Is Susie hiding in a corner crying yet? This thread can't be helpful!
I think, bottom line, is to have a few options around for trial and error in the early days. Don't spend a lot of money on anything they will use for 6 months or less. Buy used when you can, but a few items may be best new (pack and play is one I can think of).
Post by carolinagirl831 on Jul 30, 2015 21:18:47 GMT -5
Oh I love the my breast friend pillow! I can sit up in bed and practically sleep sitting up and Dd doesn't shift I actually just took it on the airplane. Dd had a comy lap pillow!
DS didn't like/we didn't need Jumperoo Swaddling things-- he hated being swaddled. Hated. Breast pads--I never leaked once. Weird? Cart cover Carriers other than the Ergo "Travel system"-- I hated that chicco stroller. Rage!
I finally put ours out in the garbage. It broke! Maybe mine was defective.
Weird! I bought one for my parents' house and took it with me when we moved. It does a great job of containing dirty diaper smells better than a regular trash can.
So here is where I weigh in...any device that keeps diapers more than a couple of days will smell. The diaper genie holds how many? Too many. I cloth diaper and do laundry every three days and use a regular diaper pail...no smell problem
bottle warmer, wipe warmer, giant pack n play, tummy time mat, system type stroller/car seat, swaddles with velcro (Aden and Anais all the way!), fancy crib bedding, the actual crib (it has been used 6 months out of 4 kids), window shades (they fall off and I just pull up the canopy if the sun is in their eyes. I may be back with more, I have had all of the stuff and have many regrets
Fails were baby wearing, breast feeding and the swing. DS didn't spit up or get sick, so burp cloths and the nose frida were useless.
Every time you post, I feel like I gave birth to your child's clone.
I must have given birth to your kids' opposite! I breastfeed and baby wear, and DD liked the swing, spit up a ton, and had a constant runny nose for months.
Multiple kinds of bottles. We've finally settled on Dr. Brown's and like them.
I'm glad we got a used swing. DS likes it ok, but it's definitely not a priority.
I'm torn on the rock n play. I don't regret getting it, but we used it for only about 5 weeks before moving him to his crib and I think he would have been just fine on a flat surface from the get go.
Do not get a bumbo. By the time we could start using it, we could barley squeeze DS's thighs into it. It got used for a couple of days before we gave up.
eta: Burp cloths. We ended up buying a couple packs of ikea kitchen towels. You need a hell of a lot more material if your kid spits up a lot. Burp cloths don't cut it.
- Diaper Dekor is literally the worst - Moby, I have zero patience for it - Sophie the Giraffe, none of my kids have cared about it at all - Boppy was used approximately three times with DD1 because I MUCH preferred my breast friend. I do use it a million times a day now though because we put Q in it for bottle feeding.
So here is where I weigh in...any device that keeps diapers more than a couple of days will smell. The diaper genie holds how many? Too many. I cloth diaper and do laundry every three days and use a regular diaper pail...no smell problem
I empty it twice a week and have had no issue with smell, truly.
Same here. We tried a trashcan (when I was intending to cloth diaper) and it didn't smell, per se, but his room was weird and musty. The diaper genie contains everything so much better. We do empty it a couple times a week because it gets full, but not because of smell. I'm a fan.
So here is where I weigh in...any device that keeps diapers more than a couple of days will smell. The diaper genie holds how many? Too many. I cloth diaper and do laundry every three days and use a regular diaper pail...no smell problem
I empty it twice a week and have had no issue with smell, truly.
We have the munchkin arm and hammer pail and empty it about twice a week. It contains the smells too. I have a few friends who use regular trash cans and their nurseries make me gag. It stinks.
I hated the moby wrap. I also never really used a boppy or much in the way of BF paraphernalia.
Exersaucer, PNP, RNP, bumbo, swing, bouncy seat all get enough use to make them worthwhile for us - those are items you see alllll the time on bst groups/at garage sales.
I have a BOB and city select and we have gotten our $ worth out of those for sure.
Post by hbomdiggity on Jul 30, 2015 22:17:03 GMT -5
I returned the swing for a mamaroo. We just don't have the space for a huge swing.
I was about ready the pack away the bouncer, but he is taking to it now that he is heavier and able to bounce himself now.
As someone who didn't think she was crunchy enough for carriers, I actually like the true wrap carriers, like the moby. My only complaint about the moby is the thick fabric so I just ordered a solly baby.
I recommend registering at a couple places. That way you can stagger your completion discounts so you can take time to decide on certain items.
You're probay near tears after reading this far, but I will caution you against any diaper bag that doesn't zip closed.(I'm looking at you, skip hop duo.) that bag WILL upend itself in the most inconvenient place possible and then you'll be chasing every tiny blessed item as they frantically try to escape your fingers. Spare yourself the trouble
I am a big fan of my skip hop bento bag. It's great when we're out of the house all day and I like the lunch box and side cooler pockets.
If at all possible, I would try to find some Facebook buy and swap pages in your area and get a feel for the type of items that are sold. I was able to buy any of the big things I wanted to try (jumperoo, exersaucer, swing) and then resell them for the same price when he was done with them. Most of those items are useful for such a short time it's nice to use them and get them out of the house again without costing your anything.
Post by awkwardpenguin on Jul 30, 2015 22:38:10 GMT -5
Definitely buy most things used if you're doing most of the buying yourself. I found a ton of stuff on the B/S/T here and on Craigslist. We got our stroller, Boppy, baby bathtub, Moby, swaddle wraps, play mat, and tons of cloth diapers that way.
Don't forget you can have almost anything next day for cheap with Amazon Prime, so if you're unsure about something, hold off and get it later. We don't have a Pack n Play or baby monitor and haven't needed them yet. We also didn't get any stuff needed after six months because we'll get it later.
Swing Pacifiers (none of my kids would take one--I tried) Burp cloths (a couple would have been fine, but we had way too many--none of my kids really spit up) Loveys (I swear we must have received 28 Angel Dear loveys as gifts between the three boys, and not one of my kids wanted anything to do with them)
I used the Boppy some at first put quit bothering with it pretty early on. I could have done without.
I guess my best advice is to think about your living space and general preferences pre-baby. I don't like messenger or backpack purses...so I don't like those diaper bags either. I don't run so I don't need a jogging stroller. Go through your house and think, "okay, I want to make dinner/take a shower/answer the door. Where do I put the baby?" If you have a one bedroom apartment those answers will likely be the same. For us, we have a two story house so we keep a pNp on the main level so we aren't always running up and down stairs (crucial after a c-section!) to change diapers and set him somewhere safe.
Some things are baby preference of course, but a lot of things we use (jumperoo, playmat, PNP) are basically there for safe baby containment and as long as they tolerate it for short periods of time that's all that matters.
I also think minimalism is a bit overrated when it comes to babies. Sure, swings are pretty big, but it's there for maybe six months of your life. If your kid likes it and it gives you a few minutes to rest, by all means, looking at ugly plastic shit temporarily is worth it.
I think you just need a place to set them down in the areas of the house you frequent. Variety is good on fussy days. I use my pack n play, rnp, mamaroo, bouncer, & play mat at some point nearly every day. I don't expect any of them to make her happy for that long, though; just a safe change of pace.
I really like my ktan & ergo. If you want to use a carrier, Id start with a ktan or moby or something for tiny babies, and if she likes it, go for an ergo-type carrier as she grows. In the stroller dept, I'm guessing you might get a bob? If so, you might want something lighter weight to keep in the car. My personal preference is a snap n go, & then a lightweight umbrella stroller as they grow out of the infant car seat.
So far, the only thing I'm meh about is the K'Tan. I plan to switch to my mei tai as soon as he's gained another pound or two. And soothie pacis--he doesn't seem to care for them (grrr most of the babies I care for love them), but DH and I resolved today to try other pacis. Not liking the Bamboobies--leaked through them today in a span of two hours
Loving so far: Swaddles--woombie and modswad Ubbi diaper pail RnP My PnP with the napper and changing pad on top. It also has shelves to hold his diapers, wipes, butt cream, extra clothes and burp cloths... Simple Wishes hands free pumping bra
Bamboobies haven't worked for me yet in the beginning stage of BFing. I am leaking way too much at this point so disposable is the way to go. But with DD1 I loved them once my milk regulated. So there's still a chance!
Boppy - we've used a regular pillow with much more success.
Diaper Genie - my FIL insisted I needed one and bought it when E was 1 week old. It hasn't been used in months. That may be partly because it's located on the other side of the house though
Changing pad - I was 100% convinced I needed this. Especially for our room so MOTN diaper changes were more convenient. We've been putting a towel on the end if the couch and using that forever and still change all of her diapers there. My cats sleep on the changing pad now.
Onesies. With DS I assumed "this is what a baby wears" because that's what I saw for sale everywhere. But constantly pulling clothes over a baby's head was a huge PITA. I discovered zip-up footed sleepers when DS was almost too old for them, and I was like "WHY DIDN'T I FIND THESE SOONER?!?" I've dressed DD almost exclusively in them since she was born. Much better.
Yes! I have a million onesies and DS has worn one of them once. He lives in footed sleepers and rompers.