Must have baby items for 1st time parent

[RachaelA]

I really does depend on the baby. I never bought those sleep gowns. DD was swaddled at night (in a side snap t-shirt and diaper).

My SIL said she needed the plain white baby tshirts that snap on the side...went through tons of them....and said she appreciated them more than all the "cute" outfits.

LOVED these! I used them daily. DD wore one of these, a diaper and a pair of legwarmers. No need to take pants off or unbutton a onesie for every single diaper change.

Diaper caddy. Box that had a days worth of diapers, room for wipes, diaper cream and a changing mat. I got it for like $20 and it was the easiest way to stay organized. I used it until dd #2 was potty trained and kept it in case.

This is great to have in our family room so we aren't running all over to get stuff when she needed to be changed downstairs.

I personally loved the Fisher Price Rock N Play. DD slept in it at night from day 4 to 5.5 months. She has severe reflux and it was amazing.

Oh and a baby swing with an AC adapter so you don't have to constantly change the batteries (DD napped in her swing until 6.5 months). The FP Snugabunny was what we got and it worked great.

I found a lot of stuff that people say you MUST have as completely pointless (the gowns mentioned above, wipes warmer, etc).

 

[My3kiddos]

The normal: diapers, wipes, tylenol, gas drops (stock up on all of these when you find them on sale or clearanced)
If you bottle feed don't buy a bunch of the same bottle until you know which bottle your baby likes best

The things that I used the most were:
- gowns
- blankets
- onsie shirts like they give you at the hospital
- bassinet that rocked and vibrated and was larger than most
- swing (I had 3 and one was a travel swing)
- Halo sleepsack
- good comfy infant car seat (my middle son loved his carseat so much that when he started crawling he would crawl into his carseat and go to sleep)
- stroller one that folds easy
- exersaucer when the baby is old enough
- tummy mats
- baby bed that changes to toddler bed and full size bed

When it comes to things like the exersaucer, johnny jumpup, or jumperoo I suggest taking your child to the store and try them out first. I bought both an exersaucer and jumperoo and my son screamed everytime he got near the jumperoo. These are things you can buy at a consignment store or craigslist and resell for about the same price you gave for them. I sold mine on craigslist for what I paid for them. I found my bassinet on ebay for $30 from a local seller.
My youngest hated to be swaddled so all the swaddling wraps I got were a waste.

 

[mjkacmom]

Robeez slippers/shoes (soft, comfy, don't fall off)
cloth diapers for burp cloths (still using them now for dusting)
bouncy seat (safe place for baby, great for feeding before high chair)
exersaucer (safe place for older mobile baby - great if you have to pee)
pacifier (I'd get them hooked, and then just use for sleep - my babies were jonesing for their cribs)
changing table - for first floor - kept extra clothing there

 

[MrsPete]

Granted they're plain white but honestly they're going to get stained so who cares.

An off-topic hint: Formula stains. Breastmilk doesn't.

I had a baby swing with all three of mine and I don't think I could have made it without one.

It's funny how those things go. My first LOVED her swing and would happily stay in it for 30 minutes at a time -- it was a great way for me to actually get food on the table! I expected the same from my youngest. Nope, she HATED to be contained in any way and much preferred to be on a blanket on the floor.

The moral: If possible, try before you buy the big stuff. If a friend has a bouncer, an exersaucer, a swing, whatever . . . it's great to see if your baby actually likes it before you buy it.

Also, on the baby stroller. I normally kept two at a time. I always had a nice big one then a nice umbrella one too for quick trips. It turns out that I enjoyed my nice umbrella stroller way more than the expensive big ones.

I'd say the same thing. The big stroller isn't an absolute necessity, but it's very nice when the baby is small and can't yet sit up. And it's nice when you're using the stroller for a lengthy trip and want the baby to be very comfortable -- or when you need the storage that comes with a big stroller. But the big stroller takes up your whole trunk and is a pain to set up. Enter the small stroller! Useful after six months or so, when the baby can sit up, it's so much lighter and quicker for short trips. I'm glad I had both, but the lighter strollers did get more use.

My advice: If you can afford it, buy the big stroller in a gender-neutral color (so you can use it again with another child). Choose a model that lays down flat for a newborn or a sleeping older child, and make sure it has a big storage bag underneath. Choose a model with four swiveling wheels and a reversible handle.

Choose an umbrella stroller that looks cute, but know that it's a short-term purchase. And get one of those mesh bags that attach to the back to carry your stuff.


And, changing the subject, I hate those open-bottom gowns that so many people seem to love. I think the motto is, Buy what you expect you'll like, but keep the larger-sizes in a package with the receipt taped to them.

 

[ellone]

An off-topic hint: Formula stains. Breastmilk doesn't. It's funny how those things go. My first LOVED her swing and would happily stay in it for 30 minutes at a time -- it was a great way for me to actually get food on the table! I expected the same from my youngest. Nope, she HATED to be contained in any way and much preferred to be on a blanket on the floor.

My first spent loads of time in her swing, bouncer, excersaucer. But when it came to the second, we were afraid that the older one would try to get in or tear them apart while her younger sister was in them. So the younger one spent almost no time in them. She was usually just placed on the floor.

I think because of that she started walking earlier than her sister - she was always on the floor just trying to get to things.

 

[cyndik1111]

I hated the newborn clothes that snapped in the back. If possible, get everything that closes in the front, zippers are preferred. they use to make oneses that snapped in the front. I loved those.

If you are breastfeeding....get the nursing tank tops. I got a bunch from Target. Not only were they easy to navigate with a hungry baby on your lap, they were snug enough to hold that post babybelly in a little!

 

[Carriemel]

I'll throw in that if you do get the baby a lovey, DO make sure to get two identical ones. Keep switching them out. This way, if one is lost, the other will still be around, and the baby will not realize it's a different one. We had triplet stuffed rabbits, just in case.

 

[Teresa Pitman]

Really, a lot depends on how you plan to care for your baby. Remember that people have been raising babies for many thousands of years with no special equipment at all and the babies did just fine.

TP

 

[Chee Chick]

The swaddle blankets with the Velcro was a life saver with both my babies for the first few months. It kept them nice and tightly swaddled so they would sleep much better. I think the ones I had were the Kidapodamas brand.

 

[danceintherain]

Really, a lot depends on how you plan to care for your baby. Remember that people have been raising babies for many thousands of years with no special equipment at all and the babies did just fine.

TP

My thoughts exactly.
All you NEED is a method of feeding the baby, somewhere for the baby to sleep, car seat, diapers (wipes), and something to keep the baby warm (clothes, blankets). Past that there are a lot of wants, but everyone is different, and every baby is different.
For example, my son never had a swing. I also never had a changing table, which I kind of regret, but I imagine if I pick one up for the next kid, he/she will be a squirmer and I won't use it.

If you're looking for a list so you know what to register for most places have a sample list you can pull from that works fairly well. There are also lists on about.com etc that can be helpful.
Don't get too attached to the idea of anything, unless you're planning on buying it for yourself. Unfortunately, people are a lot more likely to buy things that they think are cute, rather than pay attention to something that might actually be needed.

The things that I personally love and used pretty much constantly are as follows:

Stroller - my first was a Baby Jogger City Mini and I LOVE it. We took lots of walks when he was small, and now that he's older we live in South Korea and don't have a car. Since then I've switched to an Uppababy G-Luxe, which I also love.

Carrier - I got a Lillebaby carrier on eBay for about half price, and I used the heck out of it until DS started walking. I also have a Hostlings sling (discontinued) a Moby Wrap, and a homemade mei tai - none of which I use much.

Backpack Diaper bag - Mine was a BabySherpa. I like being hands free when dealing with a baby.

Boppy - Awesome for extra support while nursing, and for a baby to sit in during other times. Mine was actually an off brand that had a piece to help keep the baby from slumping down. DS spent pretty much all his time in his until he could sit properly.

A washing machine is especially nice with a baby. We didn't have one in the place we lived when DS was born, and it's so much nicer now. I did a lot of hand washing, and things still got stained. It would have been nice to be able to throw them in the wash immediately.

I also loved the gowns when DS was under 3 months. They made middle of the night diaper changes so easy.

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

Portable high chair/booster seat - ESPECIALLY if you're limited in space!! We had one of these AND a regular stand-up high chair. We used the portable one more often, even at home. Fisher Price has one for about $30 or less. The tray is dishwasher safe, and it attaches to a regular dining room table chair. WONDERFUL when you take your baby out to eat with you (you have NO idea what's on those restaurant high chairs).

THIS! The Fisher Price Healty Care Booster Seat! Every single mom in my playgroup had this, I ended up getting a 2nd to keep at my Mom's house. Now my Mom always gives this out as a baby shower gift to her friends becoming a grandma.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_s...booster+seat&sprefix=fisher+price+hea,aps,278

 

[J3nn78]

Forget a video monitor and go with an AngelCare monitor. It senses breathing and if none for 20 seconds sounds an alarm. It was the only way I got restful sleep. A video monitor is not going to give you that.

Gas drops
Boppy pillow or my Brest friend pillow
Sling or wrap

 

[taaren]

Really, a lot depends on how you plan to care for your baby. Remember that people have been raising babies for many thousands of years with no special equipment at all and the babies did just fine.

TP

Also agree with this. We were given lots of things when DS was born (I still can count on one hand the amount of clothing items that we have actually purchased for him vs the grandparents/extended family 6 years later), but really we didn't even use half of the "basics". He slept in a pack 'n play, we got a carseat/stroller combo from craigslist, (never used the stroller), and Bjorned him everywhere. I breastfed and worked, so had a $45 pump. His nursery adjoined our room so I never felt the need for a monitor. Some of the things that were nice to have and I still like around are the waterproof pads (make great car seat protectors) and cloth diapers for wiping up messes, also the second hand rocking chair was a lifesaver when he was teething, but beyond the car seat, a few clothes, and diapers, "need" becomes a very relative term.

 

[Mom_Rides]

THIS! The Fisher Price Healty Care Booster Seat! Every single mom in my playgroup had this, I ended up getting a 2nd to keep at my Mom's house. Now my Mom always gives this out as a baby shower gift to her friends becoming a grandma.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_16?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=fisher+price+healthy+care+booster+seat&sprefix=fisher+price+hea%2Caps%2C278

AGREED! Our DD will be 6 next month and she still uses her "seat". We have a higher table and the chairs sit a bit lower. The booster puts her at an even level with the table. It's the baby item we've used the longest.

Other then the basics (receiving blankets, waterproof crib pads, extra sheets, good car seat) we found investing in a good umbrella stroller was well worth our money. Ours has been on 2 Disney trips, numerous trips to the zoo, mall and Cedar Point. It has some miles on it!

The one thing I was upset that we put money into was our travel system. After about 3 months, we rarely used the stroller. It was too big and bulky and she wanted to see out! At that point we either put her in the Bjorn or had her in the umbrella. I wish we would have just bought the car seat and got a used strolled from OUAC.

Another recommendation is a good diaper bag (both large and small). We invested in a sturdy fabric one for the larger and smaller one and we didn't have to buy any additional ones.

 

[sweetdana]

Just a tip...the newest craze on FB are local "mom swap" groups and you can get sooo much for so little. I just had a baby and I am finding nice, brand name stuff for a fraction of the tag price. Check out your area and see what you can find. I am a member of 6, and the majority of the other group members live or work within a 15 minute drive of me. And there are TONS more that I just haven't joined yet!

also ebay .. . I HAVE SOOOOO many hand me down Mickey/ Minnie outfits.. for pennies on the $.

I would have said a swing and pacifires by the gross, with my 1st DD, but my second said Mehaaah to the swing, and although when napping she likes her pac-ee.. if it went missing she wouldn't care (now 5 months) ..

1 ear thermometer for each child, to not have to switch the tops out when both are sick.

.. and with my new Dr Browns bottles.

 

[CluelessDisFan]

Nursing cover. Is my favorite baby item.

 

[bettymae1121]

If the car seat/infant carrier you select has a stroller frame for it (not a travel system) I'd get that. We have a Chicco Keyfit30 car seat and got the stroller frame for it, it was awesome! We didn't have to lug the car seat everywhere, just lift it out of the car seat base and click it into the stroller base, DD never even woke up most of the time. And the stroller folded down in about 2 seconds and easily fit into our trunk. On bad weather days we could have LO out of the stroller, into the car, stroller folded down and in the trunk and the two adults back into the car in less than 10 seconds.

This is the stroller fram I'm talking about

You just click the car seat into it

 

[jenbelle]

i breastfeed my 8 week old and we're co-sleepers. it has been pretty hot here since he was born. if we leave the house, he'll wear a onesie. he has only worn clothes a small fraction of his time here.

in a given week, we might use the following:

arms reach co-sleeper
cloth diapers (a large variety)
car seat (graco infant seat)
ergo baby carrier
a couple onesies
lightweight blanket


in the beginning, you really don't need much for a baby. this is my third child and i have learned the hard way.

 

[DSNY4ever]

We really didn't want any unnecessary items in our house so we waited on things to make sure we REALLY needed them.

Things we never ended up needing-

Changing table- (had no space for one and never really cared.) We use a mat that we store along side his dresser and toss on the ground to change his diapers.

Monitor- Don't need one. We can hear him cry just fine without having it projected into a little walkie talkie. This is only necessary if you live in a giant house I guess. Our son never slept in our room and we never had a problem hearing him.

Bottles- unfortunately we invested in a bottle set and our son would never take a bottle (you can't return that kind of stuff either!). We had to buy other bottles/nipples to try and he hated those too, it was all such a waste. He went from BF-ing straight to sippy cups (foogo brand).

Receiving blankets- we got a TON of these at our shower and never really used any of them- they were just a piece of thin fabric...?

Best purchases (for us)- CLOTH DIAPERS and WIPES!!! They have saved us a ton of money and we never had a blow out- ever. We also loved Summer swaddles that velcro-ed closed for the early stage and zippered sleep sacks for later.

Don't waste money on a fancy crib and designer bumpers.

Spread the word that you would like hand me downs (well...only if you want hand me downs!). We have spent very little on our son and we were very blessed to receive a ridiculous amount of clothes, toys and other hand me downs from friends and family. Now we can save that money for his college fund.

 

[englishteacha]

My must have items:
Boppy pillow
vibrating baby seat
Open bottom baby gowns (Z lived in these when we first brought her home!)
A comfy place to feed the baby in the middle of the night
A changing station of some kind at a comfortable height

Z is 3 months old now, and she has really started to enjoy story time. We were given several board books and our special bedtime routine is to read some books and snuggle before bed. So really-nice-to-have items are a few books. (We've been reading to her since we brought her home, but she really started being interested in the books and the pictures in the past few weeks.)