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Becoming a parent can be one of the most stressful times in someone's life. While it’s also one of the most rewarding, anything you can do to make those first few weeks a little bit easier is bound to go down well.
Creating a new parent survival kit before the arrival of your new addition will mean you have everything you need, right at hand. Alternatively, creating a new baby survival kit for someone that’s about to give birth will make a unique, useful, and likely very welcomed gift.
With this in mind, we put together a list of items that you might want to include in a new parent kit.
Being a new parent means using a lot of things which you probably haven’t had to think about using before - items such as nappies, baby creams and lots more. There are also items you might want to include for your own benefit.
Including items for the baby in a new baby survival kit will be massively appreciated, particularly if you or a loved one is about to become a first time parent.
Nappies and wipes: no parent will ever say they have too many nappies and wipes. When baby is first born, it’s not uncommon to change their nappy 10 times a day (if not more) as they settle into a routine.
Bibs: these are particularly handy if the new baby is bottle feeding, since it’s often messier than breastfeeding. Spare bibs will help reduce how often a change of clothes is needed.
Muslin cloths: again, having a decent number of muslins for burping baby can really help. Not only will they protect baby’s clothes, but yours too, because no one wants milky sick all over their shoes (though not even muslin cloths can save you every time. Sorry!)
Spare vests: accidents are inevitable. Regardless of what type of “leakage” it is, generally the vest takes the brunt of it.
Clothing: whether it’s a babygrow or a cute little outfit, if they’ve fallen victim to the same leakage that took out the vest, a replacement will be needed.
Rash creams and lotions: rashes are one of the most common skin problems for babies, so a rash cream is a must. Babies also have extremely soft skin which can start to dry out very quickly. A moisturising lotion suitable for babies will help alleviate this. Applying lotion can be a really relaxing process for baby, too.
Baby powder: while it’s important to ensure a baby’s skin doesn’t dry out, excessive moisture can lead to problems, especially when it comes to peeing and pooping.
Blanket: a particularly useful addition to the survival kit if baby is born during the winter months.
With hormones flying around, plus the added responsibility of having a tiny human relying on you for their every need, it’s really easy to forget to take care of yourself. Including the following in your new parent survival kit can go a long way to helping you feel yourself again.
Toiletries: it’s surprisingly easy to overlook items that you would buy on a regular basis. Things like a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap and shampoo means you’ll have some backup should you find your normal supply runs out sooner than anticipated.
Sanitary items: as your body starts to readjust after giving birth, the use of sanitary items such as towels becomes a necessity.
Lotions and creams: thanks to hormone imbalances, it’s not uncommon for your skin to change post-pregnancy. Including things such as hand cream and body lotion in the kit will help your skin return to its former self.
TOP TIP: if you or your loved one is breastfeeding, include some nipple cream.
Hand sanitiser: maintaining a certain level of hygiene around a newborn is of the utmost importance. A bottle of hand sanitiser will mean you’re always able to settle that worry if you happen to touch something a little unsavoury.
A scarf: should baby throw up on you or you experience some “leakage” of your own, a light scarf that can easily be tucked away in your handbag is perfect for covering up when out and about.
Food vouchers: if you’re creating a new parent survival kit for a friend, including some vouchers for takeaways or easy to prepare meals will definitely go down a treat.