When you are pregnant you often get all kinds of advice and tips about what you need when you are expecting a baby. Although this is often a nice list, there are really only a few things your baby really needs: sleep, warmth and nutrition. As long as you have everything you need at home, you and your baby will be fine. That's why we've worked out these three things for you below: layette what do you really need?

To sleep

First of all, what you really need for your layette is a safe and pleasant place to sleep. That does not necessarily mean that the baby's room has to be completely finished, but it is mainly about what your baby sleeps in. You have three options for this:

1. Co-sleeper - A co-sleeper is a crib that you can use in two ways. You can use the co-sleeper as a separate cradle or you can attach the co-sleeper to your bed with safety straps. The side between the co-sleeper and the bed can be opened so that you can easily reach your baby from the bed. This makes the co-sleeper ideal for feeding your baby at night without having to get out of bed. The co-sleeper is therefore perfect for the first few months. You have your baby close to you at night, while he or she is lying in its own crib. Click here if you want to know more about the co-sleeper.
2. Crib - When your baby is 3 to 6 months old, the safest place to sleep is a crib. From the age of 6 months, the cradle is no longer safe, as your baby becomes more mobile and the cradle is too small for that. Your baby can then roll over or sit down and therefore roll over against the side or even fall out of the crib. Nevertheless, the crib is perfect for the period from 3 to 6 months. The cradle gives your baby a sheltered feeling, which is comparable to the sheltered feeling of the womb.
3. Cot - A cot is the safest sleeping place for your baby after 6 months. This is because the side walls consist of bars. This prevents your baby from becoming short of breath if he comes to lie with his mouth and nose against the side wall of the cot while turning. The cot is suitable for your baby for a much longer period of time, namely up to 3 years. After that, your baby grows out. More information about when it is best to go from cot to crib can be found here .

Heat

It is also important that your baby always has the right temperature. A normal body temperature for your baby is between 36.5°C and 37.5°C, just like adults. Your baby has a fever from 38°C. Babies cannot yet regulate their own temperature and therefore it is necessary that you keep a close eye on this yourself. Heat regulation is also important when your baby is sleeping because temperature can influence SIDS. There are several ways to regulate your baby's temperature:

• Digital thermometer - With the help of a digital thermometer you can easily measure the temperature of your baby. There are different types of thermometers that measure your baby's temperature in different ways, for example through the ear or contactless. Nevertheless, the digital thermometer is most commonly used because it is very reliable (if used rectally), measures quickly and is not expensive. For more information on different types of thermometers, click here .
• Blankets for every season - Your baby sleeps in a sleeping bag to stay warm when it cools down at night and your baby is mostly still. Make sure that the sleeping bag fits well and is not too warm. If it gets too hot in the summer, it may be wiser to tuck your baby tightly under a thin sheet or let it sleep without a sheet.
• Clothing - A few things are also important when it comes to clothing. In the first week, a hat can help regulate your baby's body temperature. It is also wise to dress your baby in layers. This way you can always take something off if your baby feels warm or put on something extra if your baby feels too cold. When you go outside with your baby, you have to pay attention to extra things. In winter it is important that your child is in a warm pram, wears a hat and a warm jacket or suit. In the summer you want to put on airy clothes, but you have to take the sun into account. Since your baby's skin must be well protected, it is best to cover as much skin as possible with airy clothing. Be careful with synthetic fabrics, which can provide extra heat. You can also put on a sun hat and if it is really hot, your baby can only wear a romper. Find sustainable options for baby clothes here.
• Hot water bottle + hot water bottle cover - A hot water bottle is an easy way to keep your baby warm. For example, you can put the hot water bottle in bed with your baby or you can use it to preheat the clothes, the bed or the pram. Placing a hot water bottle in your baby's bed is only necessary if your baby's temperature is below 36.7°C.

Nutrition

You also need things for feeding for the layette. Whether you are going to breastfeed or bottle feed your baby, the following products will come in handy for both (except for the nursing clothes):

• Nursing pads - 10 weeks before the birth of your baby, your breasts can already leak milk. You put a nursing pad in your bra so that it can catch drops well. Sustainable alternatives are washable pads made of cotton or bamboo. For example, look at this website for fine washable nursing pads.
• Nursing clothes/bra - when you are going to breastfeed it is smart to have nice nursing clothes. Think of tops that you can easily pull up or a blouse with buttons. A good nursing bra is also nice, for example the sustainable bras from boobdesign .
• Breast pump - you use a breast pump to extract milk from your breasts when this is not done by your baby. For example, you can use an electric breast pump and later give the milk to your baby through the bottle.
• Bottle - If you want to bottle feed your baby, it is of course necessary to have a bottle at home. There are also many different types here. For example, different sizes appropriate to the age of your baby and with different teats depending on how fast your baby drinks.
• Bottle feeding - If you are going to bottle feed, it is of course important to have bottle feeding at home. However, it can also come in handy if you are breastfeeding and breastfeeding does not get off to a good start.

Layette what do you really need

With the above necessities, we are sure that everything will be all right with your baby. In addition to things you really need, there are of course other things that are useful to have at home. For your convenience, we have therefore put together a complete sustainability checklist. Curious about the checklist? Request it below.