New Baby Survival Kit-What you really need to buy before baby gets here

As a new parent you want the best products and spare no amount of money. Friends and family suggest all kinds of "must have" items for your new baby. What's hot and what's not? By the time your baby is ready to arrive it can be confusing to a new parent on what items you really need to raise a baby. It's real simple and doesn't cost you much in the beginning to raise a newborn. Babies do three things when they are born. Eat, sleep and poop.

They need a place to sleep, feel warm and safe and have plenty to eat. With a newborn you don't have to rush out and buy a crib just yet. You're going to be waking up plenty in the middle of the night for feedings and wet diapers. To make it easy on mom and dad a must have item is a co-sleeper baby bed like The Snuggle Nest. This bed fits right in-between mom and dad. It gives new parents peace of mind to have your little one sleeping right next to you safely. A great added feature is a little light that you can turn on in the middle of the night to check on your baby. This avoid having to turn on bright lights at night to see. The co-sleeper folds easy and can be taken with you where ever you go.

To make feedings easy for you and baby there is formula that is premixed ready to go. Similac and Enfamil make 2oz ready to use bottles. These are great for night feedings! You just pop the cap off and replace with a nipple. I had a box sitting next to my bed at night. You don't need to refrigerate to store, only after opening. When your baby moves up in formula amounts you can then step up to the larger premixed bottles. The price difference from powder to premix is only a few dollars more. Well worth the cost!

Have plenty of baby bottles on hand. I found the regular plastic BPA free bottles work just as well as the fancy curved or drop-ins. The nipple shape and style is what matters most at this age. Make sure to use a smaller nipple hole when you first start bottle feeding your baby. (Size 1) This keeps your baby from eating too much and choking. Your baby will tell you which bottle he/she likes best and just stick with that bottle. Dishwasher safe is best for properly sterilizing your bottles.

Blankets are a must have as well. Good large blankets to wrap your baby in at night. Babies love to feel warm, safe and secure. Learn how to wrap your baby tightly (the hospital will teach you this) and place your baby on his/her back at night. Make sure it's not too tight but snug. This feels most like the womb to them. Newborn babies need to keep there body heat close to them. Always keep on a snug cap and booties as well. Heat escapes from the top of babies head and feet.

Diapers, of course is another must have, but which ones? You want to keep your baby dry. Keeping baby dry stops most diaper rashes before they start. I found Pampers Swaddlers to be the best. They have a wet indicator on the diaper. There's a yellow strip on the front of the diaper that turns blue when your baby is wet. No guessing games here. These diapers are great! Don't settle for less expensive diapers. Leaks can be messy and awful for you and baby. Especially at 3am! Swaddlers are well worth the money.

Mylicon is the final and BEST item to buy for baby. This is a gas relief product that really helps gassy babies. You baby will have gas after every feeding. Sometimes burping is not enough. When your baby is crying and he's not hungry, wet or sleepy it's probably gas. Give him the recommended dose (located on box) and your baby will feel better within minutes.

I have listed above some of the "must have" products I've used with my newborn son. Raising a baby takes time, patience and lots of love.

Jennifer-AwwNaturalBaby.com