Planning your baby's birth

Home essentials
These are the basics you'll want to have in the nursery space when you bring your baby home. It's wise to buy baby's clothing according to weight -- a baby weighing more than 3.6 kg (8 lb.) at birth probably won't fit into the newborn size. Or buy the size three times the baby's age: for example, size 6 months for a two-month-old; size 12 months for a four-month-old.

Equipment
• crib or bassinet
• change table (any safe surface will do as long as it's the right height to prevent back pain)
• bottles, nipples, formula, cleaning brushes and sterilizing equipment (if bottle-feeding)

Clothing
• >several undershirts
• several stretchy sleepers for a winter baby
• several short-sleeved cotton rompers for a summer baby
• socks or bootie slippers
• 6 to 10 receiving blankets
• 3 dozen cloth diapers or disposable diapers
• safety pins, 6 diaper covers or rubber pants (if using cloth)
• diaper pail for cloth diapers
• sunhat or warm cap and outerwear appropriate to the weather

Supplies
• cotton swabs
• diaper cream
• thermometer
• soap appropriate for baby skin
• baby washcloths and hooded towel