Keep, toss, add

JSS1002

Keep: graco swing with both battery AND plug-in... for a long time it was the only thing that would calm him down during his "witching hour" and where he took naps -- and was amazing during a power outage.  My breast pump and a fancy hands-free bra for larger busts (the ones from Target didn't work for me), and special attachments to angle the bottles down instead of out (made it much easier to read or be online while pumping).  My Petuna diaper bag, Chico travel system, Pack n Play with basinette attachment (for our room for the first 2 months or so)... a specific kind of onesie that i ordered online that snapped up the front instead of having to be removed over his head - he'd FREAK when I pulled things over his head at first... Avent bottles (closest to breast), white noise machine, halo swaddles... 

Toss: wipe warmer (still in box), moby wrap (most people love these, I couldn't get comfortable with it), boppy - I had much better luck with My Brest Friend, Snugamonkey bouncey seat - he never really got into it, much preferred the Graco swing; the super fancy swing that swung side to side instead of front to back - HATED IT.  

Add: Honestly, I didn't need to add anything.  Everything that I wanted or needed I just went and bought at the time.  I bought my breast pump out of my own pocket because I was too impatient to wait for insurance and I got the completely hands free one - which was awesome for walking around the house, etc but I think didn't have as strong of a pump as the other Medala one that I should have gotten.  

I'm kind of a shopper / product whore in case you can't tell. ;-)

chardonnay24

Keep: Miracle Blanket

Toss: Bjorn

Add: Moby wrap

BethanyAnn27

yet another FTM here just adding my thanks. These are great, especially seeing the repeat "Keep" and "Toss"...loving all the experience we have on S14 for us newbies! 

mariaculbreth

Keep: boppy, swing, bouncy chair
Toss: ring sling
Add: not much maybe a moby wrap

linnsey26

KEEP: Ergo, sleep sack swaddles, large supply of aquaphor and calmoseptine

TOSS: Bumbo, boppy,Sophie teether

UPGRADE: glider (we have an uncomfortable one right now and since we practically lived in it the first 6 months, we are upgrading to a nicer full upholstery one)

ADD: video monitor

bumpuser10199668

Can I just ask a FTM question? What is so special about the Aiden & Anais blankets/swaddles? I've heard so many good things, but isn't a blanket a blanket a blanket?

Soogerplum

Keep: Ergo

Toss: Diaper Genie...such a waste!

Add: Nipple shield much sooner! Saved my life!

brittneyandadam

Has anyone had experience with the Moby or Boba wrap? I was looking at those for baby carrying and they appear pretty similar...or would you skip and just register for the Ergo wrap?

brittneyandadam

carmstr4 said:

Can I just ask a FTM question? What is so special about the Aiden & Anais blankets/swaddles? I've heard so many good things, but isn't a blanket a blanket a blanket?

My friend LOVED them...they're muslin so they're much lighter than a regular blanket which makes them great for a bf cover, stroller cover, swaddling in warmer months, etc. I'm huge on practicality, so when she told me how many things she used them for, I was convinced.

Edit for clarity

TBarker925

Thanks everyone! I started a private amazon wish list so I don't forget all these things when I go to register!

trebekastan

TBarker925 said:

Thanks everyone! I started a private amazon wish list so I don't forget all these things when I go to register!

If you are registering on amazon, you can just keep it private for now and make it public later. I already have quite the registry going.

Irisheyes1247

Keep - all my carriers. I have a mei tai, a ring sling and a Boba and I love them all

Toss - wipe warmer, butt paste

Add - Swing with batteries, video monitor?

chardonnay24

brittneyandadam said:

Has anyone had experience with the Moby or Boba wrap? I was looking at those for baby carrying and they appear pretty similar...or would you skip and just register for the Ergo wrap?

I tried the Moby when my kiddo was much older and kind of over being worn but I loved it. It was really easy to use and comfortable. I'm considering a Moby or Boba, haven't decided which one, even though we have an Ergo. The Ergo is a structured carrier and great for when the kiddo was a little older, but I want a wrap for the first couple months so I can nurse on the go while chasing after an active 3 year old.

teenybean

Keep: ergo
Tossed after 1st: diaper genie
Add: not sure I feel pretty content

adoxyinherear

carmstr4 said:

Can I just ask a FTM question? What is so special about the Aiden & Anais blankets/swaddles? I've heard so many good things, but isn't a blanket a blanket a blanket?

@carmstr4, they're just super breathable and soft, and they get softer every time you wash them. We loved them for the double swaddle, too... receiving blanket on the inside, A&A blanket on the outside. They're pricey, but really one of the very few baby "luxuries" we actually loved so much/got so much use out of we bought more (our first few were gifts).

CplusJ=S

Keep: My Brest Friend Toss: Boppy Add: Mei Tei carrier

cookiemomstarr

Keep: Undercover Mama Nursing shirts (these are strapless tanks that hook to your nursing bra EFFING AMAZING INVENTION), Swing with a plug, Aiden and Anais blankets, Rock n Play.

Toss: Stuffed animals, the gazillion baby blankets people buy you (seriously I know they are soft, but you dont need one for every day of the month), Baby towels (use a regular towel).

Add: A better lined nursing bra that hides the nips and nursing pads!! (Recs if you've found one)

juneybooney

keep: nose frieda (still use it)
toss: boppy
add: glider (i wish) or rock n play

SmarieMcB84

Just wanted to add on to the wrap subject. I had an infantino baby holder which I used a lot. It did hurt my back after a little while, but I also had the mobey wrap and I couldn't get comfortable with that. It was easier for me to buckle a few buckles rather than tying myself into a big knot. This being said I think it's best to try a couple different ones out to see which you prefer as I think it's a personal preference.

mrsH1112

Hey @RusalkaSings is double swaddling a technique you used often?  Im a FTM and just reading up on the wonders of swaddling but Ive never heard of using 2 blankets.  Is it just sort of for a tigher more secure wrap?

BTW your little one is adorable.  My husband would absolutlely be head over heals if our future kid dressed in some Star Wars garb :-)

adoxyinherear

mrsH1112 said:

Hey @RusalkaSings is double swaddling a technique you used often?  Im a FTM and just reading up on the wonders of swaddling but Ive never heard of using 2 blankets.  Is it just sort of for a tigher more secure wrap?

BTW your little one is adorable.  My husband would absolutlely be head over heals if our future kid dressed in some Star Wars garb :-)

mrsH1112, that was pretty much the only way we ever swaddled her. She was much more secure that way because she was a tiny ninja - one morning I woke up and she'd gotten her arm out through the neck of her pajama and both blankets, it was hilarious. We just swaddled her once in a receiving blanket, and then swaddled her again in an A&A blanket. I wish I could say we inherited this sage-like parent wisdom from somebody or something, but DH just started swaddling her that way one night and it stuck. She always seemed super comfy and we kept it up until she was almost four months old.

On a side note, we could never really get the swaddle sacks to work for her. I know some folks love them and I even made her one, but, it just didn't work out.

And thank you! She's probably doomed to be a nerd but I can't help myself sometimes.

MBano

This post is super helpful. It totally made my decisions 100000000x easier for my registry!

henderson1026

::dredging up old post::

Another TOSS item:  the snoogle.  A regular body pillow is working so much better this time.  I like to flip from my lieft to right a lot and it is much easier to do now, my husband also hated the snoogle since it took up so much space.

Linz-E

Keep: The summer infant velcro swaddles

Toss: diaper pail (ew!!! we just used a regular small trash bin and changed it daily)

Add: Breast pump and Ergo carrier

amyc216

Keep: snugabunny swing
Toss: bumbo, peepee teepees
Add: DH wants a baby carrier

andthatmakes4

Damasked said:

STMs, I'm curious what swings you used and how well they held up. I was reading reviews on some of the FP ones that said the motor burned out quickly. Did any of you have this issue?

Mine lasted through first baby and through 2nd baby until he was 4 months old in January of this year. Then the motor gave out. FP quickly sent me another motor. It went out last week. Now they are replacing the whole swing. So yes, they can give out but they have great customer service about it. Also, my 2nd baby sleeps in it every night (I know, bad mommy!) so it gets a lot of use.

aggiefrau08

Keep: Rock & Play, Sophie the Giraffe, Spacesaver high chair, Boppy

Toss: Diaper Genie (we switched to cloth), portable swing (didn't last long enough because it was small. We're getting a big one this time.), Moby wrap (I loved wearing him, but the Moby was way too hot for Texas and I need a wrap that I can do a back carry with since I'm short.) I might also get rid of our baby bath tub since my sister is going to let me use her Blooming Bath, but I haven't decided yet.

Add: Full size swing, K'tan Breeze, woven wrap, prefolds & covers

kayemgi

@aggiefrau08 Did your sister like the Blooming Bath? I'm guessing yes since you're considering using it. That's what I want to use, and the reviews on Amazon are great, but then like every article I read about good-to-have baby stuff says that a baby bathtub is unnecessary. 

aggiefrau08

@kayemgi She did like it. My nephew outgrew it a little before he could sit up on his own, but I'm not super concerned about that since he's almost 10 months old and catching up to DS in height. My sister's taller than me, so it's to be expected that my kids will be a little smaller. We used our baby bathtub for a good while, but I just think it will be SO much easier on me to bathe her in the sink than to have to kneel down on the hard tile floor and do that around trying to bathe DS too. I've gotten lazy and DS usually takes a shower with me instead of a bath anyway.

kayemgi

@aggiefrau08 Awesome, thanks for the info!

mcstrepp

Question:

Everyone seems to like the rock n play.I am a FTM and my friend is lending me her co sleeper. Do you think I should also get a rock n play?

cmumama

Keep: Swing (Fisher Price lamb swing.  Have used it with both boys and LOVE it).  A&A blankets (they are the best for swaddling).

Toss: Baby Bjorn (hand me down from a friend.  It's awful).

Add: A good breast pump.  I had an Ameda and it sucked.

I ended up buying an Ergo from Craigslist when DS2 was a few months old and I love it!

andthatmakes4

Keep: snugabunny swing, baby legs (so cute!)

Toss: pocket cloth diapers (I had the pre fold diapers for the newborn stage and much prefer those.), the glider I got

Add: a recliner and room in my house to put it in. Actually, I would like to add a bigger house. Toys and baby gear is taking over my place.

MrsLaLaBug

KateSays said:

Damasked said:

STMs, I'm curious what swings you used and how well they held up. I was reading reviews on some of the FP ones that said the motor burned out quickly. Did any of you have this issue?

We have a FP, It's called little lamb platinum I think? I loved it and had no issues with it. They do slow down once the baby gets heavy but that seems like logic to me. 

This is the swing I have and absolutely love it. DD slept in it for months until we finally moved her to her crib. And yes, once they start to get a bit heavier plus you have blanket on them, etc, the motor will sort of start to whine and slow down. But FP is good about replacing things from what I hear, if it actually goes out.

AmandaR204

Keep- formula containers for the diaper bag, pre measured (super convienent) also the snoogle, I wrapped it up in a circle and DS would nap in it, have tummy time and hang all day in that thing. Toss- bottle warmer Add- diaper genie and Velcro swaddler I only had one but it was the best.

Everyusernameistaken

RusalkaSings said:

carmstr4 said:

Can I just ask a FTM question? What is so special about the Aiden & Anais blankets/swaddles? I've heard so many good things, but isn't a blanket a blanket a blanket?

@carmstr4, they're just super breathable and soft, and they get softer every time you wash them. We loved them for the double swaddle, too... receiving blanket on the inside, A&A blanket on the outside. They're pricey, but really one of the very few baby "luxuries" we actually loved so much/got so much use out of we bought more (our first few were gifts).

Agree, and they can be a nursing cover in a pinch! I got mine as hand me downs, you may also be able to find some a swap meets if the price tag is too steep

Everyusernameistaken

MrsLaLaBug said:

KateSays said:

Damasked said:

STMs, I'm curious what swings you used and how well they held up. I was reading reviews on some of the FP ones that said the motor burned out quickly. Did any of you have this issue?

We have a FP, It's called little lamb platinum I think? I loved it and had no issues with it. They do slow down once the baby gets heavy but that seems like logic to me. 

This is the swing I have and absolutely love it. DD slept in it for months until we finally moved her to her crib. And yes, once they start to get a bit heavier plus you have blanket on them, etc, the motor will sort of start to whine and slow down. But FP is good about replacing things from what I hear, if it actually goes out.

Yes we had this and the motor did slow down but never died. And we used it until he was a 23 lb 7 month old, I thought I was going to have to find a toddler swing, haha!

colleendd

This is great ladies! We are having DS #3 but it's still great to get ideas on better products.

Keep: medela pump (used it every day for year), bouncy seat (both boys LOVED to be part of things and I loved that I had hands free), exersaucer (both boys loved it), Burt's bees diaper cream (both boys had sensitive skin)

Toss: swing (already gone), probably the jumperoo (neither boy loved it & it takes up tons of space), baby Bjorn (never used it)

Add: A&A blankets (sounds like they'd be lighter for Florida weather), replenish my supply of born free glass bottles if I can still find them (loved them, both boys nursed & took a bottle without confusion)

mokiki

This is great information for FTM! Thanks ladies.

bumpuser5078523

Keep- Video baby monitor. It was a gift and it was something shook my head at. I love it! I can peek at him and not run to his room with every weird sound. I am buying another one for this baby. (We will use the first one for Logan since he will be transitioning from a crib to a mattress on the floor.)

Toss- Huge strollers. They are obnoxious and heavy. I bought the Chicco umbrella stroller and love it!

Add- More cloth diapers, probably. I haven't decided how I want to split my stash yet, so I'm not sure if I will need more.