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June 2014 Moms
jenn72178
member
Essentials list for FTMs - STM+ my OCD begs you for help
jenn72178
member
FTM here. I have absolutely nothing 'baby' as of yet and am feeling a bit overwhelmed at where to start. I am a bit of a planner (oh who am I kidding - OCD PLANNER) so I started making a list of the absolute essentials that I *think* I may need. I live in a larger 1 bedroom apartment with DH and plan to for as long as humanly possible so I'm really talking bare bones essentials for the first year. Would love some advice from STM+'s on what I really need / can get away without having etc... *Disclaimer* I searched the board for previous posts on the topic but didn't find any... if I missed it/ them feel free to SS away!
- Graco Tour Reverse travel system (car seat w/ base and stroller combo)
- Graco Tour Reverse travel system (car seat w/ base and stroller combo)
- Mini crib w/ better mattress & bedding
- changing pad (for my existing dresser which will become hers)
- changing pad (for my existing dresser which will become hers)
- baby carrier (soft)
- boppy (necessary?)
- breast pump / bags/ bottles / brushes / sterilizer (?)
- high chair / seat that attaches to table
- play mat
- monitor
- first aid kit / thermometer / bulb syringe / nail clippers & other grooming needs
- diapers / wipes
- infant bathtub (? is this necessary)
- teethers / small toys
- baby laundry detergent - Dreft etc..
- clothes, of course
- teethers / small toys
- baby laundry detergent - Dreft etc..
- clothes, of course
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Essentials list for FTMs - STM+ my OCD begs you for help
The boppy depends on your preference, but you can (if you really want) get away without it and use regular pillows. Though it doubles as an awesome space for baby to lounge as they get a little older.
Baby bath- we had a nice one from Walmart that folds up pretty small. They also make these sponges that are as big as the baby and can be put in bathtub.
I'd say swing and/or bouncer is necessary (we loved having both). They make models where the two are combined to save space though. Maybe Graco brand?
Like you, I also wanted to keep things as simple as possible. Your list looks great...babies really don't *need* much more than a safe place to sleep, food, clothes, diapers, and lots of love.
A bottle warmer isn't a necessity until you find babies likes.... Mine was formula fed as I never produced milk. And we always used room temp water to mix.... At 4 am you'll be thankful that while your baby is screaming you don't have to wait for a bottle warmer.
Breastfeeding Counselor with Breastfeeding USA
Babywearing Guide ** Newborn Carriers
Cloth Diaper Guide
Safe Bed Sharing Info
Swing- not a necessity and not every baby likes it. If you have a church nursery or friend that has a swing I would recommend trying baby out in one before you invest because they are bulky and somewhat pricey. They may prefer a bouncy chair or vibrating chair which is smaller anyway (our daughter hated hers and I donated it) I found a swing that I am looking to get this time by Graco that is basically a stand and you can snap in your graco car seat. Only $80!! Available through babiesRus
Boppy - breastfed for 8 months and never felt the need. This is personal preference though. For propping baby up as they get older I loved my bumbo seat. If you do go for a boppy the motherhood maternity swag bag has a gift card to get one practically for free. You only pay shipping.
Baby carrier - motherhood maternity also gives a gift card for a sling. Only pay for shipping
High chair - bumbo seat. You can buy an attachable tray. I used this more than my high chair until she was just too big. I set it on the table, couch, bed, even took it to restaurants a couple times and put that sucker on the table there (restaurant high chairs are not made for 5 month olds). Plus they are way smaller than a high chair. Wait on the high chair till they're older!
Bottles - I only had five or six. If breastfeeding goes well you probably won't use them very often. If you need more you can always buy more. I only ever needed replacement nipples though because my dogs are evil.
Bottle warmer/sanitizer - great to have for pumped frozen or refrigerated breast milk. I never used the sanitizer function on mine though. I rinsed out bottles and washed them by hand. I boiled them once every week or two. More often if she was sick though. Remember, your baby will probably lick the carpet, dog, shoes, etc... That bottle is the least of your germ concerns. My warmer was munchkin brand from target, for expressed breast milk I would call it a must have.
Drying rack - you need one. I like my boon "grass" you can put anything on it because it isn't size specific. I now use it for sippy cups and medicine syringes. And occasionally my piping tools for cake icing! It is small and fits nicely on my counter or in the sink.
Playmat - to save space you can consider getting an attachment for the crib that they can reach and interact with. I had a floor mat though and it wasn't too bad on space. Definitely does offer a lot of entertainment for many stages. For tummy time without a mobile etc though, you definitely only need a blanket.
Monitor - in a small apartment (especially a one bedroom) it's not a necessity. But they are not bulky and space consuming so they're not bad either. I mostly used mine if we stepped over to our friends in the neighboring apartment while our daughter was sleeping. This is not an invitation to judge my parenting so please no one jump on a soap box on that one just commenting I hardly used it while in the apartment because I could hear her from any room.
Bulb syringe - just want to mention the best one I ever had was from the ear section of the pharmaceuticals. That and the one from the hospital. Any I bought in baby supply was too hard and didn't work.
Diapers and wipes - I would recommend hanging wall or door storage (if there is a door near the changing table - my apartmement is so small there's a door near just about anything haha)
Infant Tub - I only used mine in the sink until she was about 4 months old. At which point I would put a hand towel in the bottom of the big bathtub and only put about an inch of water in the bathtub. This is how my daughter learned to roll over and sit up because she loved playing in the water. After a while I found a soft rubber mat on amazon I used. I wish I could remember the brand cause it was awesome. The infant tub was large and I had nowhere to stick it in our tiny bathroom. So for a tub I would try to find one that is small and you can use in the kitchen sink then store when they get to big.
Baby detergent - not necessary unless the baby has sensitive skin. Which you won't know until they're born anyway. So just wait on that one. The cheapest I have found is arm&hammer brand. Not sure if it is available for he washers though. Personally, my daughter's clothes have been washed with tide detergent since day one. There's gonna be so much laundry from baby puke and poop you won't know whose clothes are going in the washer anyway haha.
Clothes - don't buy anything until after your shower. You will receive gift cards and lots of items to return. Not to mention, people can't resist buying baby clothes for you. Same for diapers. Wait till after your shower. And don't open those diaper boxes! You can return them for the size up if needed, or if you find you want to switch brands you can trade for that too. I got so many diapers at our shower we didn't buy any antil 3 months, and then we were returning boxes so we weren't paying for them! Oh, and wipes too.
Diaper bag - necessity. I love my 31 bags utility tote and zipper pouch. And it has my daughters name on it! All the pockets are perfect for baby paraphenalia. There's even a pocket that fits a sippy cup with handles. The pouch holds tons of diapers AND a package of wipes, plus it's perfect to just grab out of the diaper bag so you don't have to lug the whole bag to the bathroom and spill your Cheerios everywhere. I have also learned the zipper pouch comes in thermal now. I will be getting one this time for frozen milk or bottles.
Spot cleaner - someone mentioned this earlier but I had to say I have a resolve stick that is like swiffer for carpet. Love it. The spray that attaches to the stick is pricey though so we just buy off brand foaming cleaner spray and just spray it without attaching it to the stick. Between three dogs, a two year old and a husband it is very handy. You spray, scrub, then just leave it to dry. And if your like me you forget to vacuum the spot until like a week later when you're doing your usual vacuuming and it's no big deal cause it's not all crusty and weird.
Receiving blankets - I had a bajillion and I used them all. I prefer them to burp rags for absorbency and larger surface area for vomit to land on and they are good for on the fly nursing cover. Also good for tummy time, light swaddling, covering the car seat for shade, and just about anything. Circo brand from target comes in relatively cheap three packs. I registered for like ten packages of each color I liked so I got a bunch at my showers.
Changing pad waterproof covers - good to have. They come in two packs for $10 at target if I remember correctly. I kept one in the diaper bag and one in the trunk of my car. Didn't ever use it on the changing pad ironically.
Crib mattress - get a plastic one. They're only gonna use it for 2 years tops so you don't need like baby temperpedic or something. If your mini crib has limited mattress options get a full waterproof cover. Diapers explode.
Remember! People are gonna get you a ton of stuff at your shower(s)! So wait and see what you get! I didn't go buy anything until I was 7 months pregnant and had had two baby showers. I hardly paid for anything. Between gift cards, cash, and crap you don't want, you won't have to spend much if you wait. Also your registry may give you coupons and deals closer to the due date for items you didn't get.
We got a convertible car seat from the get go instead of a bucket. Seemed a waste to buy a car seat that had such a limited use. We bought the britax marathon and will be moving DS to a permanent ff car seat and using the marathon for this LO. It works/ed great and was nice to not have to buy another seat when he was just a few months.
A good stroller is with it's weight in gold. Really consider the weather where you live- big, foam filled rubber wheels are great if you have any sort of winter. Also think about how easy it is to set up/ collapse, and how well it fits in your car. Also, consider weight range. I know we changed our decision as the one we liked only went up to 35lbs and since dh and I are not small people we didn't want one that LO would outgrow too soon. Our stroller goes up to 75lbs.
Babies don't really need a lot of toys. I prefer toys that don't light up/make noise and never really had any for DS. He played with (and still does) Tupperware more than anything.
I wouldn't worry about buying anything soft- blankets or clothes until after your shower. Those are very typical gifts and I know I ended up with wayyyy more than I could need.
I agree with waiting on the high chair. We bought a booster seat that works great and doesn't take as much room as a high chair, plus he can use it longer.
I'm horribly against bumbo chairs- they are horrible for babies posture and misuse has lead to the death of at least one child.
I think your list is really great - it focuses on the basics. When buying things/registering, it's a good idea to ask 'is this for baby or is this for me?' If you do, I think you will discover that a lot of the products are not really needed by babies.
Graco Tour Reverse travel system (car seat w/ base and stroller combo) - I used a car seat and a snap-n-go base. Less expensive and more portable. Me and DH loved it!
- changing pad (for my existing dresser which will become hers) - yes (also at least 2 covers because you'll be washing them often).
- teethers / small toys - not really necessary at first.
- baby laundry detergent - Dreft etc.. If you use a gentle or anti-allergy detergent you should be fine. Our whole family used regular Method detergent.
- clothes, of course - alhtough you probably want to hold off until after your baby shower. People will get you lots of clothes.
BFP#2: EDD 2/11/14, MMC confirmed 7/15/13 (growth stopped at 6 weeks), D&C @ 12 weeks 7/25/13
Thankfully my brother just had a son in September of this year and I have lots of girlfriends with infants that will be outgrowing their newborn items pretty soon. They have all offered me their extras (swings/bouncers, pack n play, etc.) I am very fortunate.
I will have to go back to work 6-8 weeks after LO arrives so pumping will be a necessity - DH will be retiring from his full time job to be a SAHD. Again, extremely fortunate that this is an option for now as daycare on Long Island is well beyond my budget. ($1700/month..cough gag!)
And yes, many of these items will end up on my registry to start...just wanted a base list so when I walk into the store to register I don't go nuts - I like having a plan and you have all armed me well! Thank you thank you!
I would just say about the highchair- I highly recommend the Fisher price booster seat. It has amazing reviews on Amazon. We used it right at 6 months when we introduced solids (the baby just needs to be able to sit up by themselves, which they should be doing before having solids anyway). It's super easy to clean, move, and put away when not in use. No need for a whole separate bulky highchair! And now that DD is a toddler we just put the tray away and she uses it as a booster seat at the table.
Like another poster said, I would definitely consider getting the Rock and Play. It is great for naps in the living room!
I would check and see what kind of pump you can get through insurance as a result of the new healthcare laws. Some insurances only cover a manual pump, but mine covered a double electric. Plus, the hospital gave me a manual, so I was glad I didn't spend the money on either pump.
I think another poster mentioned this, but use a detergent like All Free and Clear rather than Dreft. It's much gentler on the baby's skin.
I would get a NoseFrida for an aspirator. The June 2013 ladies swear by them.
I would also get some SwaddleMes and/or Aden and Anais swaddling blankets.
In terms of toys, my LO loves Freddy the Firefly and O balls. These were some of the first toys he played with.
I'm sure I'm forgetting other stuff, and hope you didn't mind me crashing your thread!
ETA: Cloth diapers for burp cloths
A mini crib is great, but a PackNPlay is about the same size and you can travel with it if need be, or easily move it into the living room if you want to lounge on the couch but want LO near you. Most come with a bassinet/raised option so when they are tiny they are easier to get at. I think ours went to 20 pounds. It was great.
The best part about an activity mat is you can hang things off it. C loved reaching up to grab her elephant. Blankets and toys will work just as well, but don't have the option to look up and grab at stuff.
I never used a monitor and won't with this one either. The nursery is across the hall from the our room and we just leave both doors open a crack so we can hear. If your apartment is small, I wouldn't bother.
Bottles are only necessary once you start pumping/bottle feeding. Start small and buy one or two of each kind until you find one LO likes. C did best on Doc Brown's, so despite the many parts we used those. A drying rack was essential, but I only ever sterilized in boiling water once, right after I took them out of the box before the first use. If you do formula, get a dispenser for when you're out and about. They carry three bottles' worth of formula so all you need to bring is an empty bottle and some water. Way easier with formula's that are only good for an hour unrefridgerated.
We bathed C in the sink until she got too long, and then bought an infant sponge to lay in the bottom of the tub. Once she could sit up on her own she went straight to big kid baths. We also never used those towels with the hood, just our regular towels. Baby wash clothes are good, though, and can double for small spit ups.
I didn't have a lot of burp clothes, but C didn't spit up much. I would buy a couple and see if you need more. I also used a lot of my dish towels as burp clothes if I needed extra, you don't need special ones.
We loved the jumperoo because C would happily sit in it for up to an hour so we could relax/get things done around the house.
C never used a RockNPlay, hated her swing, and didn't like the vibrating seat...so I wouldn't buy those new if you want to try them. It sounds like you'll have a good supply of hand-me downs, so that's awesome.
Yeah, sleep, clothes, diapers and you should be fine
Oh, and I hated the boppy for breastfeeding but loved it for when C was learning to bottle feed herself, perfect angle.
Married DH 7/30/11
CSC arrived 5/7/12
CHC arrived 6/2/14
ETA: My response
Georgia 3/15/2012 Matilda 6/12/2014 TWINS!! Babies 3&4 EDD 11/22/2016
I'm not new. I just hate The Bump.
Other must haves :
Pack and play
Moby
Aden and Anis blankets
Fisher price sea horse
White noise machine w projector
Sophie the giraffe
Boppy
Bumbo
Netted bath sling
Medicine supply
Infant sleeper of some sort (rock n play or bassinet)
Mustela foam shampoo (cradle cap miracle cure)
Flat cloth diapers for burp clothes
The baby can use your towels etc. I know those are some odd things but they were small items that made having a newborn easier. We had the same dilemma.