One Essential Baby Item

[littleL_RN]

Thank all of you ladies for your ongoing encouragement during my first pregnancy! This forum has become something of a life-saver for me.

 

Since I made a habit of hijacking Sapphire's thread, I thought it would be a little easier to start a shorter, simpler one.

 

The husband and I plan to start building a solid list of items to get ready for baby girl, so my question is this for the moms --

 

What one thing (or two things ) could you absolutely not do without during the first months of the baby's life? Anything from small toiletries to strollers.

 

So far, I settled on a baby monitor and the Fisher Price Rock-n-Play (a sleeper/bouncer) based on repeat recommendations, but otherwise, I'm fairly clueless.

[SooSad33]

Soother's, blankies, lil hats, socks/slippers.

Cornstarch, wipes (occasional use- sensitive skin).

Stroller

Lots of loving n cuddles.

[Batya33]

Playtex fridge to go if you are going to need to take bottles of formula or breast milk on the go. We still use it for bringing small water bottles/sippy cups to the park, etc.

Dreft (?) detergent or similar detergent that is safe for infant laundry

waterproof crib and/or pack n play covers

some kind of baby carrier or sling (I preferred the baby bjorn) (mine came with an insert for head support for the infant).

 

Hope you're feeling well!

[faraday]

Frozen family sized meals. Stock up your freezer. My daughter wanted to be held all the time...and because I breastfed, I was ravenous all the time. I debated eating a box of Kleenex one day.

 

And a baby swing. It saved my life. Sometimes I just needed to put her down...and it would have been screaming if I didn't have that thing.

 

 

Congrats! Babies are exciting

 

 

Also, for you....buy heavy pads, soak them in water, and freeze them for after you come home. And have Epsom salts and a clean tub for after birth.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Cheetarah]

The nose frida. I know, it's a gross concept but I swear to you it is amazing and far superior to those bulb syringes.

 

Dreft is, in my opinion, just expensive good smelling detergent(it does smell good). But it can still irritate newborn skin, despite the claims for it being for newborns. I've always used any brand of a free and clear.

 

Swaddlemes. You can fashion your own with a blanket but I never trusted my tucking skills enough to let them sleep that way. So I had a bunch of these(provided your baby will like swaddling...mine loved it, most do but some don't). I ran out to Walmart at 2am for my first one with my boy when I was going nuts trying to soothe him.

 

image removed

 

Oh yes, one more thing. The book "Happiest baby on the block". The five S's(soothing methods for crying babies) saved my sanity.

[WithLove]

Congratulations!!!

 

I worked for Babies R Us for almost 2 years. If you haven't started a registry with them, please do so. Make multiple trips and put anything and everything you could possibly want/need on there. Even if you don't get them as gifts, you'll get a 10% off EVERYTHING left on your registry coupon in the mail a few weeks before your due date. These coupons STACK with their popular 20% coupons, and you can only use it ONE TIME. So even if it means doing multiple transactions (because maybe you have more than one 20%-off one item coupon), it's worth it to get the last things you need, or possibly more expensive things like strollers and furniture.

 

When you start a registry, there should be an associate there that specializes in registries and new parents. They will explain everything to you and maybe make you more aware of some things you need RIGHT AWAY, and things you WON'T NEED for months. Example - you will not need a highchair for a few months, so you may be better purchasing other things first.

 

Add diapers of all sizes to your registry. If you get too many, as long as they were items on your registry, you can return them without a receipt! (This goes for ANYTHING on your registry - as long as it's listed on there, you can return it without a receipt!)

 

BRU has an event where you can bring in any old baby gear item (ex: car seats, strollers, play yards, bouncers, high chairs, etc) and you'll get a coupon for 20% off a NEW baby gear item. This even happens twice a year and there's always on every fall. I would check into it and see if you have any family or friends that have old baby stuff lying around.

 

For any questions regarding things like bottles, breast pumps, feeding, any kind of care for newborns, look for an associate in the Infant Care section. They are trained especially for that area.

 

If you're able, BRU has a credit card you can apply for. If you're approved, you get an additional 10% off EVERY ITEM you purchase that day. This coupon and the baby registry completion coupon are the ONLY COUPONS that STACK with each other and those 20% off coupons I mentioned.

 

I think that's it for now. Good luck!!!!

[Batya33]

I did not have a good experience with my babies r us registry -they did not remove items that were purchased, so I got doubles and was treated rudely when I had to return the duplicate.

[tattoobunnie]

The SWING!!! If you want at to fit in a shower once in a while, the SWING!

 

A manual pump along with an electric one, cuz heck, sometimes you're pumping in long car rides, or on planes.

[WithLove]

I did not have a good experience with my babies r us registry -they did not remove items that were purchased, so I got doubles and was treated rudely when I had to return the duplicate.

 

I'm sorry to hear that! I don't work for them anymore, but I am still intensely proud of the store I worked at. It sucks you got a store that didn't have as great of a team as I did.

[Batya33]

I'm sorry to hear that! I don't work for them anymore, but I am still intensely proud of the store I worked at. It sucks you got a store that didn't have as great of a team as I did.

 

I did like shopping there otherwise and the store was very helpful getting me a specific stroller within one day of mine breaking (and one day before a plane flight!).

[Cheetarah]

Oh dear god, whatever you do don't buy babies r us brand diapers. They're just awful diapers, I had to use actual tape to make the tabs stick and they leaked after a normal sized pee every time. I saw the bad reviews before I bought them and I thought, "Well, I'll just buy a little pack and see." Those reviews were definitely true. But their wipes are very nice and there is always some kind of sale with them.

 

Will you use disposable diapers or cloth? I did both up until about a month or two ago, now just disposables. Target's brand (up and up) is the best diaper ever, in my opinion. Better than Huggies/Pampers and cheaper.

[faraday]

I liked the diapers and wipes at Costco. Best prices...and the wipes were way better quality than anything else I tried...and diapers were way less expensive there.

 

I guess...one of my biggest tips in terms of shopping for baby...is don't go overboard on clothes. They grow SO fast...it's crazy. I just bought sleepers for my daughter until she was wearing size 18 months (which was actually 9 months for her)...and also...none of the sizes they sell are going to fit your child at that time lol. My daughter was wearing 6 month clothing at 3 months...it was all over the place. So...don't try to buy sale/off season clothing in advance until they hit 2 1/2 years old (unless you live in a place that has consistent temperatures...I don't lol- it snowed yesterday)....it's just too hit or miss up until that point. It was an expensive lesson for me. I donated a lot of unworn clothing.

 

Oh dear god, whatever you do don't buy babies r us brand diapers. They're just awful diapers, I had to use actual tape to make the tabs stick and they leaked after a normal sized pee every time. I saw the bad reviews before I bought them and I thought, "Well, I'll just buy a little pack and see." Those reviews were definitely true. But their wipes are very nice and there is always some kind of sale with them.

 

Will you use disposable diapers or cloth? I did both up until about a month or two ago, now just disposables. Target's brand (up and up) is the best diaper ever, in my opinion. Better than Huggies/Pampers and cheaper.

[Cheetarah]

I bought Kirkland diapers when I had a membership. For a box of size 6, 135 count it's 39 dollars. For 120 Up and Up size 6 diapers, it is 25 dollars. At least, that's what it is here. Plus, they usually have the 5 percent off in the Cartwheel app and occasionally, if you buy 2 boxes you get a 10 dollar gift certificate. Love those.

 

I second them growing fast....I don't buy many new clothing items. I buy his clothes at garage sales, thrift stores, consignment shops, once upon a child...

 

I read somewhere that the general rule with clothing is by the time they are that age(example, 6 months) they probably will be wearing double that size. Looking back, that's about true. My son was in 6 month stuff at 3 months, 12 month stuff at around 7 months, etc. Unless you have a petite one. Yeah, don't buy ahead when they are babies. I do now because he just got into 3Ts after spending a year in 2T, so I am buying up 3T/4T for this year and next.

[Batya33]

I did, and do, as many hand me down clothes from friends as possible. I also shop at Target and Old Navy for good deals on clothes.

[littleL_RN]

You guys are the absolute best!

 

I plan on setting up a registry with Buy Buy Baby and Babies R Us. This is where my husband and I butt heads a bit because I am a minimalist through and through and, like WithLove, he is in the mindset of "as much as possible."

 

I don't mind doing wash a few times a week if it means we don't have piles of unnecessary towels in our closet. Haha. I know I'm going to have to stop that train of thought with a little clutter-maker on the way.

 

Cheetarah, I keep hearing about the NoseFreda. As a nurse, it doesn't gross me out too much. Also, my sister-in-law uses the Kirkland brand diapers too!

 

Are swings a lot different from what the Rock-n-Play would offer? There are like three different versions of the Pack-n-Play (ranging from $70 to almost $200). And I just feel awkward putting too many high-end items on a registry.

 

Any recommendations for bottle warmers or breast pumps?

[Cheetarah]

I never used a bottle warmer. I just put the container in a very warm cup of water, or left it running under a hot tap.

 

As far as breast pumps, Medela Pump In Style Advanced is a great one. I rented the Medela Symphony while my son was in the NICU(hospital grade pump), and boy that thing was amazing...But it's like 1500 dollars, lol. Anyhow, I got the recommendation from the nurses and specialists in the hospital's lactation center for the pump in style.

[Batya33]

I would not buy a swing yet but it wouldn't hurt to buy an inexpensive bouncy seat. I don't think the swings are safe for newborns (I could be wrong). We almost bought one but with our baby the bouncy seat did the trick and we only used it a few times. We did not have a bottle warmer( or a wipe warmer.)I simply put it in a large coffee mug of very hot water.

 

We had registries at both those places. I'd also check out amazon mom as far as a registry.

 

And check to make sure that the swings and similar contraptions have not been under recall recently, etc.

[faraday]

The rock and play looks like it's made for LITTLE babies. They grow fast. I had the ocean wonders swing that I bought at a garage sale...idk if it's supposed to be used for newborns (probably not) but you'll know your baby better than anyone. I think I started using the swing after 2 months...when she outgrew the bassinet...My daughter was strong...and I knew she'd be okay. So maybe wait a bit and see how your girl is?

 

I was given a really expensive bassinet...that my daughter (lengthwise) outgrew in less than 1 and a half months...next baby...I'll be horrible and put him/her in a laundry basket next to my bed lol....although, I wouldn't have done that with my daughter....I would have been too scared. But now...I know babies are pretty hardy...but....I think it takes raising a few to worry less....if that makes sense.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Cheetarah]

The rock and play is a huge thing for babies who get reflux, that incline. Really helps them. I believe the weight limit is like 20-25 pounds or something, so you can get some good use out of it until they get more mobile...I say a good 4-5 months?

[Cheetarah]

Honestly, if you're trying to be frugal I wouldn't get the rnp unless she's got reflux issues.

 

But for sure get a nice pack and play. Those things are great. I almost cried when I had to get rid of it due to him being able to escape. It was where I got 30 minutes of worry-free time to myself, him in here with his toys.

[faraday]

I never used a suction nose thingy....*shrugs*

[Cheetarah]

I never used a suction nose thingy....*shrugs*

 

What'd you do with her boogs when she got sick?

[faraday]

They dripped out...She learned to blow her nose at 8 months *shrugs*.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Cheetarah]

Gross...And uncomfortable!

 

I learned how valuable that creepy nosefrida device was when my son got croup. I had to buy another because I lost my other one, and was using the bulb syringe which wasn't helping whatsoever.

 

I'm trying to teach him to blow his nose. Instead he keeps blowing raspberries.

[Batya33]

I loved the Baby 411 book and the Toddler 411 book -check them out!