By Roy Thomsitt

If you are expecting a baby in the next few months, the chances are you will have started planning for some of her important things, if not doing them and buying them already. Her crib may be chosen; her nursery may be painted and decorated; you may have some beautiful bedding to match the baby decor of her room; and you may have bought a few gorgeous newborn outfits with which to adorn your newborn.

However, there may be a whole host of things you have not really thought of seriously, especially if you are a first time parent. It is so tempting to focus on the pretty things, and forget, or not learn of, the practical ones. So, when it comes to baby clothes, leave all the cute outfits to the baby shower guests, and concentrate for a while on the things you will really need. After all, you do not want your baby to be caught with her diapers down!

Having a baby is a combination of joy and stress for most people, and I suppose that is true of most major events in our lives. There is nothing to compare to the pleasure and happiness that a mother feels when she holds her new baby for those first few days after the birth; or the father showing off pictures of the baby to his friends and family.

Unfortunately, there is also nothing quite like the stress in worrying that everything is going to be all right on the night, or day, as the case may be. To reduce the chance of those stresses taking over, and to ensure that the family is properly prepared for their joyous new addition, it is as well to get organised with the practical things for the baby layette. Let the person who is to organise the baby shower sort out all that side of things, while you ensure all the most practical items are in place by month 7 of the pregnancy.

New parents quite often fall into the trap of being unprepared when it comes to suitable clothing for their baby. So, here are some of the essentials you will need to complete your preparation for the baby’s arrival:

1. Cotton bodysuits, absorbent baby blankets, bibs, and baby booties are items that a new parent can never have enough of. Babies, God Bless them, are messy little things sometimes. For all the cuteness and adorability that they possess, they do dribble, slobber, vomit and overfill their diapers with some of their profuse outputs, and they are like that for about the first year or so of their lives. As such, their clothes do get messy quickly and often; so be prepared, and be practical. A mum may find herself changing her baby’s clothing almost as often as she changes her diaper – sometimes more.

2. The best plan is to stock up on the practical things such as “onesies” suits, baby tees, and mess-cleaning cotton blankets so that you always have plenty on hand. Buy these practical items in abundance, but not so many that you’ll quickly be stuck with a pile of baby items that no longer fit the baby. It is a good idea to have at least five clean outfits at any time; that is clean items, and not awaiting the next wash. If you are going out on a long outing, you will need to pack extra, so always make sure that you have plenty of clean backups. Do not underestimate your little baby’s ability to take your laundry load to record levels, unlike anything you have seen before if you are a first time parent.

The cute and adorable baby outfits, and the stores are stuffed full of those, are fine for taking baby to church, for visiting grandparents, or for taking family photos. However, be prepared for the baby to make a mess over that precious little outfit. While planning and preparing for the arrival of your new offspring, forego some of the cute outfits so that you can stock up on more of the practical essentials. The guests at the baby shower can provide the cute things, while you ensure that you are truly prepared for the reality of having a bouncing new baby in the house.

About the Author:
This preparing for baby article was written by Roy Thomsitt, owner author of the Bouncing New Baby website. Ably assisted by his baby daughter, he is also responsible for the Baby Blog.

by Elizabeth Pantley, Author of Perfect Parenting and Kid Cooperation

Question
I’m pregnant and trying to do everything I can now to get ready for my baby. Can you tell me what I need to know about diaper bags? What should I buy, and what should I put in it?

Learn about it
I’ve gone through about ten diaper bags in the last fifteen years. One thing I noticed is that with each baby my diaper bag has gotten smaller! With my first baby I was ready for anything; I put everything imaginable into my diaper bag and lugged it all from place to place. I also continued to carry a purse, so by the time I added coats and a baby, I needed a U-Haul just to get from the house to the car! By now, I’ve reached baby number four and my diaper bag is ten inches by nine inches – and it even contains my wallet and cell phone! So, to save you a few years, and an aching back, I’ll share what I’ve learned about this ever-present baby necessity.

What kind of diaper bag should I buy?
Diaper bags have come a long way over the years. Many today are stylish carry-everything bags with compartments for all your belongings. While there are an endless assortment of choices, but there are similarities between bags, so here are the basic styles:

• Hand held or over-the-shoulder tote bag
• Many manufacturers have designed specialty diaper bags like large tote bags. These have two handles and/or a shoulder strap.
• Backpack
• A backpack-style diaper bag functions like any backpack. These have more length than width and tend to have a smaller opening than a tote bag. The advantage to these is that you will be able to have two hands free to tend to your baby or other children, stroller and anything else. Look for a backpack that is also easy to carry as a tote, since you won’t always want to sling it on your back.
• Other styles
• In addition to the standard diaper bag styles, you can also find diaper bags made as waist packs, stroller attachments, satchels, duffel bags, and more. Don’t rush to make a decision, because there are an abundance of styles to choose from.
• The not-a-diaper-bag diaper bag
• There’s no rules that says you must buy a diaper bag to use as a diaper bag. A large purse, beach tote or backpack of any kind can work beautifully. So as you shop, look around at all your options.

All of these bags also come with different inside features. Some have one large open space, and others have lots of compartments and built-ins. The advantage to the compartments is that your bag may tend to be more organized and it’ll be easier to find things. The disadvantage is that the size and shape of the compartments don’t always match up to your individual needs.

What size diaper bag?
Diaper bags also come in various sizes. You may find that the best choice is to purchase two bags. This way you can have a small bag for everyday errands and short tips, and a big bag for all day excursions.

How to decide which bag?
A key to choosing the right bag is to take a look at the purse you’ve been using, and to pick a diaper bag that has similarities. For example, if you enjoy a purse with lots of compartments, choose a similar style for your diaper bag, versus if your purse is one open space, lean towards the same type of diaper bag. If your purse is a backpack version, try the same for a diaper bag. Another way to gauge your needs is to examine the luggage, computer cases, and makeup bags that you’ve enjoyed using and figure out which features most appeal to you about these carriers and duplicate them in your diaper bag choice.

When shopping for a bag, take along a list of the things you’ll expect to carry in your bag. As you look through various bags envision the items on your list. In which compartments will you carry which items? Will your things fit in the designed sections, for example, will your wallet fit in the space provided for it?

What to look for in a diaper bag
Once you’ve thought about what kind of bag to purchase, keep this list handy for your shopping trip. Since your bag will get nearly every day use, it can be frustrating to be stuck with the wrong choice. Here are a few tips:

• Fabric Is it sturdy and durable? Will it hold up to daily use?
• Washability Can it be wiped clean or is it machine washable?
• Quality Are zippers, snaps and Velcro openings smooth and well-constructed?
• Straps Are the straps adjustable to your size, and to your partner’s size also? Are they comfortable and easy to adjust?
• Weight Is it lightweight? (A bag that starts out heavy is a burden when filled.)
• Design Will everything you plan to carry fit inside, without a lot of extra, wasted space? Will it still zip or fasten shut when it’s filled with your belongings? If the top is shut with a draw string will it shut tight when full?
• Size Will it fit in the bottom of your stroller?
• Compartments Do the number and size of compartments match your needs? Are they logically organized?
• Changing pad Is a changing pad included? Is it big enough for your growing baby without being bulky and hard to fold? Does it take up too much space inside the bag? (Changing pads that are attached to the bag aren’t at all practical.)
• Accessories Does it have the extras that you need? Are there extras that you’re paying for but will never use?
• Style If both Mommy and Daddy will be carrying the bag, does it have an appealing unisex design? Most men (and many women!) prefer not to carry a bag covered with pictures of Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends!

Practical use
As you use your bag you’ll figure out what works best for you. Keep these thoughts in mind:

• Keep your small diaper bag where you normally keep your purse and coat. Stash your big bag in the car so it’s ready to go when you are.
• When you return home from a trip, unpack, restock and put the bag back in the car, or the small bag on your counter, so that it’s ready for your next event. Clean out dirty diapers, used bottles and old food as soon as you get home to avoid spills and smells.
• If your diaper bag is not baby-proofed, because it contains plastic bags, and small choking hazards, then always keep it out of Baby’s reach.
• Store your wallet and keys inside the bag, not in an easily accessible outside pouch, where they could fall out or be stolen.
• If you keep valuables in your diaper bag treat it with the same care you treat your wallet and purse – thieves know that diaper bags often contain money and credit cards.
• Put your name and phone number on your diaper bag in case it gets left behind on one of your outings.

Copyright Elizabeth Pantley. (McGraw-Hill, 2003)

About the author:
Elizabeth Pantley is the author of several books, including Gentle Baby Care : No-cry, No-fuss, No-worry — Essential Tips for Raising Your Baby, The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night, Kid Cooperation (with an introduction by William Sears, MD), Perfect Parenting, as well as her latest The No-Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers and Preschoolers and is also president of Better Beginnings, Inc. She is a popular speaker on family issues, and her newsletter, Parent Tips, is seen in schools nationwide. She appears as a regular radio show guest, and has been quoted in Parents, Parenting, Redbook, Good Housekeeping, American Baby, Working Mother, and Woman’s Day magazines. Visit Elizabeth’s web site http://www.pantley.com/elizabeth.