What baby items are a must have

[sewingmomma]

I co sleep so I am under if I will even buy a basinette maye a pack n play MAYBE
How many of you actually use a swing or anything I wear my babies usually a lot and am thinkign of just getting a bouncer or soemthing if needed. I am trying not to buy all this worthless crap LOL

I knwo I need a good sling? Anyone want to recommend one? Or a pattern since I sew.
I am getting SOOOOO excited about cloth diapering lately. I might even decide to sew some (i used to sew all of mine)
And the thought of bottles makes me ill so I think its safe to say that the formula appeal has lost its battle lol
I was looking at some videos of my last baby nursing and it was so sweet.

I have enough clothes I have soem fleece to sew some blankets so what else?
I have lanolin in case I get sore I should make myself some wash breast pads
I am tryingt o remember what else here Ohh I have a car seat lol

[nolonger]

Terran is two weeks old.

Buy yourself a TON of fleece! Seven fleece pouch slings felt embarassingly excessive before he was born, but we use them all and are grateful for them; we're trying EC (he's doing better than I am) and it's so nice to be able to just grab a fresh one when we have a miss or just when I feel like a different colour.

Here's a pattern for you:

Pouch Sling

He's mostly naked in the sling, which provides plenty of warmth. I wear it UNDER a fleece bathrobe so we can share body heat and it keeps us amazingly warm, especially since I only have wood for heat and can't seem to keep the fire alive overnight.

Another surprise "Must have" is the cloth underpads that I bought for the birth, cleaned up snowy white with peroxide, and now use to protect my furniture so that Terran and I can avoid strapping uncomfortable absorbant materials between our legs. Just go pick up an extra package of Chux for postpartum if it's too late for cloth.

Swings, bassinettes, strollers, Pack 'n Plays, bouncy seats etc. aren't being missed at all and were just unnecessary clutter with my big kids anyway, although I did press a very fancy and expensive cradle in to service as a makeshift dresser/diaper storage area.

[sewingmomma]

thank you for that
I am thinking they will be useless for me and jsut soemthing to trip over or my 4 yr old to play with lol
I will look at that pattern
I will be using cloth diapers not brave enough for EC yet lol

Thansk for your post helped a lot Its been a while since I ve had a wee one and I hate how everyone says I need this or that lol

[the elyse]

i have all the extras up in my attick (swing, bouncer, etc.) and if we don't use them within the first month they're going on craigslist. i plan on using my fleece slings that i bought from NOS and a moby my friend is making for me.

[RasJi7]

Slings
I sewed up two of thesehttp://www.mykarmababy.com/pages/BabySlingPattern.php

and a 'moby' wrap- here are the specs I used
18 feet long
24 inches wide at center tapering to 8" wide at ends
100% cotton, single stretch
cotton gauze recommended for hot weather!
make center (24" width) off center so that wrap can be tied at side instead of front or back

Here is what I have for baby:
some clothes
diapers (disposable- not in a position where i can do cloth, maybe for next baby)
car seat
crib mattress (mattress only) it's portable- I can put it in any room in the house, use it for tummy time or if the bed gets to squished when we are co-sleeping.
and the above slings

they really don't need much as far as I can tell but I am new at this

[smokeylo]

We got a pack n play and I think we are going to be glad to have it, esp. during the day when we want the baby to be downstairs with us. I think it's a handy thing to have regardless of how much it's used during the newborn phase, and it folds up to store so easily (a lot smaller than storing a bassinette).

I got a mei tai style sling to use with the babe. I've used slings/pouches and have 2 for quick errands or whatever, but for long term wearing I need something that spreads weight to both shoulders. I got mine super cheap over at diaperswappers.

Otherwise... clothes, blankets, boobs, diapers, love! I think those are the necessities. We have wayyyy more than that (hand-me-downs!) but those are the things I think the baby wants right away .

[bloominmamas]

I personally like to have a bouncy seat so I can set teh baby down while I go potty, or have to do something where holding 'em isn't practical. I love my Boppy, really helps with posture, back aches. Otherwise I pretty much agree with what other mamas have said. I really love my Maya Wrap by the way...

[LawrenceDoula]

I always joke that all you need for a baby are diapers and boobs, but I really wish I'd used a sling earlier with my daughter. So boobs, diapers, and a sling! Haha!

[operamommy]

I second a good sling! Also, I don't think there's anything wrong with buying a bouncer or swing. We have both tucked away and will use them if needed. I don't like showering with a babe, and I'm going to want something to put him in that's IN the bathroom while I shower. I've got several slings, but I'm thinking that sometimes it will be nice to just put the babe down, kwim? For instance, if my 2-year-old wants to sit in his rocker with me and be read to, I can't really wear the babe at the same time.

[sewingmomma]

I want a bouncer probably. But a swing can wait until 6 weeks old or so probably i think We may buy it right away who knows LOL

[shanniesue2]

I think it depends on your situation. I have to go to back to work 2 months after having the baby, so a breast pump and bottles are a must. Bottles don't necessarily equal formula feeding. I think even if I were staying home, I'd want a few bottles and a very basic pump so that DH can occasionally feed, or my parents if they are babysitting.
Also, a diaper bag of some sort for when we're out and about... car seat... carriers... diapers (and diaper accessories such as diaper pail and waterproof tote bags)...clothes... and those are probably the only absolute necessities that I can think of... might be missing something, though...

[Mama2-4]

Things I have found unable to live without are: a good baby carrier, I love a mei tai. There are lots of different positions you can put the baby in, they can nurse in it and it is easy on your back.

I have also always had a little swing or bouncy seat. It is a necessity when I hop into the shower. I keep it parked in the bathroom so I can put the baby in it when I need a few minutes to myself.

We do have a pack-n-play. This is also nice to have to take outside when doing gardening, or to the beach etc...

Boppys are great for nursing a newborn when your arms might be really fatigued from labor. I also like them when the baby is starting to sit up for positioning.

Those are the biggies for me...we co-sleep, we have a crib but haven't set it up for the last two kids. We have moved them from our bed to their own and they have all transitioned fine. Our 2.5 year old just started sleeping in the bottom bunk bed and is doing great! He goes to bed very easily and is very secure in his nightime routine.

[Theia]

I have clothes, 3 doz cloth diapers (not sure if I am going to get more or join a diaper service), just ordered a car seat, & have some really nice hand made receiving blankets from various family and friends. Of course the boobs, would like to get a pump and a few bottles so DP or grandparents can feed. I think I am going to get some wipes still. I haven't gotten slings yet, but I think I will get 1 pouch and 1 mei tai. I also need to get a PNP for those times when I need to put baby down, at night we will be co-sleeping. I need some bummis or other CD cover. Mom made some baby hats. And the big thing is I need a name for this little one. I guess we will know that once the baby shows up.

I don't know what else I will need, for me right away is like the first 4-6 weeks. By then I hope to be comfortably in a routine and just enjoying the new life as a Mom. Funny, Mom asked me the same question today.

[Justmee]

I have from my twins....

Two dozen newborn & two dozen new infants (from GMD, new). I also had 2 dozen indian infants from my twins but I don't like those as much, so plenty of diapers. I bought 4 xs covers and 4 small. I got thirsties so I can handwash. Once we get to Meds I have 4 new covers (2 brand new BSWW and 2 I got on trade that are like new and only used a few times before the girls PL) and prob. 4 more med covers in various condition. I have a ton of med. FB but I don't think they are in the best condition, I'm planning on doing mostly prefolds / covers and leaving the FB for dh or overnight.

I have a swing from the twins. It was the only place Rivka would sleep for a while so I"m glad I have it. If baby doesn't like it away it will go. I also have a bouncy chair and a playmat the kids liked. Two of mine didn't like to be held all the time, so they really enjoyed the floor space to chill and play. I have a wrap sling, an new MT, (kozy) and an ergo for later. We have a pack n play for naps & nights next to mom depending on what baby prefers (and what my toddlers are doing, our bed is small and lately it's been all 3 of them in the bed). I have plenty of GN clothes in 0 - 3 and some in 3 - 6, and enough girls' clothes to open a boutique.

[LoveChild421]

I love the Moby wrap. I have one sitting on my couch waiting for this baby.

A nursing pillow is a MUST for me anyway, I got so frustrated trying to position regular pillows just right only to have them slip so dp went to Target and bought a Boppy for me when ds1 was just a day or so old.

Ds1 was a high needs baby and LOVED the baby swing- he loved to swing in it looking out the window and listening to music. He hated the bouncy/vibrating seat. It was really nice to have something that would soothe ds1 besides being on me 24/7 so that I could go and take a shower in peace knowing that he wasn't just crying like crazy while someone else held him.

We had an Arms Reach Cosleeper and it ended up being a big laundry basket- we intended on having ds1 sleep there but since the night he was born he slept in our bed and has been there ever since...can't imagine not cuddling him up right next to me.

[sewingmomma]

I've decided on buying
3 dz prefolds
6 wraps for the diapers varies brands
3 snappis
moby wrap
a bouncer
a swing
a basinette


i thought about it a lot lately and i think this is the cheapest way to keep my sanity lol

[CalebsMama05]

Originally Posted by sewingmomma

I co sleep so I am under if I will even buy a basinette maye a pack n play MAYBE
How many of you actually use a swing or anything I wear my babies usually a lot and am thinkign of just getting a bouncer or soemthing if needed. I am trying not to buy all this worthless crap LOL

I knwo I need a good sling? Anyone want to recommend one? Or a pattern since I sew.
I am getting SOOOOO excited about cloth diapering lately. I might even decide to sew some (i used to sew all of mine)
And the thought of bottles makes me ill so I think its safe to say that the formula appeal has lost its battle lol
I was looking at some videos of my last baby nursing and it was so sweet.

I have enough clothes I have soem fleece to sew some blankets so what else?
I have lanolin in case I get sore I should make myself some wash breast pads
I am tryingt o remember what else here Ohh I have a car seat lol

I have a pack'n'play (I cosleep but my newborns always go to sleep for *the night* before I and I don't feel comfortable leaving an infant in my bed without me.)
I have 2 slings and am getting a wrap tomorrow
I have an infant to toddler rocker that I am not sure if I will use
I am getting a swing...the swing is kind of iffy for me...my older two used theirs a ton but they didn't like the sling unless I was actually walking.

that's all the gear I'm getting/have.