Sorry if this is a repeat, I searched for a similar thread and couldn't find one.
Anyway, we registered yesterday at BRU and we were going along at a pretty good pace. I had done my research and knew what I wanted to get. Until we reached the bottles. And the monitors. Holy crap! So many to choose from! All I know is we want to formula feed and an audio monitor. After that, I'm clueless.
I knew I wanted glass bottles, so my options were already limited. Most people will tell you not to register for a bunch of one type. So, I registered for single bottles or small packs of each of the brands that make glass. We'll see what LO likes once she is here.
As far as monitors, we did not want a video one, so we just chose a basic Motorola.
TTC #1 since 10/2012. BFP#1 11/28/12, MC, BFP #2 CP BFP #3 10/21/2013, EDD 7/3/2014 Beta #1 (4W6D): 1768 Beta #2 (5W1D): 5255 1st US at 6W4D HB of 112 BPM!
We received glass bottles from family members and a monitor which is safety first. DH's brother went through so many cheap monitors they finally went out and spent money and got this one. there old ones had a lot of interference and that with their neighbors.
I recommend just getting a few bottles at first, we went through three different types before we found one that didn't cause DD to take in to much air. As for monitors, we have the Motorola video one and it's been great.
I also recommend getting a few different kinds of bottles, too. We were gifted a bottle sampler from a stm friend and it was perfect to find out what worked for us. I wanted to breastfeed, but we had latch issues, so wanted something that was wide mouthed. We tried all the options and liked Tommee Tippee the best. An added bonus is they were the easiest to clean.
We have the motorola monitor and really like it. You can also buy a second camera for it when you have another child.
Dr. Brown's bottles are great, especially for babies with reflux, but they are a pain to clean & a bit pricey. I would recommend registering for a standard, no thrills bottle to try first. Then also register for a bottle with more specialized features to have on board in case your LO doesn't take to the standard. My DS did best with Tommy Tippe bottles
I like Evenflo Classic Glass Bottles. We had a simple Safety 1st audio monitor and it always and static. When we went to buy DS2 a convertible car seat, BRU was giving away Video monitors with purchase. You might want to watch for deals like that.
Dr Browns glass bottles (both LOs were FF from 8 weeks) and Angelcare Video, Sound & Movement monitor (but we never used the movement sensor pad for either LO).
Have you ever broken a glass bottle? I would totally use them, but I'm a total klutz and break glasses on a regular basis (including so-called "unbreakable" glass water bottles). I would *really* not want to go to the ER with a baby with glass in their hands or arm (something I have had to do myself)!
Really, are they actually durable? They seem great in all other respects, but they are still glass and babies are tiny little uncoordinated humans!
I REALLY liked the Tommee tippie for formula feeding! They make little containers that rest down inside the bottle to keep it separate from the water until you are ready to use. Once DS was good with room temp bottles, it was a god-send!
We used Playtex Ventaire bottles with standard nipples. With DD milk would drip out any time we tried to use the wider mouth nipples that were supposed to be like the breast.
We have a Motorola video monitor so I can't help you with audio monitors. But I would never go back to having just an audio monitor after having
experienced using a video monitor. Just a personal preference. We have some audio monitor that we picked up at a garage sale for $5 for back-up or if DD's cousin is staying with us.
Have you everoken a glass bottle? I would totally use them, but I'm a total klutz and break glasses on a regular basis (including so-called "unbreakable" glass water bottles). I would *really* not want to go to the ER with a baby with glass in their hands or arm (something I have had to do myself)!
Really, are they actually durable? They seem great in all other respects, but they are still glass and babies are tiny little uncoordinated humans!
I got a bunch of glass bottles from my sister. She used them with her two girls. I dropped one on pavement, it didn't break, but I tossed it because I was worried there may have been small cracks. I had to switch to different bottles for DS, but I liked the glass ones a lot.
We used tommee tippee bottles and liked them. I know you're going to use formula but for those planning on nursing, they make adaptors to put on your pump so the bottle fits.
The monitor we have is the angelcare and we like it as well. We used the sensor pad for 8 months then stopped. I really like the actual monitor though, it travels really far in my experience. As much as I thought the temperature sensor would be dumb, his room in our fairly new home gets really warm in the summer and cold in the winter for some reason. It's probably one of my favorite features. We'll probably be getting a video one soon because I'm not ready to get rid of the monitor in DS's room.
If you read the reviews on BRU's website and Amazon, plenty of people say that they've dropped them and they didn't break. Have you ever actually held one or picked up a package? IMO, they are heavier and thicker than a drinking glass or similar.
TTC #1 since 10/2012. BFP#1 11/28/12, MC, BFP #2 CP BFP #3 10/21/2013, EDD 7/3/2014 Beta #1 (4W6D): 1768 Beta #2 (5W1D): 5255 1st US at 6W4D HB of 112 BPM!
I read this book called "Baby Bargains" and it gave a lot of helpful reviews of the most popular products and the best as far as safety and whatnot. You could pick that up or get it on your kindle for some ideas.
For a monitor, the book said the best audio monitor was just an inexpensive vtech, so that is what I registered for. We don't need a fancy video monitor since the baby's room isn't far from us anyway.
I have some Avent natural bottles on my registry. But I think bottles are totally a preference thing and everyone goes for something different.
**Siggy/Ticker Warning**
TTC #1 since May 2012
May 2013: First R.E. appointment
DH: SA is good
May 2013: CD3 Blood work-normal June 2013: Hsg-Right tube blocked
July 26, 2013: Starting Follistim for IVF #1
August 2013: IVF #1 Cancelled- Abnormal embryos
October/November 2013: IVF #2 w/ICSI
November 8, 2013: Transferred two early blasts (no frosties)
We used tommee tippee bottles and liked them. I know you're going to use formula but for those planning on nursing, they make adaptors to put on your pump so the bottle fits.
The monitor we have is the angelcare and we like it as well. We used the sensor pad for 8 months then stopped. I really like the actual monitor though, it travels really far in my experience. As much as I thought the temperature sensor would be dumb, his room in our fairly new home gets really warm in the summer and cold in the winter for some reason. It's probably one of my favorite features. We'll probably be getting a video one soon because I'm not ready to get rid of the monitor in DS's room.
Where do you get the adapters? I almost thought about trying new bottles just so we could have something to connect directly to the pump.
We used tommee tippee bottles and liked them. I know you're going to use formula but for those planning on nursing, they make adaptors to put on your pump so the bottle fits.
The monitor we have is the angelcare and we like it as well. We used the sensor pad for 8 months then stopped. I really like the actual monitor though, it travels really far in my experience. As much as I thought the temperature sensor would be dumb, his room in our fairly new home gets really warm in the summer and cold in the winter for some reason. It's probably one of my favorite features. We'll probably be getting a video one soon because I'm not ready to get rid of the monitor in DS's room.
Where do you get the adapters? I almost thought about trying new bottles just so we could have something to connect directly to the pump.
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We got them at babies r us. I think target might have them too?? Not sure.
Have you everoken a glass bottle? I would totally use them, but I'm a total klutz and break glasses on a regular basis (including so-called "unbreakable" glass water bottles). I would *really* not want to go to the ER with a baby with glass in their hands or arm (something I have had to do myself)!
Really, are they actually durable? They seem great in all other respects, but they are still glass and babies are tiny little uncoordinated humans!
I got a bunch of glass bottles from my sister. She used them with her two girls. I dropped one on pavement, it didn't break, but I tossed it because I was worried there may have been small cracks.
I had to switch to different bottles for DS, but I liked the glass ones a lot.
I have 9 glass bottles, my mom has 3 and my MIL has 3. We've used the same 15 bottles for both my kids. Between all of us, only 1 has broken. My MIL dropped one on a sidewalk from about shoulder height. My mother and I are kind of clumsy and have dropped them many times in our homes with no breaks or cracks. I'm going to use the same bottles again with this LO.
I read this book called "Baby Bargains" and it gave a lot of helpful reviews of the most popular products and the best as far as safety and whatnot. You could pick that up or get it on your kindle for some ideas.
For a monitor, the book said the best audio monitor was just an inexpensive vtech, so that is what I registered for. We don't need a fancy video monitor since the baby's room isn't far from us anyway.
I have some Avent natural bottles on my registry. But I think bottles are totally a preference thing and everyone goes for something different.
Thanks! I'm definitely going to get a copy of that. It sounds like it would be really helpful! I've been hitting up mom friends for advice on what was useful vs waste of money and good quality vs bad quality.
If planning to breast feed, can glass bottles still be used? Or would it be a pain to fill?
This was my question too. If you freeze the milk in the bottles, I'd think reheating them could cause the risk of cracking. Have any of you tried this?
For freezing milk, I used the lansinoh freezer bags. They lay flat and you write on them. The only time I pumped into bottles was when I knew I'd need a bottle in the next couple of days and I kept it in the fridge. I'm a SAHM so it wasn't all that often. There are a lot of ways to do all of this, I'm sure others have different advice to give.
Re: Bottles? Monitors? Which one to get?
As far as monitors, we did not want a video one, so we just chose a basic Motorola.
TTC #1 since 10/2012.
BFP#1 11/28/12, MC, BFP #2 CP
BFP #3 10/21/2013, EDD 7/3/2014
Beta #1 (4W6D): 1768 Beta #2 (5W1D): 5255
1st US at 6W4D HB of 112 BPM!
1/20/2014: IT'S A GIRL!
6/30/2014: Happy birthday baby M!
I would recommend registering for a standard, no thrills bottle to try first.
Then also register for a bottle with more specialized features to have on board in case your LO doesn't take to the standard.
My DS did best with Tommy Tippe bottles
BFP 08/14/13 EDD 04/18/14 Natural MC 08/19/13
BFP 10/15/13 EDD 06/24/2014 Natural MC 10/23/13
Recurrent Miscarriage Panel done 11/06/13. Results= All normal
BFP 12/2/13 EDD July 30, 2014
Beta 12/3/13: 19,261!
U/S 12/13/13 heart rate 143 bpm!
My Blog
BFP 08/14/13 EDD 04/18/14 Natural MC 08/19/13
BFP 10/15/13 EDD 06/24/2014 Natural MC 10/23/13
Recurrent Miscarriage Panel done 11/06/13. Results= All normal
BFP 12/2/13 EDD July 30, 2014
Beta 12/3/13: 19,261!
U/S 12/13/13 heart rate 143 bpm!
My Blog
I'll have to look at some of the monitors you all mentioned. We don't want a video or movement monitor so that should narrow it down.
Have you ever broken a glass bottle? I would totally use them, but I'm a total klutz and break glasses on a regular basis (including so-called "unbreakable" glass water bottles). I would *really* not want to go to the ER with a baby with glass in their hands or arm (something I have had to do myself)!
Really, are they actually durable? They seem great in all other respects, but they are still glass and babies are tiny little uncoordinated humans!
We have a Motorola video monitor so I can't help you with audio monitors. But I would never go back to having just an audio monitor after having experienced using a video monitor. Just a personal preference. We have some audio monitor that we picked up at a garage sale for $5 for back-up or if DD's cousin is staying with us.
I had to switch to different bottles for DS, but I liked the glass ones a lot.
The monitor we have is the angelcare and we like it as well. We used the sensor pad for 8 months then stopped. I really like the actual monitor though, it travels really far in my experience. As much as I thought the temperature sensor would be dumb, his room in our fairly new home gets really warm in the summer and cold in the winter for some reason. It's probably one of my favorite features. We'll probably be getting a video one soon because I'm not ready to get rid of the monitor in DS's room.
If you read the reviews on BRU's website and Amazon, plenty of people say that they've dropped them and they didn't break. Have you ever actually held one or picked up a package? IMO, they are heavier and thicker than a drinking glass or similar.
TTC #1 since 10/2012.
BFP#1 11/28/12, MC, BFP #2 CP
BFP #3 10/21/2013, EDD 7/3/2014
Beta #1 (4W6D): 1768 Beta #2 (5W1D): 5255
1st US at 6W4D HB of 112 BPM!
1/20/2014: IT'S A GIRL!
6/30/2014: Happy birthday baby M!
I read this book called "Baby Bargains" and it gave a lot of helpful reviews of the most popular products and the best as far as safety and whatnot. You could pick that up or get it on your kindle for some ideas.
For a monitor, the book said the best audio monitor was just an inexpensive vtech, so that is what I registered for. We don't need a fancy video monitor since the baby's room isn't far from us anyway.
I have some Avent natural bottles on my registry. But I think bottles are totally a preference thing and everyone goes for something different.
**Siggy/Ticker Warning**
TTC #1 since May 2012
May 2013: First R.E. appointment
DH: SA is good
May 2013: CD3 Blood work-normal
June 2013: Hsg-Right tube blocked
July 26, 2013: Starting Follistim for IVF #1
August 2013: IVF #1 Cancelled- Abnormal embryos
October/November 2013: IVF #2 w/ICSI
November 8, 2013: Transferred two early blasts (no frosties)
November 18, 2013: First EVER BFP!
Beta#1: 91 Beta#2: 288
1st U/S- 5w2d Saw yolk sac!
3rd U/S- 7w4d HB of 157bpm!
TEAM BLUE!
http://movingtolight.blogspot.com/
Where do you get the adapters? I almost thought about trying new bottles just so we could have something to connect directly to the pump.
We got them at babies r us. I think target might have them too?? Not sure.
I have 9 glass bottles, my mom has 3 and my MIL has 3. We've used the same 15 bottles for both my kids. Between all of us, only 1 has broken. My MIL dropped one on a sidewalk from about shoulder height. My mother and I are kind of clumsy and have dropped them many times in our homes with no breaks or cracks. I'm going to use the same bottles again with this LO.
TTC #1 since 10/2012.
BFP#1 11/28/12, MC, BFP #2 CP
BFP #3 10/21/2013, EDD 7/3/2014
Beta #1 (4W6D): 1768 Beta #2 (5W1D): 5255
1st US at 6W4D HB of 112 BPM!
1/20/2014: IT'S A GIRL!
6/30/2014: Happy birthday baby M!
TTC #1 since 10/2012.
BFP#1 11/28/12, MC, BFP #2 CP
BFP #3 10/21/2013, EDD 7/3/2014
Beta #1 (4W6D): 1768 Beta #2 (5W1D): 5255
1st US at 6W4D HB of 112 BPM!
1/20/2014: IT'S A GIRL!
6/30/2014: Happy birthday baby M!