Intro and What else do I need to buy for the fist few days?

[smsm24]

Hi, I have been hanging out on the Got Pregnant board since my BFP in May and lurking here as well.  I have learned a ton and now that i am 0-5 weeks from having an outside baby I am excited to participate more.  Anyhow, on to my question.  What do I need to have on hand for when the baby comes?  We have the big stuff (car seat, bassinet, crib, clothing, blankets, freezer meals, etc.) and on my list to get this week are
For Baby:
Dippers 
dipper cream
wipes
baby wash


For Me:
Pads (any suggestions on what type, i haven't worn a pad in 20 years)
Breast Pads
Nipple Cream

What else should i be getting while i am out? 

    

[mannah]

Hi and congratulations!

I would have some burp cloths and swaddle blankets ready too. Pacifier if you plan to use one, and have all baby clothes washed and ready to use.

[kdubs923]

Totally random, but one of the first things I needed for the baby (like sent my husband home from the hospital to get them) was nail clippers. He came out with ridiculously long nails.

[jr009j]

A giant water cup

I liked having puppy pads to sit on just in case.

[pinotgrig]

RNP
Ibuprofen
Boppy
Nipple cream
Nursing clothes (bras and stretch tanks)
Always infinity pads (though I wore the glamorous mesh undies at home for a week or so)
Big water cup (the one from the hospital was perfect)
Easy snack foods

Congrats and GL! Can't wait to hear your birth story!

[pinotgrig]

Also, swaddling blankets or halo Swaddle sack (can you use that on a newborn? I forget already.)
Gas drops

[gretchenindisguise]

Stool Softener.
Hemmie cream and tucks pads.

Nursing tanks (I like the Gillian O'Malley ones from target).

[Deleted]

You should buy or gather TEN tank tops.  They don't need to be nursing tank tops but just easy to pull down. 

Changing pad disposable pads.  These are so neccesary at first with meconium and new parent foolishness and just general baby incontinence.

www.amazon.com/Munchkin-Hammer-Disposable-Changing-Count/dp/B002KCMSPQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1419959455&sr=1-1&keywords=disposable+changing+pads

Paper plates and cups.  No time for dishes!

Snacks!

Little tiny baby hats unless you are ready to go all Psycho New Mom on people who ask you why your baby doesn't have one.  Yes even if you are only going from the car to the doctor's office.  Crazy baby detectives are everywhere!

[smsm24]

thanks for all the great ideas. I am adding a few things to my list and feeling a little better because i am not as un-prepared (stuff wise at least) as i though.

[hski2349]

Some formula. Even if you plan to breast feed, you may run into issues. I would also recommend getting some snacks, or whatever else you may want to eat.

[thebreakfastclub]

regular pads
Colace
swaddle sacks
couple different paciifer brands

Unpopular opinion, but I opened nothing nursing-related and was glad when I was able to return it all when the baby was 5 days old. LOL

[Deleted]

I also wore a ridiculous number of tank tops. I think I wore Bravado nursing tanks and a soft lounge-wear jacket (without zipper, I was worried about the baby laying his head on the zipper) for 2 weeks! Good suggestion. I actually had a couple of lounge-wear jackets (soft jersey with no zippers) that I wore.

A few different pairs of yoga pants.

I agree, large cup for water. in fact, I used the plastic cup that the hospital gave us.

I used a lot of Always 3x drier pads. I actually wore them for about 3 weeks. In week 4 post partume, I transitioned to pantyliners.

I set up a little table in our bathroom with all my post-partum bath rooming crap. I had a 3rd degree tear (after epistomety) so bathrooming was a multi-step, multi-product process.

Snacks and individual drinks like gatorade, juices, etc.

I have a lot of storage space and was stocked up on everything non-perishable.

We had a boy, and I've since bought a cheap pack of washcloths from target to use as pee-shields. We have been soaked multuple times ...these help we cover him with them!





Also, we had tons of meals frozen. Actually, still do. I have not done anything but thaw (or order take oUT ) in 5 weeks. It's been amazing.

[jeaniebueller]

Granny panties one or two sizes up from your regular size. Trust, you don't want to wear anything cute the first few weeks/months (yeah, I am 6 months pp and my incision still makes bikini cut underwear uncomfortable)
Maxi pads. Lots of them. Always infinity is a good bet.
RNP
Lots of snacks or convenience foods
Tons of burp cloths and bibs. More than you think you will need.
Pacifiers (we liked the soothie kind like they give in the hospital)

Also, gripe water or gas drops are great to have on hand.

[Deleted]

Dec 30, 2014 13:27:52 GMT -5 thebreakfastclub said:

regular pads
Colace
swaddle sacks
couple different paciifer brands

Unpopular opinion, but I opened nothing nursing-related and was glad when I was able to return it all when the baby was 5 days old. LOL

I did the same, although I ended up using some of it! Good idea.

I kept the baby coupons and samples at hand - helpful when we needed to use them.

[Poppy]

I did not like the Always pads I bought -specifically the top surface was made of some plastic mesh and the *ahem* adhesion was... not good. I bought some Stayfree pads that had a cottony surface and those were much better. I also used the mesh panties, pads, tucks pads, and peri bottle from the hospital.

- COLACE!
- Lotion - our hands got super dry from washing so much
- Diapers and wipes
- Somewhere for baby to sleep (we use pack n play because my husband got freaked out that the RnP violates the safe sleep guidelines)
- Swaddle blankets or sacks (we like the ergo baby sacks)
- Onesies and/or footed bodysuits
- Emory board for trimming nails
- Baby washcloths for sponge bathing




If nursing:
- Agree with tons of tank tops. I did not like nursing tanks for a good couple of weeks
- Nalgene or other large water bottle and snacks
- Cabbage leaves OR gel pads (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00643FRUA) for engorgement
- Shells for relieving sore nipples (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000058DPN)
- Nipple cream of some kind
- Pump (manual is OK) to use sparingly to relieve engorgement or to use more frequently in case of latch issues
- ALL the burp cloths, towels, etc since there will be milk everywhere
- I loved having some breastfeeding references available for the middle of the night although of course the internet can work too
- Phone number for lactation consultant or hospital nurse desk
- Nursing pillow
- Open front cardigans or bathrobes
- Baby tracking app for keeping track of nursing and diapers (or just a pen and paper obviously)

[niq]

I like Poppy's list. You can get a lot of must-haves in a baby "first aid kit" -- we got one as a shower present that had nail clippers, a nail file, a suction bulb, and a handful of other things. You might be able to snag a lot of those things from the hospital, but you might not.

Also, welcome!

[VillainV]

Nursing pillow if you plan to BF

A few bottles and a little formula (pre-mixed) just in case

Pacifiers (a few different kinds, kids are picky)

Lots of burp cloths (cheapie cloth diapers are great for all kinds of messes too)

Receiving blankets or swaddle blankets

Lanolin nipple ointment and breast pads (I liked disposable at first)

[Poppy]

Dec 30, 2014 17:40:33 GMT -5 niq said:

I like Poppy's list.

Thanks, although I'm suddenly self conscious about all the TMI and talk of adhesion, lol. I need to do a "no boys allowed" spoiler thingy next time.

[Poppy]

Oh, and make sure you're well stocked on laundry detergent, hand soap, paper towels and dish soap!

[bluelikejazz]

Buy newborn diapers, but don't open them. Tape the receipt to the box. Some babies start in size one, while we will end up going through two (maybe three) boxes of newborn.

Have lotion in every room, and buy some fun new hand soap, since you'll be washing your hands all the time.

I used milk of magnesia instead of colace for the first two weeks (much stronger), then switched to colace (am still taking it 5 weeks PP).

And welcome!

[bluelikejazz]

Also, some frozen pizza/burritos/etc if you haven't already stocked up on meals.

And I've loved having herbal and decaf tea around to switch it up from water all the time.

[smsm24]

thank, all of the suggestions are helping my list. Now i just have to play the gift card shuffle and see how much of this i can get without having to use our own money. After that i may take bets on how many times i send DH to Target for odd baby things or embarrassing lady stuff (at least it's only 6 blocks away)

[mae141]

Nursing tanks or tanks with shelf bras- I needed the support even for my tiny boobs, and once my milk came in, regular tanks moved around too much and rubbed and I would leak everywhere.
Nipple shield
Juice boxes
Muffins (make some and freeze them)
Granola bars
I kept a little cooler of snacks and juice in the nursery for the middle of the night. I was starving all the time.
Long overnight pads
Ibuprofen
Paper plates, cups, etc.
Colace

Those were the things I was sending people out to get for me in the beginning.

[Blue Moon]

My favorite thing has been the Old Navy Tami tanks. I use them as nursing tanks (they are so stretchy!) and I bought them for $5/piece.

For me, I actually didn't wind up needing granny panties or giant pads. I had a csection but was more comfortable in my regular underwear and pads. I stocked up on giant boxes of pads that are useless now.

For the baby, I was out getting gas drops and gripe water early on. I would definitely have those on hand ahead of time for the next LO.

[D2M]

The Happiest Baby on the Block DVD. Watch it, learn it, live it.

My Brest Friend pillow.

Swing.

Dummy-proof swaddles (we loved Halo Velcro swaddles)

Lol at baby detectives @notquiteblushing. I had a summer baby and people still gave me stink eye about stuff like socks falling off.

[jeaniebueller]

One more thing, your pp hormones will be going crazy and I always went from hot to cold to hot again. I lived in t shirts or tank tops with zip up hoodie sweatshirts and yoga pants/sweet pants while I was on leave.