[holyhelianthus]

after reading this thread <a href="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=658829" target="_blank">http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=658829</a> and the article that goes along with it i'm curious as to what all you 'must haves' for your newborns are. as in what you feel you must have rather than would like to have.<br><br>
for us its:<br><br>
a ring sling<br>
cloth diapers<br>
blankets<br>
pack or two of onesies<br>
pack or two of sleepers<br>
car seat

 

[moondiapers]

all I'd add is socks, hats, mitts and soakers

 

[2Sweeties1Angel]

Car seat<br>
Sling or mei tai<br>
Sleepers -or- onesies depending on the season<br>
Diapers<br>
Pacifier--yeah, I know, but I'm not really comfortable with the baby using me as a pacifier.<br><br>
For me:<br>
nursing bra that fits<br>
nursing pads<br>
manual pump (I pump while feeding so I can have a freezer stash)

 

[holyhelianthus]

totally forgot about nursing pads. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[mama_bee]

boobs<br>
sling<br>
a few clothes<br>
probably diapers but i could make do with EC if i didn't have any.<br><br>
everything else is just extra.

 

[katt]

Boobs<br>
Diapers<br>
Baby-holder (of some kinds)<br>
some clothes (I LOVE snap up the front footed jammies and kimono style t-shirts)

 

[swimswamswum]

Did any of you consider a water proof (wool or other) mattress pad as an essential? We have a new mattress and I really am freaked out that it's going to get peed on.

 

[KatWrangler]

Water proof pad<br>
Bouncey Seat (so I can take a shower)!<br>
Fleece thingy to go over the carseat (I live in Montana and gets flippin cold here).

 

[MysteryMama]

a glider or some sort of rocking chair

 

[jessemoon]

I know that this is slightly off-topic and not really a baby <i>item</i> in the sense of physical stuff. However, that being said, the most expensive (and therefore an unimaginable luxury for many families) thing that we were able to "purchase" for ourselves (due to our place of relative privelege) was <i>time-off</i>.<br><br>
I didn't have to head directly back to work after my post-partum check-up. I was able to rest, recuperate and spend time focusing on nothing but my new baby without worrying about losing my job and putting my family at risk if I took more than six weeks to re-enter the work force.<br><br>
In terms of physical baby gear, cloth diapers, a carseat and a couple of slings were practically all I bought at first. Other people gifted us almost every item of clothing that my son needed. We were given a stroller, more diapers, blankets, toys, a co-sleeper etc. It makes me think about how blessed my family is to reflect on how little I needed to buy.

 

[Wabi Sabi]

The things that we *really* used:<br><br>
Sling<br>
Boobs<br>
Carseat<br>
Clothes<br>
Diapers<br>
A few high-quality toys (later in infancy though)<br>
One "baby holder" for when you need a safe place to set the baby- a bouncy seat, a swing, etc- but didn't need them all- just one.<br>
Lots of burp cloths (or just old diapers to use)<br>
A bunch of receiving blankets (we went through several a day)<br>
Several stocking caps<br>
Comfortable bras (I didn't even bother with nursing bras) and pads.<br>
Waterproof mattress cover<br>
Hand operated breast pump<br>
Some Burt's Bees baby stuff- okay, this isn't necessary, but it's just *nice* to have, lol.<br><br>
We didn't need a stroller, bottles (other than something to store extra milk in when I had an oversupply), baby bathtubs, the crib, the cosleeper, or 90% of the other junk that we had. We've given most of that stuff away and plan on keeping it really simple and minimal with the next baby.

 

[MomToKandE]

Yes to the question about a waterproof mattress pad. We got one when I was pg because I was worried about my water breaking in bed.<br><br>
My dc are 6 and 3 and we still keep it on our bed. The 3 year old isn't overnight potty trained yet and sometimes his overnight diaper leaks. Over the years our bed has had more "wet accidents" (puke, leaky diapers, leaky breasts, who knows what else) then I care to think about.<br><br>
The only other thing I can add to what's already been said is: a tube of lanolin, the phone number for a good lactation consultant, and some prepared food in the pantry and/or freezer. (prepackaged or homemade)

 

[L&IsMama]

Hmm...well,it's been a while,pushing 3 yrs since I had a newborn,but I think the biggest "neccessities" are:<br>
Boobs <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"><br>
a good carrier,for that age it was def a ring sling for us,<br>
LOTS of nursing pads,X that,TOWELS,(cause I leaked SO bad I would soak full sized bath towels),<br>
a bunch of those little waterproof pads for blowouts,<br>
lots of those sack-type gowns,I loved those,<br>
carseat,obviously<br>
diapers<br><br>
Umm,I'm drawing a blank now...that's all I can think of for "must haves"

 

[myjulybabes]

Let's see, bare bones must haves would be:<br><br>
diapers of some variety<br>
clothes<br>
-onesies<br>
-sleepers/gowns<br>
-socks<br>
-hats<br>
-bibs<br>
nursing pads<br>
carseat<br>
blankets<br>
waterproof matress pad<br>
snowsuit or heavy carseat cover if it's winter<br><br><br>
I think I could make it with just that. However, the "really prefer not to do without" list would then include:<br><br>
sling<br>
swing or bouncy for quick bathroom breaks<br>
bassinette or play yard so they have a place to nap downstairs.<br>
baby bathtub<br>
nursing bras<br>
diaper bag that's comfortable to carry<br><br><br>
I suppose the bassinette or playyard could also be used for bathroom breaks, but my kids were always happier in a more upright position when awake.

 

[Ilaria]

boobs<br>
cloth diapers/covers<br>
sling<br>
carseat<br>
onesies/sleepers<br>
boppy (for snuggling in, not nursing anymore, for me)<br>
blankets/pads for bed

 

[FreeThinkinMama]

comfy rocking chair<br>
boppy pillow<br>
nursing pajamas<br>
mei tai<br>
sling<br>
binky<br>
arms reach mini cosleeper

 

[UnschoolnMa]

Well it's been awhile but....<br><br>
*Car Seat<br>
*cloth diapers<br>
*Sling<br>
*blankets (some light/some heavier)<br>
*onesies, longies, sleepers<br>
*booties, socks<br>
*waterproof pad thingy - as has been mentioned<br>
*caps<br>
* "spot" for baby to safely be other than on a person. bouncy seat, etc.<br>
*Binky. My kids were binky lovers.

 

[JamesMama]

Car seat<br>
Carseat cover (depending on season...it's Iowa, it's cold here)<br>
Safe place so I can pee (pack & play, bouncy, swing)<br>
Safe place for baby to nap (see above)<br>
Nursing pads (I do leak some)<br>
Burp rags (old recieving blankets, Gerber prefolds)<br>
Blankets<br>
Onsies (at least 10-15, I hate doing laundry)<br>
Sleepers<br>
Gowns (I hate snaps in the middle of the night)<br>
Sling<br>
Comfy chair<br>
Comfy nursing bra<br>
loose clothing thats easily removed (for Mama)<br>
My great big water bottle with the little ice thing that floats in the middle. LOL<br><br>
oh and hooded baby towels. I just love them and would be hard pressed to be able to dry off a baby without one. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/bag.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Bag">:

 

[Beth-TX]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">Pacifier--yeah, I know, but I'm not really comfortable with the baby using me as a pacifier.</td>
</tr></table></div>
Oh, no no no...please don't say that. It just makes me *cringe* when I hear those words. Pacifiers are not evil--many babies have an extra high suck need and a pacifier can be a godsend. But please do not compare a mother offering her baby comfort at the breast to a piece of plastic. It just makes me really really sad.<br><br>
Thank you. Rant over. And please, no hard feelings. I'm sure your intentions were not bad.<br><br>
peace, Beth

 

[peachpie]

some things i haven't seen mentioned:<br><br>
rectal thermometer<br>
phone numbers of lactation consultant and ped. off-hours number<br><br>
for mom (just thinking about things you would not want to have to leave the house to purchase in the first few days):<br>
postpartum pads<br>
nursing pads<br>
lanolin<br>
healthy, easy to prepare foods<br>
and maybe some upbeat movies or light reading!