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3rd Trimester
anvloveskme
member
Gear questions? 2nd time mommies please come in
anvloveskme
member
There are sooo many decisions to make - please come in on anything you have advice on below:
1. Bouncy seat and Swing? I went ahead a purchased both a bouncy/vibrating seat ($60) and a 2 ways swing (side to side cradle style and front to back, on sale for $110), both are the same brand and a friend suggested that I might not need both...thoughts on this?
2. Bob owners - do you also have a travel system style stroller too, or did you just purchase the Bob car seat adapter and use that while the baby was smaller (the Bob seems a bit overwhelming for a small infant and we planned to use it once she gets bigger)?
3. Crib Sheets/Sheet Savers - how many did you buy?
4. Video Monitor - please recommend yours...we have a 3 story townhouse, so we want a nice one (there are soooo many to choose from with dramatically varying prices!)
5. Breast pump - I am going with a Madela, but don't know which model (Pump in style advanced = $279.99, Freestyle handsfree $379.99, and I think there is a model in between the two for $329.99).
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Re: Gear questions? 2nd time mommies please come in
As far as the swing and vibrating bouncy seat...I definitely used both and found them both very valuable.
Pump...I have Medela Pump in Style, which works very well. They didn't have the hands-free version when I bought mine, though, and that sounds intriguing, but expensive.
1. We definitely used both the bouncy seat and swing when Zachary was an infant. I'm sure we will this time too - we're now in a two story house so we'll probably keep the swing downstairs and the bouncy seat upstairs. Some babies hate one or the other though... it just depends on what they like.
2. I looooove our BOB and we still use it almost every day. We used a snap & go when Zachary was still in the infant seat. The BOB is a little bit cumbersome when they are so little. I highly recommend checking out the snap & go instead of a travel system.
3. We had about four crib sheets that we changed regularly and didn't bother with sheet savers.
4. We didn't have a video monitor for Zachary, but I'm hoping to get one before #2 arrives.
5. I'm going with the Medela PISA. I hated my Ameda pump last time. It broke so I had to replace it for this baby and I've only heard good things about the PISA.
1. I used both the bouncy chair and swing with DD. They both were very useful for us. We even had a travel swing which I loved to take to friends/family's house.
2. I don't have a bob
3. I have three crib sheets and only one sheet saver. I never really used the sheet saver.
4. I don't have a video monitor.
5. I have the pump in style which I really like. I bought it from the hospital after having DD.
I used both the bouncy seat and the swing every day. I could not have surrived the first 5 months without the swing. And I had a bouncy seat on each level of my house for when I needed to put her down to do things.
I had about 4 crib sheets, but I used the sheet savers, so I didn't have to change the sheet every time there was a leak (which actually wasn't very often). I was so much easier to just change that thing out every day/other day and then do the sheet once a week or as needed.
Video monitor- I have 2 Summer models. I don't know the model names, but the first one has a more bulky handheld. It lasted us over 2 years of frequent use before it became a little fuzzy. We use that one at my parents' house now. Our new one is another Summer and it also works well. This one has a little knob so you can pan around the room-- good for when my daughter is in her room alone (not napping) and I want to keep an eye on her. Obviously not necessary for a newborn, though.
Breast pump- I have the Medela PISA. The hands-free was not available when I bought mine, but I may upgrade to the hands-free this time around if my insurance company will reimburse for it. Otherwise, the PISA did the job well.
A- 09/2006 I- 04/2010 N- 04/2012 M & G- 01/2014
1. We had both the bouncer and the swing. Both were used regularly. The bouncer allowed me to shower and get dressed in the morning. The swing helped her nap sometimes.
2. n/a we didn't have a BOB. We had a Graco travel system and though they're bulky I did love it. The stroller is still used almost daily on our walks and is still holding up like new after almost 2 years and 3 round trips through airports (they're not exactly gentle with your gear!).
3. 4-5 sheets. No sheet savers. We just put a waterproof cover on the mattress and changed the sheet if need be (yes, it's a PITA in the middle of the night but that only happened 2 or 3 times).
4. Just bought a Summer video monitor. It's the one with the 7" screen. We've been using it with our toddler and have decided to keep using it with the toddler until baby starts to really roll/move in her crib. We got by with just a regular monitor for the first 21 months of DD's life.
5. I have a Medela single electric pump. It worked for me because I'm a SAHM. I've heard great things about the PISA.
1. Bouncy seat and Swing? It's so hard to say. Some babies love both, some love one or the other and some hate both. Is there one you like more than the other? Do you have room for both? If you're hoping to return one, see if you can borrow a swing or bouncer from someone to see what your LO likes. Mine wasn't a huge fan of the swing but loved her bouncer.
2. I don't have a BOB but we do have a travel system. We opted to use the snap n go for the first 6 months or so and it was great. SO much lighter and easier to use. LOVE LOVE LOVE the snap n go!
3. Crib Sheets/Sheet Savers - I think we have 5 crib sheets.
5. Breast pump - I have the Medela pump in style advanced and it was great.
1. Bouncy seat and Swing? We had both. We mainly used our bouncer. The swing we got as a gift and she couldn't sit in it until she was sitting up (type of seat it was). We're considering getting a 2 way swing for this one to use earlier. Like pp said, some babies don't like the swing and some do. We lived without it with DD, but I don't know if that is possible with 2 kids.
2. Bob owners - No Bob. We have the Chicco Cortina Travel System and loved it. Will use again with DS.
3. Crib Sheets/Sheet Savers - We had 4 and no sheet saver. Just a waterproof matress pad.
4. Video Monitor - Didn't use one.
5. Breast pump - I have the Medela Pump in Style Advance and loved it. I will use it again with DS.
I had bouncers and/or a swing set up in every "station" of the house. Laundry room, living room, bedroom, bathroom etc. I used them all and it was great having a place to put DS wherever I was (we also have a 3 story house).
I think I had 3 crib sheets but I never had an issue with sheet savers. DS really didn't wet through very often.
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Ditto! We got different kinds though. The swing is the papasan, comfy and soothing. the bouncey seat is the Rainforest one, more active than soothing. One was good for awake time and one was good for sleepy time! The swing stayed downstairs and was a break for me since DS only slept in our arms or the swing! The bouncey seat I kept in my bathroom so I could shower, get ready for the day and keep him occupied.
1. Bouncy seat and Swing?
We had both. The swing was much needed in my house and DS slept there for many many naps. The bouncer was great to travel with and to bring from room to room as needed. I also would have DS in it when I would take a shower.
2. Bob owners:
We had the car seat adapter for the many many many walks we took around the park and on nearby trails. For trips to the store or mall I used the snap and go. So much lighter and easier to maneuver when your on the go.
3. Crib Sheets/Sheet Savers:
We had 4 sheets and two waterproof mattress pads. I didn't use sheet savers. DS never once leaked or had a blowout. We mostly changed them from spit-up. DS had reflux.
4. Video Monitor:
We have the Summer Infant Day & Night Video Monitor. After seeing so many of my friends with them I wanted one. I actually thought they were a waste for when you have a baby but as they get older and are fussing as they go down to sleep it would be hard to tell if when DS were yelling he needed me or was just laying down whining. I liked that I could look on the monitor rather than going in and risking waking DS. It is also great now that DS is in a twin bed. I can look and see if he is out of his bed without going in the room. I wish I had just spent the money from the start. In case you are interested it is on major sale through amazon right now. Linky
5.Breast pump: I didn't own a pump but instead rented a hospital grade one.
Good Luck with everything!
Awesome - thanks for the link...that is actually the one we registered for at BRU and it is still $179.99 there, so I went ahead and ordered it and got free shipping for $112.99 Woo Hoo!
1. Bouncy seat and Swing? we started with just a bouncy... she was perfectly happy in it and lived in it. But then we went to a friend's house and she used the swing and just smiled and giggled the whole time, so we bought one when she was 3 months. She loved lounging in it, but not all babies love the swing.
2. Bob owners - I don't have a Bob, but if you have one I would NOT get a travel system. Maybe a snap n go or just the adapter.
3. Crib Sheets/Sheet Savers - We have only used 2 or 3 sheets and one sheet saver.
4. Video Monitor - we don't have one.
5. Breast pump - I got the PISA. Local breastfeeding shops will usually have them at better prices.