Must have essentials for first few weeks

onedaychristinak

Hi ladies...I posted here a couple times before having a few failed matches.  Well, we got the call and I think this one is it!  BM is due August 5, so it's time to get the must haves.

I recall seeing a link/list with the most critical items to get prior to birth.  Any help on this would be great!

TIA 

IRR

Congrats.  Looking forward to seeing the replies from those with experience.

EratMama

You know it's a newborn, so you're in luck.  Really, any age you need:

*Somewhere to sleep-- ( a pack 'n play wiht a bassinet attachment is pretty versatile. Or a crib. Or  a bassinet.  Pick one.)

*Somewhere to transport baby--a carseat & a stroller.

*Something for baby to eat--a few bottles, and some formula

*Something for baby to wear--five 0-3 month outfits and a pack of dipaers and wipes will get you far.

Have fun!  Baby stuff comes out of the woodwork, so my advice is to just buy a little.

Dr.Loretta

I don't have a comprehensive list, but let's see what I can remember. We had the Big 4 (I will expand shortly) and DH did a late night WalMart run the first night DD was home.

Big 4 were crib, car seat, stroller, and Pack n Play

Crib will need a mattress and bedding. Forgo the bedding sets (bumpers and blankets are discouraged) and get separates.

Pack n Play will also need some sort of sheet

You'll also need:

Clothing: if the child is average, newborn really is the size to get, even if just a few pieces. DD was 6lb/12 oz and was in nb for 13 weeks. She lived in onesies and sleep sacks

Feeding; bottles and formula. Depending on state and hospital rules, you may be inundated with formula samples, or not. Unless your child has digestive issues, generic formula will be fine

Diapers: the hospital will probably also inundate you with nb diapers, but they go fast

First-aid type stuff: thermometer, infant Tylenol, etc. Talk to your dr before giving anything, esp early on

Bathing: gentle soap is really all you need out of the gate

Everything else is truly optional, but we loved our bottle warmer (DD wouldn't drink cold formula for months), swing (that was the only "movement" type thing we got; no vibrating chairs and such), swaddles (DD busted out of hers but some kids won't settle without them), pacifiers (DD didn't like them, but some kids have them for months/years), white noise machine (we went with a $5 WalMart fan), cosleeper or bassinet, bottle sterilizer (we had a cool one that went into the microwave and got heavy use), some sort of carrier for bonding and ease of moving around the house (we loved our Moby wrap), gripe water for the witching hour, and that's about all I can think of right now. You may want to consider a glider or rocker, and changing table, for the nursery.

Rachel Sonnier

I would say my main couldn't live withouts were:

*pack n play/co-sleeper/bassinet (we used a bassinet next to our bed, but a pack n play serves the same purpose and is easier to travel with if you will have to stay in a hotel for a while)

*moby wrap/boba wrap

*bottles, formula and paci

*car seat

*gowns, gowns, gowns! I am a huge fan of newborn gowns...especially at 3 AM, on the 18th diaper change of the day, when the last thing you want to do is fumble around with a bunch of snaps 

Good luck with everything!! And keep us posted :-D 

raecheleblue1

Congrats!  That's exciting!  Thanks to those that posted. I've been trying to create this exact list for a couple of weeks now and was stuck!

IRR

Rachel Sonnier:

*pack n play/co-sleeper/bassinet (we used a bassinet next to our bed, but a pack n play serves the same purpose and is easier to travel with if you will have to stay in a hotel for a while)

Knowing we will be out of state for 2 weeks, we are currently debating the co-sleeper, vs. pack n play with bassinet.  Anyone have thoughts on this?  We don't want to be flying with a ton of stuff if it can be helped.  We will already have a car seat, stroller and all diaper bag/food stuff.  This one item is starting to make me go crazy as I look at all the options. 

Ladies with experience please HELP!  Thanks for posting ONEDAY.  I don't feel like any of my friends who have children that they didn't have to travel for actually get this dilemma.

kekis

Looks like you have a great list going here.  Although we haven't been matched, we plan to get a pnp w/ bassinet so it can be used for travel & home as the baby gets older.  Some of them have wheels that allow you to roll them vs. carry, so you may want to look for that if it's something that appeals to you.

onedaychristinak

Thanks ladies.  I've know for a while which furniture, swing, pack and play, etc. I wanted.  I guess it's now time to order and register.  I am going to make a run and get the little things to get me started.  We are going to wait to tell friends and family until we meet BM next week. It will be nice to have them be able to go with me shopping and lend me items until my shower.  . 

Wow.  This is just all so crazy!

ellekae

We haven't adopted yet, but here are my thoughts, based on my experience traveling with DD (bio) as an infant (we have a lot of family on the opposite side of the state):

- Pack n Play - we didn't bother with a fancy one (no bassinet, no changing table, etc.)... We just picked a simple one that is easy to set up.

- Pack n Play sheets (2)

- Blanket or fleece for under the Pack n Play sheet (DD was cold all the time, so putting a thin blanket under the sheet helped a lot).

- Safe swaddler with velcro

- Baby mittens or sleepers with the fold over mittens (DD scratched her face ALL THE TIME when she was first born)

-  ErgoBaby carrier (less complicated than Moby wraps, and way less stress on my back than Bjorn carriers)

- Boppy pillow was great for propping her up during awake time... I also used it to help her stay in place when she napped on my chest.

Hmm... That's all I can think of at the moment. I'll post again if I think of anything else  

GOOD LUCK!!

jenn985

We just recently (5/29/12) adopted our son. He was 8 lbs 9 oz at birth and ended up wearing newborn sized clothes for 3-4 weeks. I think we had 10 total outfits (some onesies/pants and lots of sleepers) and 6 pairs of socks. Other than that-our must haves were swaddle blankets (we had 2 but more would have been nice), bibs and burp rags (didn't really think about this but having multiples was helpful!), pacifiers (I was pretty specific on what type I wanted to use), wipes, diapers, and formula (hospital didn't provide any of these to us). We also had a car seat, stroller, and a pack and play with a newborn insert that came out and could be moved around the house (lifesaver!). 

We were out of state for the first week of little man's life, so these were the things we found that we needed most. Hope this helps!

silliestbunny

IRR:

Rachel Sonnier:

*pack n play/co-sleeper/bassinet (we used a bassinet next to our bed, but a pack n play serves the same purpose and is easier to travel with if you will have to stay in a hotel for a while)

Knowing we will be out of state for 2 weeks, we are currently debating the co-sleeper, vs. pack n play with bassinet.  Anyone have thoughts on this?  We don't want to be flying with a ton of stuff if it can be helped.  We will already have a car seat, stroller and all diaper bag/food stuff.  This one item is starting to make me go crazy as I look at all the options. 

Ladies with experience please HELP!  Thanks for posting ONEDAY.  I don't feel like any of my friends who have children that they didn't have to travel for actually get this dilemma.

IRR-  are you considering bringing a PnP or Cosleeper?  I'd forego both and either pack a travel bed like this https://www.amazon.com/Eddie-Bauer-Infant-Travel-Bed/dp/B0010WH028 which packs nicely in a suitcase or pick up a moses basket or something like that once you get there.  I wouldn't bother hauling anything across state lines.  Newborns sleep anywhere and the period of time is relatively short for the hassle. 

Rachel Sonnier

silliestbunny:

IRR:

Rachel Sonnier:

*pack n play/co-sleeper/bassinet (we used a bassinet next to our bed, but a pack n play serves the same purpose and is easier to travel with if you will have to stay in a hotel for a while)

Knowing we will be out of state for 2 weeks, we are currently debating the co-sleeper, vs. pack n play with bassinet.  Anyone have thoughts on this?  We don't want to be flying with a ton of stuff if it can be helped.  We will already have a car seat, stroller and all diaper bag/food stuff.  This one item is starting to make me go crazy as I look at all the options. 

IRR-  are you considering bringing a PnP or Cosleeper?  I'd forego both and either pack a travel bed like this https://www.amazon.com/Eddie-Bauer-Infant-Travel-Bed/dp/B0010WH028 which packs nicely in a suitcase or pick up a moses basket or something like that once you get there.  I wouldn't bother hauling anything across state lines.  Newborns sleep anywhere and the period of time is relatively short for the hassle. 

Thats a great idea!!! So much easier than lugging a pack n play around. 

Rachel Sonnier

IRR this one too. The top travels and you can keep the bottom at home to use as a bassinet.

https://i986.photobucket.com/albums/ae342/brent_N_angelia/0007146303073_AV_500X500.jpg 

 Idk how to make it clicky. 

IRR

Rachel Sonnier:

silliestbunny:

IRR:

Rachel Sonnier:

*pack n play/co-sleeper/bassinet (we used a bassinet next to our bed, but a pack n play serves the same purpose and is easier to travel with if you will have to stay in a hotel for a while)

Knowing we will be out of state for 2 weeks, we are currently debating the co-sleeper, vs. pack n play with bassinet.  Anyone have thoughts on this?  We don't want to be flying with a ton of stuff if it can be helped.  We will already have a car seat, stroller and all diaper bag/food stuff.  This one item is starting to make me go crazy as I look at all the options. 

IRR-  are you considering bringing a PnP or Cosleeper?  I'd forego both and either pack a travel bed like this https://www.amazon.com/Eddie-Bauer-Infant-Travel-Bed/dp/B0010WH028 which packs nicely in a suitcase or pick up a moses basket or something like that once you get there.  I wouldn't bother hauling anything across state lines.  Newborns sleep anywhere and the period of time is relatively short for the hassle. 

Thats a great idea!!! So much easier than lugging a pack n play around. 

Thank you ladies.