Read What to Expect the First Year Online
Authors: Heidi Murkoff
What to Expect the First Year (13 page)
A pacifier.
It's not technically a feeding supply, but it will satisfy your baby's between-feed sucking needs. Plus, pacifiers are suggested for use during sleep, since they have been shown to reduce the risk of SIDS. There are plenty of styles and sizes to choose fromâdifferent babies show a preference for different pacis, so be prepared to switch around to find your little one's favorite.
There are the standard-shaped pacifiers with a straight, elongated nipple, the orthodontic pacifiers, which have a rounded top and a flat bottom, and the “cherry” nipples, which have a trunk that becomes ball shaped toward the end. The nipples themselves can be made of silicone or latex. Some reasons to opt for silicone: It's sturdier, longer-lasting, doesn't retain odors, and is top-rack dishwasher safe. Latex, while softer and more flexible, deteriorates faster, wears out sooner, can be chomped through by baby teeth, and isn't dishwasher safe. Babies (like adults) can also be sensitive to or allergic to latex.
There are some one-piece pacifiers entirely made out of latex, but most pacifiers have plastic shields, usually with ventilation holes on them. The shields can be different colors (or transparent) and differently shaped (butterfly, oval, round, and so on). Some shields curve toward the mouth and others are flat. Some pacifiers have rings on the back, while others have “buttons.” Ring handles make the paci easier to retrieve, but button handles may make it easier for your baby to grasp the pacifier. There are pacifiers with handles that glow in the dark so they're easier to find at night.
Some pacifiers have a built-in cover that automatically snaps closed if the pacifier is dropped, others have snap-on caps to help the paci stay clean (though a cap is another thing to keep track ofâand you'll need to keep it away from baby because it's a choking hazard). And talking about hazards, remember: No matter how tempting it is to attach the paci to your baby's clothesâespecially after the twelfth time it's slipped out of his or her mouth and onto the floorânever attach a cord or ribbon that's more than 6 inches long to a pacifier. Clips and shorter tethers designed for pacis are fine.
Breast or bottle will deliver all the nutritional goods to your baby for about the first 6 months, which means your bundle will be doing all of his or her eating in your arms at first. But while feeding seats won't be on your must-have list right away (and don't you already have enough on your must-have list?), it'll help to have a peek into your baby's feeding futureâand maybe even to register for those future needs now.
High chair.
You won't need a high chair until your baby starts opening wide for solids, usually at about 6 months. Even then, those first bites can be spooned up with baby in an infant seat. Still, next to the crib and the car seat, the high chair will probably get more use (and possibly abuse) than any other furnishing you buy for baby. You'll find a staggering number of models to choose from, with a variety of features. Some have adjustable height, others recline (which makes them perfect for feeding babies under 6 months), while still others fold up for storage. Some are made out of plastic or metal, others are made from wood. Some models have storage baskets underneath, others morph into toddler booster seats, and still others have dishwasher safe trays (a feature that you'll find priceless). Many have wheels for easy transport from kitchen to dining room to deck and back.
When choosing a high chair, look for a sturdy, nontip base, a tray that can be easily removed or locked in place with one hand, a seat back high enough to support baby's head, comfortable padding, safety straps that secure your little one across the hips and between the legs (it'll make it nearly impossible for your escape artist to break free), wheels that lock, a secure locking device if the chair folds, and no sharp edges.
Booster seat.
Booster seats are a nice-to-have for older babies and toddlers. They come as plastic chairs that strap onto a regular chair at the table (or stand alone on the floor) and hook-on styles that lock directly onto the table. Some can be used for babies as young as 6 months (or younger), others are a better fit for older babies and toddlers (boosters can become especially indispensable when an active little one starts resisting confinement in a high chair or begins coveting a seat at the big people's table). A booster (especially a clip-on type) can also be invaluable when you're visiting friends or family or dining at restaurants that don't provide seating that's appropriate or safe for your baby's size or stage of development. For ultimate portability, choose a clip-on chair that's lightweight and comes with a travel bag. Many boosters have adjustable seat levels and some have attachable trays. If your high chair is a multitasking one, it could transform into a booster seat that can be adjusted for different ages, sizes, stages, and table heights.
A newborn's needs are basic: a pair of loving arms to be cuddled and rocked in, a set of breasts (or a bottle) to feed from, and a safe place to sleep. In fact, many of the products, furnishings, and accessories marketed as nursery must-haves are really unneccessaries. Still, you'll be doing plenty of buying when it comes to baby's new roomâor,
if you'll be sharing, baby's corner of your room. Of course you'll want to fill your baby's nursery with an eye toward cuteness (even though the room's chief resident won't care much about whether the wallpaper matches the curtains), but you'll also want to keep both eyes on safety. Which means, among other things, a crib that meets current safety standards (many hand-me-down cribs, cradles, and bassinets don't), a changing table that won't take a tumble, and lead-free paint on everything.
Be sure to follow the manufacturer's directions for assembly, use, and maintenance of all items. Also, always send in your product registration card or register online so that you can be notified in case of a recall.
Crib.
Style matters, of course, but not as much as safety (see
box
), comfort, practicality, and durability, especially if you're hoping to reuse it for any future siblingsâassuming safety standards haven't changed again by then.
There are two basic types of cribsâstandard and convertible: Standard cribs can come with a hinged side to make it easier to lift baby out (don't confuse these with drop-side cribs, which were banned by the Consumer Product Safety Commission in 2010) and sometimes will have a drawer on the bottom for storage. A convertible crib, if it's built to last, can take your tiny newborn all the way to strapping teen, converting from a crib (sometimes even a mini-crib) to a toddler bed and then to a daybed or full-size bed. That's a lot of sweet dreams.
You should look for a crib that has a metal mattress support (which will withstand a jumping toddler better than wood will), adjustable mattress height so the mattress can be lowered as your baby grows, and casters (with a wheel lock) for mobility.
While most cribs are classic rectangles, some are oval or round shaped, offering a cocoonlike environment for your little one. Just keep in mind that you will need to buy a mattress, mattress
covers, and sheets made to fitâstandard sizes won't.
Crib mattress.
Because your baby will be sleeping on it a lot (hopefully), you'll want to make sure the crib mattress you select is not only safe and comfortable, but made to go the distance. There are two types of crib mattresses, innerspring and foam:
⢠An innerspring is the heavier of the two types of mattress, which means it will usually last longer, keep its shape better, and offer superior support. It's also more expensive than foam. A good (though not an absolute) rule of thumb when choosing an innerspring mattress is to look for one with a high number of coils. The higher the count (usually 150 or more), the firmer (and better quality, and safer) the mattress.
⢠A foam mattress is made of polyester or polyether, weighs less than an innerspring mattress (which means you'll have an easier time lifting it to change those sheets), and is generally less expensive (though it may not last as long). If you're buying foam, look for a mattress with high foam density, which will mean more support and safety for your baby.
The most important criteria in selecting a crib mattress? Safety. Make sure that the mattress is firm and fits snugly in the crib, with no more than two adult-finger widths between mattress and frame.
Fortunately, when it comes to crib safety, the government's got your backâand your baby's. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has made crib safety a top priority by setting strict standards for both manufacturers and retailers. These requirements include stronger mattress supports and crib slats, extremely durable crib hardware, and rigorous safety testing. Though you'll still want to take any crib you're considering through the checklist below, the CPSC standards should make crib safety assessment a lot simpler.
Here's how to make sure you're buying (or borrowing) a safe crib:
⢠The slats and corner posts of a crib should be no more than 2â
inches apart (smaller than the diameter of a regular soda can). Wider slats pose an entrapment danger for little heads.
⢠Corner posts should be flush with the end panels (or no more than 1/16 inch higher).
⢠Hardwareâbolts, screws, bracketsâshould be firmly secured, with no sharp edges or rough areas and no spots that can pinch or otherwise injure your baby. The crib's wood should be free of cracks or splits, and there shouldn't be any peeling paint.
⢠Standard-size mattresses for a full-size crib should be firm and at least 27¼ inches by 51â
inches and no more than 6 inches thick. Oval- or round-shaped cribs need a mattress specially designed to fit snugly.
⢠Make sure the mattress fits snugly against the inside of the crib. If you can fit more than two fingers between the mattress and the crib, the mattress isn't a good fit. (The harder it is for you to make the bed, the safer for your baby.)
⢠Never put plush toys or soft or loose bedding in the crib with your baby (even the adorable pillow and comforter that may come with the crib bedding set) because they can pose a suffocation hazard. The AAP also strongly advises against using bumper pads (even thin, breathable mesh ones or padded slat covers), since they may increase the risk of SIDS, suffocation, and entrapment.
⢠Don't use antiques or cribs more than 10 years old. It may be hard to pass up a passed-along, passed-down, or thrift store crib, but do. Older cribs (especially those made before 1973, but also some made from the 1980s through the early 2000s) may be chic, charming, or of great sentimental value (and value, too, if they're inexpensive or free), but they don't meet current safety standards. They might have slats that are too far apart, may have lead paint or cracked or splintered wood, may have been recalled (particularly drop-side cribs), or may pose other risks you might not even notice, such as unsafe corner posts.
Nothing makes a crib look cuter and comfier than a plush comforter and coordinated bumpers. But according to guidelines from the AAP (and a ban on sales in Maryland and in Chicago, with bans in other locations being considered), it's time to remake the traditional baby bedding set to include nothing but the fitted sheet. The only place that's safe for a baby under the age of one to sleep, say experts, is a firm surface free of blankets, comforters, pillows, stuffed animals, and yes, those bumpers. That's because bumpers and other bedding increases the risk for sleep-related deaths, including suffocation, entrapment, and SIDS. A young infant's head can all too easily become trapped between a fluffy bumper and a crib slat. Or a baby might roll over onto a blanket or stuffed animal or against a bumper and suffocate. Resourceful older babies and toddlers can also use a bumper as a leg up when trying to scale their crib walls.
Wondering about your little one's risk for injury without that bumper? No worries. A little bump on the head or trapped arm or foot is considered minor when stacked against the potentially life-threatening risks of using a bumper (even mesh “breathable” ones or those that attach individually to crib slats). So bump the bumpers from your baby's crib, along with the comforters and pillows. If they've come in a bedding set, you can use them to cleverly decorate your baby's room (bumpers can be strung along the wall, used as a window valance, or used to trim a hamper or changing table or to pad a sharp-edged table). Your baby will be safer for it.
Bassinet or cradle.
You can definitely skip these cozy crib alternatives and start using a crib from day one, but they can come in handy early on. For one thing, they're portableâmaking it easy to bring your snoozing sweetie with you no matter what room of the house you're in. Some can hit the road, too, folding neatly for travel and then setting up easily for safe sleeping and napping at grandma's or in a hotel room. For another, the snugger sleep space it provides may be more comforting to a newborn than the wide open spaces of a crib. Still another perk of the bassinet or cradle: Its height is usually fairly close to that of your bed, allowing you to reach over and comfort (or lift out) your baby in the middle of the night, without even getting out of your bed. Planning to have your infant room in with you in the early months (as recommended by the AAP for safer sleep;
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)? A bassinet or cradle will save space in your bedroom, compared with a crib.
If you're springing for a cradle or bassinet, look for a sturdy model with a wide and stable base. Also, make sure the sides of the bassinet or cradleâfrom the mattress (which should be firm and fit the interior securely) to the topâare at least 8 inches high. Wheels make it much easier to move from room to room, but they should come with locksâthe legs should lock securely, too, if it's a folding model. If there's a hood, it should fold back so you'll be able to transfer your sleeping baby easily from your arms into those cozy confines. And precious though they may be, steer clear of handcrafted or antique bassinets or cradlesâthey're just not safe. Any model you use should meet current safety standards.