Last updated on January 18th, 2019 at 07:39 pm
First of all, you need to have a general idea what your intentions are after giving birth – have you thought about whether you are going to try to breast feed, baby formula feed or do a mixture of both breast and formula? In any case, you need to be prepared for both. Apart from the obvious of buying baby bottles, teats and bottle sterilizer, there is actually many handy baby feeding products that you will actually need and want when the time comes.
Around 28th week of your pregnancy, it’s time to get started with your baby’s feeding list. I started doing it exactly when my 28th week was over. I can truly understand that you feel yourself so tired during these days, but this baby feeding checklist is going to be a fun for you. You just need to have paper and pen and write down all the essentials you will be needing (or just refer to my handy links throughout to go straight to the products). Moreover, bookmark this very page to have it ready when you are ready to prepare yourself in this department.
Even before my bub was born, I opted for mix feeding, because this provided me some rest as my husband was able to feed my baby when I needed a nap or I was away.
So, just sit down with a glass of fresh juice near you and start reading and writing, I am going to provide you with a complete checklist for both breastfeed and formula bottle feed babies, otherwise, if you have some things already and only need a few more based on our advise, you can use the handy links below to jump straight there;
In This Article
♥ Milk Collection Bottles with Teats
Formula Milk Feeding Essentials
♥ Bottle Brush or Bottle Sterilizer
♥ Dishwasher Basket for Bottles
Breastfeeding Essentials
Nursing Pillow
Many women feel comfortable using pillows as it is easy to lift the newborn little up and adjust the best position to feed the baby properly. It will make the feeding work much less a hustle for you and you and baby can both work it out easily. As it is difficult to adjust a suitable position at first, and nursing pillow helps you a lot.
Nursing Pads
At first you will find yourself soaking wet almost all the time. You might wake up in the morning or at night find your shirt wet, so, the nursing pads are a must. And when you are feeding the baby, you also need a nursing pad to stop the flow from the other breast.
Nursing Bras
Well, be in your pajamas all day is not the solution. You need nursing bras and you need at least 4 of them. Because at first the milk flow can get through the nursing cotton and you might need to change the bra at least twice a day.
Nipple Cream
The first experience of feeding a newborn may cause sore and cracked nipples, but don’t be afraid it will go away in a couple of weeks. There are many good nipple creams available in the market and you even do not need to wash them away before feeding the little sweetheart. I used to use a large amount of that cream many times a day. So it should be on your list.
Button-down Shirts
These shirts will make the whole job a very easy process for you. After having a baby you will be off for your fancy dresses for some time and button-down shirts are a great thing to use in those days. And don’t forget they are stylish too, so you won’t find yourself totally off the shelf.
Breast Pump
That was what I was talking about earlier. If you want to take some rest, or you need to start working again or you are simply away from the baby, the breast pump will help you pump the milk and store it. And the Nanny or anyone who is going to take care of the baby can feed him.
Milk Collection Bottles with Teats
You will be needing bottles to store milk, so the milk can be used afterwards. Teats are specially designed like nipples to give baby a natural feeling. If you go to mix feeding it will be easy for baby to suck milk through teats and he won’t hesitate to feed from your breast again.
Bottle Sterilizers
Bottle sterilizer is a must to sterilize the feeder bottles and ensure baby’s safety and hygiene. It will also prevent baby from any sickness, newborns are fragile and should be taken care of seriously.
Formula Milk Feeding Essentials
Formula Milk
Choosing between breastfeeding and formula milk feeding is purely your own choice. And if you find giving formula milk to the newborn easier, there are many formula milks available in the market that have a truly remarkable quality and everything a newborn needs. Your pediatrician might help you in finding and suggesting a suitable formula for your baby.
Feeding Bottles
You will be needing 6 to 8 of these so, you won’t have to do a lot of cleaning in one day. At the start it is easy to go with lots of feeding bottles that can 4 to 5 ounces milk. There are different types of feeding bottles like;
- Basic feeding bottles
- Disposable feeding bottles
- Anti-colic feeding bottles
- Sterilizer feeding bottles
- Glass feeding bottles
Extra Nipples and Teats
There are now nipples and teats that are totally imitating the breast nipples and baby feels more comfortable feeding from such nipples and teats. You will be needing 4-5 extra nipples. You might need to try different teats at first as baby sometimes rejects some nipples and then settled for one.
Bottle warmer
Never warm your bay’s feeding bottle in a microwave. A microwave is not a replacement of a bottle warmer. You need a bottle warmer that will do the trick in 4-6 minutes. Always check the temperature of the milk before giving it to baby by dropping a few drops on your wrist.
Bottle Dispenser
Long gone those days when you need to measure the formula milk and mix the water and then heat it to the required level. Now bottle dispenser has made this work very easy and comfy. A bottle dispenser measures the milk and use enough warm water that you need and drop it right into the feeding bottle. Tada…..isn’t it so easy now? Well, who knows it more than I. I didn’t use it for my first baby and that was a hell of a job making a feeder bottle in middle of the night and I used to spilled water almost daily, but then I bought a bottle dispenser for my second baby and that was amazing. It is a big yes.
Bottle Brush or Bottle Sterilizer
Bottle brushes to clean the feeding bottles. You should search for a bottle brush with two or even more bristles because that will clean the bottle more accurate than a simple brush. With a feeding bottle brush, there is usually come a small brush to clean nipples and sometimes it is attached to the very end of the big bottle brush. You can sterilize the bottles by soaking them in boiling water for about ten minutes, but I will suggest you to buy a bottle steam sterilizer that can hold up to 6 feeding bottles at a time. The use of the sterilizer is safer than just simply boiling the bottles in hot water.
Cotton bibs and burp cloths
You will be needing 7-8 burp clothes and cotton bibs in the same quantity. They will help you in wiping the milk that will be often leaked from the newborn’s mouth. At first try to use disposable burp clothes as the child will be doing it many times a day and using disposable clothes will save you a lot of laundry work.
Drying rack
After washing the bottles with bottle brush you need a drying rack that can absorb the last drop of water from them. A nicely cleaned, washed and dried bottle ensures the baby’s health. So, you should buy a nice drying rack. There are many drying racks that are designed in a way that they can hold up even the small parts of a bottle in a position that dry them completely.
Dishwasher basket for bottles
In case you are using glass bottles or those feeding bottles that can be cleaned in a dishwasher, you will be needing a dishwasher basket for the bottles. Otherwise the small parts of a feeding bottle like nipples and stoppers can slip through and destroyed so a dishwasher caddy is a safe way to keep them together.
Pacifiers (if using)
If you intend to use pacifiers for your baby, you will need 3-4 of them. Clean them properly like you will clean and sanitize the feeding bottles. Try to buy those pacifiers that come with a lid.
Don’t Forget a Travel Bag!
To buy a travel bag is a must. A travel bag for a newborn is designed in a way that it can hold almost all newborn bay’s essentials. There are several pockets designed to contain feeding bottles, diaper bag, bibs and washing clothes, feeding bottle brushes, the formula milk and all other things you will need while travelling with a newborn. An insulated bottle carrier is a must while travelling as babies get hungry after every few minutes at first. An insulated bottle carrier will help you keep the feeding bottle warm during travelling.
Now you have enough work to do for today. Start making your ‘baby essentials’ list and get to shopping.
