Things to Remember in Your Pregnancy Shopping List
Things to Remember in Your Pregnancy Shopping List
Pregnancy and the arrival of a baby are times when your needs change a lot. You can vary everything depending on your desires, your budget, and the evolution of your body.
This post points out the principal investments during pregnancy to help you not forget anything and also avoid unnecessary expenses.
Pregnancy: a good time to lend, exchange, buyback
If your budget is rather tight, or if you want to be forward-looking, you should know that it is easy to buy second-hand:
– Don’t hesitate to ask your family and friends. Pregnancy clothes, childcare equipment, and small baby clothes are used for a short time, and many people will probably be willing to lend them to you.
– Don’t hesitate to buy your baby clothes on sites that sell between individuals, barter sites, or flea markets dedicated to baby clothes.
Note: Ensure you wash your items well, check the safety standards, and be vigilant about car seats. If they have been in an accident once, they may not perform as well.
Another solution is to buy during the sales period, even if your pregnancy is not very advanced:
– Pregnancy and childcare items are sometimes heavily discounted, and you might as well take advantage of the special offers and not have to rush to buy items that are not on sale at the last minute!
– You will also find clothes and equipment at discount prices on the Internet and in specialized stores.
Shopping throughout your pregnancy
Purchases to make during the first trimester of pregnancy
Some purchases can be helpful during the first trimester of your pregnancy:
– To keep track of your pregnancy, invest in a binder or a large folder to store all your administrative documents and medical results.
– Concerning maternity clothes, many brands offer nice maternity clothes to help you feel beautiful and well despite the upheavals that are taking place in your body.
– Some brands offer “kits”, like the mood kit, which are practical. With this set of basics, you have an ultra-comfortable base to combine with your usual clothes.
– Also, invest in comfortable shoes. If you were a fan of high heels, you’d now have to spare your back!
Second Trimester Shopping
During the second trimester of your pregnancy, it is essential to invest in:
– Pregnancy underwear to follow the evolution of your morphology;
– one or more books on pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and welcoming the baby, depending on the type of childbirth and parenthood you want to experience.
To cope with the changes in your body, also remember to take care of yourself:
– Get a good moisturizer, ideally one that is free of toxicants (parabens, phthalates, BHA and BHT, P-phenylenediamine, dyes identified with “CI,” cocamide DEA and lauramide DEA, PEG, triclosan, siloxane, etc.).
– It can also be helpful to buy an anti-stretch mark cream if you are likely to have stretch marks (not all women have them). Be careful; they are not always 100% effective. Choose quality products, and do not expect miracles, as you may be disappointed.
– Finally, to help you stay in shape and smile, think of the big gym ball. It is perfect for sitting when a chair causes pain. It can also help you prepare for childbirth, with classes designed for that purpose.
Third-trimester purchases
In the third trimester of pregnancy, it is essential to prepare yourself intensively for childbirth:
– A perineal massage oil can help prepare your muscles for the baby’s arrival (unless you’re planning to give birth by cesarean section).
– Also, consider a nursing pillow if you plan to breastfeed and this is your first baby. At the end of your pregnancy, you can also use it to feel better in various positions, for example, by wedging it between your legs to sleep better.
At the birth: clothes for the baby
For the birth, you will need at least:
– a dozen bodysuits in three sizes, birth, 1 month, and 3 months (be aware that some babies never wear birth size) and a dozen pajamas in sizes 1 and 3 months;
– at least 3 sleeping bags;
– wool bras and socks, even if your baby is born in summer because newborns get cold quickly;
– an angel’s nest or a sleeping bag suitable for use in the car.
Contents of the maternity suitcase
When you are about to give birth, it is crucial to have your maternity suitcase well-prepared beforehand, including
– a mineral water spray bottle;
– three or four comfortable outfits, including sleepwear, three nursing bras if you plan to breastfeed, and a set of disposable underwear;
– washcloths and towels and your usual necessities (soap, skin creams, makeup, etc.).
Equipment for traveling with your baby
Traveling by car
To travel by car, you will need
– A car seat for the baby as soon as you return from the maternity ward. This is an essential investment if you often travel by car.
– A car carrycot, if necessary. However, this is not essential, and your baby will be less safe than in a car seat. On the other hand, he will feel better when sleeping in it.
Getting around on foot
You will need a baby carrier or a baby stroller:
– The baby carrier has the advantage of taking up very little space and makes you more mobile and free in your movements.
– The carrycot / cozy stroller allows the sleeping baby to go from the car to the stroller without being woken up.
– The ideal is to have both, to choose the most practical accessory according to the situation!
If you opt for a baby carrier, choose a physiological baby carrier, in which your baby will be in a sitting position, with his knees at the same level as his buttocks.
Baby carriers in which the little ones are held upright, with their legs hanging down, are unsuitable and uncomfortable for your child. The ideal is a sling or possibly a physiological baby carrier made of fabric without underwires.
Sleeping of your baby
For the first few months, it is helpful to invest in a crib or bassinet.
Cribs are enormous for a toddler, who may feel lost in them. If you buy one, make sure it’s labeled “compliant with current safety standards.
For the following months, a mattress at ground level can be sufficient. Many educational programs recommend this simple solution.
You should also know that cribs with bars are not essential:
– Babies can’t get out of them on their own, and parents sometimes hurt their backs by grabbing them (even if the slatted base is adjustable).
– In addition, 2-year-old kids who are still in them sometimes get seriously injured when trying to get out.
– A mattress on the floor (or at ground level) will have the advantage of allowing your little one, after six months, to gradually develop his autonomy, to go to bed when he is tired, and to play when he is awake.
Good to know: most professionals now recommend keeping the baby in your room for the first few months at least. This way, you’ll be alerted more quickly in case of respiratory discomfort. In addition, this practice can reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.
Accessories for changing and washing your baby
The purchase of a changing table is essential when your child is born:
– It must be marked “compliant with safety requirements”, have wide edges on the sides, and be stable.
– Choose one that is adapted to your home and your size.
To avoid unnecessary fatigue, make sure that the table is practical to use and easy to maintain.
Also, consider a baby bathtub:
– There are many different models available. Choose one based on your home, your idea of a bathtub, and the advice of your friends!
– Shantala tubs, for example, are convenient and can be reused afterward when you no longer need a baby bath.
– Some babies like them because they get back into the fetal position. Others, on the contrary, don’t like them. It’s up to you!
Be careful: in any case, never leave a newborn, or even a baby, in a bathtub without supervision.
Baby at home
To ensure your child’s comfort at home, invest in suitable furniture:
– A bouncer is not essential, but it can be practical. If you use it, be sure to leave your child in it for a short time to develop his motor skills.
– A playpen set at its highest position so that your baby is up high can be much more enjoyable for your baby. They can learn to straighten their head and then turn freely while everyone else does their thing around them.
– In the first few months of life, babies often enjoy “cocoons”, which are like footstools, and sometimes like to fall asleep.
If you decide to buy a bouncy chair, check for stability, secure positional locking, and a safety harness, and see if it has a removable and washable cover, a removable shelf, or a foldable model with a carrying strap for ease of use.
Good to know: a bouncer should always be placed on the floor, never on a table or bed.
Shopping for baby food
If you have chosen to breastfeed your child, bring breastfeeding bras and possibly nursing shells or cotton balls to absorb the milk first (afterward, the flow will regulate itself).
If you prefer to use a bottle, bring at least 6 bottles (glass or plastic, without bisphenol or phthalates), nipples and bibs; a bottle warmer, a sterilizer, and a bottle brush; and plenty of bottles of mineral water.
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