Suggestions for must-have's?

urbanflowerpot · February 2011

K, so my next question is what were your new mommy must have's? There is so much out there and I'm trying to weed out the fluff from things that are essential. I shop at my second hand store mostly so if I see something awesome for the first year of life, I grab it. Anything past one year I'm holding off because our apartment has zero storage space (just creative placement).

I'm putting together my registry because the girls at work are going to have something for me, but I don't want frivolous things. Remember, welfare mommy! I don't need bottle snuggly covers or things like that Wink

M.Amy · February 2011

Look on Craigs List for the big-ticket items for sale as well as their free section.

The priciest item I would recommend is the Little Lamb Swing from Fisher Price

https://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Cradle-Swing-Little/dp/B0018Z6910/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1296775748&sr=8-1

After that a jumper when LO is older (important to enable showering/cooking while LO is awake)

https://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-K6070-Rainforest-Jumperoo/dp/B000I2UJ0Q/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1296775799&sr=1-1

You can by-pass swaddle-me type products by buying hospital blankets at Good Will and learning to swaddle. But swaddling is so important.

Oh and you don't need an expensive high chair. We did (and do) great with this booster seat:

https://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Healthy-Deluxe-Booster-White/dp/B001GQ2RWQ/ref=pd_sim_ba_29

A white noise machine is important but you can make do with an old radio turned to static. I did that in my car all of the time.

This is great for tummy time (and cheap)

https://www.amazon.com/Earlyears-Fill-Fun-Water-Mat/dp/B000E82WRM/ref=sr_1_24?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1296776253&sr=1-24

Some sort of activity mat:

https://www.amazon.com/Tiny-Love-Gymini-Sunny-Activity/dp/B002ONUZMY/ref=sr_1_22?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1296776253&sr=1-22

urbanflowerpot · February 2011

Wait, so this might be a dumb question, but: if I swaddle with receiving blankets (I have a bunch from the thrift shop) do I need those sleepsack things or is that basically the same?

I'm rusty in my swaddling techniques, but I'll pick it up again.

These are some great suggestions - I'll look more closely in a bit, but wanted to ask that while it was on my mind.

PS I do check Craigslist/freecycle, but not having a car makes it hard. Most of the stuff seems to be located in the suburbs...but I do keep an eye out!

M.Amy · February 2011

The sleep sacks are different. The sleep sacks replace a blanket (that you would put over your LO to keep him warm). The swaddle blankets would replace those Swaddling helpers or as my MIL calls them Baby straight jackets:

https://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=swaddle+me&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=3567728053083829332&ei=5kJLTbvXJML38AaoxMzLDg&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDsQ8wIwAg#

Sorry they are not clicky but I am on a MAC.

I had my DS in the summer so I didn't need the sleep sacks for a long time. A friend did use them instead of a onesie and said they were so easy to change diapers in the middle of the night.

Peppernut · February 2011

Some kind of baby bathtub is really nice to have, especially if your kitchen sink just isn't going to cut it. I found that trying to wash Margaux without one when she was really little was nerve-wracking and slippery, I loved being able to put her down with a bit of support while I washed her. We had this tub, but it might be bulky for you...

https://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Precious-Planet-Whale-Tub/dp/B0018Z8CN8

I have a friend who prefers this to the ergo:

https://www.babyhawk.com/Shop/InstockCarriers/

But I love my ergo.

stever · February 2011

Top of my list is burp cloths and swaddling blankets. DS wasn't refluxy or particularly barfy but he still went through several burp cloths and blankets per day.

I BF'd so I found my Boppy invaluable - DS's word for nursing was 'bop.'

Lots and lots of onesies, not so many 'outfits.'

Sophie!

Lots of people swear by baby crack machines but DS never really responded to them after the first few uses.

Happy shopping!

urbanflowerpot · February 2011

Ohh, yes: baby burrito makers! I found a miracle blanket at the thrift stop for 99 whole cents, and didn't quite see how it was different than a swaddle wrap. Now I know: it isn't!

Baby bath, yes, got one!

I'm glad you said onsies because I was starting to wonder if I had too many We have to go to the laundromat, so I figured having extra-extra was probably best.

The Baby Hawk!! How funny that you should mention that - it's one of only a couple items that I want new Also, I think Robyn is still sending me her k'tan. I still plan to BW!

Boppy, got it. My social worker brought me one the other day - and I found a nice used one (again, double because no washer/dryer). When I worked at a daycare center those things were hot...all the babies loved them, and I also plan to BF.

vanverth · February 2011

You will find that different people had different must-haves. I loved my swaddlers. I used them until it was just silly (Michael was 6 months old). They worked when the blankets got too small. I only had two and because he was a summer baby he would sleep in a diaper and a swaddler. To get him to fall asleep all I had to do was hold his legs in close.

Ditto on the Little Lamb Swing.

The plastic chains that you use to hang/link together toys. I would hang a couple of toys on Michaels' baby car seat and he would look at them and when he got older, chew on them. Bright Starts (wal-mart) makes a lion and a elephant that have a stuffed head and legs with a flat crinkley body that he would chew on for hours.

superaunt · February 2011

Must have's for me for 0-3 months:

miracle blanket/swaddlers/receiving blankets

Seahorse

onesies, rompers, sleepsacks (basically one piece items)

pacifiers

Boppy is nice but you could use pillows in case

Moby wrap- or some carrier that is suitable for newborns that will allow you the closeness of holding yet free your hands

diapers & wipes

baby bathtub

swing or bouncy chair

bottles

ETA: the book BABY 411

BrideBuddies · February 2011

There were only a few items I'd say were "Must Haves." So far, I think you're very smart in your shopping. I know how tempting it is to want to buy all kinds of stuff. But 99% of the crap you see.. you don't really need.

Multi-purpose changing pads. They're those thick, heavyweight semi-water resistant cotton pads. I use during all diaper changes and under his sheets to ward off leaks. They will definitely save you on laundering sheets all the time.

Plain cotton diapers as burp/spitup cloths. I even went out and bought more of them because I use them for EVERYTHING.. napkins, barf wipe-up, etc.

A Fisher Price Seahorse is really the only "toy" I'd suggest. They run about $12 at Walmart, but it's been invaluable to get the boy to sleep!!

As for the pricey stuff.. I never had a changing table.. I use the futon/sofa/bed etc and it works just fine. I didn't have a pack-n-play, either, but we had been given a used bassinet for his first 3 months, then went straight into a crib. You should be fine if you just get a p-n-p.

Swings and jumpers are nice to have, but don't spend money until you can "test run" your kid in one. Lots of little ones don't like them at all (mine included.)

pa_kris · February 2011

BrideBuddies:

Multi-purpose changing pads. They're those thick, heavyweight semi-water resistant cotton pads. I use during all diaper changes and under his sheets to ward off leaks. They will definitely save you on laundering sheets all the time.

Oooo - I 2nd the multi-purpose pads. We still use these when changing my 1 1/2 year old's diaper. DD was also a spitter - when she was little I would put one over a sheet and layer another sheet on top for sleeping. This made middle of the night sheet changes easy - just remove top sheet and waterproof changing pad if she had spit up in her pnp or crib.

Cloth diapers and bibs were also invaluable for quick cleanups of spit-up and drool. I think pp's have the other essentials covered.

BrideBuddies · February 2011

Oh.. when it comes to bibs... try to avoid velcro closed ones. By now, pretty much every one of C's velcro bibs is so compromised, they don't really secure anymore. Get Snap ones instead... much longer life to them.

ateytelb · February 2011

Looks like everything is covered, but did anyone mention a rocking chair?

Piranha54 · February 2011

Ellie was a winter baby and receiving blankets were fine for a few weeks, but we really loved the halo swaddle sacs - and yes, they're baby straight jackets. I agree not really that many must haves, but I hated the boppy and love the MyBrestFriend pillow. Worst name ever, I know, but it was great. And if you plan to breast feed, get several tubes of lanolin. We had a graco swing and it was a life saver - and ours had a white noise option on it, so we never had a baby crack machine (you can also find white noise tracks online for free and download to an mp3 player which is what we do now for her at night). Ellie loves, loves, loves the lamaze moose, firefly and something else...these might be nice on a registry since they're relatively inexpensive. I also got things like a high chair for my mom's, the swing, exersaucer, jumper, etc at the resale shops. And here, almost all of the 'burbs' early childhood PTA's do amazing sales - great for clothes and toys. Oh, and register for some board books!

fiazo · February 2011

A bouncy chair was my most valuable must have. I would take her from room to room, if I shower she's in the bathroom, cooking, in the kitchen. She really liked it, especially with the vibration. I'd even take it to my mom;s.

The jumperoo was fantastic for her but it does take up alot of room. I actually just put it away 2 months ago. I got my money's worth out of that.

Stroller...really do research on this. I have the Chicco sroller system, a lightweight MacLaren & a jogger stroller (from my sister). Do I need 3? Definitely not.

1CINCYGIRL · February 2011

Def something to rock the baby. We wanted to rock baby in living room so we bought a rocker/recliner off craigs list for $50. We never used those thick mats to catch leaks- We just tried different diapers until we found one that didn't leak. Babies r us brand diapers are in my opinion the best bang for your buck. Congrats on the new baby.

urbanflowerpot · February 2011

This is all *such* good information!! Thank you so much! didn't have a chance to read the rest of the responses until today. Lots to ponder, and I feel like I'm on the right track so that's encouraging! I may need to make room for a rocker/glider (didn't mention our apt is a one bedroom, small, city-thing) by getting rid of my cute diner chairs (no room for kitchen table). I can't imagine not rocking an infant!

So many great thoughts - thank you all SO much!!!

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