First Child - what do I need?!

[VAfamily1998]

When I had my 4th baby, we were in the process of moving across the country from California to Virginia. We moved out of our house when DS was 3 weeks, and the 6 of us lived in an extended stay hotel room 'till he was about 4 months old and our new house was ready--so we learned to live with the "bare essentials".
During that time our baby had:

-A carseat
-A diaper bag
-onsies, socks, hats, a few romper type outfits, but basically minmal clothng (thank goodness it was summer!)
-A double stroller (since I already had older kids), we had a Peg Perego aria twin, but I wouldn't recommend it. I only had it because I got it for free.
-A swing. It was nice to be able to "put the baby somewhere" while I tended to my other kids. All my kids really liked the swinging motion, but I've heard some babies don't...
We didn't have room for a crib or basinet in the room, and the baby just slept with Dh and I in our bed. We've always been "cosleepers" anyway.

Things I was SO greatful to get back once we were all moved into our house:
-changing table (I guess I'm wierd, cause I always see people say they never used theirs. I LOVED having a changing table. I never liked having to bend over a bed. Plus, I sometimes found that a blanket or pad wasn't adequete protection for the bedding)
-recliner and ottoman, for comfortable breastfeeding. Having a comfortable chair REALLY helped me bf successfully.

Congratulations on your pregnancy!!!

 

[merbobear]

Newborns actually need very little - a car seat, a safe place to sleep and some clothing and receiving blankets. Really, that is all that they truly need.

To make your life easier, you will want some other things: a swing or vibrating seat, a stroller, a carrier. Baby jogger brand strollers are very nice. As for carriers, I always liked using my wrap (moby wraps are fantastic) but your husband might be more likely to use a baby bjorn.

Congrats!

 

[Sarah_Rose]

Conversely, here's what I wish I DIDN'T buy:

- clothing - we got so much as gifts and DS didn't wear a lot of it because it was the wrong season or he outgrew it before we got to it
-swaddle wraps - just give me a good old receiving blanket!
- ... and on that note... receiving blankets. I got TONS of them as gifts (they seem to come in a lot of gift packs).
-a big stroller. DS still hates strollers, so I just wear him everywhere. I use an Ergo now and used a Peanut Shell pouch sling when he was little.
-Pack 'n' Play. We planned on using the bassinet feature but ended up co-sleeping, instead.
-small-sized cloth diapers. If you're planning on cloth diapering, I would wait to buy the small size ones until you know how big your baby is. We used disposables for the first 2 weeks until the cord healed, and then DS only fit in the small sized cloth diapers for 4 more weeks until he outgrew them - he was 8 lbs at birth, so not a huge baby. I really wish I had just bought the mediums and used disposables for the first 6 weeks until he fit into the mediums... I spent over $150 on cloth diapers that we only used for a month.

 

[DMickey28]

Everyone posted pretty much everything!!

Do you have a bedroom for the baby or is he/she going to be in your room?

I used a Arms Reach co-sleeper with my YDS and LOVED it. It was the mini so it was small but the downside is that it didn't convert into a pack n play or drop down so once he was rolling and pushing up I couldn't use it anymore. (Though I bought it for $110 at BRU and sold it on craigslist for $100!!) If you have the space in your bedroom and you plan on keeping the baby with you then I'd recommend getting the fullsize one and using it as a co-sleeper at first and then you can use it as the main crib for quite a while. They sell small matresses to make it more comfortable but my kid never cared! He still sleeps in a pack n play when we travel and he is 24lbs at 11 months.

Carseat - I LOVED my Chicco Key Fit. I got it in 2007 for my ODS so it was the older one that only goes up to 22lbs. I honestly wouldn't use it past that because the kid and the seat is way tooooo heavy.

Stroller - I don't hike so I can't recommend one. There are many that you can get that will handle the carseat at first and also be more versatile to use while hiking on all but the most rough terrain.

Bouncey - Both my kids really liked it. At one point them both slept in it.

Carrier - I'd get some sort of carrier. I have a Ergo and LOVE it. You can use it from newborn on.

*****
I had a swing for both my kids and neither really cared for it. It just didn't have a long life as they grew and probably isn't worth it if $$ or space is at a premium.

No crib bedding. I got it both times for myself but it is a waste!!

All the bottle junk, like a sterilizer, warmer, dryer etc is not necessary.

I honestly can't think of anything else I needed! A boppy but pillows work just as well and most times I couldn't get the boppy positioned right!

Now I have baby fever! I can't wait to have another little one.

ETA: If you do cloth diaper (and please don't disregard it immediately!! Look into it. I am the last person anyone thought would do it!!) many mom's prefer to get infant/newborn prefolds, a few covers and snappi's until they grow into the larger one size diapers. You can then use the prefolds as doublers later so now waste. Many companies now are making their diapers for a better fit on a newborn though. For my next I will use disposables until the cord falls off and then probably be up into one size since my babies grow fast!

 

[Cherbear013]

Thank you all for the advice so far!! It really helps to get an idea of what I will have to have. My aunts are planning a baby shower in a few months so I expect to get a lot of things then. My husband and I are both only children, so this baby will definitely be spoiled! Plus I am the only grandchild on my mom's side...extra spoiling by great grandma and grandpa! I suppose I should start doing my research for car seat, stroller, crib, etc. so when I register I will hopefully get exactly what I want.

THANKS AGAIN!!

 

[twinboysmom]

A lot has already been mentioned but I will recommend a stroller for you. Since you hike you might like the BOB strollers. I have one (a duallie) and love it. I take it off road and it is wonderful. You probably do more extensive hiking than I do but they work great. They are also not as pricey as some other high end strollers. I will try to sit down later and give you my ideas for what you do and do not need.

 

[Mrs. Charming]

Youll need everything you didnt buy, but everythink you think youll need will collect dust. Exersaucers are my vote. They are lifesavers!!

 

[Nette]

See if you can borrow a bassinet. We actually only used ours for a month or so.

Must-haves for me were car seat, crib, swing, high chair (we actually used our wooden one without the tray until they were 3-4), changing table. You will break your back if you try to use a bed to change the baby all day, every day.

We were broke when DS was born, and I actually made a really great changing table out of an old chest of drawers we had -- took the top off and added hinged sides -- folded up up to a little shelf. Home depot made the cuts for me -- I sanded and DH painted.

Except for the car seat, I bought everything used -- was like a treasure hunt for me.

You may want to consider a pack-and-go play yard as a crib if you're really strapped for space.

Congratulations and best wishes.

We change on the floor (on a pad of course). We keep everything we need in a basket (though, some days I don't get the diapers folded and in the basket, so they come straight from the dryer. I've been known to change a diaper in the middle of the hallway in front of the dryer. )

For yourself....

if you plan on nursing then a couple of nursing bras.

I couldn't agree more with this. If there is a place in your town that will fit you for one, GO! With my first I just bought off the shelf nursing bras at Target. They were miserable. Too small, cotton (so they didn't dry fast!). When I made it into our specialty store I felt like I was in heaven.

Don't forget sleep nursing bras too!

ETA: If you do cloth diaper (and please don't disregard it immediately!! Look into it. I am the last person anyone thought would do it!!) many mom's prefer to get infant/newborn prefolds, a few covers and snappi's until they grow into the larger one size diapers. You can then use the prefolds as doublers later so now waste. Many companies now are making their diapers for a better fit on a newborn though. For my next I will use disposables until the cord falls off and then probably be up into one size since my babies grow fast!

Yeah, I never would have thought I'd be a cloth diaperer... but OMG I love it. We did the same as you, pre-folds and covers until he was a bit bigger (though he was huge at birth anyway!) Now we have 2 dzn bumGenius AIOs... I just bought the Larges.

Youll need everything you didnt buy, but everythink you think youll need will collect dust. Exersaucers are my vote. They are lifesavers!!

Amen!

 

[WDWAurora]

Buy the book Baby Bargains. It's on the 8th edition and it STILL helps me with some purchases, and DS is almost 10 months. It helps sort out needs, qualities, and prices.

 

[twinboysmom]

Things I used:
Changing table- I had a c section and thought I could handle changing them on the attachment that came with the pack n play. No, hurt my back. Now that they're bigger I really like it.

Wipes warmer- I hated cold wipes when they were really little. Besides they're inexpensive and take up no room.

Loved sleep sacks. The pre made swaddlers, not so much.

Crib- we put both the boys in them right away. Started with one and progressed to two in our room. They were close to my side of the bed.

Bouncer- the most essential item in my house. Used til they just couldn't fit in it anymore. I really wish I had one of the ones that vibrated and rocked.

Swing- it took both boys a while to like them but they ended up loving them. I just put them in the attic a few weeks ago and they're 16 months. If you get one look for a high weight limit.

High chairs- I madly be in the minority here but I like good old fashioned high chairs. Mine fold up and really don't take up that much space and I have two. We use the ones that attach to chairs at grandparents and they don't seem as secure to me.

Boppy- or similar. A must. More than one is better and an extra cover. One of my boys was a spitter and he often soaked through the cover so that's why I recommend more than one. Even if you bottle feed you will find a million uses for these.

Bumbo seats- have to have trays. I used these a lot. I would put the boys in them and put suction cup toys to the trays and they would play while I made dinner, etc. To me, they are useless without the tray.

Exersaucers, jumpers- we used the heck out of these. From about 4 months until they walked. The exersaucer broke down into a toddler area and they walk up and play with the toys on it. Highly recommend.

The biggest waste to me was my diaper genie. The originals I thought worked great. These new models stink. I just put the dirty diapers in plastic bags and out them in the outside garbage. There are other brands out there that might be a better product.

 

[MrsPete]

I was lucky and won a fancy one in a raffle (don't ask), but I think most are effective.

My health insurance paid for a hospital-grade breast pump.

 

[MrsPete]

Good for Mom's sanity:

Don't hesitate to buy a few things for Mom's sanity! Sure, they might not be useful for all that long, but those first months can be tough -- find the balance between "do we need it?" and "it'll make our lives easier".

 

[robinb]

I would avoid one of those giant uber-expensive pramzilla strollers with the matching baby car seat. They seem like a good idea but the stroller is only useful for a small period of time compared to the cost of the "system". Instead, I would buy an infant car seat and a snap-n-go type stroller where the car seat snaps into the stroller part. You *should* be able to go from the car-seat-as-a-stroller to an reclining umbrella stroller without stopping at the pramzilla stage. If you *do* go for a pramzilla (my SIL gave me hers) you can use it as a bassinet for another part of your house. I never "strolled" with mine, but put my DD to nap/sleep in it while we were downstairs.

Also ... if you are planning to travel to Disney a lot I would bite the bullet and get a great stroller now. I went through 3 strollers before I broke down and bought a Maclaren. Once I did, it served my DD until she was 6!

 

[goodeats]

We live in a very small place (under 800 sf) and we actually borrowed a lot of the first 'necessities' from a friend. That way once she outgrew them we could hand them back to my friend and we didn't have to worry about storage.

The things I could not live without were our Pack N Play - DD slept in the basinette for the first 6-8 weeks in our room, our stroller - an indie bumbleride (loved it!), carseat (chicco keyfit), nursing glider (gift from in-laws). When DD got to be about 10-12 weeks we started using one of those baby gym activity mats. We both loved it, and I think she got some extra stimulation. Of course books are also a necessity. We borrowed the bouncy seat, bumbo, and travel swing from a friend but DD never loved those. They came in handy when I had to go to them bathroom or shower and needed to keep her somewhere safe. The boppy was great, but you can't leave a baby unattended in one (SIDS risk).

For little babies we loved the Ergo for babywearing. For actual hikes we have a metal framed Deuter (sp?) carrier we got at REI.

 

[goofy4prez]

I have no experience being a mother (Dad) but the one thing you will certainly need is:


PATIENCE

I love my dd (only child) and would never trade away the experience of watching her grow up these past 13 years. But let me tell you, patience is a virtue. Now that she is a teenager I've learned that patience is something that is continual with a child and does not go away once they are potty trained. But I love it, my princess is my life.

 

[Sorsha]

Every baby is different - every mom is different. What worked for me may not work for you, but here's my experiences. Take them with a grain of salt. I think my best advice would be to buy as sparingly as possible, let people do most of the buying for you at your shower, and remember you can always buy things later, when the baby is a little older. Congrats on your pregnancy and soon-to-be-new little one!

Changing table: Like you, we didn't have room for one, and so never had one. I never missed it. I just changed the baby wherever I happened to be - bed, couch, floor, etc. Just invest in one of those nice changing pads that folds up neatly inside the diaper bag and wipes clean. It did not hurt my back.

Car seat: When my 2 younger DDs were infants, they used an infant seat that was part of a set where the car seat snapped into a stroller. I really liked this, it made it very easy to go from car to shopping. The stroller was also very nice for when they were older, and the car seat had a base for use in the car.

Swing: This was a life saver. All three of my babies used one, and for DD10, who was very colicky as a baby, it was the only place she would sleep for about 4 months. Be sure and get one that is battery powered though, the old crank-style ones are evil.

Vibrating bouncy seat: This was kind of hit-or-miss. Sometimes they liked it, sometimes they didn't. We probably could have done without it.

Exersaucer: All three of the babies loved it, and it was wonderful for entertaining them when mommy REALLY needed a few minutes to be able to sit down and have a cup of coffee with no baby in her lap. They are not useful until baby can hold herself upright for long periods of time (reliable head, neck, and upper body control) so definitely don't need to be bought right away, and they do take up a huge amount of room.

Breast pump: A necessity if you will be breastfeeding and returning to work, or want to build up a supply of breastmilk so someone other then you can feed the baby. Get a good one, not a cheap one. I never could make the cursed thing work. I supplemented with formula early on, so I wasn't overly stressed about it, but if I had been, the breastfeeding counsellors at the hospital probably could have helped me. I was breast-pump-inept.

Receiving blankets: I never thought I had enough of these. My babies liked to be swaddled to sleep when they were small.

Clothes, pacifiers, small supplies, toys, blankets: Wait till after your shower. I would imagine you will get so much of all of that stuff, that you won't need to buy much of it at all.

 

[LaurenLC]

Couldn't have lived without:
Bassinet (she slept in this till she was 4 months old)
Stroller (Baby Jogger City Select.... I <3 you!)
Car seat (Chicco Key Fit 30)
Boppy
Bouncing chair (this was her FAVORITE napping spot)
Swing
Glider
Swaddle blankets (although she wouldn't let us swaddle her arms!)
Dr. Browns bottles
Pack and Play (this is her favorite place to chill and play with her toys now!)
Baby toys!

Things we didn't need:
Bottle warmer (still in the box)
Tummy time mat (the same thing can be created with a blanket and a few toys)
Baby carrier (I purchased an Ergo carrier thinking we would LOVE it... She HATES it! If you think you are going to be a baby wearer I suggest borrowing one or renting one to try)
The Chicco travel system (We used that stroller once and I thought the wheels were going to break on the city sidewalks)
Wipe warmer (still in the box)
Cute little baby towels (Yes, they are cute, but we really didn't need them.)

It's very easy to go crazy buying things for your little one, but it's really okay to wait and see what you NEED for a lot of stuff!

Congratulations! Being a parent is AMAZING!

 

[fun4me]

I've had three babies come through my house and less is best!

My all time favorite baby item was the bouncy seat that vibrated. It is small and portable and can be transported to any room. I was able to take showers and still hear my baby right outside the shower door. I cooked dinner and baby sat in the kitchen with me while I cooked.

When you are picking a stroller the one with all the bells in whistles may look awesome to you. Just remember that you are going to have to fold and load that stroller all the times. The lightest stroller and one that is easy to open and close is the one I recommend.

You don't need a big changing table. I just used a small folding changing pad to slip under baby that way if he/she made a mess it wouldn't get all over. I kept the wipes, diapers and pad all together.

A few receiving blankets, get the larger ones. The small ones are too easy for baby to wiggle lose.

None of my babies used a baby carrier. I carried them, wore them or used a stroller.


Things I don't think are you really need. Bottle warmer(Running bottle under warm water works great), wipe warmer, diaper pail(those diapers go right out to the trash in the garage-I can't stand the smell of dirty diapers in the house), baby bath(sink works great), exersaucer are nice but they are big and bulky.

Congratulations!!! Having a new baby is so fun and a baby just really needs a lot of love!!!

 

[minkydog]

General rule of thumb: When in doubt, skip it. If you find life inconvenient without it, you can always add it later.

This is the best piece of advice i've read so far. The baby magazines would lead you to believe that you need a ton of equipment and clothing to satisfy your new baby, but the truth is, you can get by with very little. When our babies were newborns, we put them in a portable crib/playpen because I could fit it next to my bed for easy access. Later, they moved into their own room with a full-size crib. Clothing? You don't need that much. Onesies, socks, a hat, a few flannel blankets and burp clothes, a coupla sheets and two blanket sleepers. You'll probably get a lot of small size clothing as gifts, so just wait on that. One thing that I did like was my baby monitor. You don't have to get a swanky one. A cheap one will do the job. Don't feel like you must go get everything NOW. There will be time. Borrow from friends, scout out the thrift stores, go to garage sales. Your baby doesn't care one whit if his stuff is new or gently used. Good luck to your all!

 

[Minnesota!]

All done with the newborn stage here, but if I was forced to do it again, these would be my essentials:

bottles/bottle brush
wipes
diapers
clothes
boppy
travel swing
car seat/stroller combo
butt paste
booger sucker
lots and lots and lots of blankets. We would go through 5 or so easily a day. Spit up, blow out diapers, use as a changing pad in public places, etc.
Nice, sturdy diaper bag to put all your stuff in. I like the back pack ones best so you have your hands free for the million other things you are going to be doing.

We co-slept, so no need for a crib. If you are against it, I would get a crib or a pack and play that can be folded up when not in use...would save space.