Baby equipment overload

lest12 · January 2014

So, help a FTM mom out.

Putting together the registry and pretty overwhelmed at all the options. Pack 'n Plays, swings, bouncers, stationary entertainers, activity mats... where does the list end?

So, STM's... what are the top 5 things your babies have used? What couldn't you live without? What was a big waste of $ and space?

FTM's, feel free to jump in with any questions I can't be the only one who has them.

lest12 · January 2014

One specific question I have on Pack 'n Plays - a lot of them seem to come with the vibrating 'seat' for the baby. Do I need that if I have a bouncer/swing? I feel like I don't, and I am not sure I would be lugging it around with me, either (where I would lug around the play-yard).

Pepper6 · January 2014

I know there was a good compilation post not too long ago, but my search function is screwing up, so maybe someone can post the link?

Also, as a FTM, I have no clue, but I've definitely got a lot of good help from the Baby Bargains book, so that might be something to consider.

hollygb22 · January 2014

i did a basic PNP. It was set up in our room to use the newborn napper and changing station. She hated being in the newborn/napper bassinet thing and when i used the changing station it would tilt with her weight a little and she'd always end up in one corner. That being said, we packed it up early on but we use it for travel now. I did not have one with a vibrating anything..just a newborn napper/bassinet thing and a changing station.

I opted to just buy the Fisher Price Jumperoo vs a jumperoo and an exersaucer. We had her rigged up in around 3 months and got so much use out of it (I had some blankets under her since her feet didn't hit the ground). We didn't have room and I didn't want two large plastic things in the house.

Swing..we didn't buy. A friend lent us one to see if she'd like it. It lasted a month in our house. I was so happy I didn't waste the $150. I think this is a thing that your child loves or hates.

Bouncy Seat- it was cheap enough and it was a place to put DD. I used it alot when I pumped in the morning and just a general place to have her. worth it to us.

RNP we used it for sleep for the first 2 months. I loved that DH could just pick the whole thing up and put it in the living room and let me sleep in.

Bumbo- waste for us. She hated it. Activity mat- we had one, we used it a lot. High Chair- you can wait on this for a bit. We had the Fisher Price Space Saver...still using it. I love that I don't have an enormous high chair in my dining room.

ncbelle · January 2014

I think every new parent needs a quality baby carrier (not the bjorn or a cheap seven sling) and a $10 exercise ball. Aside from that, the only gear we really used was a bouncer.

Remember that babies survived just fine without all this stuff! I think it makes sense to wait until baby is here and then figure out what you feel like you could use - then buy.

snowpants · January 2014

Things I love:

1. PacknPlay. Great for travel or an extra crib in the other room if you need it. We got this basic PnP at Target (no vibrating seats, no compartments for storage of diapers...just the adjustable height setting) and it's been great.

2. Vibrating chair thing. It was a hand-me-down from family but it's a basic one like this and was more than enough. DD loved it and it was great to have a place to put her down.

3. Swaddle blankets like this.

4. Hands-free pumping bra like this. Granted I was an EPer, but I can't imagine pumping without one.

5. Activity Mat. DD loved it and it kept her busy and engaged. I can't find the exact one we have, but it's close to this. Any one you pick would probably be great.

Huge waste of money and/or space:

1. Baby swing and rock-n-play. Luckily we only borrowed those so no money lost, but DD hated them.

2. Bumbo chair. These aren't used right away any way, but when DD was old enough she hated it. She sat in it maybe twice.

3. Bathtub insert for babies. We just used our kitchen sink and it was so much easier for us.

If my sister were to answer this question our lists would be reversed...it's so hard to guess what you will or won't use.

AandJ28 · January 2014

I too have been wondering the same things and while I know that there was a thread early on, I haven't been able to find it. The pack-n-play was so overwhelming. They come with so many options. Is this something we need right away? Or is this something that can wait a little while?

Thanks for sharing your experience @hollygb22! I was thinking that the high chair can wait a little but then though maybe I was being naive. Seeing you write that it can wait makes me feel better!

What about the activity mats - Are those good to have from day 1 or can they be put on the "wait list"? When do you typically start using them?

LegalLadyBug · January 2014

We loved the swing, never got a bouncy seat. I did get a kickin coaster which was a huge waste of space. DD loved her stationary jumper and we also put her in a walker (controversial I know). We used the bumbo a lot. Never had a rock n play. Pack n play was useless and only used to store toys after we moved her to her crib around 6 weeks. As for the vibration feature, DD never liked it on any of the items we had so we never used it. She would make a funny face and usually poop...so good for constipation I guess :-) Oh! And a gym, DD loved hers.

This time each baby is going to have a swing, bouncy seat, jumperoo, and bumbo. They will share the gym. I'm paranoid and feel like I need everything I can get to manage twins and a toddler. We're still not getting a rock n play though as we never needed it with DD and don't want to become dependent on it.

robbinrl · January 2014

lest12 said:
One specific question I have on Pack 'n Plays - a lot of them seem to come with the vibrating 'seat' for the baby. Do I need that if I have a bouncer/swing? I feel like I don't, and I am not sure I would be lugging it around with me, either (where I would lug around the play-yard).

We loved the vibrating newborn napper on our PnP, that's what she slept in for the first 6 weeks or so in our room and we did take it with us on a couple of overnights. We didn't have a vibrating bouncer, but I've thought about getting one this time. The main difference between the 2 is the bouncer is mainly for when they are awake and you need them to be happy while you are doing something whereas the PnP napper you would put them down for a nap/sleep in. You definitely don't need either and not all babies like vibrating.

I didn't have much 'equipment' on our registry, only a PnP and plain bouncer, mainly bc we didn't have room for a lot of extra stuff. DD ended up not likely being in any baby equipment (my mom had a swing and she wasnt a huge fan of that either) but just layed on floor most of the time and once she started looking around I got an activity mat (Sassy brand with lots of black and white) that she loved and we got the most use out of compared to anything
else. On the other hand my sister has one of everything and her youngest is perfectly content in anything as long as you rotate her around.

My suggestion would be to put multiple items on your registry. If you get them, save the receipts and if LO turns out not to like baby equipment you can take them back. If you don't get everything, my suggestion would be to wait and see what baby likes.

Edit for stupid phone

hollygb22 · January 2014

we didn't use the activity mat until probably 6-8 weeks if not later? It wasn't make it or break it..more like I registered for one and had it so we plopped her on it.

i think whether you need a PNP depends on what you'll use it for. Some people rely on it as a place for baby to sleep right away. We didn't..it was more as a changing station in our room. So we could have waited quite some time, skipped the ones with the newborn gadgets and gotten a basic one.

also..if you're looking to save money..consignment shops! If you told me to buy something used for my first born, I probably would have turned up my nose. But, you can fall into a trap and waste so much $$ on this stuff that has a shelf life of a month or two.

I second the ladies who mentioned a carrier..i had the Moby..liked it but it had a short shelf life. Once DD hit 13-14lbs she just sagged in it. We used the ergo a ton and still do.

flerlgirl · January 2014

Rock N Play

Crib

Swing

Play mat

Diaper Genie

PnP is nice but we have a small apartment and ours is just used to stack diapers, extra clothes, etc.

lest12 · January 2014

robbinrl said:

One specific question I have on Pack 'n Plays - a lot of them seem to come with the vibrating 'seat' for the baby. Do I need that if I have a bouncer/swing? I feel like I don't, and I am not sure I would be lugging it around with me, either (where I would lug around the play-yard).
We loved the vibrating newborn napper on our PnP, that's what she slept in for the first 6 weeks or so in our room and we did take it with us on a couple of overnights. We didn't have a vibrating bouncer, but I've thought about getting one this time. The main difference between the 2 is the bouncer is mainly for when they are awake and you need them to be happy while you are doing something whereas the PnP napper you would put them down for a nap/sleep in. You definitely don't need either and not all babies like vibrating. I didn't have much 'equipment' on our registry, only a PnP and plain bouncer, mainly bc we didn't have room for a lot of extra stuff. DD ended up not likely being in any baby equipment (my mom had a swing and she wasnt a huge fan of that either) but just layed on floor most of the time and once she started looking around I got an activity mat (Sassy brand with lots of black and white) that she loved and we got the most use out of compared to anything else. On the other hand my sister has one of everything and her youngest is perfectly content in anything as long as you rotate her around. My suggestion would be to put multiple items on your registry. If you get them, save the receipts and if LO turns out not to like baby equipment you can take them back. If you don't get everything, my suggestion would be to wait and see what baby likes. Edit for stupid phone

So, this is an OK thing to do?

It sounds like every baby is different and you don't need ALL THE THINGS which is nice to know...

I really appreciate it guys, thank you! I'm happy to hear I don't need the souped up pack 'n play.

bebemac · January 2014

lest12 said:

One specific question I have on Pack 'n Plays - a lot of them seem to come with the vibrating 'seat' for the baby. Do I need that if I have a bouncer/swing? I feel like I don't, and I am not sure I would be lugging it around with me, either (where I would lug around the play-yard).

A vibrating seat? I want one!

lest12 · January 2014

bebemac said:

lest12 said:

One specific question I have on Pack 'n Plays - a lot of them seem to come with the vibrating 'seat' for the baby. Do I need that if I have a bouncer/swing? I feel like I don't, and I am not sure I would be lugging it around with me, either (where I would lug around the play-yard).
A vibrating seat? I want one!

Hahaha... this is how bad I am. I didn't know what to call it. Carrier? Bassinet?

MrsCase1 · January 2014

We used our swing and a rock 'n' play sleeper. pack n play was a waste of money for us because lincoln had reflux so he couldn't lay flat. didnt need anything else, literally.

Savvy122 · January 2014

Things I loved:
1. Moby wrap (saved my sanity the first 6 weeks)
2. Bouncy/vibrating seat
3. Sound machine - DS still uses his
4. Play mat - used it a TON, but probably not until he was 2-3 months old

Things that we didn't use:
1. Pack n Play. Took up SO much space and DS never slept well in it (he slept much better in his bassinet). Also, the changer didn't seem to support his weight well and he always rolled to one side. That said, it did come in handy when he was older for sending to daycare for naps.
2. Swing. He hated it. I plan on investing in a Mamaroo for this baby.
3. Bumbo. He had big chubby thighs and they didn't quite fit in the leg holes haha.
4. Diaper genie. Just bag the crap and throw it in the trash.

momof5sept18 · January 2014

I'm getting a regular pack n play, because I always used them with my first two, also a vibrating bouncer and a swing were big must haves for me because my LOs got a LOT of use out of them. Neither of mine had much interest in the play mats, so I gave mine away and just used a thick comforter folded up on tbe floor with their toys and they got the most use out of that then they would of the play mats.
So my recommendations are really a top four.
1) Standard pack n play.
2) Vibrating bouncy seat.
3) Swing.
4) Baby carrier.

The vibrating bouncy seat was a life saver for my first LO because he was colic and it helped me out a LOT.

ETA: I never baby wore before, but it would of been a great investment with my first two, so this time I'm getting one that lasts from newborn to 4yrs and I'm super excited about it.

Luna C · January 2014

I'm a FTM, but I will note that a little time thinking about your specific circumstances will settle some of the questions of what is/isn't needed.

For example, we live in a four-story house. For me, a PNP seems like a can't live without -- because I need a secure place to leave the baby without having to go up/down four flights of stairs every time s/he cries or I have to pee. But for someone in a ranch house it's probably a giant space waster.

A carrier is another must for us because we're in the urban core of a large city -- I can't count on bringing the stroller everywhere, and we rarely use the car so I need another option for transport. Someone in the 'burbs who drives almost everywhere may find a carrier redundant.

So when you're weighing everyone else's opinions think about how you live now and how that will impact your buying choices.

robbinrl · January 2014

@lest12 logistically that probably is hard to do. I think if you put LO in the swing a few times and he/she screams her head off, but is fine in the bouncer then I personally would feel ok taking it back (assuming it wasn't spit up'd on or pee/pooped on). I wouldn't use it for a month and then try to take it back although I'm sure people do.

You could also try one thing at a time. If LO can spend hours in the swing maybe you decide to take back the bouncer without even opening it.

lest12 · January 2014

Luna C said:

I'm a FTM, but I will note that a little time thinking about your specific circumstances will settle some of the questions of what is/isn't needed.

For example, we live in a four-story house. For me, a PNP seems like a can't live without -- because I need a secure place to leave the baby without having to go up/down four flights of stairs every time s/he cries or I have to pee. But for someone in a ranch house it's probably a giant space waster.

A carrier is another must for us because we're in the urban core of a large city -- I can't count on bringing the stroller everywhere, and we rarely use the car so I need another option for transport. Someone in the 'burbs who drives almost everywhere may find a carrier redundant.

So when you're weighing everyone else's opinions think about how you live now and how that will impact your buying choices.

I think that's a really good point... and I feel the same way about the PNP.

lest12 · January 2014

robbinrl said:

@lest12 logistically that probably is hard to do. I think if you put LO in the swing a few times and he/she screams her head off, but is fine in the bouncer then I personally would feel ok taking it back (assuming it wasn't spit up'd on or pee/pooped on). I wouldn't use it for a month and then try to take it back although I'm sure people do. You could also try one thing at a time. If LO can spend hours in the swing maybe you decide to take back the bouncer without even opening it.

Oh, no, I wouldn't use it for that long and return it. Just if I tried it out once or twice and it was an obvious NO.

I get what you mean though. Thanks!

wtfisup · January 2014

Not a STM, but I'll tell you what I can on this:

Everyone has wildly different ideas of what's needed. Really, the issue is convenience vs. space vs. utility. Your personal measures of each will be different from others. I, for instance, value utility and space over convenience.
Of my three good friends who have recently had babies, they either had no swing or didn't use their swing much.
Everyone seems to use some kind of vibrating baby seat, which is small and takes up less space. Because sometimes you just have to set the baby down.
Pretty much everyone seems to wind up with a Pack-n-Play, for a variety of reasons. We were originally planning on a moby basket or bassinet in our room the first couple of months, but have decided to do a Pack-n-Play instead, then crib. The PNP will also function for when we travel and visit other folks.
My friends kids haven't gotten a lot of use out of the door jumpers. Most have told me that the exersaucer thing was fun, but not needed, and only useful for a few months.
You didn't mention bathtubs, but they can be quite bulky. You can totally get by without one: when tiny, you basically do sponge baths. When older, you can hold LO in the shower with you (obviously don't stand right under the water) and have a partner help bathe them. You can also prop them up with folded towels. We didn't want to store something large in our bathroom, and they outgrow the different options quickly. I will say that everyone I know who has a Puj Tub looooooooves them. Super light, unfolds, hangs flat. We got one from a friend.

wtfisup · January 2014

Luna C said:

I'm a FTM, but I will note that a little time thinking about your specific circumstances will settle some of the questions of what is/isn't needed.
For example, we live in a four-story house. For me, a PNP seems like a can't live without -- because I need a secure place to leave the baby without having to go up/down four flights of stairs every time s/he cries or I have to pee. But for someone in a ranch house it's probably a giant space waster.
A carrier is another must for us because we're in the urban core of a large city -- I can't count on bringing the stroller everywhere, and we rarely use the car so I need another option for transport. Someone in the 'burbs who drives almost everywhere may find a carrier redundant.
So when you're weighing everyone else's opinions think about how you live now and how that will impact your buying choices.

We're city folks and we'll have:

a carrier (my preference, until it's not comfortable)
an umbrella stroller (to keep in the car for short needs)
a jogging stroller (for long walks, especially in our neighborhood where everything is brick)

We already have the first two via friends' hand-me-downs and are registered for the third.

lizok22 · January 2014

Mrs Case said:

We used our swing and a rock 'n' play sleeper. pack n play was a waste of money for us because lincoln had reflux so he couldn't lay flat. didnt need anything else, literally.

same here!
Loves:

Alex loved his swing, i got the My Little Lamb one. he had reflux and a touch of colic and this would guarantee to calm him down.
Rock and play-- slept in for 3 months no issues.
loved the playmat-these are cheap and portable

Hates:

Hated the pack and play for anything but travel crib,
hated the stationary exersaucer,
he hated the sling/baby bjorn too
never got into the vibrating seat
hated the jumperoo on the floor but loved the one in the doorway. i never got into the diaper genie because i did not want to pay for refills. i used a garbage pail with plastic bags that i changed frequently.

. the carseat was also a favorite, we had he graco one. used to rock him to sleep in that.

britleann26 · January 2014

We are planning to have the baby in our room as my 5 yo nephew stays in the second bedroom. We are debating on using a PnP over a mini crib just to save space. I am still on the fence about it though.

Would a child sleep comfortably for the first 6 or 12 months in a PnP?

obscurereference · January 2014

DD loved the doorway jumper and we could not have survived without the RNP. She hated her swing, we never bothered with a bouncer or vibrating anything. She also loved her exersaucer. She started wanting to sit up all the time really early (3 months) and I think that's what drove her likes and dislikes. We also got fair use out of the bumbo.

As far as the PNP, they're pretty useful but I think the nappers are kind of dumb as they have the same weight limit as the bassinet part.

Also, think about your pets as well. A lot of our purchases we made so baby wouldn't be face-licking/drooling height all the time! (Obviously if you have a giant dog, this is probably impossible.)

lest12 · January 2014

gatewols said:

DD loved the doorway jumper and we could not have survived without the RNP. She hated her swing, we never bothered with a bouncer or vibrating anything. She also loved her exersaucer. She started wanting to sit up all the time really early (3 months) and I think that's what drove her likes and dislikes. We also got fair use out of the bumbo. As far as the PNP, they're pretty useful but I think the nappers are kind of dumb as they have the same weight limit as the bassinet part. Also, think about your pets as well. A lot of our purchases we made so baby wouldn't be face-licking/drooling height all the time! (Obviously if you have a giant dog, this is probably impossible.)

I'm really happy you said this. I was thinking about what would keep the dog away from being in the baby's face all the time.

I mean, I trust my dog, but it doesn't seem like a good idea to let the dog be in the baby's face whenever, without my attention being focused on them as well.

How do people deal with this in general?

Why don't I know anything about babies?

Rosebud2587 · January 2014

Liked:

1) Pnp (We're still using it. In fact DD has insisted on sleeping in it every night for the past month)

2) Swing (The only way DD would nap for the first 6m)

3) Good quality baby carrier (We have a Beco)

4) Sound machine (We have the Homedics sound spa and DD still uses it every night)

5) Activity Mat (We have the FP Jungle one and DD still likes it 2 yrs later)

6) A good quality stroller (or 2) that fits your lifestyle.

7) Jumperoo

Waste of $:

1) Bouncer (DD hated her bouncer)

2) Bumbo. The only thing I really used it for was sitting DD in it in the bathroom so that I could hop in the shower quick.

3) Exersaucer

4) Boppy pillow (I am probably in the minority here but we never really used ours)

lizok22 · January 2014

Omg I forgot about the boppy. Totally worth every penny as a nursing prop. I used this everyday for a year as my arms were too weak (lazy)to hold him

lefriday · January 2014

Rock n play for sure! Vibrating fisher price infant/ rocker chair,
Bumbo, Tripp trapp high chair, video monitor, and some great blankets ...and a better thermometer

lest12 · January 2014

Thanks so much everyone

purtz · January 2014

#1- Video monitor! Followed closely by a good swaddle blanket!! We liked the summer infant Velcro ones.

whoberry · January 2014

@britleann26 I asked the same question recently on the gear board https://forums.thebump.com/discussion/12241389/can-you-use-a-pack-n-play-instead-of-a-crib#latest

MarciP83 · January 2014

I haven't had a "baby" in the house for 6+ years, so I've been feeling pretty outta the loop. There is so much more available now! Even 6 yrs ago it was our 2nd child, so we reused stuff from DD#1...so it's been 8.5 years since I've really purchased/looked at baby items. Between my own experiences and the advice of my girlfriends who've had kids more recently, here's what I've come up with:
*rock n play- apparently God's gift to new mommies everywhere

*for moms who run or walk a lot, apparently a BOB stroller rocks the party. Pricey, but an adapter to hook in an infant seat is available so it can be used all the time and there's no need for a separate stroller. Got mine from Kohls.com and got a heck of a deal (compared to the prices at BBB and BRU)
*a good, comfy glider/rocker for the nursery...I know some peeps may not agree on this one and r just fine without a chair, or with a more traditional wooden rocker. I used a family heirloom wooden rocker with my girls and found it incredibly difficult to nurse in and impossible to snooze in. This time I ordered a big plush glider and ottoman, and just made sure to get a neutral color that we can put in the living room after
*i know a lot of moms think "cutest" crib bedding is a waste of $, but I happen to love it. I wanted the look of a complete set, but bumpers are becoming extinct for safety reasons. Now they make crib rail covers that coordinate with the sets and they are adorable and high enough on the rail that they aren't a hazard. Yay! If you're like me a want the bumper look without the bumper, check these out

And that's all I've got so far...happy registering!

hollygb22 · January 2014

I forgot about nursing pillow and monitor...

I don't know what I'd do without the video monitor.i love ours (motorola)...it's so helpful now in the mornings. I hear her and just look at it and see her playing..I know I have an extra 5-10 minutes to get ready...once I see her stand I know its time to get her before she's hanging over the side of the crib.

Nursing pillow..the boppy was useless to me. It always caved in half in the middle, i could never get it around me and I'm not too big of a lady and she was always falling inbetween me and the pillow. I used my brest friend. I had a hard time supporting her without anything.

DaisyHeadMayzie · January 2014

For us, the top few things we used in the first few months for DD were:

1. Vibrating bouncy seat- sometimes that was the ONLY way she would nap

2. Swaddle sacks. We started with swaddle blankets but she would wiggle her way out. We ended up using more Halo sleep sacks and it worked much better

3. Jumperoo. We also had an exersaucer and she liked both equally. Our house is rather large so we kept one in the living room and one in the family room so we didn't have to lug them back and forth.

4. A & A blankets. After we stopped using them for swaddling, we still got a ton of use out of them. They'd be on the floor for tummy time. I'd use them to cover up when I was nursing, a lightweight blanket over her carrier to keep the sun from being too bright, etc.

The pack n play is an iffy one for me. She slept in the newborn bassinet portion the first few months. Other than that, we never used it once we transitioned her to the crib. The only time that we haul it out is if we are staying overnight away from home.

Waste:

1. Swing. I borrowed one from a friend and I'm glad I did. She hated it from the start.

2. Bumbo. My DD starting sitting on her own fairly early. We only used it a handful of times so I don't think it was worth the extra money.

3. Carrier. She hated the baby wearing. I'm hoping #2 will be more receptive.