I have spent HOURS over the last few weeks researching strollers, cribs, carseats and other baby gear. There is SO much stuff available and my head is spinning. I finally realized that the best information I’m getting is from other moms.
So, fellow moms, will you please give me your input on buying baby gear? What was your best investment? What did you buy that didn’t hold up? Did you buy something that wasn’t worth the money or didn’t get used? Everybody is different but I’d love to hear a variety of opinions.
Thank you thank you!
i have that crib!
i LOVEEEE it. it is the coolest crib available in that price point. most def! we got the combi stroller and car seat. it’s little- we didn’t want one of those HUGE strollers… it doesn’t turn well, but besides that i’m totally happy with it. i love our $25 ikea high chair too.
HI, I don’t know you personally, but enjoy reading your blog. Congrats on your upcoming new bundle of joy. It has been 12+ years since I had a child, but the one thing I could not do without then and if I had a child now, would have to be a Boppy Pillow. Great for nursing, and for use with propping baby up, etc. My son used his till he was about 4, just comfy and useful!!!! Baby gowns are a must for newborns, easy to change diapers and you cant live without Onesies!!!! I think that is it for me!!!!
I have no baby or baby gear, but I think Amalah is, as always, brilliant: http://www.alphamom.com/smackdown/2009/08/our_ultimate_baby_registry_che.php#more
Okay, so I know I’m not a mom, and haven’t had a single piece of baby furniture, but I thought I would add my 2 cents. It comes in the form of a podcast that I’ve been listening to for the last year or so…
http://www.pregtastic.com/
They constantly ask new moms what the most important item is they have found… and they have consultants talk about different necessities. It is great! Plus there is A TON of other useful information besides what to get. I’ll probably listen to most of them again when we finally are pregnant.
Good luck!
Crib – go with what’s cute, but don’t spend too much money. They’re all safe.
Car seats – we like graco. inexpensive and well made.
STROLLER! Not a city kid – go with whatever you want to walk around the mall in – the graco snap n go is fine. Get a jogging stroller ONLY if you jog. They’re pointless if you don’t.
Umbrella strollers (yes, the super cheap ones) are priceless. We used ours a ton when we lived in the burbs.
If you’re a city kid – go big. Buy something nice that will last. Even our Mclaren is having issues. I love it, but the city is though on strollers.
I loved my Moby Wrap when my kids are super tiny. Easy to nurse with and just plain snuggly. Hard to get on, but worth it.
We have an Ergo for baby carrying, but I don’t think it’s a must have for suburban moms. At least not from my experience. I only started using the Ergo a lot once we moved to the city. But if you want to be an ultra baby carrying momma, get one. It’s worth the money if you really want to baby carry.
Cheap diapers are fine.
Never spend a lot on clothes. EVER! Not worth it. Go to Target and always buy on sale at Children’s Place.
Don’t buy a Diaper Genie – waste of money.
Get a changing table – totally worth it.
Good luck! This is overwhelming, but you’ll figure it out as you go AND don’t feel like you have to buy everything now. You can buy some things after the baby comes.
Let me know if you ever want to talk birth. I love talking birth!
Get a good crib. you’ll reuse it each time. We’ve used it 4x now
I’ve always had good luck with our Graco carseat/stroller combo. Graco seems to have less recalls. My brother swears by Britax but those are really $$$.
I second the suggestion for a Boppy pillow. Loved those.
I also say don’t get a traditional high chair. They take up too much floor space. I suggest getting the kind that you strap to the dining room chair. They’re small, portable (great for when you take the little one home to Utah,etc) and easy to clean (you can literally throw it in the dishwasher!) They are awesome.
I have a 1 year old and a 4 year old so this is what i would buy/do again based on my experience.
stroller frame/carseat then get a lightweight stroller when you no longer need the carseat. I had a travel system and never used the stroller once I started using the lightweight stroller. I have a Maclaren Volo and I love it. Its all I need once they are older and ready to sit up.
crib- I have a jenny lind style crib and changing table. I like the look and its inexpensive.
bouncer-really any kind is fine
exersaucer/jumperoo-I would BORROW if you could one of these, you don’t need them both. I didn’t have either with the first one, and borrowed the exesaucer which I used alot with dd2.
swing-I have the papason swing. its worth every penny. I didn’t have one at first because of space issues..but when dd came home I realized it was worth taking up space. each girl used it 5plus months daily.
highchair-I have a graco healthy highchair and its great, if you are short on space I would get the graco space saver.
Eurotub-It has groves to hold the baby when taking a bath, then they can use the other side once they sit up. Its big, but ours stays in the bathtub where we use it. I can’t say enough good things about the tub.
Those are the big items. Honestly if I could do it all over again, I would start with less….like bottles, TOYS, baby care items, etc. You really don’t need alot of stuff when you bring them home. You can see what you need once they are here and not waste money on things you might not ever use. HTH! I enjoy reading your blog. Traci
We have this umbrella stroller – http://www.chiccousa.com/gear/strollers/ct06-capri/ct06-capri-alaska.aspx – and we love it. It’s on daughter #2 right now and in great shape. It’s sturdier than the 15 dollar ones at Babies R Us, but not crazy expensive. I reccomend Graco for infant seats/stroller. We went with something else the first time and I regret it.
We borrowed a Bumbo chair with #2 and it was great. Couldn’t live without our swing. I really liked this baby bath pad b/c it’s soft and I didn’t have to worry about them hitting their heads. Of course, they’d have been fine, but being a new mom it was one less worry. http://www.target.com/Safer-Bather-Infant-Bath-Pad/dp/B00005JIVI/ref=br_1_7?ie=UTF8&frombrowse=1&searchView=grid5&searchNodeID=13866681&node=13866681&searchRank=pmrank&searchPage=1&searchSize=30&id=Safer%20Bather%20Infant%20Bath%20Pad
Loved our exersaucer and jumperoo, but the ones that hang from the doorway and just as good and a lot cheaper.
I love babies. And baby stuff.
I loved having a baby swing, bouncer, and a infant front carrier (we bought the knock-off brand of Baby Bjorn, and love it). Layettes/gowns are great for newborns to sleep in because you have instant access to that dirty diaper in the middle of the night. We bought an Evenflo stroller/carseat combo, and it’s okay, but I wished we bought a Graco, because it took us forever to find an Evenflo double stroller that was compatable with our carseat. We also love our pack and play, and any brand will do, and you don’t need all the fancy extras that you can get with it. We use it when others babysit Ben, visit family, if I babysit someone else’s kids, etc. We definately got our money’s worth out of it.
I hope that helps.
Oh and one more thing—borrow, borrow, borrow. Or buy things used if they are in good condition. I got a swing and a bouncer for $25 at a yard sale, and a highchair on Craigslist for $30. Just make sure you like it, or you won’t use it.
*Get a GOOD quality crib. Ours was taken apart and moved 3 different times and still held up fantastically.
*Stroller. I’ve bought the cheap ones (Graco) and the expensive ones (Peg Perego) and they all wear out much too soon. When I had Anna I thought I’d go out and buy the *nice* stroller and make a good investment. Well, it wasn’t much more than a year before I was struggling to maneuver it with two hands and constantly getting frustrated with it. So my opinion is, get something in the middle of the road that is lightweight. Once they’re a little bit older an umbrella stroller does the trick just fine.
*Bouncy seat. It came in handy at times, but if I were doing it again I don’t think that I would HAVE to have it.
*I second the diaper genie comments – don’t buy it.
*Front pack baby carriers are very nice to have. I didn’t use mine a ton, but it came in very handy when it was necessary to have my hands free.
****OKAY . . . my top baby gear essentials:
I had probably 2 dozen of these on hand. My kids were big spitters and the Gerber cloth diapers were the only thing that could handle that volume.
#1 – Swing – this is a MUST MUST MUST have. My kids loved it and lived in it for the first 3 months. I literally do not know what I would have done without it. We got a Graco swing and it lasted through all 3 kids with heavy use.
#2 – Exer-saucer – a MUST MUST MUST have as well. Once they were too big for the swing and could hold their heads up (about 4 months) they moved to the saucer. All of my kids loved it.
#3 – Play mat/gym – We got the Tiny Love Gymini with our 2nd and fell in love. It was so nice to have a place to *set* the baby when he needed some tummy time. The sounds & lights weren’t annoying and they were always mesmerized by the dangling toys and mirror. This came in especially handy with baby #2 because it created a “safe zone” where I could set him on the floor without worrying that big brother would go running over the top of him.
#4 – a basinet. For the first 3 months my babies slept in our bedroom, making it easier for night time feedings. I found an inexpensive basinet and loved it. I didn’t want to use a pack n’ play because they just take up so much room and are so awkward. The basinet was much smaller/narrower and I could easily slide it around the room when I needed to. It also had a fabric sling/shelf on the bottom which was perfect for storing diapers, wipes, extra onesies/pajamas. If you go this route, find one that folds up flat. Because you don’t use it for a long period of time, it needs to be able to store nicely.
#5 – a changing table. I know some people don’t mind doing it on the floor or the bed, but I always loved having a dedicated changing spot. And we didn’t actually buy a real changing table. I had a low, long dresser in the nursery and I just got a changing pad & cover from Babies R Us to set on the top.
#6 – cloth diapers. Not for the bum, but for the spit-up.
#7 – Baby Einstein DVDs. I looooooove these. My kids were always just mesmerized as babies and I loved that as they got older they would go around singing/humming the classical tunes.
#8 – newborn gowns. Love ‘em.
Hope that helps. I agree with another commenter, if I were doing it again I would use less. Start with the basics (and a swing) and see what you need as you go.
Invest in a crib that you love, no matter the cost. You will get your money’s worth out of it, as you will probably use it for all of your children. I have never regretted the $$$ I spent on mine! I didn’t really use a changing table too often with Landon–maybe I will more this second time around, so as to keep Landon away–who knows. So I don’t really have too much to say about changing tables.
I just have the basic graco traveling system, and I never had a complaint about it. Now that Landon’s a bit older, I’m wishing I had something a bit more lightweight and easier to move around–but for a newborn, it was awesome to have so much space to stash a huge diaper bag or whatever whenever I would go to the mall or on a walk or something.
I cannot say enough awesome things about the “Miracle Blanket.” (miracleblanket.com) Someone gave mine to me, but after using it extensively with Landon, I would have GLADLY paid the $40 for a good night’s sleep. And I had tried other swaddling blankets. This one actuallly works. If you’re into the swaddling thing…
Bumbo chair is an absolute must. Again, mine was gifted to me, but it gets its $30 worth FOR SURE.
If you get a fullblown high chair (I did, and I love it) make sure it has wheels! When you live in an apartment, it’s nice to be able to roll it around to wherever it is needed!
You will definitely want some sort of swing at first. And down the line a few months afterward, the exersaucer and jumperoo are both fun. I got hand-me-downs on those–so i gave one to my mom to have at her house and I kept the jumperoo for mine. They are both sort of bulky though… Out of the three of these mentioned, if you’re having to choose because of space–you will definitely want a swing!!
I have the mid-grade diaper genie, and my mom has the high-end one, and if I had it to do again, I would invest in the most expensive one. They really do work a ton better than the mid-grade ones. I’m about ready to chuck mine.
If you’re interested in pumping, invest in an expensive breast pump. I spent about $70 on mine, and it was awesome for Landon, but it’s pretty much shot. This time around I’m getting the uber-expensive one, and I wish I had done that in the first place. I have heard from everyone that they are WELL WORTH the money.
And there you have my two cents on baby gear!
Can’t wait to hear about what you get!
I know this will probably go in one ear and right out the other, because I didn’t listen to this advice before having my first child either, but my 2 cents is buy as little as possible! The longer I have a child the more I realize how little they really do require.
These are the essentials on my list for baby #2: (to have before he/she arrives)
Graco Carseat and stroller frame (once he/she has grown out of his/her infant seat I will get a nice umbrella stroller)
Pack N’ Play with Basinet and changing table
Boppy and hooter hider
Madela Swing Breast Pump
Bijorn
Good swaddling blankets (the gauze kind)
Onesies
Sleepers that zip (you have to be careful with the zipper, but it’s so much better than snapping 12 snaps every time you change a diaper, especially in the middle of the night!)
Super absorbant burp cloths (I love the ones my grandma makes with flannel on one side and terry cloth on the other)
Good nursing clothes
I think that is everything. I will let you know if I think of anything else. Good luck!
Wow- are you more confused now? It’s so interesting how everybody loves/ hates the same things.
Anyway… I agree to buy as little as possible. They really don’t need much. And borrow what you can or buy second hand.
Swings were useless for me. My first grew too big too fast and when I had my second kid, the first would push it or try to climb in. So we got rid of that fast. I loved having a baby bjorn (or sling, or something) to carry them. I found that easier to carry them around and get things done with free hands.
I never had a bathtub- used the big one with a little water. Works fine.
I always changed diapers on the bathroom floor. (or if you have a big counter you can use that) then they grow up knowing that’s what the bathroom is for. Plus I’d just put the diaper in the garbage and take it out. No need for a diaper pail.
If I had money I would buy a crib that converts to a toddler bed than a big bed. But I didn’t, so we don’t. But I wish I had. I do like that my crib converts to a toddler bed.
I loved my high chair with wheels and that could move up or down. But it was hard to clean, so make sure there’s not a lot of grooves and such. The last one we just got the chair that straps to the chair, and that’s nice. I would recommend a high chair/ or booster chair that will recline. Nice for when they are little to be able to sit at the table with you.
I love my Graco Sweet Slumber sound machine, and wish I had it with my first two kids. But it’s not a necessity. Just nice.
Oh.. and a good stain remover!!
I’ve had 5 kids now and would say that with each one, all the stuff you think you need becomes less and less important. We didn’t get a crib until the 3rd one (my husband started building it for the first but didn’t finish it until the third) and used a pack-n-play with a bassinet insert for the first two. Now we have too many kids and not enough room for the crib, so we’re back to the pack-n-play. Definitely needed the boppy pillow and the swing for each and every one. Every one of our kids has used either an exersaucer or jumping play thing after they’ve gotten too big for the swing, so I’d call one of those a must also (but you don’t need them until around 4-5 months).
I had to get a new car seat with this last baby and I went with the Graco Snugride 32. It can hold a baby up to 32 pounds and that’s really important for me. Most baby car seats only hold up to 20 pounds. A baby needs to be rear facing until they are 20 pounds AND one year old. My babies are ALWAYS over 20 lbs before they’re one and if their car seat didn’t hold more than that, I’d have to buy them a new one. And at my baby’s 9 month checkup last week he weighed 21 pounds. So I’m glad I went with that car seat.
Some things I’ve never needed are a bathtub (we always just used the sink until they were big enough to sit in the tub), a diaper genie (just threw them in the regular trash and never noticed any major stinkiness) a changing table (laid them down wherever was most convenient and it was fine), the little hooded towels were always too small so we just used regular ones, and that’s all I can think of right now. Hope that helped!
I totally agree with borrowing. When we had James a family in our ward was done having kids and gave me a bouncy seat, swing, johnny jump up and lots of toys. It was great! And even with Taite now we got lots of hand me downs. She was born in a different season then the other two girls so I borrowed most of her clothes from the sisters and my friends. They grow through clothes so quickly that the first 6 months don’t get used very much. I was so surprised at how new everything looks from the hand me downs. — So, I have tons of clothes that I can send your way. I could even take pictures and have you pick what you want! — I love the Baby Bjorn! James was sensitive to the cheapo diapers. And so I stuck with Huggies the whole time, for all of them. My 2 cents is sign up for every coupon anyone will send you for baby stuff. Sign your mom up. My mom would get diaper coupons and samples more then I would. Sign up for the formula samples too. Even if you are breastfeeding it never hurts to have a can of formula sitting in the cupboard! And if you do nurse make sure you have a pump, even a simple one. I got mastitis with James and it was crucial. James used the swing. Campbell didn’t. Taite did for about one month. I never used a diaper genie. Mine used a baby bathtub until they could sit up at about 6 months. A highchair is great but you don’t need it until they are eating food. I love Avent bottles. My mom always gave us socks that would not fall off. I’m sure she will get you some too. I’m sure there is more. If I think of it I will let you know. Good luck. Figuring it all out is really interesting. You really don’t need all the stuff for the baby. It is so smart that you are getting all this input!
Lots of nightgowns….make changing a diaper so much easier
Get a lightweight babystroller and carseat. There are so many more opition now. Don’t get the jogger unless you jog there are big.
Skip the swing…my kids prefered the bouncer with a vibrater
Get a space saver high chair that you strap on to a kitchen hair. I had this opition when Adam was born we would have gone with it…but ours was free so I can’t complain.
Make your own hooded towels from a regular bath towel and wash clothes.
I think a bath tub is a good idea…get one that folds up and you can store it under the sink better.
Lots of burp clothes.
We only used the diaper genie for a few month with each kid. Only thing get about it is it has a lid that locks in the oder. Refills are pain and can cost a lot. Put dirty diapers in plastic grocery bags instead.
exersaucer/jumperoo are okay…i would go with the exersaucer because it more enjoyable. Don’t let you little one spend a lot of time in there though because I have heard it bad on their legs and hip development and growth over time. We never had one of own but have use Linda’s a few times during visits.
Lots of nursing bras and nursing pads. Only get one tub of nipple cream to start with a little goes a long ways. Do for the nursing gs.
A rocker/glider is a must for the baby’s room, changing table/dresser is a good idea to. Or just a dresser with changing pad on top of it. Don’t spend a lot decorating the room….theres a lot of cute stuff out there but you are going to want to change it in couple years. Maybe skip the mobile and get something that plays music and shines lights on the ceiling…my mobile always falls off.
A baby moniter is a must…even if you don’t use at your home it great for traveling to Grandma and Grandpa’s houses.
If there is anything else you need help with let me know.
It looks like you’ve got a lot of advice, but since you asked, I just can’t resist. And this probably won’t surprise you, coming from me and our tiny living space, but buy as little as possible!!! And then only buy as needed. For example, don’t get a high chair (I also recommend one that snaps onto a regular chair) until your kid starts to eat (6-7 months old).
Someone gave me great advice before I had Isabella and was also overwhelmed with all the baby consumerism. She reminded me, “You only need 4 things with a brand new baby!”
1–a carseat to get her home
2–something to keep her warm (a blanket)
3–somewhere to sleep (your bed, crib, or moses basket)
4–diapers (take all the ones the hospital gives you and your set for the first few days)
That advice helped me keep it simple before having the baby. I had more stuff, but remembered every time I wanted something, I could wait.
I’m a big believer of buying used or borrowing. The ONLY thing I have ever bought new is my Ergo and that’s because it was impossible to find a used one much cheaper. Also, with the Ergo, I realized that if it didn’t work for me it had a great resale value so I could get rid of it for not much of a loss. Do your research. (Like you are right now.) If you want to buy something try and borrow it first to see if you and/or your little one will like it.
KEEP IT SIMPLE!
I have a Graco travel system and we still use the stroller today and I have a 3 year old. We got one before and it was hard to open and close. It should be really easy to open and close if not exchange it. We took ours back and the new one is so much better!
We were given a crib by my sis-in-law, also given a swing, toys and clothes. Always take things that people offer especially if you want them. I gained a lot of things that way. We also borrowed a bassanet and had Dillon in there for 3 months. It all depends on how long you are willing to have her in your room.
I also loved onesies when I have another I plan to get more of them, I didn’t seem to have enough.
As far as buying stuff, your families may want to help buy things like the stroller and crib. If they do let them that is one less thing you have to worry about. Also find the diaper that works well for your child. now every child does well in the Huggies or Pampers. Dillon did Pampers Swaddlers until he was in size 2 then it didn’t hold very well and we changed to Kroger Comforts.
I would also advise you to start buying diapers now and start getting your supply started that way when she comes you are not running to the store for those. I suggest about 3-4 jumbo packs of newborn, then about the same in 1’s, 2’s at least with Dillon lasted longer. You won’t know how long they will last for her until she is here. Hope that helps!
You have a lot of great advice. I just want to second the hand-me-down idea. If you ever get an offer for baby stuff TAKE IT! It was the hardest thing for me to do since I wanted EVERYTHING brand new. Now, looking back, I’ve noticed how less important it is for me to have the newest and the best right now. Hand-me-downs or gently used baby items are just as great! My mindset for baby #2 is what is the most efficient and will last me the longest.
But honestly, this is your first so have a BLAST with all the new and maybe not-so-important baby stuff. You’ll figure out what you will or will not use and each child is different. And who knows, maybe by your third at least ONE of them will have used it at some point.
I didn’t read all of the replies, so I’m sure that some of this will be repeats…
I have a 9 year old & a 1 year old, so there’s a ton that I had with the first and knew I wouldn’t use with the second, but also things that weren’t around with the first that I knew I wanted with the second.
Had the first & second time…and would buy again if I dare to have another:
swing/bouncy seat : Both, not just one & portable if you can. Make sure the swing reclines, she’ll fall asleep in there more times than you can count.
Playtex drop in bottles: If you’re going to be gone for awhile, you just have to pack extra bags & nipples, no need to lug around 6 bottles. If you plan on nursing, they have a good system that works directly with the bottles.
formula container: If you aren’t nursing, or end up needing to supplement with formula, these are a blessing. It’s much easier than carrying the whole can. I give these at each shower I attend. http://www.greatbabyproducts.com/powder-baby-formula-dispenser.html
Boppy pillow: invaluable arm saver. If you nurse, My Breast Friend works a bit better, but it wouldn’t hurt to have both. My 1 year old now uses his Boppy as a pillow in his crib.
cloth diapers: I saw someone else mention these for the same reason as I will, they are great as burp clothes! The cute burp clothes are small.. these things absorb everything & are huge. We use ours as dust/cleaning rags now that the baby is grown. LOL
Bassinet: You’ll want her in your room with you the first few months and the bassinet can be pulled right up to your bedside. You can wheel it out to the living room for when she naps during the day & you’re doing something else so she’s still near by. Don’t bother with something expensive & fancy though, since it’s only used for a few months.
Things I didn’t have the first time & couldn’t live without the second time:
stroller/car seat combo: Having to wake a sleeping baby to move them from the car seat to the stroller is no fun. Personally, I had an Evenflo combo & loved it. But by the time he was about 8 months old, I got rid of the whole thing. It was huge and I didn’t need all the space anymore. As a newborn/infant, big strollers are great, but once they outgrow the carrier seat and can sit up on their own, smaller is better. At least for us. I now have a compact Jeep stroller. It still reclines & has plenty of storage space, but is so much easier to handle.
Bumbo: for real, best invention ever. A Boppy is a must too, but can’t take the place of this. We used ours at home, the park, the beach, Grandmas… everywhere..
Things I used the first time & didn’t bother with the second time:
a baby bath – We used the sink, easier, faster & quicker to clean. I didn’t get it this time, but one of those bear shapped foam pads aren’t bad to have, but you really don’t need a full tub. Never got a bath seat this time around either.
Dreft: Yes babies have more sensitive skin, but unless you’re going to wash everything you own (your clothes, sheets, towels, everything!) in Dreft, then you’re not really doing any good. They rub up against your clothes too. We used a fragrance/dye free detergent for about the first 6 months, then switched back to our regular brand.
big high chair: I loved the chair I had for my oldest and was excited to find a Chicco at a good price for the baby. At this point, I wish I could throw it out the window. It’s a pain to keep clean & always in the way. We’re in the market for a strap on chair and I wish I had gone that route from the beginning. Whatever you choose, make sure it reclines. This was another favorite sleeping spot for both of mine.
Random stuff… If you do buy a jogging stroller, make sure the front wheel pivots. My fiance is a runner and couldn’t wait to break our jogging stroller out, but it rarely got used cause the wheel didn’t turn. Not easy to maneuver when you’re running.
Buy simple clothes for the first few months. They grow so quickly that you’ll never use the 20 dresses and all the cute shoes. Snap shirts are great for easy changes, as are the gowns for sleeping. Not sure what the weather is out there during the time you’re due, but we only ever used one sleep sack. The swaddle me things…just use a blanket, you’ll have plenty of them to begin with. Get lots of socks, dryers seem to prefer them over big socks.
Wow!!! You got some great suggestions. My boys are older now, but the stuff that I loved are still front-burner in my mind.
1. A really nice crib. You don’t have to spend your life savings on one, but a nice quality crib will get you through each of the children you both hop to have. Once the kiddos get old enough and start jumping around in there, you will notice the quality fast.
2. Changing table. Now, I have to c-sections, so a changing table really saved my back. The idea of bending over a couch, bed or wherever else to change diapers would not have been as easy as when they are on their changing table. It brings everything to your level. Select one that has storage. Mine had two shelves & a drawer. I had a nasal aspirator, nail clippers, rash cream, Tylenol & saline spray in the drawer. Everything was right there so I wasn’t turning my head for a second. The shelves were nice to keep washclothes, wipe warmer, hooded bath towels, diapers and anything else I thought I needed.
3. Cloth diapers. I used Huggies for both of my boys, but I kept the cloth diapers like the gal above mentioned for burp clothes. Don’t get the ones w/the double folded section in the middle. Just a regular diaper folded in half will catch just about everything.
4. Baby Snuggle. I can’t remember what they were called, but they are the cheaper version of the Baby Bjorn. They are great. I put my oldest in there and we would go downstairs to do laundry and he was right there w/me. I would use it when we went shopping. My hubby would push the grocery cart and I had Travis. If they would’ve been popular over nine year ago, I think I would have gone w/the wrap though. Less bulky.
5. Boppy pillow. These are great. I believe your friend explained their worth already. These pillows are great in so many times in their first year of life.
6. Car Seat/Stroller Combo. We used Graco w/everything. The other woman was so right. They have less recalls than other products that we researched. We had the base of the car seat in my car and all you had to do to take it out was to press a lever and the baby was out. Very nice after having that c-section. The stroller was a nice height to where I didn’t feel like I had to hunch over to push him. I’m 5′6″, average height, and umbrella strollers give me that feeling. Very comfortable to push. I was going to get a jogging stroller to take on walks w/my youngest Christopher, but he decided that we were done w/strollers.
7. Onesis are the best invention. They hold everything together. Baby bellies never hanging out. I always put one on my boys. If your baby is between sizes, this helps pants stay up and shirts to stay tucked it.
8. Baby Einstein. We love our Baby Einstein. Baby Mozart is a must, and I hope someone is going to get that for you for one of your showers.
9. Highchair. I had the old fashioned highchair. The ones that attach to your dining room chairs are so much easier to use. They can all be broken down in such a way as they can go in the dishwasher to sanitize. Plus huge spacesaver, as you already had the dining room chair anyway.
10. Basinet. I had one on wheels. Bring it out in the living room w/you if you need that reassurance or she can be in your room. Both of our boys are winter babies, so they stayed in our bedroom, in the basinet, for 2 1/2 to 3 months. Helps w/nursing and healing. Daddy can bring baby to you if you need help and then slide her back into the basinet beside your bed to sleep until the next feeding.
I’m not silly enough to think that I have all the answers, but these did help me quite a bit. I was a bit of a nervous mommy w/my first child, but I did better as we went along. These things made it easier or even funner to enjoy time w/my baby.
Renee’ Hicks
neanea1025@aol.com
My baby boy just turned one on new year’s eve. Here is my 2 cents on baby gear!
It’s true that you don’t have to get everything right away. It’s fun to get things as you go along and get to know what your baby might like and what you think you’re missing and need. But that being said…
I got a boomerang pillow and it is the greatest thing ever. I have it propped against my computer right now to keep baby away from grabbing the screen – LOL. It has multiple purposes! I actually got it during pregnancy to help for sleeping when I got really uncomfortable near the end of it. It’s the best thing for helping prop baby during nursing – I still use it every day. Also great for propping baby against to lay on the floor or whatever, especially when they’re still immobile. To me, this is a must have item for sure.
Once baby moved to his crib from his bassinet, we got him a Fisher-Price aquarium that hooks onto the side. He doesn’t use it as much now but it was a life saver on many nights trying to soothe him back to sleep! It has various soothing songs and plays for quite a while to help baby relax – also comes with a remote control so you can switch it on or off from the doorway. I felt we really got our money’s worth on that one.
Lots of receiving blankets and little spit up cloths are ESSENTIAL in the beginning! And bibs. Did I mention the spit up cloths??! LOL.
A reclining newborn tub that can fit in the sink or tub is a definite must.
If you want an expensive crib, by all means go for it but I don’t think it’s necessary. We got the cheapest one at Ikea because our baby’s room is tiny and it was literally the only crib on earth we could find that would fit that small space! It’s perfect though, works great. And he bites the sides of it when he’s teething sometimes, so I’m glad we didn’t spend a fortune considering he’s biting into the wood!
A breast pump and a few bottles if you’re going to be nursing. Some people recommend not pumping milk till baby is a few months old. I got mastitis a few days after baby arrived and had to get excess milk out – pumping was the only way I could do that. And it did not have any ill-effects on my ability to nurse baby or anything as some people have claimed. It’s also a great way to give Daddy a chance to occasionally feed baby from an early age (and to give you a chance to sleep a bit!) I just got an Avent brand hand held do-it-yourself pump, not an electric one. I found it worked just fine – I don’t know anything about the electric ones. Make sure to get some nursing bras, and also pads to go in them to avoid your shirts getting milk stains on them!
Definitely get a baby monitor. We got an Angelcare one with the sensor pad that goes under the crib mattress to monitor baby’s breathing. However we found we didn’t use the sensor pad much. Honestly, if I was doing it over again I’d get a video monitor. They’re a tad pricey but I think it would be so worth it. There have been so many times where I’ve got up to check on our baby when if I’d had a video monitor, I could have just seen what he was doing without having to get up every time. When you’re totally exhausted and don’t really NEED to get up but just are doing it for peace of mind, I think the video would be wonderful!
An Exersaucer, in my opinion, is a MUST HAVE. Not right away, and if you don’t have a lot of space I’d definitely wait to buy one. But we put Andrew in his as soon as he was able to hold his head up well on his own and he loved it. It’s amazing – the baby gets so much fun from it and Mom can get things done and know baby is content and safe.
A play mat is also a great buy, and is nice for when baby is still just laying around. It’s fun seeing them grow into it – at first Andrew couldn’t reach any of the toys on his and then a few months later he was ripping them right off!!
Some people swear by the Bumbo chair. We got one as a gift and Andrew did use it but not much at all. I think it’s something to get once your baby arrives and you know their personality better. Some babies just love to sit there in their Bumbo and hang out! Andrew is one of those babies who hates to feel confined and even though they say babies can’t get out of the Bumbo, he was determined and flailed so much I didn’t want to put him in it anymore.
A mobile for the crib is great. Toys that play music for helping lull baby to sleep. Oh and get some little baby mitts! Andrew would scratch at his face if he didn’t have his mitts on pretty much 24/7 for about the first month after birth! I don’t know what I’d have done if he didn’t have his little mitts.
I’m sure there are things I’m missing…I know it’s overwhelming to think of it all in some ways (although of course exciting too, it’s so fun to shop for baby, isn’t it?!) BUT keep in mind that honestly, when you come home with baby there is very little they actually ‘need’ for the first while. As long as they’ve got you and maybe a couple of blankets (and diapers, of course!) they are pretty well set! But that’s my 2 cents in terms of what I think are some great buys!
Happy shopping and congrats – Being a mom is the best!
I am a HUGE fan of the Combi strollers. I have a single and a double and won’t use anything else. They’re light-weight, easy to fold – fantastic. I already had a carseat when I bought the stroller – but if I could do it again I would definetly get a Combi carseat/stroller combo.
I also vote for not having a full sized high-chair. We have a 20$ Fisher Price one that we put on a dinning room chair. I love that I can wash it easily, take it off when I need, and that it doesn’t take up extra room.
We personally never used a bassinet and I’m glad we didn’t waste money for that. I didn’t sleep if my babies were in the room with me – every sound they made kept me up, and I’d feed them before they were really awake. Where as if they were in a close room they were actually awake by the time I heard them – which made feeding easier. We all slept better that way – but I know that depends on each situation.
We bought the top-of-the line pack-n-play. I’m grateful we bought one – but we didn’t need the cute musical mobile, vibrating setting, etc. I could have saved probably $50 on it by getting a simple model.
We LOVED our bouncy/vibrating seat – entertained both of my kids for hours.
Changing table – I LOVE this!!!! I had several friends tell me they never used theirs, it would be a waste – but it was probably one of my best investments. I liked having a central place for diaper changes, everything set right by me. I also liked that my kids knew when I put them on there that it was diaper change time. In fact – sometimes I still change my 2 year old on it and he doesnt’ fight me at all. Whereas if I do it on the floor it’s a disaster.
Anyway – that’s my 2 bits.
–Joanna
I don’t know you but I love reading your blog. I thought I’d give my 2 cents. I had a baby in march and these are the things I loved.
I borrowed a bassinet for the first few weeks then we moved and I used a pack n’ play with the bassinet insert. We got a pack n’ play with the bassinet and changing table attachment only because we got a great deal on it but I didn’t really used the changing table a lot, my husband did.
We got a cheap second hand crib and changing table. Wish we would have spent more on the crib to begin with because now (baby is 10months) we are having to replace it. I didn’t think that a changing table was a must, husband did and I do actually like it and use it.
Gowns, gowns, gowns. I loved them!
We went with the graco high chair that folds to 7 inches wide and love it. We were going to get the one that goes in the chair but when we tookthe baby to “test” them out he looked really big in it and thought that he would be out growing it before we were done using it.
I think graco is the way to go for stroller/carseat. It comes in lots of patterns. We got one that was neutral. I like that the wheel at bigger and it has room for storage no matter what we do. We do a lot outside so bigger wheels was a must for us. The stroller is a little bulky but it’s not that big of a deal to me.
The bouncer was a must for me and I got my use out of it.
Everything else i.e. swing, excersaucer/jumperoo, bumbo, play mat. we got after the baby came and someone gave them to us. Space was an issue for us and just the few things we had when the baby came was overwhelming. But we have and still are getting our use out of these things. Just not a must have at first. If I had had a swing I would have used it since I didn’t I lived without and probably didn’t even notice.
A bath tub………….don’t waste the money. We had a bear sponge for him to lay on and used the sink and once he was too big we moved to the tub with just a little water. I would just lay him in the tub on the sponge and that worked great. It was less work and clean up.
I nannied for years before having a child of my own. So I knew what I did and did not want. What to spent money on and not. I know it is fun to go get new things but used is te way to go.
After the baby comes and you find things you think you want got to a babies r us and let the baby try it out. They will let you do that there. You can take the carseats out to see if it fits in your car, take the stroller for a spin or two around the store, and even put your child in all the displays to see what she likes. Take advantage of that service. That’s why it’s there. Then you don’t end up getting something that doesn’t fit you or your car, or something that your child doesn’t play with.
Oh diapers. I used pamper swaddlers and now cruisers and LOVE them both. We did start buying before the baby came and had a good supply by the time the baby came. We also got some for shower gifts. I tried the cheap off brands only because they were gifted and the baby got a horrible rash. I found out that you can take diapers back to walmart without a reciept and get different diapers. They will only let you exchange them, but that’s fine because it was something that we will always use. Then I was able to get the size and brand I needed and not have to use what was gifted.
I did look into cloth diaper just for the money saving aspect of it but quickly decided (after talking to a neighbor and holding her child multiple times) that is was not for me there are things that I needed for santinity sake and that was one of them. Also her child always felt damp and I didn’t like that.
Hope this is helpful. Good luck you will be just fine. Read read read reviews before you buy any thing big. That has always been a big help for me.
It has been a while, and I think most everything was covered. So instead, I will tell you my two MUST have books for a having a new baby:
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding – if you are planning on nursing, this is a wonderful resource put out by LeLeche Leauge and I am so glad I read it before I had my first baby, and brought it out again for the second.
The Baby Book, by Dr. Sears – it is everything you need to know from birth to age two told from a doctor and father of 8 kids. I loved his attachment parenting philosophy, but would have loved the book just for it’s great info on development, etc.
Oh, and if you haven’t already signed up on babycenter.com to receive their emails, I would suggest it – they are fun and informative.
Good luck Emily! Just remember, that amidst all the advice you will receive, both you and your baby are unique, so listen, but DO what feels right to you. Motherly intuition is worth more all than all the advice in the world
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The best $10-$20 we’ve ever spent (can’t remember the exact price) was on a VTech Soothe and Surprise Nature Light. Seriously, amazing! It plays music, lights up, projects lights on the ceiling, and it’s sound sensitive, so it will turn on if the baby is stirring. Ben STILL uses it. Only now, he can just reach up and press the button. My only complaint would be that it would be easier if it plugged in instead of using batteries, but we just bought rechargeables. I know that’s not technically “baby gear,” but I still highly recommend it.
I also LOVED my Medela Pump In Style Breast Pump. The best!
Things I had and didn’t really need? A Diaper Genie, A Changing Table (That might sound crazy, but the floor is just easier. Although when they’re tiny, I guess it’s nice to have them up high. I think I’ve blocked out all the middle-of-the-night changings.), and a Baby Carrier (SO uncomfortable. A wrap or sling would have been much better for me.)
Good luck, and have fun! I love baby shopping!
I am totally coming back to this post when I’m pregnant!! This is great stuff!
In answer to your question about the corn chowder recipes: One has sweet potatoes and chicken and has a cumin spiced flavor, the other is more traditional with regular potatoes and bacon. Two very different flavors!
Dang. Let’s talk about the HOOK UP with info! I wish I’d known half of this stuff before the boy came along.
I’m going to keep this short and sweet: for the first few months, there were only a few things I HAD to have for life to be as do-able as possible, do with this info what you like:)
-A bassinet (or pack & play w/ bassinet attachment — LOVE it and totally worth every penny because it will grow right along with your needs)
-ONESIES (we found out quickly that the boy was a sweat-er, so onesies were the jammies of choice at our house)
-Aden & Anais swaddling blankets (google them and invest — they are the reason I got sleep at all those first few months)
-white noise (I don’t even need to explain this one!)
-binkies (if she’ll take one, give one — we liked mam)
-a wipe warmer (some may say its frivolous, but we’ve loved it because there is no cold shock for the baby which = less tears and anxiety for everyone over diaper changes).
tee-hee:) sorry I lied about keeping it short! I can’t wait to see you next week! Love you:)
I’ve noticed that a lot of people are saying to buy used or borrowed…check out consignment sales going on in your are or utah. The ones in omaha usually are the middle of march to middle of april for summer clothes and then again in august september for winter clothes. you can find great things there. first time moms and expecting moms usually get to shop before they open to the public….usually the day before…but you need to sign up on their email or mailing list to get special pass. also the last day of the sale sometimes they have 50% marked price on most items….it’s up the seller.