GTKY 1.12

krash_ · January 2021

Getting to know you!

ST+Ms what is one baby item that you could not live without. ONLY ONE! Feel free to link it and tell us a little bit about it!
FTMs what is one baby item that you are wondering if it's worth it?

emeraldcity1214 · January 2021

My Ergo 360. I have even bought other carriers and wraps and I always reach for my ergo. It’s way more supportive and comfortable than anything else I have owned. I even hiked up a mountain last summer with my baby in it. He was roughly 8 months old at the time. If I had done that with my Tula I would have been so uncomfortable midway up. It doesn’t have the same support. I have even tried a regular ergo and hated it. I love the 360.

ETA: I nurse my babies on the go in my ergo 360 and it’s so easy to chase the other ones instead of sitting and waiting for baby to be done.

krash_ · January 2021

Hands down Happy Baby Carriers. A member of my first BMB discovered them shortly after our babies were born and it was a game changer. There's probably 15 of us that have and love their carriers. I still use the Onbuhimo style with my 2.5 year old.

They are lightweight linen style SSC. Much less bulky than an Ergo or Tula, we only used our Lille baby carrier once or twice and we all hated it. I am waiting for the spring release to get my first item for Number Two.

Fair warning they are one of those "cult like" baby items that mom's follow and resell sought after colors. I have one, Timber, that resells for $300-400. They retail for about $150 depending on the style.

Here's the look book from the Fall/Winter 20 release: https://happybabycarriers.com/pages/fw20-lookbook

optimisticoctopus · January 2021

Oooh I love this! I don’t have anything to add but as a FTM I will be hardcore stalking this thread to see what I need!

Aerialmrs · January 2021

@emeraldcity1214 Ooh I loved my carriers, too. The one I ended up using the most was the Boba 3G though. I had a few different carriers, and loved them all! Thankfully I think I still have my woven wrap and the Boba, though this time I want to spoil myself with a wrap conversion mei tai!

I would say a good stroller is up there, too. I have a Bumbleride Indie 4, which I love and am so glad we kept, but there are a lot of great strollers that would fit the bill. Here's my suggestions for stroller shopping: Air-filled tires, single handlebar (so that you can push it one-handed and carry coffee in the other hand), large canopy, large storage compartment/hammock thing under the seat. Hanging a diaper bag with stroller straps from the handlebar is not realistic, it'll tip over if the bag is heavier than the baby.

emeraldcity1214 · January 2021

@Aerialmrs I used to use my strollers all the time until I moved to AK. My youngest has never even sat in one and he is over a year. When I was using one a lot (which I did in the lower 48) I wanted one of the kinds that switched to multiple different configurations. I have a woven wrap that I loved but the more kids I started having the more difficult it became to use. I needed something I could just snap them into. 😆

justyouraveragemama · January 2021

Boogie mist saline spray. Your baby will get a cold and sucking out their nose isn’t fun when the boogers are determined to stay where they are. The saline loosens up everything real nice for ya! On that note, bring home the bulb syringe with you from the hospital, they work the best!

i feel for this baby though I’m going to need to utilize a wrap much more. With one kiddo and a dog running around, it’s not going to be super safe to lay baby on the floor (on a play mat or a lounger, not just on the bare floor lol) while I clean or whatever. Someone will run over the baby and that would not be good

emeraldcity1214 · January 2021

@justyouraveragemama I was worried about my fourth baby being on the floor. So I kept a PNP up in the living room with a playmat inside. She was safe and sound and doing the same thing she would have been doing on the floor. My other kiddos would have ran her over for sure.

justyouraveragemama · January 2021

@emeraldcity1214 honestly I never would have thought about doing that😅 sometimes I swear it’s the easiest solutions that I look over haha

emeraldcity1214 · January 2021

@justyouraveragemama If you get another PNP make sure you get one with a changing table. It’s the best thing to have close by.

justyouraveragemama · January 2021

@emeraldcity1214 I’m hoping the pnp from DS is still in good condition! I let my mom use it over the last year since she has basically been daycare for my nephew but she doesn’t always take good care of things😬 it had both a bassinet and a changing table so I really hope it’s still good for use!

emeraldcity1214 · January 2021

@justyouraveragemama I’m a little embarrassed to admit I have 4. I keep one in my school room for my youngest to play in while I teach the other ones. I keep one in our bedroom. That one needs to be stored away because all it’s doing is collecting things. One stays stored in our basement for when we travel and I have one in our workout room.

IdleFancy · January 2021

@emeraldcity1214 You are so not alone! We also bought four...and I’m considering getting another one. One big Joovy Room2 from when my DD became mobile, one with the bassinet level that we kept in the living room early on (but that she slept in later), one for travel, then one for my parents’ house. This time around, I need to replace the classic bassinet we gave away and I’m considering the PNP with the portable bassinet. That way we have a bassinet in our bedroom *and* the living room. They are such handy devices!

vampirina · January 2021

I love my strollers. The higher-end ones are DEFINITELY worth the investment, IMHO. We have a City Select and a Bob. I love both and use both.

Yes, they are clunky, but they push so smooth!

krash_ · January 2021

@poodledoodleooo we have an Uppa Baby Vista and it is so worth it! DS loves his stroller. I was planning on having them closer together and getting more use out of it as a double but at this rate DS will still be using the stroller this fall. Kid does not like walking. Maybe he will find the ride on board fun though.

justyouraveragemama · January 2021

@emeraldcity1214 I wouldn’t be embarrassed because you’re getting use out of them! Our main floor is pretty open and where we spend like 100% of our time. I gave up homeschooling in the homeschool area, which is upstairs, months ago so it’s done in the living room or dining room now😂 so far I don’t foresee a need for more than one but if I did I would have no shame in getting more!

mouseymotherpucker · January 2021

@emeraldcity1214 I loved my ErgoSport with my first 10 years ago. We gave it away to friends a while back, and I can't ask for it back since she's having her second in a few months and will still be using it once this little creature comes around. I have been looking to get the 360 as a replacement, your rave review is another check in the 'yes' column.

@justyouraveragemama I didn't even know that saline stuff existed, it sounds amazing!! I also second what @emeraldcity1214 said about the PNP with a changing table. I didn't use mine in-house that often, but we were out and about often and having a designated place to change the little one while in someone else's home was a huge convenience/comfort.

I would've been lost without a bottle warmer with my first (I used the Dr. Brown's). I was BFing, but had to switch to exclusively pumping/bottles after a few months due to medical issues he was having. Being able to just grab a bottle from the fridge, pop it in the warmer, and know it would be ready when I walked back in the room was amazing. I also had a travel warmer (Tommee Tippee I think) that I would bring with me since we were out and about a lot, it was equally as amazing.

krash_ · January 2021

@grizzlymama86 I also EP'ed for my first! The bottle warmer was something that we didn't get because of all the people who said it wasn't necessary or I thought we wouldn't need it because I planed to BF but we ended up going to get one at like 10 pm one night.

CanadianGamerMom · January 2021

It really depends on the kid. For some of mine I found a carrier super beneficial, for others I would've said a good swaddle, and others I would say a swing. Every kid is different though so be careful dropping alot of money on products they may hate. If you can, borrow one or buy one used for cheap to test it out before splurging.

vampirina · January 2021

I know you said the one thing but I also have to put out there that a changing table is a NEED for me. I hate change diapers on the floor. Nothankyou.

justyouraveragemama · January 2021

@grizzlymama86 it’s seriously so awesome! I gift it to every new mama I know! Although I just found that the little remedies one is better because it doesn’t have fragrance in the nozzle!

sleepydaze · January 2021

@poodledoodleooo I totally agree about strollers!
We have the baby jogger city mini gt which I am still loving with kiddo #2 (he's 20 months), and would definitely recommend if you want a solo stroller (I would not recommend using its ride a long board attachment which is too awkward to use). I used a baby carrier with him (ergo) until DD was old enough to use a tricycle and then switched them out. It has air filled tires and moves pretty smoothly. Works fine on gravel trails. I love that its canopy comes down so far when it's raining. It unfortunately has a smaller storage though. You can also get car seat attachments if you have a car seat that clicks in and out of your car, which we used for both kiddos and was nice for when they fell asleep on a walk/car ride.

williams-jen · January 2021

The Owlet monitor let me sleep in peace knowing my baby was breathing without constantly getting up to check on him. It’s a must-have.

I do love the Ergo 360, and used it way more than the strollers I have. I live on a dirt road though and strollers are hard to push. It’s far easier to wear.

This time, I’m going to be getting a dockatot too.

oh, the wonder weeks app! That was a sanity saver, being able to understand why my baby was changing/was more fussy.

emeraldcity1214 · January 2021

I contemplated the owlet monitor but decided it wasn’t for me. I read reviews about babies getting burned by the sensor overheating. I also don’t think anything should replace a mothers natural instinct. What if it happened to stop working and I wasn’t on guard and something happened to the baby. I do know lots of NICU moms who have found lots of comfort using them. It’s just not for me.

nasalot188 · January 2021

Velcro swaddles for sure, blankets wrapped burrito style just do not cut it.

Also I would recommend any FTM get a nipple shield (if choosing to breastfeed). Breastfeeding is tough and the nipple shield is a life saver if you're experiencing latch issues, flat or inverted nipples, or even just your nipples are so sore u can't take it!

williams-jen · January 2021

@emeraldcity1214 my son was never burned by is, and my instinct was to stare at my son all night and never sleep, so it was a lifesaver for me.

deziraywatt · January 2021

My baby carrier, I don't know what the brand is but it was super helpful the first time around. We went to the aquarium and the zoo and not having to try to navigate with a clunky stroller was great. It was also super helpful to get things done around the house when my son went through his clingy phases. I can only imagine it being even more helpful this time since I have a mischievous toddler to chase around the house now as well.

mouseymotherpucker · January 2021

@nasalot188 I almost said a good swaddle blanket! I preferred the miracle blanket over the velcro ones (they would snag on everything), but I definitely used them all the time.

ladylynn222 · January 2021

Ergo 360. I didn’t get it until my son was 5 months and I kicked myself in the butt for it because it made life SO much easier!

krash_ · January 2021

@emeraldcity1214 it won’t burn them if you use it properly, which means switching the foot it’s on at every diaper change. That is the same protocol with any pulse ox including the hospital monitors.

ETA: I just did some reading and it’s highly unlikely that the sock would actually burn. There could be read marks for various reasons but any blisters are usually caused by the sock not fitting properly.

We got our Owlet while DS was in the NICU and compared it to the hospital readings. It was dead on with their monitors. We used it until he was almost a year and never had any problems. Actually it did stop charging at one point and they sent us a new one. I really liked it because it showed actual awake time based on the baby’s movements overnight. DS was in a halo bassinet next to me until almost 8 months so we weren’t using it in place of our intuition. Friends of ours are actually borrowing it right now for their little girl who has been having seizures since she was born that are still uncontrolled.

It’s not for everyone and it’s not exactly affordable so I wouldn’t say it’s my one item but it does offer so much peace of mind and it is worth it if it’s in your budget.

emeraldcity1214 · January 2021

@williams-jen I’m sure that was rare for a sensor to burn a baby but it is still something that was posted more than once in the reviews I read. I’m glad it worked so well for you. Like I said above, I know people who love it and who have had zero issues with it. It’s just not for me because of the *possibility* of it malfunctioning and me having a false sense of security.

ETA: @krash_ I’m not sure if the people posting those reviews were following the protocol correctly but it stood out enough to keep me from buying it. I have a close friend who’s baby was in the NICU for months and I think after seeing all those stats on the monitor for so long the owlet really gave her peace of mind. Again, I just fear the possibility of it not working one night and then the baby possibly dying of SIDS because I wasn’t on guard. It’s just not a risk I’m comfortable with.

emeraldcity1214 · January 2021

@deziraywatt Make sure you invest in a nice wrap/carrier specifically for newborns. It’s nice to snuggle them even when you need to make lunch for the older kiddos or take them outside. The ergo has an infant insert but newborns really fit better into something soft like a k’tan. Plus it’s less bulky at that stage. I even have a skin to skin wrap that I can walk around fully covered while me and the baby do skin to skin. It’s really nice.

Whitmore1027 · January 2021

Halo Sleepsacks 100%!

Those were LIFESAVERS for my 2nd. We didn't swaddle at all with my first, and I wondered why he never slept. We used them with our 2nd, and it's amazing how well she slept with them.The ones that are just zipper blankets were also great once my LO hit 6+months because they were just wearable blankets. Loove them so much!

deziraywatt · January 2021

emeraldcity1214 I had a k'tan but I could never figure out how to get the baby into it. Maybe I'll try again this time but it always seemed too tight.

lmcw · January 2021

I used a k'tan with my son occasionally but did NOT like my Ergo...it just always felt bulky and like I couldn't tighten it properly. I'm going to have to fiddle with it or sell it and get a new carrier because I anticipate a lot more baby wearing with #2, since I'll be chasing #1 around.

+1 to the suggestions for a PNP with a change table! Especially if you're in a multiple level home, having somewhere to change the baby on both floors is a life saver. Getting one with a bassinet level that comes out later is also super helpful.

But definitely couldn't live without a good stroller. We have an Uppababy Vista and I love it, would 100% recommend.

emeraldcity1214 · January 2021

@deziraywatt you put on the x portion of it first and get your straps the way you want them. Then you lower the part of the x that is not closest to your body. Put baby in froggy style and then bring up the panel you dropped down. Then add the belt. It’s very much like a mobby without the material to fight.

ETA: if it’s tight that’s ok, it will loosen up. You don’t want to buy it too loose because then once it loosens up it will be too loose.

lmcw · January 2021

@deziraywatt I found the k’tan a bit tight the first few times as well but it loosened up after a few uses and washes. Maybe that would help is soften up so it doesn’t feel too tight when you’re trying to get your babe in?

Also, I found the directions they included were fine, but the videos on YouTube for figuring out the different carry options were helpful!

vampirina · January 2021

Joining the carrier conversation - we have a lillebaby and I generally loved it with my first, but we got a ring sling for my second and I'm a HUGE convert. DD didn't want to face in, but also didn't want to face out, so the side carry with the ring sling was amazing. Plus its.not nearly as bulky as a SSC. I'm so glad we got one for her.

whatabout2ndbreakfast · January 2021

I liked my lillebaby carrier for the back support (my babies have been really large), but also my wild bird sling. There were some groups that would let you go and try the different ones on to find the right fit for you and your baby.

It’s hard to pick one thing! A white noise machine was a must for DS2.

kmw611 · January 2021

It’s so hard to pick just one thing! Since a lot of things I would suggest (carriers, pnp, boogie spray or the wipes work great too for crusty noses) I’d probably say my halo bassinet. I had unplanned csections with boy my boys and it was the perfect height for me to be able to get baby out at night without hurting myself or even having to get out of bed.

kmw611 · January 2021

Ooo I just thought of something different. Sorry I know it’s supposed to be one but I would probably go with the Haakaa over the halo if I could only have one. I hated pumping when I went back to work with my first and since I wasn’t going back after my second I didn’t need to pump necessarily but some emergency milk in the freezer is always nice. I got a hefty freezer stash of milk just using the haakaa. I was an overproducer with my second and an underproducer with my first so that could be impacting my opinion though.

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