I loved the A+A blankets, baby swing, nose frida, and formula container for when on the go. We also used the diaper genie because the kids rooms are upstairs. The only bottles that worked for my kids were the Dr. Brown's. Useless items would be the wipe warmer and all the random blankets you get. I'm sure there's more but my brain isn't working right now.
@allowachick You basically put the syringe looking part up to the baby's nose and suck through the tubing. There's a filter so nothing gets into the tubing, but honestly I've never had snot get even close to the filter. So much more effective and easier to use than bulb suction.
I work in the ER and my coworkers joke that I must own stock in this company (I don't, but should!) because I recommend it to everyone!
Me: 35, Hubbie: 33 Married DH: 2013 DD: Dec 2015 BFP 8/14/17 --> Due 4/27/2018
@allowachick to be honest, it's aight. It gets a lot more out than the bulb but it makes them lose their sh*t which means more crying which means more snot so it's a little counterproductive. I probably wouldn't have bought it but it was gifted to me so I used it. I might give it another shot with this next baby but overall, it's not something I'd rave about.
Recommend: agree on nosefrida, we used it a ton and it was easy to clean! Also third the angelcare tub. It was so easy and we used it until DD could sit on her own well. I never bought a RNP but all my friends who did rave about it. I liked our mamaroo and used it a ton. I would recommend some sort of carrier (moby, k'tan, ring sling or wrap) it's so nice having the option to be hands free from time to time. And highly recommend the uppababy vista. I traveled a lot with DD the first few months and it was so nice in airports and the basket underneath is great!
Didnt use: I can't think of much. I tried to buy on the minimal side. I say no to desitin diaper cream (it's like glue and a&D worked better for us. I also think I bought one of every pacifier and ended up having a thumb sucker.
In the same category: what's something you got that you ended up not needing/using, or wasn't worth the money?
So not baby related, but I hated the snoogle maternity pillow. Was incredibly uncomfortable for me and a huge waste of money.
TAKE IT BACK.
The snoogle is amazing and the thing I'm most excited about breaking out. DH banished from the bed about 3 months after DS was born ("It's like having a 3rd adult in the bed!"), but it's been sitting in the linen closest waiting for me.
Halo sleep sacks were the only thing that worked for us with swaddling. We had both cotton and fleece and then went to a regular sleep sack up through the age of maybe 2.5-3 with the same brand but not swaddle.
What is your SINGLE most favorite (most useful, best value, etc.) item that you have puchased for your baby/babies?
*stuck in the box* This is a huge toss up between the merlin's magic sleepsuit (hayyy @tgortney ) and a white noise machine (ocean sound). Both were gamechangers for sleep. The white noise machine improved crib naps tremendously. We also started using the sleepsuit at around 4 months with DD and began consistently getting 8+ hours of sleep at night immediately after starting. We transitioned to the aden + anais sleep sacks at around 6 months, which she loves.
In the same category: what's something you got that you ended up not needing/using, or wasn't worth the money?
Someone gifted us a mamaroo swing, which we thought would be great for naps in the early days with all of the fancy settings and white noise options. DD hated it and hardly ever slept in it. She would occasionally stay in it long enough for me to do a quick chore or something, but those times were few and far between. Totally not worth the price tag IMO.
I also recommend the Love To Dream baby swaddle. Not only is it adorable looking, but the wings zip off so you can transition your kiddo. I love multi-stage products.
The love to dream swaddleup was a lifesaver here! T hated his arms down, wanted to suck his hands. We tried it and I immediately proclaimed it magic and bought three more.
Get a good carrier. I adore my Lillebaby. I'll prob get a second for this one. I like it because you don't need an insert for a newborn, the lumbar support is great when they're bigger, and the straps cross to better for my small frame.
A good pump for work. I loved the Kiinde twist system for pumping into. I didn't have to worry about washing bottles after pumping or wasting or spilling milk while transferring into bags.
Never used a monitor, wipe warmer, and the swing was a meh item to him.
The RNP really is magical. The second we got this BFP, hubby said we have to buy another one. I also loved and adored my Tula.
For us, the pack n play was a huge waste of money. We used it for two nights and DD was miserable with reflux so that's when we got the RNP and our whole world changed. My daughter also hated the swing and I thought the Boppy pillow was awful. The Boppy pregnancy pillow however was awesome. Not too big, so comfy, and I LOVED that for nursing instead. It's on Amazon for $40.
This time I'm buying a high chair that can actually be cleaned. We had two big plush high chairs with all kinds of layers to the seats and trays and I never felt like I was getting it totally clean. Plus they took forever to take apart and put back together. This time I want something like the Boon chair that I can just wipe down.
Me (33). DH (37). DD (2.2012). MCs x4. After 4 years & 7 months, due 4.2018!
When talking what to buy vs not, you're going to get lots of differing opinions. While it's great info, know that all babies (and parents) are different. So just do what you want
With that said, here are my opinions
WHAT TO BUY: My first thought on essentials was rock n play. Then I realized I was super late to this party and literally all STM+ responded the same thing lol
I would also say a bottle warmer. As someone who had no luck in the nursing department but still breastfed, a warmer that takes 30sec instead of foreeeeeeever in hot water is essential for those night time feedings!!! Some will say give them cold milk they'll get used to it. But it's really thick from the fridge and I'm not fighting that battle at 3am, thanks. But someone who nursed would put that as an item to NOT buy. So do what makes parenting easier for you!
And a pack n play is essential for sleeping at someone else's house. Or as a baby cage. I get it, no judgement here those crawling days are busy.
I absolutely LOVED our infant car seat. DS slept so well in that and I didn't have to interrupt that precious sleep time to go in the house. And errand days were made so much easier when you don't have to take them in and out a hundred times. I would have used it longer if he didn't get so freakin heavy at like 10 months! And you only need 1 with multiple bases for switching cars. Totally worth it imo.
Swaddles that wrap over and under arms for when they start rolling over. We had HALO I think.
I also like (and still use) our changing table. Although at 1.5 he's pretty much too long for it now. But it was great raising him up to a comfy height. And I considered it good excersize going upstairs for every diaper change.
I liked the carrier. We had ergobaby and liked it bc it could be adjusted easily for DH and I. Also had the baby k'tan but only used it when he was super little. Grew out of it really quick. Felt like I was squishing him.
WHAT NOT TO BUY: A jogging stroller. Not so much bc of money as we got a great deal that made it same price as a normal stroller. But space. It's so BIG. If you jog then sure it's a necessity. But if you're a lazy schmuck like myself then not so much. And yes, it's great in a park and stuff like that but we mostly use it in normal situations, we don't run or off-road often enough to make it worth the trunk space. I think normal strollers can handle parks too
@saralee797-2 I love the Baby Jogger line of strollers. They have a selection based on your needs. I really enjoy how I think all or at least most are a one handed fold up.
In the same category: what's something you got that you ended up not needing/using, or wasn't worth the money?
Don't get a big fancy diaper bag. They are bulky and suck to carry when out and about. I LOVED our Dude diaper bag. It clipped so nicely to the stroller, was easy to access when carrying, etc.
I echo the Frida (SP?) nose sucker and the rock n play. I also suggest buying sleepers that zip and not button. No one has time for 10+ buttons at 2 am. Also on the "don't buy" outfits. Your baby will live in onesies and sleepers for about 6-9 months. I mean you'll need a few full outfits, but seriously sleepers with zippers are where its at.
The nose freida is great, the halo bassinest worked great for us (DS was in it for four months), rock n play, halo swaddle sleep sacks for the first three month, then the merlin sleep suit from 4-6 months.
We had a mamaroo, but it didn't work well for DS. The mamaroo swings side to side only, and DS ended up liking to swing forward and back, so we got a fisher price swing that did all directions, it was a lifesaver.
I echo the Frida (SP?) nose sucker and the rock n play. I also suggest buying sleepers that zip and not button. No one has time for 10+ buttons at 2 am. Also on the "don't buy" outfits. Your baby will live in onesies and sleepers for about 6-9 months. I mean you'll need a few full outfits, but seriously sleepers with zippers are where its at.
OMG THIS!!! How did I forget this? I had button sleepers as gifts and after one use I said "nope nope nope" and went zippers from then on! Super important!!!
I echo the Frida (SP?) nose sucker and the rock n play. I also suggest buying sleepers that zip and not button. No one has time for 10+ buttons at 2 am. Also on the "don't buy" outfits. Your baby will live in onesies and sleepers for about 6-9 months. I mean you'll need a few full outfits, but seriously sleepers with zippers are where its at.
OMG THIS!!! How did I forget this? I had button sleepers as gifts and after one use I said "nope nope nope" and went zippers from then on! Super important!!!
I'm the oddball out in this one always. I prefer buttons because I hate fighting the legs with the zipper sleepers. I also feel the fabric bunchs up more and therefore the font work as long. I agree on the outfits though we lived in onsies and sleepers for about the first year.
Infant nail file. I was terrified to try and cut my DS fingernails....a nail file was so much easier.
We love our babybum diaper cream brush. It's a stupid little thing, but I like not having to use my fingers or waste tissues putting diaper rash cream on.
Also, we used the Taf Toys Infant Car Seat Style Toy. My DS loved looking at the bright colors when he was tiny and now that he is older, he loves kicking the rollers.
You can also never have too many good quality burp cloths. A relative made a bunch for us and we stashed them all over the house b/c our DS spit up a lot.
We hated the mamaroo. Sound quality was horrible and our DS just never liked it. We also got an extra pad to put on the arm of the car seat carrier, but it ended up being bulky and uncomfortable, so we never actually used it.
We loved: Halo sleep sacks, RnP (I got a different brand though, but basically the same thing), A&A swaddles, Solly swaddles and Solly wrap for wearing baby, Gerber cloth diaper inserts that we used as burp cloths.
We'll pass on: wipe warmer, doorway jumper... I feel like there's more, but I'm totally blanking right now...
@saralee797-2 I second babyjogger. I got the Citi Mini Select or something and it is super easy to navigate, decent bottom storage,and I can fold it up with one hand.
Baby items we loved: wubba nubs Love to Dream swaddle (she liked to have her hands up, she always broke out of a normal swaddle) my Breast Friend nursing pillow Boppy lounger for putting her on the floor around the house as needed
Items we didn't use: Eh on the swing and bouncer. They take up a lot of room and she didn't like them for more than 10 minutes at a time. I actually got a RNP from a friend who swore by it and we didn't really use it. It felt really hard and uncomfortable to me, and she had no problems sleeping on her back, so i didn't want to start that habit. But I know for reflux babies these are clutch.
I'm going to throw this out there for mom aftercare: keep a bottle warmer on low with your peri bottle next to the potty! Nothing worse than trying to fill the bottle while trying not to pee your pants! This way you have warm water ready on demand. (Obviously test temp before using!)
@riversdoctor And while we're on the subject of post partum, I tell all the moms I know to buy depends. They make thin-ish ones that almost feel like parties and are way more comfortable than changing a Super+++ pad every hour. I only wore them for maybe days 3-4 but it was so worth it.
@riversdoctor this is why I love this thread. I would have never thought of using a bottle warmer for a peri bottle! Genius. I had that issue with ds having to pee really bad but the water was too cold and I couldn't wait for it to warm up.
@riversdoctor And while we're on the subject of post partum, I tell all the moms I know to buy depends. They make thin-ish ones that almost feel like parties and are way more comfortable than changing a Super+++ pad every hour. I only wore them for maybe days 3-4 but it was so worth it.
The depends and pads were tough for me. The chemicals aggravated my micro tears. I found the cheap white cloth diapers to work the best for me! I kept a wet pail in my bathroom and a stack of fresh ones.
@riversdoctor I have heard of other ladies with tears being irritated by the pads and using cloth diapers as well. I'm sorry that you had that issue (ouch) but that's great that you found a comfortable solution. Cheap cloth diapers FTW- they are useful for so many things!
@Puddlewonderful Do the thin depends really hold as much as a hospital pad?
AFM Re: postpartum care- I just took home a bunch of extra sailboat pads from the hospital. Once I ran through/didn't need those (maybe after like 5 days?), I switched to the always infinity super pads and those were amazeeeee. The pad hate is real after that many days of heavy bleeding and the infinity pads hold so much and somehow still feel mostly dry. I had a first degree tear and a few stitches, but thankfully the pads didn't bother me too badly.
STMs: What do you wish you would've asked your OB about earlier or gotten more clarity on?
First - ask questions if you are confused. You are an advocate for yourself and baby. I would also make sure you meet with your pediatrician before selecting them. Your pediatrician is in your life for 18 years, it is important you have the same philosophy as your doctor. At the end I thought it was required to have"checks", but it turns out you don't have to get checked (to see how dilated you are).
STMs: What do you wish you would've asked your OB about earlier or gotten more clarity on?
I don't think there is anything. Like @angiek1 said ask all the questions no matter how silly you think they are. Your OB has been through this a lot and has seen a lot of different outcomes. Maybe for the first visit ask about medications (if they don't already supply you with a list of what is ok to take), foods, even your feelings about everything. Also don't keep anything from your OB even if you think they are just FTM worries.
STMs: What do you wish you would've asked your OB about earlier or gotten more clarity on?
I would find out what their c-section and episiotomy rates are. Ask them if there is anything that they do (and what) to prevent tearing at birth. If there is something that you want (e.g. delayed cord clamping, med free birth, immediate skin to skin, etc), word the question as, "How do you feel about xyz?" instead of, "Can I have xyz at birth?" You will get the answer to the "can I have" question and find out more about your doctor's personal philosophies that way. I would also find out how they feel about how necessary cervix checks toward the end of the pregnancy are, and if you can refuse them. The cervix checks, IMO, are painful and unnecessary. How dilated/effaced you are at the end really has no bearing on when you will go into labor. I don't know why they even do them. There are ladies who walk around at 2 cm for weeks and nothing. There are also ladies who are closed up tight at a check and go into labor the next night. I feel like the checks cause anxiety and just make you pissed at your cervix. I won't be doing them until active labor ever again. Some ladies like to know all the things though, so I guess that one is just your preference.
I second what @kbamomma33 said about episiotomy rates and how they feel about cervical checks towards the end.
Also, I would encourage all FTM to take a tour of L&D as soon as you're able to (we couldn't do them before 28 weeks) and to take a breastfeeding class if you're planning on breastfeeding. I didn't do a childbirth class so can't speak to those.
Me: 35, Hubbie: 33 Married DH: 2013 DD: Dec 2015 BFP 8/14/17 --> Due 4/27/2018
I have a question about episiotomies: are they really that common anymore? My OB has a general birth plan they follow (it's printed and given to patients about a month prior to due date) and it explicitly states they do NOT do episiotomies unless absolutely medically necessary. I like thought that was the norm, but maybe not? I actually have no idea!
@kmalls Not sure about national trends but I had this discussion with the OBs where I work and the only one who still did them was a guy in his 60s that was retiring. Our new group are all women in their 30s and 40s and none of them still did them unless it was an extreme circumstance. Interestingly, I was working with a PA who trained in Gynecology in Pakistan and she thought there were amazing and didn't know why they weren't more routinely done in the US.
Me: 35, Hubbie: 33 Married DH: 2013 DD: Dec 2015 BFP 8/14/17 --> Due 4/27/2018
I have my first prenatal OB appointment today. I like her, but after a few really bad experiences with the hospital she's at I've decided I do not want to deliver there, so I'll be switching practices as soon as I can (MH is out of the state right now and I want to wait til he gets back before we decide where to go). Has anyone switched hospitals while PG before? Anything I need to know?
I have a question about episiotomies: are they really that common anymore? My OB has a general birth plan they follow (it's printed and given to patients about a month prior to due date) and it explicitly states they do NOT do episiotomies unless absolutely medically necessary. I like thought that was the norm, but maybe not? I actually have no idea!
They really aren't accepted as necessary in common medical practice anymore. You'd have to find some old codger OB that refused to update their practice, and honestly that's a bad choice for many reasons. My OB actually did a perineal massage to ease tearing. *TMI alert* I knew I was carrying a large baby, so about 3 weeks before I was due, I also started massages and light stretching. I think that saved my vag, because I only got first degree tearing with a baby over 10 lbs.
I'm going to throw this out there for mom aftercare: keep a bottle warmer on low with your peri bottle next to the potty! Nothing worse than trying to fill the bottle while trying not to pee your pants! This way you have warm water ready on demand. (Obviously test temp before using!)
@riversdoctor this might be the most brilliant tip I've ever seen for post-partum care. I'm totally doing it this time around.
DS: EDD, December 19th, 2014. Born, December 19th, 2014! DD: EDD, July 18th, 2016. Born, July 19th, 2016!
Re: FTM Questions For STM+
Useless items would be the wipe warmer and all the random blankets you get. I'm sure there's more but my brain isn't working right now.
I work in the ER and my coworkers joke that I must own stock in this company (I don't, but should!) because I recommend it to everyone!
Married DH: 2013
DD: Dec 2015
BFP 8/14/17 --> Due 4/27/2018
I recommend boogie wipes to combat snot.
Didnt use: I can't think of much. I tried to buy on the minimal side. I say no to desitin diaper cream (it's like glue and a&D worked better for us. I also think I bought one of every pacifier and ended up having a thumb sucker.
The snoogle is amazing and the thing I'm most excited about breaking out. DH banished from the bed about 3 months after DS was born ("It's like having a 3rd adult in the bed!"), but it's been sitting in the linen closest waiting for me.
Halo sleep sacks were the only thing that worked for us with swaddling. We had both cotton and fleece and then went to a regular sleep sack up through the age of maybe 2.5-3 with the same brand but not swaddle.
Get a good carrier. I adore my Lillebaby. I'll prob get a second for this one. I like it because you don't need an insert for a newborn, the lumbar support is great when they're bigger, and the straps cross to better for my small frame.
A good pump for work. I loved the Kiinde twist system for pumping into. I didn't have to worry about washing bottles after pumping or wasting or spilling milk while transferring into bags.
Never used a monitor, wipe warmer, and the swing was a meh item to him.
For us, the pack n play was a huge waste of money. We used it for two nights and DD was miserable with reflux so that's when we got the RNP and our whole world changed. My daughter also hated the swing and I thought the Boppy pillow was awful. The Boppy pregnancy pillow however was awesome. Not too big, so comfy, and I LOVED that for nursing instead. It's on Amazon for $40.
This time I'm buying a high chair that can actually be cleaned. We had two big plush high chairs with all kinds of layers to the seats and trays and I never felt like I was getting it totally clean. Plus they took forever to take apart and put back together. This time I want something like the Boon chair that I can just wipe down.
Me (33). DH (37). DD (2.2012). MCs x4. After 4 years & 7 months, due 4.2018!
With that said, here are my opinions
WHAT TO BUY:
My first thought on essentials was rock n play. Then I realized I was super late to this party and literally all STM+ responded the same thing lol
I would also say a bottle warmer. As someone who had no luck in the nursing department but still breastfed, a warmer that takes 30sec instead of foreeeeeeever in hot water is essential for those night time feedings!!! Some will say give them cold milk they'll get used to it. But it's really thick from the fridge and I'm not fighting that battle at 3am, thanks. But someone who nursed would put that as an item to NOT buy. So do what makes parenting easier for you!
And a pack n play is essential for sleeping at someone else's house. Or as a baby cage. I get it, no judgement here
I absolutely LOVED our infant car seat. DS slept so well in that and I didn't have to interrupt that precious sleep time to go in the house. And errand days were made so much easier when you don't have to take them in and out a hundred times. I would have used it longer if he didn't get so freakin heavy at like 10 months! And you only need 1 with multiple bases for switching cars. Totally worth it imo.
Swaddles that wrap over and under arms for when they start rolling over. We had HALO I think.
I also like (and still use) our changing table. Although at 1.5 he's pretty much too long for it now. But it was great raising him up to a comfy height. And I considered it good excersize going upstairs for every diaper change.
I liked the carrier. We had ergobaby and liked it bc it could be adjusted easily for DH and I. Also had the baby k'tan but only used it when he was super little. Grew out of it really quick. Felt like I was squishing him.
WHAT NOT TO BUY:
A jogging stroller. Not so much bc of money as we got a great deal that made it same price as a normal stroller. But space. It's so BIG. If you jog then sure it's a necessity. But if you're a lazy schmuck like myself then not so much. And yes, it's great in a park and stuff like that but we mostly use it in normal situations, we don't run or off-road often enough to make it worth the trunk space. I think normal strollers can handle parks too
We had a mamaroo, but it didn't work well for DS. The mamaroo swings side to side only, and DS ended up liking to swing forward and back, so we got a fisher price swing that did all directions, it was a lifesaver.
HX
DSD: 17
DS: 4(Nov'14)
MMC:8/17
MMC: 1/18
BFP: 2/7/19 EDD:10/16/19
Tickers
We love our babybum diaper cream brush. It's a stupid little thing, but I like not having to use my fingers or waste tissues putting diaper rash cream on.
Also, we used the Taf Toys Infant Car Seat Style Toy. My DS loved looking at the bright colors when he was tiny and now that he is older, he loves kicking the rollers.
You can also never have too many good quality burp cloths. A relative made a bunch for us and we stashed them all over the house b/c our DS spit up a lot.
We hated the mamaroo. Sound quality was horrible and our DS just never liked it. We also got an extra pad to put on the arm of the car seat carrier, but it ended up being bulky and uncomfortable, so we never actually used it.
We'll pass on: wipe warmer, doorway jumper... I feel like there's more, but I'm totally blanking right now...
BFP #4: 8/20/15 EDD: 4/26/18
Baby items we loved:
wubba nubs
Love to Dream swaddle (she liked to have her hands up, she always broke out of a normal swaddle)
my Breast Friend nursing pillow
Boppy lounger for putting her on the floor around the house as needed
Items we didn't use:
Eh on the swing and bouncer. They take up a lot of room and she didn't like them for more than 10 minutes at a time.
I actually got a RNP from a friend who swore by it and we didn't really use it. It felt really hard and uncomfortable to me, and she had no problems sleeping on her back, so i didn't want to start that habit. But I know for reflux babies these are clutch.
@Puddlewonderful Do the thin depends really hold as much as a hospital pad?
AFM
Re: postpartum care- I just took home a bunch of extra sailboat pads from the hospital. Once I ran through/didn't need those (maybe after like 5 days?), I switched to the always infinity super pads and those were amazeeeee. The pad hate is real after that many days of heavy bleeding and the infinity pads hold so much and somehow still feel mostly dry. I had a first degree tear and a few stitches, but thankfully the pads didn't bother me too badly.
If there is something that you want (e.g. delayed cord clamping, med free birth, immediate skin to skin, etc), word the question as, "How do you feel about xyz?" instead of, "Can I have xyz at birth?" You will get the answer to the "can I have" question and find out more about your doctor's personal philosophies that way.
I would also find out how they feel about how necessary cervix checks toward the end of the pregnancy are, and if you can refuse them. The cervix checks, IMO, are painful and unnecessary. How dilated/effaced you are at the end really has no bearing on when you will go into labor. I don't know why they even do them. There are ladies who walk around at 2 cm for weeks and nothing. There are also ladies who are closed up tight at a check and go into labor the next night. I feel like the checks cause anxiety and just make you pissed at your cervix. I won't be doing them until active labor ever again. Some ladies like to know all the things though, so I guess that one is just your preference.
Also, I would encourage all FTM to take a tour of L&D as soon as you're able to (we couldn't do them before 28 weeks) and to take a breastfeeding class if you're planning on breastfeeding. I didn't do a childbirth class so can't speak to those.
Married DH: 2013
DD: Dec 2015
BFP 8/14/17 --> Due 4/27/2018
Married DH: 2013
DD: Dec 2015
BFP 8/14/17 --> Due 4/27/2018
I have my first prenatal OB appointment today. I like her, but after a few really bad experiences with the hospital she's at I've decided I do not want to deliver there, so I'll be switching practices as soon as I can (MH is out of the state right now and I want to wait til he gets back before we decide where to go). Has anyone switched hospitals while PG before? Anything I need to know?
Married DH: 2013
DD: Dec 2015
BFP 8/14/17 --> Due 4/27/2018
DS: EDD, December 19th, 2014. Born, December 19th, 2014!
DD: EDD, July 18th, 2016. Born, July 19th, 2016!
Baby #3: EDD, April 16th, 2016