Experienced Mamas Share: What You Need For Your First Baby

Let's face it, babies seem to come with a lot of stuff.  Once you find out your pregnant, there seems to be nine months of not only growing a human but of also accumulating items for this new tiny being.  It can certainly be overwhelming to determine what are essentials, nice to haves and gimmicky items (like the pee teepee in my opinion) that are probably better left at the store.

Recently we posed the question on the momstown Oakville Facebook page about what new moms consider essential items and we got a wide rage of honest, funny and helpful answers.  Here are the top four things that were listed.  Interesting to see that none of them are even baby gear related!

1.  Ipad
Some type of tablet or smartphone will allow you to read emails, surf the internet, even watch your favourite tv shows while you nurse or hold the baby.  If you don't have a tablet, a tv works well too.  I always made sure the tv remote was in my 'circle of reach' (along with the phone and a glass of water) when I sat down to nurse my newborns as you could be stuck in one spot for a long time!

2.  Lactation Consultant
Lactation consultants are fabulous resources.  Don't be afraid to ask for help and seek out a professional to provide guidance and assistance.  I was at the lactation clinic at least once a week for the first few weeks after my first baby and their encouragement really helped me stick with breastfeeding and eventually we found our way with it.

momstown Oakville's mom & baby program (Baby Basics)

3.  Friends Who Have Recently Had Kids
Peer to peer support is so key for new moms.  Sometimes going to a mom and baby group was my life line after a hard night or day and is exactly why I joined momstown as a new mom in 2009.  Did you know that joining a momstown community has been medically proven to improves mothers' mental health?  Click here to read more.  To join momstown Oakville, click here.

4.  Help
Whether its grandparents, a doula, a nanny, other family members or friends, you will need some help. Don't be afraid to ask for it and try not to be too proud to take it or admit you need it.

Some of the other items listed were large swaddling blankets (muslin blankets), a good nursing pillow, the best breast pump you can afford, a good monitor (they have some you can connect to your cell phone!) and the funniest comment "a good detergent for "poo-namis" (meaning those poops that explode out of the diaper and sometimes even out of the clothes!