Shopping that isn't McShopping.

[Organicavocado]

I am populating my baby list. Honestly, I have so much stuff that I really only *need* a few more sets of clothing and my cosleeper (unless I can afford a bigger bed, oh my god do I want a bigger bed). But you know how it goes, you end up with *wants*.

I'm in the mood to look at baby stuff, and I know a lot of you are second-eighth time mommies. Can you recommend some bebe products you really loved, some you hated, and some that are just plain neat? And first time mommies, where are all those sites you happen upon and just ADORE?

I am so tired of these boring sites with cribs and bedding and baby monitors : I need some fun sites to kill some time (like, 8 months of time, so keep them coming)!

[celestialdreamer]

Here's some of my faves:

General baby stuff sites:

http://www.sagebabynyc.com/
www.babystyle.com

Cloth diapers, etc:
http://store.naturalbabies.com/store/Default.asp
http://www.cottonbabies.com
http://www.punkinbutt.com/

Baby clothes (also see the first 2 sites for this):
http://www.underthenile.com/underthenile/index.php
http://www.hannaandersson.com/divisi...mcn=1&gpId=156

Baby carriers:
http://www.thebabywearer.com
http://www.babyhawk.com
http://www.hotsling.com

And for when the little one is a bit older:
http://www.novanatural.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.51/.f

Really though you only need just a few things! For me all I really need is a carseat, a carrier (I prefer the babyhawk that I listed, but slings are nice for newborns), some clothes and diapers. A couple natural toys for when they get bigger are nice, but not necessary right away. I had seriously EVERYTHING with my first and used very little of it. With my second we only bought boy clothes and a carseat. This time all I need is a carseat and to figure out what I'm doing for 2 in diapers. I do understand the excitement of wanting to buy something though, so have fun browsing!

[michellerene]

www.hyenacart.com

All wahm items. :

[newmom80]

I like buying handmade items on www.etsy.com

Here's some stuff I've seen and really liked

crocheted baby shoes
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=5965586

amazing crocheted dress and jacket
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=5674206

sock baby rattle
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=6638865

hand embroidered romper
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=5449269

silky little quilt
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=5901629

baby dress
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=6672167

HTH!

[3for3hb]

I love my fleece hotsling, my freehand mei tei, my babyhawk MT, pedoodles shoes, pedipeds shoes, and glamourmom type nursing tanks.
I also love muttaqin cloth diapers, sos diapers, and just about any wool soaker I come across.
... yeah, spend some time deciding on a brand of cloth diapers! That'll be fun, trust me (if you plan on using them anyway).

[celestialdreamer]

I see that I have some like-minded mamas when it comes to shopping in this DDC I adore all those things too!

[Organicavocado]

I make my own cloth diapers and already know what I will supplement with. That took me like 6 months right there, so I totally know how fun it can be (TTC forever sucks, you get bored and pick everything out before youre even pregnant, hence my HUGE STASH of EVERYTHING rofl). I love etsy so I'm glad for the links, and I just killed off an hour picking out my babyhawk (oh my god, the pumpkin is gorgeous) so keep em rollin mamas!

[3for3hb]

Originally Posted by Organicavocado

I make my own cloth diapers and already know what I will supplement with. That took me like 6 months right there, so I totally know how fun it can be (TTC forever sucks, you get bored and pick everything out before youre even pregnant, hence my HUGE STASH of EVERYTHING rofl). I love etsy so I'm glad for the links, and I just killed off an hour picking out my babyhawk (oh my god, the pumpkin is gorgeous) so keep em rollin mamas!

ah-ha! If I had a serger, I'd probably make my own too. I just knit.

[titania8]

i like atoygarden.com for fun toys and stuff like that.

[celestialdreamer]

Originally Posted by Organicavocado

I just killed off an hour picking out my babyhawk (oh my god, the pumpkin is gorgeous) so keep em rollin mamas!

Isn't it!? I love that pumpkin color! I was actually about to splurge on a ToddlerHawk for my 16 month old (he's tall and if he falls asleep it hurts my neck), then I found out I am pregnant! So I guess I won't be carrier shopping I'll happily take being pregnant instead though!

I love all the colors and patterns from BH, it was really hard picking out the one my current one(black one with THIS on one side and red & cream asian floral on the other). I am determined not to buy one another one because A) I can't afford it B) I don't need it C) I am trying to simplify our home and have less "stuff".

P.S. Organicavocado- what kind of diapers are you sewing? I'm considering sewing some one size fitteds, but I'm more of a knitter than a seamstress.

[jenangelcat]

Deleted by user.

[Ironica]

One of my favorite sites is http://www.theportablebaby.com . Small selection, but it's all stuff that this particular mom has used and found EXTREMELY useful. Well, ok, I should disclose that she's also a friend of mine... but she has the best prices on Ergos, and I am *so* buying one of her gorgeous wraps this time around!

I like onestepahead.com for more general stuff. They tend to have items that are neat and useful, at good prices. They're not always the *best* price, but it's a good place to figure out what you want, and then you can comparison shop.

Let's see... we barely used the changing table. We finally figured out it was easier on the bed. ;-) Barely used the bassinet or cradle that were hand-me-downs; just occasionally when he got the 5 a.m. crazies and kept thrashing around in his sleep. Our best find was the ConfigureGate. It's a "baby gate" that looks nice, is easy to use, and can, literally, work for any space. You could make a room divider out of it, if you wanted to. We used it to block off the kitchen, which instead of a doorway, had a wide opening between the dining area and the living room. The walls didn't even line up with each other; the tile and carpet met at an oblique angle to the walls. ;-) It worked beautifully, though.

I would have been totally lost without my sling at the beginning, but by the time DS could hold his body more or less erect, we switched to the Ergo (that was 5.5 months).

One thing we ended up running out and getting at short notice was a baby scale. It was useful to allay the fears of grandparents and pediatricians. ;-)

The Bosom Baby nursing pillow is soooo awesome. It was a shower gift from a friend of my DH's family who is an LC. We took it with us to the hospital, and all the nurses commented on how comfy it looked. They were right, too!

[Organicavocado]

Originally Posted by willemsmamma

ah-ha! If I had a serger, I'd probably make my own too. I just knit.

... I should TOTALLY ask for a serger!!!

[Organicavocado]

For my babyhawk, I chose (Edit: Apparently i broke the internet. I got Mauve Mums and Moss ..something sunshine or something) with chocolate. Everything I own is chocolate so I figure I should order what I know I will wear, but man it took a long time to get my finger off of the "pumpkin" button. I know my love for orange isn't shared by many, and rarely if ever by clothing makers (Only in the fall. We don't really.. HAVE fall here LOL).

Originally Posted by celestialdreamer

P.S. Organicavocado- what kind of diapers are you sewing? I'm considering sewing some one size fitteds, but I'm more of a knitter than a seamstress.

I only do fitteds and fleece covers, and I only sew larges and doll sizes. LOL I made my own pattern and it took me absofreakinforever to finally get everything right. I have a few smalls but decided to supplement my newborn stash so I have something to shop for The first thing I ever sewed with a machine (or er, ever) was a fitted diaper. Its not too hard, you just need a good pattern and some patience. Of which I have none.