Since we've got some fun chatter going on it the discussion about strollers, I thought it might be nice to expand it to baby gear in general! What are some of your favorites? What was your nursery splurge (if you have one)?
I am in love with these
burpy bibs by Aden + Anais. Yes, $22 dollars for 2 bibs, but they are completely worth it. They are super thick and absorbent while also being nice and soft against baby skin. The patterns are pretty yet modern and a bit artsy. And now that she's in baby foods, I can snap it on like a bib and it covers pretty much her entire top half like a smock. Sweet potato baby food spillage? No worries -- it just gets on the bib! And I can confirm that they hold up well in the wash and those bright orange sweet potato stains come out like magic. I actually found these two or three months after my little girl arrived and I've been giving them as baby shower or baby-warming gifts ever since -- to equally rave reviews !
My nursery splurge is going to be this
changing basket (which will convert nicely into a bin for her dresser top when she gets older) -- I just have to wait until September as they are currently back-ordered due to demand.
Re: Favorite Baby Stuff!
I buy mostly Canadian Brands but one super useful item we’ve bought is this:
Ingenuity Baby Base 2-in-1 Seat, Slate https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0791TSV83/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Bw2DBbGFFZ7YW
Use it at home, in the trunk for busy day/road trip lunches and travel.
DX: Endometriosis - Stage 4, DOR, RPL
03.2016 - Natural BFP - MC 5w4d
04.2016 - Natural BFP - Chemical
10.2016 - IUI w/ Injections #1 = IUI Cancelled (cyst/no mature follicle)
11.2016 - IUI w/ Injections #2 = BFP, EDD 08.2017 - It's a BOY!
TTC #2 06.2019
08.2019 - IUI w/ Injections #1 = Chemical
09.2019 - IUI w/ Injections #2 = BFN
10.2019 - IUI w/ Injections #3 = BFN
01.2020 - IUI w/ Injections #4 = BFN
08.2020 - Natural BFP - MC 9w5d
11.2020 - IVF Retrieval - 3AB & 4BB
05.2021 - FET #1 = BFP, EDD 02.2022 - It's a BOY!
Summer 2015 - no BFP yet, labs normal, referred to RE
Fall 2015 - Summer 2016 - Further testing all normal. 3 IUI's -- BFN. Recommended move to IVF. Planned cycle for fall 2016.
September 2016 - Surprise natural BFP. MMC @ 8 weeks. RE expressed confidence that we just needed the 'right' embryo.
Fall 2016 - Spring 2017 -- Break from TTC
June 2017 - Started IVF; egg retrieval for freeze all cycle. 9 mature eggs retrieved, 5 fertilized. 2 4BB embies on ice.
August 2017 - FET transfer both embies. BFP. Twin pregnancy confirmed by ultrasound. EDD 4/28/18
September 2017 - Twin B stopped developing; Twin A doing perfectly! Graduated from RE @ 10 weeks
March 2018 - Baby Girl born via C/S due to pre-eclampsia -- strong and healthy!
TTC #2
January/Feb 2021 - Freeze-all IVF cycle
March 2021 - FET of 1 PGS normal female embryo. BFP! Beta #1 156, #2 472, #3 1241, #4 5268 EDD 12/5/21 - Christmas baby!
"When all is lost then all is found."
No Folic acid/pharmaceuticals/supplements (too many to list- private message me if interested), IVIL infusion
We have a Dock a Tot and we loved it. I’m holding on to it for a possible second since you can’t get them in Canada right now.
Also loved our Nuna Sena Mini - I had the Halo Bassinest and swapped it out for the Sena Mini (got it used for half price) - same size and portable so it had two uses. I stubbed my toe on the Halo base way too many times and it took up a ton of room to store.
Munchkin weighted straw cups have been a hit here. Water, milk and smoothies.
@lablover78 - we’ve used BabyConnect the whole way so far and I’ve really liked it. We have it on both our phones and the iPad so both of us can track/someone watching him could.
DX: Endometriosis - Stage 4, DOR, RPL
03.2016 - Natural BFP - MC 5w4d
04.2016 - Natural BFP - Chemical
10.2016 - IUI w/ Injections #1 = IUI Cancelled (cyst/no mature follicle)
11.2016 - IUI w/ Injections #2 = BFP, EDD 08.2017 - It's a BOY!
TTC #2 06.2019
08.2019 - IUI w/ Injections #1 = Chemical
09.2019 - IUI w/ Injections #2 = BFN
10.2019 - IUI w/ Injections #3 = BFN
01.2020 - IUI w/ Injections #4 = BFN
08.2020 - Natural BFP - MC 9w5d
11.2020 - IVF Retrieval - 3AB & 4BB
05.2021 - FET #1 = BFP, EDD 02.2022 - It's a BOY!
I totally get that -- I allowed myself a purchase of a set of crib sheets and a swaddling blanket at 16 weeks but that was the last until closer to 32-34 weeks! And since she arrived a bit early, I had basically nothing other than my shower gifts when they said, "Okay, you're having a baby today!" So I've been enjoying doing most of my baby shopping post-baby
Summer 2015 - no BFP yet, labs normal, referred to RE
Fall 2015 - Summer 2016 - Further testing all normal. 3 IUI's -- BFN. Recommended move to IVF. Planned cycle for fall 2016.
September 2016 - Surprise natural BFP. MMC @ 8 weeks. RE expressed confidence that we just needed the 'right' embryo.
Fall 2016 - Spring 2017 -- Break from TTC
June 2017 - Started IVF; egg retrieval for freeze all cycle. 9 mature eggs retrieved, 5 fertilized. 2 4BB embies on ice.
August 2017 - FET transfer both embies. BFP. Twin pregnancy confirmed by ultrasound. EDD 4/28/18
September 2017 - Twin B stopped developing; Twin A doing perfectly! Graduated from RE @ 10 weeks
March 2018 - Baby Girl born via C/S due to pre-eclampsia -- strong and healthy!
TTC #2
January/Feb 2021 - Freeze-all IVF cycle
March 2021 - FET of 1 PGS normal female embryo. BFP! Beta #1 156, #2 472, #3 1241, #4 5268 EDD 12/5/21 - Christmas baby!
"When all is lost then all is found."
My favorite is this mobile.
https://www.tinylove.com/us_en/on-the-go-toys/take-along-mobile
The best $25 I’ve ever spent. With this I can take 15 min break to eat or use the bathroom, etc.
My splurge is a bassinet called SNOO. It rocks and soothes the baby to sleep with oscillation and white noise and continues to rock the baby to help the baby sleep longer. What it doesn’t do is that it won’t stop the baby from waking up if he/she is hungry! My boy likes to eat frequently so I’m not seeing much benefit in terms of sleep when using this bassinet with him. Ugh. One thing I love about this bassinet though is that it clips the swaddle into the bassinet so when he is swaddled, he can’t flip. Right now he just learned to flip onto his tummy and doesn’t quite know how to flip back, so it’s really nice to know he won’t be flipping onto his belly when we are asleep.
Unexplained infertility/AMA, polycystic ovaries, insulin resistance
FET#1(July 2017): eSET of first of 4 PGS-normal embryos, DS born 3/30/2018
FET#2(Oct/Nov 2019): eSET
We are starting to get fussiness and 'tude if we're out and she's in a bad mood (due to teething, yay).
Summer 2015 - no BFP yet, labs normal, referred to RE
Fall 2015 - Summer 2016 - Further testing all normal. 3 IUI's -- BFN. Recommended move to IVF. Planned cycle for fall 2016.
September 2016 - Surprise natural BFP. MMC @ 8 weeks. RE expressed confidence that we just needed the 'right' embryo.
Fall 2016 - Spring 2017 -- Break from TTC
June 2017 - Started IVF; egg retrieval for freeze all cycle. 9 mature eggs retrieved, 5 fertilized. 2 4BB embies on ice.
August 2017 - FET transfer both embies. BFP. Twin pregnancy confirmed by ultrasound. EDD 4/28/18
September 2017 - Twin B stopped developing; Twin A doing perfectly! Graduated from RE @ 10 weeks
March 2018 - Baby Girl born via C/S due to pre-eclampsia -- strong and healthy!
TTC #2
January/Feb 2021 - Freeze-all IVF cycle
March 2021 - FET of 1 PGS normal female embryo. BFP! Beta #1 156, #2 472, #3 1241, #4 5268 EDD 12/5/21 - Christmas baby!
"When all is lost then all is found."
Zulily has Aden + Anais today. The 2 pack of burly bibs are $15 if you need more.
My favorite baby items have been our Rock n Play, lifesaver for any babies with reflux. Now that we have transitioned Brooks to his crib I love the Nested Bean sleep sack.
For a splurge items I love our Lollipop camera and the Hatch Baby night light and sound machine.
I think the most useful things I bought were just a few regular packs of the white cloth diapers/burp rags. My son had reflux so bad and he was a spitter so I went through more burp rags than anything else! I used my ergo all of the time b/c it helped me get stuff done around the house. I bought the infant insert and it was awesome. I tried the Moby and could never get it to work by myself. I almost cried every time I tried to use it. lol... I want to try one of the baby Katan's this time around and see if that helps. Also, we used the Owlett and absolutely loved it!
@KidShrink - I want to get one of those Peanut Changers! we have a regular but the biggest complain is that with the cloth covers, they are forever dirty.
TTC since Oct 2013
IVF round 1 January 2016 (w/ ICSI)
ER: February 17, 2016; 15 eggs retrieved, 14 mature, 11 fertilized
Day 5 Blastocysts: 8 sent for PGS - 5 Normal
FET date: April 12, 2016 - DS born Dec 7, 2016
IVF round 2: FET : Oct 4 - 1st Beta 188!
DX: Endometriosis - Stage 4, DOR, RPL
03.2016 - Natural BFP - MC 5w4d
04.2016 - Natural BFP - Chemical
10.2016 - IUI w/ Injections #1 = IUI Cancelled (cyst/no mature follicle)
11.2016 - IUI w/ Injections #2 = BFP, EDD 08.2017 - It's a BOY!
TTC #2 06.2019
08.2019 - IUI w/ Injections #1 = Chemical
09.2019 - IUI w/ Injections #2 = BFN
10.2019 - IUI w/ Injections #3 = BFN
01.2020 - IUI w/ Injections #4 = BFN
08.2020 - Natural BFP - MC 9w5d
11.2020 - IVF Retrieval - 3AB & 4BB
05.2021 - FET #1 = BFP, EDD 02.2022 - It's a BOY!
DX: Endometriosis - Stage 4, DOR, RPL
03.2016 - Natural BFP - MC 5w4d
04.2016 - Natural BFP - Chemical
10.2016 - IUI w/ Injections #1 = IUI Cancelled (cyst/no mature follicle)
11.2016 - IUI w/ Injections #2 = BFP, EDD 08.2017 - It's a BOY!
TTC #2 06.2019
08.2019 - IUI w/ Injections #1 = Chemical
09.2019 - IUI w/ Injections #2 = BFN
10.2019 - IUI w/ Injections #3 = BFN
01.2020 - IUI w/ Injections #4 = BFN
08.2020 - Natural BFP - MC 9w5d
11.2020 - IVF Retrieval - 3AB & 4BB
05.2021 - FET #1 = BFP, EDD 02.2022 - It's a BOY!
with needing to chase a big kid, alll the baby carriers. Ring sling, structured, wrap. My second baby is my BOB stroller, I freaking love that thing, so we got a double BOB and it’s amazing. I run a lot or hike so not needed otherwise but it’s my most used baby item.
then bottle warmer was used daily with my oldest, never for this baby. Both hated swings, both loved the rock n play.
Then a 4-1 high chair.. high chair, booster, and can detach to travel to family members homes. Also a camping chair with a tray, we eat outside a lot so mister mister is in that eating daily.
so many awesome things for the kiddos!!
We have a bottle warmer (cheaper one from Philipps) and it's a total life-saver. We bottle feed, so the formula is usually a bit cold when we take it from the fridge (we use ready-to-feed bottes -- I was able to get them directly for Similac for a fraction of the cost). So, we warm it for about 4-5 min depending on amount. Our bottle warmer doesn't have a timer so we just ask our 'Alexa' to set timers for 5 min everytime we make a bottle! I'm sure there's someone at amazon wondering why we are setting all these short timers lol
When we take Anne over to stay with her grandparents while I go to the office, they warm bottles the old fashioned way in hot water XD. The bottle warmer does the same thing, but it's so easy to use!
Summer 2015 - no BFP yet, labs normal, referred to RE
Fall 2015 - Summer 2016 - Further testing all normal. 3 IUI's -- BFN. Recommended move to IVF. Planned cycle for fall 2016.
September 2016 - Surprise natural BFP. MMC @ 8 weeks. RE expressed confidence that we just needed the 'right' embryo.
Fall 2016 - Spring 2017 -- Break from TTC
June 2017 - Started IVF; egg retrieval for freeze all cycle. 9 mature eggs retrieved, 5 fertilized. 2 4BB embies on ice.
August 2017 - FET transfer both embies. BFP. Twin pregnancy confirmed by ultrasound. EDD 4/28/18
September 2017 - Twin B stopped developing; Twin A doing perfectly! Graduated from RE @ 10 weeks
March 2018 - Baby Girl born via C/S due to pre-eclampsia -- strong and healthy!
TTC #2
January/Feb 2021 - Freeze-all IVF cycle
March 2021 - FET of 1 PGS normal female embryo. BFP! Beta #1 156, #2 472, #3 1241, #4 5268 EDD 12/5/21 - Christmas baby!
"When all is lost then all is found."
DX: Endometriosis - Stage 4, DOR, RPL
03.2016 - Natural BFP - MC 5w4d
04.2016 - Natural BFP - Chemical
10.2016 - IUI w/ Injections #1 = IUI Cancelled (cyst/no mature follicle)
11.2016 - IUI w/ Injections #2 = BFP, EDD 08.2017 - It's a BOY!
TTC #2 06.2019
08.2019 - IUI w/ Injections #1 = Chemical
09.2019 - IUI w/ Injections #2 = BFN
10.2019 - IUI w/ Injections #3 = BFN
01.2020 - IUI w/ Injections #4 = BFN
08.2020 - Natural BFP - MC 9w5d
11.2020 - IVF Retrieval - 3AB & 4BB
05.2021 - FET #1 = BFP, EDD 02.2022 - It's a BOY!
Fisher Price ocean wonders.
Our big “nursery” splurge is mostly for us because we wanted to be comfortable if one of us has to sleep in baby’s room: We ordered an Ekornes Stressless recliner (ordered after AS as the promo at the time was ending the weekend after, and we were advised it could take 16 weeks to get the chair since the color we wanted isn’t stocked here). We sort of justified it by knowing we were going to get awesome used furniture from a friend, and we’ve gotten a bunch of baby clothes and gear (swing, rock n’ play, older carriers, snap n’ go, boppies and a my Brest friend) from our next door neighbor who just had a little girl in January. And I got a 3 hours used Ergo 360 from a kind coworker (her little boy hated being worn) and will get an equally minimally used (not that I care - I was just sort of amazed) pack and play from her too, and possibly a bouncer (I was advised that you can’t have too many!).
We optimistically picked up a lightly used Snoo off of Craigslist at like 12 or 13 weeks (seller reports they used it maybe 5 times because her baby got sick so she just wanted to nurse her all the time anyway) - she somehow got it free and they were moving so her price was better than most I’d seen.
I managed to find a red (apparently discontinued years ago) Keekaroo peanut changer in red online from a store in Canada so had it shipped.
Regarding pumps, I’m planning on going with the the Spectra S1 (can’t order it for another 5.5 weeks per my insurance rules). I think there’s a surcharge beyond what insurance covers for the battery one, but I’d like to have the flexibility. Also, I think my generous neighbor said she has spare supplies for it.
Edit: typo
Married 6/18/16 (Me 42, DH 44), TTC #2
***TW***
As of 12/2016: AMH 1.42, FSH 6.1, AFC ~10
Self-benched Nov-Dec 2016 for
IVF #1 Jan-Feb 2017 (OCP, testosterone primed antagonist w/HGH - ER 2/2/17 - 12R, 7M ICSI'd, 3F, 0B)
IVF #2 Mar-Apr 2017 (testosterone primed agonist/luteal lupron w/HGH - ER 4/8/17 - 10R, 8M, 8F, 5B, 1 PGS normal)
IVF #3 May-Jun 2017 (testosterone primed agonist/luteal lupron w/HGH - ER 6/4/17 - 14R, 5F, 3B, 0 normal)
**New RE**
IVF #4 Sept 2017 (natural start microdose lupron flare w/HGH - ER 9/28/17 - 33R, 18F, 10B, 4 PGS normals!)
FET #1 (medicated) of one PGS normal 4AA XX 11/2/17 - Beta #1 11/11/17 (153), Beta #2 11/13/17 (324), mc at 5w1d on 11/19/17
IVF #5 Dec 2017 - Insemination of 9 frozen eggs from 2012 (8F, 1B, 0 normal)
Jan 2018 - Natural cycle ERA (normal/receptive) & stimming for
IVF #6 Jan-Feb 2018 (natural start microdose lupron flare w/HGH - ER 2/3/18 - 17R, 6M, 4F, 0 blasts)
IVF #7 Feb 2018 (natural start microdose lupron flare w/HGH - ER 2/26/18 - 19R, 9M, 9F, 4B, 2 PGS normals)
FET #2 Apr 2018 (natural cycle w/o trigger, w/P4 support) of one PGS normal 4AA- XX 4/5/18 - Beta #1 4/14/18 (67), Beta #2 4/16/18 (231)
Rainbow baby girl born 12/16/2018 (via c-section, induced at 39 weeks)
-----
TFAS!
FET #3 Dec 2019 (natural cycle w/o trigger, w/P4 support) of one PGS normal 3BB XY 12/16/19 - Beta #1 12/24/19 (139), Beta #2 12/27/19 (482)
I have Spectra s2 and 9 pumps and I love both pumps. 9 is portable but suction is a bit weak compared to s2 and it is louder, too. If you are interested in using the Spectra brand pumps but want to use glass bottles to collect/store milk, Avent glass bottle fits the Spectra flange. The downside to using the glass bottle is that you can’t use the hands-free pump bra.
Unexplained infertility/AMA, polycystic ovaries, insulin resistance
FET#1(July 2017): eSET of first of 4 PGS-normal embryos, DS born 3/30/2018
FET#2(Oct/Nov 2019): eSET
DX: Endometriosis - Stage 4, DOR, RPL
03.2016 - Natural BFP - MC 5w4d
04.2016 - Natural BFP - Chemical
10.2016 - IUI w/ Injections #1 = IUI Cancelled (cyst/no mature follicle)
11.2016 - IUI w/ Injections #2 = BFP, EDD 08.2017 - It's a BOY!
TTC #2 06.2019
08.2019 - IUI w/ Injections #1 = Chemical
09.2019 - IUI w/ Injections #2 = BFN
10.2019 - IUI w/ Injections #3 = BFN
01.2020 - IUI w/ Injections #4 = BFN
08.2020 - Natural BFP - MC 9w5d
11.2020 - IVF Retrieval - 3AB & 4BB
05.2021 - FET #1 = BFP, EDD 02.2022 - It's a BOY!