Little-girl clothes are so cute! We all fall in love with the lacy dresses and bonnets. But I learned the hard way that little girls barely have a chance to go out on the town before they outgrow their infant clothing. It’s usually best to leave the buying of fancy frills to relatives and friends. Focus your buying power on a practical day-to-day wardrobe that includes the following: At least six stretchy, snap-up-the-front, one-piece pajamas with feet. These are the most useful fashion wear for newborns. They live in them! At least a half-dozen front-snapping tee shirts or one-piece snap-crotch tees. Another half-dozen pairs of socks or booties. (Booties that tie around the ankle will stay on longer than socks.) A hat. Whether the weather calls for a wool hat or a sun hat, you’ll want to keep your daughter’s head covered. A snowsuit, if you live in a cold region. There are a few items you might want to have on hand when your daughter arrives. The following will take care of any minor health problems in the first few weeks and also keep your daughter well groomed: Cool-mist Humidifier: Dry air is tough on little nostrils. A coolmist humidifier will help your daughter breathe easy. Bulb Syringe: Even with a humidifier in the room, it’s likely that your daughter will still get the occasional stuffy nose. Until she learns to blow her nose like the rest of us, the bulb syringe is the best way to remove mucus from a congested nose. Rectal Thermometer: It will be a while before you can use the family oral thermometer to check your daughter’s temperature. The rectal type is a must—either mercury or digital. And pick up some petroleum jelly to coat the thermometer before use for easy insertion. Rounded-tipped Scissor or Baby Nail Clipper: You’ll be amazed how quickly little baby fingernails and toenails grow! The fingernails especially must be kept very short so your daughter won’t scratch the delicate skin on her face. Comb and/or Hairbrush: Adult and big-kid combs and brushes can scratch a newborn’s scalp. Get one designed specifically for newborns with soft brush bristles and rounded comb teeth. An audio baby monitor lets you eavesdrop on your daughter when she is out of sight. It consists of a transmitter that is placed in the baby’s room and a portable receiver that can be placed in another room or carried around to hear her cries, sighs, and breathing. Volume is adjustable and some have visual cues, such as red lights that go on when a sound registers. You might also think about going high-tech with a video monitor. These are available at most baby supply stores and are easy to install and use. They consist of a video camera that you can train on your sleeping baby and a small (4×5") television monitor to keep nearby wherever you are in the house. These monitors, whether audio or video, can be reassuring devices. They’re especially comforting if you’re a sound sleeper and your daughter sleeps in another room, or if you have a large house and want to be alerted when baby wakes from a nap.
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