We're getting the Avent microwave sterilizer. Put a little water on the bottom, throw everything in and put it in the microwave. I'd been looking into sanitizers and read they're unnecessary unless you live in the third world or might have bacteria in the water (not normal in the US) but we're getting it for my germophobe peace of mind I would trust a dishwasher but this is much quicker. I'm only planning on using it for the first year.
We're getting the Avent microwave sterilizer. Put a little water on the bottom, throw everything in and put it in the microwave. I'd been looking into sanitizers and read they're unnecessary unless you live in the third world or might have bacteria in the water (not normal in the US) but we're getting it for my germophobe peace of mind I would trust a dishwasher but this is much quicker. I'm only planning on using it for the first year.
I want to preface this by saying I'm not trying to discourage you from sanitizing your bottles, especially if it will give you peace of mind. However, this gave me a chuckle because in that one year time your LO will lick everything it can get its mouth on (toys, doors, windows, walls, your arms/legs), eat bugs and dog/cat food (if you have a furbaby), and put every speck it finds on the ground in it's mouth.
Thinking of registering of them. If I get them, fabulous. If I don't, I'll consider purchasing them myself.
I had to look both of those things up. So I don't have any first hand experience. I think the Dockatot looks like a waste of money. One of the uses is cuddling? Seriously? I hold my babies on my chest to cuddle them. I don't understand the point. Is it just to keep the baby from rolling over? Why? A bouncer seat of some kind is nice to have. Although holding the baby is nice, sometimes you just have to put them down. To wash dishes, shower, or eat. In those times it's nice to have somewhere safe to put the baby.
@camichael84 omg, noooo! Buuuugs?! Why? I gagged. You're totally bursting my FTM bubble! I'm thankful we have moms here to remind us of reality. I've removed 3 things from my registry today because of this thread.
What about that ginormous noodle pillow for sleep comfort throughout pregnancy? I haven't jumped on it yet, because the pillow is rather pricey and I would have no use for it later. Plus, we only have a queen sized bed.
omg, noooo! Buuuugs?! Why? I gagged. You're totally bursting my FTM bubble! I'm thankful we have moms here to remind us of reality. I've removed 3 things from my registry today because of this thread.
Haha! This is a very similar reaction to what I had when I saw DD eat her first bug. Or any bug thereafter, really. I sent a horrified text to DH once I was done prying pieces of bug out of her mouth and his response was "extra protein". What is wrong with men!?
@frogdog06 I bought the Snoogle to try to preemptively train myself no to sleep on my back or stomach. It definitely fit on my queen bed with DH and me. We're both tall, I'm of average build and DH is a bit chubby. I'm going to return mine, though, because my sleep quality drops when using it. I don't roll over, but every time I want to adjust at night I get tangled in it! Mine's the C or J shaped one, so maybe the one that hugs on both sides is better? It's definitely bigger, though.
@frogdog06 A Snoogle? I loved mine so much my last pregnancy that I got another one this time (the orginal was probably reusable, but looked pretty flat and worn down). That said, if you don't want to spend that kind of money on a pillow you'll only use 6-ish months, a body pillow would work just as well. So while I love mine, I admit it's probably a waste of money.
Thx @Jabreen & @camichael84 ...yeah, that thing!! I'm already a side sleeper, but have been tossing and turning and trying to fit regular pillows around me. I can still (currently) get good sleep though!
@frogdog06 I bought the Back 'n Belly pillow from Amazon and I love it. I did take the cover off though since it had a really hard seam that was uncomfortable. But otherwise, it is nice and full and has really helped my back pain.
Married: 3/21/15 First time mom to a human but have been a puppy mamma for over 12 years
@frogdog06 I got a snoogle because I found myself rolling onto my back because of my hip hurting. I used a body pillow for support but that didn't help the rolling on my back. Mine is the one shaped like a C and it has helped a lot! I still roll onto my back but the pillow is there for support and so I wake up on top of it while still on my side but the pressure is off my hip. I'm picky about pillows so I thought I would be wanting my pillow back but it's worked very well and I haven't missed my pillows. It can get a little tangly when getting in and out of bed but the benefits outweigh that for me and I've always been one to get up a lot to pee at night. I wake up a lot less now that I have it and it fits great in our queen bed.
Thinking of registering of them. If I get them, fabulous. If I don't, I'll consider purchasing them myself.
I had to look up dockatot because I'd never heard of it. I watched the video on their website and I'm still not sure what the hell it's for, but I can tell you that I've successfully (I think) raised one child to 19 months without this contraption and I've never had any desire for something like this.
ETA: A Bouncer is definitely a good thing to have because it's a portable thing that can be easily moved from room to room and serves as a safe place to set baby down. I don't know if you need one that costs $150. Ours costs $30 and it held a baby just as well as any of the other ones on the market. I think if you go middle of the road someone will be more like to buy it for you. (I for one could never justify spending $150 on a seat that child will outgrow within about 6 months)
Agreed with what @KimmySchmidt and other pp's said about the bouncer. We had one of those over the door contraptions that we got for $23 bucks. DS would like to "walk around" in it more than bounce, but it was nice to set it up in the kitchen and get dinner ready or do the dishes. He would tolerate it for about 15m and then want out.
Another item that I wished we had bought second hand was a play mat. They are way too expensive for what they are. And again, he used it for like 4mos tops
@frogdog06 I like my Snoogle too. It keeps me laying on my left side better than a regular pillow. It took a few nights to adjust but I'm glad I bought it now. Also, you can use the 20% off bed bath and beyond online coupon if you buy online and I think there's free shipping too.
The snoogle scares me - I like my space and I like to roll over and switch sides. That thing looks like a total sleep suffocator, but so many of my preggo friends swear by them!
We had an over the door jumper handed down to us (a Johnny Jump up) and didn't get any use out of it. We have almost no doorways in our house - pretty open concept (other than the bathroom doorway downstairs.. and attaching a baby to that is just inconvenient).
Bottle sanitizers as a system do not fit all bottles. We used 8ounce Dr. Brown's bottles once we got going with formula (very long and skinny) and they did not fit in the playtex bottle sanitizing system that we had bought. The sanitizer became a glorified bottle drying rack (which is fine - we definitely needed one). We used the microwave bags every now and then for pump parts to sanitize and otherwise washed everything really well in the sink and/or dishwasher.
@frogdog06 one more thing about the Snoogle, I am sleeping with my backwards and like it way better. I originally tried it "the right way" I think, with the long pillow part against my front, and I would get tangled and had to roll over it to get to the bathroom. Now, I have the long pillow part against my back, and I can easily get out of bed if needed. It keeps me from sleeping on my back or stomach, which is why i got it.
For the changing table we put a changing pad on top of the dresser...but we only used in the morning, before bed, or after bath...otherwise we change them on the floor wherever we are.
Waste of money for us: wipes warmer, swing, bassinet, bouncer, bumbo, crib bedding, extra newborn clothes (we only needed maybe 5-6 outfits, grew out of them in a week), and I think those are the big ones.
There are definitely things that I'd wait to buy because they take up space and you don't use them right away. Things like the highchair or the walker etc.
I'm less than four months in but maybe I can help...
Changing Table- I got one that's also a 3 drawer dresser for $40 on Facebook. It wasn't the color I wanted but we painted it and changed the knobs and it's perfect. I don't use it much yet because she still sleeps in my room but when she's older, it will definitely be used. Also, since it's a dresser, it serves more than one purpose.
Diaper Genie- I actually love this. I had the smell problem at first, but I bought the carbon filters that go in the top and haven't had an issue since! And I don't buy the expensive refills, I buy the target brand at 3 for $7.49 and they work just as well. ALSO! I've seen a lot of people on TB in general that seem to think as soon as it fills up for the first time, you take the whole refill out and throw it away. Don't do that! You cut the bag off with the interior cutter, tie it off, and throw away the used portion. Then you continue using the same refill.
Travel System- We got lucky. I got my infant seat on sale and found out later it fit my niece's stroller. But even if I didn't have that option, I'd have bought one. I love it, use it constantly, and it has made long days at the hospital much easier.
Bassinet/Swing/Bouncer- these go together for me. I bought the Graco Soothing Systems gliding system that was a 3 in 1. It had a bassinet that attached and rocked back and forth; when you wanted to use the swing, the bouncer doubled for it and could either be attached to the rocker or sat on the floor as a bouncer. I paid $213 for what was essentially 3 $100+ items. Very worth it!
PNP- I didn't think I would use this so I didn't buy it or register for it. One of my aunt's friends gave me hers and I'm so glad she did! It has the bassinet and changing attachments and was a lifesaver those first six weeks. She didn't sleep in it, but it definitely got used! Now, it's set up in my room and she sleeps in the raised portion right next to my bed.
Boppy- this has so far been unnecessary for her, but I use it every night! I like it more than my own pillow, lol. She's started using it for tummy time and to sit now, though.
Bumbo- We're just now starting to use it, but I much prefer this to a high chair. I don't have space for a big chair and the Bumbo we have has a removable insert for as she grows.
Bottle Warmer- I have one and I've used it a few times, but baby girl is impatient so the microwave works faster for us. If your baby is less impatient than mine, I'd say it's worth it. I can't make myself give her a cold bottle for my own convenience and having warm bottles at home doesn't keep her from drinking room temp bottles when we go out.
Bedding Set- I didn't buy one (though if I could have afforded the one I wanted, I would have. Instead, my aunt made it for me. It consists of a ruffled bed skirt, bumpers, a sheet, and a quilt. At this moment, all of those are on the crib. When I put her in it initially, I will take the bumpers out and put them back when she's around 1-1 1/2. She's always slept with a blanket though.
Wipe Warmer- I didn't buy one. I hold her wipes in my hands for a few seconds and they warm right up. And yes, I even did this when she was a newborn in late December/early January.
Nail Clippers- I see a bunch of people saying they're unnecessary but for my daughter, they were life savers! She had super long nails that grow super fast, and she's a comfort scratcher. She doesn't scratch herself, she scratches whoever is holding her! Files didn't work and I'm kinda weird about nails so I didn't want to bite them. Mittens wouldn't stay on her little wrists and by the time they would, she could pull them off.I've been clipping hers since 1 week old and have never clipped her skin.
I'm less than four months in but maybe I can help...
Diaper Genie- I actually love this. I had the smell problem at first, but I bought the carbon filters that go in the top and haven't had an issue since! And I don't buy the expensive refills, I buy the target brand at 3 for $7.49 and they work just as well. ALSO! I've seen a lot of people on TB in general that seem to think as soon as it fills up for the first time, you take the whole refill out and throw it away. Don't do that! You cut the bag off with the interior cutter, tie it off, and throw away the used portion. Then you continue using the same refill.
Bedding Set- I didn't buy one (though if I could have afforded the one I wanted, I would have. Instead, my aunt made it for me. It consists of a ruffled bed skirt, bumpers, a sheet, and a quilt. At this moment, all of those are on the crib. When I put her in it initially, I will take the bumpers out and put them back when she's around 1-1 1/2. She's always slept with a blanket though.
Bumpers at that age might not be a good idea. While the risk for SIDS is much much lower, the bumpers begin to serve as a foot-hold to help the baby climb out of the crib.
And at 4 months in, you haven't even begun to smell stinky diapers...
This board probably has more BTDT moms than FTMs. So while your advice could be helpful to some, we also have plenty of experience here.
an expensive diaper bag baby bedding set wipe warmer changing table. get a long dresser and stick a changing pad on top. it stores more and lasts longer. video monitor. we really only used this when they were toddlers, just so we could tell them to get back in bed, lol. toys, rattles, etc for a newborn. save it until they're older, haha. we have a whole bin full of rattles and baby toys that pretty much never got used. sophie the giraffe shoes for a newborn bumbo diaper stacker diaper genie
Evelyn (3.24.10), Graham (5.30.13) & Miles (8.28.16)
My daughter stayed teeny tiny for awhile so newborn sized clothes were very necessary. Next size swallowed her.
Same with me. Clothing sizes are so varying from baby to baby, and your never know how big they will be until they are here. I was a 8.5 lb baby, and DH was 9.5 lbs. I doubt we would have fit in newborn clothes long, if at all, so I hadn't planned on getting any expecting DD to be the same way. The last two months of my pregnancy, I began to second guess myself and got several newborn outfits. DD ended up being 7.5 lbs when she was born, and didn't get back to her birth weight until she was a little over 3 weeks old. She was in newborn clothes until 6 weeks and we had to buy her more after she was born because we didn't have enough. Even when we moved her to the 0-3 month, they looked huge on her for 3 or 4 weeks. I wouldn't recommend anyone to buy a ton of newborn clothes, but I'd have some just in case.
Lurking from Dec 2015 My 7 pound baby wore preemie clothes until 2 months old and still wears newborns at almost 15 pounds. It depends on how your baby is built so keep that in mind.
@aulrey92No way. Preemie clothes are teeny tiny. My baby was 4 lb 1 oz when I brought her home from the hospital and she only wore preemie clothes for a couple weeks. Do you mean that you had a couple of things that were preemie sized that she wore or do you mean that her entire wardrobe was preemie sized?
I'm less than four months in but maybe I can help...
Diaper Genie- I actually love this. I had the smell problem at first, but I bought the carbon filters that go in the top and haven't had an issue since! And I don't buy the expensive refills, I buy the target brand at 3 for $7.49 and they work just as well. ALSO! I've seen a lot of people on TB in general that seem to think as soon as it fills up for the first time, you take the whole refill out and throw it away. Don't do that! You cut the bag off with the interior cutter, tie it off, and throw away the used portion. Then you continue using the same refill.
Bedding Set- I didn't buy one (though if I could have afforded the one I wanted, I would have. Instead, my aunt made it for me. It consists of a ruffled bed skirt, bumpers, a sheet, and a quilt. At this moment, all of those are on the crib. When I put her in it initially, I will take the bumpers out and put them back when she's around 1-1 1/2. She's always slept with a blanket though.
Bumpers at that age might not be a good idea. While the risk for SIDS is much much lower, the bumpers begin to serve as a foot-hold to help the baby climb out of the crib.
And at 4 months in, you haven't even begun to smell stinky diapers...
This board probably has more BTDT moms than FTMs. So while your advice could be helpful to some, we also have plenty of experience here.
I appreciate that. I just figured if I had some experience with anything, it might be helpful. I'm sorry it's not helpful to you, but it might be to someone.
As for the diapers, she has soy and milk intolerances as well as reflux and her diapers have been horrible since two weeks old thanks to the medicines she takes. I am jealous of the moms who haven't had to deal with stinky diapers yet, but hers will make you throw up. I wouldn't have written about them otherwise.
Granted they are a little pricey, but they've lasted us for almost 2 years. Our other plastic ones got "foggy" and gross after multiple washes, so I finally caved and threw all of them away (they weren't cheap either- about $7 a piece). DS has dropped these LF bottles (even on concrete!) and they've withstood the abuse. We've purchased the sippy caps, but hand-wash those. On my last BMB there was a mom who was super anti-plastic bottles and she freaked me out about how much it breaks down over time even if it is BPA free.
I'm less than four months in but maybe I can help...
Changing Table- I got one that's also a 3 drawer dresser for $40 on Facebook. It wasn't the color I wanted but we painted it and changed the knobs and it's perfect. I don't use it much yet because she still sleeps in my room but when she's older, it will definitely be used. Also, since it's a dresser, it serves more than one purpose.
Diaper Genie- I actually love this. I had the smell problem at first, but I bought the carbon filters that go in the top and haven't had an issue since! And I don't buy the expensive refills, I buy the target brand at 3 for $7.49 and they work just as well. ALSO! I've seen a lot of people on TB in general that seem to think as soon as it fills up for the first time, you take the whole refill out and throw it away. Don't do that! You cut the bag off with the interior cutter, tie it off, and throw away the used portion. Then you continue using the same refill.
Travel System- We got lucky. I got my infant seat on sale and found out later it fit my niece's stroller. But even if I didn't have that option, I'd have bought one. I love it, use it constantly, and it has made long days at the hospital much easier.
Bassinet/Swing/Bouncer- these go together for me. I bought the Graco Soothing Systems gliding system that was a 3 in 1. It had a bassinet that attached and rocked back and forth; when you wanted to use the swing, the bouncer doubled for it and could either be attached to the rocker or sat on the floor as a bouncer. I paid $213 for what was essentially 3 $100+ items. Very worth it!
PNP- I didn't think I would use this so I didn't buy it or register for it. One of my aunt's friends gave me hers and I'm so glad she did! It has the bassinet and changing attachments and was a lifesaver those first six weeks. She didn't sleep in it, but it definitely got used! Now, it's set up in my room and she sleeps in the raised portion right next to my bed.
Boppy- this has so far been unnecessary for her, but I use it every night! I like it more than my own pillow, lol. She's started using it for tummy time and to sit now, though.
Bumbo- We're just now starting to use it, but I much prefer this to a high chair. I don't have space for a big chair and the Bumbo we have has a removable insert for as she grows.
Bottle Warmer- I have one and I've used it a few times, but baby girl is impatient so the microwave works faster for us. If your baby is less impatient than mine, I'd say it's worth it. I can't make myself give her a cold bottle for my own convenience and having warm bottles at home doesn't keep her from drinking room temp bottles when we go out.
Bedding Set- I didn't buy one (though if I could have afforded the one I wanted, I would have. Instead, my aunt made it for me. It consists of a ruffled bed skirt, bumpers, a sheet, and a quilt. At this moment, all of those are on the crib. When I put her in it initially, I will take the bumpers out and put them back when she's around 1-1 1/2. She's always slept with a blanket though.
Wipe Warmer- I didn't buy one. I hold her wipes in my hands for a few seconds and they warm right up. And yes, I even did this when she was a newborn in late December/early January.
Nail Clippers- I see a bunch of people saying they're unnecessary but for my daughter, they were life savers! She had super long nails that grow super fast, and she's a comfort scratcher. She doesn't scratch herself, she scratches whoever is holding her! Files didn't work and I'm kinda weird about nails so I didn't want to bite them. Mittens wouldn't stay on her little wrists and by the time they would, she could pull them off.I've been clipping hers since 1 week old and have never clipped her skin.
I'll edit and add if I think of more
Please nobody take a high chair off your list and instead register for a bumbo. Your child will only fit into a bumbo for a month or two and it's completely useless after they can sit up on their own. If you are short on space get a space saver high chair that sits on top of a regular chair, can be pushed under the table, and converted to a booster seat. (I have this graco swivel seat and I love it. https://www1.macys.com/shop/product/graco-swivel-high-chair-booster-seat?ID=2252545) My child still eats in a high chair at 1.5 years old. I see us using the booster seat for quite a while. LO would have outgrown the bumbo a year ago.
^^^lucky!!! My DS went on a SERIOUS high chair strike around that time bc he wanted to sit at the dining room table with us. I was so happy to move our high chair into storage, though.
^^^lucky!!! My DS went on a SERIOUS high chair strike around that time bc he wanted to sit at the dining room table with us. I was so happy to move our high chair into storage, though.
Seriously do not know what I would do without the high chair. I put my make up on, get dressed, load the washing machine, and unload the dishwasher every morning in the 10 minutes it takes LO to eat a slice of toast with peanut butter! This kid can sit in a high chair through middle school.
@mom2adoodle I just threw a A&A swaddle blanket on top. Never had a problem. I just grabbed the handle with the blanket on top of it, it never felt unstable.
People have mixed reviews on this, but I personally LOVED mine and it was free!! A car seat liner (according to the police officer that helped me install my car seat) is usually a no-no bc it can mess with the seat's safety
@mom2adoodle the company (Car seat Canopy) that I got mine from, it was free as long as I paid shipping. They have a bunch of other "free" stuff as well.
@marajay6 Oh wow, I didn't even think of getting anything snug like that. Thank you. It does get chilly where I am so I need to look into that. Or maybe for the stroller. I've seen some snug kiddos in strollers around here now that I think about it. Seriously this baby things industry is a whole new world. And worth billions of dollars.
Talking about high chairs - I want to rave about mine. We got the Ikea Antilop high chair for $15. We also spent an extra $10 for the tray and cushion. So many high chairs have fabric covers that are "easy to clean" because they go in the washing machine. But babies and toddlers can be so messy and you aren't going to want to be throwing that cover in the washer after every meal. The IKEA chair is all plastic. One wipe with a wet cloth and it is clean. No washing machine needed. I love it. And at $25, it can't be beat! The easy cleanability was especially appreciated when DS had an absolutely horrendous blowout in the middle of breakfast a couple weeks ago.
Re: Well that was a waste of $$!
A bouncer seat of some kind is nice to have. Although holding the baby is nice, sometimes you just have to put them down. To wash dishes, shower, or eat. In those times it's nice to have somewhere safe to put the baby.
ETA We have a queen and it still fits fine.
First time mom to a human but have been a puppy mamma for over 12 years
ETA: A Bouncer is definitely a good thing to have because it's a portable thing that can be easily moved from room to room and serves as a safe place to set baby down. I don't know if you need one that costs $150. Ours costs $30 and it held a baby just as well as any of the other ones on the market. I think if you go middle of the road someone will be more like to buy it for you. (I for one could never justify spending $150 on a seat that child will outgrow within about 6 months)
Another item that I wished we had bought second hand was a play mat. They are way too expensive for what they are. And again, he used it for like 4mos tops
Bottle sanitizers as a system do not fit all bottles. We used 8ounce Dr. Brown's bottles once we got going with formula (very long and skinny) and they did not fit in the playtex bottle sanitizing system that we had bought. The sanitizer became a glorified bottle drying rack (which is fine - we definitely needed one). We used the microwave bags every now and then for pump parts to sanitize and otherwise washed everything really well in the sink and/or dishwasher.
For the changing table we put a changing pad on top of the dresser...but we only used in the morning, before bed, or after bath...otherwise we change them on the floor wherever we are.
Waste of money for us: wipes warmer, swing, bassinet, bouncer, bumbo, crib bedding, extra newborn clothes (we only needed maybe 5-6 outfits, grew out of them in a week), and I think those are the big ones.
There are definitely things that I'd wait to buy because they take up space and you don't use them right away. Things like the highchair or the walker etc.
I'm less than four months in but maybe I can help...
Changing Table- I got one that's also a 3 drawer dresser for $40 on Facebook. It wasn't the color I wanted but we painted it and changed the knobs and it's perfect. I don't use it much yet because she still sleeps in my room but when she's older, it will definitely be used. Also, since it's a dresser, it serves more than one purpose.
Diaper Genie- I actually love this. I had the smell problem at first, but I bought the carbon filters that go in the top and haven't had an issue since! And I don't buy the expensive refills, I buy the target brand at 3 for $7.49 and they work just as well. ALSO! I've seen a lot of people on TB in general that seem to think as soon as it fills up for the first time, you take the whole refill out and throw it away. Don't do that! You cut the bag off with the interior cutter, tie it off, and throw away the used portion. Then you continue using the same refill.
Travel System- We got lucky. I got my infant seat on sale and found out later it fit my niece's stroller. But even if I didn't have that option, I'd have bought one. I love it, use it constantly, and it has made long days at the hospital much easier.
Bassinet/Swing/Bouncer- these go together for me. I bought the Graco Soothing Systems gliding system that was a 3 in 1. It had a bassinet that attached and rocked back and forth; when you wanted to use the swing, the bouncer doubled for it and could either be attached to the rocker or sat on the floor as a bouncer. I paid $213 for what was essentially 3 $100+ items. Very worth it!
PNP- I didn't think I would use this so I didn't buy it or register for it. One of my aunt's friends gave me hers and I'm so glad she did! It has the bassinet and changing attachments and was a lifesaver those first six weeks. She didn't sleep in it, but it definitely got used! Now, it's set up in my room and she sleeps in the raised portion right next to my bed.
Boppy- this has so far been unnecessary for her, but I use it every night! I like it more than my own pillow, lol. She's started using it for tummy time and to sit now, though.
Bumbo- We're just now starting to use it, but I much prefer this to a high chair. I don't have space for a big chair and the Bumbo we have has a removable insert for as she grows.
Bottle Warmer- I have one and I've used it a few times, but baby girl is impatient so the microwave works faster for us. If your baby is less impatient than mine, I'd say it's worth it. I can't make myself give her a cold bottle for my own convenience and having warm bottles at home doesn't keep her from drinking room temp bottles when we go out.
Bedding Set- I didn't buy one (though if I could have afforded the one I wanted, I would have. Instead, my aunt made it for me. It consists of a ruffled bed skirt, bumpers, a sheet, and a quilt. At this moment, all of those are on the crib. When I put her in it initially, I will take the bumpers out and put them back when she's around 1-1 1/2. She's always slept with a blanket though.
Wipe Warmer- I didn't buy one. I hold her wipes in my hands for a few seconds and they warm right up. And yes, I even did this when she was a newborn in late December/early January.
Nail Clippers- I see a bunch of people saying they're unnecessary but for my daughter, they were life savers! She had super long nails that grow super fast, and she's a comfort scratcher. She doesn't scratch herself, she scratches whoever is holding her! Files didn't work and I'm kinda weird about nails so I didn't want to bite them. Mittens wouldn't stay on her little wrists and by the time they would, she could pull them off.I've been clipping hers since 1 week old and have never clipped her skin.
I'll edit and add if I think of more
And at 4 months in, you haven't even begun to smell stinky diapers...
This board probably has more BTDT moms than FTMs. So while your advice could be helpful to some, we also have plenty of experience here.
baby bedding set
wipe warmer
changing table. get a long dresser and stick a changing pad on top. it stores more and lasts longer.
video monitor. we really only used this when they were toddlers, just so we could tell them to get back in bed, lol.
toys, rattles, etc for a newborn. save it until they're older, haha. we have a whole bin full of rattles and baby toys that pretty much never got used.
sophie the giraffe
shoes for a newborn
bumbo
diaper stacker
diaper genie
Evelyn (3.24.10), Graham (5.30.13) & Miles (8.28.16)
My 7 pound baby wore preemie clothes until 2 months old and still wears newborns at almost 15 pounds. It depends on how your baby is built so keep that in mind.
As for the diapers, she has soy and milk intolerances as well as reflux and her diapers have been horrible since two weeks old thanks to the medicines she takes. I am jealous of the moms who haven't had to deal with stinky diapers yet, but hers will make you throw up. I wouldn't have written about them otherwise.
Granted they are a little pricey, but they've lasted us for almost 2 years. Our other plastic ones got "foggy" and gross after multiple washes, so I finally caved and threw all of them away (they weren't cheap either- about $7 a piece). DS has dropped these LF bottles (even on concrete!) and they've withstood the abuse. We've purchased the sippy caps, but hand-wash those.
On my last BMB there was a mom who was super anti-plastic bottles and she freaked me out about how much it breaks down over time even if it is BPA free.
https://www.amazon.com/uElegant-Baby-Car-Seat-Cover/dp/B013RTERFO?ie=UTF8&colid=TGB5EAL2PDVM&coliid=I2G058ZU5U2QVC&redirect=true&ref_=br_it_dp_o_nS_ttl&vs=1