Hospitals and Formula

March2013FTM

Wow this is a heated discussion. I am a FTMS, and I have chosen to FF my daughter. I have a lot of respect for moms who EBF, but for many reasons, I am not going to even try. Before I get flamed, please know it has to do with medication and physical trauma to my right breast.

i went to a 3D sonogram this last week and was given 11 samples of infant formula to try from enfamil.

For all those claiming it is your responsibility to feed your baby at the hospital, remember this: the hospital is feeding mom. They have to feed their patients. The baby is a patient during the stay, so yes, they should be feeding the baby formula, if that is what they are eating, and billing the insurance company, just as they do for mom. And then sending mom home with a few samples of formula to try is a great marketing tactic for the companies, and saves parents money. I would be a little upset if my hospital didn't give me a few options to try and see what worked best for my baby. That is in the best interest of the child, after all. 

I wouldn't expect a whole lot, but a few would be nice to help out in the decision process of which one to use. 

Chocodoxies

March2013FTM:

Wow this is a heated discussion. I am a FTMS, and I have chosen to FF my daughter. I have a lot of respect for moms who EBF, but for many reasons, I am not going to even try. Before I get flamed, please know it has to do with medication and physical trauma to my right breast.

i went to a 3D sonogram this last week and was given 11 samples of infant formula to try from enfamil.

For all those claiming it is your responsibility to feed your baby at the hospital, remember this: the hospital is feeding mom. They have to feed their patients. The baby is a patient during the stay, so yes, they should be feeding the baby formula, if that is what they are eating, and billing the insurance company, just as they do for mom. And then sending mom home with a few samples of formula to try is a great marketing tactic for the companies, and saves parents money. I would be a little upset if my hospital didn't give me a few options to try and see what worked best for my baby. That is in the best interest of the child, after all. 

I wouldn't expect a whole lot, but a few would be nice to help out in the decision process of which one to use. 

A hospital is not the place for a marketing ploy. When we found that BF was not working for us I spoke with my DD's pediatrician who gave me several ideas for the kinds of formula she felt would be best suited to my daughter's needs. The hospital formula samples are not a choice of the hospital, and thus the "best option" being handed to you for use. They are simply what Company X sent them to hand out free with a bag emblazoned with their company logo and some free inserts. When it came to my daughter, none of the samples offered were the ideal option as she couldn't have cow's milk, and she had colic. Her formula options were finite, and expensive, and talking directly to her pediatrician about what was best for her considering her specific health was the best option. 

I don't believe that babies that are being formula fed in the hospital should not be given formula. You are correct that they are a patient and therefore if a mother chooses to FF, she should have that formula on hand and covered by her insurance premiums. It is an entirely different realm to demand that you be sent home with free food for your child. Once you walk out the door of the hospital, their responsibility to feed and nurture your infant has ended and it is now on your shoulders.  

nyki06

Regarding the whole discussion, I really enjoyed the nurses sending me home with a few extra things after delivering my daughter, but I never expected them to. 

I mainly just wanted to respond to the idea that having formula around doesn't discourage breastfeeding, because I think it definitely can. Even though I prepped for breastfeeding in any way I possibly could (books, class, going to LLL meetings during pregnancy) I still wasn't prepared for how rough the first few days were. Since absolutely no one in my family (even extended) breastfed it was a completely new world to me. I just remember trying to get her (my daughter) to latch on throughout the entire first and second night in the hospital and sitting there sobbing over how hard and incredibly painful my experience was. I was lucky that the nurses were all VERY supportive and never even mentioned the idea of formula, but honestly if I had been surrounded by cans of free formula and people encouraging FFing I probably would have given up on BFing because I felt like a complete failure, even though what I was experiencing was relatively normal. The rest of my BFing experience was really difficult (constant pain while nursing during every nursing session) and I never would have made it to 13 months if I had kept the free samples that were sent in the mail around my house.

 

My only point in that long post is that no matter what parenting path you choose you are typically in a vulnerable state right after delivering a baby. The idea that you just choose your parenting choices before getting to the hospital and nothing will sway those choices is not always the case.  

mben1119

piglet6609:

Chocodoxies:

piglet6609:

I don't see how giving samples of formula discourages BF. That's absurd. If people want to BF, they will and they will try however hard works for them. If they decide it's not for them, so be it. I highly doubt anyone chose not to BF because their hospital gave free samples.

I want to address this because it is important for those who really want to try to BF to know and understand. I in no way am saying that I am anti-formula however.

The reality is that breastfeeding is really not easy mentally or physically, but it can be incredibly rewarding. During that first few weeks you will worry that your baby is not getting enough food because you can't measure exactly what they are getting. You will most likely worry that they are not getting enough food when they cry and you can't calm them down. It is really hard, and having a back up of formula is one of those things that you will break out when you are exhausted and confused and overwhelmed. I would strongly suggest you NOT have any in the house. But when the samples have been sent home with you by the hospital staff, it feels wasteful to throw it away, and every new mother who intends to BF worries that she won't be able to, so you hold onto them.

I know that the first time my husband watched our DD alone so I could run to the store I told him to not give her a bottle of formula. I had just fed her, and she WAS NOT hungry. Well, he panicked and gave her bottle when he had changed, cuddled, and run out of guesses. When I got home I popped a boob in her mouth and she calmed down instantly while the milk just ran out of her mouth and all over my lap. She wasn't hungry, she wanted mommy, but the formula made him feel he was doing something.  

Bfing takes a few weeks before the feeling of reward starts to overtake you. For those first weeks it is exhausting and overwhelming, and you are still recovering so you are already down. It is very tempting to let daddy take that 2:00am feeding one week into sleep deprivation, and that is very often the start of the end.  

I'm fully aware of this. You missed my point. My point was that I sincerely doubt anyone chooses to FF over BF simply because the hospital supplies formula during your stay.  

No, but the nurses pushing formula on me and telling me to pump colostrum at 2 days PP killed my supply and are the reason I had issues nursing. I ended up EPing for 4 months, and I blame them. Offering free formula to a sleep deprived mom whose newborn is crying is a very easy way to derail nursing. Instead of encouraging skin to skin, and constant nursing, they tell you your LO is losing too much weight and they're starving and they must be given formula now.

acesup

mabenner1:

piglet6609:

Chocodoxies:

piglet6609:

I don't see how giving samples of formula discourages BF. That's absurd. If people want to BF, they will and they will try however hard works for them. If they decide it's not for them, so be it. I highly doubt anyone chose not to BF because their hospital gave free samples.

I want to address this because it is important for those who really want to try to BF to know and understand. I in no way am saying that I am anti-formula however.

The reality is that breastfeeding is really not easy mentally or physically, but it can be incredibly rewarding. During that first few weeks you will worry that your baby is not getting enough food because you can't measure exactly what they are getting. You will most likely worry that they are not getting enough food when they cry and you can't calm them down. It is really hard, and having a back up of formula is one of those things that you will break out when you are exhausted and confused and overwhelmed. I would strongly suggest you NOT have any in the house. But when the samples have been sent home with you by the hospital staff, it feels wasteful to throw it away, and every new mother who intends to BF worries that she won't be able to, so you hold onto them.

I know that the first time my husband watched our DD alone so I could run to the store I told him to not give her a bottle of formula. I had just fed her, and she WAS NOT hungry. Well, he panicked and gave her bottle when he had changed, cuddled, and run out of guesses. When I got home I popped a boob in her mouth and she calmed down instantly while the milk just ran out of her mouth and all over my lap. She wasn't hungry, she wanted mommy, but the formula made him feel he was doing something.  

Bfing takes a few weeks before the feeling of reward starts to overtake you. For those first weeks it is exhausting and overwhelming, and you are still recovering so you are already down. It is very tempting to let daddy take that 2:00am feeding one week into sleep deprivation, and that is very often the start of the end.  

I'm fully aware of this. You missed my point. My point was that I sincerely doubt anyone chooses to FF over BF simply because the hospital supplies formula during your stay.  

No, but the nurses pushing formula on me and telling me to pump colostrum at 2 days PP killed my supply and are the reason I had issues nursing. I ended up EPing for 4 months, and I blame them. Offering free formula to a sleep deprived mom whose newborn is crying is a very easy way to derail nursing. Instead of encouraging skin to skin, and constant nursing, they tell you your LO is losing too much weight and they're starving and they must be given formula now.

your issue is with the nurse, not with the presence of formula. should the nurses push formula on you? no. should they have pushed BF on me? no. that's an issue to take up with the hospital and nursing staff. I'm not saying the hospital should be giving away free formula and sending it home, however, a FF baby is their patient and a hospital is required to feed their patients. there is always going to be a presence. the staff should not be pushing it if women want to BF.  

Chocodoxies

piglet6609:

your issue is with the nurse, not with the presence of formula. should the nurses push formula on you? no. should they have pushed BF on me? no. that's an issue to take up with the hospital and nursing staff. I'm not saying the hospital should be giving away free formula and sending it home, however, a FF baby is their patient and a hospital is required to feed their patients. there is always going to be a presence. the staff should not be pushing it if women want to BF.  

 I am not intending to sound snarky, but if this is your true intent with your original comment it seems out of place on this thread. No one here has said that the hospitals should deny formula completely. This whole thread is about bringing home formula and free samples. The link to your original comment is that offering formula so readily DOES affect the success of BF (whether you believe it or not it does) and that for mothers who truly want to BF, but are undermined by formula and how much it is pushed it is upsetting. The nursing staff is just as easily uneducated on the realities of BF infants and the difficulties of starting a supply as any other person, and therefore are quick to hand a struggling mother a bottle of formula when really what she needs is a LC. Breast milk is best (no one, even the formula companies, deny that fact) and hospitals are filled with medical staff to offer you the best care they can, and that would be BFing assistance, not formula samples. So, they should be offering lots of support to mothers who WANT to breastfeed, and giving formula to mothers who WANT to FF while in the hospital.

Perhaps the issue is with the nursing staff, but the issue with the nursing staff is eliminated if the formula is not passed out like gift bags when you leave, and there is no reasonable excuse for why they are handing out goody bags of formula anyway. A new mother, tired and recovering, should not be inundated with ads from anyone (similac, enfamil, etc.). Would you find it acceptable for Carter's reps to be offering up the latest onesies and Graco reps dropping in your room to offer the newest carseat to drive home with? Because it is the same issue. The hospital wouldn't be stating that Carter's onesies are superior, or that Graco carseats are safer, they would simply be "offering" them for free to their patients.  

This all boils down to new mothers being annoyed that they are not going to get free stuff. This is not about FF mothers being harassed TO BF. This is about hospitals being dedicated to the health and welfare of new mothers and babies, and the healthiest option is BF (void of extenuating circumstances such as medications etc. which is why formula is present at the hospital for mothers who actively choose to FF) which was being undermined by the hospitals also playing as representatives for formula companies.  If you want to FF, no one should make you feel badly, and if you want to BF, no one should make you feel superior, but either choice should fall on your pocket book.  

 

mben1119

piglet6609:

your issue is with the nurse, not with the presence of formula. should the nurses push formula on you? no. should they have pushed BF on me? no. that's an issue to take up with the hospital and nursing staff. I'm not saying the hospital should be giving away free formula and sending it home, however, a FF baby is their patient and a hospital is required to feed their patients. there is always going to be a presence. the staff should not be pushing it if women want to BF.  

But why should it be handed out for free?  I paid for my hospital meals. You can get formula in hospitals, but I firmly believe you should have to pay for it.

Unknown

This content has been removed.

acesup

I have no problem with that either. I honestly don't even know what my hospital does. If they charge my insurance, fine. But it will still be there for the nurses to offer. All they would have to do is charge your insurance. All I'm saying is that the presence of formula is not to blame for people choosing to FF. The nurses may be to blame, but the existence of formula is not.

acesup

Chocodoxies:

piglet6609:

your issue is with the nurse, not with the presence of formula. should the nurses push formula on you? no. should they have pushed BF on me? no. that's an issue to take up with the hospital and nursing staff. I'm not saying the hospital should be giving away free formula and sending it home, however, a FF baby is their patient and a hospital is required to feed their patients. there is always going to be a presence. the staff should not be pushing it if women want to BF.  

 I am not intending to sound snarky, but if this is your true intent with your original comment it seems out of place on this thread. No one here has said that the hospitals should deny formula completely. This whole thread is about bringing home formula and free samples. The link to your original comment is that offering formula so readily DOES affect the success of BF (whether you believe it or not it does) and that for mothers who truly want to BF, but are undermined by formula and how much it is pushed it is upsetting. The nursing staff is just as easily uneducated on the realities of BF infants and the difficulties of starting a supply as any other person, and therefore are quick to hand a struggling mother a bottle of formula when really what she needs is a LC. Breast milk is best (no one, even the formula companies, deny that fact) and hospitals are filled with medical staff to offer you the best care they can, and that would be BFing assistance, not formula samples. So, they should be offering lots of support to mothers who WANT to breastfeed, and giving formula to mothers who WANT to FF while in the hospital.

Perhaps the issue is with the nursing staff, but the issue with the nursing staff is eliminated if the formula is not passed out like gift bags when you leave, and there is no reasonable excuse for why they are handing out goody bags of formula anyway. A new mother, tired and recovering, should not be inundated with ads from anyone (similac, enfamil, etc.). Would you find it acceptable for Carter's reps to be offering up the latest onesies and Graco reps dropping in your room to offer the newest carseat to drive home with? Because it is the same issue. The hospital wouldn't be stating that Carter's onesies are superior, or that Graco carseats are safer, they would simply be "offering" them for free to their patients.  

This all boils down to new mothers being annoyed that they are not going to get free stuff. This is not about FF mothers being harassed TO BF. This is about hospitals being dedicated to the health and welfare of new mothers and babies, and the healthiest option is BF (void of extenuating circumstances such as medications etc. which is why formula is present at the hospital for mothers who actively choose to FF) which was being undermined by the hospitals also playing as representatives for formula companies.  If you want to FF, no one should make you feel badly, and if you want to BF, no one should make you feel superior, but either choice should fall on your pocket book.  

 

All I was saying is that formula is going to be there regardless of whether its free or not. And all hospitals are different. My sister delivered at the same hospital as me, she BF and was never once offered or given a goody bag of formula. They only have it to those who asked for it or specified that they would be FF. so again, the issue relies with hospital practice. Not formula itself. Which brings me back to my original point that a hospital that has formula in stock , even if they may give it away free, is not going to be the cause of someone choosing to FF over BF. that's obviously assuming the staff doesn't push it, which they shouldn't. That is no different than staff members laying guilt in women who choose to FF.

Chocodoxies

piglet6609:

Chocodoxies:

piglet6609:

your issue is with the nurse, not with the presence of formula. should the nurses push formula on you? no. should they have pushed BF on me? no. that's an issue to take up with the hospital and nursing staff. I'm not saying the hospital should be giving away free formula and sending it home, however, a FF baby is their patient and a hospital is required to feed their patients. there is always going to be a presence. the staff should not be pushing it if women want to BF.  

 I am not intending to sound snarky, but if this is your true intent with your original comment it seems out of place on this thread. No one here has said that the hospitals should deny formula completely. This whole thread is about bringing home formula and free samples. The link to your original comment is that offering formula so readily DOES affect the success of BF (whether you believe it or not it does) and that for mothers who truly want to BF, but are undermined by formula and how much it is pushed it is upsetting. The nursing staff is just as easily uneducated on the realities of BF infants and the difficulties of starting a supply as any other person, and therefore are quick to hand a struggling mother a bottle of formula when really what she needs is a LC. Breast milk is best (no one, even the formula companies, deny that fact) and hospitals are filled with medical staff to offer you the best care they can, and that would be BFing assistance, not formula samples. So, they should be offering lots of support to mothers who WANT to breastfeed, and giving formula to mothers who WANT to FF while in the hospital.

Perhaps the issue is with the nursing staff, but the issue with the nursing staff is eliminated if the formula is not passed out like gift bags when you leave, and there is no reasonable excuse for why they are handing out goody bags of formula anyway. A new mother, tired and recovering, should not be inundated with ads from anyone (similac, enfamil, etc.). Would you find it acceptable for Carter's reps to be offering up the latest onesies and Graco reps dropping in your room to offer the newest carseat to drive home with? Because it is the same issue. The hospital wouldn't be stating that Carter's onesies are superior, or that Graco carseats are safer, they would simply be "offering" them for free to their patients.  

This all boils down to new mothers being annoyed that they are not going to get free stuff. This is not about FF mothers being harassed TO BF. This is about hospitals being dedicated to the health and welfare of new mothers and babies, and the healthiest option is BF (void of extenuating circumstances such as medications etc. which is why formula is present at the hospital for mothers who actively choose to FF) which was being undermined by the hospitals also playing as representatives for formula companies.  If you want to FF, no one should make you feel badly, and if you want to BF, no one should make you feel superior, but either choice should fall on your pocket book.  

 

All I was saying is that formula is going to be there regardless of whether its free or not. And all hospitals are different. My sister delivered at the same hospital as me, she BF and was never once offered or given a goody bag of formula. They only have it to those who asked for it or specified that they would be FF. so again, the issue relies with hospital practice. Not formula itself. Which brings me back to my original point that a hospital that has formula in stock , even if they may give it away free, is not going to be the cause of someone choosing to FF over BF. that's obviously assuming the staff doesn't push it, which they shouldn't. That is no different than staff members laying guilt in women who choose to FF.

And this is why the "hospital practice" is being changed. Because the practice of handing out samples to new mothers DOES effect BF success and that is far from ideal. Giving it away free DOES cause some women to fold under the pressure of BF.  The nursing staff is not usually made up of LC, and therefore when they see a mother struggling, they often hand them formula. No one has said that the hospital should NOT have formula in stock.  I have said this very clearly at least three different times in specific response to you, I even linked an article of the NY Times discussing the reasons behind the practice of sample handouts. If you don't want to believe the reality there is nothing that can be done. NOT giving a FF mother free formula is not "laying guilt on women who choose to FF", it is simply NOT giving them free formula. No one offered me a free BF bra when I checked out and you don't hear me complaining about that.

acesup

Chocodoxies:

piglet6609:

Chocodoxies:

piglet6609:

your issue is with the nurse, not with the presence of formula. should the nurses push formula on you? no. should they have pushed BF on me? no. that's an issue to take up with the hospital and nursing staff. I'm not saying the hospital should be giving away free formula and sending it home, however, a FF baby is their patient and a hospital is required to feed their patients. there is always going to be a presence. the staff should not be pushing it if women want to BF.  

 I am not intending to sound snarky, but if this is your true intent with your original comment it seems out of place on this thread. No one here has said that the hospitals should deny formula completely. This whole thread is about bringing home formula and free samples. The link to your original comment is that offering formula so readily DOES affect the success of BF (whether you believe it or not it does) and that for mothers who truly want to BF, but are undermined by formula and how much it is pushed it is upsetting. The nursing staff is just as easily uneducated on the realities of BF infants and the difficulties of starting a supply as any other person, and therefore are quick to hand a struggling mother a bottle of formula when really what she needs is a LC. Breast milk is best (no one, even the formula companies, deny that fact) and hospitals are filled with medical staff to offer you the best care they can, and that would be BFing assistance, not formula samples. So, they should be offering lots of support to mothers who WANT to breastfeed, and giving formula to mothers who WANT to FF while in the hospital.

Perhaps the issue is with the nursing staff, but the issue with the nursing staff is eliminated if the formula is not passed out like gift bags when you leave, and there is no reasonable excuse for why they are handing out goody bags of formula anyway. A new mother, tired and recovering, should not be inundated with ads from anyone (similac, enfamil, etc.). Would you find it acceptable for Carter's reps to be offering up the latest onesies and Graco reps dropping in your room to offer the newest carseat to drive home with? Because it is the same issue. The hospital wouldn't be stating that Carter's onesies are superior, or that Graco carseats are safer, they would simply be "offering" them for free to their patients.  

This all boils down to new mothers being annoyed that they are not going to get free stuff. This is not about FF mothers being harassed TO BF. This is about hospitals being dedicated to the health and welfare of new mothers and babies, and the healthiest option is BF (void of extenuating circumstances such as medications etc. which is why formula is present at the hospital for mothers who actively choose to FF) which was being undermined by the hospitals also playing as representatives for formula companies.  If you want to FF, no one should make you feel badly, and if you want to BF, no one should make you feel superior, but either choice should fall on your pocket book.  

 

All I was saying is that formula is going to be there regardless of whether its free or not. And all hospitals are different. My sister delivered at the same hospital as me, she BF and was never once offered or given a goody bag of formula. They only have it to those who asked for it or specified that they would be FF. so again, the issue relies with hospital practice. Not formula itself. Which brings me back to my original point that a hospital that has formula in stock , even if they may give it away free, is not going to be the cause of someone choosing to FF over BF. that's obviously assuming the staff doesn't push it, which they shouldn't. That is no different than staff members laying guilt in women who choose to FF.

And this is why the "hospital practice" is being changed. Because the practice of handing out samples to new mothers DOES effect BF success and that is far from ideal. Giving it away free DOES cause some women to fold under the pressure of BF.  The nursing staff is not usually made up of LC, and therefore when they see a mother struggling, they often hand them formula. No one has said that the hospital should NOT have formula in stock.  I have said this very clearly at least three different times in specific response to you, I even linked an article of the NY Times discussing the reasons behind the practice of sample handouts. If you don't want to believe the reality there is nothing that can be done. NOT giving a FF mother free formula is not "laying guilt on women who choose to FF", it is simply NOT giving them free formula. No one offered me a free BF bra when I checked out and you don't hear me complaining about that.

i agree with you, i just don't think the fact that it is free really matters. Those nurses can still push it and offer it if it's not. Like I said, for me personally, it doesn't matter if it's free. when i gave birth to DD it was. when my sister gave birth to her baby it was, and like i said, she wasn't offered it once even when she struggled. i dont know if its free or not now. i will pay for it. i'll bring my own if i have to.  

i also did NOT say that not giving formula out for free is laying guilt on FF mothers. I was pointing out that nurses/hospital staff do that (with comments and dirty looks, etc), in a way to compare how they push formula on BF mothers. both of those are wrong. 

i think we've gone way off the original point of this post and perhaps got into debate where maybe we both missed each others points.  

 

Chocodoxies

piglet6609:

i agree with you, i just don't think the fact that it is free really matters. Those nurses can still push it and offer it if it's not. Like I said, for me personally, it doesn't matter if it's free. when i gave birth to DD it was. when my sister gave birth to her baby it was, and like i said, she wasn't offered it once even when she struggled. i dont know if its free or not now. i will pay for it. i'll bring my own if i have to.  

i also did NOT say that not giving formula out for free is laying guilt on FF mothers. I was pointing out that nurses/hospital staff do that (with comments and dirty looks, etc), in a way to compare how they push formula on BF mothers. both of those are wrong. 

i think we've gone way off the original point of this post and perhaps got into debate where maybe we both missed each others points.  

 

I agree, this is completely off point. If you knew that changing a hospital policy would stop the nursing staff from making negative comments and giving dirty looks, would you feel that the hospital policy should be implemented?  The fact is this FF/BF debate has gotten so heated (not this thread but the topic in general) that FF mothers feel that others are passing judgement on them for what they choose, and BF mothers feel the same. It is ridiculous! If FF is what you choose, that is fine and the same with BF. I would love for one person to walk onto a playground and accurately point out to me the children that were FF vs. BF. It can't be done!  

So back to the topic at hand, hospitals are not the place for a marketing ploy. There should not be "free samples" handed out to anyone for any reason. BF mothers should be given information and support. FF mothers should be given information and support.  Handing out support to a BF mother does not effect the success of a FF mother, however handing out free formula to mothers DOES effect the success of a BF mother, and that is the opposite of what a medical hospital is aiming for.  So, no free crap for anyone. End of problem.

SarahBBowers

chocodoxies is a smart one

Lariah14

Bliss+Berry:

ehicks:

I signed up on the Similac and Enfamil websites so I could start getting checks and samples. I'm not sure how often they bring you formula in the hospital now. I'm assuming they'll give me whatever I want, how could you say no? I'll try to send some home with DH when he leaves each day. I also know they kept bottles, blankets, diapers, pads and wipes in cabinets outside the rooms, maybe I can sneak some supplies out of there too. We totally filled a bag with DD but the nurse told us to haha I'm just sad they won't give out the sample cans anymore... They only have the little individual bottles. I'll ask my OB what the hospital provides and if there's a brand they try first and go from there.

Wow.  If you are that hard up that you need to steal blankets, diapers and wipes perhaps a second baby was not a wise choice.  If you are seriously relying on free formula from the hospital, maybe you should apply for WIC.

Can't be that hard up - she just got her *second* Kate Spade diaper bag for baby #2.

 

ehicks:

I just got my second Kate Spade diaper bag. I had one with DD and used it so much its starting to frey on the straps. So I got a new one for christmas and its amazing. I got a nylon, easy to wipe clean. Its huge inside and has space for bottles and seperate partss for diapers and wipes. Also.... Stroller straps!!!! These are awesome. Some bags don't have them so make sure you look for them. Makes it wayyyy easier to hook onto your stroller without having to buy hooks. And its secure. Coach bags are super nice, just get a good washable material. But I'm 100 percent about the Kate Spade!

 https://community.thebump.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/70936091.aspx