baby # 3.. older.. wiser *lol* what are your must have items for this time around? « Back to Group Discussions

[Michelle Renee]

Morning!

Im bored and putting off doing chores..so I figured I would post..

What do you think your must have items for this time around for your baby?  This is baby #3 and I am a little older (will be 37) and I have 2 children already who have their own set of issues.. what items will you have this time around to make your life easier?  Or what do you have NOW that will be the first for you to get out of storage.

My essential list: (stuff I have saved from my previous girls)

• Cosleeper (true bedsharing not safe - both of us are heavy and DH has sleep apnea) we may have to get a mini because now have a king size bed and I am honestly not sure if the full size one will fit in our room anymore.
• Diapers - I have bumgenius 2 and as much as I would love new fluff - I replaced all my original fuzzibuns with bumgenius from my first to my second
• Breast pump - I have 3.  Freestyle (the best for frequent pumping), ameda medical grade *huge*, and regular ameda.  I have medical issues and have next to no milk (5 ounces total in a 24 hour period with pumping every 2 hours)
• Swing - I would lovvee to replace my swing with the mamaroo?  or anything that plugs in  but I am not sure
• baby carriers - usually the baby chooses which they like.  I have an ergo, ella roo, ring sling, moby, and an infantino.   My my first DD was born - she loved that awful infantino - LOVED it for like 20 minutes a day...ugh
• my brest friend. Mine has to be replaced but I used this all the time
• SNS/Lactaid .  I will have to check mine to see how they have aged.

I want this time around:

Snap N go - I confess.. I am older and a little heavier and a little more out of shape -  I will buy a snap and go stroller.  I thought these things were the devil with my first 2 kids and never left my baby in a bucket.. always wore them.  But for running my other two kids into preschool/first grade - it will be popping the bucket out, sticking bucket  in snap n go, and running into the school for sign in, especially in the winter.  Don't take my AP card from me :p

I want to try one of those Snuza Halo Baby Movement Monitor things.  We used angel care monitors with our last 2 but I sold them.. so I think this seems so cool.

Puj Tub.  I hate, hate, bathing my kids- even know.. bending over the bath tub.. ugh.  That thing looks cool.

A new van.  HAH.  I can't fit 3 kids in my car.  Totally on a tangent, I told my Mom a year ago that if we ever had another baby, I would need her help because we would need a van and she was like "Oh Michelle,,, your children are everything to you... just don't worry about it"  I hope to goodness that she remembers she said this in the fall when I say, "Mom can you cosign" :p

Tripp Trapp.   Both of my girls have a tripp trapp and this baby will have their own (I Hope)

***

I think this being baby #3 - you realize you don't need as much as you thought you did at first.  Sure, you may often find yourself at babies r us or the thrift store to pick something up but it isn't as critical as you thought with baby #1.   We totally changed our house since my girls got older.  We got  a sectional couch in our living room which takes up the whole living room but allows for us to actually be together.  I just dont have the space for jumpers, swings, pack n plays, high chairs, etc like I used to.  Even in my dining room - it is small and my extra space I used to have has been filled with a pantry because I needed to store food.

I am worried in my kitchen how I will make space for bottles AND supplies for packing lunches (containers, bento stuff, etc)

[Imakcerka]

Everything!  Seriously I have nothing.  I gave everything away after my last one 7 yrs ago.  I still have the crib but I don't plan on using that one.  I'll be getting a new one.  My babies napped in their cribs but slept with us at night so we'll see how soon I actually need one. 

Car seat

stroller

wrap

clothes

diapers

breast pump

bottles

blankets

swing

You name it I need it! 

[Adaline'sMama]

I'm kind of going the opposite route this time. With my past two, I was super minimalist about everything. We live in a super tiny space, and bed shared/used a cosleeper, no monitoring, no swings/bouncers/ect. Here is my mater list of what I need this time (Its typed up on my computer, so sorry its so long.)

Cribs X 2
Crib Mattresses and bedding X2
Graco Size4me 70 carseat X2
Snuza Halo Monitor X2
1000 nb disposables
City Mini Double Stroller- Got it!
Mirrors so I can see the newborns in the car
Twin Z pillow (its like a boppy for twins)
Some sort of clothing storage for the twins
Big chair to nurse in , little table to put next to it
5 more diaper covers
20 GMD prefolds
4 Tommee Tippee bottles
Swing
Bouncy Seat
Highchair(s?)- probably more like this: http://www.ikeahackers.net/2010/12/ultimate-twin-highchair.html
10 Phillips Avent Soothies
Need to make some more cloth wipes
Oh, and Ill need a Honda Odyssey


Things I already have and couldnt live without:
Sleep Sheep
Star Turtle
Moby wrap/Boba structured carrier/ ring sling/ steel structured backpack carrier/ and a woven wrap that a friend is giving me.
Medela breast pump
Nose Frida



I used sposies fot the first month for each of my kids before. Ill probably need a few more this time as they will likely be smaller than my other two already small kids 1000 diapers for two kids is only about 50 days worth of diapers. Scary

[Michelle Renee]

Originally Posted by Imakcerka 

Everything!  Seriously I have nothing.  I gave everything away after my last one 7 yrs ago.  I still have the crib but I don't plan on using that one.  I'll be getting a new one.  My babies napped in their cribs but slept with us at night so we'll see how soon I actually need one. 

Car seat

stroller

wrap

clothes

diapers

breast pump

bottles

blankets

swing

You name it I need it! 

When do you think  you will start collecting everything?

[Adaline'sMama]

Im starting now. I've been told by everyone I know who has had twins that you want to have everything done and ready by the last week of your second trimester. That gives me about 14 weeks! Not a lot of time!

[loveandgarbage]

This is #3 for us as well. We actually sold a lot of baby stuff at a garage sale a couple of years ago (we thought we were *done* and would adopt, or maybe have a baby in our late 30s-- whoops!). Stuff that I need to buy again:

-Boppie

-Cloth diapers! We have nothing!

-Electric breastpump (we have a manual one that is a pain to use... I want to be able to go out to dinner/etc a lot earlier this time instead of waiting til the kids can eat solids when they're toddlers!)

-Exersaucer (both of my boys loved theirs, but it's been heavily used and I think we might've even thrown it away, have to check basement)

-Bouncy seat

-Swaddlers with velcro

-baby car seat

-NEW CAR AHHHHHHH

[typebug]

I am worried in my kitchen how I will make space for bottles AND supplies for packing lunches (containers, bento stuff, etc)

Ugh I know. I have zero counter space and I've been eyeing this baby food cooker/food processer combo that looks pretty groovy (ps if anyone has one is it amazing or silly?). No idea where I'd put that. 

[Michelle Renee]

Originally Posted by typebug 

Ugh I know. I have zero counter space and I've been eyeing this baby food cooker/food processer combo that looks pretty groovy (ps if anyone has one is it amazing or silly?). No idea where I'd put that. 

Honestly

If you can swing it - get a vitamix or a kitchen aide with a meat grinder attachment.   We used that for making our own food and got a lot more use out of it then just a baby gadget.

I store my kitchen aid mixer but my vitamix is out on the counter.

Good luck :)
 

[loveandgarbage]

I want a vitamix soooooo bad! I'm always on the lookout for used ones, maybe one day I'll get lucky.

[kdorrain]

We probably need a new bouncy seat (my DH is a SAHD and loves this gadget, so my first two sort of wrecked ours).

I need a new pump. I've burned through a Medela Pump In Style and a Freestyle.  I think the Freestyle is crap, but I travel internationally for work and have to have the lightweight/rechargeable/portability.  I will probably replace the big pump with a Hygeia, I've heard good things.

Bottle nipples (bottles are fine, nipples need to be tossed annually)

I would love a nice woven wrap for me and a fleecy pocket sling for DH.  But he thinks we have too many slings.  

Michelle, here is an idea: look up baby-led weaning and don't bother with the baby food.    There is good information on LaLeche League's forums.  It is the only way to go for the busy (or lazy) moms. 

Otherwise we're set. 

Kristine

[Gray's Mommy]

We need to purchase:

a car seat

a bouncy seat (my other 3 loved these)

a few new cloth diapers (maybe 4-5)

a new wipie warmer (still so silly, but I have had winter babies & it is nice to not be wiped with a cold one)

a few new outfits if it is a boy

a whole new wardrobe if it is a girl

We're set on everything else. WOO HOO!!

[Michelle Renee]

Michelle, here is an idea: look up baby-led weaning and don't bother with the baby food.    There is good information on LaLeche League's forums.  It is the only way to go for the busy (or lazy) moms. 

Otherwise we're set. 

Kristine

Being that I am 95% dependent on donor milk, I start solids as soon as possible to stretch my milk.  I wish I could go the other way :p

[Michelle Renee]

Originally Posted by loveandgarbage 

I want a vitamix soooooo bad! I'm always on the lookout for used ones, maybe one day I'll get lucky.

QVC has it on easy pay sometimes :)

I love me some easy pay!

[sweetestday]

I just had a baby last September, so about the only thing I need is maternity clothes. I was sick of the ones I had, so gave them all away except for a couple favorites. This one will be the opposite season, anyway. I'll be hitting the thrift stores as soon as my pants stop fitting. I had just gotten back into my pre-pregnancy clothes, and haven't grown out of them yet. 

I have discovered that I am really liking receiving blankets to use as flats diapers. With my 9mo, I'm just using a Bummis cover and a receiving blanket folded in a rectangle like a prefold. It washes up and dries on the line like a dream, and they have such cute prints! I had my mom and MIL look at garage sales, and now I have close to 3 doz., so I should be set for the new baby. I just ordered up some gently used small sized Bummis wraps, so I am set. 

I have tons of girls clothes saved up that have never gotten to be used, and plenty of boy stuff, of course, so I don't need anymore.

I really can't think of anything else. I'm set for carriers and strollers. 

Oh, I'll need a car seat. That should be it. :)

[sweetestday]

Vitamix! :D My husband promised me one if I could push the baby out before the midwife came last September, so we wouldn't have such a big bill. I did, and my husband caught the baby... I haven't gotten the Vitamix yet. :) We really can't afford it now, so I tell him I'm fine without it till later. Someday I'll take him up on his promise. ;)

[etsdtm99]

this is #4 for me, i think i'm going to need a few more things than i did with #3 because of things wearing out over time.. 

Things I need that i don't have anymore despite saving everything.

-Swing

-Bouncer (though i may try to get by with just a swing)

- new carseat for my 4 yr old (unrelated, really, but sort of a baby item)

- possibly a new rocking chair or glider (we have worn out THREE of these, so i'm not sure i want to invest in another)

If its a boy,

- newborn/0-3 winter/spring clothes

- paint the pink dresser a more neutral color

What I have:

- carseat (purchased for #3)

- Snap and go (yes, amazing in my 'old age' and with other kids, i also used it running into school but my kids are homeschooled now i'm sure it will still come in handy sometimes)

- 2 mcclaren umbrella strollers. (my 6, will be 7 yr old will be in charge of pushing one of them, i'm sure, i'd rather do this than buy a double)

- pack n play (x2, one with vibrate and white noise to use as a bassinet, for naps and one to use as a 'safe area' from the toddler and to take outside in summer)

- enough cloth diapers for 5 babies.

- cloth nursing pads

- prefolds to use as burp clothes

- baby bath tub

- exersaucer

- booster chair/high chair

- baby carriers
 

[loveandgarbage]

Originally Posted by Michelle Renee 

QVC has it on easy pay sometimes :)

I love me some easy pay!

Nice!

Also completely forgot that we gave away our Ergo to friends who have since moved away. It's probably been used-out anyway. So I guess that will be something we need, too!

[Adaline'sMama]

Hey everyone, since we're talking about stuff, I just wanted to post about the carseat Im going to buy: http://www.gracobaby.com/Products/Pages/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductId=1822614

It's a brand new seat, and it has super low straps (7'') that are suitable for the itty bitties if you arent interested in using bucket seats. Plus, it RF's all the way up to 40 lbs and has an adjustable head rest. My ultimate carseat is the Maxi Cosi Prima,
http://www.maxi-cosi.com/us-en/products/car-seats/convertible/maxicosi-pria-70-convertible-car-seat.aspx but Im like PP and my DD is outgrowing her carseat so that means I have to buy 3 new carseats this year, and I just cant afford it at $250 apiece. The Graco is pretty similar and almost $100 cheaper. But, for those of you buying for only one, the maxi cosi is an awesome, awesome carseat. I has 11 different harness heights!

Ok, Im done.

[loveandgarbage]

Good recs on seats. I just have to decide if I want a bucket seat or a convertible. I could see the bucket coming in handy, but since I baby-wear a lot, it would only be to transport a sleeping babe in the winter into the house. So it might be worth it? Ah, so many decisions!!

[odinsmama]

When ds 2 was around 2.5 I felt really done with having more kids so I got rid of all clothes, bouncy seat, excersaucer etc. I kept the diapers and told dh I'd get rid of them when he got a vasectomy.

However, I have a friend with a 3 month old (who has both pink and blue clothes saved) and a friend who is due in 4 weeks, so I know we'll be totally covered in hand me down clothes.
I think I want to get another bouncy seat (mainly for using the toilet and showering if I don't get one before dh leaves for work) but I'd like to avoid the excersaucer and swing this time around. We recently got a full size portable dishwasher (my very first, oh I'm in love!!) and our kitchen is small. The excersaucer was mainly a place for baby to sit while I made dinner, so I'll have to figure something else out.

I already bought a few more diapers. A friend gave me a crazy deal and they're a smaller, but still adjustable, fitted. My dipes from before are all one size and bulky for tiny little butts so these will be nice to start out with. Need to sew a couple of fleece covers and already started making new wipes.

Need to buy another diaper sprayer thing.

I think that's about it. Already have a minivan we bought a couple months before we started trying for this babe. Already have a mei tai and ring sling. .

Oh, thinking about a better pump this time around. Planning to drink some of the milk myself to see if I can heal my sick colon.