Ask a STM+ (aka the Stupid Questions Thread)

joforyoga

bluejeanbabi05 said:

I'm wondering about pros and cons of a separate changing table vs. a dresser with a changing table set up on top. The set we're looking at has a "topper" built in for a changing station. Also, there aren't any rails on it. For some reason I've been thinking rails are a necessity for a changing station. Are they?

We just used his dresser. To me it seems like a waste of money and just an extra piece of furniture to take up space. It was actually great because we have a six drawer dresser which of course is huge for the babies wardrobe so I used one of the top drawers for all of the diapers, wipes etc. 

shan24

We have a dresser with a change space on top. DS is 2.5 and we're still using it. 

purplestarz

shan24 said:

We have a dresser with a change space on top. DS is 2.5 and we're still using it. 

Exactly the same thing here. I didn't think we would use it this long but it's nice 

kpinto

FTM worry here (ugh I feel like all I do is over analyze and worry), but I've had a really bad week and was sulking in the shower. I realized I was in there for like thirty minutes and it was full of steam. I didn't think anything of it until I got out and started freaking out. Should I be worried?? (I've only heard horror stories about hot tubs/saunas/ etc.) Once again, I apologize for the excessive worrying. 

mommac2017

@bluejeanbabi05, I really think it depends on your room and what space you have. I personally prefer the change table on top
of the dresser because it seems pointless to have both to me. My sister has both the dresser and Change table and I feel like her change table just takes up space in an already small room. The downside to the change table being on top is that I've noticed mine has gotten scratched. So when we finally do take the change table off, the dresser top will have scratches. 

@kpinto, I wouldn't worry. I wouldn't make it a regular habit. But I don't think one long, hot shower will be a big deal. Just try not to do it again

canonmom413

@bluejeanbabi05 I personally like the dressers with a slight lip on the sides. That said, with DD1 we had an actual changing table because it was given to us and I only used it for the first 2 months. After that it was a storage cart. That's where all surplus bath and diapering products went. Along with blankets. With DD2 , I didn't use anything. We changed her everywhere and anywhere. That's the plan with the one too, unless we're gifted a changing dresser/table. 

bluejeanbabi05

@mommac2017 that's a good point! The dresser we're looking at has a removable top with raised sides you put the changing pad on. That top will stay there through the changing years, then you can take it off to make it a regular dresser. Hopefully that will avoid the scratches!

natleilynn

We were complete newbie FT parents and were literally in the hospital without a pediatrician. The hospital made us call around and find one that would take us and schedule DD's first follow up visit before they would release her. So yes, yes yes - find one before you go into labor. haha

buttercream_frosting

@bluejeanbabi05 I highly recommend the Ikea Hemnes dresser to use as a change table. It is so much handier.

ac1259

@bluejeanbabi05 I'm probably going to be the weirdo about the changing table. I changed both my kids on a changing pad on the changing table until they were probably at least 2. They got dressed there too usually but it was the setup of our house, the bedrooms were right down the hall from the living area. Our new house the upstairs is where the bedrooms are so I'll probably keep one changing pad upstairs and one in the living room and use it where I need it. But we had changing pads on top of normal dressers but the changing pads are curved so there's kind of a barrier so they don't fall off of it as easily, and a buckle (which I never used). 

nhoover88

When do you take a hospital tour and sign up for birthing/child care classes?

natleilynn

@nhoover88 I mean, we did neither. I guess I kind of got an impromptu hospital tour when I was in a car accident at 6 months, but DH's work schedule made it too crazy and the birthing classes at our hospital cost way too much money.

I'm not saying you shouldn't. Just know that it's an option to not do it. I think my labor and delivery was easier because I just kind of went with the flow and didn't have it in my head of all these things to do/not do/say/not say/etc. 

It's probably a nice to have but not a "have to have" thing. Your doctor probably has a recommendation on when to do them, although I think most people I know did it around the start of their third trimester.

*ETA* Sorry, I didn't make that clear - our hospital charged for birthing classes...but a lot of my friends' hospitals did not. Just something to double check also!

bluejeanbabi05

Wow I didn't realize the hospital classes had a cost!

I guess this might be a helpful tidbit then, the registry lady at BRU gave me a schedule of free classes BRU offers

jessafishy

@bluejeanbabi05 Not all hospitals charge. Ours was free as long as we were delivering at the hospital.

jessafishy

And also, I found the hospital birthing class good to familiarize myself with the hospital and their policies but everything else I had already gotten from outside information (i.e. I know how the laboring process worked and my options for medications during labor, etc.).

natleilynn

@bluejeanbabi05 I refurbished an old dresser we had in the garage (stained it and put new hardware on it). Then we put a changing pad on top (with the rubber "stay" stuff you put under rugs so they don't slide). It worked just fine and cost us about $30 for the stain & hardware. And now it's just in DD's room with plenty of storage on top and plenty of drawers for clothes.

yenrec

@nhoover88 our hospital offers free tours of the maternity floor, which was nice to see where we would be during labor and delivery, as well as recovery. It also helps you feel more comfortable knowing how many staff is on hand, number of surgery rooms, bathing tubs, birthing options, etc. Our birthing class offered from the hospital was extremely helpful as a FTM, and I am sooo thankful we paid for it and went to it! It was so informational, and being taught from an on-staff nurse was wonderful. 
To answer your question: we went around 30 weeks. It was good timing for us. 

mrs_fogue

kpinto said:

FTM worry here (ugh I feel like all I do is over analyze and worry), but I've had a really bad week and was sulking in the shower. I realized I was in there for like thirty minutes and it was full of steam. I didn't think anything of it until I got out and started freaking out. Should I be worried?? (I've only heard horror stories about hot tubs/saunas/ etc.) Once again, I apologize for the excessive worrying. 

@kpinto you are probably fine.  With a shower you aren't submerged in the water.  I even took many baths in my third tri just to ease the back aches.  You want to watch out for the water the makes your skin red.  So skip the hot tubs and baths if you have to have the water scorching hot.   

purplestarz

@nhoover88 I took mine around 6-7 months. For me, they were a complete waste of time and money. We did some kind of labor class, a newborn care class, and a hospital tour. Ok maybe it wasn't a COMPLETE waste...but totally not necessary. I can safely say they didn't teach me anything that I really used in labor. In the childcare class we changed some diapers on some dolls. I had never changed a diaper before so I guess that was good haha. I think at the time it just eased my nerves and gave me some sense of preparedness for labor and having a newborn. But I'm sure I would have been fine. The hospital tour was a joke. They put us in a room and showed us pictures of the delivery rooms. They said they couldn't take us into the maternity ward due to security. Then they showed us which elevator to take. Dumb.

natleilynn

@purplestars my friend taught me to change a diaper on a Curious George stuffed animal when I was 8 months pregnant. It was sufficient. haha

tyannej

I'm so late, nursing school has tried to kill me this week with projects I swear, but on the changing table thing. Did any moms have a pack n play like the one attached and did y'all use the changing table on it. Is it worth it or no? 

shan24

@tyannejohn we had one. DS slept in his PNP in our room for the first three months and I used it then. I didn't keep the PNP up after he went in his crib, though. Is it convenient?  Sure. Necessary?  Probably not. 

yenrec

@tyannejohn Thats the one we have. it was extremely convenient for us because we didn't use our nursery for like the first 8 months. Baby slept in her bassinet at first next to the bed, then moved to the upper level of the pack and play, then moved to the bottom layer of the pack and play before I was ready for her to move to her own room. We used the changing table on the pnp up until that time. After that she moved to her crib and we stored the PNP for traveling. Which was extremely necessary for us since she's still not in a big kid bed at 18 months. Anyways the bassinet and changing table are convenient, but not necessary. If you can't  afford the one with all the bells and whistles don't fret. You'll adapt!! But do you need a PNP? In my opinion, definitely. 

mommac2017

@nhoover88, our hospital doesn't give tours but they have an online virtual tour that I watched sometime in third trimester. We did prenatal classes I believe at 7 months. Although a lot of the information was stuff I already knew, I really enjoyed the classes. I would have liked one that talked more about breastfeeding though. That was something I felt very unprepared for. Ours talked about it but very briefly and made it seem so natural and easy!

@tyannejohn, we had a pack n play very similar to that one. The change table was reversible so one side was a change pad and the other acted as a bassinet for baby. We used to bassinet but never used the change table. We still use the pack n play for sleepovers at the grandparents house. Highly recommend getting a pack n play. 

purplestarz

@tyannejohn we had that one, and actually one a little beyond that because it came with a basinette too. 


So, extremely convenient for us as she slept in the basinette in our room, and then the top part of the basinette also fit in the pack n play next to the changing table. So if she was still sleeping I could carry the basinette downstairs and stick her in the pack n play. I'm going to say it was only nice for us though because of having a two story house. I liked having a changing table downstairs. We have nosy dogs so it wasn't always convienent to change a diaper on the floor or couch. I will say though the changing table doesn't seem to hold much weight so you can't use it for long before it starts slanting under baby's weight....at least that's how mine is. All that being said, I don't think we will set up the pack and play permanently like we did back then. We live in a one story house now and don't mind walking down the hall to change a diaper. We will still use the basinette though. It also came with a vibration and music feature which I think we only used one or twice.

bluejeanbabi05

Going along with the bassinet convo...I am extremely attracted to the Halo Bassinest. I want it. It's expensive. Am I crazy.

yenrec

@bluejeanbabi05 it is expensive!! My kolcraft was great for us for a few reasons: baby could lay at an incline (she has bad acid reflux for a while), it rolled around my house, it rocked back and forth and side to side, it had a canopy and mobile, as well as vibrated and played music. I don't think the Halo has wheels, has a canopy, or an inclined option?

jessafishy

@bluejeanbabi05 I want the Halo Bassinet and the 4moms Rockaroo even though I know they probably aren't worth the money and I already have other things I can use for their purpose.

bluejeanbabi05

@yenrec nope...but it's pretty and it swirls around and you can sit in bed and lift the baby out and it plays music and it vibrates and it's pretty

feeislove

I know it's crazy early for asking about baby showers but it came up in conversation with my sister today so I want to ask before it slips my mind. 

We grew up in Miami and things are done differently there than where I live now (small town in NC). People here tend to dress more casually for things like showers. My sister (who is throwing my shower) wants to somehow put on the invitation to come dressed semi nice. I explained to her that people do things differently here but she insists that you do not go to a baby shower in jeans. I'm not sure how this will go over. It's not important to me how people come dressed, I'll be in a sundress or something. But it's apparently important to her. Thoughts?

ForwardnBackward

I thought the hospital your was beneficial.  It was helpful to know about parking and triage in case something happened quickly or unexpectedly.  I only took an hour out of my day or so.

I thought my child birth, newborn care, and breastfeeding course was extremely beneficial.  We had a reunion with our class after the babies were born to share birth stories and see all our littles

flyingfall

@feeislove Growing up in NC, I definitely know what you are talking about. Especially in small towns, we just don't dress up a lot. I think it really depends on your friend group and who you are inviting. I hate to generalize but I know where I grew up people would be semi offended that you advised them to dress up. But at the same time they may look at it as at fun event to dress up for! You could create a theme that promotes a dressier attire? The several baby showers I've been to everyone was wearing jeans and blouses or sundresses. 
Honestly, just do what you are comfortable with! I hope your sister would respect your wishes.

yenrec

@bluejeanbabi05 it's gorgeous!! And I do think the swivel part is cool. I can't count how many times baby woke up while I was trying to get her back into the bassinet at night. WIth Halo, a little plop and swivel is all you need! But a mobile bassinet was so important for me. ETA: because before baby was clingy and I started baby wearing, she traveled around in her bassinet through the house with me :-)

@jessafishy I do support the rockaroo purchase! It's a really good seat! We have a Graco swing at our house and rockaroo for granny's. Aren't you a STM? Maybe it's an excuse for an upgrade? ;-) 

jessafishy

@yenrec I am! But DH doesn't like spending $$. Boo.

yenrec

@jessafishy well we found ours on Craigslist for a STEAL, I don't know what she was thinking LOL. But maybe this summer is a good time to watch the garage sales and CL for one!

jessafishy

@yenrec good idea. I'll keep an eye out!

newtoo

feeislove said:

Any STM know if it's safe to use dandruff shampoo whilst pregnant? Specifically, I'm using the Walmart version of Selsun Blue

This probably isn't that helpful...but because that NEVER occurred to me, though it should have, I used head and shoulders allll throughout my First pregnancy with no problems. That's just one experience though so maybe just run it by your OB. 

feeislove

@newtoo I did ask, he said it's fine since it's outside the body. So glad because dandruff looks great against my dark hair

carries2018

@bluejeanbabi05 throw it on your registry see if someone get its! if not you can make the call if you want to spend the money yourself. personally, we used a bassinet over PNP in our room due to space, i also didn't sleep well with them in there so i transition to their rooms 2-3 month mark. so for *me* whilst the Halo looks amazing it didnt make sense to purchase and i just got a cheapo $30-50 one. if you plan to keep her in your room for 6+ months prob totally worth it!

carries2018

also if you are a FTM throw all the expensive dream things on your registry! if someone wants to buy it for you let them! GIFT GRABBY ALERT !! doesn't mean you actually have to buy it, if it isnt purchased you can make the call yourself if you want to actually spend it. but if it looks pretty to you, scan that sucker!