@krashke I agree, the babiators are super cute plus durable and have a great guarantee. However, I would wait until baby is older or at least see how they respond to sunglasses before dropping the $. I wanted to get some for DS last summer but found some cute aviators at Target for like $6.99. He's never kept them on his face for more than 5 seconds. Luckily he does okay with hats so that shields his eyes most of the time. But the sunglasses are just so cute. Maybe next year
@jsl82 - DS was all over the crib. I introduced a pillow around 2 because he started showing interest in ours and he started sleeping on it (for the most part). We introduced a blanket 2 months ago (he's 28 months) because we potty trained and didn't want him in a sleep sack. For the most part, he either keeps it on or puts it back on. So you may be surprised if you introduce a blanket or a pillow!
Thanks @marcus7676 that is encouraging. At almost 13 months she is fine in her crib with the sleepsack, but I do want to transition her to a toddler bed probably in May when she moves to the older class at daycare. They sleep on mats instead of a pack and play so I've heard that many of the kids start to make their escapes from the crib around that time. Since she is a mover and shaker in her sleep (and we'd be transitioning her before her 2nd birthday) I think a toddler bed will probably be appropriate for a couple of months- but may just get a twin mattress and put it on the floor for her. Oh so many decisions to make.
And, modelled on the Finnish Baby Boxes, they will provide you a free baby box to have your LO sleep in. The videos are great, and are about 20 -25 minutes. Will explain in detail current safe sleep practices.
This program is available inmost provinces and some counties in the US.
With DD she slept in a Play yard or Crib on a fitted sheet with a sleeper, or sleeper and sleep sack for her first year.
Mama to a wonderful DD - Sep 2015, Wife to my DH since 2011, 2 dogs, a cat, and hoping to add No. 2 in May/June 2018. Canadian. 5 - IUIs, 3 - IVF retrievals, 2- failed transfers (fresh, and frozen), PGS on second IVF resulted in 1 perfect emby, and DD. 3rd IVF w PGS resulted in 3! perfect embys. 1st transfer - Sep 2017 2 more on ice.
@jsl82 I gave DD a pillow at around 20 months, which helped immensely (she was also a wiggle-worm.) I recommend this one, since it's small, organic, washes great, and does not require a pillow case.
@jsl82 some kids never try to climb out. DS has been on a mat at daycare since 15 months and to this day, hasn't tried climbing out. We are going to transition him to a twin bed (and add safety rails) before the baby gets here in June just so I don't have to buy another crib. I asked him the other day if he wanted a big boy bed and he said no, crib! So who knows how that is going to go!
We have the same pillow as @kfren, but added a pillow case so it is easy to wash.
Also- I noticed that this thread is heavy on the Health Products and we haven't discussed really any of the safety products like baby gates, drawer/cabinet locks, outlet covers. Do we want to split the threads into 1 Health and 1 Safety or should I give some product reviews for our safety products here too?
@jsl82 I think we've exhausted the health products, and I'd love to hear about S+TMs experiences with safety products, especially any lessons learned about preferences. We subletted an apt for 10 months typically occupied by a family with a 2 year old, and I did not love the baby proofing products they had...
Our DD sleeps on a cot at Daycare, and in her crib still (most of the time) at 28 mos. She has done some naps in the spare bed, and has slept 1/2 nights in the spare bed too. Need to get with DH to figure when we are going to transition to Big Girl Bed, and big girl bedroom.
Mama to a wonderful DD - Sep 2015, Wife to my DH since 2011, 2 dogs, a cat, and hoping to add No. 2 in May/June 2018. Canadian. 5 - IUIs, 3 - IVF retrievals, 2- failed transfers (fresh, and frozen), PGS on second IVF resulted in 1 perfect emby, and DD. 3rd IVF w PGS resulted in 3! perfect embys. 1st transfer - Sep 2017 2 more on ice.
Speaking of safety products/door locks...the Door Money was recommended on another BMB I was lurking a long time ago. It keeps the door about two inches open so it helps with air flow and for us we are going to be across the hall from the nursery so it will help us be able to hear but keeps the dog and cat from pushing the door open. If you have older kids it keeps them from slamming the door or pinching fingers. You do have to have a very specific "standard" door frame so check that first.
*TW LC*
Me & MH: 32 DS: 6/1/18 (Pre-E; IUGR; seizures; NICU) TTC #2: 12/2019 Sept 2020: HSG possible blocked right tube Nov 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFN Dec 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFP!!! EDD 9/18
You won't need to many safety products until the baby is moving (gates, locks, latches, etc.). Since we have a cat, we needed a gate that had a pet door - - there is only one on the market, so that made things easy. The important thing to know is that if you put a gate at the top of the stairs, it should NOT be pressure mounted - - it should be screwed into the wall.
For kitchens, a lot is trial and error - what you like AND what works in your kitchen. Our new kitchen is very particular about what products will fit.
@marcus7676 did you ever have issues with your DS getting through the pet door on the gate? We have cats too so I've been trying to figure out what we'll do. I'm sure they would just jump over the gate but we would only be able to mount it right at the top of the stairs so I'm not sure if that would make it more difficult for them to get over.
We use these magnetic cabinet locks. They use a “key” to unlock them from the outside. I only lock the cabinets with chemicals because both kids love playing with Tupperware and pots and pans.
We use whatever brand of these the sell at Target for the stove. DH has forgot they were there and yanked pretty hard on the stove and they don’t budge.
and because we have these stupid door handles in our new house we had to get these door locks. Our garage and back door have these weird handles that only stay locked from the outside. So even if you lock them inside as soon as you pull them, they unlock. The kids all fall for the decoy button and haven’t figured them out yet. In fact most adults that have visited can’t figure them out unless we tell them.
@elsie42 unfortunately, yes. We had a gate outside of his room (it wasn't at the top of the stairs, but the stairs weren't far away). One day, when he was very newly crawling, he wormed his way over to the gate and right through the cat door. He never figured out how to unlock it himself (the cat door), but would go through if we left it open. We also had one at the top of our basement stairs that he would routinely hang his feet through, but he never attempted to go through it (maybe because of the stairs?). We had two cats when we got the gates, one of whom was 13. I didn't want to make the cat jump over the gate to go down the stairs in the dark (our litter box was in the basement), so this was really our only option.
So for our kitchen we have oven knob covers and they are just as important for our DD as they are for our cats (long story but the cat turned on the stove and a pizza box left on the stove top caught fire when we still lived in our apartment- so now our little fire starter has been stopped). I believe these are the ones we are using- if not same concept.
The outlet covers we have are these basic ones, that do the trick, but I hate them. I find that they are hard to remove to plug in anything, and you have to remember to put the plug back in. Which wasn't so bad when DD was barely mobile but now that she's always getting into something, I have trouble staying on task- plug in vacuum, vacuum room, put vacuum away and cover outlet again... some where along the way she has found something she shouldn't be getting into and I leave the outlet uncovered. I would prefer these that self- close.
Kitchen cabinets we use the magnetic cabinet locks- which is not the best option for renters- but works really well for knives drawers and cleaning supplies.
Baby gates was a big one for us. Still a work in progress- as we have cats & a cinder block wall separating our house from our neighbor's (we live in a twin). So looking for different solutions to what we are currently working with. We have the cat door baby gate for the stairs (bottom of the stairs). The cats are not able to use the cat door- it swings out (into our living room), and when it closes they cannot get it open to go back up the stairs.They do squeeze around it on the sides. The top of the stairs is currently gateless, due to the cinderblock wall. We will need to get a masonry bit to secure a gate to the top of the stairs but we need to find a better gate. The things I do not like about this gate are:
1)Small opening for me (my bump) and my DD (usually on my hip) to get through the gate. The bigger I get the harder it is for me to squeeze through. It is really hard to get laundry up the stairs- and I do not need laundry to be harder to do. 2) The bottom bar. It scares me, as I would be the one to trip over it, and down the stairs with the baby in my arms. 3) The pet door only swings one way as there is a closure in the middle of the gate. I would prefer to have a opening in the gate, not a door, but DD is able to crawl through the door. So we can either keep the door open and baby and cats can get through or keep it closes and the cats need to squeeze through the side of the gate anyway. OR we can open the door for the cats every time they want to get through the door- no.
I would prefer to have a swing gate without the bottom bar so that I can mount it 5 inches up from the ground. That will give the cats clearance to get under the gate, while keeping DD trapped upstairs once we move her out of her crib. I want it to open the entire width of the stairwell... or as much of the width as possible .
For our door to the basement we have this cat door installed. Everyone that comes over says they love it... and DH didn't complain about installing it.
Lastly, for safety, Furniture! Make sure you are mounting your dressers to the wall. Ikea furniture in particular is known for toppling over on toddlers. Once the furniture is mounted, it will still have a drawers that can close on tiny fingers. DD just yesterday closed her dresser drawer on her finger- so I need to use the cabinet locks like the munchkin locks that @marcus7676 linked above.
We also have corner bumpers on our tables so DD don't hit her head on any corners if/when she falls as she is still learning to walk. Similar to these. She mostly bites them.
Oh speaking of bitting furniture. We had a whole conversation yesterday about no crib bumpers, but you can use the crib rail covers. This doesn't sit where the baby can suffocate or prevent air flow, but does protect the furniture against teething babies- who will eat the furniture if they are anything like my DD. We didn't add these until DD was 8 months (about) when she started chewing up the crib. I doubt the paint/stain is good for little baby bellies, and also I worried about splinters in the lips from the chewing too.
OK I wrote a novel... but that should be everything.
I have had good luck with babyganics as whole. I’ve used their shampoo, lotion, sunscreen, and bug spray with DS with no intention of discontinuing.
Infants Tylenol, I recently discovered, comes in different flavors. DS was a super non fan of the cherry. The other day I spotted grape and he really likes that so much better. I wish I had noticed there was another flavor sooner.
One of the products recommended on my last BMB was Mommy’s Bliss gripe water. That stuff is amazing. Sometimes babies will cry for no discernible reason and a few drops of that sometimes really helps. Pretty natural ingredients, might just calm a grumpy tummy. Whatever the case, that stuff was very helpful.
@Austenista I'm oddly not surprised your DS doesn't like cherry. Something about the cherry flavour is just gross. {it's like banana medicine - blegh!!} Grape all the way!
Also forgot that I wanted to echo @Austenista on the Mommy’s Bliss gripe water. There are different schools of thought on gripe water, but it was awesome for our super-hiccupy kid. I didn’t notice all that much effect on his gas (he was the gassiest baby), but just a quarter teaspoon would stop his hiccups instantly.
Me: 34 Husband: 35 Married: June 2007
Son Max born 1/10/17 BFP #2: 10/5/17; EDD: 6/11/18
I guess this is good place to mention probiotics. We started adding Gerber Soothe probiotic drops to one bottle a day around 3 months old to help with colic. Colic is so open to interpretation and it’s hard to find anything definitive on the cause, but basically I had a baby who only stopped crying when she was eating. Gas drops and gripe water didn’t help so I believe it was more intestinal than gastric. A few weeks after starting the drops (probiotics take some time to work) I had a much happier baby.
I feel like this falls under the "health" portion of health and safety: How do you guys find a pediatrician? Also, when should I start looking for a pediatrician??
@LaceyBee522 at my 20 week appointment, my OB gave me a packet which included a ton of pediatrician recommendations, and it also said to start looking, like, now. But I put myself in with Tribeca Pediatrics (which isn't just in Tribeca) months ago because I'm crazy.
@LaceyBee522 We just switched pediatricians for DD. I asked trusted friends and co-workers who they brought their kids to see and then picked the one closest to our home and in-network. We saw her for DD's 6 year old well child visit and I was really happy with her and DD seemed comfortable with her as well. We'll stay with the same pediatrician for DS when he arrives.
@doxiemoxie212 Lol! I am currently only considering Tribeca Pediatrics because of Bringing Up Bebe, but I feel like I have to give other options a chance. MH thinks I'm crazy because I keep making decisions based on that book.
@LaceyBee522 You'll need to have a pediatrician lined up before you deliver. I asked my neighbors who they used and then called the offices. Most have appointments for "new parents" to come in and meet with the pediatrician / pediatricians. I'd start the process soon. I think I had to give my pedi's name to my OB around 36 weeks.
Now's a great time to start looking for pediatricians. Set up an appointment to speak with them in person and get to know them. Take their opinions and comments seriously when they give them and make note if they don't align with your beliefs/ideas/wishes. Make sure you find the best fit. Getting into a disagreement with a pedi is annoying and can make it difficult to transfer (personal experience) records down the road. If you don't think they're going to provide care how you'd like them to, don't ignore that creeping feeling. There are plenty more fish in the sea.
@LaceyBee522 - We actually go to a family practice instead of a pediatrician. So DH, both kids and I all see the same doctor. That's handy when it turns out you're passing a virus around to each other. Granted, she's not the pediatric expert, but DS2 sees his specialists when he needs to (cardiology, urology). Our family doctor is for colds, etc. It's a unique situation, but her husband is also a pediatrician - so she can always bunch ideas off of him if necessary.
First Son - born 2013
Second Son - born 2014 - Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) and Double Outlet Right Ventricle (DORV). First open heart surgery at 5 days old. He's had 3 open heart surgeries and several other procedures and is currently doing amazing. Third Son - due June 9, 2018
For pediatricians, definitely ask around to friends/family. And start setting up mtgs with them. I'd start now incase you have a handful and they can't fit you in for awhile. Just go in with a list of questions.
me:35 DH:34 DS: born oct 2012 TFAS: BFP #1 aug16. miscarriage sept16 BFP #2 nov16 MMC dec16. d&c jan17 BFP #3 sept17 EDD 5/31/18 fingers crossed for our rainbow baby
@MissKittyDanger liquid amoxicillin and penicillin were some of my favorite flavored medicines when I was a kid!! I could drink that stuff like candy lol.
Thought it is also worth adding that I am team cherry flavor, grape is eww.
So my OB recommended that everyone in the family, including grandparents and aunts and uncles to the baby, get the whooping cough vaccine to prevent from passing it on to baby. Has anyone else been advised this? I thought it was interesting. I will have a heck of a time trying to convince my dad to go to the doctor to get this shot hah.
26 y/o FTM (biologically)
1 Child - Son - 9 y/o Married - DH 27 y/o BFP: 10/13/17 EDD: 6/22/18
@srb1028 so my OB has never recommended it for anyone other than me and DH. But I’m guessing the main concern is because some adults may have recieved a Td (which only protects for tetanus and diphtheria) in the last 10 years and therefore think they are up to date- while in light of all the recent pertussis (whooping cough) outbreaks, a Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria AND pertussis) should really be given instead to protect the little ones before they can be vaccinated themselves.
@srb1028 I'm very provaxx and we insisted that anyone who wanted to see DD get the whooping cough shot. Mostly because no one in either of our families had gotten it in the last 20 years. My mom pitched a fit but ultimately went and got it when she realized we were serious.
Re: Product Spotlight Series: Health & Safety (Jan 22)
BFP#4- 9/26 edd 6/5/18
With regards to safe sleep, there is a great course online that explains safe sleep practices here:
https://www.babyboxuniversity.com/home
And, modelled on the Finnish Baby Boxes, they will provide you a free baby box to have your LO sleep in.
The videos are great, and are about 20 -25 minutes. Will explain in detail current safe sleep practices.
This program is available inmost provinces and some counties in the US.
With DD she slept in a Play yard or Crib on a fitted sheet with a sleeper, or sleeper and sleep sack for her first year.
5 - IUIs, 3 - IVF retrievals, 2- failed transfers (fresh, and frozen), PGS on second IVF resulted in 1 perfect emby, and DD.
3rd IVF w PGS resulted in 3! perfect embys. 1st transfer - Sep 2017 2 more on ice.
We have the same pillow as @kfren, but added a pillow case so it is easy to wash.
Also- I noticed that this thread is heavy on the Health Products and we haven't discussed really any of the safety products like baby gates, drawer/cabinet locks, outlet covers. Do we want to split the threads into 1 Health and 1 Safety or should I give some product reviews for our safety products here too?
BFP#4- 9/26 edd 6/5/18
5 - IUIs, 3 - IVF retrievals, 2- failed transfers (fresh, and frozen), PGS on second IVF resulted in 1 perfect emby, and DD.
3rd IVF w PGS resulted in 3! perfect embys. 1st transfer - Sep 2017 2 more on ice.
DS: 6/1/18 (Pre-E; IUGR; seizures; NICU)
TTC #2: 12/2019
Sept 2020: HSG possible blocked right tube
Nov 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFN
Dec 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFP!!! EDD 9/18
For kitchens, a lot is trial and error - what you like AND what works in your kitchen. Our new kitchen is very particular about what products will fit.
For kitchen drawers, we used these in our old kitchen and I preferred them immensely to what we have now. DS still hasn't figured out how to open them (but he knows how to open baby gates): https://www.amazon.com/Munchkin-Xtraguard-Action-Multi-Latches/dp/B007A2ZSZ8
We use these now, but I hate them: https://www.amazon.com/Dreambaby-Safety-Catches-12-Count/dp/B003NSAY7U/
For cabinets, we use these because it was the only thing that would work: https://www.amazon.com/Safety-1st-OutSmart-Flex-Lock/dp/B01BTUNEKC/
We also have plug protectors, surge protector covers and outlet covers. Nothing fancy.
We bought pinch guards for the doors, mainly so DS couldn't slam the door. These aren't the same ones we have, but same idea: https://www.amazon.com/Safety-1st-Finger-Pinch-Guard/dp/B00005C1JP
We also have things to tie cords out of the way. If you are replacing blinds, go cordless! Otherwise, tie the cords up.
DS born 9/24/2020
https://www.target.com/p/babyganics-pure-mineral-baby-sunscreen-stick-spf-50-0-47oz/-/A-14695700?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&CPNG=PLA_Baby+Shopping&adgroup=SC_Baby&LID=700000001170770pgs&network=g&device=m&location=9012122&gclid=EAIaIQobChMInvP06rHu2AIVRLbACh3vWAyfEAQYASABEgJ3f_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
We use whatever brand of these the sell at Target for the stove. DH has forgot they were there and yanked pretty hard on the stove and they don’t budge.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01F420JRC?psc=1
and because we have these stupid door handles in our new house we had to get these door locks. Our garage and back door have these weird handles that only stay locked from the outside. So even if you lock them inside as soon as you pull them, they unlock. The kids all fall for the decoy button and haven’t figured them out yet. In fact most adults that have visited can’t figure them out unless we tell them.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B071RD46LX/ref=mp_s_a_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1516817104&sr=8-3&keywords=baby+proof+door+handle&dpPl=1&dpID=41X8iKb%2BDcL&ref=plSrch
The outlet covers we have are these basic ones, that do the trick, but I hate them. I find that they are hard to remove to plug in anything, and you have to remember to put the plug back in. Which wasn't so bad when DD was barely mobile but now that she's always getting into something, I have trouble staying on task- plug in vacuum, vacuum room, put vacuum away and cover outlet again... some where along the way she has found something she shouldn't be getting into and I leave the outlet uncovered. I would prefer these that self- close.
Kitchen cabinets we use the magnetic cabinet locks- which is not the best option for renters- but works really well for knives drawers and cleaning supplies.
Baby gates was a big one for us. Still a work in progress- as we have cats & a cinder block wall separating our house from our neighbor's (we live in a twin). So looking for different solutions to what we are currently working with. We have the cat door baby gate for the stairs (bottom of the stairs). The cats are not able to use the cat door- it swings out (into our living room), and when it closes they cannot get it open to go back up the stairs.They do squeeze around it on the sides. The top of the stairs is currently gateless, due to the cinderblock wall. We will need to get a masonry bit to secure a gate to the top of the stairs but we need to find a better gate. The things I do not like about this gate are:
1)Small opening for me (my bump) and my DD (usually on my hip) to get through the gate. The bigger I get the harder it is for me to squeeze through. It is really hard to get laundry up the stairs- and I do not need laundry to be harder to do.
2) The bottom bar. It scares me, as I would be the one to trip over it, and down the stairs with the baby in my arms.
3) The pet door only swings one way as there is a closure in the middle of the gate. I would prefer to have a opening in the gate, not a door, but DD is able to crawl through the door. So we can either keep the door open and baby and cats can get through or keep it closes and the cats need to squeeze through the side of the gate anyway. OR we can open the door for the cats every time they want to get through the door- no.
I would prefer to have a swing gate without the bottom bar so that I can mount it 5 inches up from the ground. That will give the cats clearance to get under the gate, while keeping DD trapped upstairs once we move her out of her crib. I want it to open the entire width of the stairwell... or as much of the width as possible .
For our door to the basement we have this cat door installed. Everyone that comes over says they love it... and DH didn't complain about installing it.
Lastly, for safety, Furniture! Make sure you are mounting your dressers to the wall. Ikea furniture in particular is known for toppling over on toddlers. Once the furniture is mounted, it will still have a drawers that can close on tiny fingers. DD just yesterday closed her dresser drawer on her finger- so I need to use the cabinet locks like the munchkin locks that @marcus7676 linked above.
We also have corner bumpers on our tables so DD don't hit her head on any corners if/when she falls as she is still learning to walk. Similar to these. She mostly bites them.
Oh speaking of bitting furniture. We had a whole conversation yesterday about no crib bumpers, but you can use the crib rail covers. This doesn't sit where the baby can suffocate or prevent air flow, but does protect the furniture against teething babies- who will eat the furniture if they are anything like my DD. We didn't add these until DD was 8 months (about) when she started chewing up the crib. I doubt the paint/stain is good for little baby bellies, and also I worried about splinters in the lips from the chewing too.
OK I wrote a novel... but that should be everything.
BFP#4- 9/26 edd 6/5/18
Infants Tylenol, I recently discovered, comes in different flavors. DS was a super non fan of the cherry. The other day I spotted grape and he really likes that so much better. I wish I had noticed there was another flavor sooner.
One of the products recommended on my last BMB was Mommy’s Bliss gripe water. That stuff is amazing. Sometimes babies will cry for no discernible reason and a few drops of that sometimes really helps. Pretty natural ingredients, might just calm a grumpy tummy. Whatever the case, that stuff was very helpful.
Grape all the way!
DS: 6/1/18 (Pre-E; IUGR; seizures; NICU)
TTC #2: 12/2019
Sept 2020: HSG possible blocked right tube
Nov 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFN
Dec 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFP!!! EDD 9/18
Husband: 35
Married: June 2007
Son Max born 1/10/17
BFP #2: 10/5/17; EDD: 6/11/18
Husband: 35
Married: June 2007
Son Max born 1/10/17
BFP #2: 10/5/17; EDD: 6/11/18
First Son - born 2013
Third Son - due June 9, 2018
It's amoxicillin liquid. I had it a lot as a kid
DS: born oct 2012
TFAS: BFP #1 aug16. miscarriage sept16
BFP #2 nov16 MMC dec16. d&c jan17
BFP #3 sept17 EDD 5/31/18
fingers crossed for our rainbow baby
Thought it is also worth adding that I am team cherry flavor, grape is eww.
So my OB recommended that everyone in the family, including grandparents and aunts and uncles to the baby, get the whooping cough vaccine to prevent from passing it on to baby. Has anyone else been advised this? I thought it was interesting. I will have a heck of a time trying to convince my dad to go to the doctor to get this shot hah.
Married - DH 27 y/o
BFP: 10/13/17
EDD: 6/22/18