Preparing for a baby to arrive? Here are some of the things you should consider.
First of all, you don't have to buy everything new. Babies grow out of clothes lightning fast. Think about going to a second hand store for toys, clothes, and furniture, or look for things on Kijiji.
Have a few onesies of different sizes available as you don't know how big your baby will be born
Coconut oil is a great substitute for a diaper cream and is safe to use all over your baby's body
Nose freeda is a tube used to clean baby's nasal passages. It was a surprise to me, but babies can't clean their own noses, and they also don't know how to breath through the mouth. So you need to clean that cute little nose with sea salt water and then suck everything out with a nose freeda. You will be surprised how much will come out
Bouncy yoga ball helps move the baby down during labor. It is also great at putting your baby to sleep. My baby loved being swaddled and bounced on the ball, and would fall asleep immediately.
White noise machine is a lifesaver. It blocks all the household noises and lets your baby sleep longer. You can use a generic white noise or find internal womb sounds on YouTube. Both work very well.
Newborn babies don't play with toys yet, but they love staring at black and white pictures. You can buy these or simply print them out on paper. Your baby will spend minutes studying the pictures.
Babies love bouncers. They are great for putting baby down for naps during the day.
Muslin blankets of various sizes are a must to have. These blankets are great for swaddling, wiping off any baby messes, covering your stroller from the sun, or using it as a cover up for breastfeeding in public.
Dockatot is the latest invention. It is a little soft 'nest' for your baby to sleep in. It hugs your baby from all sides to create a womb-like feeling. These things are expensive, but so worth it for peaceful day time naps.
There are tons of products out there. Hope this list helps you making shopping for your baby a little less overwhelming