With things like the Owlet - you need to know yourself before you use one. Because DS was in the NICU, all the nurses strongly advised us against getting any kind of apnea monitor. Many NICU parents can have a bit of PTSD leftover from all the beeping and such, which can put you in an awful headspace. Even without NICU, they can make some parents obsessive. They are also not very reliable for how expensive they are and tend to go off often for no reason. Even the ones in the NICU (we were in a level III) would go off accidentally all the time!
That being said, I know people who have used them and it has reduced their anxiety and they’ve absolutely loved having them. I’ve also seen them be useful, but mainly in situations where parents were practicing unsafe sleeping habits. These should not be used in the place of safe sleep, but with it. Definitely think about whether this would help or hurt you before purchasing.
I don't mean this to be preachy, and like I said I know parents who told us to get one because they love theirs so much - it’s just one of those things that’s expensive and marketed to parents as helping keep their kids safe when actually, safe sleep is what will keep them most safe. But at the end of the day if it makes you feel better and let’s you sleep, then that’s important and it certainly won’t harm your baby!
@DuchessOfCambridge totally agree! It drives me crazy when people use them in unsafe sleep positions. My husband thought it would make me really anxious, but it helped me sleep for sure. We also follow safe sleep religiously-- alone, back, crib, no rock and play, no doc a tot, etc. I should have said that in my post-- should be used with safe sleep, and not because you aren't sleeping safely. Thanks for saying that.
@alexva2017 sleep is so precious, especially in those first few months that I totally get it. How can you not worry about or do anything but stare at this teeny baby you’ve just brought home to make sure they’re okay! I still check that DS is breathing or has at least moved in the video monitor all the time at almost 11 months 😆
For those who want some kind of breathing monitor, and the Owlet is out of the price range, we used the Snuza Halo before the Owlet was a thing. We used it with both girls and my neighbor's daughter borrowed it for her son as well. We folded down the front of her diaper for a better grip and we only had two false alarms, both around 6 months, the first when DH didn't fold the waistband of the diaper and it slid off when he had her down for a nap and the second time she just was too wiggly and got it off, which is when we stopped using it. But I loved it, especially when they were sleeping in the bassinet next to me, as I could look at them in the MOTN and see the blinking green breathing light through her sleeper. I'll use it again with this baby. (FWIW, DD1 was a Level 1 NICU baby and it didn't give me any additional nerves). But also I agree with @DuchessOfCambridge for following safe sleep practices first and foremost!
@gabadoo back in 2013 when I had my 1st the Uppababy was my preferred stroller but it still had the old style rumble seat, so we opted for the City Select instead. My second was born exactly 2 years later and I have been SO happy with my CS. We honestly don’t use it a ton anymore but I haven’t been able to let it go knowing we were still on the fence about having a third. It’s in amazing shape so I am now so happy we decided to hang onto it. The only thing I regret is that I was so positive we were two and through when Nora was still under 1 that I sold the bassinet conversion kit so I’ve been hunting for one that matches our fabric since I got my BFP
@mcewen3, noooooooo....how frustrating about the bassinet! I hope you find a workable replacement. I’ve heard the 2014 UB version of the rumble seat isn’t stellar. I may go to one of the local shops to see if they’ll let me see what it looks like on my stroller and decide if it’ll even work with the bassinet and toddler seat that I have. Not sure I’m looking to invest in a new CS unless selling the UB will pay for it. I was also between the 2 options last time! I may just wait and see how my toddler is as he approaches 2yo...he may reject the stroller althogether, making this a total moot point. And then maybe I’ll look into a foldable lightweight umbrella for use on the city buses so that we can go places in the city with 3 kiddos! Something ala YOYO zen, but not $400!!!
It’s funny how babies like different stuff! I was so glad we borrowed a swing, because DD was not impressed.
We splurged on the Baby Jogger city select and love it. That thing rides like a dream. I’ll be purchasing the attachment to make it a double.
I forget who mentioned blackout curtains, but those were a lifesaver as well. Instantly longer naps!
@DuchessOfCambridge I’m glad you brought up the safety of the Doc a tot. It’s not an approved sleep surface, but a great place to put baby during the day when you’re awake andsupervising. Those first few months are ROUGH and you’ll do anything for a few hours of rest. Personally, I didn’t feel comfortable with DD sleeping anywhere except alone in her crib. The alternative was just too scary to me. I remember slightly propping her crib up ONE time early on and waking up to her having slid all the way to the bottom with her swaddle slightly over her face. Absolutely terrifying. If anyone’s interested, I joined an evidence based Safe Sleep site on Facebook that shared the risks of certain sleeping situations but also gave advice on what to do instead. I hope that didn’t come across as preachy or judgey, I know everyone does and will do what they feel is best for their babies.
This time around I think I will splurge on a Nuna Leaf Curve. Possibly with the wind accessory, but I think I’ll give it a go without it to start. It looks so soothing, I love that it’s non-electric and I feel like it has such an extended life. Plus, with a weight limit over 100lbs I don’t need to worry about my big kids roughing around or trying to sit in it and risking breaking.
Splurge that really weren’t worth it for us the last couple go-rounds were the bassinet in our room and newborn cloth diapers. Both my girls were early rollers, and pretty big babies. They outgrew the bassinet so fast it was hardly worth having. With #2 I wanted her in our room a little longer (mostly just because she sucked at sleeping and it was easier for me to have her close) so we finally moved the crib into our room and just kept it like that for about 6 months. Newborn cloth, similar reasoning. It lasts such a short time frame, plus in those early days you are going through a dozen diapers a day. So as a mom fresh out of the hospital I just added a TON more work to my plate for next to no gain. I didn’t save any money and my sanity wasn’t worth the few weeks of additional waste I would have created. I sold the newborn diapers after #1 and just used disposables for a couple weeks with #2 until she fit the OS.
I will be buying a nice recliner/glider rocker. The one I really like is upwards of $300 but I want something that is going to last and can be reused as baby grows up.
@secicc12 I'm in the evidence based safe sleep group on Facebook as well, and I highly recommend. Safe sleep can be so difficult (but not impossible!) with a newborn; unfortunately, there are just so many trendy products that are unsafe and are marketed to sleep deprived parents.
Thank you everyone for your advice/recommendations on the dockatot! I think the Dockatot isn't recommended in the US because the sides are firm and if the baby gets up next to it, it wouldn't be able to breathe. I was a nervous wreck sleeping with my daughter afraid that i would roll over onto her. But also, the first two weeks I was a COMPLETE zombie. I barely slept because DD would cry and scream if I ever put her down. So those two weeks I would stay up on the couch just holding her. My husband finally convinced me to bring her to bed because it was clearly affecting my health. In this regard, i was super grateful that babies grow sooo fast.
Even with our experience as a ST+M, though, we really can never know what's going to work because one baby can be totally different from the next one.
In regards to the Diaper Genie, I know a lot of people say it's not worth the money, but for me it TOTALLY still is. I mentioned in another thread that even when I'm not pregnant I have a super sense of smell. I would not have been able to live with that smell. Also, Amazon has cheaper bags that are not as expensive as the brand name ones and they work just as well.
Sorry for the long post, I've been gone all day. Just one last thing, does anyone have recommendations for a video baby monitor? That's another thing I'd like to get this time.
@alexva2017 good to know! My son (almost 2) just broke 20 lbs last month so I’m thinking we’ll get some good use out of it. I’m really hoping it will be a go to for DH as I can’t get him to use a ring sling for the life of me.
@expandcontract if you do get a DockATot I’d see if you can get one second hand. The cover comes off for washing, I just really don’t think it’s worth the price tag! As for a monitor, we really like our Infant Optics one. I’d read too many things about monitors being hacked by creeps but we looked into it and this one doesn’t appear to be hackable.
Another safe sleep note: mesh bumpers are NOT safe. Kids can and have gotten their faces smushed up against the side and not been able to breath. I’ll step off my safe sleep soap box now 😂
I agree the Diaper Genie is awesome! We only put poop diapers in it and the nursery has never smelled. Amazon also sells an attachment where you can put in your own bags (as well as their own version of Genie bags like expandcontract mentioned) if you don’t want to buy Genie specific ones. We’re going to buy it soon and start using our own trash bags. I’ve also heard good things about the Ubbi but it’s waaaay more expensive.
Our biggest baby purchase was the crib and matching dresser. I love both and will continue to use them for this and other future babies. We got the toddler bed converter too, so the last babe will use that as well.
We got a changing table second hand, but it would have been worth it to buy one if not. I know a lot of people don't use them, but as our house is one story and the nursery is essentially in the middle, we use it for every single diaper change.
We registered for and got a big fancy high chair. That's my only regret. We followed baby led weaning, so all the creases and crevices got filled with food and still are annoying to clean. I wish I had just gotten the $20 Ikea one, since it's so much easier to wipe down and we never used ours until DD could sit unassisted.
As for video monitors, we got the Motorola one and love it. It has a decent picture, good range, temperature read out, and a large volume control. It does NOT connect to the wifi, so not possible to hack. We do live in the county on 30 acres, so I'm not able to speak to how it might interact with other signals if your neighbors are closer. We will most likely got another one for this babe, as my daughter will take this one to her big girl room (she's 2).
We have an Ubbi, and it’s pretty good. The only things I don’t like about it are sometimes the rubber gasket around the lid falls off and it’s a pain to put back in, and it gets a LOT of condensation inside it (we cloth diaper). We have to let the lid sit open to air it out when we take the diapers out. Also since it’s now 5 years old (and we’ve used it for 2 kids) it does have a bit of rust build up on the inner seam edges. That being said, because of those seals you can’t smell anything when it’s closed. It has a lock mechanism to keep curious little fingers out. It’s extremely durable, stainless steel. If you’re CDing, they have fabric liner bags. Definitely recommend it. Eta posted before I was finished.
@DuchessOfCambridge@stringofhearts We have the Ubbi as well and I love it! The best thing about it is that you can use regular old garbage bags instead of buying special bags. I empty it probably once a week, if that, and there is zero smell in her room. Also, it's cute (as cute as a diaper pail can be )
STM here, splurge that I did not love was the BOB jogging stroller. $500 and we absolutely hate it. Amazon is letting me return it thankfully because it's been giving us problems and has only been (lightly) used for less than a year. Has gotten to the point where we just use the baby carrier (LOVE the Infantino Flip Front 2 Back Carrier) instead of the stroller. When we return the stroller though I'm going to get a completely different brand, and will probably do double stroller.
Me: 33 DH: 34 Married: Oct 2015 TTC #1: Sept 2016 BFP: 10/19/16 ~ blighted ovum ~ D&C 11/23/16 BFP: 3/24/17 DD1 born 12/2/17 TTC #2: July 2018 BFP: 8/26/18 DD2 born 5/16/19
If you're a FTM reading through this heed my advice...
Practice baby wearing with a doll if you can. I bought a really expensive Ergo baby carrier (we had a gift card but we still had to pay $50 for it) and I had no idea how to position my son into it by myself and that kind of defeated the purpose needing my wife to help me strap him in all the time.
Likewise, practice using your car seat. When we left the hospital I assumed someone on staff would help us figure out how to work the thing but due to liability no one would tell us what to do. We left in tears terrified of the drive home. My son was born 5 weeks early so we thought we had time to learn but we didn't.
Bust out those car seats and carriers as soon as you get them and tinker until you understand!
We also love our Infant Optics monitor. We’ve had it for 2 years now and have had no problems. And for FTMs, you can add a second camera to it.
The rock and play was such a lifesaver. DS had silent reflux, and he was always so happy in it whether he was napping or just hanging out while I was taking a shower. I wouldn’t have been able to function without it.
@beccaneu My parents gave us a Lazy Boy recliner that they no longer used, and it came in handy. However, if you’re limited on space, I don’t think you’d be miserable without one. In the beginning before DS was in his crib, I would just hold him in bed or on the couch for his bottle/trying to get him back to sleep so I could watch tv. It wasn’t until he was older and in his crib that I used the recliner more, and that was only because he wouldn’t let me put him back in the crib, and we’d both end up falling asleep in the recliner after failed tries of putting him in the crib. 😑
I’ve seen a lot of you talk about wraps. Does anyone have the Lillebaby carrier? Love it? Hate it? My cousin’s wife let me borrow the Boba wrap (I think), and I never even tried to figure it out. I also had a K’tan, but I maybe used that once or twice. I was thinking a carrier might be helpful with trying to keep up with my toddler, but I never used one with him, so I’m undecided. 🤷🏼♀️
@alexva2017 Is there a reason you won’t use it initially? I haven’t looked much into them since I had DS, but I was thinking they could be used when they were newborns. I could very well be wrong though.
@msb615 you can!! Then wrap is really close and more womblike, so I've heard newborns love that. However, I think newborns would like lille from the beginning if you keep legs in instead of dangling. It can def work!
I didn't splurge on this (was gifted to me), but would absolutely pay full price for the 'my brest friend.' If you're going to be nursing 8+ times a day, you may as well be comfortable. This thing is like an extra set of hands. I gave mine away after DD, but I will be purchasing one again. I usually look for things on Facebook marketplace (check for recalls). I loved our arms reach cosleeper. DD slept next to our bed for 4 months, then we brought the crib into our room. I also loved our Dutailier (sp?) glider because it glides AND reclines. I got a great deal on a used one, and resold it for practically what I paid for it after using it for a year. I love woven wraps, but I'll probably just rent them from our local baby wearing group. $5/month for beautiful wraps and ring slings. I still have my Tula and Beco gemini SSC from DD.
@wishiwaspreggo I totally agree with both. I had a Moby and practiced a lot with a teddy bear. As far as car seat goes, we had an identical experience, except our nurse was an epic bitch about it. I urge all ftm (and St+m even) to read your manual, look up videos on YouTube about how to correctly use your car seat and car seat safety. It's one of the few things you do that can literally save your child's life.
@msb615 I have a tula (a standard, they didn't make the free to grow back then) but my friend had one and traded it for a lillebaby which she loves. I will also be wrapping first (with a woven, not stretchy) and that's just so baby is closer. Personal preference. There are meetings through baby wearing international, you may be able to find one nearby and you can try out tons of different carriers and get recommendations.
+1 for the infant optics! Our camera lense got screwed up and they replaced it at no cost.
@wishiwaspreggo Great advice on practicing with the baby carrier and car seat. Although, FTMs - don't stress if the baby carrier feels super awkward with a bump. I felt like I could barely strap it around when I was practicing and it freaked me out that baby wouldn't fit It's much easy to baby wear without a bump in the way!
I also have the infant optics monitor and really like it. It’s abouf a year and a half old and the battery life isn’t great anymore but my husband just ordered a replacement battery from the manufacturer for $6, so no complaints from me on it!
There is some great advice in this thread! I'm going to go through it closely and add to my baby list. Like others said, we have a Rock N Play, and that thing was a freaking lifesaver. DD had terrible reflux, and she finally got relief in that.
I've also wondered about a Snoo, but it's so pricey for something that doesn't get used very long (and could potentially not work for the baby) - I think we're going to go with a deluxe Halo bassinet this time. It was so hard getting up after a c-section and bending down to get the baby, so I really want to have the baby close and in easy reach. Also, I 100% agree with all the love for the Aden swaddles - we still use them, they're amazing.
I'm also glad for the discussion on the sleep monitors. I think this time around we are seriously considering the Snuza, but I also saw a camera that can monitor breathing patterns - not sure how accurate it is, but that would be nice for peace of mind. And we need a new monitor altogether. We have a V-Tech and I hate it with every fiber of my being. I saw some recommendations in the thread so I will be looking those up!
DD born PPROM preemie at 36 weeks on 10/1/17 after over a year TI, then 3 failed IUIs, and finally a successful IVF FET.
Due with #2 5/2/19 after HIO once in my FW, because apparently that's how life works now. Team Blue!
Plus one for the Rock N Play. DS didn’t have reflux but we’ve been battling ear and sinus infections and sometimes it was the only place he would sleep.
For is a diaper pail was a must. 3 dogs sniffing out dirty diapers is a recipe for disaster. Don’t have to worry about one of them hauling a poop diaper through the house. We have the Munchkin one with the step pedal.
Not a splurge but one thing I use all the time is an Oogiebear. I can’t stand boogers in his nose and it’s a hygienic way to get them. It’s also designed so that you can’t go to far up the nostril or into their ear (it can be used to clean ears too).
Splurge this time will be a double stroller. With 2 under 2 we’re gonna need it.
@eatinwatermelonseeds I would love to wrap if I could find one I was comfortable with using. Do you have a woven one you’re looking at using? I doubt we have any baby wearing groups around, but I’ll have to check into it.
@lovelybabybumpz I was seriously considering a My Brest Friend this time around. I had a nippy with both of my first two, and I still use the boppy ow, but I remember being so frustrated with it in the early days. If have to prop pillows all around me to get the exact positioning I needed and it was so annoying but I heard that the My Brest Friend is hard to use when baby us over like 3 months old.
@msb615 just Google baby wearing international and you should be able to find a meeting. I've always been in love with didymos aurora. I've never wrapped with it but it's so pretty I need it in my life lol. But I'm thinking it might be too hot for summer so I'm looking at didymos or natibaby for something pretty but in a linen blend.
@Sketner610 That's why they're easy to score for free. My friend gave it to me because she didn't need it anymore. And similarly I paid it forward after I didn't need it. After babies get bigger it's not as helpful because you can simply rest the baby on your lap. But DD was tiny so I used it quite a while. It's like the perfect shelf to hold up baby while nursing. But even for those short months, if you figure you're nursing 8x/day, that's almost 750 uses!
@minnemiska I think the double stroller might be our splurge but I can't decide. Hoping for a thread to discuss at a later date (before Black Friday in case there are sales, though). I can't figure out if I need one that our bucket can snap into or not but leaning toward yes. I just rabbit holed on Lucies List for a while and added 3 different options to our private "baby#2" list.
@Sketner610 I love the My Best Friend, especially for nighttime feedings. I kept it in our bedroom and used the Boppy during the day in the living room. I stopped using either around a year (the Boppy a bit before, I think).
I'm thinking the 3 "big" items I want for baby #2 are the double stroller, hiking backpack (Osprey), and a pouf to go with our glider. I didn't like the foot rest that was the add on option with ours but missed having something to put my feet up on.
I wasn't a big fan of my brest friend. I had only that, no boppy so nothing to compare, but I rarely used it because it was uncomfortable and I didn't find it very helpful.
Splurge last time around—a very nice rocking, spinning recliner. It is awesome and I will use it again. Also eventually splurged on a Bob stroller because I like to walk, and I would do it again I’m a heartbeat. DD will be 4 by the time baby is born so I’m not worried about a double.
This time, I’m looking for a doc-a-tot and that’s about it.
Like others have said, a diaper pail is so worth it since they really do hold the stink in and only have to be emptied like once a week.
We have a mamaroo that I got on sale and while I didn't get to use it a ton with the first baby (not a lot of living room space), I am SO excited to get to use it this time around since we have room for it. I definitely think it was worth the money.
+1 for the rock n play too! I brought that thing all over the house and it was a lifesaver. It was the only way I could shower for months.
One thing I did not get my money's worth from was a bassinet. My son hated it and never slept in it. He went straight into his crib and that was the only way he would sleep. I'm wrestling with the idea of getting a Halo this time though because I REALLY want to be able to have them in my room, and I will likely be having another CS, so I want simple access.
*TW*
Me: 32 │ DH: 35 Married 8/16/13 BFP#1 DS 11/13/16 BFP# 2 MMC dx @ 13w 10/30/18 BFP# 3 Preemie DD born at 38w (IUGR) on 8/28/19 weighing 5.5lbs. Our little miracle
@msb615 just Google baby wearing international and you should be able to find a meeting. I've always been in love with didymos aurora. I've never wrapped with it but it's so pretty I need it in my life lol. But I'm thinking it might be too hot for summer so I'm looking at didymos or natibaby for something pretty but in a linen blend.
Sadly, I'm pretty sure Babywearing International went under and closed out all their groups. Our local group shut down just a little while ago.
Re: Baby Splurges
That being said, I know people who have used them and it has reduced their anxiety and they’ve absolutely loved having them. I’ve also seen them be useful, but mainly in situations where parents were practicing unsafe sleeping habits. These should not be used in the place of safe sleep, but with it. Definitely think about whether this would help or hurt you before purchasing.
I don't mean this to be preachy, and like I said I know parents who told us to get one because they love theirs so much - it’s just one of those things that’s expensive and marketed to parents as helping keep their kids safe when actually, safe sleep is what will keep them most safe. But at the end of the day if it makes you feel better and let’s you sleep, then that’s important and it certainly won’t harm your baby!
We splurged on the Baby Jogger city select and love it. That thing rides like a dream. I’ll be purchasing the attachment to make it a double.
I forget who mentioned blackout curtains, but those were a lifesaver as well. Instantly longer naps!
@DuchessOfCambridge I’m glad you brought up the safety of the Doc a tot. It’s not an approved sleep surface, but a great place to put baby during the day when you’re awake andsupervising. Those first few months are ROUGH and you’ll do anything for a few hours of rest. Personally, I didn’t feel comfortable with DD sleeping anywhere except alone in her crib. The alternative was just too scary to me. I remember slightly propping her crib up ONE time early on and waking up to her having slid all the way to the bottom with her swaddle slightly over her face. Absolutely terrifying. If anyone’s interested, I joined an evidence based Safe Sleep site on Facebook that shared the risks of certain sleeping situations but also gave advice on what to do instead. I hope that didn’t come across as preachy or judgey, I know everyone does and will do what they feel is best for their babies.
Splurge that really weren’t worth it for us the last couple go-rounds were the bassinet in our room and newborn cloth diapers. Both my girls were early rollers, and pretty big babies. They outgrew the bassinet so fast it was hardly worth having. With #2 I wanted her in our room a little longer (mostly just because she sucked at sleeping and it was easier for me to have her close) so we finally moved the crib into our room and just kept it like that for about 6 months. Newborn cloth, similar reasoning. It lasts such a short time frame, plus in those early days you are going through a dozen diapers a day. So as a mom fresh out of the hospital I just added a TON more work to my plate for next to no gain. I didn’t save any money and my sanity wasn’t worth the few weeks of additional waste I would have created. I sold the newborn diapers after #1 and just used disposables for a couple weeks with #2 until she fit the OS.
I was a nervous wreck sleeping with my daughter afraid that i would roll over onto her. But also, the first two weeks I was a COMPLETE zombie. I barely slept because DD would cry and scream if I ever put her down. So those two weeks I would stay up on the couch just holding her. My husband finally convinced me to bring her to bed because it was clearly affecting my health.
In this regard, i was super grateful that babies grow sooo fast.
Even with our experience as a ST+M, though, we really can never know what's going to work because one baby can be totally different from the next one.
In regards to the Diaper Genie, I know a lot of people say it's not worth the money, but for me it TOTALLY still is. I mentioned in another thread that even when I'm not pregnant I have a super sense of smell. I would not have been able to live with that smell. Also, Amazon has cheaper bags that are not as expensive as the brand name ones and they work just as well.
Sorry for the long post, I've been gone all day. Just one last thing, does anyone have recommendations for a video baby monitor? That's another thing I'd like to get this time.
Another safe sleep note: mesh bumpers are NOT safe. Kids can and have gotten their faces smushed up against the side and not been able to breath. I’ll step off my safe sleep soap box now 😂
I agree the Diaper Genie is awesome! We only put poop diapers in it and the nursery has never smelled. Amazon also sells an attachment where you can put in your own bags (as well as their own version of Genie bags like expandcontract mentioned) if you don’t want to buy Genie specific ones. We’re going to buy it soon and start using our own trash bags. I’ve also heard good things about the Ubbi but it’s waaaay more expensive.
We got a changing table second hand, but it would have been worth it to buy one if not. I know a lot of people don't use them, but as our house is one story and the nursery is essentially in the middle, we use it for every single diaper change.
We registered for and got a big fancy high chair. That's my only regret. We followed baby led weaning, so all the creases and crevices got filled with food and still are annoying to clean. I wish I had just gotten the $20 Ikea one, since it's so much easier to wipe down and we never used ours until DD could sit unassisted.
As for video monitors, we got the Motorola one and love it. It has a decent picture, good range, temperature read out, and a large volume control. It does NOT connect to the wifi, so not possible to hack. We do live in the county on 30 acres, so I'm not able to speak to how it might interact with other signals if your neighbors are closer. We will most likely got another one for this babe, as my daughter will take this one to her big girl room (she's 2).
That being said, because of those seals you can’t smell anything when it’s closed. It has a lock mechanism to keep curious little fingers out. It’s extremely durable, stainless steel. If you’re CDing, they have fabric liner bags. Definitely recommend it.
Eta posted before I was finished.
Married: Oct 2015
TTC #1: Sept 2016
BFP: 10/19/16 ~ blighted ovum ~ D&C 11/23/16
BFP: 3/24/17
TTC #2: July 2018
BFP: 8/26/18
The rock and play was such a lifesaver. DS had silent reflux, and he was always so happy in it whether he was napping or just hanging out while I was taking a shower. I wouldn’t have been able to function without it.
@beccaneu My parents gave us a Lazy Boy recliner that they no longer used, and it came in handy. However, if you’re limited on space, I don’t think you’d be miserable without one. In the beginning before DS was in his crib, I would just hold him in bed or on the couch for his bottle/trying to get him back to sleep so I could watch tv. It wasn’t until he was older and in his crib that I used the recliner more, and that was only because he wouldn’t let me put him back in the crib, and we’d both end up falling asleep in the recliner after failed tries of putting him in the crib. 😑
I’ve seen a lot of you talk about wraps. Does anyone have the Lillebaby carrier? Love it? Hate it? My cousin’s wife let me borrow the Boba wrap (I think), and I never even tried to figure it out. I also had a K’tan, but I maybe used that once or twice. I was thinking a carrier might be helpful with trying to keep up with my toddler, but I never used one with him, so I’m undecided. 🤷🏼♀️
I also have Infant Optics and recommend.
I did not get a recliner due to space, and I didn't want to fall asleep while nursing, so I'm glad we did not get one.
I usually look for things on Facebook marketplace (check for recalls). I loved our arms reach cosleeper. DD slept next to our bed for 4 months, then we brought the crib into our room.
I also loved our Dutailier (sp?) glider because it glides AND reclines. I got a great deal on a used one, and resold it for practically what I paid for it after using it for a year.
I love woven wraps, but I'll probably just rent them from our local baby wearing group. $5/month for beautiful wraps and ring slings. I still have my Tula and Beco gemini SSC from DD.
BFP: 8/20/2018 - EDD 5/4/2019
@wishiwaspreggo Great advice on practicing with the baby carrier and car seat. Although, FTMs - don't stress if the baby carrier feels super awkward with a bump. I felt like I could barely strap it around when I was practicing and it freaked me out that baby wouldn't fit
I've also wondered about a Snoo, but it's so pricey for something that doesn't get used very long (and could potentially not work for the baby) - I think we're going to go with a deluxe Halo bassinet this time. It was so hard getting up after a c-section and bending down to get the baby, so I really want to have the baby close and in easy reach. Also, I 100% agree with all the love for the Aden swaddles - we still use them, they're amazing.
I'm also glad for the discussion on the sleep monitors. I think this time around we are seriously considering the Snuza, but I also saw a camera that can monitor breathing patterns - not sure how accurate it is, but that would be nice for peace of mind. And we need a new monitor altogether. We have a V-Tech and I hate it with every fiber of my being. I saw some recommendations in the thread so I will be looking those up!
then 3 failed IUIs, and finally a successful IVF FET.
Due with #2 5/2/19 after HIO once in my FW,
because apparently that's how life works now. Team Blue!
For is a diaper pail was a must. 3 dogs sniffing out dirty diapers is a recipe for disaster. Don’t have to worry about one of them hauling a poop diaper through the house. We have the Munchkin one with the step pedal.
Not a splurge but one thing I use all the time is an Oogiebear. I can’t stand boogers in his nose and it’s a hygienic way to get them. It’s also designed so that you can’t go to far up the nostril or into their ear (it can be used to clean ears too).
Splurge this time will be a double stroller. With 2 under 2 we’re gonna need it.
That's why they're easy to score for free. My friend gave it to me because she didn't need it anymore. And similarly I paid it forward after I didn't need it. After babies get bigger it's not as helpful because you can simply rest the baby on your lap. But DD was tiny so I used it quite a while. It's like the perfect shelf to hold up baby while nursing. But even for those short months, if you figure you're nursing 8x/day, that's almost 750 uses!
BFP: 8/20/2018 - EDD 5/4/2019
@Sketner610 I love the My Best Friend, especially for nighttime feedings. I kept it in our bedroom and used the Boppy during the day in the living room. I stopped using either around a year (the Boppy a bit before, I think).
I'm thinking the 3 "big" items I want for baby #2 are the double stroller, hiking backpack (Osprey), and a pouf to go with our glider. I didn't like the foot rest that was the add on option with ours but missed having something to put my feet up on.
This time, I’m looking for a doc-a-tot and that’s about it.
Like others have said, a diaper pail is so worth it since they really do hold the stink in and only have to be emptied like once a week.
We have a mamaroo that I got on sale and while I didn't get to use it a ton with the first baby (not a lot of living room space), I am SO excited to get to use it this time around since we have room for it. I definitely think it was worth the money.
+1 for the rock n play too! I brought that thing all over the house and it was a lifesaver. It was the only way I could shower for months.
One thing I did not get my money's worth from was a bassinet. My son hated it and never slept in it. He went straight into his crib and that was the only way he would sleep. I'm wrestling with the idea of getting a Halo this time though because I REALLY want to be able to have them in my room, and I will likely be having another CS, so I want simple access.
Married 8/16/13
BFP#1 DS 11/13/16
BFP# 2 MMC dx @ 13w 10/30/18
BFP# 3 Preemie DD born at 38w (IUGR) on 8/28/19 weighing 5.5lbs. Our little miracle