Couple more comments, reading through other responses: I still don't understand the need for a mattress cover and pad. We have a crib mattress, then we put sheets on that. The mattress is waterproof. Why would I need another waterproof layer? I actually know no one in real life who has anything between their crib mattress and the sheet.
White noise: I'd go for the actual machine. Sleep Sheep is kind of useless for that, because it switches off after 45 minutes max. We have the Munchkin sound machine/projector and have used it daily for six months with no issues. It runs all night. It does take an outlet, so consider that, but it's not very big and costs ~$20.
Don't bother with the sleep sheep. It shuts off after 45 minutes or something...exactly at the end of the 2nd sleep cycle. Totally maddening. We use my old iPod on a docking station. Your phone won't work unless you don't want to ever use it while baby sleeps. A sound machine would be fine and many are reasonably portable.
I love that oxo wipes dispenser. I didn't want a warmer but DH never mastered the wrist flick so I was having to open up the whole wipes container every time. So irritating. I love the oxo container. So much nicer!
Post by dcrunnergirl52 on Mar 29, 2013 18:10:34 GMT -5
I totally agree with others on the sleep sheep. it's decent for daycare but completely frustrating at home that it goes of after 45 minutes, right at the end of the baby's sleep cycle. we have the projector/white noise machine and it's perfect.
Car seat mirror is not recommended. It becomes a big safety hazard.
Sleep sheep sucks. Go for a sound machine.
Don't buy a lot of bottles because you don't know what kind your baby will take to. Same with extra nipples. You won't need them for awhile and if you buy Brand X nipples but baby takes Brand Y you'll be left with extra nipples.
As someone who lives in a small house with no storage, don't stock up on sheets.
DS wouldn't take a paci, a swaddleme, or a sleep sack. We had so many of those 3 items.
Don't get a lot of gear(I know you said you're getting a lot from you SIL, but it can quickly take over). We had a FP Travel Swing that had a swing and vibration part. It didn't take up a lot of room. Downside is it required batteries.
I know there have been some other mentions of this, but I'll just throw out there that we have had really good luck with the diaper genie. We were in an apartment too and it held in the smell great and we could stuff a ridiculous amount of diapers in there. Even 2 and a half years later it is still going strong for us. I recommend doing the refills through Amazon subscribe and save - by far the best price.
And Dr. Brown's are a huge pain to clean, but did seem to keep DS's gas under control. We used the newborn nipples for a long time (about 6 months) to help him go back and forth between the bottle and breast without issue.
Post by UnderProtest on Mar 29, 2013 21:07:34 GMT -5
Eeeh, you will need a couple sheets so you will have to stock up a bit (2-3). You don't want to be doing laundry at 4am when they spit up after a night feeding.
I don't have a lot of storage space, but I found it easier to have stuff and organize it before I had kids than after. But you may not want to open everything until you know it works.
I bought the oxo dispenser last week. LOVE it. Much easier than the little packs. I also use half as many wipes because a whole hunk comes out. i have no idea how anyone survives without the car mirror. I check on kid every other minute. How else would you know to yell to keep them awake? Disclaimer: I drive her around a LOT. more than three crib sheets is total overkill. Get the sound machine. It's just as portable as the sheep and is more useful.
Post by imojoebunny on Mar 29, 2013 21:51:55 GMT -5
My kids never had a crib. We borrowed one for dd, but ended up giving it back at 7 months because she never slept in it. It was a big space saver to use the pack n play. DS slept in it until he was 3.5. DD until she was 2.5. We also have large Ikea bookshelves in both kids rooms, the Expidit one is the one that is currently available. We have the 5x5 cube one in DS's room and a bed, that's it. It holds all his toys, bedding, books, clothes, and other random stuff like dehumidifyer. It looks tidy and organized and he can reach his toys and things. This let us have his room as a guest room until he was about 1.5 (we just moved the pack n play into our room when we had visitors, and left the regular bed we had in there), then he had a playroom/bedroom, even though his room is small.
I would hope for small toys, books, and clothes in various sizes from your registry, along with car seats, a great stroller, and an ergo or the like.
So the nipples and the breastfeeding -- even if you feed pumped bottles, you want to stick to the slower flow nipples so baby doesn't get used to a faster flow from the bottle and then reject your breast.
This, or even if rejection issues aren't a concern, you don't want your child to drink BM so quickly that he/she is outpacing what you can pump. DD was guzzling down between 21 and 24 ounces when I was away from her for a full day at 7 or 8 months. I made sure as heck she was still on slow-flow nipples. I can only imagine how much more she would have been downing with a faster flow nipple.
I will keep quiet about everything else as I see that not everyone interprets the word "minimalist" the way I do.
We started in a 500 square foot studio, and I made room for the oxo wipe dispenser. I love that thing. More because it appeals to my love of sleek, white decor than for its function, but it is useful. Baby items are so subjective, so don't easily be talked into/out of items that, after researching, you have decided are right for you.
I'm gathering that you went to KU. Me too. Rock Chalk! Best of luck with your baby-to-be!
I think you are doing a good job so far of keeping the gear down to a minimum. My biggest issue isn't even gear or toys but storage for clothes. As DS outgrows everything, I am running out of room in the closet and under his crib. I actually wish we have friends who have younger kids so I can pass the clothes around. Newborn clothing and 3-6mo clothing barely got worn, they all look brand new.
I think you are doing a good job so far of keeping the gear down to a minimum. My biggest issue isn't even gear or toys but storage for clothes. As DS outgrows everything, I am running out of room in the closet and under his crib. I actually wish we have friends who have younger kids so I can pass the clothes around. Newborn clothing and 3-6mo clothing barely got worn, they all look brand new.
Do you have a local consignment store? As soon as he's outgrown his clothes I take it down to the store and resell it. I get 40% of the sale price in cash or 45% in store credit which I can use towards new or used items (and the store carries new Melissa and Doug toys, various organic baby toiletries, Planet Wise products, etc.) I love it, I'd probably get a bit more if I sold on Craigslist, but she gets higher prices overall in her store and it's easy to get out of my house. Anything that doesn't sell in three months is donated.
I think you are doing a good job so far of keeping the gear down to a minimum. My biggest issue isn't even gear or toys but storage for clothes. As DS outgrows everything, I am running out of room in the closet and under his crib. I actually wish we have friends who have younger kids so I can pass the clothes around. Newborn clothing and 3-6mo clothing barely got worn, they all look brand new.
Do you have a local consignment store? As soon as he's outgrown his clothes I take it down to the store and resell it. I get 40% of the sale price in cash or 45% in store credit which I can use towards new or used items (and the store carries new Melissa and Doug toys, various organic baby toiletries, Planet Wise products, etc.) I love it, I'd probably get a bit more if I sold on Craigslist, but she gets higher prices overall in her store and it's easy to get out of my house. Anything that doesn't sell in three months is donated.
Thanks for the idea! We want to TTC #2 soon, so I don't want to get rid of them yet just yet. So, again, the problem of storage. We've been looking for a house to buy so we will have more storage soon enough. If we weren't having another kid, I would have donated everything already. I actually did donate gear that were just too big for our current apartment.