Welcome to Child Care Issues

 Weekly Column...

By:  Sharon Wren

In the old days, it was easy to get ready for the arrival of a baby. You got it a place to sleep (sometimes a dresser drawer was used), some clothes and a bunch of diapers and you were ready. Like just about everything else in life, it’s a lot more complicated now. Baby magazines are bursting at the staples with so-called “necessities” and they try to guilt-trip you into buying items like a diaper wipe warmer, brain stimulator crib mobile and matching nursery furniture set. In reality, baby items fall into three categories. There are the “Necessities”, the things you absolutely must have; the “Makes Your Life Easier” things; and the “Sure, Why Not” things, which often come as shower gifts from well meaning yet non-parent friends.

Necessities

• A bed. Baby’s going to need a place to sleep. You may decide to have the whole family share one bed, and that’s your choice, but it’s nice to have a place to put him if you change your mind. Some people start out with a cradle or bassinette while others go to the crib right away. Either way, there are safety precautions to keep in mind. No matter what you use, don’t give Baby a pillow or blanket for the first few months and place him on his back to sleep. Both help prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, in which a baby stops breathing often for no known reason. If you are using a crib, make sure the slats aren’t wide enough to pass a soda can in between them.

If the gap is big enough for a can, it’s big enough for a baby’s head. If Baby sleeps in your bed, make sure you’re not under the influence of medication or alcohol so you don’t accidentally roll over on him.

• Basic medication. Check with your doctor to see what he or she recommends. Personally, I’d rather give birth to an elephant than not have gas drops, acetaminophen, teething gel and a thermometer in the house.
• Diapers. Whether you decide to use cloth or disposable is up to you. Either way, stock up because you won’t believe how many you’ll go through in a day. This is one thing you do not want to run out of at 3 am.
• Someplace to put the dirty diapers. If you’re using cloth, you’re going to have to dump out the poop first in the toilet and place them in a bucket, preferably with soapy water. Be prepared to do laundry every day! If you’ re using disposables you can throw them in the trash but be prepared to dump it frequently. Trust me, nobody enjoys that smell. If you have dogs, get a trashcan with a very tight fitting lid or a diaper disposer units, like a Diaper Genie. For some reason, dogs love to snack on diapers and the last thing you need is yet another mess to clean up.
• Clothes. This one sounds easy but when you’re trying to build a wardrobe from scratch for someone who has no fashion tastes, it’s hard to know exactly what you need and how much of each item. Try not to buy too much ahead of time because you won’t know what size Baby is until he’s here. Don’t listen to the people who tell you to avoid newborn sized clothes. True, newborns don’t always wear newborn clothes, but many do. Buy a few outfits and sleepers in both newborn and 0-3 months and go shopping after the baby comes.

So what do you need? It depends on your climate and the time of year. Don’t bother buying heavy clothes in newborn for a baby born during the summer, for example. You’re safe buying t-shirts and lightweight blankets for swaddling. Should you buy new or used clothes? It depends on your financial situation and personal preferences. Celebrities may think nothing of dropping $400 for a cashmere sweater for their babies, but most parents have better uses for that kind of money. You won’t feel quite as bad when Baby spits up on a shirt from a yard sale that cost a quarter.

Makes Your Life Easier

• A night-light. There’s an ongoing debate about whether night-lights affect a child’s vision development, but there hasn’t been a lot of rock-solid evidence yet. One thing’s for sure – when you get up in the middle of the night to take care of a crying baby, you’re going to appreciate a soft light that will let you see that toy in the middle of the floor before you break a leg tripping over it.
• A tape or CD player, for playing lullabies. Soft music is great for blocking noises like the neighbor’s dog, the party down the street or that movie you’ve wanted to watch all day.
• Extra blankets and sheets. Few things are more miserable than having Baby blow through a diaper in the middle of the night when you have only one blanket and sheet. Having several of both will keep you from having to do laundry on a daily basis.

Sure, Why Not?

• A ceiling fan. I’ve never met a baby yet who wasn’t fascinated by those things. They help circulate the air and make a comforting whirring noise.
• A subscription to a parenting magazine. They regularly have articles on newborn care and most are written in a down-to-earth style, which is perfect for a parent who hasn’t slept regularly in months. True, maybe you don’t need those potty training tips at first, but eventually you will.
• Books on baby yoga, baby sign language, baby massage, etc. If you have the time and the inclination, go for it. Your baby may love them.

This is only a partial list of what’s out there and there may be things on your Must Have list that wouldn’t even make my Sure Why Not list. Just remember what’s on your Must Have list the next time you go to a baby shower.

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