what do you really need when you have a baby? - Page 2 « Back to Group Discussions

[1stTimeMama4-4-10]

We have one and never used it.  I bathed with my daughter when she was an infant, and she only started taking solo baths when she was about 18 months old.

[sallyrae17]

Special baby tubs are totally not necessary...unless you don't have a bathtub or sink to wash your LO in. My son took baths with me for a really long time before I wanted him to be in the water by himself (probably 18 months or so, like 1stTimeMama).

[ithappened]

I actually just use this ikea clothing storage box (its plastic) when DS wants to bathe alone but as a baby I just held him in the shower then DH would take him to dry him off. . .
 

[iixivboots]

What do you minimalist mamas think about contoured changing pads vs. towel on the bed/flat travel pad for diaper changes? I have read mixed things, some people say that first-time parents with wiggly babies will love the contoured one? It's not a big deal because they are pretty cheap, but just curious...

[LittleBirdy]

You mean just a changing pad?  I wouldn't have bought one if it weren't for the fact that the dresser we got handed down from SIL was the kind with a spot for a changing pad on top.  If you plan to do diaper changes on a bed or the floor I would totally go with a towel or a flat pad or whatever.

That being said, hopefully you can do more changes on a raised surface like a bed when your LO is newborn.  Because getting down on hands and knees to change diapers 12+ times a day when you are still recovering from birth?  Not fun!

[NewMumJoy]

Since we don't have any specific furniture (such as a changing table or dresser) for the baby, I just plan to use an old towel wherever for changings.  During the day (downstairs) we'll use the couch and at night (upstairs) we'll use our bed.  I'll keep the diapers/ointments/wipes/onsies in a basket to have on hand nearby so I'm not leaving him unattended for stuff.  We don't even have a crib yet; he'll be sleeping in a pack n play (or possibly cosleeping w/us) until we relocate and it has one of those little built-in changing trays which might fit him for a couple months.  I have no idea how to the address the wiggly stage when we get to that.....

[ithappened]

For DS1 we just put a towel on the couch or bed.. with the twins we'll do the same. .

[LeAnn A Doula]

We have a pad just because my mom picked up a changing station for us. I'll probably just use a towel or blanket during the day though. I don't see myself running to the nursery every time I need to change a diaper.

[eleuthia]

I'm planning on just getting a couple travel changing pads (upstairs & downstairs) and having two sets of diaper supplies too. I got a really great organizer tote at my shower that will be perfect for one of the locations. 

[Lizbiz]

I had an infant tub for my son and daughter and I liked it - but then again, we did not have a big bathtub in China.  I do like the control that an infant tub gives you for a newborn, although they quickly outgrow it.  What I think we'll do back in the US - is just get the wired thingamabob that has a like a hammock seat where you rest the baby in to bathe it - do you know what I'm talking about?  It's not an infant tub, but rather just a hammock that the baby rests in so you can just lean over and bathe them rather than having to support their slippery bodies and necks when they are so little.  It gives me more confidence, especially if I have little helpers around to distract me while I'm bathing the baby.  

As for a changing area - I just buy a few really cheap flat travel changing mats - I don't quite trust that a towel will contain a mess or a pee pee that occurs while diaper changing - and throw those on either the bed or in the living room - and then have diaper changing supplies in a nightstand or a basket.  I've never had a changing table (or a nursery actually) and have never missed either one.  My babes stay in our room for the first few months at least - probably up until 6 months or so and then transition to the kids room with siblings.  And I could never conceive of taking my baby all the way to a changing table when I can just grab a diaper in the living room and change quickly.  I often change the new baby on my bed though because of how much time we spend in our room right at first.

[Tizzy]

We've never had a changing "table", with our first we had a spare bed in the "office" on the main floor right around the corner from the bathroom. I kept the basket of cloth diapers and wipes right there and the diaper pail is nearby.

Actually, even though this is my 4th, I still cannot get the hang of changing a baby sideways! We've just always done it vertically.

For the second and third, we had the same setup except on the couch. I'll put a travel change mat down, then a towel or receiving blanket on top of it.

But really, they get changed on the coffee table, floor, nearest chair etc. As long as they have a towel or blanket under them, I don't see a problem with it :-)

[Veritas Vitae]

After trying to find a used changing table I've ultimately decided it is not worth the expense.  We've received a bunch of old baby blankets that I don't really like the material of as blankets, so I think those will just be used as changing pads.

I did go with a baby tub because it will help me to feel more confident about bath time.  I registered for one of the plastic ones with the mesh hammock.

[LittleBirdy]

Originally Posted by Veritas Vitae 

After trying to find a used changing table I've ultimately decided it is not worth the expense.  We've received a bunch of old baby blankets that I don't really like the material of as blankets, so I think those will just be used as changing pads.

I did go with a baby tub because it will help me to feel more confident about bath time.  I registered for one of the plastic ones with the mesh hammock.

I skipped the tub with my first and regretted it.  Our kitchen sink was too small for bathing (I have long babies!) and the bath tub was just too huge and I was afraid of dropping him.  So I got in the tub with him for every single bath until he got really good at sitting up.  I didn't mind it so much but it would be nice to have another option, especially now that I have a 2 year old to worry about!

[eleuthia]

i now have two tubs on their way to me... one is a collapsible hard plastic tub (flexi-bath) with an infant insert to support him when he's tiny. it can also be used as a mini kiddie pool (for our mini backyard) when he's older AND as a foot bath for pregnant lady feet 

i also got the blooming bath sink insert for in our kitchen sink. 

we don't have a bathtub, so i think it will be nice to have a couple options. and at worst, we end up with a toy bin and a cute cushion. 

[LilyTiger]

My MIL found a standalone baby bath hammock-y thing at one of the Big Lots stores for like $5, so that might be an option for moms who want to try something without making a big investment.  We're getting a tub from my SIL anyway, but I can't really see using it.  Our kitchen sink is big and leaning over our tub just doesn't seem comfortable.  We have a claw foot tub, so it's harder to lean over and down than most.

I like the idea of a tote bag to keep in the bedroom. We have a little trunk that could double as a changing table if DH can keep his clothes off it.  Otherwise, our house is small enough that the nursery is centrally located to everything, so that should be ok.

It's kind of funny, but I've gone from being obsessed with the registry and worrying about what's not on there to figuring that we'll make do somehow.  I've hit a shopping wall where I don't want to do it anymore.  I went shopping for father's day to find a cute onesie and ended up just sort of staring around.  So, I guess we'll see what we get at our shower and go pretty minimalist on everything else.

[iixivboots]

More questions...how many receiving blankets do you really need, and what about burp cloths? People said people will give us a ton of these, but we have barely any.

[FeralFox]

Receiving blankets *are* burp cloths.  Skip the tiny useless burp rags and go with a bunch of cheap receiving blankets.  They're really good for all kinds of things - burp cloths, positioning rolls, nursing cover (if you use one), clean up rag, changing mat, play area while out and about, etc.

[Justmee]

Originally Posted by bootsvalentine 

What do you minimalist mamas think about contoured changing pads vs. towel on the bed/flat travel pad for diaper changes? I have read mixed things, some people say that first-time parents with wiggly babies will love the contoured one? It's not a big deal because they are pretty cheap, but just curious...

The only reason I don't like the the towel thing is because it's not waterproof under. I have a pad that is PUL on one side, fabric on the other, so it can be washed and is still waterproof.

[LilyTiger]

Boots, I think you said you weren't going to cloth diaper, but you could pick up a cheap pack of cloth diapers at Target or wherever.  They double as burp cloths, bibs, etc., and you can use them for household stuff way after baby is older.  We were still using our old cloth diapers to wash cars, buff furniture, and clean up messes 15 years after my brother was out of diapers, so they last forever.  And you can use them as a mini changing pad in a pinch if you stick a few in the car/stroller/etc.
 

[LilyTiger]

As far as bedding goes, do you really need anything other than a fitted sheet?  I've been avoiding all the crazy packages because they're expensive and filled with stuff I don't think we need (like crib dust ruffles, and bumpers, and such).  Is there something I'm missing that I would need to buy in addition to simple fitted sheets?  I got some breathable mesh bumpers, but that's about it.