BOTB questions: how much is too much/just right/not enough?

kellynkyle

So, with exactly 3 weeks and 2 days until my c-section, I'm finally in a "nesting" mode and have begun putting things together (bouncer/diaper genie/swing, etc) and deciding what I need to wash and what I need to keep in the package in case I need to return some things.

I'm still overwhelmed by the clothes and don't know what to wash, so I'm ignoring that for now. However,I would love your opinions on if you think I have too much, not enough or just the right amount of the following items that I've received as gifts:

32 receiving blankets (26 are soft cotton and 6 are thermal)

9--8 oz bottles

10-- 4 oz. bottles

16 bibs

8 hooded towels

5 washcloths

2 changing pad covers

4 crib sheets

4 pack N play fitted sheets

1 pack N play changing pad cover

 

So, what should I return and/or what do I need more of???

Kimmer123

I posted my answers on the Nest

kat.in.the.hat

I would return some of the blankets ... you'll need a lot, but that's a lot

you always need more bottles, there's never a clean one when you need it.  but, sometimes babies are picky about which bottle they want, so if you have a variety, I'd keep what you've got.  If you have all of one kind, you might want to get singles of different varieties in case she doesn't like one or another.

Maybe exchange a towel for more washclothes.  They also work great for really poopy diapers instead of wipes.

For the changing pad, I have two covers, but have four of the tiny pads.  That's really nice to have because if that little pad gets dirty, I can just change that out without changing the whole thing.

These are the pads I have

I also used those pads for the pnp changing table.

And we didn't have any pnp sheets, so I'm no help there.

Do you have waterproof pads for the crib?

kellynkyle

kat.in.the.hat:

Do you have waterproof pads for the crib?

Not yet--we tried to buy some today, but the BRU we were at were sold out (except for some that had been opened). 

I also had registered for those Boppy pads you linked above, but didn't get them. We forgot to pick up those today, too--however, I'm going back tomorrow, so i'll add them to my list. 

Thanks for the feedback!

kat.in.the.hat

I have two of the full sized crib ones and found that to be enough. I  have also have a three pack of the smaller ones for the crib and those were nice to have when she was super tiny and we were trying to figure out if she fit into some of the diapers we had (some of our cloth were too big at first and leaked).

 

And best bit of parenting advice I ever received ... double make your crib.  Put down a pad and a sheet, then another pad and sheet on top of it.  That way if you have a leak in the middle of the night, you can just rip off the dirty and have a clean sheet and pad underneath it and it saves a huge ordeal at 3 a.m.

Kian'sMommy

Blankets - return some but only wash 4-5.  Kian didn't like to be swaddled so we use them to lay on, throw on top of him in an air conditioned store, send to daycare as a nap blanket but we don't use nearly the number we have

Bottles - are you planning to nurse?  if so you may want to switch out a couple 4oz for the larger size.  I'd only wash 1 or 2 of the brand you hope to use and see if she likes it before opening the rest.

Bibs - hold on to them, wash 7,  Kian drolled so we ended up with way more then 16 but if you have a neat baby maybe not

Hooded towels - return a couple for washclothes

Washclothes - I'd get more - at 2 we still use the baby washclothes

Changing pad covers - good - I cut the Carter's lap mats in half and put them on top of the changing pad so I only had to wash the top layer (also good to throw on the pack n play changing table and in your diaper bag for quick changes.

Crib sheets - good, we ended up with 2 sheets for home 2 for daycare.  I love the ultimate crib sheet if you are using bumpers for easy sheet changing (get another 2 of those).  Without bumpers I'd think changing the fitted sheet wouldn't be as much of a pain

Pack-N-Play - probably need 2, though we also used a carters lap mat or over the top of the sheet cover for teh pack-n-play which helped minimize full sheet changes.

 Maybe 1 more changing pad cover for the pack-n-play.

Of course that all works for me for a Kian type baby, I'm sure you'll find something different when she arrives  

 

  

rayskit10

blankets- we use a TON but 30+ is more than a ton. i would keep about 20 and return the rest

if you are planning on BFing, you are not going to need many of the 8 oz bottles, if at all. a BF baby rarely takes more than 4 oz at a time

i might get closer to 15 on the 4 oz bottles for when you go back to work. imagine 3 a day while you're working, at least.

bibs sounds good. you can always use them. also, the cotton terry cloth bibs are for a different purpose (drool, mostly) than the Bumkins type ones, which are for eating. i know you have both counted in that 16 so keep them all.

some people might find 8 towels excessive, but that is abotu how many i have. i think they have lasted longer from being used less so you might as well keep what you have. truitt still uses the same towels he had as a newborn.

you need more washcloths. things happen and you may use 2 or 3 per bath sometimes depending.

changing pad covers- depends on how often you want to do laundry ;P

i think you're good on the crib sheets.

as far as the p'n'p, i have no idea since we never used one

 

CindyandScott

32 receiving blankets (26 are soft cotton and 6 are thermal) - We very rarely used blankets. I have a drawer full and most have never been used. Reagan now uses them for her babies. My kids broke out of them in regards to being swaddled.

9--8 oz bottles - I think we have 3-4. We clean them daily though.

10-- 4 oz. bottles - We have 3-4. On the days I go into the office Abby goes through 3 4oz bottles. We clean them after use. I really don't have the space for a ton. You can always use the bigger bottles for a smaller amount.

16 bibs - I think it's fine. We never used bibs for drool, only food and only for about 6 months. I think when Reagan reached 1 or so I stopped using them.

8 hooded towels - I think it's plenty. I bought a 4 pack with Reagan and still use the same 4 with both girls. We re-use though for a few nights.

5 washcloths - I'd probably get more of those. They always seem to disappear in our house or the wash or somewhere!

2 changing pad covers - To me that's fine but it depends on how often you want to do laundry.

4 crib sheets - I think that's fine. I'm not sure that we ever had more then 2-3.

4 pack N play fitted sheets - I never owned any of these. I just swaddled the kids and they it didn't matter much that they were touching the plastic. Plus mine lay on a sleep positioner.

1 pack N play changing pad cover- I just lay a lap pad on the changing table part. Mostly so it's not cold.

 

I haven't read everyone else's post but do you have any of the sheet protectors? We have 2 of the Ultimate Crib sheets and put them under the sheet and it made changing sheets a breeze.