How about a thread of "must haves"? - Page 2

[*Jessica*]

Originally Posted by SoonToBe 

What I wasn't sure of is the extras like:

- swing

- bouncy/vibrate seat

- pack and play

- exersaucer/jumperoo or something

- rocker/glider for nursing

That's all I thought of so far.  I can't wait to register, but it is overwhelming.  :)

Bree

I think a glider or rocker is an excellent idea.  As far as the other things, you really only need one so you have a safe place to put baby when you need your hands free and can't use the sling.  The problem is that some babies love a swing and some hate them, some love a bouncy seat and some hate them.  For us, the pack 'n play turned into a huge laundry hamper for clean clothes that I never seemed to have time to fold.  And you already have a cradle.  The exersaucers aren't useful for months, so don't bother registering for one of those.  You want people to buy the things you really need, not things you'll have to store for 6 months or more.  Do you have someone who could lend you a swing or bouncy seat until you know if baby likes it?  At that point you can send someone to the store to buy one for you before returning the one you borrowed.  That way you don't end up with an expensive piece of equipment that takes up a lot of room. 

[MovingMomma]

Originally Posted by SoonToBe 

- breast pump and bottles?

I recommend not getting a breast pump & bottles ahead of time.  Learn hand expression ahead of time so you know how to do it if you need to relieve engorgement.  After breastfeeding is well established you'll have a better idea of what kind of pump you'll want, if you still want one at all.

[Baby_Cakes]

Originally Posted by Jbouck5 

Ok, so I also have a question about bassinets. We are planning to have the baby in bed with us until it stops needing to nurse at night (I guess probably around 1yr maybe?). Would it be handy to have a bassinet type thing anyway? I have been wondering, in the early months, does the baby go to bed before you? and If you are trying to co-sleep how does that work out if the baby goes to sleep before you and you don't go to bed until later, do you put the baby in a bassinet or maybe a co-sleeper until you get into bed, or are you so exhausted that you go to bed with the baby?. I am 100% clueless about this.

I think it would be handy.  Even if you don't use it every night, you could use it for naps or for starting the night out. 

At least with us, the first few months there was no way I was staying awake a minute longer than the baby!  I would nurse her to sleep sidelying and go to sleep myself, too.  But after a few weeks/months it does get a little less foggy and I personally am going to do the co-sleeper route this time around.  I think it will help us have more room in the bed, panic less about the baby falling out of the bed (which...sadly, nora did at 5 days old!  Darn DH!) and just overall have more space.  It can get a little overwhelming having them on top of you 24/7.  Maybe the space will help?
 

Originally Posted by justthinkn 

I would add postpartum care stuff for YOU, like herbs for a sitz bath, the Earth Mama Angel Baby bottom balm or mist, a peri bottle...

YES!

Ok, so here is my must have list:

Earth Mama Angel Baby mist and nipple butter 

Gerber nursing pads

Bravado nursing bras

Depends!!  Not kidding!  They are much easier to use than pads the first few days postpartum and seem to leak less, especially at night.

Arms reach cosleeper

Cloth diapers AND sposies/swaddlers for nb/meconium days

HUGE refillable bottle for water for myself

Boppy pillow

new flanges/parts for my breastpump

Glider/rocker

I'd say items that are nice to have but aren't essential are things like:

Swing

Bouncy/vibrating seat

pack & play

changing table

crib

We never ONCE used our crib for Nora to sleep in.  I think we're going to *try* harder this time to use it, but eh -- it's not like we didn't try with DD.  She hated it.  She LOVED sleeping with us and slept so well with us.  So, we'll see.  Life has a way of changing up even the best laid plans.

I also rocked DD to sleep in arms, standing for over 18 months.  Not going thru that again.  This kid is getting rocked in a glider!!!  I remember basically falling asleep standing up most nights!  

And I cannot say enough great things about the Earth Mama supplies.  The spray is HEAVEN on a sore bottom, and the nipple butter is really smooth, soothing, and all natural/vegan.  It smells divine, and no need to wipe it off before baby nurses.

[SoonToBe]

Thanks for the additional ideas!  Good call on not registering for things I won't use for 6 months.  I'm already short on storage...so good call!  I'll be sure to add some postpartum goodies too.

Thanks!

Bree

[Beckily]

Originally Posted by SoonToBe 

I kinda knew the very basics I needed, but I really don't know what to register for that I'll actually use. :)  Nice to hear those big bath tub thingies generally just take up space.  That's what I was thinking.  This is what I know I'll need (or already have) so far:

- crib and mattress

- cradle (it's homemade and was mine when I was a baby)

- sheets for cradle and crib

- tons of onesies

- baby wrap

- car seat and stroller

- sleep gowns

- prefolds, covers, pins/snappies, diaper pail

- cloth wipes

- towels, face clothes, safe baby shampoo/soap

- diaper bag

- lightweight blankies to swaddle without the baby sweating to death

- maybe pacifiers

- socks

- some sort of bath thing so I don't have to worry about dropping a slippery baby :)

- breast pump and bottles?

- high chair (though obviously not until later)

- maybe a little play mat for tummy time

- nursing pillow

What I wasn't sure of is the extras like:

- swing

- bouncy/vibrate seat

- pack and play

- exersaucer/jumperoo or something

- rocker/glider for nursing

That's all I thought of so far.  I can't wait to register, but it is overwhelming.  :)

Bree

My mom just used wet washcloths for us. Some of those wipes can be expensive.  I plan to either use washcloths or go buy fabric to make by own wipes.

[Beckily]

I recommend not getting a breast pump & bottles ahead of time.  Learn hand expression ahead of time so you know how to do it if you need to relieve engorgement.  After breastfeeding is well established you'll have a better idea of what kind of pump you'll want, if you still want one at all.

Thank you for that thought! I hadn't even thought of that! Thank you :D Logical!

[sarahmck]

These are the things that get a lot of use in the beginning in my house:

--Diapers.  Cloth in my case (pre-folds from Green Mountain Diapers), but I have used paper diapers for the first few days in the past to get the meconium.  I may just do EC from day 1 this time, in which case a nice bum-sized bowl can be added to the list.  Also the related diapering supplies, like wipes, diaper pails, etc.  That varies based on paper, cloth or EC.  But if you're doing cloth diapers, absolutely do cloth wipes too.  And don't skimp.  I'd say buy/make 60.

--Little white kimono-style t-shirts that you buy in multi-packs, for example Gerber brand.

--long-sleeved gowns for bed time, ideally the type that open at the bottom for easy changes.

--Your wrap/sling of preference for you and your partner.  In our case that's a 5.2m Storchenwiege wrap for me and a ring sling for DH.  I personally recommend against the Baby Björn.  It's bad for little spines and insanely uncomfortable for adults.

--My Brest Friend.  It's way better than the Boppy, which slides away.  If you borrow one, make sure it's not the old type that fastens with velcro.  There's nothing like trying to very slowly peel open a bit strip of velcro while you have a (finally) sleeping baby 6 inches away and you're hoping to sneak away for a moment for some bodily function or another.

--Breast pads.  I recommend the woolen type from Lanacare.  You only need two pairs.

--Burp cloths (many).  I have spit-uppy babies.  I favor pre-fold diapers in whichever size I'm not currently using for diapering.  Or any cruddy ones you get as gifts.  They don't need to be the good ones for this purpose.  Also some thinner more portable ones for stuffing inside a fold of the sling when you go out.  Never go out without something to wipe with!

--A comfy and well-stocked nursing station with water, nipple cream (I personally like Mother Love nipple cream because I had problems with Lansinoh), burp cloths, book, remote control, telephone, etc.  A glider chair makes a comfortable seat but is expensive and certainly not essential.  You should be sitting upright, not slouching or reclining.

--Blankets of various weights for various purposes.  You don't need special swaddling blankets.  You can just use the thin muslin squares and then they serve double duty.  My first baby was born in May in a warm climate and I was unable to use the swaddling blankets that I was given because they were just too bulky for the weather.  If I were having a winter baby I would buy one of them because they're handy, but in most places it will just be too hot to use a bulky swaddling blanket in August.

--Little cotton hats for the first few days.

--A car seat.  If you use your car with any frequency, I recommend one with a base so you don't have to belt it in and out each time.  And if you do use your car much, an easily-opened stroller base to put the car seat in when you arrive at your destination and the baby is sleeping.

--And finally, the item that most people go crazy on, a few items of clothing.  Not many at all.  Just something to put them in if you go out.  Almost regardless of climate, plan on long sleeves and long trousers in the very beginning.

I'm pleased to say that I have every one of these items.  All *we* need is a bigger car.

[cakemama579]

Originally Posted by Beckily 

I recommend not getting a breast pump & bottles ahead of time.  Learn hand expression ahead of time so you know how to do it if you need to relieve engorgement.  After breastfeeding is well established you'll have a better idea of what kind of pump you'll want, if you still want one at all.

Thank you for that thought! I hadn't even thought of that! Thank you :D Logical!

Yes!  My let down was so strong in the beginning it would literally make DS choke.  I learned that I had to pump a bit first before nursing him.  This also ended up helping to keep my freezer supply up for when I went back to work.  Definitely make sure you have one of these (even at the very least a cheap hand pump one) ready before baby comes.

[Danielle283]

Must haves-

Cradle swing

Bouncy chair

High chair that strapped to seat instead of big bulky high chair

Exercise ball to bounce baby to sleep

We had a bassinet and a pack n play and it was never used with DD. She didn't come home till she was 6 weeks old though, so who knows if we would have gotten use out of them in the early days. When she fit in the bassinet, she would only sleep in my arms/bed/swing. When she got a little older and would go to sleep before us, we'd start the night off in the crib, then bring her to bed with us at her first wake up. I did end up using the pack n play all the time with the infants I took care of full time, so I'm planning on pulling it out for this baby too. It was nice to have a place for them to nap in the living room near me and the changing table on it. It's strange how some babies like different things!

We used a bathtub that could change to something more like a bath ring, and that really came in handy. I can't find it anymore though. My friend had that huge inflatable duck and it was used once and never again lol. We often just bathed or showered together though.

I stocked up on Avent bottles because I just thought that's what breastfeeding babies used the best, but DD hated them. Such a waste of money. She never ended up taking a bottle at all. This time I'll buy one bottle at a time to see if there is something that works.

[pjs]

I ditched our bassinet for a Moses basket with baby number four, it was handy as you could easily move it from room to room(plus just more aesthetically pleasing). I second what everyone said about swings- my first three didn't really care for it but number four really loved it. I had one of those fp portable ones- a much small footprint than those full sized ones. He used it so much he wore it out. We'll probably buy a new one for number five, but I dread spending $100 on the thing.

[earth-mama]

We did have a swing and a bouncy chair--DD liked both of them (they were both gifts--the swing in very old, but still works)  However, I would not have 'needed' them, but we did use them some.  

I was not a fan of onesies for DD she hated having them pulled over her head until she got older.  I really liked the side snap shirts and am planning on getting more for this babe.

I think my must haves are:

sling/wrap (I used a moby until DD was to big, made a sling, and another carrier.  We also have an Ergo now)

diapers (we did prefolds and covers)

some blankets (we had way more than we could possibly use)

If you work-- a pump

clothing for babe :)

Later on we got a high chair--we got the kind that attaches to a regular chair and is easily portable.

For a diaper bag we just use some Eagle creek cubes and a timbuktu bag that we already had in the house--works great!

Also, other mom's may have experienced this too.  DD wore newborn sized clothing for like 1 week (she was 8 lbs 1oz at birth), wore 0-3 month clothes for 6 weeks and 3-6 month clothes for the next 6 weeks and was into 6-9 clothes.  We had a ton of 0-3 months clothes and some 3-6 month clothes, but I would recommend not going crazy with those little sizes until you know how fast your babe grows. 

[Lynann]

We were given more stuff than we used last time. I've passed on the stuff that really was surplus to us.

What we actually used and will reuse this time:

prefold diapers with one size covers (won't use snappi fasteners this time, I'm making tie-on diapers like the disana ones instead)

cloth wipes

1 pack of disposables for the first few days of meconium.

My Brest Friend nursing pillow (really helped us in the difficult early days of learning to latch properly)

cloth breast pads

nursing bras (I'm a big boobed girl [34h] so I really need the support)

something for swaddling (DS really liked being swaddled, we're just now weaning him off swaddling at 8 months)

a few clothes (they outgrow sizes so fast so won't stock up on too many of each size to start with)

bassinet (we also used our crib right from the beginning with DS, but he'll still be using it and we live in a smaller home now so no need for 2 places to sleep)

a few soft towels (for drying baby after a bath, and for changing diapers etc at home)

wrap sling (mine is home made and it is so useful in the early months)

car seat

baby seat (for those essential bathroom breaks/meal prep that using a sling isn't suitable for)

What we are adding this time:

electric double breast pump (we rented from the hospital for 10 days then I used a manual single pump, which was a pain to use)

Everything else is take it or leave it for us.

I do love my pram stroller and if you plan on using a stroller for a newborn make sure it fully reclines. (this however isn't an essential to us, just a nice to have)

[Maurine]

Can you ladies help with crib/sleeping choices?  I'd like to keep the baby by our bed, but I am not married to a co-sleeper.  I'd also like a crib so we can move them to their bedroom when they get a little older.

I've seen recs for "Arms Reach" co-sleeper, but I've also heard that it's not necessary, and a basinette with wheels is better.  What about a pack'n'play with the basinett and changer?  That seems like it would be handy, since carrying the baby to his/her bedroom for changing in the middle of the night might be a pain.  Also, we don't have room for a glider or chair in our bedroom, so I may be nursing in the baby's room. 

Any thoughts or guidance?

[Tamera]

We bought a crib and turned it into a cosleeper. http://www.drmomma.org/2010/01/turn-your-crib-into-cosleeper.html

It has worked really well for us.

[Agatha_Ann]

Originally Posted by Maurine 

Can you ladies help with crib/sleeping choices?  I'd like to keep the baby by our bed, but I am not married to a co-sleeper.  I'd also like a crib so we can move them to their bedroom when they get a little older.

I've seen recs for "Arms Reach" co-sleeper, but I've also heard that it's not necessary, and a basinette with wheels is better.  What about a pack'n'play with the basinett and changer?  That seems like it would be handy, since carrying the baby to his/her bedroom for changing in the middle of the night might be a pain.  Also, we don't have room for a glider or chair in our bedroom, so I may be nursing in the baby's room. 

Any thoughts or guidance?

 My kids have all slept in pack n plays with the basinette on top. It ends up being flush with our bed so it works just like a cosleeper, and I am guilty of interchanging the terms! Then when they are older we drop the mattress to the bottom and then they move to their own bed from there. I attached the changing station the first time, but I never used it. I've always kept some waterproof lap pads on my nightstand and changed the baby in bed, or in their bed. I don't ever get out of bed to nurse either. Sometimes I sit up to do it, other times I side lie and just go back to sleep.

[KellyandKatie]

I remember 7-8 years ago while we were expecting our first my husband and I had a note book of all these things that we felt we needed, we shopped and shopped and price searched and researched and we had a baby shower, and we budgeted for the things we felt were so special on our shoe string newly wed budget... it gives me goosebumps to remember all those wonderful pregnant walks we took just making all these plans, debating how to set up a nursery, it was wonderful, and I would not want to take that away from any parent, it was part of our birth bonding, it was wonderful and fun.....that being said... four months later 80% of that stuff was donated to the local thrift shop and we were loving our nitch we had found  and now expecting our fourth, we have strong opinions on having what we need to care for our babies, and no room or need for extra stuff... but again.. I am smiling ear to ear fondly remembering those pregnant days and nights researching all that 'stuff'   what we kept after baby number one- nursing pillow, sling/carrier, cloth diaper system, nursing tank tops (with baby number one we could not afford glamourmoms, they seemed soo pricey- but after nursing for how ever many years it was we changed our tune and now i live in glamourmoms exclusively)we got some nice ingredients to make our own baby butt washes, and STILL have those 7 years later- they dont go bad  ummm what else.... boobies and loving arms, you have what you need to parent your baby... but it certainly can be wonderfully fun 

[MrsNewspin]

Originally Posted by Jbouck5 

Thank you thank you thank you for posting this! I am also a first timer, and the issue of "stuff" has been weighing on my mind so much lately. I am so overwhelmed with all the stuff available out there, I would really love to know what products other mamas really got use out of and what is just going to end up cluttering my house.

My thoughts EXACTLY. I'm so incredibly happy about this thread! I want to keep baby items minimal, but I also want to be sure I have everything I'll need. Thank you ladies so much!! Keep the advice coming, it's really helpful! 

[earth-mama]

I really like and still use the Bravado tanks and bras for nursing.  I have never used the Glamourmom's, but definitely think it is well worth spending the extra money for nursing bras that are comfortable and supportive!  

Maurine--we have an arms reach cosleeper (the full-size version that can turn into a pack-n-play if needed--never done this my DD would never have hung out in a pack-n-play).  We have used it some, but mostly it has acted as a storage compartment and a fence to keep DD from rolling out of the bed.  DD slept with us exclusively until she was 1 year old and then we bought a twin size mattress that is on the floor in her room.  We plan on making a short bed frame for it now that she is big enough to get in and out, but haven't yet.  Up until a year she napped in our bed, but I had to be extra diligent about checking on her if she made any sort of noise during a nap (so she didn't crawl around on the bed and fall off).  We never owned a crib and don't plan on getting one for this babe either.  We are planning on buying a kingsize bed and may invest in some side rails for it as we will probably have 2 little ones in our bed at least some of the time .

[Maurine]

I am fairly convinced to sidecar a crib.  Thanks, everyone, for the insight!  I think that if we had a bassinette or an Arms Reach, LO would just end up in the bed anyway.  I don't want to have to get up, get him/her, back to bed to nurse, then back into the bassinette or co-sleeper when we're done...just too much.  And I always tend to do whatever is easiest physically.  :)  The sidecar idea seems like a nice little extention of the bed itself.

[cat13]

I was thinking about doing the sidecar crib too, it seems like it will last much longer than the co-sleeper. And I just found this awesome website that shows you how to do it!

http://sidecarcrib.webs.com/