So as most of you may remember, I haven't done the whole kid thing before....
SOOOOO when I'm being told I need to register for things our little guy needs and pick colors for his bedding and make purchases for things that will shape THE REST OF HIS LIFE....
um I'm at a loss.
I need your help people.
I need your most favoritest things ever you and your little one couldn't live without.
Like you would die without it.
I'm especially wondering about what stroller/carrier travel systems there are out there, differences between bottles for pumping, pumps, little bathtubs, sling/baby bjorn-type body carriers, rockers/swings/seats, if you did any birthing classes, OOOOH and creams to make sure I don't get any stretch marks!!!
(Although I did manage to find this darling-way-too-expensive diaper bag :)
I'm especially wondering about what stroller/carrier travel systems there are out there, differences between bottles for pumping, pumps, little bathtubs, sling/baby bjorn-type body carriers, rockers/swings/seats, if you did any birthing classes, OOOOH and creams to make sure I don't get any stretch marks!!!
(Although I did manage to find this darling-way-too-expensive diaper bag :)
k you ready for this? here are some of my baby essentials: hooter hider, boppy, a playmat, baby bjorn, a carseat (try and get one that reclines if you can for when they're sleeping), a stroller (i have a phil and teds now because it fits 2 kids, but before i had a peg perego one that was great...it's smart to think ahead though because once i had a 2nd kid my single stroller and jogging stroller were useless. the phil and teds costs a lot but you can run with it and the 2nd seat comes off so it can be a single stroller). i got a peg perego bag and haven't regretted it since i have used it for so long.
ReplyDeletenice to have but can live without: bumbo, nursing pump (this will depend on your circumstances how necessary it is), highchair (if you're short on space you can get a booster seat with a tray that fits on a regular chair. it will take up less storage space and they can sit in it for longer), jumper/exersaucer
things i didn't need/use: diaper warmer, changing table (i have a changing pad and just change them on the floor- it's a pain to go back to their room every time). also i regret spending so much on the baby's bedding and room decorations. people hardly ever saw it and my tastes have changed since then and no longer use it.
sorry to write a book in your comments :) everybody's different so i say get the essentials and try and get gift cards from people so you can go out and purchase more as needed once the baby's here. that way you can borrow something from a friend first to see if your kid even likes it.
peg perego bag = petunia picklebottom :) i like the one you posted. very cute.
ReplyDeleteIf you're going to spend money on something definitely put the money into a good breast pump not some cheapo one. Pumping will be hige if you want to do a good job at breastfeeding. I lived without it and I shouldn't have. Good luck!
ReplyDeletePACIFIER. :) And I'd have to agree with some of the above statements. Boppy Pillow for SHO!!! Life safer and so comfortable. ACTually...there's another pillow out there that works fabulously as well-- it's called "My Breast Friend". And when I used that it made breastfeeding like 100x easier (when I did it for the whole month). :) But seriously...cause with the bobby pillow you have to prop up different pillows all around you and such. This breast friend thing is seriously...awesome. Expensive, but awesome. Just something to consider. :) PS I could go WAY into depth about all sorts of goodness!!! haha. I would say definitely get a bouncer (my sis gave us hers...which grows with the kid...so it's not only a bouncer, but also a rocker!) and...what else. um, Um, Um....CRAIGSLIST! Don't you dare spend all the hundreds of dollars on new crap. SEriously.....you should come over and check out some of the sweet deals I've found on Londons stuff....seriously, most of it looks brand new and I got screaming deals on it!!
ReplyDeleteWhat else. Haha. My sis (okay so..my sis bought me all of our cool stuff...) bought me my diaper back--Fleurville. They're super nice and a little pricey, but it's pretty rad and it'll last forever!! My brother has one and they've had it for four years and it still is in awesome condition.
Also...this may not be something you think about until the little one is born...but London refused to sleep on her back, so we had to buy a breathing monitor/sound monitor to make sure she didn't die. Video monitors are pretty cool, too! Maybe not an essential...but we love ours and it gave us a huge piece of mind while sleeping. Trust me, you'll probably freak out with every little sound they make...especially when you're in the same room as them. Any piece of mind helps! Haha. We used a sleeping positioner, too. Oh, and swaddles! you'll need a GOOD swaddle thing. We got ours at Babies R' Us and it worked awesomely. But she would still get out b/c she's super buff and hated to be confined after a while. :)
Okay I think I'm done. Haha. But if you ever wanna chat, I'm here!!
Oh, PS...this is Tiffany Cook...and yes, I'm stalking you. :)
ReplyDeleteHmm...where to begin...
ReplyDeleteI actually didn't like or use my boppy so I returned it. The same company makes and infant lounger pillow though and I used it ALL the time.
I don't know if you'll be working or not, but I get a pretty nice breast pump but I have hardly used it. Luke is an awesome nurser though so its always been easier to nurse than pump. But if you are going to pump, get a good one. And it sounds weird but you can get them on craigslist for cheap and then just buy your own parts that actually hook up to you. And definitely get an utter cover.
We have one of the breathing monitors and I loved it. Luke moves around too much now to use it, but it was so nice when he was little to know that it would alert me if anything ever went wrong.
Luke hated his swing, but loved his vibrating chair. I used his baby born for like a month and then he got too fat and it hurt my back too much :) And definitely get a bumbo. We even take ours with us to restaurants because it makes things so much easier.
We have a peg perego vela stoller and I love it! It weighs like 8 pounds so its easy to get in and out of the car and it only has 3 wheels so it moves really easily.
We spent a lot of time and effort on Luke's nursery and I don't regret it at all. It's my favorite room in our house. I love being in there when I'm nursing him or whatever and looking at how cute it is. I don't care if no one else sees it. I love it.
Be careful about the diaper bags that velcro shut. They are super noisy and really embarrassing to get into during church or anywhere else where you're supposed to be quiet. I actually have just used purses that I thought were cute.
Ok. Sorry for the novel. Obviously every mom's opinions are different. Each kid is different so you'll just have to sort of see what works for you. Good luck!
Hey Steph! I actually have that exact diaper bag and I would pay the money all over again for another one. I love that it's a backpack and has a changing pad built in. It was SO worth the money. I've had it for a year and I have no complaints about it. It does velcro shut like someone mentioned and it is loud during church but once you have a baby your pretty much loud where ever you go! I just pull it open fast and keep it open during church.
ReplyDeleteWe got a Graco Travel system that could hold a baby up 32 lbs. I loved the carseat but Marin still isn't 32 lbs (she's almost 2) so I don't know if it was worth the extra money to buy a seat that was bigger. Unless big babies run in your family I wouldn't get a carseat that's that big. My sister has a Chicco carseat, it's less bulky than my Gracco but it makes her baby really sweaty because the fabric doesn't breathe well.
As far as pumps and bottles go I would wait to buy any of that until after you've had the baby. If you know you are going to be working after you have the baby I would definitely get a nicer pump. Marin probably had a bottle 2 times. I would just wait to see what your situation is before you spend money.
We have a baby bath tub that was like a mini bathtub that fit inside our big tub and inside our shower when we didn't have a tub. It came with a little newborn bath cradle that fit inside the tub. I loved it! Marin bathed in her mini tub until she was 1 1/2.
I used a baby bjorn for a while and it was great. Eldon liked wearing it too. When Marin was bigger I got a Moby wrap and I really loved it. There are so many ways to use it and it doesn't kill your back. The downside was that Eldon did not want to use it.
We took a class through the hospital that covered lots of stuff over several weeks. It was great and I learned a lot. I also loved the books "What To Expect When You're Expecting" and "Your Pregnancy Week by Week". My favorite website is www.babycenter.com I looked up stuff all the time before I had Marin and I still get a weekly email from them about toddlers.
My last bit of advice would be to avoid Pacifers at all costs. It seriously is my biggest complaint as a parent. Marin is addicted to hers and we've spent hours looking for it when we lose it. I'm dreading the day we have get rid of it.
im loving all of these comments (I still need baby gear and need help!) Im glad youre loving that diaper bag! I got it as part of a group gift at my baby shower and I am so so excited to use it!
ReplyDeleteIt's so funny to read all these comments and see how different everyone's opinions are.
ReplyDeleteAs for me, I hated nursing. I mean, I did it.. but I hated having to hibernate all the time, especially at the beginning when they're eating every 30 seconds. I had a pump that we borrowed (using my own kit of course), but couldn't figure out how to balance pumping with nursing, so I rarely used it. It was most helpful when I was weaning Clayton, I'd pump just to relieve the pressure (tmi?? lol) But we're going to buy one this time around and I'm going to figure out how to make it work so I can still feed my kid breastmilk, but not have to be a hermit.
I say get the diaper genie. They're not that expensive, and when your kid gets a little older their poop really starts to stink. Just be sure to get the one that you step on the thing to open it. I think it's the Elite II or something.
I'd say wait on a diaper bag until you're sure how much stuff you're actually going to be carrying around with you. You'll probably be able to get away with a cute purse.
I never had a boppy, or ever really felt a need for one, but some people swear by them.
I'm all about the video monitors! We don't have one, but I totally wish we did! Especially those first few nights when you're up all night just to make sure that they're breathing. Plus, I'm pretty sure you can take the video off of them and post it online, so when your kid gets older and starts doing funny things in bed, you can show us all how cute he is.
We never used sleep positioners, or special swaddling stuff.. We did jack a bunch of the swaddling blankets from the hospital though. They seem to work the best. But honestly, Clayton only stayed swaddled for like a month then he wasn't having any of that anymore.
Don't buy a changing table. Whoever said that it's easier just to change them on the floor was exactly right. We bought a changing pad that sat on top of his dresser, and I think we've used it a total of 10 times. It's too much of a hassle to go to their room every time you have to change a diaper.
A playmat is good for when you need to shower or whatever. Clayton never had a swing, but Randi's kid wouldn't have survived the first few months of life without hers.
Clayton loves his Bumbo. We started using it as soon as he could sit in it safely and he still sits in it. We used it in place of a high chair. I'd just sit on the floor next to him and feed him in that until he got big enough to eat human food, then we got him a booster seat that strapped to one of our dining room chairs.
Definitely get the What to Expect the First Year. That was our bible for well, the first year, lol. I felt so out of my element after we had Clayton and was worried about every little thing. That book is really good to explain what should be happening that month, things to look out for, and milestones that your kid should be reaching. Love it.
And I'm with Lisa on the nursery. We didn't buy all the bells and whistles for Clayton's room, but we did put a little effort into it and it's my favorite room in the house too. No one ever saw his room either, but it is so nice to sit in a room you really enjoy when you're nursing.
We never had a sling or baby bjorn.. Something about wearing my kid like a backpack just felt weird, and the slings felt a little granola to me. But I've never heard a single bad thing about them. People that have them love them.
Oh! And the nursing covers.. get one! I didn't with Clayton and wish I would have. Actually I never even heard of them until I was almost done nursing him. I never could get the hang of the whole "throw a blanket over you" thing. I always felt like I was still exposed, or I was suffocating my kid.
That's my novel on the issue. Good luck!
Holy crap.. I didn't realize my comment was so long! lol.. Sorry!
ReplyDeleteDon't worry, I'm not going to write a novel I'm just going to say one thing: If your little babe is going to be a pacifier sucking connoisseur like my Emma is, you'll NEED a paci clip. No joke it's a must so you're not spending 80 percent of your day picking up his paci off the floor. I LOVE mine. I got it from this site:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.shesgotitall.net/catalog.php?category=323
Congrats on your little baby that is sooo exciting! You are going to love being a mom, it's the best :)
p.s. I got my diaper bag from the same site and I LOVE it! Here's the link if you're interested:
http://www.shesgotitall.net/catalog.php?category=71
EVERYONE is going to tell you something different and you will realize what does and doesn't work for you.
ReplyDeleteMy dad and husband built my changing table so it has sentimental value and in the 5 months we've had Preston I have never changed his diaper anywhere else BUT the changing table when we are home. I don't want five different stashes of wipes and diapers around my house.
It is VERY hard to pump AND nurse. If you plan to pump and bottle feed I would say invest in a good breast pump, but if you plan to nurse then the baby is all the pump you need. I can squeeze more milk than my cheap-o pump can get out (tmi?).
We just got a step trash from walmart and it really doesn't stink. The bad thing about diaper genies is you have to buy a specific bag to fit in there and they aren't the cheapest thing.
Preston LOVES his play mat with all the toys hanging over him.
I would say don't buy a swing or vibrating chair. You never know if your baby will like it or not. Preston hates the vibrating chair but liked the swing, which he's too big for now.
BUMBO for sure. I'm sure almost everyone will agree. I stick him in there all the time. He's not able to sit up unsupervised but he always wants to sit up and see what I'm doing so this helps him when I can't.
I decided to use my diaper bag as my purse because I hardly ever go anywhere without P. So I got a fairly large one because even at the minimum you are taking diapers, wipes, burp cloth or 2, extra outfit, blanket, and a few other things like bottles, pacifiers, etc.
Get a car seat that has a higher weight limit so you don't have to buy a new one 6 months later.
I guess I am a bad parent because Preston slept so well on his tummy and so I let him sleep on his tummy since he was 3 weeks and I had a cheap run of the mill baby monitor. One day during tummy times just see how well your little one can turn his head side to side and how well he can hold it up. If he can't do it, don't let him sleep on his tummy. The first night I would check on him a lot but then I finally realized he was fine and I went to sleep.
I will make you a nursing cover as a gift! If you want to go to a hobby lobby or some fabric store that we would have here in TX, then text me a picture of the fabric you want, I will make you one. You will need it.
Now, if people give you things as gifts, take them, even if people have said they don't like it because YOU might. Let other people buy you things that your baby may or may not like (i.e bouncers, vibrating chairs, swings, etc). That way you don't feel you've wasted your money on it if your baby doesn't like it.
SUPER helpful! Ha ha :) I'm really second guessing buying a changing table now. Even though I won't be a parent yet until May, I feel I will not be able to live without a boppy...ha ha :) I positioned one at a friends house and it just seems so helpful. Annnnd, I hope this doesn't offend anyone but bouncers/jumpers/johnny jump ups etc are horrrrrible for your child's spine, neck, and back. I learned that from a doctor before Kyle went to chiropractic school, but they just reinforced that bit of information the other week. Obviously, your child won't die, it's just very bad for their bones.
ReplyDeleteI just found your blog from another one so I hope this isn't too weird commenting... but I have a 10 month old and so I can definitely remember what it is like right before your baby is born and worry about what to get and such. I totally agree with the advice about waiting to purchase a swing or bouncer (or even carrier!) My baby didn't like any of that stuff at first but then all of a sudden he did a couple of months later. Thankfully, people let us borrow it so we didn't spend the money at first. But once we found out he actually liked the stuff then we went out and got some. So I would just test it out first. It will save you a lot of time and money! Also, about baby tubs, we received one from my baby shower but only used it until he was maybe 6 months old. By the time he could sit up and crawl around (which was 6 months for him but every baby is different) we've put him in the bath directly and he loves to splash around. One thing a nurse told me is that you can just put a folded towel in the bath and lay your baby on it in some shallow water if you don't want to spend money on a tub or anything. We did that a couple of times when we were out of town and it was perfect. He loved feeling the water all around him.
ReplyDeleteAnyways, I hope this helps! Sorry again if this is totally weird... haha. I just found you from blog hopping and thought I could possibly help you out :) Good luck with your sweet baby boy! Boys are so fun!
I agree about the changing table. I learned to do it on my lap. Which sounds stupid till you’re at a public bathroom and there is no changing station. It happens all the time and just the idea of putting a baby on the floor even with a mat grossed me out. If you start when they are young they will get use to it faster. I love my body pillow! I sleep on my stomach so I needed all the help I could get. We had the Moby sling and the bjorn. I liked both, Mike liked the bjorn, more manly haha. Makenzie would only sleep if she was swaddled so the thin blankets like the ones from the hospital were the best. My aunt teaches birthing classes so we took one from her. She had some pretty strong opinions on natural birth but other than that it was helpful. I think mostly just to get Mike on the same page as me and being able to talk about what I expect from him that day. My sister’s husband slept through the birth of their child and I wanted to make sure something stupid like that didn’t happen to me. I would recommend a jogging stroller they are so much easier to push! I liked our infant car seat it was smaller than most but I could lift it :) So take that into consideration. Well that’s all I can think about so good luck :) You will do great! We need to get lunch sometime soon.
ReplyDelete-tons of onesies & footie pajamas (i went a little crazy on outfits, but found he didn't wear them til he was a few months old anyway)
ReplyDelete-Medela breast pump (I have the pump n' style advanced and I looooove it!)
-Chico travel system (stroller and carseat) LOVE.
-lots of thin flannel blankets for swaddling (so much better than all the thick blankets)
-Baby einstein playmat. He LOVES it!!!
-good nursing bras (nordstrom is my fave)
-hooter hider/udder cover
-the book: 12 hours sleep by 12 weeks old
-camera-take LOTS of pictures!!!
My must have/do list:
ReplyDelete--breast pump (Medela)
--breastfeeding consultant info (for after you get home, someone you can call for help if needed)
--Bradley Method birthing class
--Cloth diapers!!!!
I know you may hate that idea but I had so many poopy blowouts with Julia while she was wearing disposables. I dreaded diaper time and I always had to carry around extra change of clothes. BUT since I started using cloth diapers with Amelia. NO POOPY BLOWOUTS!!! They are the best - (when I go on a trip or I need to use disposables for some reason, I get blowouts again) www.softbums.com - check it out!!!
Love, your cousin