Hi there, this is my first pregnancy and I am overwhelmed by all the baby "stuff" out there. Of course I need to get going on our registry or my mom will not be happy.
Can anyone give advice on what is absolutely essential, vs. nice to have? Especially strollers, strollers with car seats attached etc. I can't see why I need a stroller with a car seat attached-can I just carry the baby in a front pack or sling for a while?
thanks all!
i'd check out this recent thread- it was full of some good ideas. it might be helpful to just keep the conversation going there... or not. :)
Basically, nothing is essential except a carseat! Everything else you've got on you. . .boobs and hands. :) I had really no idea last time either and I didn't buy much, figured I'd get stuff as I went. Found that I really didn't need much at all in the first 8 weeks, after that baby gets more "interactive" and some toys and such are nice, but at first all they need is food and love. Really.
But here is my list of things that are good to have around in the first month or two:
For mom (assuming you will be BFing, I haven't bottle fed so don't know all the stuff you'd need for that):
--breast pads (you will likely leak A LOT at first)
--lansinoh for sore nipples (although I didn't find it essential)
--a breast pump is really nice to have for engorgement or other issues, but they can be easily rented too
--I'm definitely going to have these this time, although some cold and hot packs can work just as well http://www.amazon.com/Earth-Mama-Angel-Baby-Booby/dp/B000JVGR4I
--"Boopy" pillow, although rolled towels or other pillows can work too for BFing
For baby:
--simple basic clothing, cotton onesies and sleepers, sleep sacks, wool longies, hats
--lots of receiving blankets (you wind up with them all over the house and use them for many
things)
--swaddle blankets! swaddling can really make a difference and having big enough blankets (or the special swaddle one's) and learning how to use them are a must)
--moby wrap or other safe baby carrier (I found that my ds hated the stroller till he was big enough to sit up in it and so I wore him for the first months and found it much easier actually than lugging the carseat and stroller combo!) I wound up with a Moby, a Becco and an Ergo and still want to get a ring sling and a woven wrap for this babe!
--burp cloths! I just use prefolds
--bouncy chair (the vibrating kind). I basically wore or held ds for the first 2 months non-stop, but the vibrating chair was a godsend for those moments I needed to shower or use the bathroom.
--a thermometer is good to have and also a nose aspirator (check out "the nose Frida", sounds gross, but is amazing!)
--obviously diapers, and a it's nice to have a good, all natural diaper rash cream handy (Earth Mama Angel Baby is good). They used to tell you to swap the umbilical stump with alchohol, but with ds they said to just leave it alone.
--it's nice to have a rocking chair or a birth/yoga ball as newborns love that sort of swaying, repetitive motion. some do like those electric swings, but my ds didn't want to be out of arms, so again just a wrap/carrier was the best thing I could have.
that's all I can think of at the moment. . .
of course there is tons of stuff you *could* get and might make your mom happy RE a registry. :) Here are some things that I think are non-essential, but wouldn't mind having/getting last time (now I have most of these already): a baby bathtub, baby bath towel, natural and non-chemical baby shampoo (I rec. California Baby) a diaper pail, changing table/pad, dresser for babies clothes, mobiles, simple colorful toys (I like the Lamaze toys or Haba's wooden rattles), you could start the baby a library even though they obviously won't use it for awhile (so many lovely kids books--get board books!), play mat, "excersaucer" (although they won't need/use this for awhile).
I would say, in no particular order:
Lansioh
Boppy/Breastfriend
Car Seat
Beco/Ergo/Whatever
Some soft of chair... a "bouncer" or whatever to put the baby in while you pee/shove a PBJ down your throat
Miracle Blanket/s
Usual baby clothing items
If you're registering and looking for a more comprehensive list I have one I can forward you. But this is what I would make sure I had in my house for Birth day.
Thanks everyone, this is so helpful! I'm feeling better already.
What kind of baby wraps/ carriers is everyone using?
Its been several years since our last baby so I've sold the ones we had, but this is one of the few things I will be buying again. I'd like to just get one. We had a Baby Bjorn, a snuggly, and one of those trendy shoulder sling things. I actually preferred the cheap snuggly the most because it was comfortable and easy to use, but it didn't feel safe to me. I'm looking at the Ergos now bc dad wants to wear baby on his back, but they are so expensive... anyone have one? Are they worth it? I know mobys are pretty popular but I'm kind of lazy...
I intend to have a mei tai and a mobi wrap. The mei tai is going to mostly be for my partner, since the idea of him struggling to wrap and tie 18 feet of fabric, though hilarious, would likely end poorly. But I have to make two mei tais, because he's so much bigger than I am that me using the one that fits him just wouldn't be practical. We also have a snuggli that we got for free that I will definitely be trying but am not sure I will like overly much (especially because the carriers I will be making will be so pretty in comparison! :) )
Mei tais are awesome IMO. They can also be used for back carriers with bigger babies and are really easy to wear.
What kind of baby wraps/ carriers is everyone using?
Its been several years since our last baby so I've sold the ones we had, but this is one of the few things I will be buying again. I'd like to just get one. We had a Baby Bjorn, a snuggly, and one of those trendy shoulder sling things. I actually preferred the cheap snuggly the most because it was comfortable and easy to use, but it didn't feel safe to me. I'm looking at the Ergos now bc dad wants to wear baby on his back, but they are so expensive... anyone have one? Are they worth it? I know mobys are pretty popular but I'm kind of lazy...
I have a homemade Moby and Mei Tei that I will use. I used the Moby up until DD was about 18 months, then switched over to the Mei Tei. I'm with you, though...this time around, I really, really want an Ergo, for once the kid is a little older and heavier. I'm saving up for it right now. I've heard they're great.
What kind of baby wraps/ carriers is everyone using?
Its been several years since our last baby so I've sold the ones we had, but this is one of the few things I will be buying again. I'd like to just get one. We had a Baby Bjorn, a snuggly, and one of those trendy shoulder sling things. I actually preferred the cheap snuggly the most because it was comfortable and easy to use, but it didn't feel safe to me. I'm looking at the Ergos now bc dad wants to wear baby on his back, but they are so expensive... anyone have one? Are they worth it? I know mobys are pretty popular but I'm kind of lazy...
The moby/stretchy wrap is definitely a good choice for the newborn squishy phase. I had one w/DS, but he got heavy really fast so, I now have a couple of woven wraps. I second the mei tais being awesome. I have one, and while I didn't like it when DS was little (although I've seen softer bodied ones that I think I would've liked better), I love it now that he is a toddler. I haven't ever used an Ergo, but I know that lots of people like them. I really want to try a boba for the older baby/ toddler stage, and I would love to try a beco (I've heard great things about them), but there's no stores that sell them around here to just try on.. and not enough funds to support my "I wants!". Do you have a store that sells carriers nearby, or a babywearing group? Alot of times they will let you try them out. Another good option is a ring-sling. You can cuddle up your LO, and they aren't too tricky to figure out and seem (to me) to offer more support/carry options than a pouch or non-ring type sling.
ETA: http://www.theportablebaby.com/carrierfeatures.html This give a comparison of some of the carriers.
I looooove a good Moby when they're infants, but it does NOT work when they have much weight to them as they just get droopy! Mei Tais are so comfy and easy to use in a zillion positions. But, I must say my best (and there have been many) wrap purchase was my Beco. LOVE that thing! I seriously love how easy it is so my old many can get it on, I love how you can keep the baby in it while moving to a front or back carry *OR* handing baby over to another person. LOVE love love that thing!
What are the best carriers for having the baby on your side once they're old enough to support their head and sit upright? It makes me sad to see older babies smashed against their mother's chest when they should be looking out into the world and interacting!
What are the best carriers for having the baby on your side once they're old enough to support their head and sit upright? It makes me sad to see older babies smashed against their mother's chest when they should be looking out into the world and interacting!
Probably won't answer your question, but as soon as DD was old enough, I turned her around in the Moby, so she was facing front. When she got too heavy for a front carry, I put her on my back and she could look around just fine. Moby does have a couple side-carries, but I never tried them because they seemed like the baby would just get in the way of me using my arms.
What are the best carriers for having the baby on your side once they're old enough to support their head and sit upright? It makes me sad to see older babies smashed against their mother's chest when they should be looking out into the world and interacting!
There's a hip carry that be done with the Moby, but I found a ring sling to give better support. The ergo also has a hip carry option. The Moby and ring sling also have forward-facing positions. Back carries in a Moby, ring sling, or mai tai can also give baby a pretty good view of the world. Our favorite was the hip carry using a ring sling.
What are the best carriers for having the baby on your side once they're old enough to support their head and sit upright? It makes me sad to see older babies smashed against their mother's chest when they should be looking out into the world and interacting!
Beco Gemini looks good: http://www.theportablebaby.com/images/beco_gemini_positions.jpg
I'm leaning more toward this than the Ergo now... I'm going to try to find a store close by to actually try them on sometime soon.
Bjorn, snuggli's, etc are crotch danglers. Hard on the baby, the wearer & damaging, especially to baby boys. They don't properly support the baby, causing them to sit on the base of the spine instead of on their bums. Proper carriers also support the baby's thighs so that the knees are higher than the hips.
I'd really like to get a Sleepy Wrap this time. I've heard they're better than Moby's and I've never owned a decent stretchy wrap. I haven't used one at all since ds2 was a newborn.
I have several wraps, my favourite is the Leo Storch. There's a couple others I'd like to get but I'm not sure I'll have the funds. I'd love to get a water wrap or MT.
Probably won't answer your question, but as soon as DD was old enough, I turned her around in the Moby, so she was facing front. When she got too heavy for a front carry, I put her on my back and she could look around just fine. Moby does have a couple side-carries, but I never tried them because they seemed like the baby would just get in the way of me using my arms.
Wearing a baby forward facing is very hard on their spines & very hard on the wearer's back & shoulders. I don't know why wrap companies keep promoting it as an acceptable carry, it really isn't. Back carries are much better, easy on the baby & wearer & the baby can look around when it wants without getting too much stimulation. Unfortunately, stretchy wraps can't be used for back carries, they're not safe enough.
If you're thinking of an Ergo then look at the Beco, too. They're very similar, but the Beco has a piece of fabric between you and the babe so you can keep the babe in it while adjusting carries *or* handing over to another person. Seriously, that simple piece of fabric makes things a lot easier to move the kid around.
Conchobar - how big was your daughter when you were doing these carries with your Moby? I swear, I can't use mine past six months or so as my kids are *heavy*, but it might just be because I make big babies.
Trying to remember... Think I started back-carrying when she was 1-ish. So....about 20 lbs or so? I still back-carry my DD at 2 1/2 years...but I used to be a stagehand. I'm used to carrying really heavy stage equipment. I don't know if that makes the difference or not.
Still using the Moby for a 2.5 y/o?
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