Parenting is not easy for first-time parents. Every parent wants to be perfect for their kids but no one is perfect. They collect more information from their families, friends, and parenting books to giving their babies the best care. Babies are too sensitive to handle with care and they don’t care about how fashionable their clothes are, how beautiful their nursery furniture is, or how educational their toys are. parents spend lots of money on buying their products and it is tough to decide what is worth buying and what is worthless to spend money on?
There are lots of baby accessories available in the market that we buy for our kids but only a few of them are actually requires for our kids. Here we have given the list of baby essentials that you should buy. As a parent of a girl’s child, I also face these problems but now I can understand what is good for our kids and what’s not.
Ten Must-have Accessories to Buy for First-time Parents
In this article, we have listed 10 necessary things that every parent should buy for their kids that won’t break the bank. We will recommend these essential things that every parent must-have.
HUMIDIFIER
If your baby gets a cold, and cough then a humidifier is the best and easy solution to recover your baby. A humidifier works as a filter that is easy to clean and use. It gives better results in the case of stuffy noses and coughing. The best humidifier allows your baby to breathe easier and gives him a better sleep. There are no medications and easy ways available for fast recovery. all the moms face many problems these days because their kids don’t eat food properly. There is no magic product that can recover your kid instantly but humidifiers can help your baby for a comfortable sleep through the night.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are humidifiers good for kids?
A: A younger child gets sick very frequently from the cold in a year and they are unable to take breathe easily due to stuffy nose. they feel uncomfortable because cold block their nose. A good humidifier can solve this problem and it is used to reduce the blocking of the nose. Humidifier opens their blocked nose and helps them for better sleep.
Q: Should humidifier run all night?
A: Yes. Humidifier generally works on day and night. Warm mist can be used to remove the congestion.
Q: Do humidifiers kill airborne and flu viruses?
A: A humidifier is used to kill the cold viruses but A good humidifier can also reduce the flu virus from the air in the next few months. A Humid air can up to 85 percent of the flu viruses from the air.
Q: Can you use tap water in a humidifier?
A: Distilled or demineralized water is safe to use for a humidifier because it protects the humidifier from bacteria. Tap water contains minerals that promote bacterial growth inside the humidifier.
HAND SANITIZER
In this pandemic washing hands is the cheapest and easiest way to prevent COVID-19. You should wash hands with soap and water to get rid of germs. Soap and water are not available in every place so you can use hand sanitizer to protect from the COVID virus. Hand sanitizers are portable you can easily carry it in your purse, bags, and cars.
Hand Sanitizers are made with alcohol so you should very careful when your kids are using this. Swallowing a tiny amount of hand sanitizer can be very harmful to your kids. You should clean your kid’s hands before and after eating the food. Of course, the First option for cleaning hand should be soap and water but if it is not available then you can use sanitizer. You should monitor your kid when they are using sanitizer to clean their hands.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can kids use hand sanitizer?
A: Young children can use alcohol-based sanitizer in your presence. Use a small amount and rub their hand until they are completely dry. You should store the bottle away from the reach of children so they don’t try to lick or swallow.
Q: At what age can a child use hand sanitizer?
A: There is no hard and fast rule but it is harmful to infants or less than one year old. It is also harmful Even for young children if they swallow it. It should be used in the presence of parents.
Q: Which hand sanitizer is best for a baby?
A: A good hand sanitizer has 60 percent alcohol and it will work in coronavirus cases and also protect you from the flu and other germs. You should be very careful when you use it for babies.
Q: Can you clean baby hands with wipes?
A: Yes. You can use disposable wipes until they can’t use it soap and water for washing on their own. You can also use soap and warm water for washing your baby’s hands.
PACIFIER
Mostly Babies like to suck their thumb or fingers at an early age. Sucking thumb is a natural behavior and pacifier helps babies to feed and grow. Pacifiers can even settle down babies during crying periods. These pacifiers also soothe their gums and help to reduce pain when their teeth are coming out. It may reduce the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). You can give it to them in between the breastfeeding periods.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does a pacifier suppress hunger?
A: Pacifier may reduce the risk of overfeeding in bottle-fed and breastfed babies. Most of the baby’s urge to suck for comfort and pacifier plays an important role for these babies.
Q: Are pacifiers good or bad?
A: A pacifier can reduce the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) by more than half. It is used during naps or nighttime.
Q: When should you clean a pacifier?
A: Pacifiers should be very clean because most of the time they put it into their mouth. You can use hot water to clean before each use for under 6-month-old babies and after 6 months you can use hot soapy water to clean.
Q: What is a good age to stop the use of a pacifier?
A: There is no hard and fast rule but The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians recommend that you should limit or stop this around 6 months baby to avoiding the risk of ear infection.
Q: Where should you keep a pacifier?
A: You should properly clean and put it away from the reach of the child when not in use. You can put it into a plastic ziplock bag.
INFANT CAR SEAT STROLLER
An infant car seat stroller is very useful while traveling. It should be very light and one-hand fold. This infant car seat stroller is a comfortable place for sleeping without breaking the sleep in the process of buckling in the car seat while traveling. And you can roam stress-free wherever you go without carrying your baby in your arms. This is the important thing you should not be forgotten about while traveling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the best baby stroller and car seat?
A:
- Best Overall: Evenflo Pivot Modular Travel System.
- Best for Infants: Chicco Bravo Trio Travel System.
- Best for Twins: Graco DuoGlider Click Connect Stroller.
- Best for Travel: Safety 1st Smooth Ride Travel System.
Q: Which is a better stroller or pram?
A: Pram is sturdy and can’t be folded flat that is basically used to carry newborns and younger babies while they are lying down. However, a stroller is lighter than a pram and used for kids.
Q: When can the baby use a regular stroller?
A: Baby can sit in a stroller when they can support their own head. every baby is unique so it may vary.
BATHTUB
Mostly kids like to play in the water especially bath time. A bathtub is an appropriate place to bathe the baby and of course, your newborn baby will enjoy bathing in the bathtub without any risks in your presence. it helps the mother to bathe the baby and you also put some toys in the bathtub. sometimes it’s risky to bathe your baby in your arms for bathing on your own. splish-splash! Babies like to play with water.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long should a child stay in the bath?
A: It is dangerous to leave your child in a bathtub for a long time even if your baby loves the water. Excess of Water can also dry out your baby’s skin and even worse that cause hyperthermia. Bath time should be 5 to 10 minutes for babies.
Q: How old should a baby be for their first bath?
A: You can give your newborn a sponge bath after 24 hours. There is no need to bathe your baby daily until the umbilical cord is healed.
Q: Do you really need a baby tub?
A: It is not necessary for younger babies. You can bathe your newborn on your lap. you can use a bathtub when she is able to sit on her own. She will enjoy splish and splash on her own.
Q: How can I take a bath without a tub?
A: You can take a shower instead of a bathtub. You can install a small shower for your baby.
Q: How do I bathe my 1-year-old in the bathtub?
A: Fill your bathtub half with cold water and a half with warm water, you should make sure that it is not too hot or too warm, maintain the normal temperature. Then check the water before placing your child in it.
POTTY SYSTEM
This is the most important thing and you need it most. It should be very handy so that kids could sit on their own. Potty training is very important for kids. As early you start as fast your kids will learn to do its own. There is no perfect age for potty training but you should start it after 18 months. Experts say that the average age of potty training is somewhere around 27 months. A good potty system is also important as well as potty training. kids should be attracted to this system and kids should feel comfortable, and safe to sit on it because they take a lot of time to do it at the beginning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is a normal age for a child to be potty trained?
A: There is no perfect age for potty training but most children start working on it between 18 months to 36 months. It also depends on the kid’s willingness and it varies from one kid to another. Doctors say that the average age of potty training is around 27 months.
Q: How do you potty train a child
A:
- follow simple instructions to train your child.
- Use a particular word or sign word about using the potty.
- Understand the sign of kids when they urge to pee or poop.
- Don’t wear a diaper to your kid for a long time and let it not be wet. It should be changed after 2 hours or more.
- Sit your kid in the potty system for enough time, and then get off the potty.
- get to the potty, sit on it for enough time, and then get off the potty.
Q: How long is potty training?
A: It takes about three to six months to potty train a child when he is ready. Research says that 98 percent of an average child gets trained at the age of 3 years.
Q: Should a child be potty trained by 4?
A: The American Association of Pediatrics reports says that early potty training takes more time like kids who begin potty training at 18 months are generally not fully trained until age 4, while kids who start training at age 2 are generally fully trained by age 3. Many kids will not master bowel movements on the toilet until well into their fourth year.
Q: Is it normal for a 3-year-old not to be potty trained?
A: Yes, but research says that 40 to 60 percent’s kids are fully toilet-trained by 36 months. However many kids show interest in it at 2 years old.
BREAST PUMP & CHILDPROOFING KIT
A Childproofing kit is very important when your child starts walking. Childs are always in a hurry and they hurt their body parts with sharp corners. Sometimes it becomes too dangerous for your kid so you have to be very careful. This childproofing kit gives you full relief and saves your child from sharp corners. This kit comes with 34 pieces that have corner protectors, cabinet locks, and outlet caps. It makes your house safe for your baby and protects them from hazardous things.
A breast pump is an essential thing for working mothers who feed their babies. If you do a job throughout the day then you can store your breast milk with the help of a breast pump and feed your baby when you are not at home. A newborn baby feed after every hour so it is difficult to awake the whole night for a mother but a breast pump can solve this problem. You can store breast milk before going to bed at night and your husband can wake up to feed the baby while you are taking your sound sleep.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do you have to clean your breast pump after each use?
A: Yes, you should clean their parts such as bottles, valves, and breast shields after each use. You cannot completely sterilize the breast pump at home.
Q: Can I pump into the same bottle all day?
A: Yes. You can pump fresh milk in a bottle of already refrigerated pumped milk. You can put fresh breast milk into the refrigerator for 30 minutes to an hour then you add this to another refrigerated milk.
Q: How long does breast milk last in the fridge?
A: A fresh pumped milk can be stored up to 4 hours at room temperature and in the refrigerator, you can store it up to 4 days. You can also freeze it for about 6 months.
Q: How can I keep my baby safe in the house?
A: You should cover all the sharp corners and furniture edges with safety padding. Use safety plugs to cover all the open outlets. You should use a childproofing kit to protect your babies. This kit has corner protectors, cabinet locks, and outlet caps that make your house safe for your child.
NAIL TRIMMER
Baby’s nails are too soft to handle with care. In the early days, Baby nails grow very fast so you need to trim their nails every week. If you do not so then they will scratch their face, hurt their nose and other body parts very badly. So, you need an appropriately sized nail trimmer and You should very careful when you are going to cut your baby nails for the first time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do you really need baby nail clippers?
A: Baby nails grow quickly and large nails are hazardous for babies. You should keep your baby’s nails clean and trimmed to prevent bacteria. You can also trim your baby nails with scissors that have blunt rounded tips or baby nail clippers.
Q: How often should I cut my child’s nails?
A: fingernails grow fast so you need to cut them once in a week. While toenails grow slowly so you can cut it within two weeks.
Q: Is it better to cut your nails wet or dry?
A: You should cut your baby’s nails when they are dry. Wet nails are soft and they are susceptible to infection. it may be bend or tear and not cut smoothly so always cut baby nails when they are dry and they will give you a cleaner and smoother cut.
BABY EAR & NOSE CLEANER
Baby’s ear and nose are delicate parts of their body so you should very careful when you are cleaning this. When babies get cold their nose is blocked that causes discomfort for breathing and they will cry. The doctor recommends to every parent to clean your baby nose daily to avoid the discomfort of a stuffy nose. But ear cleaning is not required daily. Ear wax prevents your baby’s ear from the dust particles but too much wax will irritate your baby and it should be clean from time to time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q; How do I clean my baby’s ear and nose?
A:
- Use cotton balls to clean your baby’s ears and nose.
- Soak it in warm water and clean your baby’s face properly.
- Then use a fresh cotton ball for each eye and nose.
Q: How do I protect my baby’s ears while bathing?
A: You can wash the outer part of your baby ‘s ear with a washed cloth. Don’t use cotton balls inside the ear.
Q: Can the baby’s ears get wet in Bath?
A: Yes. It’s ok. Normal water does not harm your baby’s ear. You can gently turn his head to the side and let the water out. Then use a soft towel for drying the year outside.
BODY WASH & SHAMPOO
Baby’s skin is so soft so you should use a mild soap that doesn’t have any artificial fragrances, dyes, or detergents. You don’t need to bath your baby daily that may dry out their skin. If your kid is more active then you can bathe him daily. Organic and natural products are best for baby skin so you can try organic products. They don’t contain any artificial colors and scents that are harmful to baby skin. there are many brands of kid’s shampoo available in the market.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When should kids use shampoo?
A: Kids shampoo should be tear-free. Your child can use shampoo on her own when she is around 8 to 10 years old. You should not allow the younger child to use the soap alone because they can put the shampoo on her mouth and eyes that are harmful to their health.
Q: How often should kids bathe?
A: The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that the children at the age of 6 to 11 can bathe once or twice a week. They can also take frequent bathing if they get dirty from playing outside.
Q: Is it bad to bathe a toddler every night?
A: In summers, your child can bathe every night but in adult supervision at the age of 4. if your children have some skin problems then you can avoid bathing daily.