If you had a surprise newborn, what things would you need for the first week at home?

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11/27/2025 15:13

Subject: If you had a surprise newborn, what things would you need for the first week at home?

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:We last minute adopted. Diapers, burp clothes, clothing, pacifier, the 2-ounce ready-to-feed formula with tons of nipples, car seat, snap and go stroller, pack and play and bouncy seat or swing.

Thanks! I hadn’t thought about a bouncy seat in the first couple weeks. Did you use it that early?

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11/27/2025 15:33

Subject: If you had a surprise newborn, what things would you need for the first week at home?

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We last minute adopted. Diapers, burp clothes, clothing, pacifier, the 2-ounce ready-to-feed formula with tons of nipples, car seat, snap and go stroller, pack and play and bouncy seat or swing.

Thanks! I hadn’t thought about a bouncy seat in the first couple weeks. Did you use it that early?

We did for short periods of time just to eat and do things like shower, etc. when it was just one parent.

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11/27/2025 17:45

Subject: If you had a surprise newborn, what things would you need for the first week at home?

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:I'm the person whose family member had a baby unexpectedly while visiting family. There's a possibility parents and baby will leave the hospital on Friday, so I'm trying to help them figure out how to get the stuff they'll need until they get home where they have all the things.

They'll go to the baby's grandmother, where toddler sibling is waiting. They have a pack and play there.

Obviously they'll need

Carseat
diapers
wipes
a few outfits

What else is essential in the first few weeks?

I'm thinking that a curbside pick up order at Walmart makes sense. Grandma is hesitant to go into a store on Black Friday, because of concerns about bringing home germs. Is there a better idea?

How could she have an unexpected newborn? She didn't know she was pregnant? Are they going home by wagon train and it will take them months to get through the Rockies?

Grandma needs to get up to the 21st Century and call the store, order what she needs and then pick them up.

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11/27/2025 18:09

Subject: If you had a surprise newborn, what things would you need for the first week at home?

quote

Anonymous

We just bought our first house in Cary, NC in the 1990's our new neighbors the day we moved in came over and asked if we had any baby items.

Why? Because their 14 year old had a baby that morning. Surprise.. Mom was a nurse and the young girl had an "affair" with her youth pastor. Mom & dad never noticed their DD was pregnant til she passed out in their driveway on the way to church. They brought her to the emergency room and came home with their first grandchild.

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11/27/2025 18:24

Subject: If you had a surprise newborn, what things would you need for the first week at home?

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm the person whose family member had a baby unexpectedly while visiting family. There's a possibility parents and baby will leave the hospital on Friday, so I'm trying to help them figure out how to get the stuff they'll need until they get home where they have all the things.

They'll go to the baby's grandmother, where toddler sibling is waiting. They have a pack and play there.

Obviously they'll need

Carseat
diapers
wipes
a few outfits

What else is essential in the first few weeks?

I'm thinking that a curbside pick up order at Walmart makes sense. Grandma is hesitant to go into a store on Black Friday, because of concerns about bringing home germs. Is there a better idea?

How could she have an unexpected newborn? She didn't know she was pregnant? Are they going home by wagon train and it will take them months to get through the Rockies?

Grandma needs to get up to the 21st Century and call the store, order what she needs and then pick them up.

They expected the baby to be born at home at term. They did not expect this week.

I am not sure why you are angry at Grandma’s. Grandma is mom’s mom. She is taking care of toddler, bringing food to the hospital, and will host them until mom and baby are ready to travel.

Our side of the family (Dad’s) wants to contribute too. So, we plan to put in an order for things they will need. Obviously, we will get anything they asks for, but they are currently exhausted and a little overwhelmed so I am looking for suggestions. I got tapped to put together the order because I had a baby most recently. Seems reasonable to me.

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11/27/2025 18:26

Subject: If you had a surprise newborn, what things would you need for the first week at home?

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:We just bought our first house in Cary, NC in the 1990's our new neighbors the day we moved in came over and asked if we had any baby items.

Why? Because their 14 year old had a baby that morning. Surprise.. Mom was a nurse and the young girl had an "affair" with her youth pastor. Mom & dad never noticed their DD was pregnant til she passed out in their driveway on the way to church. They brought her to the emergency room and came home with their first grandchild.

That is an amazing story.

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11/27/2025 18:38

Subject: If you had a surprise newborn, what things would you need for the first week at home?

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:We just bought our first house in Cary, NC in the 1990's our new neighbors the day we moved in came over and asked if we had any baby items.

Why? Because their 14 year old had a baby that morning. Surprise.. Mom was a nurse and the young girl had an "affair" with her youth pastor. Mom & dad never noticed their DD was pregnant til she passed out in their driveway on the way to church. They brought her to the emergency room and came home with their first grandchild.

I hope the youth pastor gets prosecuted. That’s not an affair, that’s assault, preying on a child, and rape.

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11/27/2025 18:52

Subject: If you had a surprise newborn, what things would you need for the first week at home?

quote

Anonymous

I don't understand are you saying they didn't know they were pregnant?

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11/27/2025 18:55

Subject: If you had a surprise newborn, what things would you need for the first week at home?

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand are you saying they didn't know they were pregnant?

No, as I've stated multiple times, she knew she was pregnant but the baby came early, and so was unexpected. They have most of the things they need, but they are at home, while they are in a hospital out of state.

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11/27/2025 19:12

Subject: If you had a surprise newborn, what things would you need for the first week at home?

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We just bought our first house in Cary, NC in the 1990's our new neighbors the day we moved in came over and asked if we had any baby items.

Why? Because their 14 year old had a baby that morning. Surprise.. Mom was a nurse and the young girl had an "affair" with her youth pastor. Mom & dad never noticed their DD was pregnant til she passed out in their driveway on the way to church. They brought her to the emergency room and came home with their first grandchild.

I hope the youth pastor gets prosecuted. That’s not an affair, that’s assault, preying on a child, and rape.

It was the 1990's. So common back then. I assumed it was why young men wanted to be youth pastors.

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11/27/2025 22:11

Subject: If you had a surprise newborn, what things would you need for the first week at home?

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here,

If mom is pumping when they leave the hospital, what does she need for that?

She will need bottles, and ideally a bottle sterilizer. Get the slow flow nipples made for newborns. Obviously, a pump.

Do those sterilizer bags work for this? [/quote
Yes but can literally just boil things, no need to buy anything new.. we only ever sterilized when buying something new but not after daily use ( or if got gross like pacifier fell on pediatrician floor)

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11/27/2025 23:31

Subject: If you had a surprise newborn, what things would you need for the first week at home?

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here,

If mom is pumping when they leave the hospital, what does she need for that?

She will need bottles, and ideally a bottle sterilizer. Get the slow flow nipples made for newborns. Obviously, a pump.

Do those sterilizer bags work for this?

Yes but can literally just boil things, no need to buy anything new.. we only ever sterilized when buying something new but not after daily use ( or if got gross like pacifier fell on pediatrician floor)

I thought pump parts needed to be sterilized?

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11/28/2025 00:17

Subject: If you had a surprise newborn, what things would you need for the first week at home?

quote

Anonymous

Go online to Walmart and they can deliver from the store within hours. You don’t need a huge amount.

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11/28/2025 00:21

Subject: If you had a surprise newborn, what things would you need for the first week at home?

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:Go online to Walmart and they can deliver from the store within hours. You don’t need a huge amount.

Yes, that’s the plan. We are just trying to figure out what the new baby needs.

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11/28/2025 04:09

Subject: If you had a surprise newborn, what things would you need for the first week at home?

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Go online to Walmart and they can deliver from the store within hours. You don’t need a huge amount.

Yes, that’s the plan. We are just trying to figure out what the new baby needs.

This list I said above. If you use bottles, get a sterilizer too but you can get anything delivered in a few hours so don't go overboard. I had to live in a hotel for a few weeks and packing up all that gear and baby-filled the car. Don't get a crib, just get a bassinet or PNP - we did PNP as you can use it much longer. Baby doesn't need much the first few weeks. Half the stuff is to make your life easier.