Prep for Baby
You do not need an expensive nursery. In our homes and our heat, a clean, cool, safe corner matters far more than decoration.
Keep it simple and, above all, clean. A newborn needs a clean space, a firm flat place to sleep, somewhere to change them, and space for you to feed. Do not spend on fancy furniture; spend your effort on cleanliness, ventilation and keeping dust, smoke and crowds away.
In our climate, overheating is a real danger during load-shedding. Keep the baby in the coolest room, dress them in a single light cotton layer, and use a hand fan or battery fan for gentle air. You can gently wipe the baby with a damp cloth if they are hot and sweaty. Never wrap the baby tightly or cover the head in the heat.
A comfortable room, not a hot one. The simple test is your own comfort: if you are comfortable in light clothing, the baby usually is too. In our culture there is a habit of keeping newborns very warm and wrapped, but overheating is dangerous, so dress the baby in just one light layer more than you are wearing.
Yes, an air conditioner is safe and helpful in our asian summers. Keep it around 27 to 29 degrees and make sure the cold air does not blow directly on the baby. A cool, comfortable room lowers heat rash and the risk of overheating.
Yes, a fan is fine and useful, especially when the power is unreliable. Keep it on a gentle setting and not blowing hard and directly onto the baby face for long periods.
No. For at least the first six months, the safest place for the baby is in your room, on their own firm surface such as a cot beside your bed. In joint-family homes this also keeps the baby away from crowds and constant handling. Room-sharing is safer; a separate room is not needed.
On their back, on a firm flat mattress, in their own cot in your room, with nothing else in the sleep space. In our culture for breast feeding mothers Sharing a bed or sleeping with the baby on a charpai or thick quilt is common here but may raises the risk of suffocation and cot death. Give the baby their own firm, clear surface if possible.
A sturdy cot or bassinet with a firm mattress is a good, one-time buy, but it does not need to be expensive. Second-hand is fine if it is solid, with a firm flat base and bars close enough that the baby cannot slip through.
It is not a must as co sleeping with baby is acceptable if properly done with precautions.
No, not for sleep. The soft padded sides can restrict airflow and are a suffocation risk. For sleep, a firm flat surface is always safest.
No. A newborn should have no pillow, and no cushions or rolled towels in the sleep space. A flat surface keeps the airway open. Pillows can come much later, well after the first birthday.
A firm, flat one that does not sink when you press it. Firm is safer than soft, because a soft surface can mould around the face and block breathing.
Yes, absolutely. With dengue and malaria in our environment, a well-fitted mosquito net over the cot is one of the most important things you can use. It protects the baby without any sprays or chemicals near them.
Helpful but not essential. It removes the guesswork in our extreme summers and winters. If you do not have one, use your own comfort and the baby's chest as a guide. I will suggest room wall thermometer for first time mothers
Soft, dim light for night feeds so everyone settles back to sleep, and natural daylight during the day so the baby slowly learns day from night. You do not need anything special, a low lamp is enough.
Do not forget the one thing that ties it all together, our printable checklist to tick off before the big day.
Choosing your paediatrician before the birth is one of the best things you can do. Book a consultation with Dr. Sethi, or send us a message.