Essentials for New Born Babies

• Most newborns sleep much of the day and night, only waking for feedings. David Aaron Troy/Digital Vision/Getty Images

  The long days of waiting are over and you are bringing your newborn baby home. In preparation, you have planned for this day by reading all the baby articles you can find and learning how to care for your newborn. Listing all the essential items needed for your newborn is a perfect way to keep track of what you need and items you may have received as a shower gift. There are only a few items that are essential for your newborn.

Infant Car Seat

• Car seats come in many sizes. viaje seguro 2 image by Lina Antony from Fotolia.com

  Required by law, your newborn must be placed in a child safety seat while riding in the car beginning with the ride home from the hospital. Different types of seats are available to accommodate growth starting with the infant-only rear-facing seat. The least expensive model will usually work as well as one with all the fancy features, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It is important to place the car seat in the back away from the front seat airbags as these can cause injuries to the infant in a crash.

Diapers

• Disposable diapers make traveling easier. babywindeln image by Daniel Fuhr from Fotolia.com

  Purchasing cloth or disposable diapers should be done in advance. Many parents use cloth diapers at home to save on expenses. The regular sized diapers can be folded to fit the newborn or newborn size can be purchased. Cloth diapers are also environmentally friendly. Disposable diapers are convenient when traveling and are available in newborn size.

Bassinet or Crib

• Use only a tight fitting crib-sheet for safety. baby's bedroom image by Paul Hill from Fotolia.com

  Keeping the infant close to you during the night is convenient and comforting. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, studies have suggested that sleeping in an adult bed can be unsafe for the newborn. It is best to use a crib, bassinet or portable crib near your bed making sure it has a tight-fitting mattress that meets current safety standards.

Receiving Blankets

• Swaddling a new born in a blanket offers security. the newborn image by Sergey Galushko from Fotolia.com

  Swaddling a new born in a receiving blanket those first few days will usually calm your baby and keep him feeling the security of the womb. This is just one of the multitude of uses you will find for your soft receiving blankets. They can be used as a diaper changing area, a cover-up for a breast-feeding mother when it is draped over your baby and you, a sun block when in the car or stroller and on and on. Receiving blankets are an item you must have.

Baby Formula

• Mother's returning to work need to add formula to their baby's diet. baby's bottle image by Georgios Alexandris from Fotolia.com

  With just the right balance of nutrients, breast milk contains exactly what your new born needs. There are times when nursing your new born is not possible and you want to introduce a bottle with formula. There are many infant formulas on the market to choose from and it is wise to check with your pediatrician before purchasing. You will most likely breast-feed your new born eight to 12 times a day as opposed to bottle feeding from six to eight times a day because formula digests more slowly than breast milk does.

Clothing

• Dress your new born for the weather. newborn image by Andrey Kiselev from Fotolia.com

  Choose simple items of clothing that are easy to put on your new born. Get just a few items in the new born size and the rest in six to nine month size. Your new born will quickly outgrow the smallest size. Depending on the season, you will need undershirts (onesies are perfect), one-piece footed sleepers, receiving gowns and booties or socks. A special outfit to dress the new born when visiting is also nice to have but not necessary.