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Preparation for the Birth

When one talks of preparing for the birth, the first things that spring to mind are prenatal care and decorating the nursery. Both are important in their own ways. Prenatal care is of the utmost importance for a healthy pregnancy and helps to prepare you for the birth; and decorating the nursery for the new arrival is fun. While many of the prenatal classes available do give some advice on what is ahead after the birth, they often focus on the birth itself and overlook very practical tips, which, if offered early enough, can save parents hours of time and stress after their baby is born.

If you follow my routines from day one, you should be fortunate enough to have a contented and happy baby, with some time for yourself. However, as you will see from my routines and charts, spare time is extremely limited (and, believe me, mothers who are not following a routine have even less spare time). In this short amount of time, unless you have help, you will have to fit in preparing meals, shopping, laundry, etc.

By doing the following things before the baby is born, you will gain many hours of free time after the birth:

Order all your nursery equipment well in advance. Cribs can sometimes take up to 12 weeks to be delivered, and there are many advantages in having the crib from the beginning.

Have all the bed linen, burp cloths and towels washed and ready for use. Purchase the crib, baby carrier and stroller. Prepare everything in the nursery, so it is easy to find when you get home from the hospital.

Have the following baby essentials in stock: cotton balls, baby oil, diapers, diaper creams, baby wipes, soft sponges, baby hair brush, bath oil and baby shampoo.

Check that all the electrical equipment is working properly. Learn how the sterilizer works and how to put together the feeding bottles.

Arrange a section of worktop in the kitchen where preparation and sterilization can be done. Ideally, it should be directly below a cupboard where all of the baby’s feeding equipment can be stored.

Stock up on laundry detergent, cleaning materials and enough paper towels and toilet paper to last at least six weeks.

Prepare and freeze a large selection of healthy homemade meals for you and your husband/partner. If you are breast-feeding, you should avoid the store-bought meals that are full of additives and preservatives.

Stock up on extra dry goods such as tea, coffee, crackers, etc.; it is inevitable that you will have extra visitors the first month, and supplies will soon go down.

Purchase birthday gifts and cards for any forthcoming birthdays. Also, have a good selection of thank-you cards ready to send for all the gifts you will receive.

Get up to date with any odd jobs that need to be done in the house or garden. The last thing you need once the baby has arrived is the hassle of workers coming and going.

If breast-feeding, purchase your electric breast pump well in advance.

The Nursery

Like most parents with a newborn, you will probably have your baby sleeping in your room with you during the night. The current advice from the Academy of American Pediatrics is that your baby should sleep in the same room as you until he is six months old. However, I still believe it is important to have the nursery ready on your return from the hospital. All too often mothers will call me in a complete panic, asking for advice on how to get older babies used to their own room. Many tears and much anxiety could have been avoided if the mothers had gotten their babies used to their own room from day one. Instead, for the first few months, the baby is fed, changed, played with and put to sleep wherever the parents spend their time. It is not surprising that these babies feel abandoned when they are eventually put to sleep by themselves in an unfamiliar, dark room.

From the very beginning, you should use the nursery as much as possible for diaper changing, feeding and some quiet play. By getting your baby used to his room from the beginning, he will very quickly enjoy being there and see it as a peaceful haven.

When babies are very small, especially if they have become overtired and overstimulated, it is useful to have a quiet, comfortable room where they can wind down. Using your baby’s nursery for this purpose in the early days will help him to make the transition from sleeping in the same room with you to sleeping in his own room, once he reaches six months.

Decoration

It is not essential to spend a fortune on decorating and furnishing the baby’s room. A room with walls, windows and bed linen covered in teddy bears soon becomes very boring. Plain walls can easily be brightened with a colorful border and perhaps a matching valance and curtains; this makes it easy to adapt the room as the baby grows but avoids the need to redecorate totally. (Another very cost-effective and fun way to liven up the room is to use sheets of children’s wrapping paper as posters, which are bright and colorful—and can be changed frequently.)

The Crib

Most baby books advise that in the early days a crib is not necessary as babies are happier in a baby carrier or bassinet. While it may seem a more practical solution when moving your baby from room to room with you (see Chapter Five, Establishing the Contented Little Baby Routines, for current advice), I am not convinced babies are happier or they sleep better in these. However, since the American Academy of Pediatrics (www.healthychildren.org) recommends that the safest place for your baby to sleep is in your room, the best option appears to be having a bassinet with a firm mattress made up for him that he will use for the duration of this period. As I have said, I much preferred to get my babies used to their big crib from day one so I would recommend allowing your baby to spend some time in his crib, having some quiet play and winding down there after feeding. By doing this, I never encountered a problem when they outgrew their baby carrier and started to sleep the whole night in their big crib in the nursery.

When choosing a crib, it is important to remember that it will be your baby’s bed for at least two or three years and should, therefore, be sturdy enough to withstand a bouncing toddler. Even very young babies will eventually move around in their crib.

I suggest choosing a design with flat slats instead of round ones, as pressing the head against a round slat can be quite painful for a young baby. Crib bumpers are not advised for babies less than one year old, as they can end up sleeping with their heads pressed up against the bumpers. Because body heat escapes through the top of the head, blocking it off increases the risk of overheating. This is thought to be a contributing factor in crib death.

Other points to bear in mind when choosing cribs:

Look for two or three different base height levels.

Drop-sides should be easy to put up and down without making a noise. Test them several times.

The crib should be large enough to accommodate a two-year-old child comfortably.

There should not be too much of a gap around the edges of the mattress and the crib.

Buy the best mattresses that you can afford. I have found that foam mattresses tend to sink in the middle within a few months. The type I have found to give the best support for growing babies is an “inner spring” type.

All cribs and mattresses should comply with the recommendations set by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (www.cpsc.gov/info/cribs).

Bedding for the Crib

Everything should be 100 percent white cotton so that it can be washed in hot water along with the baby’s night clothes. Due to the risk of overheating or smothering, quilts and duvets are not recommended for babies less than one year old. If you want a matching top cover for your baby’s crib, make sure it is 100 percent cotton and not quilted with a nylon filling. For parents who are handy with a sewing machine, a considerable amount of money can be saved by making flat and draw sheets (flat sheets that go crosswise across the top end of the bottom sheet) out of a double- or queen-size sheet.

You will need at least the following bedding:

Three stretch-cotton fitted bottom sheets. Choose the soft jersey-type cotton rather than the toweling type, which can very quickly become rough and worn-looking.

Three flat, smooth cotton top sheets. Avoid flannel, which gives off too much fluff for young babies; this can obstruct the nose and cause breathing problems.

Three cotton, small-weave cellular blankets, plus one wool blanket for very cold nights.

Six flat, smooth cotton bassinet sheets. These are small sheets that are used for bassinets and baby carriers but are also ideal as draw sheets, which you should put across the head end of the bottom sheet. This eliminates the need to remake the whole crib in the middle of the night or during naps, should your baby dribble or his diaper leak.

MAKING UP THE CRIB

(a) Remove mattress and lay a sheet and blanket lengthwise across the base of the crib.

(b) Replace mattress and cover with the bottom sheet.

(c) Place the top sheet over the baby and tuck in at least 6 inches on the far side. Push a small, rolled-up towel down both sides between the crib mattress and slats.

Changing Station

The most practical changing station is a long unit, containing drawers and a cupboard. The surface should be large enough to hold both the changing mat and the washbowl. The drawers can be used to store pajamas, underwear and burp cloths, and the cupboard can hold larger items, such as diaper packs.

Wardrobe

A built-in closet is a very good investment for your nursery as it enables you to keep the baby’s clothes tidy and crease-free, and it will provide valuable storage space for the many pieces of equipment that you will accumulate. If a built-in is out of the question, purchase a dresser or armoire.

Chair

It is essential, no matter how small your baby’s room is, that you fit in a chair. A sturdy comfortable chair is an absolute priority. A small two-seater pull-out sleep sofa is a good choice as it can be used for both feeding and for sleeping in the baby’s room. If space is limited, then choose a chair with a straight back. It should be wide enough to allow room for you and your baby as he grows, and, ideally, the arms should be wide enough to support you while breast-feeding. I would resist the temptation to buy a rocking chair, which is often sold as a nursing chair. These can be dangerous as the baby becomes more mobile and may attempt to pull himself up by holding onto the chair. In the early days, it can also be tempting to settle your baby by rocking him to sleep, but this is one of the main causes of a baby developing poor sleeping habits.

Curtains

Curtains should be full-length and fully lined with blackout lining (see Useful Addresses in the back of the book). Fix them to a track that fits flush along the top of the window. Ideally, they should have a deep matching valance, which is also lined with blackout lining. There should be no gaps between the sides of the curtains and the window frame; even the smallest chink of light can be enough to wake your baby earlier than 7 a.m. For the same reason, curtain rods should be avoided as light streams through the gap at the top. As your baby gets older, he may not settle back to sleep if woken at 5 a.m. by earlymorning sun in the summer or by streetlights.

When the lights are off and the curtains are closed, it should be so dark that you are unable to see your partner standing at the other side of the room. Research has shown that the chemicals in the brain alter in the dark, conditioning the body for sleep.

Carpeting

Wall-to-wall carpet is preferable to scatter or area rugs, which you might trip on when you are attending to your baby in dim light. Consider choosing a carpet that is treated with a stain-guard, and avoid very dark or bright colors, as they tend to show dirt more easily.

Lighting

If the main light in the nursery is not already fitted with a dimmer switch, it would be worthwhile changing it. In the early days, dimming the lights when settling the baby is a good association signal. If you are on a limited budget, purchase one of the small plug-in night-lights that fit into any normal electrical socket.

Baby Equipment

Baby Carrier or Small Crib

As I mentioned earlier, a baby carrier is not essential. Even the cheapest of baby carriers and a stand can cost more than fifty dollars, which is quite a lot of money for something that your baby will outgrow within six weeks. However, if you live in a very large house or plan to travel in the first few weeks, a baby carrier’s portability may make it a worthwhile purchase. If your budget is limited, try to borrow one from a friend and buy a new mattress.

A bassinet is a small version of a full-sized crib. Certainly, it is bigger than a baby carrier, but not really any more practical. Because we now put our babies to sleep on their back, these bassinets create a problem for small babies. They can wake themselves up several times a night because the mattresses are not wide enough for them to sleep with their arms stretched out fully, and they can get their hands caught between the slats.

If you do decide to use either of these items for a short period, you will need the following bedding:

Three fitted, stretch cotton bottom sheets. Choose the soft, smooth jersey-type cotton.

Six smooth cotton flat sheets, to be used as top sheets and later as draw sheets on the big crib.

Four cotton, cellular close-weave bassinet blankets.

A dozen burp cloths to be placed across the top or bottom of the bassinet or crib to catch dribbles and diaper leaks.

Stroller

There are several types of transport you can choose: a single-function stroller, a jogging stroller or a combination stroller and bassinet/car seat, to name a few. When choosing one of these, it is important to take into consideration that your baby will sleep in it for parts of the day until he is six months old. It is also important to take into consideration where you live and your lifestyle. For example, if you have to drive to the nearest store, it is important to choose a stroller that is easy to open and close and is not too heavy to lift in and out of the car. There are now some very lightweight strollers on the market that recline flat for a newborn baby, and come with a hood and apron designed to give the baby some protection from the sun and also the rain and cold.

The “three-in-one,” a travel system that can be used with a bassinet in the early days and later with a car seat, can be a very good choice if you live in a quieter area and can walk to where you need to go.

If you are likely to be using your stroller in an urban area or in stores with narrow aisles, swivel wheels are a must. They make turning the stroller around corners effortless compared to what it would be with set wheels.

Whichever type you choose, you should practice putting it up and down several times and try lifting it onto a surface in the store to get an idea of how easy it is going to be to lift into the car.

The following guidelines should also be followed when purchasing any kind of stroller:

It should be fitted with good, strong safety straps that go over the baby’s shoulders as well as around the waist, and have an easy-to-operate brake.

Make sure it has a hood and apron to protect the baby from the elements.

Buy all the extras at the same time: sun canopy, rain cover, foot cover, head-support cushion and shopping tray or bag. Models often change in design and sometimes dimension, and if you wait until next season, the items you require might not fit or match.

Try pushing the stroller around the store to check if the handle height is at a comfortable level; also observe how easily it moves in and out of doorways and round corners.

Car Seat

You will need to have a backward-facing car seat to bring your baby home from the hospital. An infant car seat should always be used, even on short journeys. Never be tempted to travel holding your baby in your arms as it’s against the law! In the event of a collision or emergency stop, it would be impossible to keep hold of your baby. Car seats should not be fitted to the front passenger seat if the car has airbags, unless these have been adequately disabled. Follow the current safety regulations and check the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Web site (www.nhtsa.gov) for up-to-date laws and regulations. In general, choose the best car seat you can afford and preferably one that comes with clear instructions for installation.

Other things to look for include the following:

A seat with large side wings, which offer more protection in a side-impact collision.

A five-point harness, which will make it much easier to adjust the seat to your baby’s clothing.

A buckle that is easy for an adult, but not a child, to open and close.

The availability of extra accessories, such as a head-support pillow or replacement cover.

Baby Bath

A baby bath is another item that is not essential. Like the baby carrier or the bassinet, babies outgrow the small bath very quickly. A newborn baby can be bathed in a sink to begin with or even in a bathtub using one of the several types of bath seats that are available for tiny babies. These allow the baby to lie supported and on a slight slope, leaving the caregiver with both hands free to wash the baby.

If you would feel more confident with a special baby bath, the one I would recommend is designed to fit across a big bath. It makes filling and emptying much easier, unlike the bath that is incorporated into a changing station. I have found these totally impractical because, as you lift the baby out of the bath, you have to maneuver the lid, which doubles as the changing table, down over the top of the bath before you can put the baby on it to dry and dress him. They are also very difficult to empty; I found I always had to tip the whole thing on its side to drain the water out completely. This usually ends up with all the items stored below toppling onto the floor. These bath/changing stations are very expensive, and I would discourage anyone from buying them.

Changing Mat

It is worthwhile to buy two changing mats. Choose easy-clean plastic with well-padded sides. In the early days, it is best to lay a hand towel on the top, as very young babies hate to be laid down on anything cold.

Baby Monitor

This is an important piece of equipment, so don’t skimp when buying it. There are generally two types to choose from, plug-in and mobile, but I would advise you to look at the mobile version that allows you to move freely around the house, including areas such as the bathroom, which might not have an electrical socket for the plug-in version. There is a growing body of scientific evidence to suggest that digital (or DECT) monitors expose babies to more pulsing microwave radiation than cell phone base station masts. For this reason, I recommend that you choose an analogue baby monitor.

When choosing a baby monitor, look for the following features:

A visual display as well as sound, which allows you to monitor your baby even with the volume turned down.

Monitors work using radio frequencies, so choose a model with two channels, which allows you to switch channels if there is interference.

A rechargeable model is more expensive initially, but the saving on batteries will make it cheaper in the long run.

A low-battery indicator and an out-of-range indicator.

Baby Sling

Some parents swear by this method of moving around with their babies. I never use one as I find it too big a strain on my back to carry a baby around like this for any length of time. Very small babies are also inclined to go straight to sleep the minute you hold them close to your chest, which defeats the whole purpose of my routines—i.e. keeping the baby awake at certain times of the day, and teaching the baby the right associations for going to sleep on his own. I do think that as babies get bigger, slings are a very useful way for parents to carry them around, especially when the baby is old enough to face outward.

If you feel a sling would be useful, here are some guidelines to observe when choosing one:

The sling must have safety tabs to ensure it cannot come undone.

It must provide your baby with enough head and neck support; some come with a detachable cushion that gives extra support for very young babies.

It should offer the choice of baby facing inward or outward and have a seat with an adjustable height position.

It should be made of strong, washable fabric with comfortable, padded shoulder straps.

I would certainly recommend trying it on in the store and putting a baby into it—one size does not fit all!

Baby Chair

While many parents use a car seat in the house for their baby to sit in during the day, if your budget will stretch, having a second seat for your baby can be a great bonus as it saves having to move the seat from room to room.

Baby seats come in different styles. Some chairs are rigid, with adjustable seat positions and a base that can either remain stable or be set to rocking mode. Another type is known as a “bouncy chair.” This type is made of a lightweight frame covered in fabric and is designed to bounce as the baby moves. I have found them to be very popular with babies more than two months old, but they can make tiny babies feel insecure. Whatever type of chair you choose, make sure your baby is securely strapped in and never left unattended. Also, always place the baby on the floor when she is in a seat; never be tempted to leave her on a table or worktop, as the movement of the baby can easily shift the chair to the edge.

Here are some further guidelines:

The frame and base should be firm and sturdy and fitted with a strong safety strap.

Choose one with an easily removable and washable cover.

Buy a head support cushion for tiny babies.

Playpen

Playpens are frowned upon by some “baby experts,” who feel they hinder a baby’s natural instinct to explore. My own feeling is that, while babies should never be left for long periods in a playpen, they can be very useful for making sure that your child is safe when you need to do something else. If you do decide to use a playpen, I would recommend getting your baby used to it from a young age. A pack-and-play can be used as a playpen, but if you have the space, I recommend the square wooden type, which is larger and enables your baby to pull himself up and move around. Whichever sort you choose, make sure it is situated out of reach of hazards such as radiators, curtains and trailing electrical wires. Never hang toys on pieces of string or cord in the playpen, as these could prove fatal if your baby were to get tangled in one.

Important points to look for when choosing a playpen:

Make sure it has a fixed floor so that your baby cannot move it.

Check that there are no sharp metal hinges or catches on which your baby could harm himself.

If choosing a mesh-type playpen or travel crib, make sure that the mesh is strong enough to prevent your baby pushing small toys through and making a hole big enough to trap his hand or fingers.

Equipment Needed for Breast-feeding

Nursing Bra

These are bras made with specially designed cups that can either be unhooked or unzipped to make breast-feeding easier. Whatever style of bra you choose, it should fit well. A good nursing bra should be made of cotton for comfort, have wide, adjustable shoulder straps to help support your breasts and should not press tightly against the nipples, as this can be a cause of blocked milk ducts. I suggest buying two nursing bras before the birth. If they prove comfortable after your milk has come in, you can buy more.

Breast Pads

In the early days, you will use a lot of breast pads, as they need to be changed every time after your baby feeds. Many mothers prefer the round ones, contoured to fit the breasts. You may need to experiment with different brands, but sometimes the more expensive ones have better absorbency, so they offer better value in the long run.

Nursing Pillow

These pillows are shaped to fit around a mother’s waist, bringing small babies up to the perfect height for breast-feeding. They can also be used for propping babies up and make an excellent back support for older babies who are learning to sit up. If you decide to invest in one, make sure it has a removable, machine-washable cover.

Nipple Cream and Sprays

These are designed to care for the breasts and help relieve any pain caused by breast-feeding. The main cause of pain, however, is poor positioning of the baby on the breast. If you experience pain either during or after feeding, it would be wise to consult your doctor or lactation consultant for advice before purchasing a cream or spray. No other special creams or soaps are recommended when breast-feeding. Simply wash your breasts twice a day with plain water and after each feeding. The nipples should be rubbed with a little breast milk and allowed to air dry.

Electric Breast Pump

I am convinced that one of the reasons the majority of mothers I advise are successful at breast-feeding is because I encourage the use of an electric breast pump. In the very early days when you are producing more milk than your baby may need (especially first thing in the morning), this milk can be expressed using one of these powerful machines. The expressed milk can then be stored in the fridge or freezer and used as a top-up later in the day when you are tired and your milk supply may be low. Not enough milk is, I believe, one of the main reasons why so many babies are restless and will not settle after their bath in the evening. If you want to breast-feed and quickly establish your baby in a routine, an electric breast pump will be a big asset. Do not be tempted by one of the smaller hand versions, which can be so inefficient as to put many women off expressing at all.

Freezer Bags

Expressed milk can be stored in the fridge for up to twenty-four hours or in the freezer for one month. Specially designed, presterilized bags are an ideal way to store expressed breast milk and are available from chemists or baby departments in the larger stores.

Bottles

Most lactation consultants are against newborn babies being given a bottle, even of expressed milk. They claim that it creates nipple confusion, reducing the baby’s desire to suck on the breast, leading in turn to poor milk supply and the mother giving up breast-feeding altogether. My own view is that the majority of women give up breast-feeding because they are totally exhausted with “demand feeding,” often several times a night. I advise giving babies a bottle a day of either expressed milk or formula milk from the first week and introducing it by the fourth week at the latest. This one bottle can be given either last thing in the evening or during the night by someone other than the mother, thereby allowing the mother to sleep for several hours at a stretch. This, in turn, is likely to make her more able to cope with breast-feeding. I have never had a problem with a baby rejecting the mother’s breast or becoming confused between breast nipple and bottle nipple, but this could happen if, in the early days, a baby was offered more than one bottle a day. Other good reasons for getting your baby used to a bottle are the following: first, it gives you some flexibility; second, the problem of later introducing bottles to an exclusively breast-fed baby doesn’t arise; and third, it gives the baby’s father a wonderful opportunity to become more involved.

There are many types of bottles available, all claiming to be the best. From experience, I always recommend a wide-necked design as it makes cleaning and filling easier. It is also worth looking around for bottles that are free of Bisphenol A (BPA) as some scientists believe that this chemical, common in clear plastic feeding bottles, can leach into the milk.

I suggest that you start by using a newborn nipple, which will encourage your baby to work as hard drinking milk from a bottle as when breast-feeding. However, using a nipple that is too slow for your baby can lead to problems such as wind, so take your baby’s lead on this and move on to a faster-flowing one as soon as he seems to struggle—this may be as early as three weeks but usually occurs around the eight-week mark. For advice on sterilizing equipment, please refer to the next section.

Equipment Needed for Bottle-feeding

Bottles

For the reasons already mentioned, I strongly advise buying the wide-necked bottles described previously. If your baby is likely to take all his milk from a bottle, it is important that the risk of developing colic or wind is kept to a minimum. When called upon to help a baby with colic, I often see an immediate improvement simply by switching to these wide-necked bottles. The nipple is designed to be flexible, and it allows the baby to suckle as he would at the breast. The wide-necked bottles, in time, can also be adapted to become feeding cups with soft spouts and handles. If your baby is being exclusively bottle-fed, I advise that you start with five 8-oz. bottles and three 4-oz. bottles.

Nipples

Most bottles come with a slow-flow nipple designed to meet the needs of newborns. By eight weeks, I have found that most babies feed better from a medium-flow nipple, and it is worthwhile stocking up on these extra nipples from the beginning.

Bottle Brush

Complete and thorough cleaning of your baby’s bottles is of the utmost importance. Choose a brush with an extra-long plastic handle, which will allow more force to be put into cleaning the bottles.

Nipple Brush

Most mothers find that the easiest way to clean a nipple is by using their forefinger. However, if you have extra-long nails, it may be worth investing in a nipple brush, although they too can damage the hole of the nipple, resulting in the need to replace the nipples more frequently. Short nails are probably the answer!

Washing-up Bowl

It is easier to organize and keep track of what is sterilized if all the dirty bottles are washed and sterilized at the same time. You will need somewhere to put the rinsed-out bottles and nipples until they are ready to be sterilized, and a large stainless steel or plastic bowl can be used for this purpose, preferably with a lid.

Sterilizer

Whether you are breast- or bottle-feeding, it is essential that all bottles and expressing equipment be sterilized properly. Most U.S. agencies say that washing bottles and nipples in the hot cycle of the dishwasher is satisfactory. For those who question the purity of their water or prefer to be more vigilant, there are three main methods of sterilization: boiling equipment for ten minutes in a large pan; soaking equipment in a sterilizing solution for two hours and rinsing with boiling-hot water; or using an electric steam sterilizer. From experience, I can say that the easiest, fastest and most effective method is the steam sterilizer, and it is well worth making this investment. A word of caution—don’t be tempted to purchase a microwave version. This type of unit holds fewer bottles, and it becomes a complete nuisance when you have to remove it to use the microwave for other purposes.

Kettle

Obviously, a kettle is essential for mixing formula, so it should be efficient and of sufficient size. If you decide to formula-feed right from the beginning, you will spend a lot of time in the first year making formulas. The water for the formula needs to be fresh, boiled just once and cooled before the powder is added. If you don’t already have an extra kettle, you might consider investing in one. If you’re expecting twins, it is essential.

Bottle Insulator

This is a special type of thermos designed to keep bottles of boiled water warm. It can be very useful when traveling, or for mixing nighttime feedings quickly.

Clothes for the Newborn

The range of infant wear available in stores is both delightful and bewildering. While it can be fun choosing garments for your baby, I urge you to approach this particular area with caution. Newborn babies grow at an alarming rate and will outgrow most of their first-size clothes by the first month, unless they were very small at birth. Although it is important to have enough clothes to allow for frequent changing, if you have too many, most will never be worn. You will need to renew your baby’s wardrobe at least three times in the first year, and even if you stick to the cheaper ranges, it will still be a costly business. I advise that you buy only the basics before your baby arrives. You may receive clothing as gifts, and you will have plenty of opportunity for clothes shopping during the first year.

When choosing clothes for the first month, don’t be tempted by brightly colored underwear or sleepwear. Newborn babies have a tendency to leak from both ends, and it is impossible to remove stains by washing at anything less than the hottest wash cycle. Brightly colored garments will soon fade if frequently washed at this temperature, so stick to white, and leave the brighter colors for the outer garments.

In general, keep clothing simple during the first month. Dressing your baby in little white socks and onesies in the early days makes washing so much easier. A clothes dryer means that you do not have to worry about ironing if you remove everything from the dryer the minute it is dry. Listed below are the basic items you will need for the first couple of months. Until your baby arrives, I advise against removing packaging or tags, so the items can be exchanged if your baby is either larger or smaller than expected.

Onesies

A newborn baby would normally wear a one piece in both winter and summer, except in very hot weather. The best fabric next to a baby’s skin is 100 percent cotton, and if you want your beautiful layette to retain its appearance after numerous hot washes, stick to plain white, or white with a pale color pattern. The best style of onesie to buy is a “body suit,” that fastens under your baby’s legs, has short sleeves and an envelope-style neckline for easy dressing.

Nightwear

The most common type of sleepwear is an all-in-one suit, or onesie. They are snug and save time on laundry, but they can be awkward if you have to struggle to get your otherwise settled baby out of one to change his diaper. For this reason, some mothers prefer sleepers, dress-like outfits with easy access to baby’s lower half. As with onesies, 100 percent cotton is best, and the simpler the design, the better. Avoid anything with ties at the neck; and if there are ties at the bottom, remove them as they could get caught around your baby’s feet.

Day Outfits

During the first couple of months, the easiest thing to dress your baby in will be onesies, which usually come in packs of two or three. Again, choose pure cotton and a style that opens either across the back or inside the legs, to ensure you don’t need to undress your baby fully at every diaper change. Dungaree-style clothes, without feet and with matching T-shirts, are also useful. They will last a bit longer as your baby grows, and the tops can be interchanged if your baby dribbles a lot. Choose styles in soft cotton knits for very young babies, rather than stiff cotton or denim.

Sweaters

If your baby is born in the summer, you can probably get away with just two sweaters, ideally in cotton. With a winter baby, it is best to have at least three sweaters, preferably wool. As long as your baby has cotton garments next to his skin, there should be no cause for irritation, and the simpler the design, the better.

Socks

Simple socks in cotton or wool are the most practical for new babies. Fancy styles with ribbons should be avoided, as should any type of shoe. However cute they may be, they can harm your baby’s soft bones.

Hats

In the summer, it is important that you buy a cotton hat with a brim to protect your baby’s head and face from the sun. Ideally, the brim should go right round the back of the neck. In spring and autumn, knitted cotton hats are adequate on cooler days. During the winter, or on very cold days, I suggest a warm wool or fleece hat. Many of these are lined with cotton, but if not, a thin cotton hat can be worn underneath to protect sensitive skin.

Mittens

Small babies do not like to have their hands covered up, as they use them extensively to touch, feel and explore everything in close contact. If, however, your baby has sharp nails or tends to scratch, you could try fine cotton mitts to protect his skin. In very cold weather use woolen or fleece mitts, but again, put cotton ones underneath if your baby has sensitive skin.

Receiving Blanket

I firmly believe that during the first few weeks all babies sleep better when swaddled. Whether you choose a blanket or receiving blanket to swaddle, it should always be made of lightweight pure cotton that has a slight stretch to it. To avoid overheating, always swaddle your baby in a single layer, and reduce the number of blankets on the crib. It is, however, important that by six weeks you start to get your baby used to being half-swaddled, under the arms. Crib death rates peak between two and four months and overheating is thought to be a major factor. Always check that you are not putting too many layers on and that there is sufficient ventilation as recommended by the Academy of American Pediatrics.

Snowsuit

When choosing snowsuits for your baby, always buy at least two sizes too big, as this allows plenty of room for growth. Avoid fancy designs with fur around the hood or dangling toggles, opting instead for one in an easy-care, washable fabric. For tiny babies, buttons may be preferable to a zipper, which can dig into the chin.

Jacket

A lightweight jacket can be useful for babies born at any time of the year. In summer, a jacket can be worn on chilly days, and in winter, on milder ones. As with the snowsuits, choose one in a simple design in a washable fabric.

HOW TO SWADDLE YOUR BABY

(a) Place baby on square receiving blanket and lift one side, level with back of the head.

(b) Bring it down diagonally over the shoulder.

(c) Lift the other side up, making it taut.

(d) Lift the baby a little and secure the end beneath his body.

Your Baby’s Laundry

After you have spent a considerable amount of time and money on your baby’s wardrobe, it is well worth your effort to be very fussy about caring for it. Because young babies grow out of their clothes so quickly, it should be possible, with good laundering, to pass them on to any brother or sister that follows.

The following guidelines will help keep your baby’s laundry in great shape:

Laundry should be sorted into different-colored piles.

Bedding, burp cloths and bibs need to be washed on a very hot wash cycle to get rid of bacteria caused by milk stains and to eliminate the house dust mite, which can trigger allergies in very young babies.

Load the washing machine no more than two-thirds full so that the clothes are rinsed thoroughly.

Stains should always be treated before washing.

Whites: Hot

Anything that is stained—burp cloths, sheets, onesies, bibs, socks, sleepers—should be soaked overnight in a prewash solution and then washed in a washing machine on hot. Everything should be 100 percent cotton, and bibs or towels with a colored trim should have been tested for running colors by washing separately for the first few washes. Towels and facecloths should be washed and dried together and separate from other clothes, in order to avoid pilling.

Light Colors: Warm

Most day clothes need only a very quick wash in the wool or delicate cycle. Anything stained should be soaked first overnight in prewash and rinsed before washing.

Dark Colors: Cold

Any dark outfits must be washed separately from the light colors even if they do not run; to mix the two will only result in the lighter colors taking on a gray tinge. Anything stained should be soaked first overnight in prewash.

Woolens or Delicates: Handwash

Even if the label says Machine Wash, it is better to handwash using a very small amount of gentle soap mixed with lukewarm water. Always squeeze the garment gently in the water when washing and rinsing; never wring, twist or allow a delicate garment to hang down. Rinse thoroughly in cold running water, gently squeeze out excess water, then roll in a clean, dry, white towel for a few hours. Finally, gently pull into shape and either dry flat or hang across a drying screen. Never hang up woolens from the bottom.

Use of the Clothes Dryer

Towels, bibs, crib sheets and blankets can be tumble-dried. Avoid drying towels and clothes together as it causes pilling. Remove all clothes from the dryer and fold them as soon as possible to avoid wrinkling, and ensure that all clothes are properly aired.

Corduroy and Dark Clothes

To avoid fading, dry these on the cool cycle for no more than 15 minutes. Then pull the clothes into shape and place them on hangers to dry. In this way, they may not need to be ironed.