STM's Item Recommendations?

KMW08 · May 2014

PandaCon's PSA about the R&P got my brain rolling. What would you say your top 5 or so bigger ticket purchases(minus crib/stroller/car seat) were most valuable to you? Diaper genie? R&P, P&P, I don't know what else?

I'd appreciate this so I can research the items & then be in the lookout for good deals on them. For a gal who has wanted a baby so bad, I know jack shit about what I really need or what is convenient.

jf198400 · May 2014

RNP, Swing, exersaucer/ jumperoo

Nice to have: bouncy chair, playmat

I wouldn't buy any big ticket items until after your baby shower.

We really didn't "need" a PNP. It was mainly used for diaper changes when they were little. We used it a handful of times while traveling.

moroccojade · May 2014

A good carrier. (We loved our Ergo. There are lots of good ones out there. Just avoid the Bjorn and other crotch danglers and back pain inducers.)

We just had a regular garbage bin for diapers. It worked great. (Just take the trash out!) No pack and play. They seem weird to me. lol.

I think BRU and other stores want us to think that we need ALL THE THINGS. We really don't. Keep it simple. Less junk to get rid of when the baby grows up.

ETA... a feeding chair was really nice. Not for the newborn stage... but when DD was four months we started using one. It strapped to a regular dining room chair... and it had a reclining option. She watched us while we ate, and then she transitioned easily into eating with us when she was 6 months. It was nice to have regular-feeling meals with the whole family right away. We never had a traditional high chair. We just wanted her at our table.

thedjinn88 · May 2014

Vibrating chair or swing was a must with my daughter, loved swaddler blankets, play pin is good for when you need to get things done or take baby outside. Heartbeat toy for bed time. I had no need dir changing table, not until she moved to her D own room and really it was just storage. I thought the diaper genie was a waste of money. My daughter is five now so I can't remember everything sorry lol

abbyful · May 2014

Not big ticket, but here are some smaller things I loved:

Fisher Price seahorse - DS still sleeps with it

Infant gowns for newborns - easy diaper changes

BabyLegs - again, easy diaper changes

Natedawg71 · May 2014

We didn't use the diaper pail either after a month or so. I really like the muslin(so soft) swaddling blankets and/velcro type sleep sacks. My daughter loved to be swaddled! My daughter loved her bouncy seat. I nursed for 14 months but could never get comfortable with a boppy. Used later to help her sit up but that's about it. Also, I never used our bumbo seat but know others who loved theirs.

ccam · May 2014

Video monitor
A comfy chair for the nursery
A good carrier - we have the Moby and Ergo
A few A&A blankets
Snap & Go stroller frame

ETA: have to agree with the floor mat and exersaucer / activity center - that was pretty much the only way I showered for a little while! Oh and breast pump because I EPed for almost 5 months.

wallygirl · May 2014

My DD loved both the vibrating/bouncy chair and her swing. She also loved the exersaucer. We registered and received one that had a newborn play mat, infant exersaucer and then broke down into a play table for when she started standing and toddling. P&P we used it in our room for a bit when she was smaller but we travel quite a bit so it comes in very handy. We registered for the basic bare bones p&p. I didn't feel like we needed a newborn lounger or changing table part just the actual P&P.
Our biggest ticket item besides nursery furniture was a rocking recliner. I hate them! I think they look atrocious. However, best purchase ever made. Her and I have spent lots and lots of time snuggling in the ugly chair

kepper6000 · May 2014

Carrier (we have an ergo)
RnP
PnP (we used it downstairs while she slept in a cosleeper in our room, then when she outgrew the cosleeper she slept in it in our room until 6 months when we transferred to crib)
Snap n Go

mb314 · May 2014

Top 5:

- Breast pump (if you're returning to work and are breastfeeding)
- Ergo and Moby (Moby was great when DS was teeny; by month 4 I switched to the Ergo
- Arm's Reach Co-sleeper (I wasn't comfortable totally co-sleeping, but this kept DS close at hand)
- Swaddle Me's/Miracle Blankets because I sucked at swaddling with blankets (and DS liked to be swaddled).
- Exersaucer for when DS was older

FWIW, I never had a swing, Bumbo, Rock-n-Play or Diaper Genie. I don't know how we got away without having a swing. Our house at the time was too small for one. I will be getting one for this LO because I imagine I'll have to put him/her down more often to deal with DS. We cloth diapered, so a regular garage bin with a lid did just fine for our wipes and occasional disposables.

jlaferne · May 2014

1. Full time nanny would be nice 2. Breast pump
3. Mamaroo!

mussalynn · May 2014

I think our most favourite big ticket item is our video monitor - I don't know what we would do without it. Besides that, I would recommend a good quality nursing pillow - DS is 15 months old and I still use mine every night for his bedtime bottle. Swaddle-Me's are awesome for swaddling - they have velcro so you know baby is swaddled nice and tight and can't wiggle out of it. I sucked hard at swaddling with receiving blankets so these saved me. I wouldn't say a Pack 'n Play is a must, we never used ours at home, but they are awesome for travel.

abbyful · May 2014

How could I forget swing?! DS loved it as a newborn, but then about 8 months old or so, didn't care for it anymore.

Make sure you get one that plugs into the wall. Ours (Snugabumny) also swings both back-and-forth and side-by-side.

jlove253 · May 2014

1) baby monitor that has good reception. I registered for a cheap one and finally broke down and bought one with a 200 ft range that didn't crackle and beep all the time. No video, but that's ok by me. I just can't believe how long I put up with a crappy monitor.
2) exersaucer. We got one that was a jumper style and dd LOVED IT and still played with all the toys on it after she stopped sitting in it.
3) an outdoor baby gate. I know this is primarily just because of our yard, but it really was a life saver that kept dd from crawling away while I was gardening and not watching her like a hawk. She's a speedy, sneaky one. We also took it camping and use it to block off a large part of the house that I don't want her to access now that I'm couch-ridden with HG.
4) I know stroller isn't what I'm supposed to mention, but seriously, a stroller with all-terrain/ bike tires. Awesomeness!
5) snap n go stroller frame. Made it so easy to push baby around the mall and other stores.

mamatohne · May 2014

I don't know what you consider big ticket but we could not live without

Rock n play
Swing
Breast pump
Boppy pillow
Magic sleep suit
A&A swaddles
Ergo

Things I didn't have use for

A pack n play- I will use it this time, because I still use the changing table for ds and won't be taking it out of his room.
Bumbo- by the time he was strong enough to sit in it his legs were way to fat.

PineApple85 · May 2014

I second a good double-electric breast pump (if you plan to bf and need to return to work), the pack 'n' play (DS slept in his PnP in our room until he was 5 months), and a good carrier (I liked my Baby K'tan when DS was an infant, but switched to an Ergo for when he got bigger), and a video monitor - I would've gone crazy without mine.

I don't know if if counts as a "big" item but I LOVED our PUJ infant tub. I'll try to paste pictures; we'll see if it works. Super easy to use, easy to store, and much easier to bathe DS in than the other infant tub we got (which we ended up returning). I was sooooo sad when he outgrew it. It's a little on the pricier side but you can sometimes find them on consignment somewhere.

mamatohne · May 2014

@thedjinn88‌ anything that mimics mothers heartbeat is strongly recommended to avoid! It puts baby into too deep of sleep.

emoxymoose · May 2014

I have to recommend the carrier I have for everyone that is talking about their ergo. We actually bought the lillebaby, it was cheaper than the ergo baby and it doesn't require the extra infant insert. DS was born at the end of June so super fluffy insert was a big deal with the heat, but I've used both and I like the lillebaby better.

https://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4109452&prodFindSrc=prodCrossSell

I used my changing table all the time, I put a pad on a dresser but still it was so nice and I used it until he was too big to fit on it.. which was about 8 months I think.

Also my Boppy pillow was a must, even for DH who said his arms got tired trying to support the baby all the time.

Edit: I forgot stuff.

sunflwra · May 2014

Some big ticket items and other just absolute must haves:

Rock n Play- daughter slept in it in our room for the first 3 months

Video monitor- lifesaver

Boppy- we had 2 so that I could keep one in my bedroom for night feeds and one in the family room for everything else- also great prop them in as they get bigger

White noise machine- we sleep with fans in our room and used one as soon as we moved her to her own room- she's a fantastic sleeper

Bouncy seat- she loved hers

venussapphire · May 2014

this was great especially the bassinete

https://www.amazon.com/Graco-Newborn-Napper-Elite-Vance/dp/B005UV0UU4/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1400278354&sr=8-4&keywords=pack+n+play

https://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-K2564-Rainforest-Bouncer/dp/B000I2WB6G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1400278466&sr=8-1&keywords=rainforest+bouncer

tinkerbell1658 · May 2014

I had to get a diaper genie ONLY because of my dog. (Eww! Dogs are gross. Lol)

Bumbo. My skinny mini would still sit in it if i let him. Hes 4.

Boppy

Carrier (ergo and moby)

Co-sleeper. I didnt have one last time, just shared the bed but this time ds still sneaks in my bed and i dont trust it.

A pump you like.

carcrashheart · May 2014

Things we used:

RNP
Changing pad
Car seat swing frame
Play mat (around 3 months old) (I opted for the kick and play piano this time)
Formula pitcher
Vibrating chair
Sleep sheep
Exersaucer (four months+)
Space saver chair (six months+)
Receiving blankets (they turned in to his lovies, not on purpose)
Video monitor
Boppy
Regular store sleep sacks with the arms. They kept him warm but not wrapped tightly to simulate swaddling.
Baby legs
Baby food steamer and processer
City mini stroller + adapter
Car seat cover (NOT a bundleme type)
Car seat (graco snug ride)

Things DS hated:
Being swaddled. A&A blankets and swaddleme's were useless.
FP sea horse
Pacifiers, except gum drop, and he stopped all pacifiers by 4 months on his own accord
Being walked or rocked to sleep beyond four months old

Things I've invested in for #2:
Regular swing (will use both)
Snuza
Second sleep sheep
Kick and play piano
New video monitor (I think I've decided on the 3.5" Motorola)

We almost never used the PNP. I briefly did when transitioning him from the RNP. But we learned how noisy a baby can sleep and it lasted a few nights before I walked him down the hall to his crib, thus spontaneously moving him from our room to his in an instant. He would go back to the RNP but we kept it in his room after that. We always changed him on his changing pad. We weren't anywhere diaper changers. We also never used gowns. The breathable bumper lasted two nights before going back to the store.

mamatohne · May 2014

Oh I forgot snuza, a friend gave me hers for this baby! I'm so excited for it!

montella1064 · May 2014

A swing for sure (the one that swings in both directions!), an exersaucer and a video monitor with night vision for peace of mind!

ShelleyElla22 · May 2014

I couldn't live without my video monitor!

I also highly recommend investing the $ into a super comfy chair for the nursery because you will spend a lot of time in it! We have an overstuffed rocker glider with gliding ottoman that is heaven!

My kids were always very restless so we needed to have a lot of variety- swing, play mat, exersaucer, jumperoo.

Sound machine

Boppy

It's a big ticket item but my double BOB stroller is seriously one of the greatest things on the planet

VanillaTwilight13 · May 2014

Sound machine for sleeping, bouncer seat (DS loved sitting in it and watching me do dishes, etc once he was 3-4 months old), Moby up to 3-4 months (I actually wore him in to restaurants like that because I would either have to hold him or he would cry the whole time in the car seat otherwise). We used a bassinet last time until he was 3 months, but I'm going to try the RnP this time. LOTS of onsies and burp cloths! A clip for the pacifier for going out in public. The Bumpo and Boppy were a waste of money for us.

mommymeg143 · September 2014

Bump. I've seen this question from a few moms. Lots of great suggestions here from our STM+.

jillybean7582 · September 2014

1. RNP (hands down life saver, DS would not sleep on anything flat while swaddled.)
2. Ergo carrier, I wore him everywhere, he hated the infant carseat unless he was in a moving car
3. Bouncer, easy to move around the house, he always sat in it while I cooked and showered
4. Merlins Magic Sleep Suit, made transitioning him from RNP and being swaddled into crib unswaddled a breeze.
5. Sound machine. He is 2 now and still uses it to go to sleep. Bonus We use one that sounds like a rainstorm and storms never wake him up in the middle of the night because he is use to the sound as calming.

ETA: Not a baby item but we could not have lived without our exercise ball the first 6-9 months. He liked to be bounced in your arms rather than rocked to sleep so instead of pacing the halls bouncing him we would sit in the exercise ball and bounce him to sleep.

MuchlyGen · September 2014

MOBY WRAP. Lifesaver.

That was the only thing I genuinely /needed/ with both kids.

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