Thursday, June 11, 2009

Lost and Confused

Ok, so not so dramatic, but I do need some help from my fellow bloggers and moms. As time draws closer I am feeling a bit overwhelmed of all the little baby purchases we need to get. I would LOVE to hear your thoughts and ideas on what you loved having for your new baby, didn't really need, and what is essential. This can include anything from brands of bottles, diapers, furniture etc... Where did your new baby sleep (pack n' play w/bassinet, crib, etc...)? Anything would be helpful!

11 comments:

B said...

Hey Jess!! Go to Wal-Mart's website or something and just check out all the baby stuff and make a list of what you think you'd need. Really, when they're a newborn you don't need much. Some outfits (definitely onesies), lots of diapers and wipes, and a place for them to sleep. With that said, I think everyone needs a diaper changing table. That baby is going to pee and poop every time their diaper is changed at first! Maeli slept in a pack n play bassinet in our room for the first few weeks but after three weeks she slept in her own room in her crib each night. We had a swing but we don't use it much, but it's been handy when we DID use it. Also a nursing pillow (the Wal-Mart ripoff of the Boppy pillow is just as good and cheaper!). I never really used it much to nurse her because it was too big but I would lay her in it all the time. We put it in her crib and had her sleep cuddled in it and she loved that. Most of all though, bottles! Clay and I tried a few different ones but ALL of them seemed to get a lot of air bubbles which would make her spit up more. On a whim we bought the "Dr. Brown" bottles that have an air-vent system and it seriously works so I would swear by those. Other than that...diapers are diapers. Everything else you can buy as the baby gets bigger (like developmental toys and things). Hope I helped a little!

katie said...

awww... don't feel overwhelmed! Babies really don't need TOO much. Make sure you have some good diaper rash cream for his little bum!! My fav is the stuff they sent home with me when I had Riley. Its A+D Diaper Rash Ointment and All-Purpose Skin Protection. I love it. Also, our girls slept in our room with us for a long time(and still do:), I would have loved to have a Pack n Play with the little bassinet. Good luck!!! :)

Coleen said...

Just put him in the crib and close the door! We did that with you and you turned out great!!! HeHe!
Love, Dad

Sarah said...

Everyone can give you lots and lots of advice, but what it all boils down to is what works for you and your family. Take it all with a grain of salt, and then figure out what will work for you.

That being said, here's my two cents. :)

We love our pack n' play. Its from Graco(they're a reputable brand, pretty much anything from them is good) and it has a bassinet attachment. It was fairly inexpensive as far as pack n' plays go, and we really like it. We plan to keep her in it for a good while and just remove the bassinet as she gets older. Here's a link to what we have:

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=7964354&sourceid=1500000000000003260330&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=7964354


We like Huggies for diapers. They fit really well and we can always find coupons for them.

I suggest some sort of carrier for when he's really little. Some people like a sling type thing. I use a Baby Bjorn(a snuggly thing) all the time.

Alan and I weren't really ones for baby furniture. Elsie's dresser is a stacking plastic drawers thing. Someone gave us a portable changing pad with inflatable sides, and we just have that on our couch to change her on. It really just depends on what your preference is and how much room you have. The kid could really care less. :)

Peterson's said...

This is my advice, when it comes to some items, borrow when you can...or get them gently used at garage sales. Like a bassinet and a swing, they don't use them forever and if you can borrow them for the first months you will save money.
Most women like the baby in their room, Callie was WAY to loud for me, so that is up to you, but bassinets work well both ways.
Most things you might be tempted to buy because you are so excited but A LOT of things can wait until after the baby comes. So don't feel overwhelmed, just get some onsies, a car seat, a bobby pillow, diapers, and breast pads, and call it good for now!
PS, I loved huggies and they are worth the price for not having leakage and blowouts, but costco off brand is made by huggies! FYI!

Call me sometime so we can catch up!

Laura said...

You really don't need too much at first. We used a pack n'play with a bassinet attachment when Charlotte slept in our room. We got our crib and changing table from Craigslist. We still don't have a dresser for Charlotte...we just use some plastic storage drawers from Target. If you're going to nurse, you'll probably want a breast pump from the beginning. I know a lot of people on here have suggested Huggies, but they didn't work for my baby at all. She always leaked when she wore them, so I use pampers. My sister in law only uses Huggies, so I think it depends on how your baby is built.

Chris and Devrey said...

hmmmm don't focus on clothes a lot in the beginning--they poop on everything and its so hard to dress them when they're so floppy:) I REALLY wish we would've had a baby carrier in the beginning b/c Bailey loved to be held all the time and I never had two hands! We invested in a BUMBO seat that is SO worth the $35 you pay for it. They are so happy in it when they're about 4 months and it helps them learn to sit up faster. And Bailey just slept with us in our room in the bassinet or in our bed for the first like 5 months before we moved her into a crib, so that way you don't have to get sheets and things yet. HUGGIES are the best! We buy the big costco boxes! Good luck with everything, Jess! I'm so excited for you guys!

Kami said...

Oh Jessica I am so excited to share everything we have learned the last 4 1/2 months.

When we were at the hospital having Eli the nurse asked if we had everything ready, and we said nope, just a car seat, diapers, burp cloths and clothes. And really that was all we needed of the first few weeks.

If I could do it over I would have bought a bouncy seat before he was born. It is great to have a little seat for him. It is also the only way to get a shower some days. Take the bouncy seat in the bathroom with you, and he'll be as happy as a clam.

We just got a swing last week. I really wish we would have gotten it a lot sooner, because he loves it. I would recommend the Fisher Price Rainforest swing. It is the only swing that has a plug in, which will save you a bundle in batteries. It also swings both ways, which is great.

Something that I don't think I could live without are sleeping gowns. It took us about 2 weeks to try one, and I would never go back. No one wants to do snapies up at 2 AM, and then he can pull his legs up to tummy while he sleeps.

I love my Boppy,Bumbo, Soothie pacifiers and Huggies diapers. We just put a changing pad on top of his dresser so we don't have a changing table floating around later.

Well I could go on and on. I need your address because we have some of our favorites that we want to send to you.

Oh I just remembered another must have, Mylicon gas drops. I don't want to even think of how many hours of fussing and sleeplessness we would have had if we didn't have these. They are amazing! Target has a generic brand that is 1/4 of the price.

sgmom said...

Food, clothing and shelter. That's all you need when they're little. Everything else is just a gimmick. I agree with your dad. hehehe

ty and megs said...

the count down begins!! how exciting.

to add me 2 cents:
-target diapers are crap. don't use them.
-if you're planning on trying to breastfeed, get some lanoline ointment (can find it at target)and bring it to the hospital with you. it will be a life saver, especially if you use it right from the start. and if breastfeading doesn't work out, it's no big deal. don't let people make you feel bad. do whatever works best for you and your babe. (that goes for everything, not just feeding.)
-and since we're gonna be super close, let me know if i can help you with anything! i'm sure your gonna have a lot of family around right after birth, but after that or any time. 617-777-3251 just call! seriously.

Sarah H. said...

Okay, I'm a little late here and I don't know what you have already, but I would definitely buy a pack 'n' play with a basinet in it. We bought one for Noah and 3 kids later are still using it. I have put all 3 of my boys in it and they are great for sleeping at parents' houses and for traveling places.

After recently having a baby I would invest in the cloth diapers for burp rags. They absorb a lot and you never know how much of a spitter-upper your baby will be. It has increased with each one of mine.

The baby bjorns are great and a must as far as I'm concerned. I love the advent bottles and breast pump.

We have a baby papasan (sp?) that he can rest in while I take showers or eat dinner instead of laying him on the floor. It has been great with all 3 of my kids. Good luck. Let me know if you have any questions. I will help you in any way that I can. Just take one day at a time.

Remember that you know your baby best no matter what anyone tells you. Learn to recognize the cues that your baby gives you.