Let's talk Baby Gear

wilburbud · June 2013

Ladies who already have children, Lets share our must haves for baby gear, and do without's for those first time mommas!

Unknown · June 2013

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RunningMom08 · June 2013

I actually got a changing table with a built in hamper and drawers. It has been awesome with DS. It's made by Badger. I can't think of anything else to add!

Galaxy8227 · June 2013

I wouldn't have survived maternity leave without the snug a bunny swing. DS lived in that thing--he loved it! He slept in the RNP until he was 8 weeks and then I used it in the kitchen when I would be cooking. His activity mat was great for tummy time and the boppy was really helpful with feeding. I also loved our travel system for when we went out for walks or doing errands

ccip82 · June 2013

Must have:

crib

nursing cover

swaddle blankets

car seat and base (we only have one car, but if you have two I would get another base)

cloth nappies (although we did not use cloth when DD was a newborn)

baby carrier

changing table

Sleep n Play outfits (DD lived in them for the first couple months)

nail clippers

infant tub (love the Fisher Price Whale!!)

boppy (helped me a lot with breastfeeding)

Nice to haves:

swing

PNP with bassinet attachment

Tummy time mat

breast pump

upholstered rocker/glider (I lived in mine and the thing is so comfortable, for us worth the splurge)

Stroller (I wore DD a lot as a baby so a stroller was not as high on my list)

Did not use/have:

bottle warmer

wipes warmer

diaper genie

Dr. Brown Bottles (were a PITA to clean all the parts)

dressy outfits (I have dressier newborn/ 0-3 months outfits with tags still on them)

I know I am probably forgetting things here, but that's what I have for now!

sugarland726 · June 2013

wilburbud:

My Must have list:

Pass:

bottle warmer

daiper warmer

changing table (We put a changing pad on a dresser)

crib bedding set (we bought sheets, a warm blanket, and a breathable bumper)

two car seats (the car seat is always with the baby, no need for two)

bouncy seat, swing, vibrating chair AND rock and play. Get one, or two. Not all 4 :-)

a million outfits (baby will live in onsies and sleepers. get 3-4 cute outfits for special occasions).

Most of your passes were things I wouldn't want to pass on. So much of this is personal preferences. I loved our bottle warmer. It was helpful even when BFing. We preferred to bottle feed her BM overnight so I knew how much she was getting. The infant car seat, I'll give you that one, but we definitely need two convertible carseats. DD was a fan of the vibrating bouncy seat, the swing and the RNP. I wouldn't do without any of them again.

soon2Bwed08 · June 2013

First thing I'm buying this time around Fischer Price rock and play. Because of reflux DD slept in it more than her crib in the beginning. The graco tot block was my favorite once DD started sitting up (can put toys in it and they have tons of room to move around while staying safe).

If you don't have a dishwasher invest in a sterilizer (we had the first years one and it paid for itself. Also if you're FF get the bottle warmer too. It was nice to make bottles in advance and just warm it up.

Get a diaper genie. Ours has more than been worth it we will be replacing it for LO.

Crib, changing table, diapers (2 boxes of size one, a box of nb keep the reciept in case kiddo is too big), lots of receiving blankets to swaddle), sleep and play onesies, and gowns (easy to change and have mitts sewn on), hats, mitts, socks, wipe warmer (if your house is on the colder side during the winter months), tub, car seat, stroller/baby wearing device, towels, nb first aid kit, bibs, burp clothes (i used the old school gerber prefold double padded cloth diapers), A&D ointment, wipes, comfy chair/rocker with foot rest, boppy, boppy covers (@ least 2), waterproof mattress pads, sheets for bed/changing table (@ least 5 of each).

I think that's all my necessities.

BuckeyeMommy4 · June 2013

Pretty much agree with PPs although, I couldn't have gone without a swing and I also love our bottle warmer. I still use it for frozen breast milk.

LimeDrops · June 2013

If you're tall, make sure you consider the height of your diaper changing area. My father built us a hi changing table and it was a lifesaver. If we traveled and I tried to change a baby on a bed or a low dresser my back was killing me after a day or two.

so, for me, a changing table is a must have!

ccip82 · June 2013

Just wanted to add that the lists are going to differ from person to person, babies really do not *need* a lot of stuff in the beginning. My advice would be to save a little bit of cash or gift cards you may receive from a baby shower so you can buy some of the things after the baby is born. You will then have a much better idea of what will work for you and your baby.

JuliaH21 · June 2013

DD would not stay swaddled in regular blankets, even right after she was born, there was only one nurse who could wrap her up so that she would stay swaddled for more than a few minutes, so the swaddle mes were great.
She was a Dec baby, so I didn't really use any clothes that didn't have footies, socks and booties just didn't stay on her little feet.
I used an Ergo and Moby wrap with her, and having something to wear baby was an absolute must. I still wear her a lot. It was nice having her all snuggled up for walks, to do skin-to-skin at home, and great for shopping. It was a lot more comforting for her to be snuggled up than in her car seat. Also people couldn't keep touching her when I wore her.
Loved the boppy, used it every feeding for the first 6 mo, I think.
We had a swing that was a swing and vibrating bouncer in one and we used that a lot.

We never used the changing table. It was so much easier to just keep a water proof mat nearby and change her on the sofa or bed or floor--wherever we were with her at the time.

HereWeGo2014 · June 2013

Extra pacifiers - those things disappear faster than money!

Loved my Moby wrap, sometimes it was the only way to get DD to sleep.

Lots of flat cloth diapers for spit up and such

Sleep sacks

The bouncer saved our lives, we didn't use our swing as much.

Pack N Play (this was our bassinet, and we moved it into the living room during the day for changing and napping, as well as put it back our bedroom at night)

Some sort of night light, we LOVE the Homedics Lullaby SoundSpa

Nursing pads, nursing bras, nursing tanks

Changing pad for public

Diaper bag with a shoulder strap

Bottle drying rack (great for drying pump parts)

Deblondie1 · June 2013

We got a changing table with the intent of turning it into a bookcase later. It's actually working out pretty well.

And our bouncer was a lifesaver! E had really bad reflux so she ended up sleeping in the bouncer, to keep her more upright. The bouncer is the only way I got showers. I would put it beside the shower so I could see her and was able to take leisurely showers.

Those are just my 2 cents lol Everyone had great suggestions.

FSUNole31 · June 2013

When he was a newborn we couldn't have survived without the swaddle sleep sacks. He slept so well swaddled. We also had the rock a bunny swing that he was in very frequently as well as the pack and play with the nap/changing station attached. He also was (and still is) particular about his pacis. He only takes the NUK brand. We tried those gumdrop type ones for a few weeks before we discovered the NUK.

taberbtb · June 2013

Thanks for your advice ladies! I will be a first time mom and appreciate your helping sorting out what we "need" and what's a gimmick! The idea of keeping some of the gift cards until after the baby is born is a great idea and not one I had thought of.

lovinglife13 · June 2013

Freestyle breast pump. Worth every penny. Used it 5-6x a day for a year.

And just my two cents with baby #1- less is more. Half of the stuff we ending up getting we never used. And if something does end up working well (onesies that zip, a certain paci)- you can always go out and buy more. And if you feel like you need to try something new (bouncer, swing, exercise ball)- you can go out and buy one.

chicorojo · June 2013

Must Have:

Crib

Carseat (2 bases)

Bassinet

swing or bouncer

a couple different brands of bottles, (my sons would ONLY drink out of a certain brand I think the flow was perfect)

Swaddle blankets.. LOVE those

a small stroller

A breast pump (although I need opinions on good ones because I am clueless when it comes to breastfeeding, I was never able too with my the others)

Do without:

A Baby bath tub.. I used the sink.. it worked perfect.

A Huge bulky stroller (this is matter of area where you live and opinion. a big bulky stroller did not fit well in my trunk, and it was a pain)

Baby play mats.. I just lay a blanket on the floor.

Bazillions of outfits GAH my kids had so many and they lived in onesies and PJS. Get 1 or 2 Nice outfits and save your money !

eav2c · June 2013

Must have:
Rock n Play
Swing
Swaddles we used halo and swaddleme's
Boppy

We needed very little. We had a lot that was only used a few times. Even his bottles he only used 1 or 2 times because we EBF. We used his bouncer a handful of times to shower but it was unnecessary. The bottle warmer we bought after the fact when we knew we actually needed it it was only used a few times but was cheap enough. DS loved his jumperoo but in terms of newborn stuff we needed very little.

halfthetree · June 2013

My absolutely must haves:

...Bassinet for the main floor of our house
... on the bed cosleeper for first couple weeks, continue cosleeping for first years so no crib needed
...Ergo
...Moby Wrap
...breast pump
...lanolin cream
...cloth diapers and cloth wipes
... Diaper pail for the cute cloth diapers
...coconut oil for babys skin
...Britax or Clek carseat,
...BOB stroller, it is amazing and I loathe the generic carseat and stroller combos, I find them cheaply made and uncomfortable for baby
... A fabulous Mat and Nat diaper bag
...B Agile umbrella stroller
...and a basket to take around the house with you, full of everything you need to change a diaper wherever you are in the house

My do withouts:
...soothers
...pack and play
...bouncer chair
...wipes warmer
...cutesy outfits for a newborn, we didn't use them, only sleepers.

brandlebugg · June 2013

wilburbud:
My Must have list:

Crib

car seat

2 bases

swing

baby wearer (we got an ergo)

electric breast pump (working mom necessity)

stroller with cup holders and undercarriage storage

swaddlers

infant

bathtub

sound machine

rock and play
Pass:

bottle warmer

daiper warmer

changing table (We put a changing pad on a dresser)

crib bedding set (we bought sheets, a warm blanket, and a breathable bumper)

two car seats (the car seat is always with the baby, no need for two)

bouncy seat, swing, vibrating chair AND rock and play. Get one, or two. Not all 4 :-)

a million outfits (baby will live in onsies and sleepers. get 3-4 cute outfits for special occasions).

Thank you so much! I was convinced I would need two car seats, but it's the people who have experience that can help me figure all that out! I'm definitely writing this down

Thank you Thank you Thank you!

Lucky613 · June 2013

As a PP said, the list will vary!
Must haves for our first baby:
vibrating bouncy seat my son wa a "high needs" baby and this was the only thing he would not scream in
rock n play
baby carrier we have the beco
California baby eucalyptus bubble bath Jackson was congested a lot, it's normal while their nasal passages develop, so i would run a hot shower with some of that in the tub and we would "steam." As he got older, I used it in his bath
gentle giraffe soother
rocking chair

we rarely used the stroller, both he and i preferred wearing. Now he's just too busy!

SweetPeaKate · June 2013

I think this also depends on the layout of your house. With my DS I slept on the couch for the first few months because of his apnea monitor going off and him in his bouncer/car seat (yes I know your not supposed to but the kid had serious reflux and it was that or hold him all night long). I thought he would sleep in the pack and play right away, but he hated it so he never slept in it. Now we use it for traveling, but it didn't get used for the first 6 months.

Also his room is on the first floor, so we never needed a *secondary* changing area in the main living space. But his bouncer and swing were a lifesaver.

This time around I know it will be different because I will have a 2 year old running around the house. I want to get a rock n play and maybe an ergo or a mei tai carrier since I don't expect my son to calm down anytime soon.

I love the idea of saving some money or gift cards until the baby is here and seeing how your new schedule functions and what your baby prefers is HUGE!! My plan for my son was nothing that he wanted or enjoyed. He is a very particular child...knows what he wants and that's that!

MountainRose12 · June 2013

My top recommendations are: (1) the Arm's Reach Co-sleeper; (2) baby bjorn carrier; (3) one pair of soft leather booties (socks wouldn't stay on!); and (4) nice nursing tanktops. Also, once DD got a little older, she absolutely loved these rattles (https://www.yellowlabelkids.com/product_info.php?products_id=713), which are pricey, but wonderful.

We also went through tons of those lap-sized waterproof pads, bibs (tommee tippee milk bib), and swaddles.

I agree with several PPs regarding the dress-clothes. We ended up with dozens of unworn dress-up outfits!

NickyHolo · August 2013

ccip82 said:

Just wanted to add that the lists are going to differ from person to person, babies really do not *need* a lot of stuff in the beginning. My advice would be to save a little bit of cash or gift cards you may receive from a baby shower so you can buy some of the things after the baby is born. You will then have a much better idea of what will work for you and your baby.

I agree. Excluding the most basic and mandatory stuff you'll get a good feel for what you'll actually want or need once baby comes. The one thing I would recommend is to buy a conversion or convertible crib. I got one for my DS from Bambi Baby and it was incredibly convenient not to have to buy him a brand new bed as soon as he grew out of his crib.

MaryBB77 · August 2013

Get the baby bargains book. It has great information on a wide range of products that we may use.

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