Must-haves for the 1st baby?

[NY Disney fan]

What a wonderful thread! I'll be a first time mom in about 5 weeks!! These kinds of topics never get old in my book.

 

[marn913]

Our daughter is going to be six months old next week. We never would have made it throught the first month without the Fisher Price Aquarium swing (my husband and I both wish they made it in a grown-up size!) I think my daughter has logged miles in the thing. We had luck with all of the aquarium-themed Fisher price products. In addition to the swing we also got the mobile - it's nice because it plays for about 5 minutes and also projects fish on the celing. It has a remote control that you can hang on the door. This way you can start the music again without going to the crib to wind up a traditional mobile (thus disturbing the baby.)

Things that we didn't use included a wipe warmer and a bottle warmer (we use powdered formula and use it immediately after making it so room temp is o.k., if you plan to formula feed or supplement and you pre-prepare the formula and store it in the fridge you may want a warmer.) You may not want to register for too many receiving blankets - we ended up with TONS and never really used any of them. Each baby is different, so hold on to all of the receipts from your shower gifts and don't feel bad about returning an item that you know you're not going to use, you can always apply the credit towards another item that you will use.

Best luck!
Marne

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

My girls are 9 & 7 now but I found the following items necessary:
Breast Pump
Nursing Bras and Nursing Pads (for leakage)
Sheet protectors
Wipes Warmers
Swing
High Chair with wheels
Splat Mat
Johnny Jump up was fun
Exersaucer
Boppy Pillow
Sling (great for breast feeding in public, very discreet if you pull it up)
Crib Light show or Aquarium

 

[shelly3girls]

We just had baby #3. Here are some of the things I couldn't live without.

Newborn:
Carter's sleeping gowns
Swaddle Me blankets in fleece (velco closures to make swaddling easier)
vibrating bouncey seat
Moses basket
Advent bottles (even if BF it is nice to have DH give a bottle once in a while)
Fisher Price Soothing Motions Glider (liked much better than bouncey seat)
Fleece carseat cover
burp clothes (I bought cheap hand towels from Target, worked great!)
Amazing crib sheet (makes middle of the night leaks easy to change)
diapers
wipes
diaper bag with a mommy compartment for wallet and cell phone
stroller frame for infant carseat (easier than stroller)
infant carseat
receiving blankets (I use these for everything)
pacifiers
bath sponge
side snap undershirts
bottle warmer
diaper genie
q-tips (cleans everything from ears to belly button)

Infant:
zip pajamas from Children's Place or Disney store (much better than snaps)
Carter's blanket sleepers (much cheaper than Halo sleepsack)
entertainment gym (fisher price acquarium is great)
convertible carseat
exersaucer
highchair that reclines
onesies


Things I could live without- wipes warmer, swing, sling but every baby is different. DD#2 loved her swing, DS hates it. Good luck and remember to keep every receipt.

 

[cinda65]

Another vote for Boppy for either breastfeeding or bottle - we did both. The other thing we had that was wonderful for being comfortable when feeding baby was a nursing footstool. I think it was by Medela and it was angled. Made it so nice!!

 

[rt2dz]

May be repeating, haven't read the thread. Here are my MUST haves:

Optional Equipment
sling/frontpack (my kids have lived in this as newborns)
NEW carseat/infant carrier (the new is due to safety concerns)
Must have a stroller that is a travel system
crib
bassinet
boppy pillow (and get a couple of extra covers for it)
exer-saucers (although my 2nd didn't really like it)
Over the door jumper (1st didn't like it, but 2nd & 3rd adored it)
I'll still say swing (get the fisher price one that swings both ways--only one my 2nd would use; my 1st didn't like any swing, but this one didn't exist; my 3rd wasn't at all that picky over the swing)
a very good breast pump (mendela, and I don't care if you are a SAHM, it's worth every penny & will last for every child)
Bottles and Nipples (even if you are pumping, give a bottle a day, just in case anything happens or for when you want to wean--baby will take a bottle is ensured. I recommend the platex nursing system with disposable bags. You can put the pumped milk straight into the bag & freeze it. No cleaning. Very easy set up)
Formula (just in case, you might just get sick & can't nurse or don't have enough frozen supply)

Basics
Diapers (but don't buy too much of any one kind or size; babies grow at different rates & different brands will fit different on different kids)
Wipes (go unscented just in case you have a sensative child) & NO wipe warmer
Clothes in various sizes
Burp rags (heavy, cloth diaper ones are best if you have a reflux child)
Aquafore (diaper rash to runny noises to dry skin patches)
Baby bath (love Gerber lavendar scent)
Crib & bassinet sheets
highchair (but that can wait until you start introducing solids at the 4-6 months mark)
etc, etc, this isn't hard to figure out

What I found Useless
Bouncy seat, all my kids hated it
Wipe warmer, just can't figure that one out
Gowns, can't put the baby in the carrier, swing, frontpack, or bouncy seat in it
A mat for under the highchair (of course, I have tile floors & dogs)

Wait and see
Pacifiers (each of my kids would only take a different brand, if took at all)
Bottles beyond a couple just in case your child has a prefernce
breast pads (I'm a fountain with #1 & #3, but #2 nada. Beyond the sample I got in the hospital, never even thought of needing)
Too many clothes (my kids were all about the same size when born. DS#1 never wore newborns, grew so fast. DS#2 wore newborns for 3 months. DS#3 wore them for about 1 month. At 12 months, DS#1 wore a 24 month, DS#2 wore a 9 month & DS#3 is wearing a 12 month going to a 18 month. DS#1 & DS#2 have birthdays just 3 weeks apart & have never worn the same season of clothing in the same size except 3 & 6 months)

 

[saucymb]

On the subject of breastfeeding/pumping:

My baby is 6 months old. We had planned to breastfeed, as I am a SAHM. So we bought the Medela small electric single pump. Figured it would be perfect, right? But due to some physiological issues, my son was not able to latch on, so we rented a pump for a month, and now here I am six months later, still pumping 4 times a day for an hour at the time for him.

If you are planning to BF, and you think you will need a pump, I would wait until after the baby comes and you have had some time to make sure BF'ing will work for you, and determine if you will need a pump, and THEN decide what kind/size you'll need.

BTW, I use the Medela Pump In Style Advanced, and it's awesome! I know of a place that has fantastic prices on them (they beat Target, Babies R Us, and everywhere else I have ever seen them), so if you want the contact info, pm me.

Good luck and CONGRATULATIONS!!!

 

[annie1995]

The Miracle Blanket. Wrap up baby all snug as a bug, and they will sleep great!

 

[grlpwrd]

The Miracle Blanket

sound machine for "white noise"

2 bouncers - one for upstairs and one for downstairs

a freezer stocked with reheatable food

snack station for mom - fill with water bottles, healthy snacks, reading and writing material, etc. because let's face it baby will be your universe

Congrats!

 

[FreshTressa]

Awww, a new baby.... actually, the reality is, you don't need too much for months for that new one... my essentials were, diapers, i loved the soft little cotton gowns - a sling so my new baby could snuggle with me all the time, I nursed, so that was all taken care of-ummm... little blankies, cloth diapers to hepl with spit up on the shoulder... a small bassinet next to my bed, so i could hear them cry near me- and of course a carseat! Maybe a stroller, but I firmly believe the more holding a baby gets,and the less time they spend in a set or stroller, the better! I had a stroller, but always wore the sling, and baby rode up with me while we were out of the house, the sling saved me, with a fussy baby, you put them in, and walk,or vacuum, or hum and dance...ahh,the memories!

This was more my style...minus the basinet and plus the baby bjorn.

The only thing I would add to this list is the baby medecine set.

My kids barely used all the stuff we had. If money is tight, most of those things really aren't necessary.

I just held baby for the first few months, nursed A LOT, and went through tons of diapers and receiving blankets. They didn't like pacifiers and were happier being walked around in the bjorn than being in the swing.

I bathed in the tub with them...I was always afraid of dropping them and the tub seemed awkward. It was easier to get in the tub and put baby on my lap on a towel. That way, I knew I had a firm hold and had both hands to use to bathe.

Instead of a diaper pail..which ALL stink, I would put the diapers in individual safeway bags and put them in the big garbage in the garage each time. I couldn't stand a diaper to be in the house.

I hated the infant carriers...too heavy to carry. Much easier to carry baby.

I never needed nursing pads. I never leaked.

I could keep going on, but there are ways around just about any item that others might see as a 'must have.'

And my kids never liked all that stuff anyway...they liked being with me the most.
Most of the stuff I had, I sold in as new condition, even after two kids.

 

[Momerath]

Just want to also say thanks for all the suggestions! My baby boy is due in 3 weeks and I think I'm ready (well, at least the nursery is).

 

[Dashzap]

Also, stock up on stuff for you - have maxi pads in the house - you'll need them!

Ummm... if you end up with episiodimy (sp?) you'll want some Tucks pads, too.

 

[kuusimo]

Another thing to have on hand because you never know when babies will start teething (mine started at 3 months) are Teething Tablets. You can find them at WalGreens. They are little tablets that disolve in the babies mouth and give you some quiet time.

I am looking at stocking up for baby #3, and everything mentioned is pretty good. I personally like the sleep outfits that zip up. Carters sells some thick ones, and Children's place sells them a little thinner, and I found they were more fitted than Carters. Buttons were too much trouble for me in the middle of the night.

I also use a stain remover that Heloise suggested that gets out just about everything. Equal parts dishwashing soap like Dawn (no bleach in it), amonia, and water. Put in a spray bottle and it works wonders on clothes. I also have never bought "baby" soap for the washing machine. I just put in my normal stuff.

Cloth diapers make wonderful burp cloths. We also loved our sponge for the tub. Gas drops are a must- off brand always worked for us.

Another thing was I was very sure I was only going to BF our children. After #1, my milk never came in, and then at 10 days old he was rushed to the hospital. I felt like a failure not being able to feed my own child. At the hospital, I had access to the hospital pumps, and would only get 1/4 oz at most each time. (total) On our way home, we had to stop and get some formula. With #2, he was put into NICU at birth and again milk never came in. They got me a deluxe pump again, but still it was pretty sad. After 2 weeks, it was not worth the stress on me. So having formula and bottles just in case is on my list of things to get.

One thing that we got with #2 was a small lamp that was touch that only put out a little light. This did not wake DH in the middle of the night, but was just enough for me to see the baby - once my eyes were opened. They say the average mother loses 600 hours of sleep the first year. If that is not something to look forward too...

Good luck- our baby comes in 3 months too. Right before Christmas!

 

[Dashzap]

Congratulations!! Life will never be the same.

A thought on clothes and wipes: a lot of babies have sensitive skin.

-100% cotton clothing

- soft knit clothes are best (like your oldest t-shirt)

- No lace. No snaps up the back (which are awful for the baby to lie on at the stage when they lie on their backs a lot).

- cut the labels out of their clothes. Labels can be very scratchy!

- wash their clothes before they wear them the first time. Use a laundry detergent that doesn't have perfumes, etc.

- for sensitive skins/allergic babies, don't use fabric softeners...not even the dryer sheets

- cotton balls. Both my boys got irritated bottoms when they were newborns from diaper wipes. We were told to use warm water and cotton balls to clean them for the first month or so. So have some cotton balls on hand, just in case (they are useful for cleaning around the stump of the umbilical cord til it comes off, too.)

- diaper rash. Have tubes of several sorts around to see what works for you. I had best luck with Desitin and plain old Vaseline.

Stuff like swings and bouncy seats can come later. Just get what you need for the first month or so: clothes, bedding, diapering stuff, car seat, a stroller suitable for a newborn, feeding stuff, and medicines. Everything else can wait.

Get a diaper bag with dignity, so anyone can carry it without blushing. I loved backpack ones, so my hands were free to carry baby. An external bottle pocket is great...I nursed my babies and always had to carry water bottles around for me.

Get a 3-ring binder or some kind of paper file for medical notes for baby. Put the pediatricians card, a copy of your health insurance card, and immunization records. Eventually baby will get sick. And when baby is sick, you get exhausted. So when asked questions about medicines tolerated, etc, it is better to have it all written down in one place. I carry the notebook when I take my son to the doctor still, and my oldest is as tall as me.

 

[GoofItUp]

Thanks again for so many great replies! I had to go shopping today for 2 baby gifts and chuckled as I looked over the gift registries. There were so many things that have come up on the "useless" list on this thread! I ended up going with stuff not on the registry that I thought would be more useful....based on this thread!

And just to clarify a couple of things that some of you have brought up....I live in Central Texas, so I'm not sure how many super-warm clothes I'll need for the baby (or if I'll need the carrier-cover). I'll probably buy one or two warm things just in case we get one of the cold spells this winter! The infant carrier/car seat/stroller combo I'm getting from my SIL was just bought for her twins that were born last Nov, so I'm sure it's up to safety standards. And, I am planning to breastfeed so *hopefully* won't have to worry about formula and bottles at least for a little while.

I'm getting so excited for Christmas!

 

[mom2alix]

A lot of good ideas here. The ultimate crib sheet was my favorite thing. This is a flat, waterproof backed sheet that goes over the crib sheet and snaps in about 6 places. Even if you don't use it every day (I did), it is well worth it during a bout of stomach flu when you can change the crib sheet instantly.

http://www.toysrus.com/product/inde...986.2256244.2256251.2256265&parentPage=family

 

[grlpwrd]

I forgot one ...

Arms Reach Co-Sleeper Crib - a crib which fits against your bed

 

[crisi]

Ummm... if you end up with episiodimy (sp?) you'll want some Tucks pads, too.

Unless you have a scheduled C with no pushing involved - tucks aren't a bad thing to have around. And even with a scheduled C, just the weight of the baby may mean you stocked up on them during month nine.

 

[crisi]

Another thing was I was very sure I was only going to BF our children. After #1, my milk never came in, and then at 10 days old he was rushed to the hospital. I felt like a failure not being able to feed my own child. At the hospital, I had access to the hospital pumps, and would only get 1/4 oz at most each time. (total) On our way home, we had to stop and get some formula. With #2, he was put into NICU at birth and again milk never came in. They got me a deluxe pump again, but still it was pretty sad. After 2 weeks, it was not worth the stress on me. So having formula and bottles just in case is on my list of things to get.

I just wanted to say not to feel bad. My friends were all of the Breastfeeding Facists mindset and my first was adopted. I felt HORRIBLE. Got over it. Gave birth to my second and managed to breastfeed, but lets just say that when the aliens land and turn us into farm animals - I'll be sorted for meat, not dairy. My daughter had to be on formula the first seven days before my milk came in (hence, no need for breastpads, I never produced enough to leak). Several of my girlfriends then adopted their own, and came to understand that calling formula "bad" and formula companies "evil" was not really helpful.

A lot of pro-breastfeeders don't like the idea of having formula and bottles in the house - but bottles are nice if you aren't going to be there for every feeding even if you breastfeed. And in my mind, when you had your heart set on breastfeeding and can't, having formula in the house is somewhat less humiliating than the run to Target - which in the post labor hormonal state, is somehow important.

 

[emh1129]

A lot of pro-breastfeeders don't like the idea of having formula and bottles in the house - but bottles are nice if you aren't going to be there for every feeding even if you breastfeed. And in my mind, when you had your heart set on breastfeeding and can't, having formula in the house is somewhat less humiliating than the run to Target - which in the post labor hormonal state, is somehow important.

I also had many issues bfing my first and felt horrible about it.. so I was so determined to nurse my second baby. That's why it was essential that I had NO bottles or formula in the house. Breastfeeding is natural, but doesn't always come naturally, and it's too easy to go grab a bottle when you're have a tough time (and sleep-deprived!). This in turn can cause more problems because breastfeeding is a supply/demand thing, so if baby is getting bottles of formula, you won't produce as much milk. The first six weeks can be tough, but it's so worth it in the end
(just wanted to explain my p.o.v. of the bottles in the house thing It really helped me to not even have them around because I didn't want to doubt myself. I think it's sad that bfing moms end up with so much stuff from formula companies, even as a 'just in case'- it's planting that seed of doubt in new mothers that there is a good chance they won't succeed )


Another thing that I forgot to put on my essential list- the number to your local La Leche League leader and lactation constultant! You don't want to be scrambling around trying to find some help with a grumpy infant