Must-Haves/ Don’t Need Baby List?

kvruns

I still remember crying at the pharmacy getting my meds right after he was born, and crying when I checked him in at the pedi for his first checkup, crying when the NP was asking questions, etc. Nothing was wrong, I wasn't sad or scared I just couldn't freaking stop crying for no reason. I remember the first time I had to call the pedi office about a possible problem I cried too.  Makes me laugh thinking about it now but all those freaking hormones etc are out of control. 

kvruns

oh yea and if you plan to keep running look into a BOB. They push sooooo much smoother than other jogging strollers. Can often find second hand ones that are in great shape from all those people who get one with grand plans to run with the baby/kid and never do. 

maine7mob

My daughter had a baby last summer and her midwife recommended that she buy Depends instead of sanitary pads for that endless, crime scene period you get postpartum. Where was this suggestion back when I was having kids? It was brilliant! Saved sheets, underwear, everything from stains!

GBCK

maine7mob said:

My daughter had a baby last summer and her midwife recommended that she buy Depends instead of sanitary pads for that endless, crime scene period you get postpartum. Where was this suggestion back when I was having kids? It was brilliant! Saved sheets, underwear, everything from stains!

I had some infection issues, where I was ordered to not wear pants (yes, really) as much as I could for a week or so...which...problematic.
But the nurse handed me a TON of chux pads, which were amazing.

(We also used the waterproof pads in the crib...and someone smart told me to put baby sheet, waterproof pad, babysheet sandwich. So at 2 am, I could strip off 1 sheet and wash.  It worked for a while, then we figured out how not to have her leak)

cupcait927

12 weeks in and here is what I've found to be great:

-3-4 sheets for the crib
-3 sheets for the bassinet (if you use one)
-Lots of diapers in newborn, size 1 and size 2 - we found that the Up & Up brand Target diapers are pretty good and way cheaper than Pamper or Huggies. Not a fan of Huggies because I feel like Abby always smells like pee when she wears those
-WaterWipes brand wipes. 
- Boppy pillow. I ended up not breastfeeding but it's come in super handy for tummy time because baby hates being flat on her belly on the floor
- Activity mat/play gym. I have the Tiny Loves Magical Tales play mat - it's black and white and she loves it
- Lots of onesies and lots of jammies. My girl spits up pretty much 24/7 even now so we go through multiple outfit changes a day (we went through 5 in one day a couple of weeks ago)
- muslin burp clothes. They are the most absorbent and they make them in large sizes. Super cheap on amazon
- bandana bibs - even though my baby isn't eating any food yet, I keep the bandana bibs on her all the time for the constant spit up
- BIBS pacifiers. She's hated every other pacifier with the exception of the Philips Soothie ones and the BIBS brand
- Pacifier clips - can't tell you how many times the clips have saved her pacifier from falling on the floor and being scooped up by a dog
- Boba wrap and the Ergo 360 baby carrier
- Halo swaddle and the SwaddleMe velcro swaddle. 
- Fisher Price baby dome!! This thing has been a life saver. I let H put it on the baby registry because he thought it was hilarious but it's actually been one of my top favorite baby purchases. She hangs out in it all the time, you can move it around the house, and it's a safe sleep space so if she falls asleep in it, you don't need to move her. 
- Invest in a really good stroller. I cheaped out on mine thinking we wouldn't use it much and now I'm already looking to buy a nicer one.
- spray n wash! It gets rid of all the spit up smell on the burp clothes and takes out all the poop stains for the inevitable blowout diaper
 - Fisher price infant to toddler rocker. Same price as a bouncy chair but they can use it f

What I've barely used/didn't need to buy:
- Blankets. We ended up getting so many as gifts. Don't bother buying any
- Bottle warmer
- Swing. We keep trying her swing and even now she's not a huge fan. It just takes up space in my living room
- We have a Boppy lounger and while a lot of babies really love it (or the dock-a-tot or the snuggle me lounger), Abby doesn't really care for it. It was fine for the first four weeks when she was a newborn and slept a lot (we'd set her on it if we were hanging out on the couch) but now she doesn't like it. I'm glad I didn't spend the insane amount of money on a dock-a-tot because it would probably be a dog bed now
- Go straight for a baby tub that you can put in your bathtub. H insisted on a soft tub that we could put in our sink but she's practically outgrown it and now I need to buy another baby tub that she can grow with to put in our bathtub.
 - Don't buy Dreft. It's super expensive. Just use free n clear laundry detergent. 

MesmrEwe

The "what no one tells new Moms..." your first period PP may take up to 36 months to happen, and that's normal, but also know, your period may change - A LOT - from what it was pre-baby!  Also, the first bowel movement PP - may feel like delivering another baby and a "double ringer" that'd impress the most stoic guy, do not be afraid of using miralax and stool softeners - it's o.k.!  Next, trust your ever-loving instincts!  If you don't want visitors at the hospital, SAY SO!  Set the boundaries but also be reasonable, it's o.k. to say "wash your hands" it's not o.k. to mandate people provide you with their vaccination records before changing clothes upon arrival to your home, hand washing and sanitizing!  DO NOT EVER give out the baby's name before it's on the birth certificate because I guarantee you someone will make a snide remark that puts doubt into your or SO's mind or throw hissy fits "that's the name I was going to use - how dare you!" (I've seen that post on TN more times than I care to admit!)...  Pacifiers are not bad things even if you're latching, remember "fed is best" regardless of how you choose to feed your child, what works for you may not work for someone else.  All babies eventually talk and potty train, no one asks on the college entrance exam breast/bottle, cloth/disposable, organic/whatever, etc.  They all eat chicken nuggets off the car floor eventually!

People have gone over some really good things...  A few I found that helped life out a lot...
1) A purse with a second pocket large enough to be the diaper bag and carry a bottle, small burp cloth, bib, travel changing pad, diaper, and wipes (in a ziplock with a pair of gloves in case of the inevitable poop-plosion)..  along with your regular purse "stuff"...   AND get a diaper bag that's more your SO's style too since they're the one that'll be hauling that one around (a small and full size one)..
2) Use your regular laundry detergent for the baby's clothes too - they're going to be snuggling up to you anyway and extra loads of laundry add up especially if there's sleep deprivation involved (some babies sleep from their first night home, others 90 minutes in a stretch meant it was a good day!)
3) NEVER use the term "My child will never..." Other parents will laugh at you and for good reason!
4) Covered garbage can works just as well as a diaper pail, cheaper, and matches your decor when the real parenting milestone of never changing another diaper ever again happens!
5)  It is o.k. to take Mom-cations where you go away for a few days a couple times a year without anyone else, eat the food you want, sleep as long as you want, have the snacks, go to the movie, and most of all are not constantly nagged or touched!  You MUST take care of Mommy!!!
6) Pack n Plays are awesome, Swings are awesome, bouncers are awesome, sleep is awesome!  The moment they figure out how to escape the crib is the moment it becomes a toddler bed, and the chances of using the crib as a double bed are likely slim and none...
7)  At some point your little will get a booboo, it's going to hurt you more than it does them.  At some point your baby will leave the nest, do your best to prepare them each step along the way.  Your little one will have their own personality likes and dislikes, same goes for food, never turn mealtime into a battle, if they're not hungry, that's o.k. they can come back to a nutritious snack/meal later.  
8) It is not unusual if your baby reacts to different diaper brands.  I had one who broke out in full diaper rashes to everything but Huggies and the other Pampers...  It is what it is...
9) Consider your lifestyle before purchasing any pieces of equipment or carseats or anything.  DO NOT purchase things like carseats second hand and always make sure it's installed properly, rear facing as long as possible.  The clip is a CHEST clip, not a belly clip and the straps need to be tight-tight!!  If you're in a winter area, once they're out of the carrier where it's easy to put a blanket over the top (usually because of height not weight) proper size super thin jacket such as what Lands End makes with thinsulate so not thick/bulky (SNS - we get -30 air temp here without wind chill, sometimes it's necessary to go out when it's that cold, and they MUST have proper attire, it's not practical to get them to the car, take the jacket off standing in the cold, and think a fleece throw over the top is going to get the job done then the same to put that stuff on when you get to the destination)..

charlotte989875

cupcait927 said:

12 weeks in and here is what I've found to be great:

-3-4 sheets for the crib
-3 sheets for the bassinet (if you use one)
-Lots of diapers in newborn, size 1 and size 2 - we found that the Up & Up brand Target diapers are pretty good and way cheaper than Pamper or Huggies. Not a fan of Huggies because I feel like Abby always smells like pee when she wears those
-WaterWipes brand wipes. 
- Boppy pillow. I ended up not breastfeeding but it's come in super handy for tummy time because baby hates being flat on her belly on the floor
- Activity mat/play gym. I have the Tiny Loves Magical Tales play mat - it's black and white and she loves it
- Lots of onesies and lots of jammies. My girl spits up pretty much 24/7 even now so we go through multiple outfit changes a day (we went through 5 in one day a couple of weeks ago)
- muslin burp clothes. They are the most absorbent and they make them in large sizes. Super cheap on amazon
- bandana bibs - even though my baby isn't eating any food yet, I keep the bandana bibs on her all the time for the constant spit up
- BIBS pacifiers. She's hated every other pacifier with the exception of the Philips Soothie ones and the BIBS brand
- Pacifier clips - can't tell you how many times the clips have saved her pacifier from falling on the floor and being scooped up by a dog
- Boba wrap and the Ergo 360 baby carrier
- Halo swaddle and the SwaddleMe velcro swaddle. 
- Fisher Price baby dome!! This thing has been a life saver. I let H put it on the baby registry because he thought it was hilarious but it's actually been one of my top favorite baby purchases. She hangs out in it all the time, you can move it around the house, and it's a safe sleep space so if she falls asleep in it, you don't need to move her. 
- Invest in a really good stroller. I cheaped out on mine thinking we wouldn't use it much and now I'm already looking to buy a nicer one.
- spray n wash! It gets rid of all the spit up smell on the burp clothes and takes out all the poop stains for the inevitable blowout diaper
 - Fisher price infant to toddler rocker. Same price as a bouncy chair but they can use it f

What I've barely used/didn't need to buy:
- Blankets. We ended up getting so many as gifts. Don't bother buying any
- Bottle warmer
- Swing. We keep trying her swing and even now she's not a huge fan. It just takes up space in my living room
- We have a Boppy lounger and while a lot of babies really love it (or the dock-a-tot or the snuggle me lounger), Abby doesn't really care for it. It was fine for the first four weeks when she was a newborn and slept a lot (we'd set her on it if we were hanging out on the couch) but now she doesn't like it. I'm glad I didn't spend the insane amount of money on a dock-a-tot because it would probably be a dog bed now
- Go straight for a baby tub that you can put in your bathtub. H insisted on a soft tub that we could put in our sink but she's practically outgrown it and now I need to buy another baby tub that she can grow with to put in our bathtub.
 - Don't buy Dreft. It's super expensive. Just use free n clear laundry detergent. 

Thank you!!

How are you and Abby doing?? Have been wondering about you!

cupcait927

@charlotte989875 We're good! We were blessed with the easiest baby - she already sleeps through the night, eats like a champ, rarely cries, and is generally good-natured. I took 12 weeks off with her, back at work now but WFH, and H has been off with her since I went back so we're both getting lots of time to bond with her.

Also, I can't believe you're still running - I'm so impressed! I stopped after doing Reach the Beach back in September because it was just way too much pressure on my bladder - I'd get three minutes into a run and have to pee so badly and it was so uncomfortable. I was about 20 weeks at that point.

charlotte989875

cupcait927 said:

@charlotte989875 We're good! We were blessed with the easiest baby - she already sleeps through the night, eats like a champ, rarely cries, and is generally good-natured. I took 12 weeks off with her, back at work now but WFH, and H has been off with her since I went back so we're both getting lots of time to bond with her.

Also, I can't believe you're still running - I'm so impressed! I stopped after doing Reach the Beach back in September because it was just way too much pressure on my bladder - I'd get three minutes into a run and have to pee so badly and it was so uncomfortable. I was about 20 weeks at that point.

That’s awesome! So glad to hear you’re doing so well!!

I’m just over 27 weeks now and still running 3-4 miles per day but much much slower, I have to stop a lot, and I walk some days instead of running. But I feel best when I get out so trying to as long as possible. A belly band has helped and I have to go out before I drink too much water or o have to per real bad after like 2 miles!