Every now and again I head on over to the Babies R Us website in an attempt to add things to our registry. And I'll go through the provided checklist, click on the links, and look at the pages and pages of items and just freeze a little. Too many choices! How's a first time mom supposed to pick out bottles or crib sheets or baby carriers or even pacifiers when there's so many options?
So if anyone has some words of wisdom regarding baby products, I'd love to hear it. What couldn't you live without? What was a waste of space or money?
I'm all ears.
I remember using a boppy for Elizabeth, because everyone tolde me I couldn't live without one since I was breast feeding. Haven't used it since her. It was handy, but absolutely unnecessary for me. I learned with Kaitlynn that laying down on the bed was a much easier way to feed her than sitting up all of the time.
ReplyDeleteAs for pacifiers, I don't think I've ever actually bought any for any of my kids. I just used the one the hospital sent me home with, and my nurses were nice enough to give me a couple of extras too. It doesn't hurt to ask to for extra stuff too!
I love the swaddle me type blankets that have Velcro to keep the baby easily swaddled. I just found those with Joshua, and they really helped him and Paige to stay asleep longer.
My kids have all been swing babies, so I love love love my swing.
Another thing that I couldn't live without is an exercise ball. Whenever any baby is fussy, I just bounce on the huge exercise ball, and it lulls them right to sleep. It's a magical magical thing that ball. So if you don't already have one, and when baby girl,gets here and she's hard to get to sleep, I would definitely recommend a ball.
One more thing that I have loved are my carriers. I used a basic Infantino carrier and a Baby Bjorn for the first five kids, and then with Paige I got a gift card to Babies R Us and decided to splurge on a Moby Wrap. I fell in love with it! Wraps are so comfortable and Paige has just loved it, even now. I also have an Ergo carrier which is pretty amazing too. Makes outings very easy, and I like having my baby close to me. Also makes it easier to do things around the house with baby strapped to you so you can be hands free. It's definitely not a complete must have, but once I started using them, I could never go back now.
Don't get a wipes warmer, waste of money. We used to tell people that when I worked at Baby Depot when they were registering. Haha!
I'm sure there is more stuff, but I've typed quite a bit! Hope that helps! any other specific questions, I'm happy to offer advice and my experience!:)
So much seems on the baby's preference, but I recommend trying different brands of pacifiers. I like a bouncy seat (any brand), a swing that plugs in (most take batteries), a bumbo. I like a snap n go stroller and jogging stroller instead of the travel system. Buy used whatever you don't get at a shower. I like Kid to Kid, but not the one in West Valley.
ReplyDeleteWe barely used baby mittens and got way too many blankets at the baby shower..i agree with Rebecca on most stuff a sling is great. We are liking the ring sling for most stages and will try the moby with our newborn. Love our jogging strollet can't use until 4-6 months though. We like our bumbo and exersaucer. Strap on to chair high chair seat has been great too..didn't use until 64-6i months though. Diaper bag diaper changing pad (travel and a bigger one for home- we don't have a changing table just a little bed type thing we put on the ground). If you are nursing maybe just get a few bottles storage bags and manual pump. Not everyone uses them. Also lanolin cream! We like pacifiers-soothies don't seem to stay in as well put it's personal preference. Also tethers for them. Stock up on socks (can always use those for longer mittens) baby bath tub wash cloths soft towels if you want..baby soap sleep sacks. Trying to think of more..aiden and anais swaddle blankets are huge and light and awesome besides swaddle me's-pack of 4 for 35the at target (usually 22 a piece on tge site. Get softer as washed over time). Bassinet is nice if you want baby close and not in crib for first few months. We personally love the boppy for feeding and also for naps when older if needed ..helps prop up when sick too. Saline is great esp with new born stuffiness. Nursing cover..and i think that's all i can.think of besides clothes diapers wipes and bows!! Good luck :)
ReplyDeleteGood comments already. I agree with the moby big time, I wish I had used one with all my kids instead of just with Jackson-not as hard as it looks to wrap at all. Two unnecessary items: a diaper genie and wipes warmer. Waste or money, don't bother with them at all. I also personally don't think buying a breast pump is necessary unless you know you will need one. They are expensive, and not always necessary. In terms of paci's, babies always have a preference, but i like the ortho mams for little ones. As others have said, getting a paci keeper-ie, the strap that keeps the binky attached to the shirt-is necessary! crib sheets-just find a color you like and get a few of them, 100% cotton. For pack and plays, burtlington has a quilted sheet that I love since it has a little more cushion to it. I think a bouncy seat is a great buy for a newborn, swings are touch and go as not all my babies have liked them-but I aree with becca, get a plug in one if you are going to get one-I love my swing, but it eats batteries. I love baby blankets-that's a weakness for me. That said though, I personaly find the anais and aiden or whatever blankets too thin and too big. I like the swaddle-mes that velcro, and I like good old receiving blankets to swaddle in more of a free form-there's different sizes though (just 2 I think), so just get the bigger size. The more babies I had, the more I realized bibs weren't totally necessary, but that's just me. I personally never think a crib is necessary either when a pack and play is more than sufficient....again, that's just me! I also agree with Becca on the boppy, I used it a lot with Karianna and then never again. Laying down to nurse is the best. A carseat cover is nice to get to keep baby sequesterd-you can get that free minus shipping at www.carseatcanopy.com, just google coupon codes for that site-theres always one out there. A lot of the freebies from their sister companies are not worth it, but the carseat canopy is fantastic. There's a lot more I could probably add, but I'll just say newborns really need very little, honestly. I think you guys already got your carseat...get some clothes, blankets, a place to sleep, diaperers, wipes, and everything else will come-don't stress yourself out too too much ;)
ReplyDeleteThe biggest piece of advice I can give is wait on the expensive things like swings and stuff. Your kid may love it or may not and if you buy it too much in advance the store may not let you return or exchange it. With Azucena, we found a friend who was in between kids and borrowed a few things for a few weeks to see if we'd like 'em. {For example: swing, bassinet, nursing pillow. The nursing pillow was basically just a pillow for us because I'd either end up holding her right up to me or lay down on the bed to nurse her. Azucena also didn't like the swing so we seldom used it. But the bassinet came in handy for the first month or two when she was young enough that I wanted her close but didn't want her actually in the bed with me. Best money saved and a good experience.} Other than diapers/wipes and a carseat, most things can wait until it's been a couple of days (or weeks!) and test out what kind of baby you have.
ReplyDeleteSecond piece of advice: while little things are adorable, your baby will double her birth-weight within four months and triple it by her first birthday. Register for older sizes of clothing (3-6, 6-9, even 12 months or bigger) and diapers (size 1 and 2 rather than newborn).