help with decision...please.

[preggymeaggy]

So, at my shower we got all this amazing stuff. All of which I totally am pysched to use, except........one of my co-workers (who really isn't on the same page as me) gave me the ENTIRE line of Johnson & Johnson baby care stuff. I have the baby wash, the milk lotion, the baby oil gel, you name it. I would just return it because I normally really like to stay away from the chemicals found in these products, but she didn't include any kind of receipt.
It seems really wasteful to not use it, and just buy the line of products I would like. In fact, it almost seems silly, since we don't have money for me to be picky. But.....ya know.....it's my first baby, and I just wanna start off "right". What should I do? Give away the J&J stuff and buy new, or hold on to it and buy new, or just suck it up until it's gone and then buy what I want from then on? Help a very indecisive silly pregnant lady out. If I ask DH, I think he might laugh and then I'll see his head spin when he finds out I'm actually asking a real question. What would you do?

[Jowchar]

Maybe you could donate it to a women's shelter or something like that. That way it would be used and you wouldn't feel guilty for just throwing it out.

[Fairy4tmama]

I'm not in your ddc but wanted to chime in that if you or your DH have sensative skin, eczema or allergies I would absolutly get rid of it via donation to a family shelter or crisis nursery. We have the above and can not use those type of products even though they say hypoallegenic. if you aren't sensative it may not be as important....but you might want to hold of on using those products for the first few days because strong scents can interfere with the bonding process.

[AlbertaJes]

Found this on new posts.

I'd donate it. I used J&J exactly once on my DD, and it gave her cradle cap. She didn't have it before that bath, and once I got rid of it, she hasn't had it since.

[sophmama]

If you have a Babies R Us or a store like that near you, you could at least go exchange it for something more natural. I bet even Target carries some of those things or at least. You can return things for store credit and get something else - I do it all the time. The store isn't losing money if they already carry the item and you can get something else.

[p1gg1e]

I got 4 packages of there stuff at my shower yesterday.. I'm going to attempt to return it to Target...we will see.. if not I'll regift it or donate it.. or use it as hand soap

DH thinks I'm crazy atleast I'm not the only one that doesn't like their stuff

[beansavi]

Yeah it has a lot of parabens/methylparabens in it. Your instincts are right not to use it on your sweet babe, IMO.

[ibusymomto5]

Babies R Us and Wal-Mart are both excellent at taking back things without a receipt. I'd try to take it back to one of those places and use the credit towards something else.

[umami_mommy]

i'd try to return it or if there is a women and children's homeless shelter near you, i'd donate it. that's what i did with all that stuff from my son's shower.

[Meems]

ditto, I returned all of the J&J stuff to Walmart and they gave me a gift card. If it's something they don't carry, they'll just say, it didn't come from here, no problem...

[preggymeaggy]

Gals...thank you so much. That was just the reassurance I needed. I really don't like their stuff. A friend of mine was like "Awww...whatever...that's what they use at the hospital anyway!" But, my mind kept telling me something was wrong with hanging on to them. So glad I'm not alone. Plus..I didn't even know stores would give you store credit or let you exchange without a receipt. I am totally going to try! If not, I will donate them somewhere.

[artgoddess]

take it back or donate it. I saved stuff like that with my first and never used any of it.

[LEAW]

Yah, that IS what they use at hte hospital, which is why I wouldn'ty let them wash dd

Walmart will give you cash back, target and kmart and BRU will give a gift card. Sure, shopping at walmart isn't fun, but you could get something that you'd need anyway (like pens and paper?)...

[*Jessica*]

Originally Posted by preggymeaggy

A friend of mine was like "Awww...whatever...that's what they use at the hospital anyway!" But, my mind kept telling me something was wrong with hanging on to them.

Hospitals do and use lots of things that aren't healthy alternatives. You have the option of not having the baby bathed at all, or take your own soap and ask them to use that instead. Our hospital had no problem with us doing just that. My husbad and I also bathed the little guy ourselves....that was such a sweet time.

[Gray's Mommy]

I would donate it if you can't return it. Maybe you could ask her where she purchased it for *future reference*??

[goodygumdrops]

Hello all,
I've been following this board for a couple of weeks but haven't posted yet......so, hello everyone And also apologize if I should have started a new thread...
So, I am also a FTM and I am not sure what products are the most natural to use....and affordable. I was going to get a couple of things from the local Whole Foods but I realize that the cost will end up being enormous....so I ended up picking up couple of bottles of Aveda Baby...without soap. But I'm really not sure that it's much different then J&J. So, what would be some natural alternatives....with an affordable price tag???

[p1gg1e]

[QUOTE=Gavin'smom; So, what would be some natural alternatives....with an affordable price tag???[/QUOTE]

Dr. Bronner's makes a nice baby castle soap:
http://www.drbronner.com/drb_sai_liquids.html
Baby-Mild:

Unscented: No Essential Oil
A mild, smooth soap for sensitive skin (but still be sure to keep it out of the eyes).

Ingredients: Water, Saponified Organic Coconut & Olive oils (w/ retained Glycerin), Organic Hemp Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Citric Acid, Vitamin E

I didn't have DD bathed in the Hosp. It was great to come home and wash her..a couple days later LOL

I returned stuff today and with the soap and things it was $100! I bought a car seat with it