What 'actually' works for you? « Back to Group Discussions

[guatemama1]

I was just thinking about how I had all these ideas about what I would buy and use for baby, what I needed, wanted... and, duh, now that baby is here I know what is ACTUALLY useful to us!! So with almost 3 months of experience under my belt.... :)

For one, I was so sure I'd use the Cloth-eez workhorse diap with snaps but actually it's the most annoying. Also find diaper covers annoying except for the 1 "imse vimse" we have, I guess cuz it's not plastic-y feeling, I wish we had more of those

Thought I'd need fancy diaper cream... never use it and Arlo has a fine bum

Thought AIO inserts go with their specific diaper.. er... you just stuff any diap with any insert, right?

Thought it'd be warmer so we are actually trying to get our hands on warmer clothes (hence the vest making)

Thought we'd use a stroller (first thing we ever bought months before arlo was born, before learning about babywearing)... aside from the fact we babywear at every outing, where we live is all cobblestones... stroller? uh, no. We actually use it in the house now as place for Arlo to sit while we eat or cook

...and stuff I forgot to have on-hand: a baby-appropriate towel, baby socks, warmer clothes ~whoops! :)

[greenmama66]

Yeah, I hate all diaper covers except Nikky's, Niji's and Imse VImse- the others just plain suck and are gross IMO. So almost 21 years now of Nikky wearing for my babies(and I still have some 20 YO Nikky covers in use). Imse Vimse came on the scene a bit later and are fuller cut.

I bought 2 BumG elemental dipes and hate them. I am now back to loving GMD organic prefolds.

I have one thick organic hooded baby towel, he really doesn't need more than one and I wash it once a week.

This time I actually am using my carriage because I live near the bike path and the baby actually enjoys when I take him for a power walk in it. But I wouldn't ever fold it up to take elsewhere. Other than that we babywear.

I have a baby bouncer seat we use in the kitchen and an organic baby hammock we keep upstairs that he naps in during the day. Oh and someone sent us a Svan highchair as a gift so that will come into use later.

[Narleegates]

We use prefolds, and I use rumparoos covers, I think they're probably my favorite.  As far as accesories, I thought I would use my Ergo more, and I probably will once it gets colder, but for now, it's so hot, I either just carry him or put him in the little 7sling I bought online.  We use our swing a lot, he usually naps in it because he's a light napper and wakes himself up if I lay him down. 

I was told I wouldn't use my changing table, but we actually do, contrary to popular belief it has not become a place to stack things.  Also, he loves loves loves his little mobile in his crib, I don't think I've ever seen a baby so fascinated, but it buys me a good potty break now and then.  Since we've transitioned to his crib we don't use the porta-crib/basinette/moses basket much anymore, but I think we'll prob use the porta crib when we travel, AND it has a mobile too, which he also loves. 

I'm ready for it too cool way down so I can wear him more and get more done, because right now it's just do dang hot still! I mean, it's 20 degrees cooler than it was 2 months ago, but hte 80's still make this boy sweat!

[cupcait]

Things we love:

Our pocket diapers. We have bumgenius, fuzzibunz and rumparooz. They're adorable and easy. Even our parents, who were cloth diapering nay-sayers, are amazed with how well they work and how much better they are than the ones from there parenting days. 

The ring sling. So easy, comfy and light weight! I use every single day.

Soft, cotton baby clothes. People bought a lot of silly, uncomfortable outfits for him. Even jeans that look adorable look un-comfy. Soft pants and hoodies us where it's at!

Hanna Andersson sleepers - they're pricey but the best. They zip, so no fussing with buttons and snaps during the middle of the night diaper change. Also, they are footless - so no sweaty toes for our boy. I hate feet-pajamas, they just look so sweaty and hot and claustrophobic.

Wipe Warmer - people said this was stupid but we use cloth wipes at home and this is perfect for them.

Boppy pillow - a life saver in those first weeks when ALL I did was sit and nurse and watch netflix.

Convertible Carseat - We opted out of buying the infant bucket seat, even though I see the ease of having one. We just have convertible carseast that's reclined and rear facing. It's cozy and we can use it until he is 55lbs! 

Nosefrida - T had a cold at 6-7 weeks and this was amazing. No more bulb syringe for us ever. 

PUJ tub - it stores flat which is perfect for our little apartment. We just hang it on a hook in the bathroom. Theo loves the bath so this gets used a lot. Totally worth the money.

Things that were totally not needed:

The crib was the biggest waste of money ever - it's essentially a really expensive cat bed these days. We cosleep and love it. 

Stroller - it's so bulky and huge and Theo hates it. We're going to list it on craigslist. It was really expensive too, which was so stupid to spend so much on it in hindsight. Hopefully someone else will be happy to get a deal on a fancy pants stroller.

My dad also bought us a MacClaren umbrella stroller but we WILL use that when he is bigger. It's light, easy to fold and fits perfectly in the car. 

[guatemama1]

ooh yeah the boppy. i didn't use it for the first month cuz i always side-lay bf'ed..but now i use it every day and arlo likes to lay across it when i'm in it and we chat. and i use it tween my legs while sleeping - i got really used to doing that during pregnancy, having pillows between my knees.

and i hear ya about clothes ~ baby outfits are so weird sometimes like jeans, like not something he'd ever hang out in. cozy onsies, sweat pants stuffs are only what we've used, too

[mugglesmom]

Yep I agree the crib is the biggest waste.  We have it side carred to our king sized bed but he's never even been in it.  He sleeps snuggled up to me.  At least we only bought an cheap Ikea crib.

We use prefolds too but we like the thirsties covers.  But the only other covers we've tried are the woollybottoms and although they're super cute it sucks that they're pull on when you have a big explosion. 

I love my Boppy I use it all day long.  I wish I had one to take with me when I go out.

I never thought I'd need a swing and now I love it!  Fosston does not nap at all unless he's in my arms and since I got the swing he will take a nap every few days on his own with the swing on so I can get things done around the house.

I love our convertable seat but sometimes I wish we had the bucket seat.  We've gone out to dinner a couple of times with him and we don't have anywhere to put him so we end eating in shifts or one handed.

We love the Ergo.  Way easier than the moby.  Plus my DH loves wearing it so he'll carry Fosston around all day which gives me a break!

I just bought a rockin baby sling from zulily yesterday so we'll see how that goes!

[guatemama1]

i'm a fan of the mei tai we got down here, as opposed to the moby and ring sling we have (by the way, i felt like such a moron... i ordered a "maya ring sling" only to find out they are made here... so it went from here to the US back here again.. and they are wildly expensive for something so typical down here... duh, i should have known)

aaaanyway, yesterday we were out and DH had arlo in the mei tai, for the first time with his legs out by the way!, and this couple was very interested in our carrier. i stepped right into game show host mode and went thru all the benefits of babywearing and use of a mei tai, including rattling off the website of the gal who did the babywearing workshop we went to in the capital and where we bough the carrier. made me realize how much i've learned :) then afterward, as we walked away, DH goes, mockingly, "just go to lomasnatural dot oooooorrg" haha i think i came off as super enthused :)

it's so true how much trial and error it takes to find what works for a mom n' baby... and it can definitely feel like a waste of money on some stuff