Help for someone who is baby-stupid

[hokiegirl82]

So I going to be completely honest and admit that I know really nothing about babies. I am the youngest in my family, never babysat growing up, and really have never been around babies other than holding friends' kids for a few minutes at a time.

that being said, does anyone know a good resource for a basic checklist of what first-time parents need? I know the obvious stuff - crib, diapers, etc., but i don't know all of the basics that a newborn needs.

I am planning on turning down any offers for baby showers so H and I will be purchasing everything ourselves. I don't plan on buying anything until early next year, but i'd like to get a start on making a list - i love lists!

[catsarecute]

Are you on Pinterest? I've been seeing a lot of great registry basic lists floating around there.

www.buybuybaby.com/store/registry/RegistryChecklist

This blog has a simple list of items that a newborn needs.

thisladyshouse.com/content/new-baby-checklists

[Deleted]

Lucie's List

[natablue]

Dec 10, 2013 17:54:12 GMT -5 @missy1 said:

Lucie's List

Yes this. Lucie's List was especially helpful weeding through all the options when it came to picking a stroller, car seat, etc. She writes in a refreshing way that is blunt and relatable.

[picksthemusic]

Seriously, this is a great book. I loved it.

www.amazon.com/Heading-Home-Your-Newborn-Reality/dp/1581104448/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1386718310&sr=1-1&keywords=bringing+home+your+newborn

[rainorshine]

Dec 10, 2013 17:20:50 GMT -5 hokiegirl82 said:

So I going to be completely honest and admit that I know really nothing about babies. I am the youngest in my family, never babysat growing up, and really have never been around babies other than holding friends' kids for a few minutes at a time.

that being said, does anyone know a good resource for a basic checklist of what first-time parents need? I know the obvious stuff - crib, diapers, etc., but i don't know all of the basics that a newborn needs.

I am planning on turning down any offers for baby showers so H and I will be purchasing everything ourselves. I don't plan on buying anything until early next year, but i'd like to get a start on making a list - i love lists!

I could have written this exactly.  I'll be taking notes. 

[pixiedust]

Dec 10, 2013 18:33:21 GMT -5 rainorshine said:

Dec 10, 2013 17:20:50 GMT -5 hokiegirl82 said:

I could have written this exactly.  I'll be taking notes. 

Tritto.

[simpsongal]

If it makes you feel any better, I know very little too. They won't let you leave the hospital without some basic training. Plus, there's the GBCN resource too. I plan on reading through a book call Baby 4-1-1.

[sookie]

Take a deep breath. What a newborn needs is a safe place to sleep, diapers, breastmilk or formula, and someone to love him/her and provide cuddles and comfort. It sounds like I'm over simplifying, but I'm really not. For us, we needed lots of warm footed sleepers, a battery operated nasal aspirator (we suck with the bulb one), and our K'tan wrap. At about 3.5 weeks we discovered HJ only will sleep on us (though mostly me) or in her full size swing. We went through a LOT of trial and error. I'm breastfeeding so we don't need bottles, though I'm also pumping and going back to work so we do have some. My husband likes putting a bib on her to use instead of a burp cloth. Our wipe warmer has made middle of the night diaper changes a happier experience for everyone. We have a white noise machine that's been wonderful too, but we could've used one of our phones instead if we needed to. Receiving blankets can be used for a lot of things, and are rarely blankets in our house, so a pack of those is good too.

[sookie]

Oh, and obviously a car seat and an extra base if you have two cars.

[sookie]

Don't worry too much about what the stores say a new baby needs. It's their job to get you to register for or spend lots and lots of money, so there's stuff on there you might never need or won't need for MONTHS. I definitely recommend looking at Lucie's List and other real moms lists like other posters suggested.

[IndiaInk]

Dec 10, 2013 17:20:50 GMT -5 hokiegirl82 said:

I am planning on turning down any offers for baby showers so H and I will be purchasing everything ourselves. I don't plan on buying anything until early next year, but i'd like to get a start on making a list - i love lists!

Yes! My kind of woman!  

I don't know much about babies either, but DH practically raised his little brothers so I take comfort that we'll keep the kid alive somehow.  I also have found Lucie's List to be very helpful, as I would like to believe that babies don't need half the crap people think they do. We haven't bought much besides a stroller and a carseat yet, but I've used Lucie's List to make my own list of specific items we'll be buying.  

[D2M]

Just curious as to why you'll turn down offers for showers?

[hokiegirl82]

Dec 11, 2013 11:57:52 GMT -5 D2M said:

Just curious as to why you'll turn down offers for showers?

First wanted to say thanks for the advice everyone - I'll be taking a look at the lists when I get home tonight!

I mainly plan on turning down offers for showers because to be completely honest, I hate being the center of attention when it comes to something like a shower - I'm an introvert and I'm uncomfortable when attention is on me. My mom asked me if I wanted a bridal shower when we were planning our wedding, and I said no, the wedding would be enough attention on me and him (we still had a surprise ouples shower thrown by a cousin that was just family but that was fun and laid back). And the other reason is because I am kinda embarrassed about my friend situation. I have lost contact with a lot of friends from high school and college, and I'm just not a very social person, and the guest list to a baby shower would be very embarrasing for me since I have very few friends. (My SIL, who I love dearly, has offered to throw me a shower and she has many close friends and is very social, and I would be even more embarrassed at the fact that I have so few friends compared to her circle of people). I know this is a silly reason not to want a shower but I would rather forgo the awkwardness and embarrassment.

[D2M]

hokiegirl82, gotcha. No need to be embarassed. A family-only shower, like your bridal shower, could be laid back and fun, but if it causes you stress, no need to have one if you don't want. You should definitely register, though, because people will want to give you gifts.