What was your favorite baby item aka tips for Corey and Julie

[MenashaCorp]

Well, first post ever, but watch boards and always listen to podcast. Anyhoo, I agree with the baby swing. I was given a baby swing from my friend, it was slightly used, had a crank, no bells and whistles at all but it didn't matter, it did the job. The other thing that I learned very early on was that Pull-Ups were a big waste. My kids didn't care that these things were supposed to work like underwear, they just thought, "Well looky, looky at my nice, new fancy diapers. Underwear and not giving up, that is the only thing that worked for me. The same held true even with my youngest, who is autistic and we just FINALLY had success with potty training her at the age of 6.

Congrats! And welcome to posting!!

 

[mantysk8coach]

Question for anyone who has one of those Bumbo seat things. What age did you use it up to? My DD is already 6 months, and it looks like it would be so good to help her sit up rather than always laying on her back or stomach, but does it even pay now? I should have got it 3 months ago.

 

[disneyholic family]

Duct tape. Instant Babysitter.

Benadryl. Instant nap and resultant "Couples time..."

 

[wishspirit]

Duct tape. Instant Babysitter.

Benadryl. Instant nap and resultant "Couples time..."

Someone is going to be kept WELL away from the baby on the podcast cruise!

 

[Disney_Mama]

Life savers for me were the baby swing and a bumper jumper. The baby swing was great for getting baby to have a nap, so mommy could have one and the bumper jumper hooks up in between a door frame (like the bathroom) so mommy can shower.
It feels like yesterday that my babies were actual babies.... Now my oldest DD is 13 and my youngest DD is 9. BUT........ I'm still 29

 

[DVCsince02]

Boppy pillow.

Can also be used in conjunction with the duct tape and Benadryl.

Not only is the Boppy good for the baby, but if you deliver the "regular way" you can sit on the Boppy and it feels great.... Sorry, TMI

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

Question for anyone who has one of those Bumbo seat things. What age did you use it up to? My DD is already 6 months, and it looks like it would be so good to help her sit up rather than always laying on her back or stomach, but does it even pay now? I should have got it 3 months ago.

I used my bumbo until my son was about 18 months I used to feed him in it and then use it as a booster when we traveled. At 6 months he was to small for the highchair but was starting solids. I loved my bumbo

Not only is the Boppy good for the baby, but if you deliver the "regular way" you can sit on the Boppy and it feels great.... Sorry, TMI

I think we can all relate.

 

[tinkbutt]

And LOOK - equipped to listen to the PODcast while vibrating...

wait.. that's disturbing!!

no thats too funny



MY favorite while baby sitting has to be the lavender scented soap!!! honestly I use to babysit a child that had to be held all the time! not that bad during the day but if you put him on a bed after falling asleep in your arms he would wake up screaming! until the Johnson's bedtime bath collection!!!! he knocked out by the time I put him in his jammies!!! it might be cheating as my DBF would say but for me it was a real arm saver!!!

 

[Poohbug]

The swing was great for a little peace and quiet and the vibrator seat was worth the $$ just for letting me take a nice shower. I never had the bumble seat or boppy but I see these things at rummage sales all the time for cheap. When babies only use things for a few months I think rummage sales or sharing with friends if the way to go.
I just found the teething tablets for my youngest and I like them-alot-now DS is cutting molars.
The thing I am looking for now is the high chair that buckles on your dining room chairs. Regular high chairs are so huge and take up alot of space. Also would be nice for us to all eat as a family-now little guy is kind of pushed off to the side.

 

[tinkbutt]

I have to add one more tip


I am one of those liked to be prepared to go if I need to and my friend actually has a great idea that I am going to steal when I have kids!!

Other than having a diaper bag in you car you could have a " in case" kit
that could have change of clothes/ rain gear/ extra wipes/binkies/and so on I like to think of it as the life saver in the trunk!

you'll never know how many times we were out and all of a sudden we needed to run to the car for the extras in the kit. and ever time you use something you obviously replace it. but it makes getting out of the door faster and less what am I forgetting?!!!

 

[daneenm]

My favorite things were...

• The sling. Ours was very simple, adjusted by just pulling the material through a ring. As I said on the other thread, I used this from our first trips out (keeps people from wanting to handle baby during cold and flu season) well into their toddler years.

• The Excersaucer! This is my favorite shower gift now. I love that it can be raised as baby grows. I got hours and hours of hands free time with this.

• Fisher Price (I think) Aquarium. Attaches to the crib has music and a lighted fish bowl that keeps baby entertained until they fall asleep.

• Car mirror for baby for when they are facing backward. ties on the the headrest on the seats and allows baby to see more of what is going on.

• Baby Einstein videos and music. Children are fascinated by the music and images. I found that even a fussy baby would often calm down with that in the background.

• Books, books, books. It is never too early to develop their love for reading.

Parenthood is such an adventure. You are going to pull your hair out some days but in the end, you figure out what works for you and your child (and each one is going to be different) and you will do beautifully.

--Daneen

 

[LilGMom]

I second the bobby pillow, especially if bfing. I used that thing for nursing, to prop the baby up (pre-Bumbo days, lol), and to kinda corral them before they could crawl but when they could roll. A carrier (either sling or Baby Bjorn) for trips to the parks before they need to be in a backpack carrier and then a good sturdy backpack carrier that is easy to remove and has a 'kickstand' so it can be used as a seat for shows.

We were given one of these -

when our first was born, seven years ago, and we still use it but now our three year old uses it without the tray as a booster. Love that thing! Also worked great on trips to WDW.

And one of the most important things to spend a lot of time researching and money on is a good car seat! We didn't spend a lot of money on our second travel system with the infant carrier because our kids were big babies and our of them by the time they were four months due to length and weight.

 

[checkwriter]

Agree re: the books. We often give them as shower gifts, and find we're often the only ones to do so.

Some good titles:

-- Pat the Bunny
-- Goodnight Moon
-- The Runaway Bunny
-- Corduroy
-- Are You My Mother?
-- Hop on Pop
-- Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You?
-- Go Dog Go!
-- The Very Hungry Caterpillar
-- The Very Busy Spider
-- Where the Wild Things Are
-- Guess How Much I Love You
-- The Beatrix Potter books (Peter Rabbit, etc.)

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

My favorite thing was a small, portable crib...not like a Pak'n'Play, but an actual wood crib. We had a two story house and even with a baby monitor I still found myself running up and down the stairs all the time checking on the baby. Then I bought the smaller crib and just put it in a corner of our family room and was able to go about my daily business when the baby napped during the day. I was amazed how much we used it.

 

[mejkjj97]

We loved the Baby Bjorn. Our daughter loved to look around. She is very petite and we were able to use it for almost a year.

My daughter also loved the Jumperroo. She was never very happy in an exersaucer but loved her Jumperoo.

And we loved the inflatable bathtub. It fit inside our tub and she used it until she was 2.

 

[Jubilee]

OK, here's my unsolicited advice!

With my first daughter I bottle fed, disposable diapered, gave a binky, moved her into her crib around 4 mos, started solids around 4 mos. old and sorta let her "cry it out" and with my 2nd, I wear her in slings, no cry it out, breastfeed, cloth diaper, cosleep, started solids closer to 6 mos. and puree my own organic stuff, no binky -- among other things that go hand in hand with opposite styles, you definitely need different items.

For example, with first daughter I bought a boppy...that I thought was the biggest waste of money ever. It was pretty much a substitution for a pillow to lay behind her when she was shaky while learning to sit. With my 2nd child, I needed my boppy if I didn't want to break my back trying to nurse anywhere but while lying down. I used it everywhere for all sorts of different things too.

With my first daughter I used my bouncy seat all the time. This kid loved TV (bad mommy) or would be staring at the toys on it for long periods of time. With my 2nd daughter, I held her instead...on the boppy! She would sometimes nap in the swing, which first child did not use at all. It was too much stimulation for her to sleep in it. The only thing we used the Playpen for with the first one was a place to sleep in during vacations....with our 2nd daughter, we haven't used it yet so far either.

With my first daugher we had a bassinet in our room but then she used was out of it at 4 mos, so the monitor was helpful....with DD2, we bought a cosleeper, which is something you put right next to your bed and it's the same level as you...but honestly, I'd be feeding her in bed sitting up, and then wake up in the same position. You're just so exhausted at first, so we ended up co-sleeping, which I was dead set against but now I love it.

So, I think the items you choose will be determined by your parenting style!

 

[Jubilee]

Agree re: the books. We often give them as shower gifts, and find we're often the only ones to do so.

Some good titles:

-- Pat the Bunny
-- Goodnight Moon
-- The Runaway Bunny
-- Corduroy
-- Are You My Mother?
-- Hop on Pop
-- Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You?
-- Go Dog Go!
-- The Very Hungry Caterpillar
-- The Very Busy Spider
-- Where the Wild Things Are
-- Guess How Much I Love You
-- The Beatrix Potter books (Peter Rabbit, etc.)

Ohhh yes!

I also love If You Give A Mouse A Cookie & Counting Kisses

 

[Madi100]

I think the most important thing I had for my kids was a wonderful father. He changed diapers, fed in the middle of the night, and was always willing to take his turn.

I also loved our baby swing,

 

[Mrs. M. Mouse]

Our favorites were our swing, vibrating chair and sling. oh and OVOL drops! Our oldest had colic for her first 3 mths of life so screamed alot when she was awake....the sling helped cuddle her in but the Ovol helped her calm the pains she got from the colic!

 

[Jubilee]

Question for anyone who has one of those Bumbo seat things. What age did you use it up to? My DD is already 6 months, and it looks like it would be so good to help her sit up rather than always laying on her back or stomach, but does it even pay now? I should have got it 3 months ago.

I had it for DD1 at age 2.5 mos-4 mos. then I resold it on eBay for what I paid because it was just brand new. Honestly, I didn't rebuy it for the 2nd and I wouldn't purchase it for a 6 mos. old but some people love it