Baby Gear Essentials

Before you welcome your baby home, you'll want to have everything in place. Along with diapers, bottles, and baby clothes, you'll need to get the "big 4": car seat, crib or bassinet, stroller, and -- thinking ahead -- a high chair. Use these tips to make smart, safe choices.

It's a once-in-a-lifetime trip -- your baby's first ride home! Install the car seat ahead of time so everything's ready. Newborns should ride in rear-facing car seats. Follow installation instructions, or find a child safety seat inspection station for help. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website lists stations, or you can call 888-327-4236. The middle of the backseat is the safest spot to install the seat.

Infant-only seats are smaller than regular baby seats. The seat may come out of the base and have handles so you can use it to carry your little one. You can make a convertible seat rear-facing and then change it to forward-facing when your child gets older. But this kind does not have a separate base or carrying handles. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises parents to keep their toddlers in rear-facing car seats until age 2, or until they reach the maximum height and weight for their seat.

Here are guidelines for safe cribs and safe infants:

Safe cribs:

• Make sure there are no loose, broken or improperly installed screws. Check for loose brackets or other hardware on the crib or slats, which shouldn't be more than 2 3/8 inches apart.
• No corner posts over 1/16th inch high to prevent a baby's clothing from catching.
• No cutouts in the headboard or foot board so a baby's head cannot get trapped.
• A firm, tight-fitting mattress so a baby cannot get trapped between the mattress and the crib.

Safe infants:

• Do not put pillows, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, pillow-like bumper pads or pillow-like stuffed toys in the crib.
• Consider using a sleeper instead of a blanket.
• If you do use a blanket, place baby with feet to foot of the crib. Tuck a thin blanket around the crib mattress, covering baby only as high as his/her chest.
• Use only a fitted bottom sheet specifically made for crib use.

You'll need to purchase a separate mattress for the crib. Get a firm one that fits snugly inside it. A space greater than two fingers' width between the mattress and the frame means that you need a bigger mattress. To reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), only use a fitted bottom sheet made for crib mattresses, and keep the crib free of pillows, blankets, pillow-like bumper pads, and stuffed toys -- those items can smother a baby.

Some parents prefer to put their baby in a bassinet at first. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends choosing one certified for safety by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA). Look for a sturdy bottom with a wide base; smooth surfaces; legs with locks; and a snug-fitting mattress. Just as you would with a crib, make sure there are no pillows, quilts, comforters, blankets, pillow-like bumper pads, or stuffed toys in with the baby.

Standard strollers usually feature reclining seats, cup holders, trays, and under baskets. Some have a seat that doubles as a carrier and fits your car seat to make transfers easy. There are also lightweight strollers that can be easier to handle. Check the size and weight requirements, though. Many lightweight strollers may not work for babies under 6 months old. The JPMA also certifies strollers for safety, so look for its seal on boxes.

Always strap your child in, even if your journey is a short one. You can choose a stroller with a T-strap or a 5-point restraint (with shoulder belts). Make sure the leg openings are small enough that an infant won't slide through them. Don't hang a purse or baby bag on the handles. That could make the stroller tip over backward.

When your baby has good head control and starts to sit up and eat solid foods, a high chair is essential. Choose one with a wide base that won't tip over easily. Look for easy-to-use straps, and always strap your baby in with both the waist belt and the strap between the legs. Don't rely on the tray to restrain them -- it's for holding food, not a squirming child. Make sure they stay seated (no standing up) and never leave them alone in the high chair.