10 things you couldn't live without

[sarack]

name the 10 things you couldn't have lived without with your newborn. GO!

[sarack]

Jul 1, 2013 14:45:41 GMT -5 spunbutterfly said:

Jul 1, 2013 14:43:13 GMT -5 @jennuinne said:

Spun: what us the coconut oil for?

Diaper rash when you CD (if you use aquaphor or other butt paste, you have to put down a liner or go to sposies). Though I think prefolds are exempt from this.
To help with Thor's cradle cap. We'd rub it into his head at the start of his 'bath time' (which we did every night, to start 'bed time' ritual early on even if we didn't use soap), and then run a gentle comb through it to get out the flakes.
General eczema, before we figured out that he was dairy intolerant, and in lieu of a lot of lotions.

so you rubbed it just all over his body? on his butt for rashes, head for cradle cap, and like lotion?

[sarack]

is burt's bees rash ointment cd safe? @spunbutterfly ? i have no idea.

[Deleted]

My list (and I'm going to have to think hard it's been a while )

1. Lazy-Boy recliner chair that rocks (I lived in this chair the first 4 weeks during the day and sometimes at night)
2. Vit D drops
3. Pack-n-Play with the infant raised insert
4. Bouncy Seat
5. Moby Wrap (I didn't have this right away but when I got it I loved it)
6. "tummy tub" - www.amazon.com/Prince-Lionheart-washPOD-Bathe-Blue/dp/B000QIJ020/ref=pd_sbs_ba_5
7. Nipple Cream!
8. Swaddle blankets + burp cloths - I had the thin flannel ones that were really big as in 45x45
9. Extra pillows to use for support while nursing! (I preferred regular pillows to the boppy)
10. My android phone/laptop for entertainment!

[Deleted]

Jul 1, 2013 15:06:51 GMT -5 spunbutterfly said:

Jul 1, 2013 15:04:32 GMT -5 sarack said:

is burt's bees rash ointment cd safe? @spunbutterfly ? i have no idea.

www.pinstripesandpolkadots.com/diaperrashcreams.htm

Baby Bees Diaper Rash Ointment Has strong smell. May Stain, stains tend to come out with time. Used successfully with rashes caused from acidic foods. Can cause build-up on pocket diapers. Zinc Oxide, Sweet Almond Oil, Beeswax, Vitamin E, Jojoba Oil, Lavender Oil, Vitamin A, Extracts of Rosemary, Lavender, Calendula, Chamomile, Rose Petal and Comfrey Root.

It would be the Beeswax which I believe is one of the #1 no-no's with CD?!

[jennlin]

we use coconut oil daily as a preventative for diaper rash.

i'm omitting the obvious, like diapers, carseat, clothing, safe place to sleep...

1) food for me, food for h
2) 2 large water bottles. one for me, one for me filled up ready to go when the other one was empty.
3) lots and lots of extra swaddle blankets
4) carrier (baby wearing)
5) nursing pads

that's all you need.....really. besides the smartphone like @lauralynne mentioned. sitting there in the middle of the night nursing, it provides something to do!

[jennlin]

Jul 1, 2013 15:18:04 GMT -5 @jennuinne said:

Jul 1, 2013 15:04:32 GMT -5 sarack said:

is burt's bees rash ointment cd safe? @spunbutterfly ? i have no idea.

There are websites that say which ones are safe and rate them.  I was planning to California Baby diaper cream, which they say is CD safe and is sold in most stores.

coconut oil is way cheaper and more versatile though!

[jennlin]

Jul 1, 2013 15:34:24 GMT -5 @jennuinne said:

Jul 1, 2013 15:22:55 GMT -5 jennlin said:

coconut oil is way cheaper and more versatile though!

Well, I hadn't heard of it got diaper rash until now...I may have to reconsider.

coconut oil also works for cradle cap (if he gets it) and eczema, and also works for mom for any type of dry skin, uwhusky uses it as makeup remover, i cook with it.....

[jennlin]

@jennuinne

wellnessmama.com/5734/101-uses-for-coconut-oil/

[shevacc]

For me:

1. Food I could eat 1 handed (berries, sliced apples, sliced/cubed cheese and crackers)
2. Water bottle (I like jennlin's suggestion of 2 so you always have one full -- worst feeling ever is feeling like baby is sucking all the liquid out of you while you're SUPER thirsty but can't get up)
3. Kindle fire so I could happily sit for hours and nurse/hold a baby
4. Comfy chair. Leather or a dark material is good since it will probably get spit-up and possibly poop on it.
5. Small waterproof "lap pads" - I used these as portable diaper changing stations so I didn't have to walk upstairs all the time. I also used these as a place to put the spit up rags/dirty outfits on before bringing them to the laundry or hamper.
6. Lap pillow - I liked the boppy.
7. Spit up rags - I used prefolds for this.

Basically, I set up a station with everything I needed within a step or two of the recliner then spent most of my time there in the first few weeks. Besides the above, also a stack of diapers, a stack of burp cloths, a few blankets, a few shirts for me, and a stack of outfits for DD.

For baby sleep:

8. Aden & Anais swaddle blankets - G loved these and hated the miracle/swaddle me Velcro type blankets.
9. Rock N Play sleeper - used this for months both day and night whenever G wasn't being held/in bed with me.
10. Yoga ball - I spent hours bouncing up and down on that during the evening "witching hour" when hardly anything would sooth her.

[dana86]

1. large water bottle with straw. Made it easier to one hand grab and drink while holding or nursing.
2. vibrating bouncy seat
3. I made a crap ton of burp cloths out of flannel and a terry like material that I absolutely loved
4. pre planned meals for at least the first week, after that I was good to make regular dinners
5. good sized blankets for baby. I didn't get much use of the small receiving blankets I just felt they were to small
6. breast pads

I forgot 7. moby wrap. I loved using this when M was little, so much easier than lugging the carseat

[jennlin]

Jul 1, 2013 16:17:48 GMT -5 @jennuinne said:

Jul 1, 2013 15:47:13 GMT -5 jennlin said:

@jennuinne

wellnessmama.com/5734/101-uses-for-coconut-oil/

Where do you buy it?

ygpm. (in a few minutes).

[picksthemusic]

1. Nose Frida
2. My Breast Friend
3. Rock 'n' Play
4. Gerber cloth diapers (not as diapers, but as burp rags)
5. Moby wrap (just for teeny-teeny)
6. Aiden+Anais swaddle blankets
7. Breast pump
8. Sleep Sheep
9. Ibuprofen and vicodin (post c-section is painful)
10. Diapers and wipes. Babies poop/pee a LOT.

[catbus]

Swaddle blankets
Bouncy seat
Boobs

...I'm still thinking.
Ah! White noise machine (one that plugs in! I love our Munchkin one).
Watching the Happiest Baby on the Block DVD (I read the book first, but the DVD had the same info).
Halo SleepSack Swaddles (swaddlemes did not work for us--E broke out of them in two seconds). Infant seat for carrying. Floor mat/gym for tummy time and visual stimulation.

For me: iPhone, protein-rich snacks, big water bottle with straw.

We had it pretty easy. E would sleep flat on his back from pretty much the start, and I had a pretty easy time breastfeeding and didn't need special nipple care items.

[stretchad]

This weekend, I decided I cannot live without Air conditioning

[catbus]

Jul 1, 2013 16:00:16 GMT -5 dana86 said:

1. large water bottle with straw. Made it easier to one hand grab and drink while holding or nursing.
2. vibrating bouncy seat
3. I made a crap ton of burp cloths out of flannel and a terry like material that I absolutely loved
4. pre planned meals for at least the first week, after that I was good to make regular dinners
5. good sized blankets for baby. I didn't get much use of the small receiving blankets I just felt they were to small
6. breast pads

I forgot 7. moby wrap. I loved using this when M was little, so much easier than lugging the carseat

Or I could have basically dittoed this.

[sarack]

I bought some at walmart.. some at target. some at tj.

[Deleted]

1. Rock N Play
2. Lamaze stretch the giraffe
3. Mylicon
4. Ergo

[jennlin]

a lot of people mentioned the nosefrida...which i have and love. but bjl has recently decided she likes to tear it apart, and the other day, i couldn't find the tube, just the part that goes to her nose, and i just used that... yup, snot was like 1 inch from my mouth and there was no filter....but it worked like eleventybillion timez better than with the whole long tube... and i imagine it's because i have to suck so much air through the tube, i almost don't want to use the tube anymore......

i remember shevacc had a similar one (right?) that is not nosefrida...and it was shorter i think. can you tell me which it is? a filter would give me peace of mind and allow my h to be comfortable, too, but honestly, i don't really care if snot gets in my mouth if my baby can breathe better.

[sarack]

So those of u who say bouncy/vibration chair and rock n play. I have 1 of each, should I get two?

[jennlin]

Jul 2, 2013 8:41:56 GMT -5 sarack said:

So those of u who say bouncy/vibration chair and rock n play. I have 1 of each, should I get two?

i wouldn't. they don't need to be in the same thing at the same time.

[Deleted]

Edmund hated the bouncy seat until he was 5 months and we didn't get a swing until he was about 6 months. The rock n play was a lifesaver for us since it kept him at an angle. He didn't have reflux but because of his condition he swallowed a lot more air than normal so it helped with the gas. We used the swing from about the time he outgrew the rock n play, he could sit up in it but was no where near the weight limit, he hated it at first but grew to like it eventually.

[shevacc]

Jul 2, 2013 8:39:16 GMT -5 jennlin said:

a lot of people mentioned the nosefrida...which i have and love. but bjl has recently decided she likes to tear it apart, and the other day, i couldn't find the tube, just the part that goes to her nose, and i just used that... yup, snot was like 1 inch from my mouth and there was no filter....but it worked like eleventybillion timez better than with the whole long tube... and i imagine it's because i have to suck so much air through the tube, i almost don't want to use the tube anymore......

i remember shevacc had a similar one (right?) that is not nosefrida...and it was shorter i think. can you tell me which it is? a filter would give me peace of mind and allow my h to be comfortable, too, but honestly, i don't really care if snot gets in my mouth if my baby can breathe better.

Yup, this is what we use: www.amazon.com/BabyComfyNose-BCNB-Nasal-Aspirator-Blue/dp/B002SZH45E. You just put in a tissue as the filter (we usually use half a tissue or a square of TP) then toss with the snot when done. I think it's the same price as the nose frida, not sure about the length of the cord but we've been really happy with it. Also that it all comes apart to be rinsed in hot water.

[karebear219]

I'm late to the party, but here's my favorites based on my own favorites and life savers not necessarily what's necessary:

1) bob stroller
2) lanoline
3) Swaddle
4) bjorn
5) binky
6) baby gym
7) ice cube trays (for freezing baby food)
8)things to do out of the house: walking, parent baby class, mom and baby movies, etc
9) baby signing DVDs ( to teach us how to sign to her)
10) my rocker

[jennlin]

shevacc thanks, but nvm, that's not the right one. I swear I've seen one that is a lot shorter...like no tube at all, just insert nose piece and go. Oh well.

[shevacc]

Jul 3, 2013 13:40:48 GMT -5 @legalbritt said:

Oh oh! I thought of some others...how could I forget!?

You will need to take special care of your bottom for a while afterwards. I used the giant pads and weird stretchy underwear that the hospital sent home with me. There will be quite a lot of bleeding afterwards. They also gave me spray litocain (sp?) a squeeze bottle to keep warm water in to spray off your vaginal area with warm water (which feels like heaven) and witch hazel pads which I thin is for soothing and calming hemorrhoids. Every time I went to the bathroom I followed the whole routine and I healed up very quickly. It's a whole long process every time you go to the bathroom and it kind of makes a mess so I would set up shop in one bathroom in your house and plan to just use that bathroom for a while.

I had forgotten about all that song and dance. Guess that's nature's way of convincing us to have more kids!