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Babies: 0 - 3 Months
MrsF2007
member
What do you wish you knew then?
MrsF2007
member
I know this is silly, but I am just realizing things like using any Free and Clear detergent is okay (Dreft is not a must) and baby wipes can be avoided for the first month by using cotton balls or other cloths.
These are things I guess I did not realize. What other little tips do you have for a soon-to-be mama so I don't break the bank on unneccessary items?? TIA!
These are things I guess I did not realize. What other little tips do you have for a soon-to-be mama so I don't break the bank on unneccessary items?? TIA!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: What do you wish you knew then?
Cotton balls are NOT gonna cut it with infant poop. LOL. You will want wipes.
The most important piece of advice I can give you is to soak in each and every day, no matter how sleep deprived you feel in the beginning. The teeny tiny infant stage is oh-so short, and they change before your very eyes (literally). And don't buy much in the way of clothes. I end up doing at least one load of DS's laundry a week, and they outgrow especially the newborn and 0-3 size extraordinarily quickly.
bottle warmers/wipe warmers are unecessary and a waste of money.
my pack and play was a total waste of money. we used it all but 2 times. it now sits in a garage and collects dust. IMO, buy a cheap PnP they are more simple and easy to assemble, and less heavy.
This is a given but dont buy tons of newborn sizes. DD wore newborn for about 1.5 weeks. Dont waste your money on the cutesy outfits in sz NB, save them for when they can get a little more wear out of them.
Stock up on tonnnns of burp clothes. We use them frequently its so gross using a burp cloth that smells like spit up. Probably worst smell, ever.
A regular blanket works just as well as a tummy time mat.
Rolled up towels work perfectly for tummy time pillows.
You don't need to do tummy time on the floor, works just as well on you (and is more fun for both!).
Bottles at room temp are just fine, but if you want to and you're not BFing, you can, in fact, warm in the microwave (30 seconds, shake really well, test on your wrist first).
An infant car seat with a rocking base works better than a bouncy seat or swing.
Frozen wash cloths make the best teethers.
Playtex Drop ins rock.
You don't have to change every pee pee diaper or use diaper cream at every change.
You can use powder if you want.
Vinegar makes a fabulous fabric softener (1/4 cup in your fabric softener dispenser in your washer).
It is worth.every.penny. to get a video or angelcare monitor. Peace of mind is priceless.
No need for bottle warmer. DS takes his bottles room temp.
Be prepared for the baby blues. If they don't happen then good for you, but know that it's ok to cry for no reason. Let your SO know that your hormones will be very off for the first 2 mo. That was tough for me. But it's way better now!
Don't buy so many newborn size outfits. DS wore 0-3 for the first month and a half and 3 months the rest of the time. I am now dressing him in 6 mo.
Enjoy your baby! It's a ton of work, but the best job you'll ever have.
I'm the opposite of the girls who say don't buy newborn size! Ellie was 8 lb. 5 oz., 20" at birth and NONE of her 0-3 months clothes fit her until after a month! I had no newborn clothes at home b/c EVERYONE told me not to buy them since 'they won't wear them'! So I say buy yourself at least a few NB size clothes to get you started just in case - like I said, I ended up using them for over a month!
I also wish I knew that not all babies are natural nappers - I just assumed that newborns slept A LOT during the day. Not the case for my little darling! I would have saved myself a lot of tears and frustrations if I had prepared myself for that!
I have never used my wipe warmer or bottle warmer. A playmat and bouncer are a must. A small, travel swing would have worked as well and been cheaper and taken up less space then our big swing. You can never have too many onesies and burp clothes. Experiment with diapers until you find the right one.
I don't think cotton balls would work, wipes are a must. Kroger makes a generic Dreft and Purex makes a hypoallergenic baby detergent. Both have worked fine for DD. Dreft is freaking expensive.