be sure to use special baby nail scissors for this. They have a rounded tip and smaller cutting surfaces. It's especially good to cut fingernails when your baby is sleeping or distracted.

There are several items you can use to make breastfeeding easier and more enjoyable. So-called nursing bras are useful, for one. These are especially comfortable bras, where the cup is easy to open and release. There are special nursing pads for these bras that catch excess milk drops after breastfeeding and can be easily replaced and washed separately from the nursing bra. It is advisable to have several such nursing pads and two to three nursing bras to change between. Nursing bras should be one to two sizes larger than the bras that fit you during the last weeks of pregnancy. Nursing shirts that open at the front are also practical. To be able to hold your baby comfortably while breastfeeding, you can get a nursing pillow, a nursing scarf or a nursing cloth. Many people who nurse find that their breasts are irritated at the beginning due to breastfeeding. You can get a breast cream and nipple ointment ahead of time to use to reduce irritation.

If you already know that you will be pumping milk for your baby from time to time, you can choose between the containers of your breast pump, breast milk bags and breast milk bottles for storage. If your milk is not enough, you will need infant formula. In German, early infant formula is also called ‘pre-milk’ (Pre-Milch) or ‘pre-nutrition’. It is best to ask your midwife which formula is best for your baby. For bottle feeding, you will need several glass or plastic bottles and several nipple attachments.

For trips by car, you should definitely have a baby car seat. If you are walking, you can also carry the baby on your body. There are many types of different carriers and slings for this purpose. In the long run, however, it can become exhausting to carry your baby like this. Therefore, for longer trips, it would be good to have a stroller that you can put your baby in. When choosing a stroller, make sure that it protects your child from both sun rays and rain. To keep your baby warm enough, it's best to get a footmuff or blanket for the stroller. When traveling, it is also useful to have a diaper bag with diapers, a change of underwear, wet wipes and toys.

Before you buy baby clothes, you should know two things. For one thing, your baby will grow so fast that you'll only need a few of each type of garment. Four to six of them are usually quite enough. Secondly, what for your baby needs depends on the season. In the summer, you'll need rompers, bodysuits, cardigans or sweaters, tops with short sleeves, small pants, thin and thick socks, three to four pairs of pajamas, two pairs of tights, a jacket, a hat, a sun hat and a summer sleeping bag. In winter, you will also need tops with long sleeves, warm pants, thick cardigans and warm sweaters, thick socks, warm pajamas, thick little hats, a scarf or bandana, cotton gloves or mittens and a winter sleeping bag. Before you use newly bought baby clothes, you should wash them. After all, some garments are treated with substances that are not healthy during manufacturing. However, these can be easily washed out.

Cradle, side bed, bassinet or crib - all four are suitable for your baby to sleep. What you choose is a matter of taste. It's just important that you line the mattress with a mattress protector and a waterproof mattress pad. This way, if your child ever wets the bed, the mattress won't get wet. Also get some fitted sheets for the first crib. It is also useful to have a small closet where you can put fresh underwear, rompers and other clothes for your baby. You can also get one or two first toys, like a rattle or a music box with a nice melody to help your baby fall asleep.