Ask a STM week of Nov 5

disneybaby84

FTMs asking STMs questions

nataliezbrungart

Hi there STM’s! My shower was this past weekend (we opted for an early shower because of the holidays.) I received a ton of stuff which I am super thankful for, but I feel like I still need stuff (socks, towels, swaddling blankets, ect.) Does anybody have any suggestion on how many of each item I will need? I don’t want to buy too much, but I also don’t want to have to do laundry every other day. All suggestions are welcome! 

sjnsjnsjn

Re: towels, I would say just a few because your ped will prob tell you that you only need to bath a newborn a few times a week.  As for swaddling blankets, true swaddling blankets were too big to swaddle my DS when he came home. (ETA: I have a drawer with thee muslin swaddle blankets that I think I never even used, and my son turned two in August.). We used receiving blankets we got from the hospital, and then pretty much as soon as my SO could get to BBB, we got swaddle sacks. I would recommend getting a few of those. Socks you can buy some and then see how much you use, since if they are swaddled a lot, their feet are covered.  May I highly recommend zutanos once they are past the first few weeks? They are soft butVelcro around the ankle to stay on!

okayestmom12

@nataliezbrungart - I always vote to start with less and then if you need more, make a Target run or an Amazon order. 

Swaddles - we like Copper Pearl or Aden & Anais blankets and Summer Infant SwaddleMe’s. While we use the blankets to swaddle, I’m more likely to use them for anything but - makeshift burp cloth, tummy time blanket, car seat cover, nursing cover, etc. So many uses! The SwaddleMe’s or SwaddlePods are GREAT for actual sleep swaddles and basically fool proof (especially handy during the newborn days!). I’d have 3/4 swaddle blankets and probably the same number of SwaddleMe’s/ SwaddlePods. 

Socks - I’d say to have enough for a weeks worth of laundry. So 7-10 pairs and then reasses. Pro tip - use a lingerie bag hung in baby’s closet by a Commandstrip Hook to put all dirty socks in so they don’t get lost in the wash. 

Towels - Hooded baby towels are super cute but you probably only need 2 or 3 max. 

ginger1228

I never really used swaddle blankets to swaddle. We have 5 or 6 A&A and we used them on the floor or to tuck in the rock n play, but I sucked at swaddling. I couldn’t get it tight enough. I second the swaddle sacks. 

Socks - I would start with just a few until you see if you like the brand and they stay up. The tiny fluffy newborn socks suck. I’ve had good luck with Cat & Jack from Target. 

Towels - I have probably 6 or so and that’s worked okay for us. I still use them for DD (16 months) and usually use two each bath so I don’t think it hurts to have too many. But would say 3 or so is good to start - you might not use them longer like we have. I love baby washcloths - they’re thinner than ours and I feel like I can clean her better with them. So I’d say have a week’s worth at least. 

Burp cloths - I ordered a pack of cloth diapers from amazon and use those. I like them better than the oval-ish shapes ones. 

wrensnest

@nataliezbrungart I agree with the ladies above, it’s good to start small and grow as needed. I’d say we probably had 6 or so each of towels and A&A swaddles, which was plenty for us. For socks, we had a lot of hand-me-downs, but they really are a trial and error sort of thing until you find a brand you like. 

BourbonBiscuits

Oooh I guess I'm in the minority in that I LOVED the gigantic muslin swaddles (Spearmint Love are our favorites). I liked how they could stretch to keep him nice and cozy and tight. I hated the swaddle sacks for some reason - maybe it was how loose it all was around his feet whereas the swaddle was nice and tight? I only had 2 really good swaddles, but I wish I'd had 4-5 because he used them all the time, not just for being swaddled. The two we have right now are gender neutral, so I'll get some pretty flowery ones to fill in the blanks

I'd say 10-14 pairs of socks. Blowouts can get down to the feet unfortunately ... Same with outfits - we do laundry every weekend, so 14 outfits worked for us. I also think I'm in the minority in that I loved the gowns for newborns. Made frequent diaper changes so much easier for us. Obviously they can't be worn in carseats though, so we only used the gowns at night then changed into footed jammies or an outfit for daytime. 2 towels is plenty! 

I also would suggest a couple of crib sheets. We always kept two fitted sheets on his crib at a time with a waterproof mattress cover between them - that way if there was a MOTN blow out (ETA or spit up or puke or whatever) we could just strip the top sheet and the mattress cover and lay him down on a clean sheet.

wifemomme

I was going through my baby stuff this weekend. Babies grow so fast that you don't want to spend a lot on any one size, but they do need a lot too, so it is a hard balance. 
I decided that I can easily say that I will do laundry every 3 days. On a good day you might need only two outfits (spit-up and blowouts) so 6 outfits minimum, 8 or nine to be safe. Socks and swaddles are less likely to need changed during the day so maybe only 4 each. I would say 6 burp cloths, and one or two towels. If you want to do laundry less, you will need more of each.
Like @okayestmom12 said, it is best to start out with a minimum and then get more as you need. Some babies spit up more, some have more blow outs, and then sometimes you get lucky and they keep their clothes clean and dry all day. We always hope to be the lucky ones.

disneybaby84

@nataliezbrungart not sure if anyone is buying you any baby things for Christmas, you might want to see if people are. 
Maybe have some swaddle blankets and some sleep sacks, that way you and baby can decide what you like. Honestly, I put my baby in footie pajamas during most of the newborn phase, so it's up to you if you want to do the whole outfit with a top, bottom and socks, or a pair of pajamas, you can zip and unzip for all the diaper changes. Remember, these little babes are waking up every two hours, socks might be more than your brain can handle.

danixbanani24

I couldn't swaddle DS because he had hip dysplasia so I loveedddd the Sleep Sacks by Halo.  I still have one or two - you don't need a ton.  Socks - get a million lol I always lost them.

allthingsgo

I loved the Halo swaddles (brought it to the hospital and DD lived in it). I could not get the hang of swaddling with a blanket. DH was better at it but DD almost always broke free. Hence the need for Velcro lol. On Black Friday I got a great deal on an Ollie swaddle and I LOVED it. Hoping to score another one this BF. 

Like @danixbanani24 I always lost at least one sock so I had a bunch lol. 

kayjay44

I also prefer swaddling NB's with a muslin blanket. For bigger babies - I preferred Nuroo swaddles and HATE Halo ones. My kids were both wrigglers and always got out of those ones. I also use the muslin blankets for everything, so we have a ton. You only need a couple swaddles, TBH. Towels and wash cloths, you only need a few. Lots and lots of socks for sure. Expect to have a few wardrobe changes a day earlier on and I'd stick to lots of sleepers for the NB, 0-3 months age.

sjnsjnsjn

Second the love for gowns for newborns.  Easy to get to that diaper! As well as footie PJs as long as they are ZIPPERED!

kayjay44

sjnsjnsjn said:

Second the love for gowns for newborns.  Easy to get to that diaper! As well as footie PJs as long as they are ZIPPERED!

Yes, zippered jammies and zippers only. 

hannahbananas11

@BourbonBiscuits That double-sheeted idea is genius! I'm totally going to do that. Did you also have a waterproof mattress cover below the first sheet? So: mattress cover + sheet + mattress cover + sheet?

BourbonBiscuits

@hannahbananas11 We didn't - we just did sheet + mattress cover + sheet - because (knock on wood) he never had two "incidents" in one night. So if the top sheet and cover got gross, I'd whip them off and throw them in the wash before I went back to bed. Next time he woke up I'd switch them to the dryer and then was able to load everything back up on his bed the third time he woke up. Lol can you tell this is something we thought through? He had a decent amount of blowouts as a tiny baby, but we kept it that way until we moved him to the big boy bed. My kid likes to puke whenever he has a fever (even just from an ear infection, he's just a big puker), so being able to get things changed and settled quickly was huge for us.

kayjay44

@hannahbananas11 - We do this too, but use dog pee pads in between sheet layers! It's amazing in the middle of the night to just be able to rip a layer off.

okayestmom12

kayjay44 said:

@hannahbananas11 - We do this too, but use dog pee pads in between sheet layers! It's amazing in the middle of the night to just be able to rip a layer off.

Same! We do the same on my big kid’s beds too! 

PurplePoppy424

kayjay44 said:

@hannahbananas11 - We do this too, but use dog pee pads in between sheet layers! It's amazing in the middle of the night to just be able to rip a layer off.

Yes! I third this. Still have this setup with my first two, as well! So much easier. 

BourbonBiscuits

@kayjay44 GENIUS

hannahbananas11

God, y'all are geniuses. I would have never thought of doing that until after about 28 blowouts.

kayjay44

@hannahbananas11 - My aunt did it for her foster kids and I babysat them I a lot - I can't take credit!

ginger1228

I do waterproof cover, sheet, waterproof cover, sheet. So two layers of each. 

Also second about putting baby stuff on your Christmas list. For Christmas last year I asked for baby food making stuff - I used the infantino squeeze system. Made a bunch of foods and froze them.

I liked sleepers better than gowns. The gowns rode up, but I still used them. 
 
The swaddles - the nurse’s recommended not to swaddle baby’s arms so we kept her arms out. Something about baby using feeding cues (hands near mouth... forget the word for it). 

nataliezbrungart

Thank you for all of the great advice and tips. I am definitely going to sandwich a waterproof cover between sheets! You ladies always have the best info!

danixbanani24

@BourbonBiscuits and @kayjay44 totally GENIUS.  I am going to do this with DS twin size bed and for the crib! 

nataliezbrungart

Ok STM’s I’m back! I just read about “wake and sleep” and dream feeding. Has anybody used these techniques? Do you have any tips, tricks, or reading suggestions concerning both techniques? 

kayjay44

@nataliezbrungart - I wouldn’t worry about any of that early on. For the first 6 weeks you should be feeding on demand (in response to their cues) to establish your supply. And it’s also kind of survival during that time. 

Dream feeding never worked for my kids, but a routine did become apparent. I’d feed around 10 PM, then in the middle of the night, then up at 5 am to feed. That’s pretty normal, I think. I think some people put their kids down earlier and dream feed around 10 - with my kids, they had later witching hours and that didn’t work. I’ll be curious to see if that’s different with this one with the shorter days. 

okayestmom12

@nataliezbrungart - For both of my kids, we started a bedtime routine pretty early (like by week 2). But we never did anything super hard and fast because in the first few months, babies sort of set their own schedule. And even then, they sometimes throw you a curveball with different sleep regressions so flexibility is important. 

ThePax89

@nataliezbrungart it never was effective for my kids. Many babies nurse for a variety of reasons that aren’t hunger (desire to suck, wanting to be close to mom, feel sick) so my first would just nurse nonstop. My second would vomit if I fed her before she needed to eat. 

ThePax89

STMS+. My two kids both have food sensitivities/allergies. Has anyone had experience with nursing and such issues? I didn’t discover these issues until after weaning. 

hnbergeron

For anyone who has abdominal scars for whatever reason: my scars from my appendix surgery itch and are so freaking annoying. I know my belly is stretching but did any find they had more sensitive skin on the scars versus around and any tips on how to handle(I lotion already)

disneybaby84

@ThePax89 I know some girls in my previous bump group were eliminating certain things from their diet to test out what the baby was sensitive to. Several of them had eliminated diary from their diet, or various foods that they suspected were the culprit.

madreofdragons

My daughter had an egg allergy that she luckily outgrew by two. I could not stand eggs with my pregnancy and a couple of months postpartum so I wasn’t eating them at all while nursing. I didn’t know until she tried them at around 6 months.

allthingsgo

@ThePax89 DD had a dairy sensitivity which caused reflux so I was dairy free for 6 months during bfing. I then slowly introduced it back into my diet and then later to her and she is fine now. 

okayestmom12

@hnbergeron - I have scars from my bariatric surgery and they itch like mad! I've been slathering in Lubriderm every chance I get.  

ginger1228

@ThePax89 - DD had dairy intolerance. I was dairy free for... 10 months? Something like that. She had horrible eczema and belly problems until I realized it was dairy. Before I stopped dairy, I thought it sounded awful - how do I just stop eating dairy?! But it really wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Also realized dairy was causing my cystic break outs. Once I weaned her, I started drinking milk again (I looove milk) and my chin started breaking out again. 

kayjay44

The stretch marks I have from DS itch like a mother fucker. Didn’t get stretch marks with DD really so I haven’t experienced itching like this before. My kids were the same size (half an oz difference and same length) and I was pretty much the same size - how I got one tiny stretch mark with DD and tiger stripes with DS, I’ll never understand. 

ThePax89

@ginger1228 so funny how that happens. I actually can’t eat yogurt/ice cream/pizza without feeling sick anymore. I feel better off of dairy. I eliminated last February. But I’m not strict. Like I’ll eat things with milk as an ingredient. 

@madreofdragons the egg allergy sucks. Mine has one too. I’m too scared to test it. 

madreofdragons

Yeah, eggs are in everyfuckingthing @ThePax89

bellebaby221

4th time mom with a question. We've never had to paint nurseries before because the rooms we used for our older kids were already painted. This one is different. My DH would like to do it over Christmas break. I'll be about 35 weeks then. I'm starting to think that's not early enough. Baby will be in our room for at least a month or 2 initially so there's that cushion. I'm not sure if I'm right to be worried or if I'm just nesting and wanting things done right away. Thoughts? 

okayestmom12

@bellebaby221 - 35w is probably fine.  Especially since baby will be in your room for a bit.  

This is coming from a TTM who has stuff for baby's nursery but isn't in any rush to set it up