Essential things for a baby?

[Sir Ron]

What would you recommend as "essentials" to have with a newborn? We are in the process of closing on our new house and money is not flowing freely with out teacher salaries. haha

So, what would you recommend?

In regards to a crib, I think we will go to a consignment shop. But, Bethy keeps talking about these convertible cribs. Are they any good? Or should we just get a crib and buy another bed when the baby is older!

Thanks!

 

[Heluvsme]

A Pack-N-Play will only last a few short months, you'll end up buying a crib anyway, I would just go straight to a crib. And while a lot of parents like the cozy, intimate size of a cradle, still, it's not a necessity. Cribs will do just fine, but, I would caution against going consignment on a crib, and here's why----you can find a fairly inexpensive Jenny Lind type crib brand new, and you're guarenteed that the screws are a tight fit, the pieces haven't warped or are otherwise wobbly. With used, you just don't know for sure and taking chances is a scary thing. Most children don't move onto a toddler bed until around 3-ish.

As far as necessities go....of course the infant car seat, they have to face backwards until they're a year old I believe. The crib. A small baby bath that can fit into the kitchen sink or the bathtub. A diaper bag or a backpack (you may already have that). We didn't really use our Diaper Genie, I would simply tie up used diapers in a plastic grocery bag and take directly outside to the garbage. A monitor can be a necessity depending upon the layout of your house (multiple stories, etc). The high chair won't be a necessity until he/she's sitting up strongly. We got double use out of our infant car seat/carrier, it would serve as a baby seat once the baby got only enough to be at the table and started eating rice cereal, etc. A stroller is also a necessity. A baby sling/front pack...ours was a necessity, for some it isn't.

As far as necessities go, I think that's about it, equipment wise. Now clothing is a different story, but as far as equipment, for the first half of the his/her year, this should do it.


Congratulations by the way!!

 

[PrincessMom4]

set your selves a realistic budget. do you know people with babies that could lend or give you things?? If you pay the shipping I will glady give you baby clothes..

Isabell

 

[Sir Ron]

That's very nice of you! Good point on the crib. Although, if I do buy a used one, believe me I'll check over every inch of it. I'm overly precautious.

I don't like those things where babies just sit in them and play with the gadgets (obviously not when a child is a newborn but after the baby can sit up and such). Maybe I'm wrong on that. I would think a swing would be helpful though too, right?

 

[MrsJ Henry]

Check garage sales. Around our area there are such great finds!!!!
Babies really don't NEED everything that is out there on the market.


Do you have people that could give you a shower? This could be very helpful.
Register for only what you really need and want. That will limit people getting you the extras that are not really needed.

good luck

 

[NY Disney fan]

A Pack-N-Play will only last a few short months, you'll end up buying a crib anyway, I would just go straight to a crib.

Honestly, my 13 month old still sleeps in her pack n play. She has a beautiful new crib and slept in it a total of 5X. I'm about to convert it into her big girl bed. If I would have known this, I would have never purchased a crib for her.

You should get a pack n play for the baby and then decide on a crib later on. Plus the PNP is portable in case you need it for other things. Just my op.

 

[Sir Ron]

Honestly, my 13 month old still sleeps in her pack n play. She has a beautiful new crib and slept in it a total of 5X. I'm about to convert it into her big girl bed. If I would have known this, I would have never purchased a crib for her.

You should get a pack n play for the baby and then decide on a crib later on. Plus the PNP is portable in case you need it for other things. Just my op.

The Pack and Play things are like portable cribs, play areas right?


SO your crib that converts. Would you recommend a convertible crib?

 

[Captain_Hook]

About the whole crib thing -- you should be very careful about a used crib. You never know how it was used/if it was assembled incorrectly/if it is missing parts/if it was damaged (warped, water damage...) They say you should never get/use a crib that is over five years old (too much potential for damage and you may not know of any recalls). I would really recommend investing the money for a new crib or, if you must, borrowing one (that is less then 5 years old) from someone you know and trust.

About convertible cribs -- most of the ones we looked at convert into a double bed. That would be pushing it size-wise for the baby's room -- I'd rather he have a twin size bed so his room would feel more spacious. PLUS, I don't know how tall you are, but all the convertible beds we saw (and I think all in general, but not sure) do not have a drop side. Not too big of an issue when the mattress is in the highest position, but when you start lowering it and you are trying to gently place a sleeping baby into the bed, it may be a hard reach. I am 5'4" and I didn't feel comfortable with that.

I don't know how you feel about gift registries, but ours certainly came in handy!

HTH -- feel free to ask any questions, I am by no means an expert, but am going through this now as well!

 

[Sir Ron]

We aren't opposed to buying some new things. We aren't destitute. My wife is just very practical. Good point about the space in a baby room once it converts and the "drop down" side. I didn't think of that.

Don't worry, we both have plenty of baby experience, we are just trying to be practical with ours.

 

[trayletha]

I would NOT recommend a crib that converts - we got one with DD, converts into a toddler bed and then into a full size...well we moved before she had graduated to the toddler bed and the instructions and hardware for converting it were never seen again. We got replacement parts and instructions (Internet) and converted it to the toddler bed. Well I don't know if it was a design issue or our mistake, but there were visible holes from when it had been a crib, and several exposed sharp pieces of plastic.

So I'd get the Pack n Play and move on to a nice used crib after 8 or 9 months. That's my plan for #2.

 

[afinnteach]

I have a convertable crib for DD and I really like it so far. We are just about ready to convert now, so I can't tell you anything about the bed part yet, but I am glad that it matches her dressers and that I won't have to do more shopping for furniture.

We did not buy a convertable bed for DS because his room is smaller and will really only take a single bed. In fact, when he is old enough I would like to get him a loft so that we can put a desk and chair under his bed, the room is that small! (I should now, I lived in it when I was a kid and my dad built me a loft bed before you could buy them everywhere!)

In the end I think it all depends on your budget, space, and how often you like to redecorate!

Other necessities: Changing table, diaper genie, car seat, stroller, baby bath tub, CD player for music in their room, bottles, diaper bag, pack n play (but we make lots of overnight trips to grandma's house!)

Things to try to borrow first: I would try to borrow a swing before purchasing if possible, both of my kids loved theirs, but my sister's DS didn't like ours and they never had to buy one. Same can be said for a bouncy seat and rocking chair - my parents bought a rocking chair for our DD's room and we hardly ever use it! Also a sling - neither of my kids like ours, but my sister's son loves his!

Things I bought I could have lived without: monitor (we live in a one story ranch and the kids' rooms are right beside ours), bottle warmer (convenient, but not necessary), bottle sanitizer, bouncy seat

Things that can wait: high chair (we used the bouncy seat/car seat at first), activity center (where they seat and all the little toys are around them?) our DD STILL plays with hers and her nephew's and she's 2 1/2! it provided us with hours of time where she was happy and so were we!

Good luck!
Amy

 

[Captain_Hook]

I forgot one thing everyone told me I had to have (won't know until the baby comes if it is essential) -- a Boppy!

We also made sure to get a rocker for his room -- that is something I would think would be perfectly fine/safe to get consignment/used....

I didn't get any bedding for the baby except sheets, mattress pad, and the waterproof sheet-savers. I figured why invest that much money when babies shouldn't use blankets and bumpers are debatable, and the other stuff that comes in the package seemed superfluous to me. I just got white sheets so I can bleach them if need be....

I really relied alot (but not entirely) on alot of baby books like Baby Bargains or Baby 411 (I can't remember what it was called -- it was a purple book this year) and the cosumer reports book about baby products. You can find some very practical advice in them about what is safe, what is useless, and what is fine to get used. They also evaluate alot of products if you are torn between two similar things!

 

[Sir Ron]

Thanks for all the ideas. I have a co-worker who just told me about her white sleigh-crib convertible she wants to get rid of. I'll have to talk a look at that. Her son is 4 now and obviously doesn't need it!

I asked my wife if I can make a diaper chute to send the diapers out the baby's window into the trashcan outside. I don't think she believes I'm serious. hahaha

 

[laluna]

Hi! I beg to differ about a baby bath. I was leant one and never used it - the filling and emptying was a pain so I just filled the main bath with about 4 inches of water and laid baby on the bottom - have to watch your back though. Also not a fan of swings (wrong sleep associations - she says wearing her tin hat!). I am just very minimalist - baby sleeping bags are the most fantastic thing in the world and a changing mat on the floor is best (I think that chaning tables are dangerous - baby can easily roll off). Good luck!

 

[cruizie]

When we had our dd 5 yrs ago (well, almost 6), we did not have a lot of money. We bought a crib (Jenny Lind from Sears - $100 then, $129 now) and changing table, diaper champ but would not buy again, some basic clothes, car seat & stroller, bottles, etc. We borrowed a few other things - cradle, pack-n-play, execersaucer when she was older, swing, etc. We received as gifts most everything else - clothes, clothes and clothes, bouncy seat, wipe warmer (dd really appreciated this), diapers, etc . Is someone throwing you a shower? If I were going to buy something, I would be a crib over a pack-n-play - your baby will use the crib every day and a pnp only occassionally.

As far as the convertible crib goes (I am assuming you mean a crib that converts to a double bed), are you planning to have additional children? If so, I don't think a convertible makes sense (you would have to go buy another one for the next baby) and you can find headboards relatively inexpensively, plus you might choose to put your child in a twin rather than a double - especially if you are planning to have another child and they will share a room.

If you are worried about purchasing things that might not fit or might be wrong gender, etc., I recommend purchasing gift cards for yourself. Buy one each paycheck in whatever amount you can afford. Then after your shower or after the baby comes, you can use these gift cards to purchase whatever you need (diapers, formula, bottles, nursing pads for your wife, clothes, etc.)

Congrats!

 

[grlpwrd]

First, congratulations!

Two baby things that I don't recommend buying used is a carseat and a crib. You just can't be too safe. Plus, recalls are made and many times they don't get well publicized. You definitely want to check the Consumer Product Safety Commission website for recalls: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerel.html

I would recommend for all other things to check out Craigslist in your local and surrounding areas. I check for cities within few hours drive if the price is right. For example, I have driven an hour away to get a really nice glider rocking chair and stool.

Someone mentioned the Baby Bargains book... They have a website with forums at http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/dcboard.php . I used to go there often because they share info on getting good deals.

 

[LadyShea]

We cosleep so didn't need a crib, but the Pack n Play got a lot of use as a changing table, and for naps. We didn't even buy a regular changing table, just used the PnP. After he was about a year old we started changing him on the bed or his little nap mat on the floor.

I ended up with way too many clothes! For the first month at least I kept him in those gowns with elastic on the bottom and cuffs you can use to cover his/her hands if you want, and then for two months after that he was inn nothing but sleep and plays. Our "outgrown" box has many cute outfits that were never worn or worn once. So must haves are gowns for newborns, in my opinion.

A good car seat is obviously a must. You can buy a convertible that will take him/her from infancy through toddlerhood, or buy a travel system with a stroller then get a new carseat after the first year or so. We rarely used a stroller, and preferred a sling/carrier. So that may or may not be a must have for you.

Congrats!

 

[Sir Ron]

So of all the baby toy things "activity center, swings, etc" which do you all feel is the biggest waste of money?

 

[micksnewfriend]

You have a lot of great responses. As you can see, some things work for one family and not for another. One of the considerations of the items to purchase and the amount you spend is whether you will be having additional children. When we were expecting DS (now 23 mos), we knew that what we were purchasing was likely going to be used again. As an example, we purchased one of the Pottery Barn Kids convertible beds believing it would last for more than one child.

The items that we had, but did not find essential to a newborn baby:

Changing Table: Instead, we use a changing mat and change him on the floor.

Diaper Genie: We would immediately put them in a plastic grocery bag and tie the ends.

The items that we had and found essential to a newborn:

Larger blankets for swaddling: We received as a gift a blanket that was specifcally made for swaddling. It was larger than the standard blanket and the directions for how to swaddle were listed on the tag. I can not recall the manufacturer, but I do know that they can be purchased on the web.

Travel System: The set comes with a car seat/carrier and stroller. If youhave two cars, purchase an extra base for the other vehicle.

Bassinette with the sounds/light: Our little guy slept in our room for three months in this and then moved to the crib.

Sling: We found this was a great item. Once we put the baby in the sling, he would generally go to sleep. When he went to sleep, we would be able to take off the sling and put it and him in the pack and play. We also had two hands to do things.

Sleeping Plan: No matter how much people tell you about the lack of sleep, no one can actually prepare you for it. After a couple of weeks of delirium, we devised a sleeping plan where one of us would feed and take care of him from 8 p.m. - 1 a.m. and then the other from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. We used the five hour interval based upon the indication in one of the books that a person needs 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep to function.

Good luck and, most importantly, enjoy being a parent.

 

[brandylouwho]

I have to first admit that I have not read through the entire thread...so if I repeat advice I apologize.

There are so many gizmos and gadgets for babies, almost all are uneccessary (nice, but not essentials). For instance, I rarely change our baby on the changing table. I useour bed, or the floor,or the couch with a changing pad beneath her.

And cosignment shops, rummage/yard sales are a GREAT source of items. Just make sure they are in good shape and not too old (unsafe).

car seat-buy new or get from someone you know/trust that it was not in an accident.

crib-walmart or resale work just as well as fancy ones. Just read up on safety tips (distance between slats, etc) to be sure it is safe for baby. You can often get manuals online for products (to be sure they are assembled correctly). You don't need a convertible one.

I do think some sort of bouncy seat is nice. It can be plain jane. The point is for baby to be able to look around while hanging out awake. As nice as it is to hold baby, sometimes you need to set him/her down. Plus, as they get a little older (3 mos or so)it is good for them to learn to entertain themselves for short periods of time.

Swing...DD #1 needed it to sleep sometimes (so much that we bought a travel one too) DD#2 would have been fine without it. Again, plain ones do the trick. You don't need a fancy baby papasan swing. I bought one for DD #2 and while it is nice, I wish I had that $140 back in my pocket.

Later (like 3-4 months) the exersaucer comes in handy. again, plainer ones work great too.

If you are going to breastfeed get some sort of pump, even if just a hand one.

baby bath- with DD #1 I liked to get in the tub with baby and wash her up, then dad came and picked her out and dried her. with # 2 I ususally use a baby tub and wash her on the living room floor...more space and I sit on the floor instead of bending over and killing my back.

I don't think a pack n play is needed unless you travel a lot, we like ours for when we visit my grandma (we do this often). It is our travel bed.