That just made my day!!!!!!! That's how my cat would be, pretty chill about the whole thing (I think...) Thanks for posting!
Here kitty-kitty.... Likely she would never come near me, again... Too funny!
As soon as this one comes out I will post a "how to use a moby wrap effectively, entirely ignoring what the DVD that came with it says" video - promise! (I haven't actually watched the video, but the one that came with my Maya Wrap sling was bloody useless, so I'm just assuming that one is too.)
I look forward to this!!! So far I've only wrapped my teddy bear, but I've eyed up the cat a few times... I'm sure I'll be re-learning with a real life baby.
The last time I was pregnant, DH and I practiced with a 5 pound bag of rice 
Here kitty-kitty.... Likely she would never come near me, again... Too funny!
At any rate, it would probably set up some sort of weird cat-psychology thing when she saw the baby in it later... who knows how their strange little brains interpret things???
If it's your first baby, the cat is going to take some adjusting whether you wrapped the cat or not. We unfortunately had to find our cats new homes after the birth of our first. They started peeing on everything. First things in the baby room - so we closed that door so they couldn't go in. Then the laundry room (baskets of CLEAN CLOTHES) so we closed that door. Then our bedroom. We closed that door, and finally they were peeing on their own BEDS. Cat pee is just the worst, and notthing we did seemed to help. They weren't acting dangerous towards the baby, but their behaviour just became so out of whack that we could no longer handle it with a newborn. We were sad, but I think they are happier in their new home - it's been 3 years. Not every cat has difficulty adjusting, but some do.
Dogs do better, I think.
Oh, my cat will be fine, I'm sure. He *seemed* like an affectionate cuddly cat, until it became clear that when he sat on laps and purred, as he did frequently, it was simply because he wanted the seat that the person was in, and the fact that a person was already in it was immaterial. Getting up to get a cup of tea in that situation usually results in the cat being right back in the seat, at which point it's easy to pick him up and put him back on the lap. What we were reading as affection and cuddliness was actually simply seat preference and indifference to humans, by and large. He's not averse to the odd freak-out but it's usually just a build up of young-cat energy and after scaring the dog and leaping at someone he'll get tossed outside and go take it out on the mice. Generally he's a really easy cat to live with - but I don't think he would put up with being stuck in a wrap. Although it IS very tempting to have DH try it. ("practice" you know - I've been caring for babies for the last 4 years but DH hasn't had one to play with for a looooong time.)
It's not our first child but the cat arrived when child #1 was 5, so cat has no experience with babies - but I expect the same kind of general indifference. Our old cat was a crotchety old thing but SO good with babies & toddlers, despite never having been around one until DD was born when she was 12. And the current cat is an indoor/outdoor cat who pees and poops outside so I don't expect (knock on wood) any issues in that area.
Anyway, sorry to hijack the thread with the kitties! Back to our regularly scheduled "what babies should wear in March in New York"...
I'm curious about this, too. I searched online and it seems to be an urban legend that cats and babies = danger... but.... My cat LOVES to sleep on my face - to the point where I'll toss her off the bed 20+ times a night and she comes right back. I've heard that cats tend to ignore babies because they're loud when they cry. I hope this will be the case. Anyone have any personal stories to share?
The make cat tents for the arms reach co sleeper. We did use ours, with no issues, because the cats did try to sleep in it.
No problem, Meggsy :)
FWIW, I went through my newborn stuff a couple of days ago and realized that I thought I had WAY more than I really do that will fit when the baby is 0-6 weeks. BUT, even though I don't have as many clothing items as I'd anticipated, it still feels like plenty.
I've continued to keep my eyes peeled for newborn sized cozy buntings - it looks like you could probably find one very cheap in a store like old navy, baby gap, carters, etc, since stores are at the end of the winter season and are trying to offload inventory.
I've also looked around a little bit at the showercap style carseat covers. Has anyone used one of these? I'm considering getting one but it would be nice to know whether any of them will still fit comfortably over the baby next winter (when baby is, say, 8-12 months)?
Given that we're having an amazingly mild winter so far here in Chicago, I doubt that I will jump the gun on buying anything special right now. I did this last year for DD (when we lived in NYC) - got her this amazing snow bunting thing and snow shoes and stuff, then we had practically no snow the entire winter. What a bust.
Here's a link to the JJ Cole brand cover that's "shower cap style". I've looked around at the reviews and this one seems to be as good as or better than the other similar options out there. Seems like this would be a nice option for you IF you plan to use an infant car seat frequently - you could wrap baby in blankets or snuggly warm clothes then cover it all with this cover if it's super duper cold out.
I've read many warnings against using ANY type of car seat accessory that places squishy fabric between baby and the seat, for the same reason that you don't want baby in a bulky jacket while in the car seat. This is, of course, only relevant for the time baby is using the car seat in a car! So if you're using the car seat in a stroller, or if baby is just in a stroller, then the other JJ Cole bundle me's might provide you with more functionality...
I'm torn on this one. We had a great shower-cap style cover we used for my daughter (December baby) but I don't know if we'll need it in April and May. Also, I cannot for the life of me remember who I lent it out to.
We live in a notoriously windy climate, so the fleece would really be no help since wind just goes right through it. It is windy to the point that all the trees in our yard lean in one direction. I anticipate I'll end up wearing baby if we end up signing my son up for little league, but she will be outside in the spring and it would be nice to have something protected to put her in if I need to help my son with something. Granted, I don't think I'd would leave a baby in a carseat anywhere near where loose balls go flying through the air, so it might become a non-issue there, too.
Hmm...I was reading that car seat manufacturers warn you not use others' buntings to pull the straps through, and that it is better to have a bunting with legs and no holes for the straps than another manufacturers bunting....but I am not totally sure - they seem to be really popular. Honestly, there are so many "rules" for safety it is a bit dizzying.
I was thinking to get a patagonia "Synchilla" fleece - it is windproof and has legs or an option to zip the legs into a bunting and is very warm and zippers on the sides for venting. I was told as a rule of thumb to add an extra layer onto what you would wear. Since I alternate between a winter and a spring coat in NYC in early April, I figure I could just put him in one or two layers under the fleece the way I dress when I go for a hike. However, I am planning to get a bassinet accessory for the stroller, and to alternate between baby carrier and stroller (Because, in part, of another safety warning about too much carrying early on can affect reflexes...but also because I have a spinal injury and am not sure I can carry all the time).
The problem with the buntings (and then coats later on) is you can tighten the straps down and the coat will keep it from getting as tight as it should. There is a lot more force on the straps in an accident and the insulation in the bunting (or coat) will give and the straps will be too loose. In this situation it is possible for the child to move into an unsafe position and then the force of the straps as they hold the child into the seat can cause damage. We actually leave blankets in the car and have always had the kids take their coats off.
Of course, I'd love to say I started taking their coats off for safety reasons, but it was really to stop them from whining when they got too hot after the heat kicked in. 
But, it occurred to us that it was safer to have no coat or bunting under the straps AND no whining from the kids.
Hmm...I was reading that car seat manufacturers warn you not use others' buntings to pull the straps through, and that it is better to have a bunting with legs and no holes for the straps than another manufacturers bunting....but I am not totally sure - they seem to be really popular. Honestly, there are so many "rules" for safety it is a bit dizzying.
Melany's explanation of why coats (and buntings and bundle me's) in the car seat are a no-no is spot on. I don't think it matters how the garment gets put on the baby (or the seat). What matters is that you don't want to introduce squishiness between baby's body and the seat! I totally noticed this issue just this morning. It was 0F this morning when we were walking to the Zipcar for a midwife appt. I left DD in her coat for the car ride because it was so friggin cold out while I was getting her strapped in - but the straps were IMPOSSIBLE to tighten adequately. Total bad mommy moment.
The patagonia bunting will be awesome for use in the bassinet. Seems like the only drawback to those buntings (if I remember correctly) is that they have closed feet, so if baby has long legs it will outgrow the bunting in the legs early on. But since we're talking about a tiny baby and only a couple of months of potentially cold weather to protect from, I don't see why it will be an issue.
I don't think I've heard of the reflex-related safety warning for using baby carriers??? I can see how there might be some damage to be done by using a "crotch dangler" for extended periods. But if using a carrier that lets you place the newborn in a totally upright position with it's legs "froggy style", I see nothing but good benefits to the baby's core muscles, not to mention all the good that comes from shared body heat and closeness to mommy.
Re your concerns about babywearing given your spinal injury: Have you stopped by Metro Minis on the Upper East Side? Their staff are the bomb and they can spend lots of time with you to help you figure out the best carrier for your body and it's needs. They also do great (free) babywearing workshops.
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