New baby checklist for first-time mother: have I forgotten anything?

[DrBrockBaca]

Here's my list of what I have for the baby (and myself): 

Stuff for me:

Motherlove sitz bath herbs

Earth Mama Angel Baby new mama bottom spray

1 pack of adult disposable diapers

2 packs of ultra absorbency maxi pads

Lanolin

Nursing bras and pajamas

(Peri bottle provided by birthing center)

Travel:

Installed car seat in both vehicles

Mirror to see baby in the car

Diaper bag

Stroller

Jogging stroller

Clothes and accessories:

1 hat

1 sun hat

1 pair of no-scratch mittens

2 size newborn footed sleepers

1 size 0-3m lightweight muslin shirt and pants set

6 size 0-3m short sleeve side-snap shirts

3 size 3-6m diaper covers

8 size 0-3m onsies

3 size 0-3m shirt and pants sets

6 size 0-3m sleepers/pj sets

2 size 0-6m gowns

6 pairs socks

2 drool bibs

Plus extra clothes in size 3-6 months and larger

Sleeping:

4 lightweight muslin swaddling blankets

Crib and mattress

Dust mite cover for mattress

Wool mattress pad

Absorbent cotton mattress pad

3 crib sheets and bedding

Baby carriers:

Moby wrap

Ring sling

Fabric sling

Diapering:

Size newborn (1 pack) and size 1 (2 packs) 7^th Generation disposable diapers

7^th Generation disposable wipes

24 cloth diapers (Loveybums) for babies 9-22 lbs

3 wool diaper covers (Loveybums) for 9-22 lbs

50 cloth wipes

Spray bottle with diaper spray

Earth Mama Angel Baby diaper rash cream

Diaper pail with 2 liners

Diaper changing pad with 2 covers

Charlie’s Soap to wash diapers

Feeding:

3 sets of wool breast pads

Boppy pillow with extra slipcover

Breast pump with properly sized shields

80 pump and save bags

3 5-oz Breastflow bottles

Bottle brush

12 burp cloths

Bathing, health, and hygiene:

12 soft Sherpa washcloths for face- and hand-wiping

5 regular washcloths for bathing

3 hooded towels

1 hooded kimono

California Baby bodywash/shampoo, lotion, and cream

Comb and brush

Rectal thermometer and temporal artery thermometer

Nail clippers

Nasal aspirator

2 natural rubber pacifiers

Air purifier

Other:

Bouncer seat

Soft toys and rattles

Mobile

Baby log book and baby care timer

Have I forgotten anything? Do I really need those boobie tubes? What about receiving blankets - are those actually good for anything?

[lovelylisa]

Your list puts me to shame. I bet they are all organized and in their proper places too, and not strewn about your home. I actually had nipple cream in the trunk of my car and had to beg DH to run out to the car the other night. Long story. Sigh :)

Only thing I can think of would be a humdifier/vaporizer/whatever you call them, in case the little one gets a cold. Certainly NOT a necessity, but can be a pain to find one once cold season comes along.

[DrBrockBaca]

Only thing I can think of would be a humdifier/vaporizer/whatever you call them, in case the little one gets a cold. Certainly NOT a necessity, but can be a pain to find one once cold season comes along.

Good thinking! We actually do have a humidifier because we live in a very dry climate, but we usually only use it in the winter time. In the summer, we have swamp cooler (instead of a regular air conditioner), which actually helps a little bit with the humidity as well as the cooling. 

But speaking of colds, what about those chest rubs? I originally had this item (http://www.babyearth.com/natures-baby-organics-organic-ah-choo-chest-rub.html) on my baby registry, but took it off when I saw the article about this company being sued for mis-labeling their products as organic. Does anybody use anything like this? Is there something similar that is truly organic? 

So, chest rub for baby? Boobie tubes for me? Receiving blankets?

[lovelylisa]

I never used chest rubs or boobie tubes.. but the tubes look awesome. although so does a hot shower.

for me, receving blankets are too small to use for swaddling but I do  have about 17,000 of them.  I just cut a bunch of the ugly ones up for diaper wipes and use the rest for covering up when I need nursing privacy or to wrap on the outside of a swaddling blanket if its chilly, or just to wipe spit up. I never bought one of them, but always got a ton for gifts.

[SuburbanHippie]

I wonder if you have enough nursing pads.  I leak like a faucet all the time.  I don't know how good wool pads are.  I've used some reuseable ones (probably cotton) and they sucked.  I switched to disposable and had to replace them often.  Maybe someone else will chime in that knows about wool.

[samstress]

DDCC

wow, mama, well done.  i'm impressed.

i've got a bunch of receiving blankets and find that they come in handy for lots of things (even though you can't really swaddle with them).

i don't know if you need that many ultra absorbency maxi pads.  after the first couple days, i just used regular sized ones and past the first week it's been nothing but panty liners.

as for clothes, i guess it will depend on how big your little guy or gal is.  ds was 9lbs 1oz at birth.  he never fit in the newborn clothes and quickly outgrew the 0-3 stuff and the 3 month stuff is very snug.  at six weeks he is mostly wearing 3-6 months clothes already.  also, keep in mind that cloth adds a little bulk.

these are nice and we have two miracle blankets which truly are, a miracle.

[greenmama66]

Originally Posted by SuburbanHippie 

I wonder if you have enough nursing pads.  I leak like a faucet all the time.  I don't know how good wool pads are.  I've used some reuseable ones (probably cotton) and they sucked.  I switched to disposable and had to replace them often.  Maybe someone else will chime in that knows about wool.

I love wool nursing pads but I also got some organic velour one's because it's summertime.  But the lana wool one's (teardrop shaped) are the best pads out there IMO.

I've always had tons of receiving blankets on hand and find they are useful but prefer to swaddle in wool (Disana woolen blankets) and this time because it's summer I bought bamboo muslin swaddling blankets. I also found some nice organic muslin snap kimono gowns too because it's just been so hot and I'm afraid the other gowns and even the muslin sleep sac will be too warm.

As for the slings- I prefer ring slings for ease of nursing in them but some people prefer to have an SSC or mei tai (which I also have) so you might want to invest in one when baby is around 3-4 months old. Ring slings can hurt/wear on your neck/shoulders and such as well.

I also like to have a swing as well as a bouncer seat - so I bought one of those organic swings (no batteries) for this baby.

As for chest rubs- I've only used those on older children- babies never got sick/needed them plus they smell mighty strong to me for a wee babe. Some formulas are milder in smell though.

Not sure  if you plan to use cloth dipes exclusively but I would want more than 2 dozen on hand even if I was doing a wash every other day- that wouldn't be enough for me (I have heavy wetters).

Edited by greenmama66 - 6/30/11 at 5:48pm

[artekah]

Receiving blankets are good to have on hand for all kinds of stuff--your baby might be a spitter-upper for one. They're useful to lie down on the floor or anywhere you might want to put the baby down, good to keep in the car (although more important if you have a fall/winter baby), good to put under you in bed in case you leak while you sleep it'll soak the receiving blanket instead of your sheets, etc. I just remember them being very handy--and you can get them secondhand for really cheap.

The only thing I'd definitely add to your list is an Ergo for when the baby's a little bigger--it is absolutely worth the cost. Our Ergo was probably our most-used baby item for DS's whole babyhood! I spent about a year with DS on my back in the Ergo and it was great--so easy to get in and out of quickly for errands too.

[Curlyfry7]

I'm impressed....reading through your list I was left thinking "oh yeah...I wonder where THAT is??" a number of times, LOL. I am SO not organized for this baby.

I have never needed breast pads so far and hopefully won't this time as I don't have any on hand and don't want to buy any unless I have to since I haven't needed them so far. I found that I really needed about 30 cloth dipes to stay ahead of the laundry a bit. I also needed to have a larger amount of clothes as both of mine have been HUGE spitters-with my DS he easily spit up over 100 times a day, but they have both had severe reflux. I found the old style cloth diapers, like the kind my mom used when I was a baby, to be super useful as spit-up cloths-the little things they sell as burp cloths that I have seen make me laugh.

Let's see...oh yeah, I would need at least one more wool cover....my DS was a super sonic heavy wetter and I NEVER found anything that would completely prevent leaks (and believe me I tried EVERYTHING that was out there when he was a baby) but since my covers were SO think, they would not dry in a night, so I would need 2 to be using while I was washing/the other 2 and letting them air dry. Of course, it is pretty darn humid here too which doesn't help.

I am going to have to look at your list again tomorrow and maybe dig out a few more things myself, LOL....

[tea_time]

You have a very comprehensive list, and I'm guessing you won't need some of those things.  But that's okay. :)

I never needed adult diapers for one.  I also didn't use boobie tubes or chest rub (ever).  Only needed one boppy cover (but my DD wasn't much of a spitter).  I did use receiving blankets of all sizes though.  For swaddling/laying her on/impromptu changing pads while out and about/burping cloths/sun cover for the carseat & stroller, etc.  My now 3.5 yr old DD still uses (some of) them as blankets for her dolls. :)

I started out with washable breast pads, but they were completely obvious through my shirts so I switched to natura care disposable ones.  So soft and very comfortable/breathable.

I think 3 hooded towels is overkill, I did fine with just one.

Not sure when or if you plan to move baby to their own room, but a monitor is helpful.  Also a cd player to play music.  

[greenmama66]

DrBrock- are you in Boulder yet? Are you birthing here (I live in Boulder). It's been fairly warm here- I have baby outfits but in this heat I think baby is only going to be wearing snap shirts and diapers for the month of July- that said it could be me because I'm pregnant and sensitive to the heat. It get's cooler at night of course.

teatime- I've never used an adult disposable either- I guess some women do love them though and swear by them, it just seems like it wouldn't be comfortable for me but neither is a sanitary pad- I just loathe those things.

[DrBrockBaca]

Thanks for all the feedback! 

I wonder if you have enough nursing pads. 

Maybe I will get a box of disposables for backup. The owner of our local cloth diapering store recommended 3 pairs of wool ones because she says they are really absorbent, but dry out quickly. They are a really soft organic wool, not itchy. 

for me, receving blankets are too small to use for swaddling

I think they are too - that's why I got 4 of the 45" Under the Nile organic cotton muslin ones. They are super-soft and thin enough for summer. They should work well for sun cover and nursing covers too. I have some thicker organic cotton blankets on my registry that I'm hoping someone will buy me...but if they don't, I'm sure I will order them myself as the weather gets cooler. And I *think* I have enough burp cloths. I actually have about half a dozen more hand-me-downs that I didn't include on the list. 

as for clothes, i guess it will depend on how big your little guy or gal is.  ds was 9lbs 1oz at birth.  he never fit in the newborn clothes and quickly outgrew the 0-3 stuff and the 3 month stuff is very snug.  at six weeks he is mostly wearing 3-6 months clothes already.  also, keep in mind that cloth adds a little bulk.

I don't know if anyone else has noticed this, but most of the organic clothing brands seem to be sized WAY bigger than conventional brands, even after washing. Essentially everything I've bought is Under the Nile, Kate Quinn Organics, or Sage Creek Organics. Then I have a bunch of hand-me-down conventional stuff and some regular clothing items that were gifts. The 0-3 month organic clothes seem to be at least as big as the 3-6 or sometimes the 6-9 month regular brands. Anyone else noticed this? Are they sized larger for shrinkage? I have already washed everything once and they didn't seem to shrink. 

Quote:

The only thing I'd definitely add to your list is an Ergo for when the baby's a little bigger--it is absolutely worth the cost. 

We are registered for the Beco Gemini, which I am also hoping someone will buy me! But if not, I will definitely be ordering that when the baby gets heavier. Hopefully the Moby wrap and slings will do for a while, though. 

DrBrock- are you in Boulder yet?

I wish! We are still in Albuquerque, where it is even hotter than Boulder. (Hopefully we will be moving in the early fall.) That's why I got six of the little side-snap shirts and the diaper covers - I think it will be too warm for much clothing. 

I hope I have enough cloth diapers - the Loveybums organic ones are super-expensive! So I just got some disposables for back-up, and then if the 24 cloth ones are not enough on a regular basis, I'll get some more. 

I am completely un-excited about the adult diaper and sanitary pad thing. I'm used to using a DivaCup. But I just got one small package of the diapers and the 2 different types of 7th Generation ultra pads, so whatever is the least awful/works the best, I can get more of. 

[greenmama66]

Yes, all of my baby clothes are also organic (varying brands) and yes most are running large with the exception of Tane which runs tiny (hoping they fit since that brand was a real splurge). With my other babies (also dressed in organic clothing) even though the babies got big very fast I found the organic clothing fit pretty true to age while say when my babies were 3-4 months old regular clothes had to be 9 month sized.

I hear you on the cup- I was using a Lunette before and it's going take some getting used to walking with a *brick* between my legs!

I almost bought a stash of loveybums- they are so pretty!

[DrBrockBaca]

Yes, all of my baby clothes are also organic (varying brands) and yes most are running large with the exception of Tane which runs tiny (hoping they fit since that brand was a real splurge). With my other babies (also dressed in organic clothing) even though the babies got big very fast I found the organic clothing fit pretty true to age while say when my babies were 3-4 months old regular clothes had to be 9 month sized.

That's good to hear! We're not expecting this to be a tiny baby - babies in my family and DH's are usually a little large. I do have clothes in larger sizes, some of which I actually bought earlier on. Then I started looking at how big they were and decided to buy more 0-3 month stuff. I'm not too worried about the clothes, though, because I know I will be buying more. All of this stuff is gender neutral (we don't know if we are having a boy or girl), so I'm sure I will do a little more shopping once he/she arrives and get some cute gender-specific stuff!

[greenmama66]

Right, I'm not expecting a tiny baby either (he's bigger than my prior babies- different father from other children who weighed 10.9 at birth) but I think the 0-3 organics are a good size. Even with my 7 pounders I never bought newborn sized clothing and they fit in 0-3 just fine. Some of the sleeves are long (Under the Nile and Sckoon) but will work fine and keep in mind they are better sized for cloth diapers (for example the longer cut body suits of Under the Nile).

[samstress]

Originally Posted by DrBrockBaca 

I don't know if anyone else has noticed this, but most of the organic clothing brands seem to be sized WAY bigger than conventional brands, even after washing. Essentially everything I've bought is Under the Nile, Kate Quinn Organics, or Sage Creek Organics. Then I have a bunch of hand-me-down conventional stuff and some regular clothing items that were gifts. The 0-3 month organic clothes seem to be at least as big as the 3-6 or sometimes the 6-9 month regular brands. Anyone else noticed this? Are they sized larger for shrinkage? I have already washed everything once and they didn't seem to shrink.

ah, yes.  the smaller kate quinn stuff we have still fits him.

[mumofmak]

Great list. As for the boobie tubes - do you mean the Earth Mama Angel Baby ones? if so, I have used them.  You probably don't need them if you have a great supply etc but I struggled a bit with my kiddos and had to do pumping etc to help bring in my milk and increase supply over the first weeks and they were very handy to have to help in that situation. You could just make a rice sock and put that on your breasts before nursing or pumping or have a hot shower but the boobie tubes were handy to pop into my bra for a few minutes before sitting down to nurse or pump.

[DrBrockBaca]

As for the boobie tubes - do you mean the Earth Mama Angel Baby ones?

Yes - I've read that lots of women love them because you can use them either hot or cold. I'm not sure where to buy them except online, so I am debating whether I should order them since it's not something I can run out and buy if I need them. 

[Curlyfry7]

Originally Posted by greenmama66 

Right, I'm not expecting a tiny baby either (he's bigger than my prior babies- different father from other children who weighed 10.9 at birth) but I think the 0-3 organics are a good size. Even with my 7 pounders I never bought newborn sized clothing and they fit in 0-3 just fine. Some of the sleeves are long (Under the Nile and Sckoon) but will work fine and keep in mind they are better sized for cloth diapers (for example the longer cut body suits of Under the Nile).

It's funny...I have had just traditional clothes (purchased used, LOL) but both my kids SWAM in the NB sizes, and they were 7 pounders. I even bought a couple preemie outfits for DS as it was warmer so there wouldn't be so much extra fabric. But both my kids have had big heads so maybe that added to their weight, LOL. They both still wear well beneath their expected size for their age- 4.75 y/o DS is wearing 2T and 3T shorts, and size 4T jeans fall off, and 2.5 y/o DD is still wearing 12-18 month size stuff except for height.