Looking for crib (or lack thereof) suggestions

[amyrobynne]

I'm 11+ weeks pregnant, and since I've got a birthday coming up, we're starting to think about what we'll really need for this baby. My mom is a garage sale nut and has already gotten all the clothes we'll need, plus a lot of gadgets that I don't plan to use. I'm definitely planning to use a sling as much as possible, and have been discouraging her from getting all the "pacify your baby in this device rather than holding her" sorts of stuff.

We will be moving into our first house sometime this fall and won't buy much of anything until after this occurs.

So far as big purchases go, I figure we need something to hold the baby's stuff in, ie a dresser that doubles as a changing table. As far as cribs go, I'm a lot more iffy. We are definitely going to co-sleep for the first few months. Depending on how it goes and how everybody sleeps, we'll consider going full-fledge family bed. But what do you do when the baby naps? At first I imagine I'll be doing a lot of napping too, but do you just put the baby in your bed without you otherwise? We're thinking about getting a pack and play and skipping the fancy wooden cribs altogether. Then I'd know the baby is safe and not rolling off our bed if we aren't there. I don't want to buy a "real" crib that I don't really plan to use.

We're planning to cloth diaper, so I know that'll be another big initial expense. Can I get enough cd supplies to register at Peapods and tell people to buy me stuff off that registry, or will I need lots of diapers only available online?

What other big expenses will there be that I can lead grandparents towards so they don't get us 4 swings or 50 stuffed animals?

Help! Help!

Amy F, a first time mother :)

[kaje62]

Amy I have a white, childcraft nice crib for sale

bought it used
but have to say Charlie never slept in it
and that may happen to you

we got a co-sleeper
and also baby bunks are good too
you may want to look into this

and i would buy diapers online
especially from mothers on mothering and amity
much cheaper and nicer than peapods.

for naps he slept in the co-sleeper until he outgrew it, we also had a small bassinet downstairs for when he was teeny, i put pillows around him in our bed

[jessikate]

Sleeping: We have only ever slept with Gracie in our bed. We put the mattress and box spring on the floor a couple months ago, as I was afraid of her falling out. She sleeps alone there for naps, and I have a monitor so I can hear when she starts moving or what not. However, she's not rolling much, so it's not a concern of mine. We didn't buy a crib or a pack&play or anything. I have a cradle that we could've used, but didn't. For the first 6-8 weeks, she took all naps on me, anyway. I'd love to go into more depth with you on this subject. PM or email me with questions or to clarify anything.

Diapers: You can get all you need at Peapods. Sure, there are lots of cuter things out there, but if you want to make it as inexpensive as possible, stick with prefolds and wraps. You'll need around 3 dozen infant prefolds to start, which will fit to around 15# (Gracie outgrew them at around 4 months); and 6-8 covers. We used Proraps from Peapods for the newborn size - they have a notch for the cord, and gussets on the legs to keep in the poo. I didn't like them in the larger sizes, though, and switched to Bummis, which Peapods also sells. Now that G is sitting up, I usually use a pull-on cover that is less bulky in front. Also get a couple Snappis - they're easier than pins and you'll want to secure the diaper to keep poo in (or you could just tri-fold the prefold in the wrap, but you'd have to wash the cover ever time the kid pooped. Trust me on this. :rolleyes: )

For us, the diapers and a sling were our only big investments. A couple of my aunts got together and bought us our carseat (Britax Marathon, I think - $$$$), and lent us an infant carseat that I'm considering giving back since I leave it in the car all the time anyhow. At some point, you may want a stroller. Garage sale that, definitely, though Once Upon a Child has a huge fleet of strollers at the Roseville store right now. Well, we did buy the changing table, too. Forgot that. A glider rocker would've been nice, too, but we've skipped that.

If you're looking for ideas on redirecting grandparents' shopping urges, how about talking about college funds with them? I told my parents and Chris's that instead of them buying "stuff" for us, I'd rather that they just sent a check for her college fund. Works for us.

Oh! If you're thinking about co-sleeping, you should come to the TC-API meeting on Saturday. It's at the library on Minnehaha, just east of Snelling. 11:15. Here's more info:
TC-API Thread (http://mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?s=&threadid=77934)

[dnr3301]

I've often wished that buying a crib was the one thing I hadn't done. I wish I had thought it through and realized that I would never use it anyway and just gone ahead and bought one of those really nice changing table/big dressers/bookshelves instead. As it stands now, I have a really expensive changing table/laundryhamper sitting in "dd's" room that looks like a crib to outsiders.

[Snow]

hi! I didn't vote as it looked too much like telling you what to do and there are no right or wrong answers here, just what works for you.

but I guess I would wait on the crib if I were you - sounds like it's very possible you may not need it. For their first few months our first was in a bassinet and the second in a cradle, both right next to bed - for naps and for nights, but again, there is no right answer here. We did use our cribs also yet many mamas here happily didn't use them at all. But why don't you wait and see what works for your own family? (& then definitely buy secondhand!)

Diapers - again, there are so many different kinds and all work for different babes. Secondhand is fabulous if you can find them, but on the other hand, if you have all these fine folks wanting to buy you stuff, after reading the mothering dipe threads (which can be exhausting in their depth!) choose some you like and some covers and go for it, at least for the newborn sizes. I used many different brands of wraps and dipe service diapers and found them all to be ok, but it will depend on your baby, how big/thin her/his legs are, etc.

It's tempting to try to get organized now, while you have time. But I suspect every mama here will tell you of something (s) they wish they hadn't purchased prior to birth, but instead waited to see what their particular baby really needed (me included). Baby #1 loved her swing, baby #2 got motion sickness. Baby #1 refused to be slinged, baby #2 needed sling and front pack both. Neither would use a playpen (duh) and neither cared for the fancy toys/mobiles/gyms that much and preferred to grab my glasses instead. Fancy bedding is silly as you can't blanket newborns anyway due to SIDS and when they're old enough for bedding they'll have bonded w/ a wellworn blankie (always the tackiest one you receive) that doesn't match the crib set anyway - & that's if you even use the crib!
good luck ;)

[willowsmama]

We did get a crib. Not to say that W even saw the inside of it till she was about 6-7 mos. old. Then she seemed really uncomfortable in our bed, like she needed more space. She is , of course, welcome in our bed but really prefers her own. She knows that she just makes some noise, be it crying or just babbling and someone will come get ASAP!

We also have a pack'n'play with a changing table& bassinet. I love it for the wee wee little ages. Dh & I have bad backs so a million changes on the floor with a tiny babe isn't going to happen,plus I got stuff done and W was happy sleeping in bassinet and safer the on the floor. Now we hardly use the pack'n'play except for outside(while mowing) or camping.

Diapers- I only buy used. i can get more diapers for less money.Peapods is a neat store but pretty spendy for my wallet. But everyone can also tell you I sqeeze a penny till it screams:D i'm just a wee bit of a tightwad. I also love the dollar store for wipes- 30 wash clothes for 5.00

We also asked grandparent to feel free to get saving bods or make a deposit to the girls saving acts. vs. buying stuff they don't need/ can't use.Dh's dad loved the idea, his mom wigged and accused me of begging for money.:rolleyes: However, his mom is also a fruitloop, her cheese has slipped the cracker and most people will react much better.

[kaje62]

We got the Britax round about and we were very happy till we heard about the Marathon which goes up to a bigger poundage.

I would say Willow and Jessikate know a lot about newborn dipes, we used some contours from a WAHM at Noble Birth which is no longer in business but I was not that fond of them so we sold them. I did do research on mothering and picked the two fancies that were rated high and bought them used on the boards. I am just not a CPF type of gal but know they are great for newborns and many use them. I love bummis covers too and also bought them used on the boards and we use cloth wipes too.

We used the mayan pouch more than the sling for Charlie cuz the pouch is easier. Charlie did not like the boucey seat or the johnny jumper but liked the swing. So I agree each baby is different. I am excited to have a glider rocker that one of the tribe members gave me for this baby.

[TrishLynne]

I'd say wait on a crib, you'll likely never use it, through 4 kids, I used a crib for my oldest for 6 months, then it got used as a cat bed and a good place to put clean laundry. :p

Diaper, I say get prefolds and wraps (I prefer wool wraps), and used is MUCH more economical than new. OR....use recycled fabric and make your own fitted diapers with snaps, that's what I did for Ira. I got my pattern from:

http://www.onestopdiapershop.com/

CAR SEAT...THIS is what I'd spend the big bucks on. Children are more likely to die in a car crash than of ANY OTHER CAUSE, this statistic did it for me. All my organic food, my vigilant watching of them near water etc, wouldn't matter one bit if they weren't properly buckled. We are using two Britax seats, a Marathon and an Advantage, LOVE LOVE LOVE them both. For more info on car seats, a great resource is the Parent's Place carseat board:

http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-ppcarseats?redirCnt=2

I think a sling is invaluable, but everyone seems to like different ones. I prefer simple unpadded slings, which are EASY to make yourself. Here's some instructions on making your own:

http://home.earthlink.net/~mayawrap/sew_a_sling.html
http://www.elizabethlee.com/patterns/nc202.htm
http://www.sleepingbaby.net/jan/index.html?Baby/sling.html
http://www.ida.net/users/stace/sling.html
http://www.kellymom.com/parenting/sling.html#sewing


Strollers, I prefer the non-American brands, they just last longer. I went through FOUR American brand strollers in 1 year, ugh. I spent more money that way than if I'd just bought a dang Maclaren! Parent's Place has a stroller board too:

http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-ppstrollers

[lilyka]

The day after my baby started rolling over she promptly fell out of bed so we do use a crib for napping. right now we have pack and play but will be getting a crip soon. probably one that converts to a toddler bed. If someone else is buying you may want to look into the ones that convert from a crib, to a toddler bed, to a double bed and some even go to double bed/love seat. I saw one at shopko for under $200. what a deal. even if you end up using as a glorified toy box whil your baby is little at least you will get some use out of it when they are past the crib phase. I just think cribs work better as a side car arrangement than anything else (even products designed specifically for side car arangements) and offer more versatility and better resale value.

do you have a carseat? stroller? defintely register for diapers online. I was able to get all the diaper supplies I needed for under $150 (pre-folds and prowraps seconds). Also if your mom or grandma sews you might want to have them make some diapers for you. There are free patterns onlline and some available for purchase depending on what you want. I feel this is a really god way to focus the mothers attention.

[Charles Baudelaire]

Cribs, since you asked, are a biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig waste of money. Think about it -- $500 - $600 new, not including mattress, sheets, bumpers (smothering hazard), quilts (smothering hazard), mobiles (strangulation hazard) and pillows (smothering hazard).

When your kid gets to be able to stand, the crib now becomes a possible deathtrap in two new ways: jumping on it and having it collapse, or getting inventive and trying to crawl out of it.

Why pay hundreds -- close to a thousand - dollars for a deathtrap? Even if it somehow is not a deathtrap, it costs a thousand dollars and will last less than two years. Don't kid yourself that you'll make it into a day bed/toddler bed / adult bed. Raise your hand if you, as an adult, ever slept in any converted form of a crib. Does anyone here even know anyone who does or did?

My answer? FUTON. Firm and non-smothery, easy to transport and deal with, impossible even for a newborn to seriously injure themselves by falling off of, and plenty of room for you to cosleep.

HTH!!!!!!!!1

[battymomma]

since you are already considering the family bed, then i'd suggest holding off on the crib. we had a crib for DS, who slept in the bassinette we also had until he got too big, then in the crib for a few months, then we started the family bed. that lasted from when he was 9 mo old until we moved into our house and he was 2 1/2...for DD we used the same crib, but side-carred it to my side of the bed. we only have a full bed, so space was nice, and this way she was next to me but not "hogging" precious bed space.
both of my kids always napped ON ME, falling asleep while nursing. we did have a pack'n'play, but rarely ever used it, for either kid...when they got older, i did put them on our bed once they were asleep, and then layed with them, to keep them on the bed and asleep longer.
for DS, we had the baby bjorn. he LOVED it, but all too soon he was all too big for it to be comfortable. for DD, i used the maya wrap and we BOTH loved it! wish i knew about that when DS was a babe...
best of luck in all purchases!
and like snow said, you have time, so there is no real rush to get everything ready this weekend!!!

[rachdoll]

My dd is 13 mos and just this weekend we sold the crib b/c she slept in it for all of two weeks. My dh was very reluctant to have a family bed until she fell asleep on me, I feel asleep, and my husband woke up in the morning to realize he got to sleep through the night! Anyway, for naps, she sleeps on our bed 9king size - she sleeps in the middle or towards the wall), and when she wakes up, she lets me know she's awake if I'm not in the room with her. We also have a pack-n-play, and I love it! She doesn't hang out in the playpen part too much, but once she started rolling around and sitting up during diaper changes, the changing table that sits on top of the pack-n-play has become invaluable! And, we have a playpen for the rare occasion when we need one. I think a pack-n-play is a better deal than a changing table, but there are some nice dressers with changing table tops that look very nice, I just don't have experience with those. Have fun planning! :)

[Darcy37]

does anyone know a place to buy something specifically for side car arrangements? Darcy mommie to Alora