#parenting essentials

Sleeping Place

Some basic rules to follow: The only thing that goes in a newborn’s bed is an appropriately sized and shaped mattress, a fitted sheet, and the baby. Absolutely NO toys (especially plush ones), sleep positioners and heavy, loose blankets. Even light loose blankets are considered a bad idea. Best bedtime practice is to make sure the baby themselves are wearing warm enough clothes such as sleepers, swaddlers and sleep sacks. And, of course, Back is Best. 

Additional resources: CDC | FDA (sleep positioners/Products that claim to prevent SIDS) | 2016 AAP reccomendations (including mattteress reccomendations)

Cradles: Cradles are only good for the first 3 months, but are very convenient for a highly portable sleep solution that allows the baby to sleep comfortably while close at hand. They come in a few different types from the short lived cardboard box variety distributed in Finland to the more permanent traditional wooden rocker type. There’s also the high standing cradlers by brands like fisher prices where the baby is strapped in. There are also co-sleepers designed to be used in the bed with the parents which prevent the baby from accidentally getting caught up in bedding or the parents accidentally rolling over on them.

Bassinets: Good for about 6 months (ish...), bassinets are bigger and less portable than cradles, but are still more space saving and portable than cribs. there are less varieties in types with these than there are with cradles and therefore come in more standard sizes and shapes, making it easier to find bedding that will fit it properly. Bassinets do still have some variety from the more traditional free-standing type to the co-sleeper which attaches or fits around a standard bed. When choosing from co-sleepers be sure to look at the way it attaches to the bed. Co-sleepers like the Arm’s Reach usually needs you to have a box spring to attach it properly, where the Summer Halo Co-Sleeper doesn’t need to attach to the bed but is incompatible with typical box beds.

Portable & Mini Cribs: These are typically the same size so I’ll talk about them together. Smaller than typical cribs, and in the case of the portable, can be put away during the day if you don’t have a lot of space, these are great if you have limited space or have twins as they’re typically cheaper than standard cribs. They both use (and often come with) thin mattress pads that can be replaced with more substantial mattresses (guidelines for mattress size would be with the crib instructions though most use a standard mini-crib mattress size). The drawback is that while these days most cribs at LEAST convert to toddler beds, a portacrib is only good until age 3 at the MOST (and even then, use with caution after 2. Kids are terrifying) and a minicrib that converts is really only useful until age 4, max, unless your kid is smaller than average. What you lose in functionality you gain in space saving, though, so it’s a worthy competitor. Some mini cribs to convert to twin sized beds, make sure you read all literature on the bed you’re considering to be sure what you’re getting.

Standard Cribs: The most common baby-bedding solution with a variety of options that change it’s longevity. Drop side cribs are no more and were recalled years ago so all cribs mentioned are fixed-side cribs. Cribs come in different types of materials (usually woods) that offer different levels of durability. The longer you intend to use the crib, the hardier a wood you should choose.

Important note: These typically do NOT come with mattresses and you are expected to purchase one separately, so I’ll go into detail about them separately further down the post.

Island Cribs: Most basic kind of crib so far as features go, but not a very common type due to it’s lack of versatility. Most of these are either just a infant sleeper but some are 2-in-One (which i’ll go into detail on below) so make sure you look at all the info on the crib to be sure of what you’re getting. Island cribs are the same height on all sides so they can be placed anywhere in the room including the center.

2-in-One: More common than the island cribs are the Sleigh Cribs, which are also typically both infant and toddler beds (make sure to check all literature on the crib to be sure, though as every brand makes their own decisions). Most brands sell their own conversion kits for these and you typically cannot find a generic “one size fits all” toddler rail for cribs (most that did exist a few years ago were recalled) so be sure to order a toddler rail when you order the crib. Often (but not always) the toddler rails also function as bed stabilizers and must be used if the bed is being used as a toddler bed.

Lifetime Cribs: Also called 3-in-One or 4-in-One Cribs, if you’re looking for something where you’ll never have to replace the furniture, this is a worthwhile option to look into. Lifetime Cribs convert from infant cribs, to toddler cribs, into standard fullsized beds. One of the main things to consider when selecting a lifetime crib is wood type as pine is much less durable and won’t last as long as rubber/poplar or other hardwood. 

Mattresses: Infant and toddler mattresses have different standards. Toddler mattresses are soft, but infant mattresses must be firm to help prevent crib death and other injuries (AAP). Therefore, there are three types of mattresses one can typically find in any retail shops that sells baby bedding: Infant, toddler, and 2-in-One. Infant mattresses are firmer than 150 coil count, toddler mattresses are less, and the 2-in-ones are designed to be infant on one side but toddler on the other. Each will have the firmness rating on the mattress. Toddler mattresses are cheapest so it’s very tempting for poorer parents to use these for their newborns but I must stress how vital it is that you use a firmer mattress for a newborn. This is a matter of life and death.

Baby Clothes!

Baby Clothes! So cute! So Small! And there are so many. I know there’s a lot of choices but here’s what you really need: Onsies and sleepwear. ProTip: I typically recommend people avoid newborn sized clothes. 0-3m or 3m clothes fit most newborns perfectly fine. The only exception is with preemies. Then snatch up some newborn stuff because you’ll need it.

Onsies are you main need, and you’ll need a lot. Luckily, they often come cheap. Don’t let high end boutiques fool you, Gerber packs of onsies are great and you can get a lot for very little. Carter’s is another very good brand. A little pricier, but they clean up nicer and they tend to stretch a little as the baby grows so you get more use out of them.

As for sleepwear, this is more varied and depends on the climate that you live in. For newborns, I highly reccomend sleep sacks and swaddlers.

Sleep sacks come in various types, can be sleeveless, sleeved, or have swaddle wings. Waht they have in common is that they’re looser around the legs so their ideal for babies that don’t like to be tightly swaddles or like to have kicking space. These are also one of the most reccomended alternatives to loose blankets in the bed and can be gotten in a light or heavy fabric to suit the envirnment the baby is sleeping in.

Swaddlers replace typical receiving blankets and are considered somewhat safer because there’s less room for error. Instead of having to learn to do a burrito fold, you use snaps to get a new baby all nice and snug. These are also highly recommended as an alternative to loose blankets in the bed and have the added bonus of keeping the infant mostly immobilized which also makes it less likely they’ll flip on their stomachs or something equally terrifying during the night (and trust me, they can. My kid did it when she was 3 days old. BE PREPARED).

Gowns and Footie pajamas: These are more traditional infant sleepwear and can still be super useful so don’t disregard them outright, especially as with the footie pajamas they can be used in combination with the above sleep sacks (though I reccomend using the swaddlers without any clothing under).

Gowns are super useful as you can just pull them up to change a diaper without getting the baby undressed so SUPER helpful. Also, then the baby kind of looks like Maggie Simpson so double yay,

Footie Sleepers are great because they keep the baby warm. Most for small babies have snaps on the bottom so again, no need to completely undress the baby to change a diaper.

Feeding

Whether you’re planning to formula or breast feed, there are some items to consider. Obviously the cheapest choice, as well as typically the most recommended, is to breastfeed. That’s not always possible so formula is also readily available. With breastfeeding there are some constants but depending on whether you’re a stay-at-home parent or work 60 hours a week, there’s different options you should consider. Formula is more consistent in how you deal with it regardless of lifestyle.

To Heat or Not To Heat

Traditionally speaking, a warm bottle is best, but every baby is different so it’s up to the parents. Pay attention to what makes baby happier and go with that. How to heat the bottle is a bigger question. First of all, never use a microwave. I’m not talking radioactive milk conspiracy theories, but the simple fact is that microwaves can unevenly heat the liquid and create scalding hot spots within the milk that can severely burn the baby. You can use a bottle warmer, but the cheapest method is to stand the bottle in a bowl and fill said bowl with hot water, letting the bottle sit until it’s warm enough. If you’re using glass bottles (only recommended until the baby has the motor skills to handle the bottle on their own) you can do the age old “bottle in a heating saucepan” trick. The only real bonus to a bottle warmer is that they’re faster than any of the old school methods. If the baby really likes the bottles warmed, and you don’t have the patience for any of the warm water methods, First Years has a simple warmer for under $30.

Bottles

For most babies, if you’re formula feeding, you can use just about any kind of baby bottle on the market. If the baby isn’t happy using the standard Gerber bottles, though, there’s many different types of wide bottles designed to mimic the sensation of latching onto a breast. These are usually more expensive, but they have their benefits.

Colic Bottles: Damned near every bottle claims to reduce colic, but for a truly colic-y baby the two best recommendations are the Playtex nursers with the disposable bags, or the bottles with the colic straw attachments inside (Dr. Browns is the most recommended brand, but Tommee Tippee is another brand that uses the colic straw). These bottles reduce the amount of air the baby is swallowing, reducing gas and indigestion.

Breastfeeding: The Basics

Lanolin: An ointment that’s great for healing up sores and is baby safe, lanolin is something I recommend to anyone having a new baby, especially if they’re breastfeeding. Nursing can be painful at times, causing cracks and sores to appear on the nipple. Lanolin is great for healing those up. It’s also good if you’re not actively nursing to deal with nipple irritation before and after giving birth. It’s inexpensive and can make the whole experience of breastfeeding much better,

Breast Pads: ProTip: If you’re nursing, every-time you hear a baby cry you may start automatically leaking.You’ll also leak throughout the day, and it can be enough to go right through your bra and top. Pretty embarrassing. Breast pads go in the bra and absorb all that milk to prevent embarrassment. They can also help protect your nipples from painful rubbing against the material of your bra. They come in two main varieties: Disposable and washable. The washable kinds are usually cotton but I’ve also seen bamboo. the washable are similar to the kind of material most basic menstrual pads are made from and sometimes have an adhesive backing to help keep them in place. Either way you go is a good idea, though the washable kind have the benefit of being cheaper in the long run (though I recommend buying at least 3 pairs so you have a set to swap in on a longer day). An alternative would be breastmilk cups. These are like shields that go over the nipple and instead of absorbing milk to be tossed away, it catches the milk to be dumped in a milk bottle. Due to guidelines regarding how breastmilk should be properly stored, this may not work in all cases or for all people.

Breastpumps: Pumps range from “Single, manual pump” to “double electric”. If you’re planning on only breastfeeding for the first few months, you can rent a pump from certain places. Otherwise, depending on how often you’re out of the house, there’s a lot of different options to choose from. If you’re an at-home-parent and will happily breastfeed in public, a manual pump is the cheapest option and may work for you. If you’re not down for or capable of doing all that tedious hand pumping, then the next step up is a single electric pump. If you work fulltime or are away from the baby most of the day, however, then I really recommend a double electric pump, possibly with a pumping bra. Medela sells them with a carrying bag and all the peripherals like bottles, ice pack, etc. It’s a lot, but it’s the most convenient way to get everything to and from home as well as making sure you’re pumping enough for the baby,.

If you’re having a hard, there are other breastfeeding aids that may be helpful. Inverted nipples, or lanolin isn’t doing enough to deal with the damage of nursing? Get a nursing shield. Makes it easier for baby to latch on and protects your nipples from their hard little gumbs. Painful blockages or just generally sore breasts? Heating pads help clear up blockages and ice pads help with general soreness. Lansinoh, a major breastfeeding aid brand, sells a nice hot/cold gel pad that goes in the bra and cups around the breasts for this very purpose. There are many other products that may help as well. Talk to your midwife/OB about any concerns you have and they’ll recommend various things to you.

Special Note on Bottles: Unlike formula feeding, with breastfeeding using bottles can make it hard to continue nursing directly from the breast. Reducing bottle feeding as much as possible is recommended but that’s not always practical. Using wider bottles with nipples designed to simulate the actual breast is the best route to go in that case to try and prevent latching problems later on. The softer the nipple, the better.

Diapering

This one is pretty simple, you NEED diapers.The most common way to do this is disposable diapers, with the big two brands being Huggies and Pampers. The issue is that diapers are also incredibly expensive. for a single baby diapers can cost about $40-$60 per month, depending on how often they poo/pee. The alternative, however, gross most parents out enough they won’t even consider it. However, if you’re strapped for cash and looking to cut corners wherever possible, washable diapers may be the way to go.

Washable Diapers

When most people think of reusable diapers, they probably imagine the white rag pinned together. Times have changed, however, and we’ve moved onto reusable diapers that looks and work a little more like the disposables most people are used to using,

Not only are reusable diapers more cost effective, but as most use snaps, they’re often also one size fits all, meaning you can end up needing only about 12 or so to get through until the baby starts potty training. They use inserts to absorb pee and a wet bag for any used diapers. If you have a washer and dryer at home, this may be the best option for cutting costs.

Disposable Diapers

The by far most popular, but also most expensive method, disposables are the far more convenient option. The two main brands are of course Pampers and Huggies, with Luvs functioning as the cheaper alternative. However, if your baby is prone to diaper rash, you may need to resort to more expensive brands like Seventh Generation, which are chlorine-free. The most cost effective way to buy diapers is to buy the biggest box possible. Also, diaper sizes overlap.For example, size 1 diapers go from 8-14lbs, and size 2 is 12-18lbs. The most cost effective way to go about buying diapers is to go up to the next size asap. Babies grow fast, a 12lbs baby may very well grow out of size 1 well before you’ve finished the box, leaving you with 100 diapers you can no longer use. Once the baby can wear the next size up, jump right up to that size and save yo money. ProTip: Just like clothes, limit your purchasing of newborn diapers. Most babies are born in the 6lbs-7lbs range, and size 1 starts at 8lbs. Buying too many NB diapers can result in a huge waste of money. You may not even wanna get diapers until the baby is actually here and you know exactly how big they are (ex: My daughter was born 8.5 lbs. If we’d bought NB size diapers they would have been useless).

Diapering Peripherals

Diaper-rash cream and A+D ointment are must haves in the diaper bag. A+D can help prevent a breakout, rash cream deals with a breakout that’s already underway.

Wipes are just about as necessary as diapers, especially as many parents often end up using them for a lot more than baby bottoms.You CAN use washable rags for wipes, but much like reusable diapers, while it may be more cost effective, you really have to decide how badly you want to deal with having to wash poo covered fabric on a daily basis. When is comes to disposables, the most cost effective way to deal with it is to buy the biggest box of your chosen type, much like diapers.

Bathing

Toiletries: Baby shampoo and baby body wash. Boom. You’re done unless the baby has special needs, in which case your pediatrician will recommend anything you need.

Bather: There’s a lot of tubs and whatnot on the market. If you have little space, however, the idea of trying to store a whole baby tub somewhere and seem daunting. Instead, consider sink bathers for the first few months. Depending on the size of your kitchen sink, a foam flower or mesh bath sling might do the trick. Don’t have a big kitchen sink? Try a small bath seat for the shower/tub instead.Not only are they smaller, but they’re also often cheaper.

Travel Gear

From car seats to strollers to wearable baby carriers, this is probably one of the most overwhelming aspects of baby prep. Store reps and baby sites will try to push the most expensive new thing at you regardless of what your personal needs are. The thing is, none of them are one size fits all, so going forward armed with some info can go a long way in defending your peace of mind and your wallet.

Car Seats

There are a bunch of different kinds of car seats for different stages in a child's life (going up to age 10!) and life styles. For example, if you get around primarily by your own car it may make more sense to go with an all on one car seat that goes from infant to toddler. There are even some that go up past toddler age and become booster seats so you could get away with never again having to buy a car seat, or being able to buy cheaper car seats as you family grows.

Some Key Details: Car Seats expire after 7 years from manufacturers date. Most kids don’t need a car seat after age 7 but a smaller child may require a car seat for longer so this should be considered in selecting the best seat for your family. Also, The CDC guidelines insist that children remain rear facing until 2 years of age if possible, so the carseat with the highest rear-facing weight rating (35-40lbs) is usually best. Also, no rear facing car seats in the front seat, even with air bags turned off. Last thing: NEVER PLACE A BABY IN A HEAVY COAT IN A CAR SEAT. This is extremely dangerous as it prevents the baby from fitting properly in the straps. There are car seat safe options from keeping baby warm for different types of cold weather.

Car seats should replaced after any kind of accident.

Types of Car Seats:

Infant Car Seats: Also called “bucket seats,” these can be bought separately or with a travel system (car seat + stroller combo) these are the most common car seats you'll see people using for newborns. They’re super convenient as most are designed to fit onto strollers, have handles so they double as infant carriers, and have rounded bottoms so they also work as a floor rocker. They come with a detachable base that is designed to stay in the car. If you own a car and aren’t very mechanically savvy, this may be the best option as the base is only installed once with the seat popped in and out of it. If you don’t own a car, however, it can kind of be a pain in the butt. In that case, choose one with hooks* on the seat itself. The base+seat system is also convenient for multiple car households, or if you have a regular caretaker (like a grandparent or aunt/uncle) who has a car. Instead of them having to take a whole big set up or something like that, they can just get another compatible base for the car (usually costing about $50-$70).However, they’re also very limited as they’re rear facing ONLY and most only go up to 30lbs, with Gracos going up to 35llbs.

2-in-one (rear to forward facing): These are often called convertable car seats but as that can mean a lot of different things I’m gonna be more specific in naming them. Convertible car seats do NOT fit onto strollers. I often recommended this type as a secondary car seat if the family had two cars or multiple kids. They come in various price ranges and typically go up to 30-35lbs rear facing and 50lbs up to about 65lbs front facing. The more you spend, the more use you’ll usually get out of it as the better ones go up to 40lbs rear facing (to accommodate up to 2 years old as is the recommendation) & 70lbs forward facing. These can typically be used from newborn (with an accompanying insert) to about 4 years old (the minimum age usually recommended for a booster seat) or even 5 if the seat has a high enough weight rating. The downside is that as far as width and rear-facing these are huge car seats, so make sure you have enough back seat space if you plan to use these. There are some designed to adjust and shift for best fit in the car (such as the Chicco NextFit) and may be a better fit, but they also usually cost more so that’s the trade-off.

3-in-One (rear-facing, forward facing and high back booster): If you want a car seat that’s gonna last a really long time, this is a good choice. they do everything the 2-in-Ones do but also have adjustment hooks on the backrest to accommodate a child from about 4 to 8 years old as a booster seat. Downsides? These are big seats and you’ll usually only be able to fit two of them or one and a another person in the back of a midsized sedan. Also, you MUST use the anchor hooks (standard in most modern cars) to latch the seat in as the weight of the seat + the child hitting the seatbelt in the event of a crash could lead to sever, even fatal, injuries. However, by using the latch hooks, it also better secures the seat down so a child climbing in and out on their own won’t knock the seat around which keeps it perfectly centered in the seat, a feature most boosters don’t have.

All-in-One: The Holy Grail of convertible car seats. If you want to buy one car seat and be done, this is the best car seat to go with. Made by Graco (and no other brand so far as I can find, correct me if I’m wrong), these things are rear facing, forward facing, high back booster and backless booster. This is literally all you need to get one kid from birth to about 8-10 years old (depending on the child’s height and weight). Drawback: it’s not necessarily the most practical car seat if your having more than two kids close together, they’re big car seats like the above mentioned convertible car seats (though they do pivot so rear-facing they’re more accommodating than most other convertibles.

*I mentioned hooks on infant carseats before. These are different from latch-hooks (which on an infant carseat are attached to the base) and look like this:

They’re found on the side of the seat and are designed to be used if you don’t have the base with you. These are not as secure as using the base set up, but are better than nothing if you find yourself making an unexpected car trip without your base. There’s a hook on each side and you slide the seat belts through the hook. Again, these aren’t ideal, but better than nothing in the event of a crash.

Strollers

Are you a runner? A walker? A “please god don’t make me carry this 50lbs thing up the stairs”er? Strollers are one of those things that can run you anywhere from $100 to $1200 very quickly. Knowing what you need will help keep you from being swayed by an over eager sales person as well as parental guilt over not getting the “best new thing”.

Standard Strollers: This is the most basic stroller you see on the street, the mid-sized sedan of strollers. On average weighing about 30lbs with, 4 wheels, canopy, blah blah blah. This is also the most standard type of stroller found in a travel system (carseat/stroller combo) and is pretty basic. If you own a car or at least take one everywhere you go, this is a pretty fine stroller. If you take public transit everywhere you go everyone hates you if you have this or a bigger stroller. Everyone forever.

Three-Wheel Strollers: Not talking the joggers, but they have a similar level of maneuverability. Like a cross between the standard and the lightweight stroller, these are usually about 16-20 lbs, are usually very easy to fold with one hand, and can typically be steered one handed. These are perfect urban traversers for newborns so long as they lay all the way flat back, otherwise you must use a car seat with them. The best ones have the fold release in the seat, meaning you can snap it closed then jump on the bus immediately. Since they’re relatively lightweight, most women will be able to carry them and the baby with relative ease. Their main drawback is that, since they only have one wheel in the front, without a carseat weighing down the front, these things typically can’t take having much stuff hanging on the back like standard strollers can.

Joggers: The three-wheel that’s not light at all, joggers are often weighting from 35-40 lbs, depending on the style you get. Very maneuverable with very large, bicycle tires, joggers are best for people who walk or run everywhere. They’re horrible for public transit and can be a pain for fitting into small aisles. However, they also usually have a lot of carrying space and give a very smooth ride, taking most typical road obstacle in stride. Keep a bike pump on hand and make sure not to go too cheap. Graco joggers are good, but cheap brands like Baby Trend tend to fall apart quickly.

Modular:  One of the most sought after styles of stroller, The modular stroller is good for those who have a lot of space in their homes to stow unused stroller parts. “Modular” means the seat is detachable, can be faced forward or backwards, and often, that the seat can be left off entirely to use the frame with just an infant car-seat. This means you have a more standard option as well as a lightweight option in one stroller. However, for a long time they were only found in the $500 and up range, and that was the base price. You’d have to buy all the other parts separately including a car seat adapter and infant car seat if you wanted to use it as a travel system (as most do). However, with the introduction of the Graco Modes, they became far more accessible to the average family. Keep in mind, they still run $400 as travel systems, but you don’t have to buy all the pieces separately, everything you need right in the box including an infant car seat. It however doesn’t have some of the luxury peripherals the more expensive stroller have such as an infant carry cot or a bassinet.

Lightweight: Since this is meant to be a newborn guide, I’m excluding umbrella strollers from this. Lightweight strollers that can be used for newborns (meaning they lay all the way flat back) range from about 14-20lbs in weight, usually have a small under carriage space, and are much narrower than the standard sized strollers making them ideal for shopping trips to more cramped stores or areas. The best ones fold and lock one handed for easy getting on the bus, and are much easier carrying down a flight of stairs alone or in an elevator than bulkier strollers. Often people like to cite brands such as MacLaren as being the best for lightweight strollers, and for certain you typically get the lightest weight with the most functionality. However, Chicco, Summer Infant, Graco and Evezo all have highly rated strollers that lay all the way back for less than $100. If you have a little more to spend, Graco also has a stroller that’s in the same price range as MacLaren, that also takes a Graco Click Connect Car Seat.

ProTip: A lot of strollers claim to be infant strollers, but that’s only because you can use an infant car seat with them. If you don’t plan to use an infant car seat constantly in the stroller for the first 3 months, makes sure the stroller itself lays nearly all the way flat. A slight incline is fine, and in fact helps prevent the baby from choking on spit-up, but 45 degrees or more is way too much. Even expensive strollers do this, so don’t assume that just because you’re spending a lot you’re automatically getting a better stroller for what you need.

Infant Carriers

Hands-free, urban environment and public transit friendly, baby wearing is typically seen as the most viable options for parents on the move. There’s a lot of truth to this, depending on how long you’re out and about for, baby-wearing is a great alternative to dealing with a lot of heavy baby gear. I will point out, however, that even with the most pricey carrier, babies get HEAVY. Finding the right carrier for you can be a a trial, especially as most stores don’t want to let you try stuff on. This can be especially annoying if you’re heavy. Also, carrier trends are like fashion trends where everyone is quick to jump on a bandwagon and swear up and down it’s the best thing ever, making it difficult to figure out which is the best for you.

Standard Buckle Carriers: This is were the most basic carrier you’ll see on the street goes. They’re your Infantino and Chicco carriers.They have a very basic shape, this padding covered in mesh baby holder with a lumbar support belt (designed to shift weight down to the hips and off the back), a strap for each shoulder, and a clip to connect the straps. Most of these style are designed to be worn on the front, baby facing in or out, and the back, but not all do this. Also, weight ranges very and most aren’t designed for babies under a month old so keep that in mind when selecting one.in the lower price range, you’ll typically be able to get a carrier that goes up to about 25lbs, where in the upper ranges which include ErgoBaby Classic carriers, they get up to about 45lbs. That might sound excessive, but the ErgoBabies in particular are pretty modular, turning into hip slings, so it could be worth it for you. Also, when putting it on, make sure the waist belt is snug and right above the hips to ensure proper weight distribution. Another thing to look out for: These are mostly designed for “average” sized people, meaning you may have some trouble if you shop in the big and tall section. I’m personally a dress size 20 and busty and can usually fit these, but my husband just barely fit when he was a 3XL.

Wrap Carriers: Are confident are your wrapping and knotting skills? Great? This may be the carrier for you! Feedback over the years informs me these are some of the most natural feeling carriers, with people telling me it’s just like being 10 or 11 months pregnant without the morning sickness, making these a great option for carrying right after birth and newborn babies. Also, they’re long, somewhat stretchy, swaths of cloth meaning it’s possible to find one that would be usable for those in the upper sizes. These are again very modular types of carriers and can be adjusted to carry a baby facing in, facing out, and on the back and eventually on the hip for a toddler, much like the ErgoBaby, but at a quarter of the cost in most cases.

Baby Wearing International has a better, more comprehensive list than I do on this matter so it’s worth checking them out.

ProTip: Just gave birth? Maybe don’t try to wear the baby right away and let yourself heal. New baby needs some time before going out into the world as well. Take the first couple weeks to rest, recuperate and bond.After about a week or two, depending on how your’re recovering, you can wear the baby around the house. If you’re wearing the wrap style carrier, you can do this with skin to skin contact, which is a great way to bond.

Everything not listed here are things that might be convenient or nice to have, but not what I consider necessities for a brand new baby. The main point of this guide was to make it so even cash-strapped new parents could feel like they had options, and tight budget or not, could go baby item hunting without getting so overwhelmed by all the option.