Please consider the following baby necessities:

• Diaper ointment
• Washcloths
• Diapers
• Baby Shampoo
• Baby Lotion
• Towels
• Diaper Wipes
• Bottles
• Clothes
• (no infant formula, please)

Healthy Pregnancy Tips:

Prenatal care - your healthcare before your baby is born is so important for the health of your baby. Be sure to see your doctor when you are pregnant. Women who do not receive prenatal care are three times more likely to give birth to low weight babies, which is the leading cause of infant death. Improve your chances of having a healthy baby by seeking regular prenatal care, avoiding alcohol, tobacco and drugs, and following your doctor's diet and exercise advice.

Prenatal vitamins and a healthy diet are essential for pregnant women. Expectant women should eat at least three servings of dairy each day in order to meet calcium requirements; five to seven servings of fruits and vegetables; six servings of carbohydrates; and protein rich foods such as meat and poultry should be eaten two to three times a day.

Exercise is important when maintaining a healthy pregnancy. Participating in moderate exercise will allow a more comfortable pregnancy. Low impact, moderate intensity exercises such as swimming, quick walking and water aerobics are recommended. Prenatal yoga classes, exercise bikes, weights and sit-ups are great. However, don't over-do it. Exercise should not be extreme and you should never feel dehydrated or exhausted during or after a workout.

Helpful Baby Tips:

Crib Safety:

The safest place for your baby to sleep is a crib. Keep in mind these important safety tips when selecting a crib:

• When buying or borrowing a crib make sure it was made after 1989, the year crib safety standards were implemented. Also, the distances between the slates of the crib should be less than 2 3/8 inches to avoid getting baby's head caught.
• Don't put pillows, stuffed animals or thick blankets in the crib. Babies can suffocate or use them as steps to climb out.
• Do not place furniture, including cribs, near windows and use safety guards to prevent windows from opening more than four inches. Screens do not prevent children from falling.

Bath Time:

While bath time can be a way for parents and baby to bond, it may also lead to serious injury and even death. These tips can help keep bath time safe:

• Never add water to the tub while your baby is in it. Remove the baby first and remember to test the water again, with your elbow, before placing the baby back in the bath.
• Place a bath mat or towel in the base of the tub to prevent your baby from sliding.
• Remove all appliances from the tub area to prevent them from falling into your baby's bath.
• Never leave a baby unattended near water, especially the tub or toilet. It only takes an inch of water for a baby to drown.

Car Safety:

All 50 states and the District of Columbia have child passenger safety laws. Always buckle your baby in a federally approved child safety seat every time he or she is in the car. Additionally:

• Always put children in the back seat of the car. Use rear facing car seats from birth until one, and forward facing car seats until the child is four years old, or more than forty pounds.
• Never leave a child alone in a car. The engine fumes may cause serious injury or death, and extreme temperatures can cause frostbite, dehydration and heat stroke.
• To prevent a newborn's head from rolling around while the car is in motion, place a rolled up receiving blanket around his head and shoulders.

Play Time:

Playtime for babies is about discovery and growth. But remember, babies have a tendency to put things in their mouths at this age, which increases the risk of choking and suffocation. Play by these tips:

• Avoid toys with long cords, which can become tangled around their necks. Also avoid toys with small removable parts that may be swallowed.
• Keep play areas clean and vacuum often to insure small parts are out of reach.

Diaper Changing:

Each year thousands of children receive serious injuries from falling off changing tables. Keep your baby safe and clean by following these tips:

• Keep one hand on your baby at all times while changing, and never leave the baby alone on the changing table. Make sure lotions and powders are out of baby's reach; they may be harmful if swallowed.
• A safe alternative to using a changing table is to change your baby on a soft pad or receiving blanket on a clean comfortable floor.

Feeding:

Babies depend on you for the vital nutrients they need to grow. Keep your baby healthy by following these guidelines:

• After a baby has sipped from a bottle it's not a good idea to reuse the milk or formula because baby's sucking introduces bacteria into the milk.
• Try not to let your baby fall asleep with a bottle in his mouth. The milk pools in the mouth and could promote tooth decay.
• To heat a bottle, it's better to pour hot water over it. Don't microwave bottles. The contents of the bottle could be hotter than the bottle itself and the steam build up could cause it to burst.
• Never hang a pacifier cord around your baby's neck, and never attach them with a clip and cord to baby's clothing.

Immunization:

Vaccines have contributed more to world health than any other public health intervention of the 20th century, preventing and diminishing diseases that once affected millions of lives annually. In this millennium, innovative new vaccines will have the potential to protect children and adults against an increasing number of diseases, to meet the challenge of antibiotic-resistant infections, and to expand beyond disease prevention into the realm of disease treatment.

• Immunization is an important part of your baby's healthcare.
• Talk to your healthcare provider about the right vaccinations and right timeline for your baby. For more information about vaccines, click here.

Sun Exposure:

A newborn's soft skin is also sensitive skin. As warmer weather approaches, be careful when exposing your baby to sunlight.

• Sun exposure should be carefully controlled and include protection like light clothing that covers exposed skin and a wide-rimmed hat.
• Use baby-safe sunscreen after the age of 6 months.
• When outdoors for extended periods of time, seek shade.
• Keep your baby's skin soft and healthy!