Questions about what your buying.....

[creekprincess]

We are not finding out the gender of the baby ( much to our families dismay ). I'm wondering how much gender neutral stuff I should buy, if any? I have alot left from DS, and the thought of waiting until close to delivery time and just buying like a weeks worth of girly stuff and holding on the the receipt has crossed my mind.

What are you getting for your baby to sleep into? We do the family room thing, and when DS was little he slept in my bed after Daddy got up @ 4am for work. DS's crib was recalled, so we dont have it anymore. So are those pack n play things worth the cost? or just a bassinet? or just sidecar the crib?

What kind of car seat are you going with? I hated our infant carrier it was 15 pounds with out the baby....I know there are ones that are not so heavy now but I jsut wonder should I get the convertible seat from the get go.

I have a moby from DS but I never wore him until he was over 1.....is there another wrap or sling that is good for baby's?

Thanks for any help.

[tzs]

we didn't buy anything until after our first kiddo was born (it's a jewish custom/superstition/.whatever) but it was easy breezy. just needed some long sleeved onesies (fall babe), some socks, swaddle blankets....and we used a sleep sack for nighttime...loved it.

i think the moby is the best carrier for newborns. i loved it so much but stopped using it when she got heavier b/c of the sagging. but for newborns it's the most snuggly.

as for carseat, dd was born in the fall in wisconsin so having the infant seat was really handy. so although in theory carrying a baby around in a bucket seat is less than desirable, it was so much easier to put her in/take her out while indoors and just carry the seat to the car instead of dealing with freezing cold/snow/slush/ice.

the crib situation i dunno....could you borrow a pack and play or bassinet or moses basket until you figure out what is going to work best for you? dd wouldn't sleep in the crib that we had set up in our room until she was 2 or 3 months old.

[spargel]

We're not finding out the gender either!

I have been picking up some great gender neutral stuff from a local thriftshop and a couple of yard sales - I can't find hardly any new gender neutral clothes at the regular shops. I also picked up a couple of packages of white onesies. I plan to put some iron ons that I picked up on them, and I'm thinking about tie dying some as well. I have several all in one jammy things - some fleece, some cotton mostly in yellow. I figure that it will grow out of them so fast, that it's not worth buying a whole lot and when it's born, I can do a little shopping for bigger sizes afterwards (and I expect friends and relatives will be sending bigger stuff too). We're not much into pink/girls and blue/boys so gender neutral fits our style for now anyways.

My FIL built us a cradle, but if he hadn't, I would have picked up a cosleeper to attach to the side of the bed. We're not even setting up the crib we bought for a few months. We also got a pack and play for naps and changing diapers downstairs. We have two dogs, so I figured it would be a good option to keep the baby from wet doggy noses while napping downstairs.

We got an infant car seat, primarily because even though they are heavy, it will be nice to be able to get the baby out of the car and into the house without waking it up. Also good if we want to go out to eat. I plan on using a carrier as well, but I wanted the option of being able to use the infant seat.

Most people with newborns love moby's or mei tais - they are ideal for newborns. I'm getting one of each from friends and I'm also requesting an ERGO, but that will need a newborn insert until the baby is older.

[lillymonster]

we have a portable crib we are using in the bedroom, a regular crib, but smaller.

My first DD did sleep in the pack n play in our room, but the weight limit I think is 15 pounds, which probably is not normally a concern because they are normally sitting up by then I think (roughly 6 months) and then you can't use it anymore, but DD was only like 3 months old when she hit 15 pounds so we didn't use it for very long and had to get the portable crib anyway.

My DD also grew out of the infant seat pretty early - like 3-4 months, but still I prefer using the bucket infant seat for a while because it's easier than taking them out. I think a lot of convertibles start at 8 pounds, maybe some start at lower weights now? We bought an infant seat from someone DH works with, so we didn't spend a fortune. I wanted the snap n go stroller, I loved that! But for some reason I sold it, and now we have the huge stroller than comes with the car seat. Anyway, I didn't want to buy another carseat, but I think it does help.

[IdentityCrisisMama]

We may do a bassinet if we find one free/second hand because DC will be born in April and we've no AC and live in the mid-Atlantic.

We're doing the convertible car-seat (Truefit I think it's called).

For slings, I like a ring sling. I use a Maya but do think the Over the Shoulder Baby Holder is good for a new baby and a mama new to that type of carrier. They should be available for pretty cheap second hand.

If your baby will be an infant (2-8 months or so) in the winter I suggest the old fleece Hotsling (non-adjustable). You'll have to find one used because they don't make them anymore but this was the BEST infant sling, IMO. So easy to use, so, so comfortable and warm.

[kareniswaiting]

We aren't finding out the sex and I think it will actually be quite a boon in terms of gifts! This way people will have to look at my registry instead of just buying things I might not need or want like plastic toys and polyester babysuits.

Anyway, I have been picking up used clothes at the goodwill in gender neutral colors and figure I can just get more larger sizes once it's born and we know the sex.

I also just picked up a huge box of used cloth diapers and cover which are geared more towards boys but should be fine either way.

As far as sleeping gear goes, I am jsut planning on getting an arms reach co-sleeper and then figuring out what we want for later after we know what kind of baby we have! I am hunting for a used one but will eat the cost if I have to.

I was planning on getting a moby wrap and ergo baby for when it's older. As far as carseats, I want a britax convertible so we can use it for a longer time. I have no interest in the carseat-to-stroller situations, but I am due in the spring so I don't have to worry about it being too cold.

Anyway, just my thoughts! It's my first so I might have way different words for you in the future! I am feeling unsure about strollers. My friend highly recommends those crazy expensive BOB strollers for our dirt roads but I don't know about the expense. Any advice on a cheaper, similar version?

[3xMama]

In your place, I think I'd buy a few girlie things for all the pics that'll happen right after she's (if she is a she!) born, but wouldn't worry too much about it. No one cares if a baby is in gender specific clothes at 3am, ya know?! And once I was feeling up to it, I'd head out to get some more girl clothes. How much do you expect to get from family if you have a girl? We get a lot of clothes from family, so its not a huge concern for us to have to buy stuff. They totally freak out over being able to do it for us, so...*shrug*.

I think it depends on where you live and what the weather will be like when your lo is born. I was just going to do the convertible seat w/ DS, but found out pretty quick after he was born in mid Nov that it was easier and warmer to use the bucket.

Personally, I liked the pack-n-play for when we went places w/ DD, but I have yet to pull it out w/ DS. Mine didn't have a 15 lb limit and neither did either of the ones my MIL or FIL had (divorced, so they each had one at their own place). I would not like the pack-n-play for regular use. Its so deep its hard to lightly lay a sleeping baby down in, IMO. I prefered the bassinet for both DD & DS when they weren't in bed with us. Its small enough that it doesn't take up much room and it can be placed right next to the bed.

I liked my Moby for the wee lil infant, but once he got bigger (and not much, like 15lbs which he was by 4 mos), it sagged badly. My mw swears by ring slings and sells some so I'm planning on picking up one of those for when our lo is born.

[WifeofAnt]

Originally Posted by lillymonster

My first DD did sleep in the pack n play in our room, but the weight limit I think is 15 pounds

I've never heard of a pack n play with such a low weight limit. Normally only the bassinet and changing table have that weight limit, the rest can be used for as long as the child doesn't climb out.


I have a pack n play. I think every bedsharing family should have an alternate place for baby to sleep when a parent can't be immediately present. Its not really all that safe to leave them alone in your bed. Bassinet/cradle/moses baskets will only last you so long before the baby is too big for them.

[dakotablue]

did didn't find out with DS and aren't with this one. I had a few used clothes in each gender and mostly had white onesies. Honestly the gender neutral stuff we had looked too girly (which he wore but after we bought boy clothes they weren't worn much) and I think if we have a girl they will look boyish.

I just bought enough stuff to get us through 2-3 days in 0-3 and 3-6 then once the baby was born we shopped. and we received clothes as gifts afterward too.

It was so much more fun shopping for a baby I knew!

Car seat I love having the infant carrier. It makes winter so much easier.

We side carred our crib, but didn't and still don't really use the crib.

Moby is perfect infants! I was sad to stop when DS was 6 months because he weighed too much (switched to mei tai)

[ibusymomto5]

We co-sleep at night, but I like to have a safe place to put baby for naps. We bought a mini-crib, and I've been happy with it. It's smaller than a regular crib, but is nice and sturdy like one. You can raise the mattress to a bassinet height or lower it for older babies. Even when lowered it's easier than stooping down to a pack-n-play. I also don't like how pack-n-plays and bassinets jiggle so easy once baby starts squirming around. My babies never seemed to sleep for long periods of time in one because of it.

As far as gender specific stuff goes I love the definitely girly or boyish things. I don't usually like unisex things. What I did when I didn't know what I was having was shopped consignment shops so that I could have a few cute, specific outfits and blankets for the sex I didn't have on hand. That way I could have it all washed and ready to go before baby came, and if I ended up not needing it then I could resell it, pack it away for a future baby, or give it to my girls for doll clothes.

[finnegansmom]

We never find out the gender, this is our 3rd.
I'm not really into gender specific clothing as much as if I had a girl she would HAVE to wear pink. I like blue for girls, yellow, brown, greens...for either. People will buy you clothing or outfits after the baby comes, I always seems to get clothes more gender specific once the baby was born. But it's nice because while I'm having #3, after 2 boys, if I do on the off chance have a girl, I can use most of their clothing (pretty much all of their newborn stuff is GN).

We cosleep but having a 2 and a 4 year old near by means the baby does need a safe place to sleep. Laying on the bed for naps is NOT an option in this household. I have a crib, that my youngest is using as a daybed now we'll use. I'll also use the pack and play bassinnette. I bought a new one but it was on sale and very basic. It's a graco and it's tan and sage green. It's good to use as a safe area as well for a baby learning to crawl when you are making dinner and can't keep your head turned to make sure your other kiddos aren't terrorizing the baby. I didn't need a pack and play with #1...I could put the baby on the floor on a blanket.
We use a graco snug fit (same GN print as the pack and play) that again was on the basic side. I have big babies so I expect to only use it for 4 months or so, like I did with my second. I prefer these over convertibles for newborns...they just seem snugger and fit better. I already have a britax decathlon that I can use from birth but we'll stick to the snugride and then move up to that after a few months. I live in Mass and it's nice to be able to quickly grab the carseat in the cold without having to worry about getting the baby in and out in the middle of a snow storm...

I really didn't like the moby. It made me look like a fat jedi (I have a brown one, and I have saddle bags, not a cute combo). I like my ergo....I also like slings for itty bitty stage.

[soccerchic21]

This is our third and we know we are having a girl. We already have a boy and a girl so I was covered. However, when I was sorting through the clothes I noticed how many newborn items I had that were gender neutral but still cute for a boy or a girl. You could probably get enough for the first few months and then get larger clothes after your baby is born.

For sleeping we have a toddler mesh rail that I put on my side of the bed for co-sleeping. The baby sleeps with us and I don't have any worries about her falling off the bed.

[Lauren82]

We aren't finding out the gender of this babe. I managed to find some Gerber brand newborn sleepers in green, yellow and orange at K-Mart.

We co-sleep with baby in the bed. During the day I will put the baby in a pack n play bassinet or a swing so I can get stuff done around the house. Hopefully this one will like the swing because my last LO hated it. Oh, bouncy seats are handy too while baby is still young. That was the only way I could get a shower when all of my kids were babies.

I still haven't decided if I'm going to buy a bucket style infant car seat or just start out with a convertible car seat. My last LO also hated the bucket seat so we switched to a Britax Marathon and the screaming stopped.

As for carriers, I prefer the Mei Tai style carriers for newborn and infants.

[Lady Lilya]

I wouldn't go straight to the convertible car seat for this reason: I got one that said it was good from 5 lbs up, and had a newborn insert. But then the instructions said not to use it until their torso length was at least 9 inches. DS was unusually long, so he was just at 9 inches, but most babies wouldn't be tall enough at first. Can you borrow a used bucket seat for the beginning?

Re place to sleep, we intend for the new baby to sleep with all of us. We have 2 full-sized mattresses next to each other on the floor. But, I have heard enough stories of CPS making a big deal if you don't have a separate place for the baby to sleep, so I plan to set up the Pack-N-Play just in case. And I might just end up keeping it downstairs so I can put the baby down some place nearby if he falls asleep and I want to do stuff.

Why wouldn't you wear a newborn in a moby wrap? I wore DS in a water wrap by Gypsy Mama until I lost it when he was almost a year. I loved the water wrap because it was so thin and light and took up so little space in my purse. (But it was also easy to lose. )

[VeganCupcake]

Like a PP said, many convertible seats (and even some infant bucket seats!) have the lowest harness slots too high to safely transport a newborn. For a rear-facing infant or toddler, the shoulder straps need to be at or below the shoulders. There are a few convertible seats that do have low enough slots--the Sunshine Kids Radian (any of the models) comes to mind. Britax convertibles are generally not a good fit for newborns by height.

We don't find out the sex of our babies, either, and I just organized our newborn clothes over the weekend and was thrilled to see that we have so much neutral stuff--red, blue, gray, brown, white, green, orange. I'm actually really excited for this new baby to wear the same little clothes my DD did, whether boy or girl. It seems very sweet and sentimental.

I used a Moby and a ring sling with my DD when she was a newborn. I loved the Moby the most once I got the hang of it. This time, I have a gauzy wrap that I plan to use instead because it will start to get hot shortly after babe arrives.