Alright everyone I hate to do this but I am soliciting your help. As you well know we are expecting our first baby in May. When I went to register it was so overwhelming and I feel like all of you out there know what I need better than I do so.....I would love your comments and advice. First, what do you think are the essentials to register for? Is there something you registered for and wish you hadn't, is there something you wish you would have registered for that you didn't. Anything you feel is a MUST HAVE with your baby? Also, I have been researching different brands of everything but there is a lot of info out there. I thought I'd go straight to the source and ask the people that are actually using these items now to get your opinions on what your favorites are and why (why you love it or why you hate it). Here is a list of things I have been looking at, and wondering about. Wondering which brand is best or most people prefer or if it even matters: car seats, strollers, pack n plays, breast pump, high chair vs booster seat, bottles and binkies and diapers, baby monitors, swings or bouncers, diaper bags etc. There's plenty more I can think of, but you get the picture, I just have no clue. I am sure some of it is purely personal preference and I will have to figure it out on my own but I would still love to hear your thoughts. Thanks everyone can't wait to hear your comments!!
If you don't feel like leaving it in comments feel free to email me at sherriperry@gmail.com- Thanks!
18 comments:
hey! I have some emails saved from when I had a similar post. I'll email them to you. It is so overwhelming!
Hey I don't think the brand on a lot of things matter that much just buy what you like. However the one thing I really recommend is a Medella double Breast pump. They are expensive but well worth it especially if your going to be working at all. I had a different one at first and broke after a month. I have used the Medella through two kids being used a lot and I have not had any Problems with. I here good things about it from a lot of people too.
I agree I had the medella and it was great no problems!
I really like having a booster seat rather than a high chair and that is just because its a huge space saver and you're going to want the booster eventually anyway when your kids get big enough to eat at the table.
I don't think brand really matters either they all are pretty similar.
I do have to say get a Binky that is easy to find in every store, because you'll lose a million of them and you'll want to be able to stop and pick one up in an emergency! ha ha. but kids are picky sometimes about what they'll take so maybe wait for that one. The one thing I've LOVED is the baby trend diaper champ. it takes any kind of diapers and holds a lot of diapers and doesn't smell either. I have heard a lot of people say they hated the diaper Jeanie because it takes specific bags and gets expensive.
also for the first few months a bouncer was VERY essential for us! they aren't too expensive!
good luck!
very exciting.
oh one more thought. my sister told me when you go to look for a stroller bring a 10lbs bag of flour (or barrow it from the store) and put it in the strollers and try them out to see what you like!
hope this helps
These are a few things that I have loved:
Ameda breast pump, it was expensive but I'm so glad I invested in it and it worked really really well.
Chicco carseat: LOVE IT. It's also one of the highest rated.
- you can buy it with a stroller so you have a travel system. I only used that stroller at the beginning. Like the first month or two.
I got a jogging stroller that you could attach the car seat to so I used that instead. I also got a Chicco umbrella stroller that I LOVE. So in the stroller department my two must haves were the jogging stroller and the umbrella stroller.
We also got a Chicco pack in play (yes I have a slight chicco obsession) anyway, it was the highest rated and I felt I wanted something nice - now almost a year down the road I don't think spending that much money was necessary.
I loved my fleurville diaper bag. It broke - they sent me a new one, but in the mean time I got a skiphop diaper bag that I liked at first but now I hate. It has a flap to cover the inside and the base doesn't really expand so pretty much stuff is always falling out. They have other kinds that look much better. Beware of the flap.
My sister gave me a swing and it totally saved me. I would definitely suggest a swing or a bouncer or both.
LOVE my medela double pump....it's worth the investment, especially if working, or when you need a break and dad can do feeding time w/ a bottle. Watch for sales...i got mine about $30 cheaper at Target than B.R.Us.
Register for ANYTHING and EVERyTHING at Babies R Us...a month before you're due they will give you 15% off anything of your registry that you haven't recieved yet, so just scan it all!
I'm sure i have more things, call me we'll chat!
Yes on that Medella Breast Pump... it has saved me so many times and I never worked after I had kids. One thing that Whit LOVED was a swing. It swings both front and side ways. It's a little more expensive, but we would have died without it. MacKay doesn't love it as much, but it still saves us on some of those long nights.
Another thing that I love are LARGE swaddling blankets. Carters has some really nice big ones. Babies grow so quickly so it's nice to have large swaddling blankets.
Oh, and have LOTS of diapers!! But you know that!!
One more thing: I LOVE having a boppy pillow, but some of my friends like the "Breast Friend Pillow" better. I don't use my Boppy to nurse anymore, but I did use it in the Hospital, which was really nice.
agree with the things everyone else wrote... in addition I only like pj's that zip rather than snap because when you are changing diapers in the middle of the night the last thing you want to do is snap a lot of buttons with a crying and kicking baby. also, I have used alot of carriers and the baby bjorn is the best! Once Upon a child in dublin often has them for cheap and I think this is the best store ever for things you need that you dont get from your shower and as the little one continues to grow.
Sherri
I'm so excited you're having a baby! I do agree, most baby products will just be your preference, but if I had to name ONE thing that I couldn't/wouldn't want to live without, it would actually be a book/parenting philosophy. The book is called "On becoming Babywise". You may have heard of it. The main thing they talk about is how to get your baby to sleep through the night soon. Although I don't follow everything they recommend to a T, I do follow most of it and I love it. Janice was sleeping 7 hrs a night by 7 weeks old, and Emily even slept 9 hrs last night (10 weeks). Getting sleep myself makes such a huge difference for my attitude and patience as a mother during the day, so I am incredibly grateful for this book. It also focuses on structure and routine, and that is another must for me, so it's truly been a gift from heaven for me.
As for the other stuff you mentioned, we've never had a high chair, just used the $25 booster seat from Walmart and it's great. It saves a ton of space, can easily be taken to friend's house/on vacation, and is still working great for Janice at 26 months. I loved that we could even take it when we went up the canyons for dinner and strap it to the bench so Janice could sit right next to us at the table when she was under 1 yr old. So fun and convenient.
As for breast pumps, I have the Medela Harmony hand pump. I'm sure the electric ones are amazing, but since I don't have to use it too often it works just fine and it was only like $40!
Happy shopping!
(If you end up being interested in the book at all there's also a blog I can tell you about that's been super helpful, just let me know.)
Ok. Yes, Medela pump for sure! Double and electric. I like Avent bottles, but you have to get a little adapter for the pump.
Carseats, Graco over Baby Trend, (we've used both, if it comes down to those two at all) b/c Graco's are easier to move the handle and get in and out of the car.
A jogger with a front pivoting wheel. But also a snap-n-go for when you're not jogging. We LOVE our snap-n-go, it's just so much easier to transport than a big travel system stroller! I know Baby Trend and Graco both make them, and they are universal, so whatever carseat brand you end up getting should be able to fit on it.
Diapers: Pampers swaddlers for newborns up to size 2, then you can go for Huggies(cheaper at Costco). Swaddlers work sooo well!
Also, don't forget the nipple shield for the first few weeks (maybe less) of nursing...such a lifesaver, that is unless your baby is a champion nurser right out of the womb...you never know!
Oh, and make sure you have a really amazing glider/recliner, cause you'll be spending lots of time in it, day and night...
Dang I'm so excited, and so bummed we won't get to meet him for so long! Good luck with the next 3 months!
Oh, and a swing too. We LOVE our Graco ocean wonders one, it has lights, music, and it swings both ways. And I know lots of people tell you not to let your babies sleep in them, but let me tell ya, both of ours did, and it worked like a champ!
I really like our Peg Pereggo car seat and stroller. Light weight and compact is VERY important. I really like my Bumbo seat and also, we don't use high chairs, just a booster at te kitchen table. That way, baby sits with all of us at the table and it saves space! Congrats! So excited for you! It's an awesome adventure!
Yay babies! Okay, here goes my list:
We really like our booster chair, it's a Fisher Price Space Saver and for us it's nice because we're still in smaller places and we can take it on/off easily if we need the extra chair. It also converts into a toddler booster later.
I also really liked having a bouncy chair; the swings not so much...I just didn't use it that long so it seemed like a bit of a waste when Hallie was just as content in the chair-just one of those personal preference things. Both of my kids LOVE the jolly jumper, and I'm a big fan of my jogging stroller (cheapest one a Wallymart...I think it's In-step?) it's nothing fancy but I love the smaller size of it and the way it folds down (it's too bad you can't take all the strollers to your car to try fitting them in your trunk before buying one!)-tried the "travel system" for a bit and we really did not get along well.
I also LOVE (and so does Peter) my "Moby Wrap"! Mine's not actually "Moby" brand, just one my mom bought at a craft fair, but once you get the hang of wrapping them they are so nice!
Zipper pj's are the best! Carter's are my favorite.
Also, starting at about 5-6 months the "first fruit feeder" became my best friend! It's a little mesh bag with a loop on one end; food goes in the bag, baby hold loop, baby chews on food in bag, baby and mom are happy with minimal mess (bonus)! They're also great for teething, as we'd put an ice cube in it and let Hallie go at it...in fact I think I should go do that for Peter right now; he's not a happy teether!
Just my two-cents, good luck!
Okay so I told you already but I got a nursing pillow and used it maybe twice, so that was a waste for me.
I suggest borrowing all the stuff that you can due to the small amount of storage we have in our condos. I borrowed a bouncer and she used that for about 4 months. We never got a swing so Tatum didn't know any different. We did get a playing mat that she could play on her back and reach for the toys above her. She used that for 6 months and I liked that a lot. The toys are detachable and you can use them on strollers and car seats.
I also have liked the baby trend jogger stroller and a nicer umbrella stroller is worth the investment. It's nice to take a smaller stroller for quick errands when they get big enough for one.
For the breast pump I had told you I loved the Medela pump, but I have nothing else to compare it too. It's been so fantastic.
I loved pampers when she was a newborn and now I am a big fan of the sam's club diapers. It's all just a personal thing i think and depends on the baby if they get rashes or just the way each baby is shaped differently.
What else??? Oh for a diaper bag I loved the one that Sara H made me. It had lots of pockets inside for organizing and then two side pockets perfect for bottles on the go. You can spend a lot on diaper bags or as little as you want. I got a nicer one for like church but it's just a bigger purse with lost of pockets.
Some stuff you will just have to try out and see what you and the baby will like. You can borrow anything of ours if you want.
Happy baby shopping!!
My 2 cents...
The Miracle Blanket! It's a swaddling blanket and it is amazing!!
Aveeno baby products!
Aden + Anais blankets! They even sell them at Target now. They are light weight and you will love that in the summer!
Lastly, for you... salt water & gauze! Promise, it'll save your life after those first few nursing sessions. Re-apply after every feed... it's work but I swear, It'll save you! It's like when you have a sore throat... gargling w/ salt water really is the best since that is what are bodies are made up of.
Anyways. So exciting for you!!
(No diaper genie!)The one thing I took back because I didn't like, was the diaper genie! Plus who wants to hoard a bunch of stinky diapers in a garbage can for a week? I just use the walmart plastic bags that I saved and put the dirty diapers in there and immediately throw them out!
(breast pump)I loved the medela pump, but there are even better pumps than that, whatever it is the hospital uses (find out) they are amazing, but really expensive!
(baby monitor) This is the thing that I never used, but always wished I had bought one!
(aquafor) I LOVE aquafor! OH my goodness it is the best, it is for chapped, dry skin!
(desitin) Get lots of desitin! Make sure it has zinc oxide in it or it won't do the trick!
(Lansinoh) Make sure to take care of YOU! Lansinoh cream is also a dry, cracked skin but you use this for ---I have to say it--your sore nipples!!! LOL! Make sure you relax a lot especially when nursing, you don't want to ever get clogged milk ducts or mastitis! I had mastitis about 3-4 different times when I had my first baby! It is the worst! Use heat pads on your chest before and after nursing to help milk flow.
I think I could go on forever! But I think your friends covered carseats and strollers already. Good luck!!!
I know how you feel. Baby items are purely on preference and you end up learning what works and what doesn't. The only thing I can say is that Aquaphor changed my life. It's made by Eucerin and it's expensive as heck...but it will solve all of baby's skin problems: diaper rash, red rashes on their mouth from drooling, and sometimes for a little of their facial acne. It'll heal about anything. A little bit goes a long way!
Hope you're enjoying pregnancy! I'm sure you look darling, my dear!
p.s. if you plan on nursing, get as many of those freebie Lansinoh tubes from the hospital. They will be your saving grace! :)
So you probably have already registered but one thing I registered for that I am so happy that I got was a baby first aid kit. Mine is from Target & the brand is red cross. I've used it a ton more than I thought. It came with tummy gas drops, infant tylenol & all that stuff. Its just nice to have on hand. Also, I have to say one thing that you can't register for but that I have loved is I purchased a thermometer from Sam's Club. The brand is Exergen (i think I paid $30) and I love it because you don't have to stick it anywhere! You just run it across the forehead and it tells you the temp. so you can do it even when they are sleeping. The brand is the same that Averi's doctor uses in his office so I took mine in to test it against there's and the results were the same. Hope you are feeling good! I'm starting to feel large and I've started with the waddle! We don't have long to go though!
Post a Comment