Even if you have experience with all of the steps involved, taking a newborn infant home from the hospital requires a significant amount of preparation.
In the days immediately after the birth of your child, the last thing you'll want to do is rush about trying to find and purchase the newborn essentials that you overlooked before.
Acquiring, locating, or borrowing whatever you need and stowing it away in preparation for the big day will not only offer you a sense of success but also put your mind at ease, as you will know that you have everything you require.
There are some wonderful low-cost options for all of baby's requirements, which is fantastic news if you're shopping on a budget.
When you realize how quickly your newborn angel will outgrow those layette items, you'll want to take advantage of every cost-cutting measure that you possibly can.
#1 Go to the discount department stores
Baby clothes producers are human too, and just like those who make clothes for adults, they make mistakes occasionally. The majority of the time, a missing stitch or a seam that is not quite perfect will not be something that will impair wear.
If you buy the goods you need for a baby layette at a cheap department store or job lots near you, you might save as much as 70 percent off the costs at regular department stores.
#2 Purchase sleepers and footsies one size larger than you normally would
The majority of infants spend less than one month in the 0-3 month size range. Keep the smallest size for clothes that will be worn only on very special occasions, such as when the baby first comes home from the hospital, and go straight to the 3-6 month size for any clothing that will be fitted.
For the same reason, you should limit your selection of one-piece footie pyjamas to cozy and elastic cotton and terry knits. They will be able to fit for much longer.
#3 Put away a sufficient quantity of Swee'pea dresses
Nightgowns with drawstring bottoms are almost certainly the single most handy item for a newborn to have at home. When the baby has to be changed, just lift the infant up, do the change, and then draw the baby back down.
#4 The most effective burp cloths may be made from a package of birdseye diapers
Regardless matter whether you choose to use cloth or disposable diapers, you need still purchase a pack of cotton birdseye diapers. When you are pat-pat-patting the baby to bring up any air bubbles in the belly, you may use them as burp cloths to lay over your shoulder or lap while you are doing so.
They are unbeatable in this regard.
#5 Shop yard sales
The pieces that make up a newborn layette are almost never utilized more than once. The majority of newborns simply do not spend enough time in them to cause significant harm.
You can get a complete layette's worth of crib linens, receiving blankets, baby onesies, and baby shirts for less than $5 if you stop by the charity store run by the Salvation Army in your neighborhood.
#6 Before the baby is born, make sure everything is clean
To remove any traces of colors, chemicals, or starches from your clothing, try using a gentle laundry detergent such as Dreft or Ivory Snow.
Babies are known for having skin that is famously sensitive. If you feel better giving any worn goods a good bleaching, make sure that you put it everything through a second clean rinse to take away any leftover signs of bleach. Only then will you be able to feel comfortable using the bleached objects.
Quality DOES matter, but perhaps not in the manner you'd think. Do make it a point to get well-known brands that come with completed seams; French or enclosed seams are even more desirable.
It's not that your brand-new little angel will put a lot of wear on those seams; rather, it's because flat, enclosed seams will be far friendlier to your baby's sensitive skin than other types of seams.
If you shop smart, you'll be able to purchase everything you need for the baby's homecoming while spending the least amount of money possible.