What You Really Need Before Baby Comes Home

BABY STUFF:
- Car seat installed properly in your car!!!!!!!
- A place for them to sleep - bassinet, pack n' play, crib, etc.
- Sheets on their little bed (washed with Tide Free & Gentle or something similar)
- Comfy and soft baby clothes (also washed with gentle detergent)... Please don't put them in frilly dresses and suites all the time! They just want to be warm and comfy!!! ALSO, NEW BORN BABIES DO NOT NEED SHOES!!! THEY DON'T WALK YET!!!!
- Diapers
- wipes
- diaper cream (Desitin and A&D cream are both amazing)
- A diaper caddy or basket for easy access to all of your diapering needs
- a receptacle for those tiny stinky diapers (diaper genie or similar mechanism)
- a place to change your baby's diapers (changing table, pad, etc.)
- extra sheets and changing pad covers (so you dont have to do laundry constantly)
- wash cloths and baby towls (regular soft towls are fine by the way - special baby towls are cute though)
- baby wash (gently baby soap)
- baby lotion (nothing to heavily scented!)
- baby blankets for swaddling (babies can't sleep with loose blankets!)
- a diaper bag that is stuffed with baby products and extra baby clothes
- Bottles for pumped milk (or if you are formula feeding)
- at least a small can of baby formula (even if you are an exclusive breast feeder)- I had to have an emergency procedure about 10 days after giving birth last time and didn't have enough pumped milk for my little one. My in-laws had to take her for nearly 24 hours and yes, she did get a little formula! She survived and was fed breat milk only after that for a long time! It was a terrible experience for my husband and I (the ER sucks), but I am so glad we had the formula in case of emergency!
- Boppy or breast friend (or similar structure).. these things are AMAZING for breast feeding and the kids like to play on them later! I liked Boppy best, but some of my friends loved their breast friend (I do love the name of that one).
- first aide kit
- booger sucker (aspirator) to get boogies out of that tiny little nose
- infant tylenol


MOMMY STUFF:
- Breast pump and accessories all washed and ready... I keep my supplies in a cute little tub that has a handle I can carry to different rooms if needed.
- nipple cream (some type of lanolin cream that is safe if baby ingests it)
- cold soothing gell pads to put in your bra when you are sore (they go in the fridge between uses)
- MAXI-Pads (every young sexy woman's favorite thing)
- Full but undies (or boy shorts) for those maxi-pads and after birth discomfort! You will not even want to wear a thong for at least a week - trust me
- TUCKs medicated pads or some sort of witch hazel product (I know it sucks the things we must endure)
- loose fitting pants (not sexy yoga pants) because you will be sore and sporting full-butt undies and maxi pads!
- nursing bras! You can always wear regular bras that open in the front! Those soft shapeless cotton ones found in all maternity stores or maternity section at Target are perfect for sleeping! Such easy access at night!
- nursing pads for your bra... I never leaked milk, but that lanolin cream is greasy and ruined some of my bras! So even if you aren't a leaker, the pads just protect your bras from being ruined and oil stained.
- a 1st year baby book like "What to Expect: the First Year". You can read about all the major changes and developments in your baby and use it as a quick reference guide when you go through new-mommy-panic (you will!)

MORE TO COME... I need to tend to my 3 year old... I'll keep adding to these lists until complete!