@mehugg I found that I never needed the larger size bottles because I could never pump more than 6-9 oz at a time. I had a stud (right side) and a dud (left size), the latter of which could only produce 1 oz at a time .
@nutter_bean the infant bucket seat is so much more convenient. You can just click into the frame stroller or put it in the base of a shopping cart without having to get a newborn out of a seat belt, hold him or her with one hand and transfer into a carrier of some sort that you're clipping with one hand with a floppy newborn. The convertible car seat can last for years. My four year old is in one front facing now.
We don't have a diaper genie but have a diaper pail, like a trash can that seals off better. @kristinl492 wait so you would take each dirty diaper out to an outside trashcan?? How?? In the beginning they poop so much lol and your hands are always full. And I imagine this time the convenience will be even more necessary.
@meanjellybean in the early days, we would have a plastic bag going in the laundry room (Secluding the smells behind closed doors 😆) to just take it all out at the end of the day or when it got full. I swear, it’s not as bad as it seems. Our outside trash can is also pretty convenient to get to. Like 90% of diaper changes happen downstairs, as wel.
@meanjellybean lol yes! This is just our own version of a diaper genie 😆. I’m big on keeping baby stuff minimal so a diaper pail was the first thing on my “do we actually need this?” list.
@kristinl492 team no diaper pail as well. The thought of being able to shove 100 diapers in there just grosses me out. So we have a small trash can that you step on to open. We take it out every 3-4 days and it’s fine. Bf baby poop doesn’t really smell until solids. Solids poops get put into a bag in the trash (or straight to the outside can if it’s a bad one). Now her poop is flushable, so I just plop it in the toilet and put the diaper in trash.
@kc0711 hmm.. maybe people are confusing diaper pail and diaper genie? Our diaper pail is just a glorified trash can that you step on and it opens... and I can only put like 10-15 diapers in there tops, and take it out every 3-4 days...
Has anyone ever used an "Infans" brand high chair? It seems to fit our needs (folds down, dishwashable tray, less of a fabric-y seat for easy cleaning) but I've never heard of the brand before
@mehugg I haven’t tried that one but we have the Joovy Nook and it also folds down for easy storage. I love the seat! The tray swings open, which is wicked convenient and it can go in the dishwasher. We keep it folded down when we don’t use it and it’s so simple
Super random rec and I have no idea why it came to me now, but if you plan on nursing, I found the breast friend (yes that’s the actual name lol) to be superior to the boppy in terms of positioning and support. So if you’re between the two, the breast friend is worth registering for (or borrowing). I amazon primed it after a few days home from the hospital and then used mine the entire 14.5 months. Some people swear by the boppy though (or just using regular pillows) so like everything else, it’s about personal preference.
@meanjellybean did you find you liked it better after it was worn in a bit? My friend loved the one at our LC's office but got one new and hated it. I just used the Boppy b/c of this.... also, the whole, snapping behind me thing seemed cumbersome. Just curious on your experience with a new one.
@meanjellybean@blaf322 Chiming in on the my Breast Friend nursing pillow. I got a used one for cheap and I don't regret it at all. I used it only for the first couple of months, but I found the positioning and support to be great especially in the beginning. After we got the hang of breastfeeding I never used any kind of pillow (I did find the strap and whatnot cumbersome after she got a bit bigger, and squirmier). I never had a Boppy so I can't comment on the difference. I will say that I did wish I had a Boppy type pillow when she was learning to sit, and I may try to find a used one for this baby.
@meanjellybean@blaf322@mrsdrez I’ve heard that a lot of people prefer the breast friend over Boppy. But I also know quite a few people that LOVE their Boppy. I wish you could test drive these things for free 😂.
I personally didn’t care for the Boppy. Used it for about the first 3-5 days for nursing and then just used regular couch pillows. I will say, the Boppy did make for a great postpartum cushion to sit on in those couple weeks after a vaginal delivery.
@kristinl492 I also just preferred regular pillows over a Boppy/MBF pillow. FFMC I took a pillow I extra loved from the hospital b/c I felt like it was the perfect positioning pillow
@blaf322@mrsdrez I never really minded the strap, I found I got pretty good at doing it with one hand lol. And it's adjustable. I didn't notice a difference on new vs. worn since it's really just a big foam block that doesn't change shape lol. It's definitely better for when they are little and it serves as a flat shelf that makes positioning so much easier (when she was tiny I could literally walk around while nursing because it was so stable), whereas with the boppy I found she slid down since it's sloped towards your body. It also serves a good shelf for a drink or snacks OH and it also has a pocket where I would keep nipple cream, nipple shield, fingernail clippers (the only time I could do it was when she was nursing), etc. Now I'm starting to sound like a breast friend evangelist lol but I'm just remembering all the good things about it!
The Boppy isn’t helpful with a tiny newborn in my experience. It’s fine once your baby has a little head control. I used one bc it’s what I received but am excited to try mbf this time- a friend gave me hers as my dog uses the Boppy as a bed now 😆. We use mbf in the hospital with patients. It offers a firmer support.
BF pillow related - I have the Dr Brown one (the Gia) and really like it. I haven't ever used a different nursing pillow, so can't really compare. The shape is more of a comma shape instead of a C. The rounder end is thicker, so it gives nice support under the head. I like that nothing goes all the way around me, it's easy to just kind of set it on my lap. I'm not actually sure if they're making them anymore, though, because the one I saw on Amazon was over $100, which is definitely NOT the normal price!
I just put it away about a month ago, and my littlest is 17 months. I used it mainly on the couch, which we don't keep pillows on (MH has a thing about throw pillows). Nursing pillows are just big and bulky, or I'd have used it in bed more when we were room-sharing. It's hard to find a place for it on the bed though, especially if your setup makes you crawl to the end of the bed to get on/off like I had to do. I just kept extra pillows by my head (propped up against the wall/headboard) and put them under my arm when I nursed. It's also too big to use in our rocker (in nursery). So depending on where you end up feeding most often, and what makes you most comfortable, a nursing pillow can be really helpful or it can be useless.
2/13 Blighted ovum, D&C -- 6/13 MC -- 8/14 DD born -- 3/17 MC -- 9/18 DD2 born Expecting again -- EDD 7/27/20
@rjk0427 I think they're all fine... There will be things you love and hate about each one. That said, I tend to prefer the 3 wheeled stroller systems over the 4 wheel. The 4 wheel ones tend to be less all-terrain friendly, in my experience.
@rjk0427 I find that car seats/strollers are some of the most overwhelming products to shop for. There’s SO many options. I got a Chico Bravo car seat/stroller combo. I really liked it but it’s nothing “omg this is so amazing.” It’s a great option, easy to use, all that stuff. I do agree about the 3 vs 4 wheel option being more all-terrain friendly, so you have to think about your lifestyle.
This is not a product you’ll need right away but one of my most used kid items is a wagon. I got a nice radio flyer wagon with seatbelts when my kids were almost 2 and 9 months old and have used it from spring-fall nonstop every single year we’ve had it (kids are now 5, 4, and 3). It is so helpful to have when you have more than 1 kid and you’re going somewhere outdoors. It’s especially helpful to have as the kids outgrow the stroller but you still want to contain them or you want somewhere to keep all your bags and stuff. I know this is a random recommendation that first time moms certainly won’t need anytime soon, but as the weather warms up it got me thinking, time to bust out the wagon!
@rjk0427 what they said. Also I have a Graco Modes something or other (I don't know why they call them such similar things), that has 3 wheels. Not a single problem with the car seat, it's great and would buy another one. I loved having a travel system (so convenient). For me, I wish I would have considered the terrain in my area a bit more and got a stroller with rubber wheels instead of plastic ones (for dirt roads, and winter messiness). But at the end of the day we survived just fine (and have more room in the trunk for other stuff lol).
@Fullhandsfullheart EVERYONE says they use theirs all the time but we almost never use ours! I'm hoping to get more use out of it with this baby b/c the only time we really used our wagon was when we were walking to the pool in our neighborhood (which we don't have in the new one). Otherwise, DD prefers to walk everywhere.
@blaf322 I bet you will use it more when you have 2 kids. Think of next summer when the baby is a year and they can both sit in it together and the oldest can jump out and walk around when they want to. For me it has been so useful when we’re places that wouldn’t be great for a stroller, like at an apple orchard or walking around the fields during soccer practice. My kids might be lazy though. They prefer to be pulled than walk 😂
@Fullhandsfullheart I think you must do more outdoor activities than we do lol! We have 2 kids already and don’t use the wagon much. We use our wagon for walks around the neighborhood but I think that’s about it. We haven’t braved a big 4th of July fireworks with the littlest but would consider it for that, or maybe an outdoor movie night (which we haven’t wanted to deal with due to being such a late night for a little one)... I can’t really think of what else we’ve even thought about it for. The stroller or Babywearing are my usual go-tos.
Another of those “your mileage may vary” things, I think! I was going to ask what types of things do people use their wagons for - maybe I’m just not thinking of it when I should?
2/13 Blighted ovum, D&C -- 6/13 MC -- 8/14 DD born -- 3/17 MC -- 9/18 DD2 born Expecting again -- EDD 7/27/20
@Fullhandsfullheart I really like our collapsible wagon because we take frequent day trips to the beach. Perfect to fold up and toss in the back of the car and then be able to haul the kid and our stuff. I can definitely see it coming more and more in handy for other stuff with #2 on the way.
@Fullhandsfullheart I never thought of a wagon! Makes sense. But also my DD is similar to @blaf322 's where she just wants to walk so we haven't even used our stroller in months.
Speaking of which, I think some others STM+'s have the Uppababy Vista on here... are you guys planning to get the adapters so that you can convert it to a double (rumble seat + car seat/bassinet)? Or are you doing the kickboard thing? I was assuming we would just do the adapters but then I read something about the rumble seat weight limit only going up to like 35 pounds? Also see above re: my DD mostly wanting to walk. She will be almost 2.5 when baby is born. I'm conflicted. What are others doing with this or a similar set up/age difference?
@meanjellybean I'd do the kickboard thing. If ours had that option, I'd absolutely get it. I feel like DD is going to want to push the stroller and having her be able to just stand and ride while we push would be really helpful. That said, there was a period of time where we couldn't go to Costco with her b/c she insisted on pushing the handle of the cart (meaning we had to hold her up while she pushed and we also tried to steer) and if we didn't let her, it resulted in a full blown meltdown and going just wasn't worth it. Her desire to push the cart/stroller is strong. Maybe it's different for others lol
@Fullhandsfullheart Yessss wagon! We have a collapsible one and we use it all the time. DS is obsessed with it. He wants to ride in it all the time - even when it is dark and cold. ha
Okay, how necessary is a stroller? I know that seems like a weird question, but we drive everywhere and the only times I could see us using one is if we go to the park or something like that. FTM here with no experience, haha.
married to DH on March 15, 2018 TTC since May 2018 dx: PCOS, hypothroidism tx: timed intercourse with meds (dexa, clomid, letrozole, metformin, trigger shots)
First TTGP: 5/9/19 BFN, 6/21/19 BFN, 7/29/19 BFN, 8/1/19 started a break from tx, 11/16/19 surprised with a BFP! LO born 7/7/20 Second TTGP: started meds for first cycle of tx on 10/13/21
@knockupthestock 100% necessary, IMHO. We hardly used ours with DD once she could walk but, until then, we used it allll the time. Remember, you can carry baby (in your hands or a baby carrier), but what if he/she is sleeping? Those bucket seats are heavy and awkward to carry for long so your other option would be to wake the baby to get him/her out... which no one wants to do when just getting to a store or wherever you're going.
Also, if you're carrying the baby, how are you carrying anything else? When you're driving, where are you going? Are you not going to be walking around in those places? If you are walking more than a little, you'll want a stroller just to make your life easier between the baby, the diaper bag, and everything else you might have in your hands.
Just some things to think about... my opinion is that they're necessary, but if none of this sounds like a big deal to you, you can always get the stroller after the fact!
Yeah I agree with @blaf322 a stroller is necessary. If I didn't think it would get much use, I would just go with a relatively inexpensive one, but one you can still clip the car seat into. AGain, can't recommend Lucie's List highly enough. They give a great breakdown of features and price range.
@knockupthestock honestly, we've gotten way less use out of our stroller than I thought we would. Do I regret buying it? Nope, it's super nice to have when we have used it. I did a lot of baby wearing with DD when she was smaller, but that totally depends on baby and you if that will work. Had she not been so easy about it, I would've used the stroller a lot more. Like others have said, my daughter is one of the ones who wants to walk everyone on her own now and refuses to get into the stroller, but I know plenty of kids her age (and older) who love chilling in their strollers while out and about. I don't plan on getting a double stroller or anything because of all this though. I still think you'll find use for a stroller, but maybe don't spring for a top of the line model if you don't see yourself using it much.
@knockupthestock We definitely used our stroller WAY more than I expected. Not just for walks around the neighborhood (which were a lifesaver when I was on maternity leave) but also for going places like the mall or other stores with no shopping carts (and even for awhile they are too little for that anyway). I couldn't imagine living without one!
Re: Product Recs from STM+ Mamas
Natural MC 10/01/14
Natural MC 10/01/14
I just put it away about a month ago, and my littlest is 17 months. I used it mainly on the couch, which we don't keep pillows on (MH has a thing about throw pillows). Nursing pillows are just big and bulky, or I'd have used it in bed more when we were room-sharing. It's hard to find a place for it on the bed though, especially if your setup makes you crawl to the end of the bed to get on/off like I had to do. I just kept extra pillows by my head (propped up against the wall/headboard) and put them under my arm when I nursed. It's also too big to use in our rocker (in nursery). So depending on where you end up feeding most often, and what makes you most comfortable, a nursing pillow can be really helpful or it can be useless.
Expecting again -- EDD 7/27/20
Another of those “your mileage may vary” things, I think! I was going to ask what types of things do people use their wagons for - maybe I’m just not thinking of it when I should?
Expecting again -- EDD 7/27/20
Speaking of which, I think some others STM+'s have the Uppababy Vista on here... are you guys planning to get the adapters so that you can convert it to a double (rumble seat + car seat/bassinet)? Or are you doing the kickboard thing? I was assuming we would just do the adapters but then I read something about the rumble seat weight limit only going up to like 35 pounds? Also see above re: my DD mostly wanting to walk. She will be almost 2.5 when baby is born. I'm conflicted. What are others doing with this or a similar set up/age difference?
Yessss wagon! We have a collapsible one and we use it all the time. DS is obsessed with it. He wants to ride in it all the time - even when it is dark and cold. ha
dx: PCOS, hypothroidism
Second TTGP: started meds for first cycle of tx on 10/13/21
Also, if you're carrying the baby, how are you carrying anything else? When you're driving, where are you going? Are you not going to be walking around in those places? If you are walking more than a little, you'll want a stroller just to make your life easier between the baby, the diaper bag, and everything else you might have in your hands.
Just some things to think about... my opinion is that they're necessary, but if none of this sounds like a big deal to you, you can always get the stroller after the fact!
We definitely used our stroller WAY more than I expected. Not just for walks around the neighborhood (which were a lifesaver when I was on maternity leave) but also for going places like the mall or other stores with no shopping carts (and even for awhile they are too little for that anyway). I couldn't imagine living without one!