By: Andrew Fernlund

January 9, 2021

Minute Read 

Their First Trek

This is the moment you have been waiting for.

Finally, the car seat has a baby in it and the discharge nurse takes you to the door. They make sure you buckled the car seat properly and you and your significant other are driving away. 

The brand new baby is either sleeping or crying. (we never had one that didn't make this trek in silence). 

You drive the slowest and safest you have ever driven.

Then it hits you, the nursery isn't ready. Where is this kid going to sleep??

Must Haves for Your Baby - A checklist

Okay, you made it out of the hospital and you forgot diapers. Hopefully someone you love made you a Diaper Snowman!! But they made them out of size 1 diapers and not premies so they won't work....The Diaper Snowman was made by my wife's Aunt and we loved it so much. The garbage can is a Diaper Genie. We used regular garbage bags when we realized how much the refills are.

Below We List a Bunch of Products, most of which we are affiliates for...

  • What You Need:
  • Diapers, if you can, get these at Costco, they are usually on sale, Huggies Brand.
  • Baby Wipes (they work on your butt to). If you can get these at Costco, Kirkland Brand.
  • Diaper Rash Cream
  • Bottles (even if your team breast feeds, get a pump and some bottles so you can tag team night shift(this is the nearer version of the one my wife used))
  • Car Seat
  • Blankets!!!
  • Blankets for Swaddling
  • Blankets for Snuggling
  • Blankets for Sleeping
  • Blankets for Burping
  • Blankets for Changing Diapers
  • Blankets to Cover the Baby in the Car
  • Blankets to Cover the Baby while in the stroller
  • Blankets to lay on
  • A Blanket to breast feed with or hold a bottle
  • A Crib or Bassinet (at first, we used a travel crib for all of the babies we brought home for at least the first three months. We used the fancy one that has the changing table attachment, it became a one stop spot. There are decent ones that are, for example, better priced ones.)
  • A Crib Mattress
  • Clothes!!
  • Clothes to throw up on
  • Clothes to poop on
  • Clothes to wear if it's cold
  • Clothes to wear if it's hot
  • Clothes to wear if the weather is just right
  • Socks
  • Onsie's will be your friend
  • Don't buy clothes too early, they might not fit when you need them
  • A Comfortable Chair, we recommend buying this at a local furniture outlet, comfort is key.
  • A Garbage Can Where you Change Diapers. We used the diaper genie. When the trash bags ran out we just put in a liner from the kitchen garbage can.
  • A Dresser
  • A Sound Machine (volume up just loud enough so it doesn't drown out the crying), you will thank me later. We have listed the one that we use for which we are an affiliate. 
  • Baby Monitor (this is a necessary evil)
  • A High Chair, sometimes you just need to put them down near you.
  • A Thermometer
  • Pillows, yep, even after the baby comes out.
  • What You Do Not Need (optional):
  • A Special Kind of Garbage Can. Nope, don't need a special garbage can that has a special liner that deodorizes the trash. If it smells that bad, throw that one outside at the garbage can from the front door and if you miss, pick it up with a shovel in the morning.
  • A Changing Table (yep, I said it, you can change diapers on the floor, on the bed, on the table or while you are sitting on the toilet, that would be a twofer, just make sure you put a blanket down, the tile in the bathroom is cold in the winter.)
  • Shoes. A baby doesn't need shoes, they are cute but you will lose one and that was a waste of $20.
  • A jacket for a baby. They are going to live in blankets. A jacket is an unnecessary layer and if they puke on it, dry cleaning a baby bomber jacket sound like a waste of money.
  • A Bottle Warmer, like this one ( I found the secret, just use warm water).
  • A nap. Yeah, nice try. You both aren't sleeping for at least twelve weeks, minimum. Cancel all your plans and plan to bond with your new baby at home.
  • A Baby Monitor (You already don't get enough sleep, why would you wake yourself by putting the machine that brings bad news to your bedside table?) if you decide to get one, I like to keep these simple. There are really fancy ones, see link for example, but, I am not into that.
  • A mobile, or at least to buy one. My wife made one and it was "totes adorbs".
  • A special bowl, cup, plate, utensils. All the food fits in their mouth using regular dishes and utensils.
  • Special baby food containers
  • Special soap, just use the environmental friendly one with no added fragrence
  • Special cleaning supplies, I recommend Mrs. Meyers cleaning supplies for your kitchen (if you can't afford those, equal parts vinegar and water solution is what they used on pirate ships to swab the decks, it still works today). We have linked the lavender scent but they have basil and lemon.
  • A mirror in the backseat to see your baby. You being able to see them doesn't help them stop crying.

What to Expect When the Baby Comes Home

Expect to hear weird sounds when they sleep.

Expect to not get much sleep.

Expect everyone to give you advice on how to raise your kid.

Expect to be treated differently by your single friends or married friends with no kids. You haven't realize it yet but until they have kids, you have nothing in common.

Expect to make new friends of other new parents.

Expect to listen to crying, they will stop eventually.

Expect to keep the area clean from dirt dust and debris (the whole area).

Expect to clean up a lot of messes (baby bodily and adult caused).

Expect to laugh at your anger and frustration.

Expect to have no free time.

Expect to have your husband spend a little more time at work. @moms

Expect to love this amazing little creature like you have never loved anything in the world.

Expect to empty your phone of pictures at least once a week.

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