I am going to be a Grandma.. and have some questions....

[A Mickeyfan]

I just wanted to say CONGRATS ! Welcome to the club , the best club out there in the whole entire world

I will give you a tip buy all your own stuff like a car seat and stroller and such . I say this because we got tired of hauling half my DD house over to ours . So we even made a nursery and everything ( I know that is over board LOL)

We spend a lot of time with our grand kids.

yep going to do that!!! In fact, a friend of mine knew someone selling the Chico Travel System with the Stroller, Infant Car Seat and Base (expr date is Feb 2017), she gave her all for $80 for me @ my house (just hope it fits in my car)! For the amount of time I am going to be using it for the baby, I don't mind second hand. She also got me a Graco Cuddle Cove Pack and Play for $60 from someone else she knew That is what I will use when the baby needs a nap as well as mini playpen I managed to get a matching Graco baby swing from someone I knew for $30! So yes, the "hand me downs" will be set up here in my daughters old room for me to use here with her baby. I cannot see purchasing new when it won't be used that much. I guess you can say I will be setting up a mini nursery as well

 

[MOpGrad2013]

Congratulations !
Things have definitely changed in the past years. DS18, DD15, DS2...between each one there were new guidelines. All the info about car seats and cribs is spot on. As for diaper bag, I had a jeep one w all kinds of pockets, but it was a large carryone bag. Eventually, we moved back to decent size tote bags and back packs. Now we have an insulated lunch bag with outer pocket for change of clothes, diaper, small wipes. I carry my purse or stuff small wallet inside the lunch bag.
There are so many "new must-haves" but after a few uses, most of us are passing along to another new mom. Ask around church group (nursery area) to find best items and the money wasters. And then check the kid consignment shops.
My mom is very talented and sewed most of the layette for me. I really wanted the "nursing shields" but they were $30 each! She figured out it was a simple apron around your neck..so we began with a curtain pattern and added straps. And I got the prints I wanted.
Enjoy spoiling your little one !

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Thanks for all the tips and the congrats. I think I will get her the Vera Bradley diaper bag since that is what she wants. I was going to go to the outlet near my house today but never made it. My coupon came in the email so I have 30 days to use it. I am going to Orlando next week and will check the outlets there. I might be able to pick her up 2, a bag and a backpack there since the one by me didn't have the backpack's (anyway). I have to spend $75 to get my $20 off I don't want to get her the two online since the backpack is more money there. I will wait, we have time

 

[TLuvsD]

We still use that Lands End Baby bag for a tote...and the "baby" will be 19 next month. Navy blue, indestructible, easy to clean. Sorry to hear they aren't making them any longer.

I'd get a good quality bag, we only use the one. And a "fanny pack" style one for quick trips. It only held a couple of diapers, a travel size pack of wipes...that was it.

 

[poohfriend77]

thanks on all your answers. You basically have the same as other poster too and thanks for the congrats also! She is just less than 10 weeks along and here I am thinking of all the things I want to buy her (she is my daughter). She has said she wanted a Vera Bradley..but didn't specify bag or backpack. As I just posted, I think I will try to stay under $40, which that limits it to the bag. I know there is 1 on sale now in Purple Punch for $38.80 and sale ends tomorrow. I am going to run to the outlet to see what they have as well I know I have time, but if I get a little at a time, I won't feel the amount I am spending

Sorry, posted to the wrong thread!

 

[Shanna-like-Banana]

If I could offer one piece of advise as far as the crib goes.

If it is a "life-time" crib, meaning first it's a baby crib, then a "toddler" bed, and then transitions to a full size bed,

Get all the attachements, and pieces needed within 6 months or so of purchasing the crib.

I've seen alot lately that a company will sell "life-time" cribs, and then you go back to purchase the conversion kit to make it a toddler bed, and they dont sell the parts anymore.

We're having the same problem with our life-time crib. When we purchased our crib, the conversion kit to make it a full was a bolt system, where the frame bolted into the headboard and foot board. We went back to purchase them only to find out that about a year after we got our crib, the manufacture changed the product to a tooth and hook system.

And of course none of them take a universal conversion kit, where you can just use any old bed rails to make it work. They each have their own special spacing for the bolts or tooth&hook.

what a pain !

 

[goingtowdwwithkiddos]

Just want to add one thing unless she is an only child make sure what you buy for this first baby you can and plan to buy for each additional...........

Congratulations I can not wait to be a grandma and my oldest is only 13

 

[mistysue]

I totally understand this.
I think my ribs are bruised from the 2 babies...
But we still used the stationary crib tho... I'm too scared of those drop sided ones.

Funny thing about the drop side cribs, they narrowed it down to a specific type of drop hinge which was only even on a small portion of the drop side cribs on the market. Something like 30 babies died from the tens of millions of the things sold... so it's always amused me that they banned them because the chance of any particular person having a problem are so low. I feel bad for how much they scared people. You can buy a high chair, baby swing, bumbo seat and nobody thinks twice... but you can't use a <gasp> drop side crib. We still have the one from my daughter because when she was a couple years old this whole thing became a huge issue, which is how I know the type of hinge on our crib is not the one that detaches. My kids all slept with breathing monitors anyways.

 

[RachaelA]

My "Baby" is 17 now. But I must say while I understand the issue with drop side cribs. Being only 5' tall it would be impossible for me to reach into a crib with and infant with out the drop down sides. I would have to get a stool to climb on to reach over to safely place baby inside. lol that doesn't seem safe either

I'm 5'1. Try doing it with a pregnant belly in the way! I'm only 20 weeks and I'm already having issues. I'm just grateful the majority of the time DD will stand up when I ask her too (except when she's being difficult )

 

[Mama Who]

A little tangent... That Lands End backpack baby bag was the BEST BAG EVER and they got rid of it. DH had one in red and still uses it to this day as his Disney bag (minus the changing pad )

Oh, tell me about it. My kids are over a decade apart and I gave mine away... and was crushed when I found I couldn't get another.

 

[christygobar]

Everyone else has commented on the big ones, so I was going to throw my $.02 in about the breathable bumper

We have one for DD's crib/toddler bed (she is almost 3 and in the convertible right now with a railing on it). I did not put it on her bed until she was probably 8-9 months old? Old enough that she was moving around the crib and kicking her feet around. It helped keep her from getting stuck in the slats. Also, when she started sleeping with loveys and small stuffed toys about 12-18 mo, it kept them from falling out Prior to all of that, we did not use it at all.

To safely use it, I made sure it was pulled VERY tight (it's easy to adjust) and that it was tucked underneath the mattress edge several inches. Worked great - but for an older infant!

 

[Mad4Mickey]

yep going to do that!!! In fact, a friend of mine knew someone selling the Chico Travel System with the Stroller, Infant Car Seat and Base (expr date is Feb 2017), she gave her all for $80 for me @ my house (just hope it fits in my car)! For the amount of time I am going to be using it for the baby, I don't mind second hand. She also got me a Graco Cuddle Cove Pack and Play for $60 from someone else she knew That is what I will use when the baby needs a nap as well as mini playpen I managed to get a matching Graco baby swing from someone I knew for $30! So yes, the "hand me downs" will be set up here in my daughters old room for me to use here with her baby. I cannot see purchasing new when it won't be used that much. I guess you can say I will be setting up a mini nursery as well

Are you super excited ??? Its crazy how in love you will be . When I held my kids the first time I remember thinking "I will never love anyone or anything as much as I love this child "

When my granddaughter was born and I was the first to hold her I looked down at that little face and my mind went back to the day I held her mom the first time . YOU love them that same way . awww Grandkids so much more fun then kids

 

[irishsharon]

My boys are now 11 & 7 and they had a drop side crib, a bumper and used the same car seat. Sometimes I think all these things just scare the new mommies-to-be.Trust me I'm not saying don't follow the new guide lines but next year it will be something else. Side note, totally loved my lands end backpack! OP Congratulations!!!!!!

 

[MSSANDRA]

I wont repeat any of the good advice you have gotten but wanted to add that I would hold off on a car seat for another 6 mo or so. There are soooo many new seats coming out all the time now and things like weight for rear facing getting better everyday, AND the expiration date may be a year longer if you wait a little longer. Talk to you daughter and get her input. It will be fun to shop together.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

OP, since your DD is only 10 weeks along, I would suggest holding off on purchasing anything until she is registered. Then, stick to the registry as much as possible. Not that I think your daughter would fail to appreciate any gift you get her, but these days its easy to "offend" somebody by getting them the wrong type of gift. For instance, if you buy someone bottles (seems innocuous, right?), and their intention is to exclusively breastfeed for several years, then they can get put out.

Another example, I got 2 diaper cakes at 2 different showers. I really appreciate the thought, but if these folks had looked on our registry they would have seen we intended to cloth diaper. I now have 2 boxes full of disposable diapers that I need to donate to the next friend of mine who gets pregnant.

 

[brooke789]

OP just wait until you see how strict the rules are on USING the carseats.
...RF until minimum of 2
...straps tight
...no jackets
...no projectiles (books, toys, cups, etc)

It's just a whole list of 'stuff' not to do or to do a certain way that is completely different than the previous generation!

 

[adisneymama]

Thanks for all the tips and the congrats. I think I will get her the Vera Bradley diaper bag since that is what she wants. I was going to go to the outlet near my house today but never made it. My coupon came in the email so I have 30 days to use it. I am going to Orlando next week and will check the outlets there. I might be able to pick her up 2, a bag and a backpack there since the one by me didn't have the backpack's (anyway). I have to spend $75 to get my $20 off I don't want to get her the two online since the backpack is more money there. I will wait, we have time

Just a thought here, since she doesn't know the gender of the baby you may want to wait on the bag until she does. Unless she has picked out a neutral bag. Most moms now choose a bag in the color choice to match the gender of the child. Just a thought.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

If I could offer one piece of advise as far as the crib goes.

If it is a "life-time" crib, meaning first it's a baby crib, then a "toddler" bed, and then transitions to a full size bed,

Get all the attachements, and pieces needed within 6 months or so of purchasing the crib.

I've seen alot lately that a company will sell "life-time" cribs, and then you go back to purchase the conversion kit to make it a toddler bed, and they dont sell the parts anymore.

We're having the same problem with our life-time crib. When we purchased our crib, the conversion kit to make it a full was a bolt system, where the frame bolted into the headboard and foot board. We went back to purchase them only to find out that about a year after we got our crib, the manufacture changed the product to a tooth and hook system.

And of course none of them take a universal conversion kit, where you can just use any old bed rails to make it work. They each have their own special spacing for the bolts or tooth&hook.

what a pain !

wow, I had never thought of that one.. and yes, that is the type we were talking about to get her. Thank you for that tip.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

OP, since your DD is only 10 weeks along, I would suggest holding off on purchasing anything until she is registered. Then, stick to the registry as much as possible. Not that I think your daughter would fail to appreciate any gift you get her, but these days its easy to "offend" somebody by getting them the wrong type of gift. For instance, if you buy someone bottles (seems innocuous, right?), and their intention is to exclusively breastfeed for several years, then they can get put out.

Another example, I got 2 diaper cakes at 2 different showers. I really appreciate the thought, but if these folks had looked on our registry they would have seen we intended to cloth diaper. I now have 2 boxes full of disposable diapers that I need to donate to the next friend of mine who gets pregnant.

Anything that I have thought of, I pull up on line and then discuss with her. I would not get it without showing it to her. She has made it clear that she is going to breastfeed and does want Vera Bradley for diaper bag, other than that, she has no "must haves" and when we look online, if I find something cute, I show her or she shows me

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Are you super excited ??? Its crazy how in love you will be . When I held my kids the first time I remember thinking "I will never love anyone or anything as much as I love this child "

When my granddaughter was born and I was the first to hold her I looked down at that little face and my mind went back to the day I held her mom the first time . YOU love them that same way . awww Grandkids so much more fun then kids

yes I am, and the best part is, I get to sleep thru the night Everyone keeps telling me what you have said. Grandchildren are much more fun, when they cry, just give them back...