What Are the Mother and Baby Needs During the Newborn Period?
A huge change begins in your life from the moment you learn you're pregnant. During this process, mums-to-be's bodies, needs and priorities change. Pregnancy isn't just about expecting a baby, it's also a time to prepare for yourself and your baby. In this article, we'll share our knowledge on mother and baby needs and the products that meet them. Our article is a long one, but we'd like to point out that every line matters for newborn mothers. If you're a mum-to-be yourself, we recommend reading the checklist we've put together for expectant mothers carefully.
Mother's Shopping List
When we think about mother and baby needs, the mother's own needs come to mind first. Because the body changes with pregnancy, shopping for a pregnancy wardrobe is one of the basic needs of the pregnancy process. Your growing baby and increasing weight can mean your old clothes no longer feel comfortable.
Maternity Clothing
Maternity clothing comes first on the mother and baby needs list. You'll need comfortable, flexible clothing you can wear during pregnancy. This can include trousers with elasticated waistbands, leggings and tops. You can shop for these items on the checklist bearing in mind you'll only wear them during pregnancy. If they'll only be used for a short period, you can buy items such as elasticated-waist trousers and leggings.
We have a practical solution to suggest on this topic. You can use a small piece of elastic to adapt your trousers for pregnancy. You can sew a button onto the elastic that fits the buttonhole of your trousers, and adjust the elastic to whatever size you need. With a buttonhole at one end and a button at the other, you can attach the elastic to the button on your trousers however you like. Once you put on a suitable top over it, no one will notice this practical trick!
Personal Care Products
The content of the products you use during pregnancy matters greatly. Staying away from any products containing chemicals matters for your baby's healthy development in the womb. This is why the mother and baby needs list should include products with natural content.
Stretch Mark Cream
As your baby grows, your stomach area growing and weight gain can lead to stretch marks. To prevent this, you should never skip adding stretch mark prevention cream or oil to the shopping list for a mother-to-be. For this, you can use natural oils such as almond oil or coconut oil, or add organic-certified products to your list instead.
Moisturisers and Sunscreen
As always, our body needs moisture during pregnancy. Alongside supporting skin hydration by drinking plenty of water, we need to balance it with creams applied externally too. We recommend choosing a moisturiser for the mother and baby needs list with the chemical content in mind. Alongside this, sunscreen is a must. We recommend adding a sunscreen suited to your skin type to your daily routine, whatever the season.
Baby Care Bag and Mother-Baby Bag
It's important to prepare a maternity bag containing the items you'll need when heading to hospital during pregnancy, or when going out with your baby. This bag should contain the basic mother and baby essentials needed for your and your baby's comfort.
You can take a look at the organic cotton mother-baby bags and organisers on our site, designed to meet the needs of mothers who are about to give birth or who have recently given birth.
So What Should Be in Your Bag?
Do you know what should be in the bag containing mother and baby essentials? Here's what should be in the mother-baby bag:
- Your baby's clothes
- Nappies and wet wipes / cotton wool
- Changing bag
- Nursing cover
- A spare blanket or muslin cloth, depending on the season
- A toy to soothe your baby
- Personal items for the mother (mobile phone, wallet, keys, makeup bag, and so on)
Postpartum Mother Needs
After the birth, mothers and babies have certain needs to help them go through a comfortable, healthy period of adjustment. Meeting postpartum mother needs helps mothers have a more comfortable recovery. Here are the essential products and tips for postpartum mother needs:
Maternity and Postpartum Pyjamas: After the birth, you may need comfortable pyjamas suited to breastfeeding. Choosing a nightdress in particular in the early days will be practical for hospital check-ups and toilet needs. It's important that the tummy area is expandable and that there's a system allowing easy opening for breastfeeding. This is why you should be sure to add these items to your postpartum checklist.
Nursing Vest / Nursing Bra: You may need bras or vests that are practical during breastfeeding. Because your body will change, it makes sense to choose a few items you can rotate between.
Breast Pads / Breast Shields: Once your milk starts coming in, you can use breast pads or shields to prevent leaks. It's important to choose breathable products that don't interfere with your baby's feeding.
Postpartum Pads: Using specialised pads for postpartum bleeding can reduce how often you need to change them and can help you feel more secure. These products are especially useful in the early days. Don't forget to add postpartum pads to your checklist.
Nipple Cream: You can use nipple cream to deal with sore, cracked nipples. It's important to choose organic-certified, clean-content products that remove the need for wiping before feeding. Alongside this, you can also make use of oils.
Breast Pump and Milk Storage Bags: A breast pump will help you express and store your milk. Milk storage bags are a practical, hygienic solution for storing excess milk. While our priority is direct breastfeeding, having these products on hand for when you need them will bring you peace of mind.
We've shared all the essential information for mother needs when it comes to mother and baby essentials. You can go through the baby shopping checklist we've prepared for you in detail in our next article.
BABY SHOPPING CHECKLIST
Your newborn baby's needs are far greater than your own. Let's take a look together at what your baby will need from birth onwards.
Babies grow quickly once they're born, so we recommend planning your clothing purchases in a balanced way, suited to each month.
NEWBORN CLOTHING CHECKLIST
Hospital-Leaving Set:
The first outfit to touch your baby's skin is the hospital-leaving set. This set contains your baby's most basic clothing needs and is designed for use in the early months. We recommend buying at least three sets of this outfit, for use both leaving hospital and at home.
When buying a hospital-leaving set, it's essential to make sure the fabric is 100% cotton. You can take a look at our suggestions for 100% organic cotton hospital-leaving sets via the links below.
5-Piece Organic Cotton Hospital-Leaving Set, Playtime 5-Piece Organic Cotton Playtime Hospital-Leaving Set - Little Gusto
5-Piece Organic Cotton Hospital-Leaving Set, Animal Print 5-Piece Organic Cotton Animal-Print Hospital-Leaving Set - Little Gusto
5-Piece Organic Cotton Hospital-Leaving Set, Big Cotton 5-Piece Organic Cotton Big-Cotton-Print Hospital-Leaving Set - Little Gusto
Everyday Baby Wear and Baby Sleep Products
Sleepsuits and separate tops and bottoms are ideal for your baby's everyday wear and sleep. Sleepsuits with feet, which can be easily removed while sleeping and allow for easy nappy changes, will also help keep your baby's feet warm.
A poppered vest or bodysuit is another essential item you'll use right up until your baby comes out of nappies. You can choose short-sleeved versions for summer and long-sleeved ones for winter.
Newborn babies can't regulate their own body temperature, which is why you should dress them in one extra layer compared to what you're wearing yourself. We recommend a baby waistcoat or cardigan for this period.
It's important for newborn babies to wear a hat in the first weeks and when leaving hospital. Depending on the temperature and season, you should choose a baby hat that doesn't feel tight and covers the ears too.
Choosing a baby blanket also matters greatly. We recommend using a blanket that will keep your baby warm depending on the season and room conditions.
A sleeping bag is also a must-have for your baby. From the newborn period onwards, we recommend using a baby sleeping bag when putting your baby to sleep, for their safety and health.
Keeping your baby's feet warm matters for preventing wind and chills. Thin baby socks and cute baby booties are lifesavers here. When buying socks, make sure they're made from cotton and don't grip too tightly around your baby's ankles.
Newborn babies' nails can be quite sharp. You can choose baby mittens in the first weeks to prevent your baby from scratching themselves.
Drooling is quite common in babies, particularly during teething. You should keep plenty of waterproof bibs and burp cloths on hand to protect your clothes and prevent your baby from getting wet.
Depending on the season, all-in-one snowsuits, which act as a coat when you take your baby outside, are also important. We recommend adding a thick, cosy all-in-one suit to your checklist for your baby.
A pushchair footmuff is also a product that will make it easier for you to take your baby outside during the winter months.
Essentials for Baby Cleaning and Baby Care
Your baby's basic care products matter greatly, especially during the newborn period. We recommend making sure every product you choose is suited to your baby's health.
Baby Bath Essentials
Once your baby's umbilical cord has fallen off, you can give them their first bath on the date your doctor advises. At this stage, your first need will be a newborn shampoo. We strongly recommend choosing an organic baby shampoo suited to babies' delicate skin.
A baby bath with a net suited to your baby's bathing will provide a comfortable experience for you and a safe one for your baby.
Using a muslin cloth or soft wash mitts to clean your baby's body during their bath matters for not irritating their skin. Items such as a hooded towel and muslin cloth, which you'll also use while drying them, should be among your must-haves. When choosing these products, make sure the content is 100% cotton.
To prevent your baby's skin from drying out after their bath, and for everyday use, we recommend getting a newborn baby lotion, baby care oil, and similar products.
General Baby Care Essentials
Nappies are undoubtedly at the top of baby care essentials. You should make sure the nappy you choose, suited to your baby's age in months, is a product that doesn't irritate their skin. Nappy changing frequency will vary depending on your baby's age in months, and the nappy should have a breathable, comfortable structure to prevent skin irritation, and should always be changed on time.
We recommend adding a changing bag and changing mat you can carry with you, to ensure a hygienic environment while changing your baby's nappy. Alongside these, you can also use a muslin cloth while changing your baby's nappy.
The cleaning materials you use while changing your baby should be made up of water and cotton wool during the newborn period. Using wet wipes can cause sensitivity in newborn baby skin.
You may need to use nappy rash cream when changing your baby's nappy. Take care to choose natural-content baby products for this.
You can start trimming or filing your baby's nails from birth. Newborn babies' nails can be quite soft yet sharp. This is why it's important to gently care for your baby's nails using a file, to prevent them from scratching themselves. You can use baby nail scissors in later periods.
A thermometer is an essential item you should definitely have for your baby. Monitoring your baby's health and checking their body temperature matters in the early weeks.
Nursery Essentials
A room thermometer matters greatly for your baby. Being able to dress newborn babies according to room temperature helps prevent various illnesses, and the room's humidity level matters for healthy development. With a thermometer, you can protect your baby's health by continuously maintaining the room's temperature and humidity balance.
When choosing nursery furniture, we recommend choosing wooden furniture without sharp corners that doesn't pose a hazard.
Nursery organisers are very useful items for organising your baby's clothes, toys, personal care items and other needs. We strongly recommend choosing washable products when it comes to these items.
A baby monitor will alert you when you're not with your baby and give you some freedom. You should make sure all safety precautions are in place when leaving your baby alone in the room. Support cushions to prevent your baby rolling over in their cot, their sleeping position, the placement of their blanket, and similar matters are important factors for a safe sleep experience.
Mother and Baby Travel Needs
For your baby's comfort and your own peace of mind, you need to be organised every time you go out with your baby. When heading out with your baby, we recommend making sure all the essentials in your baby care bag are complete. You can review what should be in the bag in the mother-baby bag section we mentioned in this article.
One of the most important essentials when going out with your baby is a pushchair. Choosing an easy-to-fold, lightweight model will make things easier for you when travelling alone with your baby.
For a safe journey with your baby, you should always have a car seat suited to your baby's age group in your car. You can use a car seat cushion to prevent your baby overheating in their car seat.
One of the most comfortable choices when going for a walk with your baby will be using a baby carrier. We recommend taking care to choose a safe carrier suited to your baby's hip structure.