Baby Essentials « Back to Group Discussions

[amanda bee]

I realize this is similar to the crafting/shopping thread but I am curious as to what everyone thinks are baby essentials (things you have or want for your newborn).

I am starting from scratch as I gave all my baby stuff away years ago…

For me the basics I need include:

cloth diapers (hemp liners & cloth wipes)

sling

lambskin

swaddle blankets

neutral organic onesies & sleepers

car seat

rocking chair

What are other mama's baby essentials? 

[cmu204]

I really needed the Boppy. #1 was so much smaller than I had expected that it made me feel more confident that I would not drop her.
Also the Ergo with the little "taco" insert. Kept her snug like a bug next to me, which was reassuring.

[aidenn]

Sling, diapers, carseat, white onesies, 2 blankets. Maybe a hat or a few pairs of socks. That's all for essentials. I also have a swing from the older kids and a highchair.

My essentials list was never big, but with each subsequent kid, I have less and less "essentials" which I suppose is the nature of things!

[splath]

Not an essential, but I always found a bouncy chair very handy.  It is the only way I got to shower for the first few months!

Other than that, diapers, cloth wipes, a few swaddle blankets, a hat, sleepers, a wrap or sling, a car seat and you're good to go!

[amanda bee]

i agree a bouncy chair definitely comes in handy.

has anyone tried the baby bjorn balance?

http://www.babybjorn.com/us/products/bouncers/babysitter-balance/balance/

[chispita]

First time mom here, so I don't really know what I'm talking about here, but so far the things that we know we will be buying (or getting secondhand, or dropping hints to friends about) are:

- Cloth diapers (considering going with a diaper service, but we know we'll be going back to Spain with the little bean for two or three weeks on Christmas, and I'd rather not have to use disposables for so long....)

- Breast pump (I'll be going  back to work)

- Car seat

- Sling / baby carrier (I'm assuming we'll have to try a few different types till we find out what works for us)

- Baby clothes (since that's what most friends are likely to gift, we'll hold off on buying clothes till the very end, when we have a clearer idea of what we need).

And I hadn't really though much further than that yet.

amanda bee - what's the lambskin for?

[amanda bee]

chispita- My DS loved snuggling on his lambskin.

I used it for 'tummy time' when he was little (in lieu of a play mat) 

and then he would nap on it as he got older.

http://www.magiccabin.com/Bedtime-and-Swaddle/Babys-Lambskin-Short-Shorn-Wool-Sleep-Pad-from-Australia.htm

[OceanSolitude]

Originally Posted by chispita 

First time mom here, so I don't really know what I'm talking about here, but so far the things that we know we will be buying (or getting secondhand, or dropping hints to friends about) are:

- Cloth diapers (considering going with a diaper service, but we know we'll be going back to Spain with the little bean for two or three weeks on Christmas, and I'd rather not have to use disposables for so long....)
- Breast pump (I'll be going  back to work)
- Car seat
- Sling / baby carrier (I'm assuming we'll have to try a few different types till we find out what works for us)
- Baby clothes (since that's what most friends are likely to gift, we'll hold off on buying clothes till the very end, when we have a clearer idea of what we need).

And I hadn't really though much further than that yet.

amanda bee - what's the lambskin for?

You could just get a couple dozen flat birdseye diapers for use those few weeks when you are in Spain, and later you can fold them as inserts/doublers or back ups if you run out of diaper service diapers one week or use for cleaning. Flats are the cheapest way to go, and they will dry fast hanging on a line or shower rod. I have heard you can also use flannel receiving blankets as flat diapers if you get way too many or find them cheap at garage sales. This is my first baby too, but I love to look up baby stuff on the internet, and know way more than I should about cloth diapers for not having a baby. It is how I procrastinated through grad school...

[OceanSolitude]

From a previous employer/former friends (long story involving why not to work for friends...) I have about 3 dozen infant size prefolds, and my sister gave me her newborn size covers from her sons. They seem to still have some life in them, but I might buy a few more covers. She will iikely send me her other covers as well so I might be set for that. I have also made a couple dozen fitted and larger size prefolds out of old t-shirts which I hope will work and about 50 cloth wipes.

I like too many pillows and fluffy blankets to safely co-sleep, but my mother-in-law did foster care and has a newer bassinette that we will use for the first few months right next to our bed. Then we willl likely buy a crib from Ikea.

I'm assuming I will get much hand me down clothes from my sister, and have a couple bags of mixed clothes from that previous employer, so I might be set for clothes for a while.

I will need
-carseat: now to decide to get an infant or convertible right from the beginning.
-Ergo and infant insert, I have a wrap I made, but want something a little less complicated
-crib and bassinette sheets
-I also want a glider. Rockers scoot around and I always end up hitting the wall
-more post partum cloth pads
-baby friendly laundry detergent
-likely lots of odds and ends: socks, hats, baby essentials (finger nail clippers, bulb sucky thing, SLS free baby shampoo)

[chispita]

Originally Posted by OceanSolitude 


You could just get a couple dozen flat birdseye diapers for use those few weeks when you are in Spain, and later you can fold them as inserts/doublers or back ups if you run out of diaper service diapers one week or use for cleaning. Flats are the cheapest way to go, and they will dry fast hanging on a line or shower rod. I have heard you can also use flannel receiving blankets as flat diapers if you get way too many or find them cheap at garage sales. This is my first baby too, but I love to look up baby stuff on the internet, and know way more than I should about cloth diapers for not having a baby. It is how I procrastinated through grad school...

I'll look into it - though probably in a few months. Though I know I'm interested in cloth diapering (because I do have a somewhat sensitive skin myself, even as an adult) I haven't really done any research into it at all.

[amanda bee]

Originally Posted by chispita 

amanda bee - what's the lambskin for?

I used one for 'tummy & floor time" with my son.

He absolutely loved snuggling on it!

[splath]

I loved the lambskin for a bed mat for my December baby. Plus, pictures were beautiful on it. You can buy a less expensive one at Ikea.
Edited by splath - 1/31/13 at 6:05am

[chispita]

Originally Posted by amanda bee 

I used one for 'tummy & floor time" with my son.

He absolutely loved snuggling on it!

Ooooh, that sounds nice. Now I want and adult sized one for myself 

[nettlesoup]

I plan to breastfeed this baby; something I completely failed at with my daughter due to health at the time. Do you think it's worth getting a breast pump just to have around? I won't be going to work, but I'm wondering if one might come in handy anyway.
 

[cmu204]

I got a pump, bc I thought I was going back to work, but ended up not 'needing' it. I still used it however, because it was great to let DH help feed the baby (and me to get a few minutes of solo time).

[dakipode]

I second cmu: my friend who became a stay at home mom got a pump to let her DH help out with feeding and to have something on hand if the baby gets hungry while she's out running errands etc. The baby gets a bit fussy about feeding sometimes and then she pumps so her breasts won't feel so full.

AFM: we need everything since this is our first but I haven't really started thinking about what that all means. I'm sort of hoping for a lot of hand me downs and loaners from other friends and then as we settle into our new life we can start acquiring the things we actually use. Mostly I'm concerned about replacing the carpet before the baby arrives, maybe at the latest before he/she starts crawling. Should we try to do it earlier to give the fumes plenty of time to dissipate?

[mattie426]

Insurance has to pay for a pump now too, so you might as well get one. In the US at least.

[nettlesoup]

Sadly that's not the case for me. But I'll definitely get one, I think it will come in very handy.
 

[Mama Ana]

This is our 2nd baby and I still have basically everything from my daughter. I've given a few things away that I have found to be unnecessary and as long as this baby is a girl we won't "HAVE" to buy anything however (teehee) I have my eye on a few things I would like this time around. 

for baby:

-Better swaddling blankets---aden & anais seem nice & big

-a lambskin would be nice for tummy time

-non-pink/purple clothes if baby isn't a girl

-a natural lotion--rather than Johnson's

-a new diaper bag 

-a lovey for when they are older (my daughter got lucky as I had a stuffed monkey she made her own. with this babe i think i am going to try and find a homemade animal for them on etsy)

-a mattress and sheets for when babe moves to a floor bed. 

for me:

-postpartum cloth pads

-Earth Mama recovery bath herbs

-breast pads

-breast pump-I had such a huge over supply with my daughter that I was able to pump and donate what i didn't use/need since i mostly stayed home with her. 

-probably going to need new maternity clothes because i didn't lose all my previous baby weight. this time though i'm just gonna go to goodwill. I may just live in dresses and skirts. it'd be easier if i could just be naked though hahaha!

We still have our daughters car-seat however it's the infant style bucket ones but i'm wondering if just starting out with a convertible seat would be best. I also need to figure out if a wrap or sling is better for a newborn. I have both but my daughter HATED the wrap and I didn't have a sling yet. So we will see which I end up with!  We have a bassinet that we will use and then probably move babe to a floor bed and then a toddler bed. This time around I wouldn't say we HAVE TO HAVE anything but man...there are a few things I think I will still buy simply because through trial and error I found a better solution. 

[mamaw/two]

For me the must haves are

cloth diapers and wipes

nursing bras

baby wrap

car seat

some sleepers, onsies, socks, and a hat

coconut oil for babies skin

Extras that I don't HAVE to have, but that make life easier

boppy

nursing nightgowns and night bras

bouncy seat

big cloth pads w/ waterproof backing to put on baby and my side of the bed