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2nd Trimester
Baby must-haves list from a mom
One of my friends got this from a mom of 3 and I thought it was really helpful. Take it FWIW!
There are definitely some "nice to haves" as well but it's a good start!
-Crib Sheets (atleast 3 if not 4)
-Waterproof pad to put between the sheet and matress (x2)
-Diaper Champ (I would suggest this over the diaper genie because you don't have to buy special bags)
-Pack & Play
-Sheets for the Pack & Play (x2)
-Dr. Browns Bottles (there has been alot of controversy about plastic bottles so some people are going with glass or BPA free which Dr. Browns makes) These bottles have a special piece in the center which helps to reduce airflow and gas (x8-12)
-Basket to put bottle parts into to put in the dishwasher
-Nuks/Pacifers (x4-6) We got the Playtex Orth-Pro ones to start with and Henry really liked them
-Pamper Swaddlers (I would suggest buying the really big box of them)
-Swing (we got the Fisher Price Baby Papasan one and he loved it and I have alot of friends who got the same one and love it too because you can put them in it even when they are really little and it swings in two directions)
-Bouncing Chair (its great because you can take it all over the house with you; i used to put it in the bathroom with me when I would shower)
-Exersaucer
-Jumperoo (you really only need this or the exersaucer depending on the amount of room you have)
-Activity Center/Playmat for on the floor (example: https://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3243095)
-Bumbo Seat
-Onies (I would register for 2-3 packs of each size 0-3 months, 3-6, etc. in both long sleeve and short sleeve)
- Sleepers (we liked the carter's ones best and if you can find ones that zip even better because snaps suck at 3 a.m. and again I would register for newborn, 0-3, etc.)
-Graco SnugRide Carseat
-Maclaren or Graco Snap and Go Stroller (it is SO much better than the big travel systems that take up almost the whole trunk and the travel systems are heavy, etc.)
-Bath tub (don't get anything fancy, we got this one https://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2403667 which has a sling that the baby can lay in when they are little and can be taken off and they can sit in the tub when they get bigger)
-Skip Hop Pronto Changing Wallet - Black (https://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2756998 love it! you can just throw it in the bottom of the stroller and you don't have to take the whole diaper bag with you if you are going for a walk or just running a couple of errans)
-Blankets to Swaddle the baby (x3)
-Burp Rags (x6)
-Hooded Towles (x2)
-Baby Wash (we really like the Johnsons & Johnson's purple bottle; don't by lotion because you are not suppose to use it)
-Changing Pad for on top of the changing table
-Change Pad covers (x2)
-Monitor (we got the Fischer Price Sounds and Lights monitor but haven't used it a ton)
-Bundle Me for in the winter to put in the carseat so you don't have to put them in a huge jacket)
-Moses Basket (we found it to be helpful but definitely not necessary)
-Baby Bjorn
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Baby must-haves list from a mom
DD1: allergic to eggs & dairy
c/p 4/1/11
DD2: milk and soy protein intolerant, allergic to eggs, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, bananas
MSPI Moms Check-In Blog
that's helpful, thanks for sharing!
do you know why "you're not supposed to use lotion" on the baby? i'm a lotion junkie lol
Remember not all of this stuff is going to work for your baby....my 1st Dd HATED her bouncy seat, and swing. But she loved being in her baby bjorn like contraption, and the jumperoo thing, she also refused to use pacifiers.
- You don't need hooded towels, I had them, but a reg towel works fine too...
- We had the diaper genie, it was a pain in the behind...I stopped using a diaper pail and just threw the diaper in the outside garbage can after a changing.
- Bottles...I used Avent and playtex drop ins, DD liked them both fine. But I hear some kids are picky about their bottles. I never worried about the BPA thing, its been in plastic forever adn we're still alive, and so is my DD...so it seriously can't be that bad.
What I used the MOST in the 1st year of DD's life was..
* my breast pump, if you plan on BF'ing invest in a good one, especailly if you're a working mom
* Burp clothes, you can never have enough
* recieving blankets
* onsies
* front carrier pack ( like baby bjorn)
ETA: I always used lotion on DD...she's still alive so, use away.
Great list! I agree with all of it except in my experience the Diaper Champ stinks (literally). I had a genie, bought a champ, and went back to the genie very fast. However, that was with my first. By the second I found it easier to just take the diaper with me when I left the room and we never used one at all. Don't plan to this time either.
I would buy the hooded towels since they are so darn cute but I've had them through 2 kids now and really never used the hood on them. Maybe for the first bath pics but that was it.
And I'm confused by the don't buy lotion because you can't use it comment. I always used lotion.
I love, love, love my Bjorn. I haven't heard this about it being bad for babies. I have used it through 2 children and will with my third. However, I find that I can only use it until about 5 or 6 months and then they get too heavy for me.
This is not true about the lotion. I was given and told to use lotion in the hospital with both my girls. We were told not to use powder due to inhalation issues.
- Almost all bottle now are BPA free; and, like pp's said, it's been around in plastic for years, and we're all ok. We use the Playtex drop-ins (you can buy generic liners at Target); my kiddos loved them, and it avoided the whole BPA issue
- I agree on skipping the huge travel system; invest in a good lightweight stroller that will hold infants. They're lighter, easier to handle, and you'll get more use out of them.
- I hated the Graco carseat; I'm short, and that thing was way too heavy - even without the baby in it.
- Skip the receiving blankets for swaddling, and try the Halo Sleepsack, or Swaddler from Kiddopotamus (much easier to deal with in the middle of the night)
- Agree with skipping the hooded towels; they outgrow them so fast, and the towels really aren't that absorbant.
- I had one kid who hated the Moses basket and one one loved it; for the one that liked it, it really was convenient to pick her up and carry her with me
- As far as the lotion, studies show that lavender and chamomile (however you spell) can cause respiratory depression in infants (as well as baby vaporub). There are as many studies studies saying the opposite. I've used lotion on both kiddos, and they've been fine
You have to be careful about using the bumbo seat too early with your LO - it can also cause spinal stress.
I like this list, too: https://sewliberated.typepad.com/sew_liberated/2009/09/baby-essentials-.html
You can use lotion..just don't use the parfume stuff ( like Johnstons lavender..etc) For my son I used Glaxal Base till he was 6 months..no scent and it's what pharmicists mix with prescriptions so it's so gentle! I still use it..on my face though:)
This is SO true! I have a friend who is a pediatric occupational therapist. Not only did she suggest something other than the Bjorn but she said it's so important to wait to use the exersaucer until baby can stand (while you hold torso or hands)!
I'm a mom of soon to be 4, and I can tell you some of these things aren't necessary. You don't need a pack-n-play. Most bottle companies make bpa free ones now (including genaric walmart brand), not just Dr Browns. Johnson and Johnson's purple bottle is lavendar scented which can cause newborn's breasts to swell (either gender) - plain unscented is best. I've never used baby monitors and never had a problem hearing when the child was crying, even when our bedroom was on another floor. Slings are nice (like Bjorn), but not necessary (I love my Mei Tai). Never needed a changing wallet, jumparoo or swing. Bumbos are nice but not necessary (many moms will feed their babies in these at first, but we usually start with LO in the exersaucer to feed).
I hated sleepers with zippers vs with snaps b/c then it completely wakes a baby up since you are exposing their whole chest every time you want to do a diaper change. Snaps are your friend
I'd also recommend the first 2 sizes of diapers as they grow out of preemies/1's quickly and it's nice not to have to rush to the store in the middle of dealing with a blowout.
Toys that attach to the carrier are necessities, as is a crib set - blanket, sheets, bumper pad (I know they're contravertial, but I've never had a problem with them).
I dont think anyone was saying that the Bjorn doesnt work. But apparently the way the Bjorn has the child sitting can cause hip problems. From what I understand it says in the directions that its only supposed to be used for 20 minutes or so. A carrier like an Ergo or a Beco is more ergonomic and better for their hips/pelvic area. It doesnt put all the pressure on their crotch and hips. I have an Ergo and just from practicing with it can tell I will love it. They are similar to the Bjorn but they put baby in a better position and can be used for longer periods of time.
That was an okay list, although it seems like a lot more than we ever needed with DD #1.
Regarding bathtub: You can wash babies in the sink and they make in-sink additions to keep newborns safe. We had an infant tub and it was okay and worked okay for a while, although it kept half of babies body exposed and I didn't like that.
Also, lotion is fine to use and is great for baby massage which helps with parent/child bonding as well as calming baby. What is not safe is baby poweder. It can cause respiratory issues.
I agree with whoever said to pick another carrier than Bjorn. We didn't have one of those, but did have a front carier that sat her on her bottom and a sling, which I preferred.
Lastly, I would add board books and other types of books that babies can chew on and beat up. My daughter loves her books and has since she was tiny.
It is a good list. I always recommend Dr. Browns and I add Gripe Water to the list, it's amazing for gas, colic & hiccups!
The exersaucer and jumperoo ... eh. I could leave it. I had both but the pedi said it causes kids to be bow legged & didn't recommend more then 15 min. of use a day. So for $100 you get to use it for 15 min. a day. Some fun toys in the pack & play worked just as good. I recommend waiting on the exersaucer & jumper until you have a pedi & ask them what their recommendation is.
Yes gripe water is a MUST have!! Even when my son wouldn't take his soother..I would dip it in the gripe water and he would suck away till he fell asleep:) It's a must!
I loved my jumperoo and exersaucer. My sister is a occupational therapist and also told me about the problems it can cause with over use. I used it an hour a day..and I couldn't live without it! My son loved it. It didn't cause him any problems and he was walking very early( 10 months). It's definatly not a need...but it does keep baby occupied while your busy cooking/cleaning.
Another must I think is a good quality swaddleing blanket( the receiving blankets usually are not large enough). My son needed to be swaddled to sleep untill he was about 5 months. I bought the Miracle Blanket and it was amazing! Kept him snug and tight. They are about 40$ for one...I only had 1.that's all you need:)