BFP #1 3/07, EDD 11/12/07, MMC 5/7/07
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BFP #2 5/4/14, EDD 1/15/15, DS1 1/19/15
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October 2019 Moms
cmbt2
member
Baby must haves from the STM+s
cmbt2
member
Paging all STM+s! What are your must haves for having a baby? Not necessarily baby specific things, but also things that are extremely useful household items.
The FTMs have suggested that it may be helpful to hear about things we found to be must haves or super useful.
I’ll be back later for my list.
The FTMs have suggested that it may be helpful to hear about things we found to be must haves or super useful.
I’ll be back later for my list.
BFP #3 8/19/16, EDD 4/30/17, DS2 4/25/17
BFP #4 12/22/18, EDD 9/6/19 - CP 12/29/18
BFP #5 1/18/19, EDD 10/3/19, It’s a Girl!
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High Risk Dx (6/14): Homozygous MTHFR C677T, protein C & S deficiencies
Re: Baby must haves from the STM+s
some form of slow cooker and/or pressure cooker. It’s been a game changer for us. We can set it up in the AM and dinner is ready when we get home.
A handheld vacuum. Kids are messy, and sometimes, you just don’t want to vacuum the whole floor.
A steam cleaner. Again, kids are messy.
A clothing steamer. I hate ironing and this is way faster. I also find it works better on stubborn wrinkles than an iron.
A deep freezer. It isn’t always easy to go grocery shopping every week, so I do a lot of bulk shopping. The deep freezer (we have a small one) allows me to buy a month’s worth of meat at a time when necessary
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BFP #2 5/4/14, EDD 1/15/15, DS1 1/19/15
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Hakaa silicon manual pump - you can store SO MUCH MILK that would have otherwise soaked a breast pad by suctioning it to your opposite breast while nursing your babe. I would get 3-4oz a session out of it sometimes and cry thinking of all the soaked breast pads with my first. I now buy them as an add on to all first time mom baby gifts. Best ever! https://www.amazon.com/Haakaa-Silicone-Breastfeeding-Manual-Phthalate/dp/B01F8W7CF0/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?keywords=silicone+pump&qid=1556364160&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1
Gerber cloth diaper cloths to use as spit up rags. They are so absorbent.
Snap n go stroller that works with all infant car seats. Super light weight and convenient. Bought this as a STM and wish I had it for my first.
Bamboobies washable breast pads. They felt SO nice when I was a little sore. Disposables feel kind of scratchy. So worth the upfront cost.
Fleece booties that snap/Velcro on. The pricey brand is zutano, but we bought knock offs from amazon and they are SO NICE for a cold climate winter babe. https://www.amazon.com/SOFMUO-Unisex-Fleece-Booties-Newborn/dp/B07HRM7GLH/ref=mp_s_a_1_18?crid=1AB13EUZGJD8R&keywords=baby+booties+snap&qid=1556364636&s=gateway&sprefix=baby+booties+sn&sr=8-18
Car seat cover for cold weather climates (only leave it closed up for the walk to/from the car). Also something I bought as a STM and wished I had for my first. DD2 was also an Oct baby so I feel very ready for this one! Ours is this one, has an attached blanket which is nice so you don’t have to pack one more thing. https://www.amazon.com/Jolly-Jumper-CarSeat-Attached-Weatherproof/dp/B005LVNS4S/ref=mp_s_a_1_13?crid=117WAR3EKS8J5&keywords=infant+seat+cover+winter&qid=1556364788&s=gateway&sprefix=infant+seat+cover+&sr=8-13
Hanna Andersson socks that have the grips on the bottom. They actually stay on, pinky swear.
Nursing tops that that have a panel so you don’t have to get undressed or feel a draft when you nurse in cold weather. I liked Boob brand but I know a ton of new brands have come out since I had my last babe. I’m always cold and the investment in some long sleeve neutrals was SO worth it.
Earth mama Angel baby nipple cream. Has calendula and so soothing. Some babies react to lanolin.
While I’m on food: Baby bjorn scoop bibs were a must for us.
With sleep being so important, we loved the swaddleme Velcro swaddles, then moved on to a zippidyzip once baby could roll over, and then the halo sleepsack.
Soft structured carrier (we loved the Lillebaby) was definitely a must have for us. Beyond just using for our and about, it was the most effective way to sooth him and get him to sleep during the PURPLE crying phase.
Bouncer was another must have. We preferred it over the swing.
Me 39 - DH 41
Married 8/26/07
TTGP #1 Jan '15 -
BFP 9/11/15 - DS born 5/31/16
TTGP #2 July '17 -
CP July '17
Blighted Ovum MC Dec '17
CP June '18
BFP 1/30/19 - EDD 10/13/19
the seat is detachable to become a bouncer and it doesn’t swing like a traditional swing. It glides instead, with the bars that move it underneath. My kids hated both the side to side swings and the traditional bars overhead swings
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BFP #2 5/4/14, EDD 1/15/15, DS1 1/19/15
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Making meals ahead of time (like come August/Sept) that DH can just toss into the slow cooker makes dinner easier. Even if you end up tossing it in your self. It a good meal with minimal effort.
If you plan to BF, take that into account if you buy a deep freezer. If you plan to use it for food as well as your "stash" you want make sure its big enough for both.
Also, it's likely too early to start now, but again as we enter the 3rd tri, it's good to start saving soda boxes (the fridge pack kind). They are perfect for storing and organizing bags of frozen milk.
A good carrier of some sort because it was hard to be holding the baby while trying to accomplish anything or chase older siblings. I loved the K’Tan because it was simple and fast to throw on for a newborn-3 month old and nurse.
For our house: Amazon prime, uber eats, and Shipt or another grocery delivery service. While I did need to get out of the house once in a while it was so convenient to have groceries and food delivered. I found myself too exhausted to actually worry about cleaning my house or cooking so I outsourced both things. I made a budget early in pregnancy so I had enough saved to order food regularly and have a house cleaner come out once a week for the first month or so. I felt kind of guilty but it was well worth it.
Not exactly related but I really didn’t appreciate visitors while trying to get breastfeeding all sorted out and my family are the people who show up without calling so I bought some YI cameras so I could see who was coming and going and it helped me ignore people those times that I didn’t want interrupted. It also felt slightly rude but hey if you don’t call ahead of time there’s not guarantee that I will answer the door.
A good plan with cloud cloud space or some other photo storage plan. I took a million pictures and I’m so grateful to have them all now.
A code word or phrase with your significant other for when you need a time out, mostly for visitors who over stay their welcome. We decided on a code phrase that meant that it was time to kick visitors out. Someone on my other bmb had mentioned this and it was such a lifesaver for baby #3. I wish I had used one with my other two kids. When we had visitors ours was “I think the dogs need to go out for a walk” it signaled my husband to grab the leash and offer our guests the option to go with him so that baby and I could rest. 99% of the time they got the hint and left.
Other must haves for us - rock n play (wish I had it with my 1st) baby carrier, halo sleep sacks and swaddles, zip up only one pieces (I hate the snaps, especially at night- figured that one out quickly with #1) box fan or other noise blocking device
@PenelopeSnuz77 I never even heard of the Hakaa until recently and I could cry over all the milk I’ve wasted 😭. Have you ever tried milkies? Just heard of that one too and debating which one would be better.
If nursing - I loved the my breast friend pillow. I ended up with 3 so I could just keep one in each spot I nursed (multiple floors in house) instead of lugging it around everywhere. Even as a toddler, my daughter liked it and would grab the pillow when she wanted to nurse.
Someone in my last BMB recommended a bubba mug and I still use mine. It has a large capacity and the silicone straw makes it easy to drink a lot with one hand (useful while nursing or holding a baby):
Bubba Envy Double Wall Insulated Straw Tumbler with Handle, 32 oz, Blue https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LXCFSVA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_.JiXCb4KJ42E8
If you have multiple floors in your house, I recommend a changing station and nursing station on each floor to save trips. We thought we could get away with just a changing pad downstairs but we’re both tall and crouching over all the time sucked so we bought a second changing table.
An inflatable donut pillow to sit on for the first couple weeks. I made my husband run out and get one for me because sitting hurt for awhile.
An Amazon prime account - almost everything on this list is something we ordered with next day/2 day delivery after the baby was born when we were learning what worked and what didn’t for us. And we thought we had everything we needed before baby. There’s a lot of trial and error involved to figure out what works for you, your baby, and your family.
It does have a tiny learning curve but I can help trouble shoot if needed!
-a quality pump- don’t go super cheap here and check if your insurance will cover this. If you are planning to breastfeed for more than a month or two or ever leave the house without your baby, you will get your money’s worth.
-Boppy- I used it constantly and it made breastfeeding especially in a chair much more comfortable.
-Hands free pumping bra- nice to be able to multi-task. Fair warning though, you won’t get as much suction with it so make sure at the end you massage and press against the flanges to get as much out of the session as possible.
-Sound machine (or app)- my youngest loved sleeping to water noises
-some type of photo organization system- you will take soooo many pictures that first year (and more) and you will want a way to find that precious picture from their first trip to the zoo easily on your computer or device
-microwave steam sterilizer or bags- loved being able to sterilize pump parts, bottle, etc. quickly and conveniently
-quality baby gates- the cheap ones don’t do the job as well as the nice ones
-several sturdy nursing bras that look good under your favorite clothes. I found many nursing bras don’t have enough support for me (as they typically don’t have underwires for supply reasons), so go try them on and make sure you like them before you need them.
-Not a product, but make sure your pump is put together, the accessories sterilized, etc. before you become engorged. Sometimes the baby wasn’t ready to eat but I was in pain and needed to pump for a minute to “take the edge off”. The first time that happened, I had the pump but hadn’t sterilized the parts yet. Don’t be me.
Add to my list: pumpin’ Pals flanges - they make pumping SO MUCH more comfortable. Total game changer for me.
I hate sleep n plays and one piece pajamas; I only use them when we go out those first couple of months and never for night time sleep. We use sleep gowns (onesie on top but open like a bag at the bottom) until they can fit into two piece pajamas (9 month sizing)
if you can, get the kid to take cold and room temperature bottles. It’s game changing when you bottle feed and don’t need to warm it up. So easy to just grab the premade bottle from the fridge and go.
A gliding chair in the baby’s room was a must, but we move them to their crib within the first couple weeks and start bedtime routine there immediately.
A sit me up seat. Once they hit 2/3 months, babies want to look around. This helps them look around and still be supported.
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BFP #2 5/4/14, EDD 1/15/15, DS1 1/19/15
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Zip up sleepers. Snap sleepers are the worst. Especially when the get older.
Wipe warmer. Definitely helps for the first few months of changing the baby so the wipes aren’t so cold on their little butt.
Diaper genie. I know a lot of people say that they hate them, but we loved ours and still do.
A basket or two, to keep in rooms that you are most likely going to be in a lot. I would put burp cloths, swaddles... You name it. Anything that is quick and easy to grab where you don’t have to get up and get it.
My breast friend.
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BFP #2 5/4/14, EDD 1/15/15, DS1 1/19/15
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jk (kinda)
- agree with quality nursing tops/bras, hand free pumping bra, and haaka if you plan to nurse/pump.
- also couldn’t agree more with the big straw cup (I used my hospital ones). If nursing, you will be thirsty. And even if you’re not, you need constant hydration to make milk.
- swaddlers (we liked the halo ones). Even if your baby fights it at first, it will likely help them sleep longer/better
- also agree that snaps are the devil. Zip up pjs for life.
- some sort of “baby container” in main room. Whether it’s a bouncer, swing, pnp, whatever. Just somewhere safe you can set baby while you got to the bathroom or answer the door or make yourself food or whatever.
- boopy. We had multiple. Great for breastfeeding, but also just to put under the baby while sleeping on you so you don’t have to hold them on your arm. We used ours daily. Also great if you have kid visitors that want to hold the baby.
Things I disagree with (total personal preference obvi)
- deep freezer. Never once have I not felt like the freezer we have is enough (though we do have a second beer fridge in the garage). Convenient, sure. But Def wouldn’t say this is a ‘must have’.
- wipe warmer. Totally unnecessary IMO. I’d say save your money
- diaper genie - same as above. We have one and I literally haven’t used it once. Diapers just go in the garbage. If they’re extra smelly they go straight to garage garbage.
We just use a regular trash can for diapers
we need the deep freezer because sam’s is the cheapest for meat around here, but it obviously only comes in bulk when you buy there. I only go there once a month so I need somewhere to put it (plus, we were really only in apartments until last month and they always had small freezers). I don’t premake meals. We tried with DS1 and found that to be such a waste of time.
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BFP #2 5/4/14, EDD 1/15/15, DS1 1/19/15
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-hands free pumping bra
-sit me up floor seat DS1 loved that thing and I could take it in the bathroom so I could shower
-sleep swaddle sack-my preference was halo swaddle the fleece ones for the cold months
-Diaper genie
Ill add
-Moby or similar sling type wrap for the itty bitty phase
-Nose Frida, this thing looks gross but it’s really not and it is soooooooo much more effective then those stupid bulbs that don’t do squat.
-A good diaper bag with a changing pad,
HX
DSD: 17
DS: 4(Nov'14)
MMC:8/17
MMC: 1/18
BFP: 2/7/19 EDD:10/16/19
Tickers
Haakaa - I didn't even break out my pump last time (SAHM) because I could collect so much from this little treasure.
Wrap - the only way I survived those early days. I will say though, my son loved being worn, but my daughter hated it. She was never much of a cuddler, so the swing was my saving grace with her.
Baby basket (diapers, burp rags, extra baby nail clippers, etc.) in the main living area or wherever you spend most of your time.
Washable breast pads
Puppy pads for sleeping on during the heavy postpartum bleeding.
And on that note, waterproof mattress covers. Helps with all the boob leaks too.
So many things are just personal preference though. As long as you can clothe, feed, and put your baby to sleep safely, you have what you need. Every baby is different, and we'll probably all be making late night amazon orders for sanity saving miracle items.
YES how could I forget this. So gross, but you get over it. DEFINITELY a must have.
-We only kept pacifiers for car rides/ grandma's and neither of my babies much cared for them anyway. We used MAM, Nuk and Avent when we had them and never bigger than Newborn size.
-I use Google for everything so Google photos is amazing. I also have Amazon prime, therefore prime photos, and computer with a terabyte external storage as well!
-MAM bottles if anyone has had a colicky baby before or wants to avoid colic. Dr Brown has way to many small parts to clean, to difficult to take apart and expensive to me. MAM at our Walmart for a two pack is like 10 something, but they're big parts, easy to clean and easy for baby to hold later. I used them for both. Also plus for breastfeeding because they're wider shaped, more breast like!
-i had a boppy pillow passed down from family for both kiddos and still use it! But I'd love a breast friend pillow!! They have great reviews.
-TBH for us personally, some kind of stroller was always necessary. We have 2 18 months apart. I am part of a parent panel and review things for it. I got tot review a Baby Jogger City Lux and oh my lanta do I love it. It's compact and light and fits in my car trunk wonderfully. My parents got us a baby trend Jogger with DS that they keep now in their van. I have a baby trend Sit and Stand I bought cheap when DD was born and it fit 2 different kinds of carseats perfectly and when she was older, both kids sat in it great. We still use it occasionally but it's heavy, lunky and hard to move around, plus barely fits in my trunk. It also is rough to steer due to the length. We used it at a funeral about 4 days after DD was born and home and it steers rough. Not ideal for rough/bumpy terrain. We now have a Jeep double umbrella stroller. My goal is to use that for my older two and wear my new baby! It is a smooth glide, lightweight and easy to unfold!!
-Ardo breastpump for breastfeeding momma's. It's gentle, suuuperrr quiet if you want to pump at home and baby's sleeping, or for pumping at work!
I will think of more I'm sure 😂😂
+whatever to the nose Frieda. I still use it on DS2!
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BFP #2 5/4/14, EDD 1/15/15, DS1 1/19/15
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-the mom who’s kid was colicky due to MPI and reflux
ETA- and my unsolicited advice to any mom who gets a “colic” diagnosis... look for a cause. Too many pediatricians are ready to slap a colic label on the kid but not delve into other causes. My kid had none of the obvious signs of reflux or MPI, and it took 3 pediatricians to get the diagnosis correct
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BFP #2 5/4/14, EDD 1/15/15, DS1 1/19/15
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Pediatricians know an embarrassingly small about about feeding issues.
Noise machine -I prefer the Dohm -- we have 3 in our tiny condo!
Hand Pump - even if you hate it, even if you have a great pump, my hand pump became a life saver a few times when I could just throw it in my bag without lugging around the big pump and accessories. Great for if you have a girls night out or something and just need to pump to relieve but not necessarily store that milk (if you're having drinks or whatever).
No need for a wipe warmer/bottle warmer/diaper genie in my opinion. We have none of these -- DD's diapers still go into a clI osed small trash bin in her room that we just change out regularly. We have never had an issue with odor.
Freezer Meals ready to go. And not just for dinner!! One of the most helpful things I made was a couple dozen breakfast sandwiches (bacon/egg/cheese) that I froze and then could just pop in the oven to heat up for a quick breakfast or lunch when I didn't have hands free to make real food.
Lactation cookies -- Again, make a few batches ahead of time and freeze them. They are freaking delicious and I would seriously eat them on the regular as a 3 am snack during nursing sessions.
A baby carrier, even if you only use it around the house! We have the Ergo, a Boba wrap, and a ring sling, and I love them all for different reasons. I used them a lot out but also used them around the house whether it was getting DD to nap in them, getting some cooking/baking done, or just having my hands free to do Whatever.
I'm sure I'll think of more but that's it for now!
Me 39 - DH 41
Married 8/26/07
TTGP #1 Jan '15 -
BFP 9/11/15 - DS born 5/31/16
TTGP #2 July '17 -
CP July '17
Blighted Ovum MC Dec '17
CP June '18
BFP 1/30/19 - EDD 10/13/19