Okay, ladies, I did a quick search here and also searched my memory, and I don't remember covering this topic yet. If we have, I'm sorry and disregard!
STMs, what was one baby item that you couldn't live without after having your little one(s)? I thought this might be useful for FTMs to check out to make shopping/registering easier, and maybe STMs can get some ideas we might've missed out on before or thought weren't necessary.
Let's hear 'em!
Re: One Baby Item You Couldn't Live Without
Our sound soother was and still is a must have item. That white noise was imperative to getting her to sleep through the night and was so helpful in recreating her sleep environment when she had to sleep somewhere else.
i also want to give props to the wubbanub. she could not keep pacis in her mouth, and i swear we had to put a pinky in her mouth for her to sleep for the first few weeks. when we got a wubbanub, it had the right amount of weight to help the paci stay put. love that thing. that was the very first thing i bought for this pregnancy back in april, two pairs of wubbanubs (had to have spares).
After the first sleepless night home with DD1, we went out and bought a rock n play, and it was an absolute lifesaver those first couple of weeks! I didn’t buy one ahead of time because my baby was going to sleep on a flat surface from the first night! Only, she didn’t/wouldn’t. We switched to the pack n play as soon as she would let us, but...sleep is precious, and the rock n play was magical those first couple of weeks for both of them. Not for long stretches of sleep or anything, but just for SOME sleep in between feedings.
ETA: @runningyogimama I really loved our Rock and Play, too! It was great to keep DS in while I showered and was easy to move from room to room. Will definitely be busting it back out for baby number 2.
Dx: PCOS
DS1 born 11/2014
DS2 born 11/2018
3 previous losses
Rainbow baby due 12/2021 - Team Green
I would have to say our must have was a boppy pillow. Although you can get by without it, my son is 3 and has been sleeping with it every night since he was old enough to have pillows in his bed. It is also great to prop baby up next to you when they are old enough to hold their own bottle, just so you can get simple things done like folding laundry or eating yourself.
Had to buy a second one for this baby because there is no way DS is giving his up any time soon. Also was a great comfort piece to take along when he would sleep somewhere different like Papa's house or on vacation.
Our other lifesaver was a swing. Ds loved it. We used it every day until he was almost a year and got to long for it. It also have me some much needed touch free time, which was the best thing in my life. I'm pretty sure the swing saved me on multiple occasions. We also had it by the window so he could look outside, which he loved!
1. White noise of some sort for the reasons mentioned above. It makes nighttime sleeping anywhere easier. We use an old phone with an app of a fan noise.
2. A carrier that can be used with a newborn for sure. We definitely wore both kids a ton for the first year while out. It was better than having a stroller.
3. A manual breastpump for while out and about. If I became engorged, this was super helpful to have in the diaper bag. I swear my milk came in with a vengeance with my second...I used this little pump all the time in the car.
4. A portable sleeping/lying surface for when you need shower, or cook, or just set the kiddo down for a second. We used a bouncer with an interactive arch over it. It would only entertain for about 10 mins, but that was long enough for a shower!
And white noise machine, yes, my 2.5 yo still uses hers everyday to sleep.
Nose frida, gas drops.
My child unfortunately hated the swing, mamaroo, rock n play, literally anything that wasn’t my arms lol. But sometimes if I was desperate for a shower she would tolerate this vibrating seat thing that came with the PNP. My PNP has never actually been used by her, I use it for extra diaper and blanket storage. So much stuff. Also the diaper genie is sometimes controversial, but I swear by them. In fact I have 2, one downstairs in living room, one upstairs in nursery. Zero poop smell in my house and we emptied on garbage days.
TTC since 6/13
Diagnosed w/ PCOS 4/9/15 - R/E recommended lifestyle change
BFP 4/10/16 - DS born 12/16/2016
SURPRISE! BFP 3/8/18
We also LOVED our Mamaroo. That thing was amazing at calming her or putting her to sleep
We also have a formula pitcher that mixes up a days worth of formula that you can just stick in the fridge for the day. That thing is awesome
White noise machine. We have a Skiphop owl night light that plays nursery rhymes and has white noise options. It’s awesome.
The Rock and Play was a lifesaver.
The Ergo was a lifesaver.
A good breast pump when I went back to work with both kids helped me meet my goals of only breastmilk for the first year for both kiddos.
Swaddle sacks and footed pj's. DS lived in the PJs for a very long time lol and he slept in the swaddle sacks for a good 6-8 months.
Our twins were on two different formulas, too, so it made it easy to have one filled with each type of formula so we could make bottles without having to worry about proportions or getting everything out of the cabinet every time.
It makes bottles so fast and at the perfect temperature. The only problem is having to empty and clean the formula holder part regularly because it gets clogged with gooey or caked formula that's absorbed moisture from the air.
It makes middle of the night feedings so much easier, though.
Also, a white noise machine. We have a Dohm and still use it every night. It cuts down on almost all the ambient noise in the house and soothes the boys wonderfully.
● IUI #2: BFP - early M/C
● IUI #3: BFN
● IUI #4: BFN
● IVF/FET #1 (2 transferred): BFP! TWINS!
● FET #2 (1 transferred): BFP! BOY #3!
● Natural #1: BFP - M/C @ 8 weeks
● Natural #2: BFP - M/C @ 5w5d
My boppy was a must have and wish I had multiple of them. Love swaddle sacks. A good diaper bag will change your life. Water Wipes are my favorite for newborns. Sit me up seats are great. Invest in good, self closing baby gates. Car seat mirrors are helpful.
I supplemented formula with my first, but never saw a point in having a pitcher or dispenser. Swings were worthless for my kids. Could probably live without pack and plays. Dr. Brown's bottles are the devil and more trouble than they're worth with all those little pieces. Never used the swing much for either kid. Coats/shoes, etc. are worthless for newborns.
I'll go with burp cloths being essential since dd spit up a ton. Numerous times a day. Everywhere. Not tiny baby spit ups, but huge spit ups. We went through so many burp cloths on a daily basis.
DD1: 8/2014
TTC #2: 6/2017
BFP 8/3/2017 | CP 8/4
BFP 10/16/2017 | CP 10/21
BFP 12/18/2017 | CP 12/28
BFP 2/15/2018 | EDD: November 2nd | It's a girl!
DD2: 10/2018
DD1: 8/2014
TTC #2: 6/2017
BFP 8/3/2017 | CP 8/4
BFP 10/16/2017 | CP 10/21
BFP 12/18/2017 | CP 12/28
BFP 2/15/2018 | EDD: November 2nd | It's a girl!
DD2: 10/2018
As a 3rd time mom I'm taking some of your advice. Always something new to learn!
Dx: PCOS
DS1 born 11/2014
DS2 born 11/2018
3 previous losses
Rainbow baby due 12/2021 - Team Green
I couldn’t really put the baby down in anything in the beginning, she just wanted to be held, but after a few months the exersaucer (or jumparoo) was amazing. I could get a quick shower or make food.
I also loved my cloth diapers and dohm sound machine. I liked having baby carriers even though she didn’t really like being worn unless I was walking so I couldn’t just hang out around the house. I love my city mini stroller it’s been the only one I’ve needed.