@ randoms 7/30

[estrellita]

Aug 3, 2018 10:10:09 GMT -5 katespade said:

Aug 3, 2018 9:46:02 GMT -5 estrellita said:

They couldn't find A's veins AGAIN this morning. They apparently looked all over and her veins are too deep everywhere, not just in her arm. They said they could go in blind again but H said no. So we can either try at the hospital or go back again and again.. ugh. I just want answers. You'd think there'd be a better way to do an allergy test for a baby

This might be a stupid question, but can they not do a skin test on a baby? That seems like it would be so much easier than a blood draw!

I wondered this too and mentioned it to H. We're thinking maybe if she had a reaction it would be more severe on a baby? Only thing I can think of!

[Deleted]

Aug 1, 2018 18:56:34 GMT -5 katespade said:

estrellita - I was just trying to remember how many of us there are now!

I think five? Me, suzv, pooh8402, grover, melsamoony... Am I missing anyone?

What is this?? I take a GBCN break and all y'all get pregnant!
💕💕💕

ETA: Congratulations everyone!

[luv2rn4fun]

estrellita- I would ask about the skin test. I am pretty sure that’s what they would have done for L when he was 9 months old (I am horrible and never went because it was a 3+ hour appointment and didn’t want to deal with both boys there for that length of time). I still need to get him in given his asthma issues...thankfully he hasn’t had any recent reactions to anything.

[melsamoony]

estrellita I work for an allergist and we recommend skin testing first over blood testing as you get less falso positives with skin testing. Does your insurance require a referral for specialists? If not I would just go see an allergist.

[katespade]

Here are some questions for everyone:

How far along were you when you started buying stuff for your first baby?

What are your must buys for first time parents?

Anything that you wish you hadn’t bothered with buying?

Anything you didn’t buy but ended up wishing you had?


I’ve been feeling like it’s way too early to start worrying about anything other than staying pregnant, but all of a sudden I’m almost at the halfway point and I’m starting to wonder when we need to start doing/buying stuff.

[luv2rn4fun]

Aug 3, 2018 18:26:43 GMT -5 katespade said:

Here are some questions for everyone:

How far along were you when you started buying stuff for your first baby?

What are your must buys for first time parents?

Anything that you wish you hadn’t bothered with buying?

Anything you didn’t buy but ended up wishing you had?


I’ve been feeling like it’s way too early to start worrying about anything other than staying pregnant, but all of a sudden I’m almost at the halfway point and I’m starting to wonder when we need to start doing/buying stuff.

I think we bought C’s crib just before the a/s. I was determined to wait til later because of my PGAL anxiety but the crib was there (it’s a seasonal item) and it was Costco so could be returned. Bought a onesie after the a/s. Everything else much later, like after my baby shower at 34 weeks...but we didn’t need much after that

Must haves: crib, car seat, rock n play, halo sleep sacks, video monitor, high chair (we did a space saver one), baby carrier (love my Ergo and got an infant insert too), pump (provided by insurance), nursing pillow, white noise, diaper bag, lots of sleep in plays and onesies, diaper clutch was a nice to have. Oh, and they loved the kick n play piano playmat for tummy time😀

I had a change table pad but didn’t really use it. I also didn’t use a ton of bibs or burp cloths. We had a cheap swing that was donated but neither boy liked the swing (loved the RNP though).

ETA: stroller is nice to have if you don’t baby wear a lot. I use my strollers a lot. Also, infant car seat is better than a convertible in the early months but you “can” get away with just a convertible car seat if you want (we had the infant car seat and now have 4 convertible car seats, none of which are the same...I LOVE the Graco 4 Ever seat). Oh, and I only have a single BOB and a double BOB...use either stroller for everything.

[pooh8402]

How far along were you when you started buying stuff for your first baby?

Um, early second trimester? Definitely before the halfway mark. I was 12 weeks at Christmas and we got some baby gifts then.

What are your must buys for first time parents?

Needs: diapers, wipes, clothes to wear, a place to sleep, some way to get food (bottle or breast), and a car seat.

Probably should have: baby monitor, Halo swaddle sacks, LOTS of burp cloths (just get the cheap Gerber cloth diapers, theyre perfect), a rocking chair/glider, some kind of baby container (swing, bouncer, rock n play, etc), some toys (like an infant gym or floor mat). We loved the RnP and the Kick N Play Piano mat. And takealong tunes.

Anything that you wish you hadn’t bothered with buying?

A swing. E didn't care for it.

Anything you didn’t buy but ended up wishing you had?

A nicer stroller. And a comfy glider. We reupholstered the rocking chair my MIL used, and my BIL used it with his daughter, but the height was wrong for me and my head was tilted forward at a weird angle.

[estrellita]

Aug 3, 2018 15:27:25 GMT -5 melsamoony said:

estrellita I work for an allergist and we recommend skin testing first over blood testing as you get less falso positives with skin testing. Does your insurance require a referral for specialists? If not I would just go see an allergist.

No, they don't. Maybe I'll see if we can just directly get in to the allergist if they can't do a skin test at our doctor's office. Especially if they're likely to just send us there anyway. Higher copay but oh well lol.

[estrellita]

Aug 3, 2018 18:26:43 GMT -5 katespade said:

Here are some questions for everyone:

How far along were you when you started buying stuff for your first baby?

What are your must buys for first time parents?

Anything that you wish you hadn’t bothered with buying?

Anything you didn’t buy but ended up wishing you had?


I’ve been feeling like it’s way too early to start worrying about anything other than staying pregnant, but all of a sudden I’m almost at the halfway point and I’m starting to wonder when we need to start doing/buying stuff.

I think the first thing we bought was a blanket at 18 weeks or so? It was before we knew E was a boy.

I think besides the obvious things, Boppy pillow, gripe water, wet bags (they're mostly for cloth diapers but also great for dirty clothes), swaddle sacks. If you FF, a divided formula container and a formula pitcher are awesome.

I think the things we used least were my carriers (Moby wrap and a Moby backpack style one.. I used it more with E but A hated it) and the Haakaa pump (was planning on nursing so it's supposed to catch the letdown and pump a little out while baby is nursing but nursing didn't end up working out and I couldn't get it to stay on).

I wish I had gotten a portable pump (I'm EPing). Can't think of anything else off the top of my head but I'm sure there's more.

I don't think it's too early. I'd at the very least start doing research on the big items like car seats, strollers, cribs, etc. Lucie's List is great! The Baby Guy also has a lot of good knowledge about baby stuff.

[katespade]

Aug 3, 2018 22:20:58 GMT -5 estrellita said:

I don't think it's too early. I'd at the very least start doing research on the big items like car seats, strollers, cribs, etc. Lucie's List is great! The Baby Guy also has a lot of good knowledge about baby stuff.

That’s what I told H when we talked about it tonight. We agreed that it’s definitely time to sit down and make a list of the things we know we’re going to need, start doing research to make decisions, and price out everything so we’re prepared when it’s time to start buying.

Can you tell that I have a Type A personality? I’m already building out the spreadsheet in my mind. 😂

[HoneySpider]

How far along were you when you started buying stuff for your first baby? I was about 26 weeks when I bought a cross for his wall...bought most stuff when 30+ weeks. But we started our registries around 22-23 weeks, it was helpful to start planning and researching. I changed my mind a lot on what I had on there (either adding stuff or changing brands or whatever) so it was good to not be rushed. I definitely think you're in the perfect stage for planning even if you don't buy everything right away.

What are your must buys for first time parents? The stroller/car seat combo was a must for us - I loved how easy it was to pop the car seat in and out and we walked a lot so having something reliable was key. We have the Chicco NextFit combo. Otherwise, the things we used a lot were a good video monitor, Halo sleep sacks, PNP (for downstairs and then for travel), sound machine, plenty of bottles (and the grass drying rack is awesome too). I also stockpiled diapers and wipes, we tried all different brands and then settled in on what we liked best/was a good value.

Anything that you wish you hadn’t bothered with buying? I ended up returning quite a bit as I found I didn't need it or got duplicates...of course I can't remember most of what it was, but I know I did end up returning the wrap I bought because I didn't wear DS at all. Also, we got tons of bibs, blankets and swaddle blankets as gifts so I am glad I didn't buy any of those (and DS barely wore bibs, he started ripping them off pretty quickly) Not sure what stores you have by you but Buy Buy Baby is great with taking returns without receipts so I was there quite a bit.

Anything you didn’t buy but ended up wishing you had? Nothing I can think of!

[pooh8402]

Aug 3, 2018 22:24:37 GMT -5 katespade said:

Aug 3, 2018 22:20:58 GMT -5 estrellita said:

I don't think it's too early. I'd at the very least start doing research on the big items like car seats, strollers, cribs, etc. Lucie's List is great! The Baby Guy also has a lot of good knowledge about baby stuff.

That’s what I told H when we talked about it tonight. We agreed that it’s definitely time to sit down and make a list of the things we know we’re going to need, start doing research to make decisions, and price out everything so we’re prepared when it’s time to start buying.

Can you tell that I have a Type A personality? I’m already building out the spreadsheet in my mind. 😂

If you're type A, so am I. I started researching before I got pregnant.

[estrellita]

Omg. E pooped in his underwear yesterday AND this morning. I'm over it. We're putting him in pull ups. I can't deal with this anymore!!!

[luv2rn4fun]

Aug 4, 2018 10:52:24 GMT -5 suzv said:

It’s a boy!

Yay!! Brothers! ❤️

[grover]

Aug 4, 2018 8:34:14 GMT -5 pooh8402 said:

Aug 3, 2018 22:24:37 GMT -5 katespade said:

That’s what I told H when we talked about it tonight. We agreed that it’s definitely time to sit down and make a list of the things we know we’re going to need, start doing research to make decisions, and price out everything so we’re prepared when it’s time to start buying.

Can you tell that I have a Type A personality? I’m already building out the spreadsheet in my mind. 😂

If you're type A, so am I. I started researching before I got pregnant.

Same here.


I will say, for larger items if you don't get them off your registry, don't be afraid of used. We got a RNP from Once Upon a Child and a used swing off of FB marketplace.  A loved the swing but absolutely hated the RNP. I'm grateful we didn't spend full price. 

I also second the formula pitcher if you plan on formula feeding. It is so convenient to make an entire pitcher up at once.

[melsamoony]

IT IS A GIRL!!!

DS is thrilled because he has wanted a sister the whole time.