Completing a layette for a newborn baby can be a very exciting undertaking. Many parents simply cannot wait for the moment when they start gathering all the necessary things for the youngest member of their family.
However, very often, the closer the due date is, the more questions and doubts begin to arise.
There are so many offers on the market that, at some point, you may start to get lost in all of it.
- How to put together a layette – smartly and without ruining the family budget in the process?
- How to choose things that will be practical and, at the same time, will support the harmonious development of your baby?
Before we get to analyzing specific propositions and weighing all the pros and cons, we’re going to look at the layette ABCs, i.e. the rules you should follow when putting together a layette for your little one.
I’m writing about them as a physiotherapist, but also as a mom of 5, who had and still has a lot of opportunities to verify certain things in practice 😉.
COMPLETING A LAYETTE FOR A NEWBORN – SOME SIMPLE RULES
TO FOLLOW:
- Don’t just follow the trends. Before you start picking out a layette, consider what your needs are – for example, if you live near the forest and there’s a bumpy road to your house, don’t choose a stroller with small plastic wheels. You’ll curse it faster than you know 😉.
- Think about what your baby will need, of course, but also consider what might make it easier for you to function in a completely new reality. You may be pushing your own needs to the back of your mind right now, but remember that in order to take good care of your little one, you need to be taken care of too. Organizing a COMFORTABLE and PRACTICAL space for feeding, bathing or nursing will really be of great importance. In our case, one of the biggest layette-related hits was… a rocking chair, thanks to which I could take a breather while feeding, practicing skin-to-skin contact or putting my babies to sleep.
- Buy only the most necessary things and go for minimalism. Keep in mind that most likely your loved ones will want to bring you some gifts too… So why not prepare a registry of things that you need or dream of?
- Remember that in the beginning, your baby won’t need any toys. The first months are going to be an adaptation period during which your newborn will learn how to function in new surroundings. The need for a sense of security and a close relationship with you will be of the utmost importance then. There will still be time for toys but let them serve more as a tool to initiate playtime with your baby. 😊
- From a practical point of view, think about:
– what you will bring your little one home from the hospital in,
– what you will dress them in,
– where your newborn will sleep and what you will cover them with,
– what you will bathe them in – what kind of tub, what toiletries you will use,
– where your baby will stay when he or she is awake,
– where and how you will feed them,
– what you will take them outside in…
- When completing your layette, don’t forget about comfortable clothes for yourself. Something you can just throw on and feel comfortable in will be essential in the first months.
- Shop responsibly – especially when it comes to clothes because babies grow out of them really fast. If you run out of something, you can always buy more. I guarantee you that in the first few months, your little one will manage to accumulate so much stuff that you’ll be organizing yet another drawer for their accessories 😉.
When completing a layette, you should also think about learning more about child development. You can find all the essentials, provided in an accessible form, in my e-books.
The content herein is for informational purposes only and will not replace a visit to a physiotherapist or other specialist. If in doubt, please consult with a professional who can examine your baby in person. For the sake of your baby, I do not provide online advice.
For great ideas for spending time and playing with your baby, check out my E-book:
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