Home Kids & Toys Stepping Into Motherhood: Tips for Choosing the Right Nursing Accessories

Stepping Into Motherhood: Tips for Choosing the Right Nursing Accessories

Your baby’s almost here, isn’t it? What an exciting thought. Emotions are at an all-time high and preparations are swiftly underway for the grand arrival. Absolutely nothing can beat the feeling of holding your baby for the first time. It’s a truly life-changing experience. You’ll definitely all the cramps, bloating and nausea if it means you’ll be rewarded with your little angel’s presence one day.

Seeing as the birth of your child is such a momentous time in your life, you’ll have to do everything in your power to adjust to those new circumstances. Naturally, parents-to-be direct their attention to setting up the nursery which is supposed to be a safe environment for your baby. Mind you, this isn’t an easy task because there are lots of things you need to cross off your list. If you get caught up in that whirlwind and start to panic, you’re bound to get something wrong. But don’t fret, we’ll be listing all of the bare necessities to ensure a safe and warm welcome for your baby.

What Nursing Accessories Do You Need?

baby sleeping in crib
source: verywellfamily.com

When you think about it, this is the place where your child will spend most of its time. Whether it’s catching up on some mid-day naps or chewing on a few toys, your baby should feel comfortable and happy in that environment. So without further ado, let’s dive in.

Baby Cot

Even if you want your little one to sleep in your room for the first few weeks, you’ll have to make that transition to sleeping in a cot in the nursery eventually. Either way, it’s best to buy one beforehand so you have it ready to go. Once your baby’s born, we doubt you’ll have enough free time to go shopping around.

Seeing as babies spend most of their time sleeping, it’s important that the cot’s mattress is cosy and comfortable. Additionally, you should get one that’s easy to clean and maintain because you’ll more than likely deal with a few poo or pee stains at some point.

Baby Swaddle

baby wrapped in a baby swaddle
source: halosleep.com

Once your little one exits the womb, this is the first thing that doctors use to wrap them up in. And that’s how the irrefutable bond between baby and swaddle comes to be. From this point on, it’s your responsibility to ensure that you have at least one of these available at all times.

Evidently, baby swaddles are the most important tool to help your child adjust to the real world for many reasons. For starters, being wrapped up in a warm cloth closely resembles the feeling of being inside the womb. This, in turn, helps your child feel safe and secure. Secondly, the snug fit prevents your baby from flailing its arms and legs during naps. As a result, your baby will enjoy uninterrupted sleep sessions for as long as necessary.

Seeing as babies have very sensitive skin, you need to be extra careful with the materials you choose. Fortunately, there are plenty of options so it won’t be too difficult to find a soft baby swaddle Australia dermatologists recommend. Word of advice – it’s a good idea to go for hypoallergenic materials such as cotton which will effectively prevent rashes and allergic reactions. Additionally, you should look into the material’s elasticity. It should be stretchable enough to not feel limiting but it shouldn’t be loose either.

Last but not least, you need to match the size of the swaddle to your baby’s body type. If your child’s a little on the chubbier side, there’s no point in getting a small piece of cloth and vice versa. Take a good look around before you decide on any type of baby swaddle Australia stores sell.

Baby Change Mats

happy baby getting changed in a baby change mat
source: jojomamanbebe.co.uk

Changing diapers is a fundamental part of the baby package. Seeing as you’ll be doing it a few times each day, you’ll need to look into practical baby change mats to make the whole process much easier. After all, why should you lay your precious angel down on a cold, hard surface when you can use a squishy mat for maximum comfort?

Making sure that the change mat is completely waterproof should be the most important feature on your list. Most of the time, changing diapers can be very messy, with all sorts of liquids and substances flying around. If your changing station isn’t waterproof, all of the aforementioned fluids can seep into the pad. Sure, it’ll probably dry out over time but if this persists, there can be long-term consequences in the form of mould and mildew, both of which need to stay as far as possible from your baby.

Another useful feature to look out for in a baby change mat is the contoured design. The elevated sides provide additional support. Plus, there’s usually extra cushioning around the head for an ergonomic laying position. If you’re looking for more security features, then look for change mats with adjustable restraint straps to keep your baby in place while you change diapers. Babies are notorious for tossing and turning quite often and this will help tone down their movements. Once you take all of these factors into account, you should be able to find a change mat that suits your needs and preferences.

Baby Monitor

As much as you’d want to do it, it’s virtually impossible to be by your baby’s side at all times. Even if you have to take a quick trip to the bathroom or run a few errands around the house, it’s not safe to leave your baby completely unattended. For this reason, you should install a baby monitor to keep a close eye on that little munchkin even when you’re not physically in the same room.