First Child - what do I need?!

[Cherbear013]

I am 17 weeks pregnant with our first child...we are so excited!! We find out in two weeks if its a boy or girl. I've been looking at magazines and websites to see what all I need and the list is getting ridiculous! We live in a 600 sq. foot house right now (hoping to expand this summer) so we don't have any space for things that aren't necessary. What items are a must for a newborn? Any suggestions for strollers or car seats? We live in Colorado so we hike a lot and my husband is planning on taking our kid on hikes - what carrier is the best for that? Thanks for any advice!!

 

[Liberty Belle]

We had a Kelty backpack carrier for our kids. I never used it , but dh loved it.

You don't need a changing table (they're nice to have, but it doesn't sound like you have the space) or a high chair. They make little portable high chair seat things that would work just fine and they're small. You don't even need a crib at first (until about four months) if you have a baby basket or a basinette.

 

[KiKi Mouse]

Well you "need" a carseat and somewhere for baby to sleep.
We used a bassinette for our babies until they were about four months old. From there they moved into a crib. So a bassinette is optional.
The baby bucket carseats are nice because if baby is sleeping you can just pop out the whole bucket and take it wherever. The bucket seat/stroller combos are nice.

Every baby is different so I am not sure what your needs will be.

My first hated the stroller and hated the swing and hated her crib.
We have bought a lot of stuff over the years and some of it was hardly used because the baby at the time did not care for it.

I know I am not being a lot of help but I do hate seeing people buy every gadget in the store and it sits in a closet.

So my advice is maybe wait for some of the items and buy as you need. Plus you will probably get a lot of gifts, especially since it is your first.

 

[woodkins]

My dd is 8 so I am a bit out of the loop on must haves, but one suggestion I have that was awesome for our tiny house was to get a travel swing rather than a regular baby swing. It takes up so much less space, folds up when not in use and as a bonus you can easily take it with you to friends and family homes.

 

[youngb]

I loved my vibrating/bouncy chair. All 3 of my kids used it and it was a life saver. They actually slept in it for the first 3 weeks as they didn't like the crib and the vibration soothed them.

Change table is a waste of money. Some receiving blankets, I would look into a good wrap or sling frees up hands and babies love it as they are still close to the mother. I found my youngest would sleep really well in it and I could still vacuum, or do dishes and laundry if she wanted some cuddle time but Ii had things to do.

 

[MrsPete]

You really don't need as much as the magazines would have you believe. I'd divide it into two groups:

Splurge items -- these are things that you'll use every day for a long time (and may even pass on to a second child), so you want the best, easiest to use items:

Crib & linens -- one mattress pad, two crib sheets (I loved flannel crib sheets), plenty of blankets of varying thicknesses -- skip the fancy comforter sets; it's more practical to put the baby in a blanket sleeper
Car seat -- you really do need an infant "basket" seat and then a larger seat later
High chair -- you'll need this from around 6-8 months -- choose one with a bit tray that can be removed with one hand, and make sure it can be "scooted" up to the table without the tray so eventually your toddler can sit with the family for dinner -- if I were buying another one, I'd consider the wooden restaurant type that can flip over to hold an infant car seat
Stroller -- you'll want a big, full-sized stroller that'll lay flat for an infant, but it'll take up all the space in your trunk, so eventually you'll probably want a small umbrella stroller for quick trips -- the big expensive stroller is a splurge, while the umbrella stroller will only last through one child

Then there are the scrimp items -- things that're not going to last long in your life. It's sensible to spend as little as possible on them:

Clothing -- for an infant, you don't need much: a dozen onesies, a dozen comfortable stretchie suits that can be worn as day-time outfits and are comfortable for naps, and 2 dressy outfits for going out.
Diapers -- I couldn't telll the difference between brands
Bottles & accessories -- I didn't use them -- one thing I'd absolutely buy again is a breastfeeding pillow; I didn't have one for my first child, and it was SO MUCH EASIER having it for the second; since you'll spend hours nursing, it's a convenience that's well worth it -- it holds the baby up at the right level, saving your back, and it's just the right shape
Dishes & spoons -- 3 of each, so you don't have to wash every meal
Toys -- you'll need just a few, and you'll get them as gifts
Books -- never skimp on reading, but the child will love the repetition of the same books over and over again -- do get the heavy board books
Bath items -- the infant bath tub is awfully convenient!

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

Sorry, can't help with the backpack thing.

 

[CrazyDuck]

The first thing you actually "need" is a car seat else the hospital won't let you take the little bugger home!

 

[lovesmurfs]

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.

 

[1queen]

Yes, a carseat is a need, a bouncy seat is also good for feeding and feeling the baby entertained in a small space. I would suggest going to some consignment stores for a crib or bassinet. You could also get a roll up changing pad. It will have a place for wipes and a couple of diapers, you just roll it out and change the baby. Another space saver is get some disposable diaper trash and take them out daily instead of taking up room with a diaper genie.

 

[Mixie]

Start going thru the second hand shops and garage sales - you'll find good deals there.

Don't bother buying new clothes - first, you'll get tons for gifts and second, newborns grow so fast it's not worth the investment. Buy a few used clothes as you find them. Dressy clothes look nice, but are so not practical.

Must have:

car seat - I had a Britax and they are spendy but oh it was worth it because it lasted forever.

stroller - buy this used if you can - garage sales or second hand

some place for baby to sleep - we had a crib, a pack-n-play, and a bassinette. Never used the PnP, DD hated being in it. Didn't use the crib until she was about 4 months old

a bouncy seat. These are SO worth it and I bet you can get one second hand. Bouncy seat was the only way I got to shower, or fix a meal, or EAT!

baby bath tub - my kitchen sink is the older kind, just one big sink and not 2 smaller ones - and I loved being able to bath her in the baby bath tub right in the kitchen. They do make models that will fit over the 2 sink kind as well.

diaper bag - for a short while, you'll be carrying this as a purse, so get one that is large enough and has many pockets

bedding - you can buy this used, too. You'll probably get baby blankets as gifts, so skip this, but sheets can be bought used

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

Now that I've been through 2 babies, one piece of advice I'd give is don't get everything now--wait until you need it.

At first, you'll need the carseat and a place for baby to sleep.

I second the previous posters who said look for a used bassinette, or borrow one. These get used for such a short period and will be practically brand new.

I would go ahead and at least decide what stroller you want as that might influence your carseat purchase. Or if you go all out with the stroller, it might have a bassinette feature (like the Bugaboo and some others). Consider one that folds up umbrella-style since it'll take up less room.

You won't need a high chair for 6 months probably, so hold off on that as it takes up a lot of space, and you might find a solution you like better.

 

[CrazyDuck]

I'd be wary of buying used things like bassinets, car seats, cribs, strollers, high chairs, and pretty much anything else that you will expect to keep your child safe. When you buy something used you have no ability to register the product, so if the company does issue a recall they would have no way of notifying you. Also when you buy something used the product may in fact have already been recalled! Go on Craigslist and search for a crib. At least half of the cribs on Craigs list have dropsides. You will notice that in your local baby store that they don't sell drop side cribs anymore. Why, because the CPSC said that it poses a choking hazzard for the kids! Also, when buying used car seats you may not be able to tell if the seat has been in a crash or if the structural integrity of the seat is still intact. Do you want to put your baby's safety in jeopardy to save a few bucks?

 

[princessnoelly]

bobby....breast feeding pillow!

Baby showers are great!

Check out used stores, ebay, craigslist, etc. BUT, watch out for the crib recalls.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

Baby carrier - I have one of each - Baby Bjorn, ring sling (2 of these), Moby wrap, Beco Butterfly - and I love them all for different reasons. (Except the Baby Bjorn, it is really bad for both you and the baby!) The Beco is definitely the best for hiking. You can put the baby on your chest or on your back, from birth up to about 50 lbs (I forget the actual weight limit). Even my 30 lb toddler is weightless on my back. This is the carrier we use at Disney and anytime I'm going to be walking for long periods of time. DH and my mom have also used it, I even have a friend who borrowed it for a camping trip with her toddler. No frame means nothing to pinch little legs and fingers, and if you are wearing it on your chest you don't have to take it off to go on rides at WDW

I'm a big fan of babywearing and breastfeeding, so feel free to ask me any questions about either subject! Congratulations on your first baby! It's so exciting! Oh, I just remembered - my ring sling was the first purchase I ever made for baby when I was pregnant with my first!

 

[rchristiansen]

Yes, see if you can find many things used. Consignment sales are great!

However, that being said, (now my DD is 8 and I don't remember all the details) I remember that you shouldn't reuse mattresses for babies - something about it linked to SIDS.

Also, do not purchase a used car seat - get one from a friend if possible instead. If you don't know where it came from, you can not tell if it has previously been in a crash. And if it has, the safety properties could be diminished.

A couple other must haves:
Burp Cloths - we bought one package of cloth diapers and used them as burp cloths.

A variety of pacifiers - babies are finicky about their "binkies" and will settle on a certain brand.

Mylicon drops for when they are gassy. Get them beforehand so you are not running out to get them when the trouble hits

Are you working? You will want to research breast pumps also. I was lucky and won a fancy one in a raffle (don't ask), but I think most are effective.

 

[KLAIT]

Too funny...my first thought when I read your thread title was "half of what you think you need"

You have some really good suggestions already. Cannot add much here. Congratulations!

 

[KiKi Mouse]

For yourself....

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

re: diaper bag
For the first two kids I had a nice diaper bag and just put my wallet in it for when I went shopping. For the last child I found it hard to carry a baby and a bag and whatever else I needed. So I got a nice small backpack that has side pockets. The big diaper bag went to Goodwill.

re: crib
my husband found breathable bumper pads at TRU as well as a wide wedge that goes under the crib mattress to elevate the baby's head a bit.
We didn't use those for the other kids. There's always something new out there...lol

I want to agree with PP who have mentioned used items. Car seats and cribs seem to have the biggest amount of recalls. If you are buying used then make sure to look them up before buying. I also would never buy a used mattress.

Our city has recently begun to see the start of a bedbug problem and that alone has turned me off of used items.

 

[TanyaS]

I got way too much stuff when I had my first. I realized by #3 that I needed much less. If I was doing it over again with 20/20 hindsight, my lists would be much shorter.

Needs:
Car seat - I got a Britax for DD, she used it from her first car ride until a few weeks ago (she's almost 6).
Diapers - If you use cloth, then between 12 and 20 diapers (I preferred FuzziBunz), cloth washrags as wipes, waterproof pail liner, and a diaper pail or trash can with lid.
Breast pump and bottles - If you are going to be working.
Clothes - I liked sleep sacks for night time - made diaper changes easier. You likely won't need to buy infant clothes though; people seem to love to give clothes as gifts.
Receiving blankets and instructions on how to turn your baby into a burrito (aka swaddling)

Good for Mom's sanity:
Vibrating bouncy seat
Baby carrier - I had several and liked my Hotslings best until about 6 months and then loved my Ergo carrier
Stroller
Thermometer and emergency supply of Baby Tylenol, Mylicon drops, & diaper cream
Name and contact information for your local mom's club

Will likely want later:
Crib - I started using for naps around four months, didn't use before then.
Booster seat with tray - I prefer to a high chair - smaller, can wash whole thing, easy to take to other places - won't need until 6 months or later

Some babies love 'em, some babies hate 'em - might want to borrow one until you figure out which kind you have:
Swing
Exersaucers
Baby bath tub
Pacifiers fall into this category too, but you'd probably want to just buy one.

I liked having a changing table (I like any sort of organization product though), but you could also just get a changing pad and skip the table.

Best wishes!

 

[phillmolly]

First off, stop looking at check list that come from BRU!!!

Second, every baby is different, what works for one baby might not work for yours, ie swings, some kids love them, some hate them. Mine loved his, only place he would nap other than my arms for the first six months or so.

A lot of stuff you can get second hand but some stuff you do have to buy new, carseat and crib are the two biggest I can think of off hand.

I second the suggestion for a portable high chair, we have a fisher price one and still use it (my son is now two).

I love my changing table, we use it every single day.

The biggest thing that we bought that we never used was the crib! We ended up cosleeping.

Baby carriers - check out babywearer.com. Lots of good advice and info and they also have for sale or trade section. With my son I used a Baby Bjorn (hated it! hurt my back like crazy!), a sleepy wrap (we both loved it!), a ring sling (still sees some use, but not as much as it did a year ago, last summer and fall when he was about 9 - 20 months we would use it every day) and the beco butterfly which was my favorite carrier! We also have mei tai that I mostly just use at home (if he is being super fussy and I have to cook dinner, ect I can just throw him on my back).

Also check with your insurance company and see if they wil cover the cost of a breast pump for you. Mine did!! I had to get a script from the dr, but I ended up with a $300 medela pump in style! It was a life saver because my son wouldn't latch so I ended up pumping for him for six months.

Good Luck to you and try not to get to overwhelmed with everything, truly the only thing a baby needs is parents who love him/her and who will nuture them the best they can!

 

[shortbun]

We used my nephew's bassinette. We bought the best car seat we could find-did the research. We borrowed a crib from the neighbors. Even our babie's room decor was hand me down. I bought a few onesies, cloth diapers for cleanup and shoulder spitup. We even got swaddling blankets from friends. That and diapers got us through the first 10 days-2 weeks. By then, I had a really good idea of what we wanted/needed. I'm telling you this because our newborn son was adopted by us at 6 days old and it was a suprise because it was a private adoption...another thread. Anyway, we called 5 friends for positive letters, picked them up, took them to the court and waited two hours for the hearing to know if the birth mom and dad had released their rights. So, with literally 48 hours notice, we became parents of a new born. You need very little. Babies need food, love, warmth and dry diapers mostly. You need a pediatrician. You might need to look into child care ahead of time if you're going to go back to work or daddy's not going to stay home. Don't buy a bunch of stuff. People will give you gifts and many of your friends are relishing dumping all their used stuff on you so they can clear out a space.
LOL! Enjoy your pregnancy. I'm sure it IS fun to do a little shopping. Work on finding the outfit you'll be dressing him/her in. Ours was primary colors, bears and balloons.