You’re now in your 28th -week of pregnancy with your belly out and about, welcome to your third trimester. I bet you’re experiencing some abdominal pain, fatigue, heartburn, varicose veins, stretch marks and some weird dreams – probably due to hormones.
The third trimester of your pregnancy is the best time to shop for all the items you need for yourself and the coming baby. According to statistics, new parents spend around $6,000 for baby items, but on average, about $2,000 is more than enough to cover necessary items. Let’s take a look at what you need.
Baby’s Clothes
More than just choosing between color blue and pink, shopping for baby clothes can be tricky. First, don’t dwell too much on newborn sizes. Babies tend to grow fast and they can easily outgrow those cute little clothes. Buy just the right number of newborn size clothes then the rest should be sized for 3-6 months old or 9 months old.
Also, take into consideration the weather and climate it will be born. It’s tempting to fill her closet with frilly dresses and cute tops but if she is born in the colder months you should buy appropriate clothing like some jacket and pants. In any case, you can just wait for your baby shower because mothers typically recieve a lot of baby clothes.
You’ll need to decide what type of diapers that you plan on using: disposable or cloth. Diapers are very common to receive at a shower so let everyone know what you’re planning. Diaper cakes have become staples of baby showers and you’ll want yours to have the right type.
Baby Books
You need books especially if you are a first-time parent. “What to Expect the First Year” is an excellent step by step on how life with a new baby can be. This book has been a best seller for years. Even if you are already a parent it’s a good idea to brush up on what’s coming.
Baby Care Essentials
Baby care essentials usually entail the basic items that need to give quality care for babies like diapers, rash cream, baby wipes, changing pads, baby oil, shampoo, bottles and many more. You should also prepare some sort of first aid kit fit for baby use like a digital thermometer, nasal saline drops, and infant Tylenol – it can help the baby if it gets a fever or when its teething.
Motherly Wardrobe
Buying the right size can be a little challenging because most moms don’t got back to their pre-pregnancy size instantly. Choose the size that you were during your second trimester because that will be about the size you will be right after delivering.
Your body is going to be changing even after you have the baby. You’ll be continuously producing milk and breastfeeding the baby. You can buy anything you want as long as it makes you easy to move and comfortable. There are shirts and bras that are made specifically for breastfeeding your baby.
Breastfeeding Supplies
Your body won’t be back to its pre-pregnant form immediately, at least not your breasts. It will keep producing milk 24/7 as long as you keep breastfeeding. One of the items that should belong to your third-trimester shopping list is your feeding supplies.
For your baby, you should include bibs for spit-up, nursing pillows to comfortably support your child when feeding. And after you feed, you need some nipple cream because that area can get sore and uncomfortable. A breast pump is recommended because it can get painful if too much milk is stored in your breast.
Nursery
Apart from your womb, your baby is going to spend a good amount of time in his or her own nursery, so it’s important to have it done, installed and safe. The basic items found in nurseries are a crib, mattress, crib sheet, your nursing chair and pillow (make sure it’s comfortable for you), and changing table. Make sure to buy quality furniture because they pose tipping hazards and sometimes can injury a child. Do research about the most appropriate nursery items that will work for you and your baby. Be aware of the recalls and ask for practical advice from other parents.
