Top Must-Have Essential Baby Buys?

MrsPDX · November 2014

What would you say the top essential baby items are for right away (baby first comes home)?

I'm a FTM and beginning to look at purchasing items and giving parents ideas for Christmas. Yet I am so overwhelmed with how many baby things are out there! I mean Baby R' Us' necessity list is hundreds of items long...

Obviously, crib/basinette, sheets, diapers and diapering accessories, car seat, clothes, bottles and feeding items.. But I would like some opinions on what you found absolutely crucial and what you could skip on (or buy at a later age).

mc0113 · November 2014

Here's a good place to start:

https://www.lucieslist.com/baby-registry-basics/

orangecurls · November 2014

Baby carrier - I like a stretchy wrap like a Moby

Swaddle - a large swaddle blanket like Aden and anais or swaddle design. I also really liked the Velcro swaddle blankets like the miracle blanket.

LittleApple · November 2014

Throw out those "must have" lists at baby stores. Most of that stuff is not necessary and almost all the car seat accessories are not safe.

A good wrap or carrier is always good. For the NB I liked my Baby K'Tan- like a Moby wrap but easier to use. I then liked my Beco Gemini front facing, side carrying, parent facing or back carrying carrier.

I would hold off on buying all the swaddles until you know if your child actually likes it. Some don't.

A baby bouncer or swing is always good to have in the beginning for when you need to get stuff done, you have somewhere to put the baby.

CLLDLL · November 2014

All NBs really need is something to eat, Somewhere to sleep, clothes, and diapers. The rest is "luxuries".

My favorites for "luxueries" are:
Rock n play
Lots of cheap footed sleep and play outfits
Cloth diapers for burp cloths
Bobby or BF'ing pillow
Halo swaddlers
Noise Machine

MrsPDX · November 2014

Thanks! I really appreciate the feedback!

spartybride3 · November 2014

I had a k'tan and baby liked it but it killed my back (I have a back injury though). There were tons of times where she just wanted to be held and I wouldn't get anything done unless I put her in that. We have the rockaroo swing and she slept in that for the first couple weeks until she transitioned to the crib. Now she naps in it because she's super active & it keeps her cozy. She couldn't sit up in her bouncer for a few months but I would put her in it so I could shower. I second the A&A blankets...we use them for everything. Get tons of burp cloths...a&a ones are cute but if you have a heavy spitter, they don't hold crap (same for bibs). We use the gerber cloth diaper things that come in packs of 10. I found the born free bibs are the most absorbent but they are kind of small. The fisher price whale tub is also great. It held her up the best as a newborn. Skip the fisher price playmat w/the bird mobile. It breaks. Go for baby Einstein or skip hop.

We also used a woombie to help her sleep but it only worked for about a month and we started using it when she was 2.5 months old. My SIL swears by it and my niece was sleeping 10 hours by 2 months (no lie). I think that a lot of things (especially with sleep) is trial and error. You can buy all the recommended things and your baby might not like them.

laurenlalap · November 2014

My must haves in the early weeks were:

1. double breast pump

2. aden and anais blankets

3. ZIPPER oneises - NOT buttons

4. Luna swing

5. Steam bags

6. Wubanubs

7. Baby bjorn babysitter chair

8. Ocean scenes crib music thing.. can't remember the name

9. Sophie the giraffe

10. Pack n play

11. Snuza

12. Angelcare video and sensor monitor

13. bummis cloth wipes

14. our very comfortable glider with gliding ottoman

15. car seat adapter for the stroller so we didn't have to take sleeping LO out of the car seat when transferring to the stroller

16. tummy time mat

17. ergo carrier

18. dekor diaper disposal (the diaper genie was absolutely terrible)

19. tummy tub

Barbara83 · November 2014

My favorite baby items are:
Boppy
Hands free pumping bra
Tummy time mat (we have the FP Rainforest one)
Footed pajamas with zippers not snaps
Halo sleep sacks
A&A blankets
Summer infant rubber bib that catches food once LO starts finger foods
Car mirror to see LO while driving
Infant tylenol for fevers and pain relief from shots

HorseLover11 · November 2014

Saline nose drops, ergo swaddle, monitor, lots of burp cloths, hands free pumping bra

leela02 · November 2014

snap bibs

Miracle Blanket - DD always got her arms out and slapped herself awake with the other swaddles

burp cloths

Dr. Brown's formula mixing pitcher (if you end up FF)

pacifiers

bouncy chair

infant optics video monitor

white noise machine

car seat adapter for stroller

A&A swaddles (the ones that look like thin blankets)

Rock n Play

Pack n Play

A monitor is probably not essential in a small place. We're in a large 2-story so it can be hard to hear DD from certain areas.

AmCheri · November 2014

We absolutely loved Magnificent Baby magnetic sleep gowns. Life saver for the easiest diaper changes. Will definitely use again she our second is born this April. For burp cloths, get a ton of cloth diapers. Work better than anything. Perfect size. Absorbent. Cheap. And you'll go through a ton of them. Having done this once before, I can honestly say you simply don't need much. You could drive yourself bonkers with things we are led to believe are essential. Make sure you have a variety of bottles. If you plan to BF, make sure you have formula on hand in case you need to supplement at any point. If you plan on pumping, get your supplies and a pump ready to go. The hands free bra is a lifesaver. Plenty of muslin and lightweight flannel swaddle blankets. A few hats. Small washcloths for sponge baths. A nightlight for middle of the night feedings. Sound machine. Cornstarch to keep baby's neck and rolls nice and dry. That ought to do it.

AmCheri · November 2014

I agree with LittleApple about the swaddles! If you do buy, only get one to start. We bought a ton of them and our daughter hated them. It just didn't work for us and wasn't necessary. She did just fine in a sleep gown and her blankets.

tinyjoys · December 2014

My must haves were a boppy, receiving blankets, onsies and sleepers, and a swing.

jdanczyk · January 2015

For us the swing was the biggest must have! It calmed DD right away. Swaddles. Pack n play instead of a bassinet, breast pump (along with breast shields to catch excess milk, mother's love nipple cream, and ice packs designed for the boobs!), a noise machine (ours is also a projector which DD loved right away!), depending on where you live...a humidifier, a rocking recliner, and lots and lots if snacks with a giant water bottle for momma.

AmCheri · January 2015

@jdanczyk, I forgot about the swing! It was a requirements for us. We had one in our family room and then a smaller one upstairs that we used when we took a shower. Favorite swing was the F-P Cradle and Swing (we had the Snuggabunny). Not every baby loves to swing, but I hope you have one that does. It's a lifesaver.

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