New Baby Checklist

I'm the first to admit, I've got a small obsession with organization. I also like things to look good and feel simple. So when it comes to the overwhelming and often intimidating world of baby gear, I needed a concise list of what I REALLY needed with an emphasis on ease, style, value, and eco and health-conscious products. Such a list did not seem to exist, so I made my own, have shared it with lots of like-minded expectant moms, and am now passing it along to you.

On the Go

Here's the stuff that (at least in the material world) marks you as a parent:

• Car seat – You need an infant car seat. Choose one that comes with two bases (for easy switch-a-roos between caregivers' cars). These can be used as a carrier and snapped into strollers for infants. When baby gets bigger, you will need to upgrade to something like a Britax.
• Stroller – I live in the mountains but frequent the city, and Bob Revolution is great for city as well as off-pavement walks for its ease in maneuverability. If you plan to have more than one kid in a stroller (up to about 4 years old), consider a Baby Jogger that can do a sleek front/back setup for an infant and toddler.
• Baby carriers – There are many different styles and set ups, so find one or three that suit you best. You probably won't know what you like most until you try it out with your baby, and this may change as they grow. Some options include:
  • Mei Tai style – Ergonomic and stylish
  • Sling – Light weight and compact with endless options for adjustability and fabric. Easy to throw in a bag or stroller, but not great on the back as it is does not distribute weight evenly.
  • Ergo Carrier – Designed like a backpack, but versatile for front or back carrying, the Ergo is the gold standard for ergonomic baby wearing.
  • Wrap – Moby and others. This is a popular option, though I personally found the sensation of being swaddled in fabric just not for me.
• Car mirror – So you can see what baby's up to while you're driving.
• Diaper bag – I preferred to live without this accessory. Instead, I've used a clutch to hold a couple of diapers, a zip-lock with some wipes, a pacifier, and a light change of clothes. Easy to throw it in your fabulous, regular grown-up bag.

Sleeping Options

Whether baby's space is a room or a corner, there are a few things to consider:

• Crib – Your choice of style, but consider organic mattress and bedding if your budget allows. For our second, I chose a partially organic used mattress that is wrapped in food grade plastic to prevent off-gassing, then topped it with an organic mattress pad. Learn about mattress safety here.
• Co-sleeper – An untreated water-based finish that's both beautiful and non-toxic.
• Bassinet or Moses Basket – Not necessary, but some people that plan to use a crib choose this option for the early days.

Other Nursery Stuff

• Dresser – To double as changing table. Or do as a pregnant friend of mine, and buy a cocktail bar to double as a changing table and later serve as a party piece!
• Organic cotton and wool changing pad with these organic pad covers. Sure you can change your kid on the bed or floor, but combined with the table, this station keeps the changing centralized.
• Glider or rocking chair – A lifesaver when you are exhausted and need some assistance getting baby to sleep.
• Bouncer – In theory I'm not a fan of bouncers, swings, vibrating chairs and other over-stimulating, visually-tacky baby gear. However, some parents find these things essential for their sanity and fortunately there are minimalist options like Baby Bjorn. For something powered by electricity that bounces and glides, try the mamaRoo.
• Night light – For those inevitable night time wake ups.
• Baby monitor – Low EMF monitor that picks up sound and temperature so you can “see” when baby's making noise.
• Clock – Nice to know the time when in the middle of the night or when you've been soothing baby for what seems like centuries. This one can mimic sunrise and has a soft orange glow.

Feeding

• Breast feeding pillow – This one snaps around mama's waist making a firm, horizontal shelf for baby (other breastfeeding pillows collapse in at mama's waist creating a boppy-abyss for baby to slide into creating problems with latch and positioning.
• Nursing bras – For all shapes and sizes. Reasonable delivery. It is recommended that you do not use underwire for at least several months to prevent blocked milk ducts and infection. Also useful, a bra suited for pumping.
• Breast pads – You'll need either disposable, cotton or wool for the early days, but when you're out and about, this is the modern mom's way to prevent leakage.
• Breast pump – I love my pump as it works by battery as well as electric, is super portable for walking around the house or even driving (if you dare). It is strong and efficient. The only down-side is that you can only pump one side at a time, so pumping takes twice as long.
• Bottles – Start with 4 ounce bottles. Use silicone nipples in slow flow. And choose glass or silicone to prevent nasty chemicals from leaching into your baby's milk.

Diapering

This is a huge topic unto itself, but in short, eco and health-conscious parents have three general options…

• Cloth – Cloth diapers have come a long way since the pins and plastic covers of decades past. Now the options are endless and span from traditional and inexpensive, to innovative, fashionable and pricey. Cloth is definitely the best choice from a green perspective, but may or may not prove to be more of a commitment than some new parents bargain for.
  You can buy diapers and covers and wash yourself or use a diaper service, in which case you will need to also buy covers. Dydee Diapers is the only cloth diaper delivery service in LA. Convenient and affordable, this old-school service is making a come-back in the age of eco-consciousness.
• Disposables – There are several “natural” brands to choose from, but I recommend Nature Baby Care, the only completely biodegradable disposable diaper currently on the market. Disposables are certainly the most convenient option; even if you're going with cloth you'll probably want to keep at least one pack on hand for outings, night time, etc. Keep in mind that the average baby uses about 2,800 diapers in the first year, and even the most biodegradable will sit in landfills nearly forever. It is said that if King Henry VIII wore Huggies, they would just be starting to biodegrade now.
• Hybrid – Even diapers have caught the hybrid trend. G-diapers are a cloth cover with a removable waterproof liner that can be used with either disposable or cloth inserts. The disposables are biodegradable and flushable (as long as your home isn't using a country septic tank). The company also sells cloth inserts or you can use the prefolds from a diaper service or buy and wash your own. G Diapers with cloth prefolds from the diaper service is  our personal choice which meets our needs for cost, ease, eco-consciousness, health, and, yes, fashion.

Miscellaneous Baby Cloth

When I was pregnant with my first, I couldn't understand why I would need all these random bits of fabric, I quickly found out that I actually put all of them to good use.

• Blankets – Choose natural, breathable fibers and one wool for cold weather. If you're lucky to have a knitter who loves you, this is a good time to call in the favors.
• Receiving blankets – A multi-purpose item. Essential for swaddling baby; use as tucked in flat sheet and cover in crib, sun shield over stroller, carrier or carseat; quick throw over any surface that you want to protect from baby or protect baby from. Also nice are the stretch jersey cotton blankets and a few of the usual cotton flannel.
• Burp cloths – Prefold diapers are the standard and least expensive. If you have a diaper service, you can use those, otherwise buy tow or three packs to protect your shoulder from spit up, tuck under baby's head or bottom to catch spills, and generally sop up random baby messes. Though, a bit beyond the realm of essential, I just love Burp Armor invented by a dad (from my neighboring home town)… When it comes to spit up and your favorite clothes, you can never be too safe!
• Baby wash cloths – Organic, colorful, and multipurpose.
• Hooded Baby towel –  Pick up one or two. Non-essential but nice to have.
• Puddle pad – Organic, eco-grown wool that you can use one the floor or in your baby's crib. For times you want to let baby have a naked kick, but don't want the risk of ruining a surface.

Toiletries

When it comes to baby hair and skin products, gentle is certainly better. But what does that mean?

• Diaper Wipes – Nature Baby Care, Seventh Generation, or similar. Very important to use natural wipes on baby's tender tush.
• Diaper cream – You need a natural emollient to create a barrier to protect baby's skin. This should never be a petroleum product like Vasoline or mineral oil so check the ingredients. You can use coconut oil, beeswax, olive oil, or similar either directly or in a product such as Mother Love Diaper Rash and Thrush. Also, keep a natural zinc oxide cream handy (like California Baby) in case baby develops a rash that's angrier than just mild redness.
• Baby Massage Oil (Apricot from Burt's Bees, Almond Oil, coconut oil) for after bath time.
• Natural Soaps to wash baby.
• Baby grooming kit (fingernail clippers, thermometer, baby brush, bulb syringe)
• Natural Cleaners and Detergent for all laundry and household cleaning if you're not already using them.
• Pacifiers – Everyone's got an opinion on whether babies should use one. As long as they stop using it by the time they start to have teeth, it will not do any dental damage. It can certainly be annoying if your baby becomes dependent on it for falling asleep and then wakes every time it falls out of her mouth. But, regarding habit, it will be easier to break a paci habit by taking it away, than a thumb sucking habit which cannot be so easily “removed.” Some babies just really like to suck, and for those parents a paci is a sanity saver. I like the new all-natural rubber Natursutten Rounded Pacifier. Also try the classic NUK orthodontic newborn pacifier.

Baby Attire

Though you will want a few items that fit a newborn, she will grow so fast that a closet full of 0-3 month clothes will be a waste of money. Regardless of essentials you may register for, everyone loves buying cute little baby clothes and if you have friends wanting to pass along hand-me-downs, you may not need to buy much. Make sure you have:

• Onesies / Footies – While t shirts and dresses are cute, little babies need something that snaps under their bottom so it doesn't ride up. Kimono snaps are great to avoid having to pull clothing over baby's head. I recommend buying some organic onesies in both long and short sleeve, kimono snap tee shirts for newborns, and several long sleeve footed jammies.
• Baby leg warmers – Keeps baby's legs warm but eliminates having to pull pants on and off for diaper changes. Plus super cute.
• Baby socks or booties – Grab a pack for chilly days
• Cotton hats For early days – especially during cooler seasons
• One Sun Hat
• Cold weather clothes if the season requires.

Reading and Shopping

• Child Health Guide by Randall Neustaedter will answer all the “whys” so you can explain to your family et al why you want glass bottles, wooden toys, and other non-mainstream, but wellness-conscious choices.
• Lauren Feder's The Parents' Concise Guide to Childhood Vaccinations to help make the important decisions regarding immunizations.
• Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child by Janet Zand – A great resource that provides parents with the full gamut of treatment options from western through alternative, of various diseases and symptoms listed in an easy A-Z format.
• The  Contented Little Baby Book by Gina Ford. My current bible on sleep routines after severe sleep deprivation with baby #1. Gina is known for her hard-core routines, and some of her concepts (especially regarding formula, water, and solid food) need to be taken with a grain of salt. But the concept of proper sleep/feeding patterns makes sense and, if you stick with it, will result in your household getting more sleep and more peace.
• www.Diapers.com has lots of baby gear beyond diapers, green products, free shipping, great prices, and insanely fast delivery.
• www.Craigslist.org is the place to save. Many baby items including big ticket items such as cribs, strollers, co-sleepers, etc, are perfectly good as second-hand finds. Browse the fancy sites, then buy bargains of same or similar stuff here. Score for your pocket-book and the environment!

So, there you have it. Print this new baby checklist out and go be a good consumer.

Do you have additions, recommendations or reviews to add to this new baby checklist? Please share in the comments below!

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