Unsolicited tip: although baby clothes might have the same size label, different brands fit different. Gerber seems to be good for the thinner, smaller size babies. Cat and Jack is good for the babies with a bit of chunk. Gap is good for the babies who are bit long and in between small and chunk. Disney is good for the babies that are perfectly average size. If you lucked out with Babies R Us clothes, they fit the average size babies as well. You won't know which is your baby til they are here. I recommend saving some registry items to trade out once the baby is born and you know your baby's body type.
@disneybaby84 That's really helpful info that I'm sure will come in handy later on!
Edit: I posted about baby clothes to bring to the hospital, but then I remembered that there will be a hospital bag product spotlight in a few weeks, so disregard this question! I'll ask it there!
I hate Gerber clothes personally - they fit insanely small and are so freaking thin and poorly sewn.
I pretty much exclusively buy Cat and Jack because Target is cheap (even when not on sale) and I get 5% with my Red Card. I also like Carters for some stuff, but it's crazy expensive not on sale. I also buy lots of Hanna Andersson PJs because they are so damn good - as are their socks - always on sale, though.
Slightly off topic, but I bought five Carter’s footie pj’s from Buy Buy Baby a couple weeks back, I think they were 30% off. They somehow messed up my order and sent me seven instead of five, two were duplicates. Score!
DS born 2/18/2019 DD born 4/1/2023 Baby #3 EDD 11/21/2024
@kayjay44 I forgot about carter's, since I used to buy them at Babies R Us when a sale was running. As far as Carter's goes, I would say them fit majority of babies, nowadays, Carter's can be found at Buy Buy Baby, sometimes Target or at a Carter's store or on their website.
^We also have Carter's at our Kroger store that carries clothing (here, that's Fred Meyer) - That's where I get most of my Carters stuff on super sale - largely PJs and packs of onesies.
Just want to chime in and share my love of Gymboree. They have awesome sales like all the time and their clothes hold up really well in my experience. They run a little bit on the big side though so keep that in mind. And they have a lot of really cute stuff!
I'm with @kayjay44, get the zipper pjs. Middle of the night diaper changes when I am half asleep with button pjs = Non aligned buttons and way more effort than I can give in the middle of the night. Zippers for the win!
I'm with @kayjay44, get the zipper pjs. Middle of the night diaper changes when I am half asleep with button pjs = Non aligned buttons and way more effort than I can give in the middle of the night. Zippers for the win!
I can barely button my own clothes with a newborn Half the time the buttons are off.
Husband and I disagree on this. I plan on BF'ing and want a bassinet with a drop down side for beside the bed. He thinks it's a waste of money and space. Our bedroom is big enough and he wants to put the crib in our room initially. I understand that the bassinet is short term and pricey but feel it's worth it especially since we plan on hopefully having more kids.
Would really appreciate any opinions for either side
@ksdelong20 - this is baby 3 for me (and the last baby) and I’m getting a bassinet because we have the space finally (probably a halo swivel). Even for one baby, between how useful it will be and the resale value, it’s worth every penny. I coslept with DS and DH can’t sleep in the bed when I cosleep because of his sleep issues (he does wierd shit and doesn’t wake up when he moves/rolls over) and this will allow him to be in the room and still sleep close to DS2.
@ksdelong20 - Like @kayjay44, this is baby #3 and we are opting for the Halo Swivel Bassinet. I feel like it’s resale value makes it more worth it that it may seem at first glance. And as a c-section momma, I’m thrilled to have an option where getting baby is easier because of the ability to swivel over the bed.
Seconding Carter’s outlet! Although some of their clothes get super soft in the wash and some stay stiff/rough (probably dependent on the amount of dye needed - although that’s not even consistent) and I feel like it doesn’t necessarily make sense why that happens. We also buy most of our baby/toddler clothes at consignment stores and consignment sales. They grow so fast it feels like a waste to pay for an outfit they’ll wear two or three times
Hey there, STMs! Any advice on getting your newborn on a schedule? I’ve read a bunch of stuff, I’m just not sure how realistic it is to have an actual schedule.
TTMs: I've found a dilemma in trying to prepare DD for LO. I can't decide if I should soak up all the time I can with her now (what I WANT to do) in her last months as an only child, or if that will backfire and she will resent LO and have adjustment issues once LO comes and I will have to suddenly drastically reduce my time with/attention on DD.
How did you spend your time in your oldest's last months as an only child and how did that work out? Thank you.
@nataliezbrungart - TTM here. After the fog of the first couple of weeks lifts, I’ve used the EASY Schedule with both of mine. If your nursing, you are likely to just feed on demand but my kids fell into a pattern of eating every 3 hours somimplementing the EASY Schedule was easy enough. We started a bedtime routine early too. You’ll find what works best for you and your baby!
@notthecheat - I think a healthy mix of both is a good idea. With my first, she was 2-2.5 while I was pregnant with my son. We carried on like business as usual and would talk about the baby, being a big sister, etc. We’re taking the same approach with our son who is 3.5 and will be almost 4 when this baby is born. He tells everyone about his baby, likes to help pick out clothes/ toys for him, etc. But him and I get lots of 1 on 1 time too because I’m a SAHM this school year.
@nataliezbrungart We never really got DS on a strict schedule, although I've heard that works really well for some kids. For us, we were really consistent about the bedtime routine, always put him down drowsy but awake and tried to feed after he woke up. As soon as we got him in a loose schedule, he'd go through a sleep regression or growth spurt or get a tooth. I did read Babywise though and found the theories to be helpful if not the exact schedule.
@nataliezbrungart after they hit 3 months, you get to know your baby better and can start establishing a routine of sorts. As a baby goes through different ages their number of naps and length of naps/ length of nighttime sleeping, will change. I think it was around 5 or 6 months l learned what time is the best bedtime for my son, because he was consistently showing the signs of sleepiness at the same time several nights in a row. From newborn to 4 or 5 months if you follow the signs of when they show they are hungry or sleepy then that will mostly dictate their schedule. @notthecheat I'm in a similiar boat as you having my first child and trying to prepare for the next one. One thing I have done is tried to start any changes or transitions now. For example, my son started his new daycare second week of September and is now showing signs that he has adjusted. We have moved almost all the baby/ infant stuff into the nursery so he isn't surprised in February when it is all gone.
@notthecheat - We spent time with DD, but nothing excessive/obsessive. We spent a lot of time going to the zoo and the childrens museum and made sure to keep doing that after DS came - he would hang out in the carrier or stroller while DD still got to do fun things. Also, when DH would get home with DD everyday, I would hand the baby off to him for 30 minutes to an hour and spend dedicated time with DD. DD still went to daycare and my parents would take her here and there so she still got attention and it was never a problem.
@nataliezbrungart - I wouldn't worry about a schedule with a newborn - Really, until 3-4 months, they aren't ready to be on a set schedule. Both my kids generally had a routine from a young age, but you really have to follow their cues as that routine may change at any moment. And I'd say the first 2-4 weeks are basically just survival mode.
Clothes- I actually really like H&M’s basics. They’ve got some soft, affordable, plain clothes for babies. I also like Gap. And have just started trying primary.com, not bad.
bassinet- we have the halo and I’m tempted to try something else for our next round. I didn’t love it as much as I wanted. I’ve heard good things about a few other options.
Which brings me to my question- anyone like the dockatot? Thinking about it.
I’m a fan. Not necessarly for extended overnight sleep but as a place to put baby for a bit that is elevated and is portable, I like it. i liked it a lot with my son because it was a place I could put him and strap him in so the dog and toddler didn’t trample him.
@notthecheat- I had planned and hoped to use my rock n play like @okayestmom12 describes but unfortunately my kid hated it and cried every time he went in it. Here's hoping son number 2 is a little more chill in his newborn phase!
@ohsunnydays My current youngest was a January baby. I kept him in the onesies or sleepers that have the cuffs you can fold over. Much easier than trying to keep anything else on his hands!
So, a lot of baby products are considered necessities, but it mostly boils down to parents and baby’s personal preference, right? How do you figure out which baby carrier/bouncer/bassinet/toys etc works best for you and baby? Do you all have friends you can borrow stuff from to try out, or do you go to baby stores and try before you buy (although trying in a store doesn’t work as well as in the comfort of your own home)?
I feel like there’s a pressure to have all the things before baby arrives (obviously baby needs a place to sleep etc), but what if baby hates it? Do you end up buying a lot of stuff you ended up not using because you or baby hated it? This is is weird catch-22 I’ve been thinking about, I don’t want to end up buying a lot of useless crap! Just because someone recommended it doesn’t mean it’ll work for your family.
DS born 2/18/2019 DD born 4/1/2023 Baby #3 EDD 11/21/2024
@nataliezbrungart I don’t remember when we got on a decent schedule with DD. I remember at some point - prob closer to 3 months, I got into the two hour schedule - that’s about as long as they’re awake. Eat, play, snuggle, go back to sleep. It helped me a lot to figure that one out.
I think Carter’s runs a little small in shirts. So we always do a size up pretty early. Pants have been pretty okay though. Jammies seem to run a little small, too.
@hannahbananas11 I think most of what I had were Carters or Gerber. It's been awhile so I can't remember if any of our zipper sleepers had them. I was mostly looking for onesies that kept their hands warm during the day because we swaddled at night which kept their hands pretty warm.
disneybaby84
member
Re: Ask a STM week of October 8th
Edit: I posted about baby clothes to bring to the hospital, but then I remembered that there will be a hospital bag product spotlight in a few weeks, so disregard this question! I'll ask it there!
I pretty much exclusively buy Cat and Jack because Target is cheap (even when not on sale) and I get 5% with my Red Card. I also like Carters for some stuff, but it's crazy expensive not on sale. I also buy lots of Hanna Andersson PJs because they are so damn good - as are their socks - always on sale, though.
BFP 6.8.2018 EDD 02.18.2019
DD born 4/1/2023
Baby #3 EDD 11/21/2024
ETA - Get zipper PJs over snaps. Trust me.
BFP 6.8.2018 EDD 02.18.2019
Gap Baby usually has decent sales too.
Love Cat & Jack (Target).
Gerber is crap.
MMC 2.12.11 @ 8w
PVM 5.8.12
GWM 3.17.15
RPM 2.21.19
BFP 6.8.2018 EDD 02.18.2019
Would really appreciate any opinions for either side
BFP 6.8.2018 EDD 02.18.2019
MMC 2.12.11 @ 8w
PVM 5.8.12
GWM 3.17.15
RPM 2.21.19
How did you spend your time in your oldest's last months as an only child and how did that work out? Thank you.
@notthecheat - I think a healthy mix of both is a good idea. With my first, she was 2-2.5 while I was pregnant with my son. We carried on like business as usual and would talk about the baby, being a big sister, etc. We’re taking the same approach with our son who is 3.5 and will be almost 4 when this baby is born. He tells everyone about his baby, likes to help pick out clothes/ toys for him, etc. But him and I get lots of 1 on 1 time too because I’m a SAHM this school year.
MMC 2.12.11 @ 8w
PVM 5.8.12
GWM 3.17.15
RPM 2.21.19
@notthecheat I'm in a similiar boat as you having my first child and trying to prepare for the next one. One thing I have done is tried to start any changes or transitions now. For example, my son started his new daycare second week of September and is now showing signs that he has adjusted. We have moved almost all the baby/ infant stuff into the nursery so he isn't surprised in February when it is all gone.
@nataliezbrungart - I wouldn't worry about a schedule with a newborn - Really, until 3-4 months, they aren't ready to be on a set schedule. Both my kids generally had a routine from a young age, but you really have to follow their cues as that routine may change at any moment. And I'd say the first 2-4 weeks are basically just survival mode.
BFP 6.8.2018 EDD 02.18.2019
bassinet- we have the halo and I’m tempted to try something else for our next round. I didn’t love it as much as I wanted. I’ve heard good things about a few other options.
Which brings me to my question- anyone like the dockatot? Thinking about it.
MMC 2.12.11 @ 8w
PVM 5.8.12
GWM 3.17.15
RPM 2.21.19
MMC 2.12.11 @ 8w
PVM 5.8.12
GWM 3.17.15
RPM 2.21.19
My current youngest was a January baby. I kept him in the onesies or sleepers that have the cuffs you can fold over. Much easier than trying to keep anything else on his hands!
BFP 6.8.2018 EDD 02.18.2019
I feel like there’s a pressure to have all the things before baby arrives (obviously baby needs a place to sleep etc), but what if baby hates it? Do you end up buying a lot of stuff you ended up not using because you or baby hated it? This is is weird catch-22 I’ve been thinking about, I don’t want to end up buying a lot of useless crap! Just because someone recommended it doesn’t mean it’ll work for your family.
DD born 4/1/2023
Baby #3 EDD 11/21/2024
I think Carter’s runs a little small in shirts. So we always do a size up pretty early. Pants have been pretty okay though. Jammies seem to run a little small, too.
I think most of what I had were Carters or Gerber. It's been awhile so I can't remember if any of our zipper sleepers had them. I was mostly looking for onesies that kept their hands warm during the day because we swaddled at night which kept their hands pretty warm.