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2nd Trimester
Liz5663
member
Can't live without items!
Liz5663
member
I am a first timer and amplanning to do most my shopping over the next month, before the 95+ degree heat and third trimester exhaustion. I am looking for advice and suggestions on what items you have found that you (and/or your baby) can't live without.
THANKS!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Can't live without items!
Baby Bargains is a great resource for weeding out unnecessary items. That being said, I pumped when I went back to work. Often in the car. The Medela PISA car adaptor was a must for me. Otherwise: lingerie bag for socks and mittens so they didn't get lost, gowns are great-- you just pull them up and change the diaper so no fumbling around in the middle of the night, lansinoh (buy in bulk), a blanket for you in the colder months while you feed LO in the middle of the night, our PNP with the bassinet attachment, bumbo baby seat (with or without tray), 2 bottle drying racks, extra bottle cleaner brushes (the tip always tears off so you need multiple), rubbing alcohol to clean your pump tubing when your milk gets sucked into it, Bravado nursing bras and tanks, a regular trash can for diapers is sufficient-- believe me it's a lot cheaper and as effective, pumpin pal breast pump flanges, desitin (in bulk)....
I can't think of anything else. Skip the Itzbeen, wipe warmer, diaper stacker, and any quilts or blankets for in the crib. We used our matching quilt and blanket as wall decorations.
Got the baby bargains book yesterday and read most of it in one sitting...lol
Thanks for the other suggestions!!!
Here's my list.
1. Moby wrap! Absolutely top of the list. Could not have survived without it.
2. Loads of the flannel receiving blankets! I thought I was going to be taking a bunch back when I got a billion at my shower, but I don't think you can have enough of them. I used them for burp rags. (especially good if you have a heavy spitter!) For wash cloths/towels. For a clean place to put my DS down. To throw over his car seat if he was sleeping. To throw over my head/shoulder if I was nursing. In the early days we used them to swaddle him.
3. Some form of nipple cream (If you're breastfeeding.) Different mother's swear by different brands. But you will absolutely need something!
4. A nursing pillow. If you have a long torso, I recommend the boppy over the My Breast Friend. Friends of mine who are shorter prefer the MBF to the Boppy. I think your height torso length is most likely the biggest factor in which you wind up preferring.
5. This wouldn't go on the registry, but if you don't already have it - a sleep mask. In those first few weeks you'll want to sleep during the day. A way to block out light is a must!
6. A trash can with a step lid. It's so much easier to not need to use your hands to open the trash. We got one that had a removable hard plastic liner. That was perfect.
Nix the changing table, the wipe warmer, the diaper pail, and those fancy bedding sets.
Honestly for my little ones their fave item was the swing we had. It wasn't a fancy swing either. Also with their sensitive skin I had to constantly have a good lotion around and loved using Bertbees stuff for them. Also, if you're going to bottle feed, I really loved my microwave sterilizer. It was perfect for traveling too.
For you...I'd say get a massage. Indulge yourself NOW. I never have the time to and I regret not taking the time before I had kiddos. I always want to get back to them as fast as possible, so even relaxing things like getting my hair done ends up being stressful for me. I'm not saying kids weigh you down, but I'm saying there are things that will lose importance.
- Fisher Price sea horse ... almost 2 yrs later & we still use it. We brought it whenever we travel & stay overnight.
- baby wraps when they're newborns
- mittens & socks
- blanket
- diaper champ ... we use kitchen trash bag instead of buying for the refill
- onesies, footies
- Cerave lotion for eczema & dry skins.
Agree with the other PP to nix changing table & wipes warmer.
1. Seahorse hands down!! We also still use it 2 yrs later, DS likes to play with the fin on the back of it as he falls asleep. We own 3 for germ/washing purposes.
2. I got a moby and a Bjorn carrier... hated both. I'm 5'6" but I have a shorter torso and could never get the moby to work for me. The Bjorn I could only use until DS was barely 6mo old b/c he got too heavy and it KILLED my shoulders and back. I will be getting either an Ergo or a Boba this time around.
3. I LOVE Boogie Wipes. I got them when I was bf'ing b/c they smell better than milky puke when you wipe them up. Also, they were the only thing for a while that DS would let me wipe his boogery nose with. They haren't as harsh as baby wipes and they are softer than a regular tissue.
4. Triple Paste for a rashy hiney. (Not Triple Cream, it's not as thick.)
5. I SAH and bf'd and rarely pumped. If that is your plan I recommend not spending hundreds of $$ on a fancy electric pump and just get a manual one. They go on sale frequently at Target I got the Medella Harmony one I think (whatever the manual one is...) I will just be buying a new breast shield this time around since I have plenty of valves and it's less parts to clean than an electric one.
ETA: I'm also not going for the big crazy bedding set this time around. All I used from the 9pc set that I got with DS was the bumpers, sheet and crib skirt so I will be making the bumpers and skirt and buying some sheets. Plus DS and baby will be charing a room and while I don't care about being matchy matchy I don't want everything to clash completely.
Another first timer appreciating this thread!
Is this the seahorse everyone is referring to?
https://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=2341&e=detail&pcat=buocean&pid=43203
When is it safe to leave baby in the crib (or other sleeping receptacle) with it?
1. Rock and Play
2. Boppy
3. Aquafor (we used the Target brand)
4. Good nail clippers (I love the Red Cross ones)
5. White noise app on your phone, or white noise machine in the nursery. This got DS to sleep.
Homedics Soundspa Lullaby sound machine (aka baby crack machine)
Sophie the giraffe
Moby
Velcro swaddle blankets - I had to go out and buy some after the baby came. I had swaddle design blankets because I knew I could swaddle but I didn't take into account what a terrible swaddler DH would be.
A&A blankets. I still use these today.
I used to recommend California Baby products but they recently changed their formula and added in some chemicals that I'm not too happy about. Check out EWG.org/skindeep to get the ratings on the baby products you plan to use (0-2 are the safest).
THIS IS FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am SO thankful to all of you who have posted thus far!!!! I have been SWARMED with ideas, suggestions, books, websites, and honestly I just want to know what I can't live without. I am literally noting every single suggestion you all have made and adding items, deleting items, and switching items on my "to-buy" list.
You all are GREAT!!!
My "baby" is turning 5 in june, we have a pink & 2 blue seahorse (or Seasea as she calls it!) & it truly is the baby whisperer!!! We got it when she was about 6months old, & it was the only thing that would allow us to put her in her crib. Now I have to find something equivalent for the new baby?
LOVE your 16 week / month pic!!
I was told the sleep sheep is great for infants (and then move up to the seahorse) - a friend used to 'take the guts out' of the sheep to ttake it with her when she was out and about (or at friends when the baby would go down).
FYI - I'm in the no blankets / bumpers in crib bunch - however - I will be buying a skirt / sheet / blanket pack from pottery barn kids (one of the only places that sells beatrix potter themed items) - because I want the crib skirt - and the quilt slung over the rocker... or used elsewhere until baby is old enough
Thanks!
I hated the sleep sheep. It only stays on for 45 minutes at the longest and it would wake up DS when it turned off. Having a sound machine that can stay on all night was so much better for us.