Must-haves for the 1st baby?

[kfeuer]

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.

This is really good advice. A good breast pump is a large, non-returnable purchase so make sure you need it before you put out the money.

I second the poster who mentioned Baby Bargains. That book was indispensable when I registered for my first baby. It explains what all the different features on things are good for so that you don't just end up picking the widget with the cutest fabric

For diaper disposal, we really liked the Diaper Champ. It uses regular trash bags and is easy to operate one-handed. It contained the smell of urine diapers quite well (we always put the poopie diapers in a trash bag and immediately took them outside).

One last word--if you don't get some of the "big items", don't hesitate to look for second-hand ones. Consignment shops or kid's consignment sales often have great deals, just clean them up and you're good to go.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Not sure if anyone has mentioned a wedge to keep baby on his back - I forgot to mention that before!

 

[love~disney]

This is a wonderful thread!! You all have some great ideas that I hope I can use someday. As of right now we aren't expecting but I want to be ready for when that time comes.

 

[mickeysaver]

As the member of the nursing staff at a pediatric medical office, I would like to give you my wish list. Please discuss the use and appropriateness of the medications listed below with your pediatrician's office before you use any of them!

1. Benedryl liquid - you never know when you will need it and every family should keep some on hand.
2. Tylenol Infant drops - DO NOT USE WITHOUT YOUR DOCTOR's APPROVAL! But, when you need it, you will not want to have to go to the store for it. Have it on hand!
3. Poison Control's Phone Number (888) 222-1222.
4. If you do not breastfeed, please save your baby lots of gas and use Similac Advanced or another Ross brand formula product. The Mead Johnson formulas have so much more DHA & ARA in them, that trust me, I can tell when a mom calls me about gas that the kid is on Enfamil Lipil. It's sad really.
5. All babies get gassy, but keep some Mylicon drops on hand and it will help!
6. The best baby diaper rash preventative cream ever, Triple Paste. Buy it and use it...it will save your little one's tush, even with diarrhea.
7. A thermometer to take a rectal temp with. Until the baby is 2 years old, it's the most accurate temp. And if your little one gets constipated, you will need it then too.....your doctor will explain.
8. Saline nose drops and a small tipped bulb syringe. You are having a winter baby. When you run the heat in your home, it sucks all the moisture out of the air. This creates tiny stopped up noses.
9. A cool mist humidifier to help replace the moisture in the air of the little one's room to help reduce the amount of nasal stuffiness your little one gets and it's helpful with most upper respiratory situations that you will face over the first few years of life.
10. A whole lot of love and patience. This is of course priceless, but not to be overlooked in importance.

Congrats and best wishes. Maggie

 

[momofbgtwins]

To second a few previously mentioned items:

1. A white noise machine. Helps to get the baby used to a bit of noise so you don't feel you have to tip-toe around when they are sleeping.
2 Diaper Champ vs Diaper Genie - uses regular plastic grocery bags and really doesn't smell at all
3. Prefolded cloth diapers for everything!
4. Regular old Carter sleepers vs "cute" baby clothes.

A new item:

1. Thin cotton gloves - when bathing the baby he won't slip out of your hands and you can apply the soap directly to the gloves.

My twins were both different - she loved the swing - he hated it. He could sleep anywhere, not her. Get as much as you can second hand. It's nice to have "brand new" but you'll regret it if they don't like it, and for the very short time they'll use most of this stuff.

Good luck - and kiss feeling rested goodbye for the first few months.

 

[DisneyPhD]

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

I have to 2nd this. My advice is not so much what you need (things) as what you need to do. Prepare to be a mom. Find some good books on baby care that you like and read up. Keep reading, who knows if you will have much time after the baby comes.

Please plan if you want to breast feed or bottle and look into both. If you want to breast feed (and I personally can't stress enough how good I think it is and worth the effort) learn about it ahead of time, read books, talk with friends and even take a class. Being prepared can help with success after the baby is born, because sometimes the stress of being a new mom and child birth can be a lot with also making something so new like breastfeeding work.

mickeysaver, great post thanks for the inside info. I wish I had gotten that when my DD was a new born. (we did get some paperwork for the peds office, but I like yours better. )

oh and my hospital send us home with tucks (and a number of other things like that too.)

Congrats!

 

[saucymb]

Our son had pretty severe gas as a result of some medication that I was on that he was receiving via my milk. We tried Mylicon drops, but they did nothing to help. My lactation consultant suggested Baby's Bliss gripe water, and it worked wonders! It smells like licorice, pretty yucky, but he seemed to like it and it worked very quickly.

 

[sarahsmom73]

I am a new mom for the 2nd time.. DD 1 is 5 and DD 2 is 4.5 months....

Here are my must haves -

Fisher Price vibrating bouncy seat
Exersaucer

For dd #2 we purchased the Baby Bjorn carrier... We had a different brand with dd and it was awful... The Babay Bjorn although expensive is AWESOME! Very easy to use by yourself!

Totally Toddler Spray... The stuff is amazing.....


I buy my diapers, wipes and formula by bulk online.... 1800diapers.... It is cheap and they are delivered to my door!

 

[flminivanmama]

a sling, wrap &/or pouch http://www.mamatoto.org/

 

[DisneyPhD]

Oh I thought of another thing last night.

Nursing P.J's or at least ones that are nursing friendly.

Also I found dressing to breast feed was a big adjustment for me. I used to wear causual and comfortable dresses and that doens't work so well. Shirts and pants work better (just pull up and everyone is happy and mostly covered.) Make sure your shirts a little big, you will grow!

So make sure you have comfy cothes to wear after that are breast feeding friendly (if you are planning to nurse.) Even if you aren't some great yoga pants until your old jeans fit again is a good idea. Old Navy has some I love.

Oh and I have to second Totally Toddler Spray, good stuff.

 

[jeepgirl30]

I did not read through all the posts but here are mine:

- boppy pillow - I did not use it for nursing but both kids loved it to help them be propped up both on tummy time then later to prop them to sit.

- gas drops - with second i automatically gave them prior to every bottle

- swing - life saver with first, second used it not so much

- bouncer seat - both loved it

- exersaucer - both loved it

- i'm going against the grain here i'm sure but depending on YOUR size, newborn clothes/diapers. My poor lil DD swam in clothes and diapers. She was in premie at the hosptial and for the first few weeks. My mom had saved my infant clothes and she wore those too. She did not fit into the 0-3 mnths for a long time. She was not early just little.

- lots and lots of batteries in all sizes. Swings, bouncers, etc all take them so does the digital camera!

 

[qst4it]

My favorite thing for my two girls (age 2 and 3) was the Sony Babycall Monitor. It is a little pricey but worth every penny. I have two in the house and they no interfeance. Mind my spelling. They come with rechargable batteries and they still hold an eight hour charge. They have an alarm on them so if the power goes out or the baby's side gets shut off it beeps. It also has a function when it stays silent unless the baby is making noise. None of the AM radio staic we had with our fisher price but they are still very sensative. I could hear the girls crinkling the sheets with the base set up on the other side of the room. I LOVE LOVE LOVE these moniors.

 

[katymae]

I didn't have time to read through the whole thread, but I highly recommend the book Baby Bargains. They talk through all of this stuff and compare prices and quality. Best wishes!!

 

[puffkin]

I haven't read the other posts yet. Secondly, remember that the best advice is not to listen to anyone's advice , but here goes:

For my 6 month old son, the products I recommend as a first time parent are:

Pack'n Play with bassinet/changing table (I don't have a regular changing table or bassinet, this served both purposes).
Nursery monitor with lights (amazing how many times you will have it on and not hear the baby but will notice the lights)
Boppy pillow (I didn't breast feed, but found tons of uses)
Air flow sleep positioner
Lingirie bag (so all the itsy-bitsy socks don't get lost in washer/dryer)
Baby Bumbo seat (so wish I got one....would have made life easier)
Any type of Exersaucer
Baby Einstein DVDs/CD's
CD player for baby's room
Any Maclaren or Britax product
Pampers Swaddlers diapers but Huggies wipes

Things I don't really like/use:
Fisher Price aquarium bath tub....hated it
Bobblin Band bouncer seat (seat was ok, but never use the activity bar)
Steam Sterilizer

 

[AngieWin]

My favorite thing for my two girls (age 2 and 3) was the Sony Babycall Monitor. It is a little pricey but worth every penny. I have two in the house and they no interfeance. Mind my spelling. They come with rechargable batteries and they still hold an eight hour charge. They have an alarm on them so if the power goes out or the baby's side gets shut off it beeps. It also has a function when it stays silent unless the baby is making noise. None of the AM radio staic we had with our fisher price but they are still very sensative. I could hear the girls crinkling the sheets with the base set up on the other side of the room. I LOVE LOVE LOVE these moniors.

I 2nd the Sony Babycall!!! The first monitor we got was Fisher Price and it picked up every frequency out there. My husband is a police officer and it picked up the static from the radio in the car, in the driveway! I can hear the ceiling fan if I want to, so the slightest peep can be heard. I definitely recommend this!

 

[mshawsc]

This is a good list, and I pretty much agree with it all! This is not really a "MUST-HAVE", but my baby just LOVES her BUMBO seat! I can't figure out how to put a picture in here, but they have a website: www.bumbo.com

We use it all the time for feeding & even put her at her place on top of the table while we eat! It is so cool to see her face when she realizes she is sitting up all by herself! Babies can start using it when they are able to hold their head up.

 

[dsneygirl]

I 2nd the Sony Babycall!!! The first monitor we got was Fisher Price and it picked up every frequency out there. My husband is a police officer and it picked up the static from the radio in the car, in the driveway! I can hear the ceiling fan if I want to, so the slightest peep can be heard. I definitely recommend this!

I also have the Sony and love it!

And I second Pampers Swaddlers for newborns they are soooo soft. Much more so than Huggies I found. But I prefer the Huggies wipes.

 

[dsneygirl]

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

I had an episiotomy but didn't need the Tucks. However I used frozen NB diapers. So much relief those first few days at home. Just put some water in and pop in the freezer. I reused them until they got really soggy.

 

[emh1129]

I had an episiotomy but didn't need the Tucks. However I used frozen NB diapers. So much relief those first few days at home. Just put some water in and pop in the freezer. I reused them until they got really soggy.

This is a really great idea- I wish I had thought of it after the birth of my daughter. I didn't have an episiotomy (my midwives don't do them) but I was still sore and this sounds like it would have been heavenly!
Will remember it for next time

 

[sandiegosusie]

I have 4 kids and over the years I have really scaled down my must-haves.
These are a few things that I absolutely could not do without...

Diaper Bag: Skip Hop was my favorite!
Travel diaper changer: Skip Hop or First Years. Keep it in the car stocked and ready to go...
Formula dispenser: Sassy
Burp clothes: Gerber Birdseye diapers
Baby monitor: Sony Babycall
Mylicon Drops
Little Remedies: New parent survival kit
Tylenol
Lined Basket: Pottery Barn kids to put all diaper changing items in.
Nuk or Soothie pacifier
Lullaby CD: "Bedtime with the Beatles", or "Disney Princess Lullabies".
Bath Tub
shopping cart cover: Floppy Bunny
Blanket: Barefoot Dreams, Nordstrom
Whatever blanket your baby deems as his/her favorite, get an identical one for a spare.
Travel stroller: Maclaren Volo in black. Hides all dirt.

I know I'm forgetting something, but this is a start! Most everything is available at Babies R Us. The diaper bags are available at Skip Hop.com, Nordstrom or online.