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What do we really need for first baby?
I am wondering what we actually need for a newborn. I have people tell me that I need everything...playpen, bouncy seat, swing, boppy, jumpy seat, bumbo etc. What is realistic? We are on a somewhat limited budget so I don't want to go crazy yet there are so many things out there I am unsure I really do need. It begins to get a little overwhelming.
Thanks for the advice!
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Re: What do we really need for first baby?
I personally think Bumbos are a waste. By the time they are able to support their head to sit in it, they are too squrimy to not wiggle out! We did use our swing, and the bouncy seat worked for like 2 weeks. But some swear by them. I also never used a pack and play.
Things like a highchair can wait until they are older, cause you won't use it right away anyhow.
This is my first as well, but I used this:
https://alphamom.com/pregnancy/pregnancy-calendar/week-twenty-three/
for my registry (click on the baby registry checklist at the bottom for the full checklist, not just the feeding part). I still pick and chose things that I considered needs/wants from her list, but I thought it was really helpful in narrowing down all the stuff!
Good luck!
Eliot. Born 6/18/10
Missed m/c discovered 1/6/12 at 8-9 weeks
D&C 1/10/12
My Blog
I'm sure you'll get a ton of this stuff for presents...but here is what we use on a daily basis:
- crib & PNP. The crib is in his room and he just transitioned to it this week. The PNP is in our room and I put him in there in the early morning hours or when I am showering, etc.
- swing & bouncy seat. You could get away with one or the other. I would go swing over bouncy seat, I think.
- car seat
- boppy - huge help if you nurse. If not, you might not need it. But, DH loves it when holding DS.
- pump if you are BFing.
I've got two dd and never used a swing, bumpo seat or high chair w/either one. Depends on your pediatrician, but most are anti-jumperoo (hangs in a doorway) due to the possibility of baby falling out and breaking bones. We skipped that too. Both girls loved their bouncy seats! I also used my boppy for both breastfeeding and bottle feeding, as well as, a prop for when they weren't quite sitting up on their own yet. When we started solids, I bought a Fisher Price convertible booster that strapped to a regular dining room chair. As my oldest grew, we adjusted it so it was upright and removed the upper part of the chair. We did use our pack n play, but have out of town family and used it largely when we went to visit them. Some of my friends also bring theirs along on play dates so the baby can nap. Mine just napped in the infant seat. I didn't use a Baby Bjorn carrier w/my first, but find it very useful now that I have two. As far as the travel system stroller, it's handy the first 6 mos or until baby can sit up, after that, I found an umbrella stroller to be the easiest to use. The Combi system is smaller and lighter than most, so that may be a better option, if you think you want the travel system. We ended up with four strollers (travel system, jogging, regular and umbrella) and used the umbrella the most. Finally, for baths, rather than buy a baby tub that sits in your bathtub or on the counter, Target and BRU sell little foam sponge-like mats that you put in your tub for bathtime. They're super cheap and keep baby from sliding away when they're infants and can be used to keep them steady once they're sitting on their own. Better yet, they're disposable when baby gets older. One less thing to store!
If you are having a shower, I'd register for everything you think you need/want and then wait and see what you get. You can fill in as needed after baby arrives. Good luck!
The "bible" of baby stuff is the book Baby Bargains. Seriously worth the money especially if you go to half.com and get a used one. I did NOT actually use their "ratings" of products and I found most of the stuff they like to be expensive or risky because it was all web-based or in small stores across the country.
But it gave me confidence and that's what you're looking for. I went to Babies R Us before reading the book and was horrified. I went after, and I was so relaxed...knowing I barely needed ANYTHING lol
You really don't need much. My son LIVED in his swing but hated the bouncy seat and slings. My girl wasn't that into her swing but LOVED her sling. We never had a high chair, ever, for either kid. We got the Fisher Price Healthy Booster seat that sits on a regular chair. We took it everywhere and it was so awesome! (And crazy cheap.)
I tell you what I have used on a regular basis.
1) Boppy - DD hung out in it all the time for the first 2 months. I would put her in it while we hung out on the couch. She is using it now to support herself while learning to sit up.
2) Swing - My lifesaver, she loves her swing. It calms her and it is a safe place to put her while I get chores done.
3) Activty Mat - It entertains her and helps with tummy time and her development.
4) Car seat/Stroller - I have a travel system and love it. I have heard some people really don't like them. I would play with them at the store and see what you like.
5) Travel Lite Crib - We co-sleep and the Travel Lite Crib is a good fit in our room (it is half the size of a PnP).
I rarely use:
1) Bumbo - It isn't very partical for any use right now. I sit her in it from time to time because she likes to sit up and look around.
2) Bouncer - She likes it ok, but we never use it. Some babies like their swing and some like the bouncer.
3) Pack-n-Play - We have used it once in almost 4 months. I think it will only be useful when we travel.
We don't have a jumper or an exersaucer yet. I figured I would buy these things as she grows into them.
We have the Fisher Price Space Saver high chair. It is inexpensive and doesn't take up much space.
We havn't bought a convertible carseat yet either. They have expiration dates so we won't buy one until we are ready to move her into it.
my read shelf:
1. crib 2. carseat 3. diapers 4. bottles (even if breastfeeding nice to have a few 5. crib sheets 6. a nice stroller--can be cheap as long as you like it 7. infant bath tub 8. large bag/purse to use for a diaper bag 9. a good camera--lets' face it mommies take a lot of pictures!
things that i liked and used with both kids--swing, bouncy seat, boppy (it makes a great back support/pillow for me as well as support for feeding baby and sitting baby up--or holding baby). changing table. i really liked a mirror for the back seat of the car so i could keep an eye on baby. hats--wide brim for summer-warmer ones for winter--gotta protect that baby.
I rarely use the pack and play (my mom and sister felt we had to have one), I do use the bumbo--works great for when just starting to eat solids and when almost sitting, but not yet totally on their own--plus it is like a traveling booster seat!
fisher price space save high chair--converts to a booster seat and attaches right to a dining/kitchen chair
there is so much but you almost have to think back to what did grandma need or even mom need to raise you--basics
We use our baby papasan ( a type of bouncy chair) a ton as baby napped or sat in there a lot when he was't in his crib. We used the space saver high chair which sits on a regular chair and loved it- was cheaper and easy to travel with.
It was ncie to have a jumperoo and exersaucer- you will probably want something along this line but won't need it until baby is around 4 months old. Bumbo came in handy a few times but could have lived without it. My DS hated the swing even though I had a bunch of people tell me we needed it.
I wouldn't buy new on most of these items if you are on a budget. You will proably get some as shower gift and then do JBF sales, craigslist, garage sales or even Once Upon a Child to get good deals. Our baby papasan and jumperoo were both used and worked just fine.
Just to add another need: a Moby. This has been our lifesaver.
Something you might not need: a pack n play. We have used ours once, ever. We have a small house and I've never seen any need for one.
Blog: Baby Mama's Drama
Hi, although I am a first-time mom, I can tell you
the #1 thing you need is love. That will be natural, I'm sure.
The #2 thing is patience. I'll have to pray for alot of that as I like to sleep.
#3 maybe diapers? wipes?
I honestly think the rest while nice, is not NEEDED. Wanted, but not needed. I am living in a 3rd world nation where I will be having our 1st child, and I just found out our carseat and pack n play (which will be the only sleeping surface, changing surface, etc appropiate for our baby) will not be arriving by the time he does! These were my bare minimums... but apparently, I do not need them either. Women all over the world do without all these lovely things every day. Although I would feel safer bringing our son home in a carseat rather than in my arms, we work with what we're given!
A little different, but I hope that helps!