Wow. I almost started a post about 72-hour kits.
All I've really been doing the last couple of weeks is work, garden, quilt, make cards, and attend two enrichment nights. (One for the old ward and one for the new. One was on food storage, 72-hour kits, women's self defense, and wheat grinders. Hence the near post about provident living.) It's felt so uneventful and I'm having a hard time thinking of anything worth sharing.
My co-workers are throwing me a baby shower on Tuesday so I'm trying to register for stuff at Target. Problem is, I'm having a hard time figuring out what I need. Also, I know some things I need (stroller, car seat, high chair, etc.), but I don't know what brands are good/ a good deal. I don't really think I'll get those items, but I would like to have an idea of what I should purchase the next couple of months.
So here is my open thread for you parents out there who know more than I. Don't let me down. =)
17 comments:
Blake and I were asking ourselves very similar questions when it came to making baby purchases. We haven't had the chance to put our newly acquired stuff to the test yet, but we did do a lot of research before we bought stuff. So here are my two cents anyway. :)
After looking at the products available in the stores, we picked out a few things we liked, then went home, looked them up on sites like Amazon and ePinions and looked at other people's reviews of them. That definitely helped us narrow down our list of options. By doing this, we decided that on certain items (like strollers, for instance), it's worth it to pay a little extra because it will last you longer (thus saving you from having to buy a replacement too soon). But at the same time, there's no need to go overboard on price: there's a happy middle ground.
So far, we've ended up with a Britax stroller and car seat carrier (sold separately, but can be turned into a travel system), and a Fisher-Price Swing 'n Glider swing (it plugs into the wall, thus saving you on batteries). Both got overall good recommendations from other parents. We still haven't bought a crib or a high chair -- those will have to wait until after we move. The rest of our baby gear has either been given as a gift, passed over for free, or purchased cheap at a rummage sale.
I guess we'll find out how well the stuff we've got holds up the test of baby usage all in good time! Anyway, good luck on swimming through the options and getting your hands on good quality stuff!
Most of our stuff has been hand-me-down as well, but it's all worked out. Instead of a high chair we got a feeding seat that buckles onto a regular chair. It's been a good choice since we live in a smaller apartment. I also really recommend getting a pack-n-play with a bassinet insert. It's nice to use the bassinet for the first month or two to keep baby in your room, and it's great to have the bed for travelling later. That's one piece of baby equipment we've gotten a lot of mileage out of.
Another thing I really liked for when baby is bigger is an inflatable bathtub. You can't really use it until five months or so (they need to be sitting up), but I thought ours was great. We got one that looks like a duck at Target.
Thanks guys. I've never heard of the Britax stroller. Shows you just how much research I've done. (I've mainly been researching things that Target and Walmart carry, though I know there are other places out there to get good stuff at reasonable prices.)
FoxyJ, I was wondering about the pack n play. We will be traveling to CA a little less than 2 months after the baby's born. The pack n play seems so bulky to actually fly with though...I was thinking of something like this Eddie Bauer travel bed, but didn't know if that would suffice. It would just be easier it seems.
As for the inflatable tub, what is the advantage? I've never even heard of such a thing...
I also just found this based on a review of the Eddie Bauer one. It looks pretty cool.
Scott and I spent most of our time researching a stroller/car seat and paid the biggest chunk of money for it (fortunately our parents helped us with some of the bigger purchases)We spent a lot of time before Payton was born going to Babies R Us and other baby stores trying out strollers - taking them for a spin around the store and seeing how easy they were to fold down etc. Since we have a small car with a small trunk we wanted a stoller that was "full sized" that could fit a car seat but that folded small enough to fit in our trunk. I knew if I got a big bulky one that was too awkward I would never use it and it would be a waste of money. We finally decided on a Peg Perego Pliko. It folds down like an umbrella stroller (bigger though) so even though it is a full sized stroller it folds down nice and compactly. It also maneuvers very well and I don't mind taking it in stores etc. In the stores they were very expensive and we weren't willing to pay that price so we looked on line and found a place that had older models that weren't sold in the store that were at least $100 cheaper with no shipping costs.
I think the best thing to do is to take your time trying them out when you can and decide which options are must haves and which ones don't really matter then go online and research different brands and get what you want for the price you want. We have loved our stroller and were glad that we got exactly what we wanted. Good luck!
We've mostly used our pack-n-play on car trips, since most of the time we've had friends that had a crib or something already available where we were visiting. I think the little bed looks great for a smaller baby; it probably wouldn't work so well with a baby bigger than 4 or 5 months since they start rolling around and stuff. We used the pack-n-play until S-Boogie was about 2 1/2.
I liked the inflatable tub because you use less water and it keeps baby contained so they aren't trying to crawl all over the big tub.
Also, I was going to say that if you're planning on breastfeeding, get some nursing pads (I like the Lansinoh ones the best) and some lanolin cream. I also buy everyone I know a copy of "The Nursing Mother's Companion". It doesn't cost that much and it's an excellent resource. You might want to look into getting a small breastpump as well. If you're planning on exclusively nursing you don't need a really fancy model, but it's nice to occasionally pump so you can get time out from baby. If you're going to introduce baby to the bottle, sometime around 3 or 4 weeks is good.
I also tell everyone I know to stock up on sleepers (those one piece outfits) for the first few months. Those are the easiest to put on babies, since it's just one piece and you don't need socks or anything. I hated nightgowns, but I know some people liked them. I didn't like them because I would always find my babies sleeping with their legs exposed because the gown got shoved up around their waist. Don't bother buying too many really "cute" outfits until baby is about six months old or so, because when they are litle and lying down scrunched up you can hardly tell what their clothes look like anyways. Plus they poop all over everything for the first few months :)
Another item to register for is a baby bjorn or something like that. Personally we loved our sling, but you have to buy one on the internet. If you check out the website http://www.thebabywearer.com
They have tons of advice on different slings and things like that. Ours was actually a pouch, and both kids loved it when they were tiny. It's great for church because baby stays calm, your hands are free, and the baby is somewhat hidden so people aren't trying to touch him all the time.
For bigger things like strollers or pack-n-play, you might want to check out craigslist to see if you can buy something gently used. Just don't buy a used carseat.
OK--That's probably all my advice for right now :)
When you go to CA just ask your mother-in-law to get a pack and play or borrow one from someone in the ward. I wouldn't get the travel bed because he will grow out of it REALLY fast (especially if you serve cream like your sisters). Also the cool bag will seem cool at first but you can always change a baby on a blanket (I don't think I would spend 60 on something like that)
I really liked our baby bouncer. you will only use that until he is about 5 months but it is nice. Also I have heard that the swings that go side to side are better than the front and back ones.
You may have friends who have these items in their attics collecting dust that wouldn't mind letting you use them.
Strollers...it depends on what you are going to do with it...
obviously if you want to continue to run get a jogging stroller then maybe a little umbrella stroller (if you want that for when the baby is really little you need to get one that reclines. Make sure the stroller wheels move freely)
Baby car seats...try to find a light one! I always had big clunky ones and up until they are 5 months you are usually lugging them around and most of the time you don't have a stroller to put them in (like at church)
I'm still new to all this stuff but I definitely have opinions already.
I would definitely put the Fisher-Price Open Take-Along Swing from Target on your registry. It's compact, cheap and works great. Anna already loves it.
I also really love my Boppy pillow, it really helps with nursing. And, I would DEFINITELY get a breast pump. They are lifesavers. Breastfeeding is not as easy as it seems and they totally help.
Do your best to get a used crib. I know you've been searching Craigs List...just don't give up. :) We bought our chest of drawers from Ikea. It was cheap, the perfect size and can be used when the baby is older...just get a changing pad to put on top.
Also, if someone is willing to give you or let you borrow their old car seat and stroller, totally take them up on it. As long as the date on the bottom is not expired it is a much better way to go. You won't use the travel system for very long...they are too bulky and difficult. We were lucky enough to have friends that offered us an infant car seat and stroller combo and just bought a Chicco umbrella stroller for later.
Finally, my biggest suggestion is to exhaust all of your options before plunking down a chuck of change for baby gear...it's way too easy to get ripped off in this market. Talk to everyone you know and see what they are willing to offer, search Craigs List, EBay, Amazon and other sites for good deals. You'll be glad you did!
Yes! Thanks for stepping up friends.
I actually purchased a used crib and mattress last Sat. from a woman in my old ward for $75. It looks quite a bit like yours Erin. Is yours child craft? Anyway, I knew it had gone through 4 children, but it still looks to be in quite good condition. I figured our baby crib growing up went through 7, so I can at least use this one for a couple more kids...
Jul, I should go to walmart or something and take a bag of flour (to use as a baby sub) and test out how heavy the seats are...oh wait. they bolt them down to the shelf I think. Dang. But there are other stores that don't.
OH, and as for the little travel bed, I was mainly concerned about it for Christmas vacation. I know Lady Steed will have her new baby at my in-laws, so I'm not sure if they'd have two baby beds or pack n plays. If not I guess they could try and borrow something from someone in their ward. I hadn't thought of that...
We also have a small trunk and so we got a nicer stroller from Chicco that folds up like an umbrella stroller. We couldn't use it before 5 or 6 months, but until then we used the sling most of the time. I hated carrying the baby around in the infant seat because it's so heavy. I mostly just did that when they fell asleep in the car in their carseat. Also, unless someone gives you both, just plan on getting a swing instead of a bouncer. Most babies I know liked the swing better. And I second the Boppy pillow. You can also use it to prop baby up for tummy time and it makes a great support for when they are learning to sit up. It's good to invest in baby stuff you're going to use in different ways for a long time.
I've always been a little freaked out by the sling...I'm afraid of the baby falling out or slipping or something. Or that I'd put it on wrong or be too uncoordinated to get him in and out easily. But foxyj you make a quite convincing case for them. I can see how it could be easier than lugging them around in a carrier. Plus it's a little more formal than the back/front pack types so it would work for church.
The sling does take some practice and getting used to in order to use it--there is a learning curve. Plus if you look at that website there are a ton of different options for baby carriers out there. A lot of people around here really like the Ergo carrier, but I know it can be a bit pricey. We used a pouch, which is a little more constructed than a sling and I liked it. Today at church the primary secretary was wearing her 3 week old strapped to her chest with some sort of carrier (I think it was a Moby Wrab) and the baby just slept the entire two hours.
I'll convert you one of these days. The next thing you know you'll be wearing your toddler on your back and eating granola every day :)
i guess everyone's style is different. my favorite thing ever was the travel sstem, because for at least five months i had to haul a baby around who always fell asleep in the car seat, and then i just plopped the carseat into the stroller (even at church) and away we went, while baby slept in the car seat peacefully. we have the graco travel system, and it is fine, but we have a minivan to handle the bulk. they also make jogging stroller travel systems (not true joggers, but the three wheel type of stroller). I also swear by pack-n--plays (bassinet insert is great for the first few months). most people have them when you visit, but it is a nightmare trying to get a toddler to sleep on a trip without one, unless you are a co-sleeper already.
a lot of gear depends on your mothering style and the baby's temperament. i would wait on most stuff until you have the baby. with the first, you really don't need a lot of stuff. when you have two or more, you need more to keep baby happy while you are busy with toddler or more cleaning up etc.
also, i would see if you could borrow people's slings or carriers to try them out. it is one of those things that is SO individual. I loved the baby bjorn and hated slings. but i know lots of people who swear by slings, so you never know.
also, i looked at that travel bed and just laughed. if your baby is small enough to sleep in that, he would probably still be small enough to just sleep in his car seat on a trip.
so my advice:
Big Stuff--Pack-n-Play with bassinet insert; travel system; open-top, electric swing (swings have kept babies happy for generations)
Little stuff-- lots of sleep and play jumpers (they look like pajamas but are cute enough to be outfits); a couple of really soft, plush blankets; about ten swaddling blankets, the thin stretchy kind, not the flannel ones; a few really cute sunday outfits in all sizes; and a thermometer that you swipe across the forehead for an instant reading (my new favorite child-raising necessity)
I can't live without the packnplay with the bassinet insert. In fact, we are so devoted to the packnplay, we have never bought a crib for any of our kids. Those things work great and fit nicely into small rooms.
Maybe I'm weird but I nursed all my babies and never used a single nursing pad. I didn't need them.
Before you go to the hospital, you might select the kind of pacifier you want to be "stuck with". If you are a pacifier mom. I am a firm believer because it makes nursing easier (they don't use you for a pacifier) and because it makes hard situations bearable, such as they are happier in their carseat, in the store, in church etc. And in the toddler years, it makes napping easier. I always wanted my grouchy two year old to take a nap more than I wanted to look like a perfect mom that never used pacifiers.
A vibrating bouncy chair is high on my list of essentials. It seems to keep them asleep longer and helps them when they're fussy.
No matter what kind of fancy strollers you have, you always need a cheapo umbrella stroller. There are lots of times when light and small is the only way to go. That's a good gift to register for, since its the amount most people will spend.
One purchase I don't reccomend is a wipes warmer. I had a baby in the dead of winter and felt sorry for him so I bought it. It didn't keep the wipes warm enough to make a difference.
Also, I would wait and see about a breast pump. I've used mine a grand total of twice.
I like using those little bobby-shaped head pillows so the baby's head doesn't flatten on back. And zillions of cloth velcro bibs for keeping the cute outfits unstained.
Oh, and get something for yourself, hehe. A new robe for the hospital, a stack of movies for when you get home, a few magazine subscriptions to read while you're nursing (books won't stay open) and a nice nightstand to organize all the things you need for those wake ups. And some nightlights so you don't wake the breadwinner, unless you are the breadwinner he he.
When it comes to buying baby stuff, I personally think safety should be the main concern. I would check consumer reports to find the safest carseats. I know it has been mentioned never to use a used carseat! I think cribs and other baby gear are also in consumer reports, so I would check that. If you get used items from other people, I would check to see if they have ever been recalled.
Someone mentioned waiting to get a breast pump. I think you need to have one ready. If you are engorged or have a blocked duct, you are not going to want to run to the store to buy a pump! It can be a lifesaver! I also recommend Lansinoh cream.
I wouldn't buy a lot of pacifiers- not all babies like them. You might want to see what your baby likes and then you can get more as needed.
I have a swing that can go side to side or back and forth and my baby seemed to like it. I also like bouncy seats.
My advice is to listen nicely to other people's advice about being a mom. But in the end, just follow your gut and do what you feel good about. I really believe in a mother's intuition!
Have fun!
I promise to take all advice with a grain of salt. Obviously everyone leads very different lives, with different families, and different priorities. I would expect nothing less than a few contradictions here and there.
Thanks everyone for the help. You didn't disappoint!
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