As I work on a newborn kit for Maternity Hospital I thought it would be helpful if I post what we actually put into each kit. Each kit has a handmade blanket. This is what Andrea has been working so hard to provide for us. Ben is bringing the first group of blankets down with him in December. Until then we are using the 50 plus blankets that arrived recently when Kate’s daughter came to visit.
The clothing we provide for the baby include a diaper and diaper wrap. In Guatemala the mother’s don’t use pins to secure the diaper but instead use a diaper wrap. This is a band that is about 3 inches wide in the center and tapers to a long strip that can be tied. As the baby grows the tie can continued to be used. I haven’t seen plastic pants to cover up the diaper in the stores but so I don’t know if that is something that is normally used.
We also give the baby a gown or shirt depending on the current weather conditions. Currently we are in the wet raining season so a gown is needed most. There is a hat and socks/booties. We include baby soap and a wash cloth. There is a dentist group that has been sending a small baby toy to be included but we haven’t received a shipment recently so I will have to purchase some to put in the kits. We also have very few women’s toiletries until December when Ben arrives.
Ben has been collecting funds so we can purchase most of these items since our money goes so much further here than in the USA. Although we don’t give the mother’s much it is a major gift to them and they are so appreciative for having a new outfit for their baby as well as a warm blanket to wrap the baby it.
Thank you to each of you for your wonderful support and help.