Baby Checklist Ranking
Grooming Items - Absolutely

One thing that parents are hardly anticipating is cutting the new baby's itsy bitsy fingernails. Something that you will want to make sure you have before the baby is born is a grooming kit or at least the items that come in one. You absolutely will need a number of grooming items to take care of your newborn and infant in the first year.

What exactly do you need for grooming your baby? Good question, and thankfully the answer is pretty simple. What you will need is a soft baby hair brush that you can use to gently brush your baby's scalp with. Not only will you be fixing his or her hair, but you will massaging your baby's scalp which will help with cradle cap. You will also need a pair of baby nail clippers, these are similar to regular nail clippers but significantly smaller. When purchasing nail clippers stay away from ones that have bright colors or large props, these will make babies and young children want to play with them and you do not want your baby touching sharp nail clippers. Some parents prefer to use nail scissors, if you choose to use these then be sure to find some that are designed for baby-sized fingernails.

It will be useful to have Q-tips that are designed for babies so you can clean your baby's ears carefully. They are also useful for using with alcohol to clean your newborn's belly button while the umbilical cord is still healing. Additionally some very gentle soap can help with bathing your baby effectively and keeping their hands clean. Since babies often put their fingers in their mouths it is ideal for their hands to stay clean. If you have pets or younger children coming in connect with your baby's hands, you will likely want to give them a quick wash with some gentle soap. Never use Purell or other anti-bacterial hand sanitizer products that contain large alcohol contents on babies and young children. Children can become severely ill from licking the substance off of their fingers and hands.

Finally when your baby begins eating solids a finger toothbrush can help you clean your baby's gums and teeth. Start with just using water and work your way up to a gentle toothpaste that is safe to swallow when your baby is closer to a year old and even then only use a little bit at a time. For more information on grooming your baby checkout Tips for Grooming Your Baby and How to Cut Your Baby's Finger Nails.