Hey there, fellow moms-to-be! 👋 Are you feeling the excitement building as your due date draws nearer? Figuring out what to buy to prepare for your baby in Singapore can feel like a whirlwind of emotions and decisions. Navigating through the jungle of advice and well-meaning suggestions can be exhausting too. But don’t worry, I’ve got your back!
To cut through the overwhelm, I have compiled two lists:
- “What to Buy to Prepare for Baby – Absolute Essentials”
- “What to Buy for Prepare for Baby – Optionals”
For second list, these are products that you can opt to buy for your baby after your child’s arrival, when you have a better understanding of your child’s temperament and your new lifestyle. Let’s go!
What to Buy to Prepare for Baby – Absolute Essentials
1. Breast Pump
- According to WHO, you should breastfeed your baby for at least 12 months for optimum nutrition. Most mothers in Singapore opt to return to work post-delivery, hence this is the most important item to invest in!
- There are manual and electric pumps. I recommend electric pumps because mothers need all the rest you can get post baby delivery. Manual pumping takes a much longer time, while electric pumps can free your hands for other multi-tasks. This would be a life-saving feature for a busy mom managing several 30-45min pumping sessions a day, on top of needing to get other things done.
- Choose one that is as quiet as possible. Your mental peace (and health) would thank you for it. If you intend to express milk in your office or in public nursing rooms, go for a portable version.
See also: Breast Pumps: How to Choose the Right One
2. Nursing, Nursing Bras
- Nursing Bras: Regardless of size, our breasts would swell and be engorged with milk, stretching out the ligaments supporting our breast tissues. A good nursing bra that provides sufficient support is essential. Your back and chest will thank you later.
- Nursing Wear: Another must. No tired mom should be left fumbling with buttons with a crying newborn in tow. Good-looking and comfortable nursing wear is great for our moods and self-esteem too.
3. Feeding Bottles, Warmers, Breast Milk Storage Bottles and Bags
- Feeding Bottles: While latching experts often advise not to offer the bottle especially in the first week or so of the newborn’s life, so as to allow the baby to learn how to latch properly, a baby bottle is needed once mummy returns to work. Prior that, bottle-feeding allows Mummy to have a nursing break by engaging other family members to feed the baby on behalf. This promotes bonding between the baby and other care-givers in the household as well. Choose BPA free plastic.
- Bottle/Food Warmers: For warming up freshly thawed breast milk. Also for keeping the milk warm in case Baby did not manage to finish milk in one go.
- Milk Storage Bottles: For milk that has been recently expressed and kept in the fridge with intention that it will be fed to baby within 24hours. Choose glass or BPA free plastic that can withstand sterilisation by boiling, steaming and UV.
- Milk Storage Bags: For milk that you will store in the freezer. They are for one time use only. Choose food-grade plastic. Choose a bag volume size that is for your baby’s single feed, which is between 45-90ml.
4. Sterilisers
- The simplest and most cost effective sterilisation method is boiling. But for parents looking to keep their kitchens a little more organised, steam or UV sterilisers are great.
- Steam Steriliser: Do note that you would need to regularly clean the limestone buildup on the dish holding the water for steam creation. Some sterilisers do not come with in-built dryers, which are not helpful in my opinion. Bacteria will still grow in residual water droplets as the steriliser cools down, so you would need to take the bottle out to air-dry, defeating the purpose of wanting to have a more organised kitchen.
- UV steriliser: Do note they may shorten the life of your plastic feeding/milk storage bottles. The plastic yellows very quickly. They may also harden the feeding teats. Most baby toys cannot tank UV sterilisation. But personally I use a UV steriliser, so I do not have to deal with the limestone cleaning.
5. Diapers, Wet Wipes, Diaper Cream
- Diapers: Newborns ravage through at least 10 diapers a day. My newborn needed a diaper change every time she peed or pooped, which is about once every 1-2 hours.
- Wet Wipes: Consider stocking up as you would need them at least until end of toddler-hood.
- Diaper Cream: A newborn’s private area is very sensitive, so diaper rash would occur at some point, which is quite painful for the baby. Apply once private area appears a little red, to minimise an actual rash forming.
6. Baby Clothing
- Ah, the favourite item to shop for all mothers! As much as possible, go for more than 90% cotton material and preferably with zippers. Avoid ‘kimono-tie’ types, because although cute, they get unravelled rather easily and can be a potential hazard.
- Short Sleeved Onesies/ Rompers: if you do not sleep in an air-conditioned room/ for day-wear/ when newborn is swaddled
- Long Sleeved Rompers: if you sleep in an air-conditioned room
- Baby Hat: for scalp protection against Singapore’s hot sun
- Mittens: needed to prevent babies from scratching themselves
- Booties: as their feet tend to get cold in air-conditioning
7. Swaddles
- A swaddle mimics the environment that the baby was in when he/she was in the mother’s tummy. In my opinion, it is absolutely essential for the newborn as it reduces cognitive stress and helps the baby sleep better.
- There are cloth and zip-type swaddles. If you do not have the time (or patience) to learn how to swaddle a baby firmly, I recommend zip-up ones that are easy to use yet also keep your infant safe and snug.
8. Baby Bath Tub/Chair, Shampoo, Washcloth
- Bath Tub: Choose a tub that allows your baby to sit on her own with minimal support (the head and neck area). Some brands also come with a stand! Your neck and back will thank you later.
- Baby Chair: An alternative so that baby can comfortably lie on it while being lathered up, while allowing water to flow through drainage holes during rinse-off. The disadvantage is that your baby may feel a little cold if your bathroom has good airflow i.e. heat from heated water does not stay within the bathroom.
- Shampoo: The skin and scalp of a baby, especially of a newborn, is very delicate. No shampoo should be applied directly on the baby. Instead, it should be diluted in water as per instructions on the bottle, and using a wash cloth, dip it in the solution and gently wipe/pat over the baby. Babies do not ooze much sebum, so there is no need to lather soap directly on their skin.
- Washcloth: You should gently wipe down your baby once in the morning, and once in the evening (if bath time happened in the afternoon) due to our humid and hot weather. Consider stocking up plenty of soft washcloths! They will later double up as hankies which are so useful when they are teething.
9. Baby Moisturiser, Gum/Teeth Wipes, Antiseptic Balm
- Moisturiser: Baby eczema is relatively common in Singapore, likely due to long-term exposure to air-conditioning. As prevention, it is recommended to apply post-bath or wipe-down on usual problem areas such as the neck, armpits, elbows, knees (front and back), ankles and feet.
- Gum Wipes: To minimise infection during teething, it is good to start practicing the use of gum wipes as a newborn.
- Antiseptic Balm: Balms like Paw Paw Balms are really helpful against inevitable insect bites.
10. Thermometers, Cotton Buds, Cotton Wool
- Thermometers: Babies are prone to fevers for a variety of reasons, from minor to serious. Consider taking their temperature at least twice a day, once in the morning/evening, especially for newborns.
- Cotton Buds: for ear outer cleaning and application of skin medications
- Cotton Wool: for outer eye lid cleaning (you can also use gum wipes which are made with sterile water)
11. Car Seat
- In order to be able to leave the hospital with your newborn, you must have a baby seat in your car. There are detachable-portable types and non-detachable ones.
- Portable Types: Usually also come with a stroller body as a set. Very convenient for babies who are deep sleepers – you can cart the baby everywhere and minimise rousing the child. This is also recommended for families who do not drive – you would need it when calling for private hire car services like “Grab” or “Gojek”
- Non-Detachable: Usually has a longer shelf life than Portable types, until child reaches the minimum height requirement of 1.35m as per the Singapore Road Traffic Act
- I personally chose the latter as my husband drives, and I could not be sure if my baby is a deep sleeper or not. I was glad I did – for my baby HATED the car seat and almost never slept in it, lol.
What to Buy to Prepare for Baby – Optionals
1. Baby Sleeping Furniture
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), co-sleeping in the same room with a baby under 6 months can greatly reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. There are other benefits of co-sleeping as well, as outlined in this article by Greater Good Magazine.
Co-sleeping in at least in the same room helps sleep deprived newborn parents attend more quickly to their baby and resume their much needed Zs, which is a very practical consideration. I personally know many Moms who co-sleep on the same bed with their infants. One easy way to do so safely is to have your baby sleep in between the headboard and where Mom’s head pillow is. Others use bolsters, nursing pillows or cribs that can be placed on their beds. Hence the need for baby sleeping furniture is optional.
Of course, there may be real considerations why co-sleeping on the same bed or even in the same room is not an option. So here’s the list of furniture to consider getting:
- Baby Cot: A baby cot that can be level with your bed and placed beside Mom’s sleeping side of the bed is the next best option, or if either parents is a turbulent sleeper. Or if you decide to engage the service of confinement nannies, and will need a cot so that the nanny can sleep together with the baby during the engagement.
- Baby Crib/Bassinet: This is for parents who have sufficient space in their rooms or decide that they prefer not to co-sleep with their babies. However, if the decision is to let the baby sleep on their own, my strong opinion it should when the baby is at least 6 months old.
- Montessori Floor Bed: If the goal is to develop an independent sleeper, consider investing in a Montessori Floor Bed from the get-go. The mattress is placed on floor level, and with some additional padding of the floor, would make a safe and delightful bed for your 6-month old to roll around in!
2. Stroller/ Baby Carrier
- Stroller: Yes, strollers are a secondary consideration, despite almost every parent carting their baby (or toddler) in one. This is because your baby may insist to be carried and hence do not want to lie/sit in a stroller. Which was what happened to me. :'(
- Baby Carrier: There are 3 types in the market:
- Cloth Type: Which is basically the Western Solution of a Sarong Baby Carrier. This advantages are that it is lightweight, washable and keeps the baby snug against you, creating the impression of a swaddle. This was the carrier my first baby accepted amongst the many I had tried.
- Standard No-Base type: The material is tougher and feels more secure than the cloth type. It is also much easier to use than the cloth type.
- 3D Base Type: This comes with a hard base for the baby to sit on. It is the most bulky of the 3 types but my baby loved this when she was learning to sit upright. I believe it helped!
3. Pillows, Blankets, Toys
Newborns do not roll, so these bed items would not cause any real hazard, but as they would be swaddled for at least the first 30 days, they can be purchased as an option.
- Head Pillow: The newborn is very tiny, so most infant pillows available for purchase are too steep for their necks. You can use a folded over swaddle cloth until your baby is a little bigger. Choose the flat, memory cushion type to protect the curvature of their heads.
- Bean Husk Pillow: To be placed over the baby’s tummy. Depending on your newborn’s birthweight, it may be a little heavy but it can help calm the baby while he/she is sleeping.
- Nursing Pillow: I used a nursing pillow as a body pillow when i was pregnant. Personally I did not find it more helpful during nursing but some moms like it.
- Blankets: Not required for the swaddled newborn, but needed when baby outgrows the swaddle.
- Toys: A rattle, soft book with mirror and one small soft toy is all you need to get started. For patterns of the rattle and book, choose black and white types with few spots of red. Newborns are born with blurry, black and white vision. The first colour they develop is Red.
4. Infant Formula
Not mandatory if you intend to breastfeed, but it is a good idea to at least research on the brands you would want your baby to try having in case of contingencies. Some hiccups to breastfeeding include:
- Jaundice: Most babies in Singapore are born with some level of jaundice. My PD recommended that I either stop taking confinement herbs since I was feeding breastmilk to my baby, or use formula. As I had a C-sec and was having issues with body chills, I chose the latter, so that I could at least drink Red Date tea. In one week my baby’s jaundice levels went down from critical to healthy levels.
- Latching/ Supply Issues: Some moms have issues with latching or supply. As the first 12 months of a baby’s life is critical for growth, you will need the formula until the issues are sorted out.
5. Portable Milk Warmers, Thermo Flasks
If your baby is able to latch on properly, you could breastfeed the baby anywhere as long as you are comfortable. But if latching, supply and any other issues prevent you from breastfeeding when out with the baby, these are very important gears to pack in your Baby Bag.
6. Carry Bags/ Diaper Bags/ Cooler Bags
Technically, you can use any spacious bag, or you could purchase bags specially targeted to Moms and Dads. I find them totally optional and more of a mom/dad-pride kind of thing. Milk Cooler bags are usually given free with the purchase of breast pumps. Diaper bags are great if you decide to bring your baby for infant swimming classes. Or you could hold out until you are ready to drop your baby off to infant care/ preschool. Totally optional.
7. Towels, Bibs
- Towels: Again, you can technically use any soft towel. I personally bought separate towels for my baby as I wash her clothing separately from the adults.
- Bibs: I feel you can delay this one until your baby starts on solid food, which is 6 months later. Babies do drool, but only excessively once molars start erupting, which isn’t until many months later.
8. Pacifiers
There is plenty of debate on the use of pacifiers. If your baby has a naturally calm temperament and is able to self-sooth without consistent nursing, carrying and rocking, then feel free not to get any pacifiers. It may be better for their orthodontic and facial feature development.
However, if your baby is like mine, who needs more support to self-sooth, I do not see the harm in introducing a pacifier, especially if he/she is feeding well. Babies are born with a need to suck, even if not hungry. Just be ready with a weaning plan as baby gets older (12 months onwards).
9. Bottle Detergent/ Baby Laundry Detergent
I know some moms (and B wards at KKH!) use normal detergents for baby bottle and laundry washing. Which is fine. Personally, I used specialised detergents as I find the chemical after smell/ fragrances are significantly less pungent than the ones marketed for standard households, hence less stimulating for my baby.
We have finally come to the end of the list! Remember, every family and baby is unique, so feel free to tailor this list to suit your own preferences and lifestyle. If you feel you need more support or advice, feel free to drop me a comment or email at tinyhivediaries@gmail.com. You’ve got this!
Remember, every baby is unique, so feel free to tailor this list to suit your own preferences and lifestyle. And don’t forget to reach out to other mums for advice and support – we’re all in this together!