Baby MUST Haves

[Mishee9]

Ok, last posting for today, I promise!

A while back I had asked some friends and family for their opinions on what they thought were some necessities when planning for a new baby. I compiled a list of wonderful suggestions and I encourage everyone reading to add their own ideas/thoughts/suggestions or experiences with any of the items listed (good or bad!).

- Bouncy/Vibrating seat- Ocean Aquarium at Target/Babies R US (as an example)

- BUMBO seat-teaches baby to sit up
http://www.bumboseat.com/adwords/bumbowords1.html

- Exer-saucer or Johnny Jumper for door frame (IF you want to take a shower!)

- Formula dispenser- Tupperware (plastic, 3 compartments, allows for pre-measure of formula)

- Diaper Champ

- Gerber cloth diapers used as burp cloths – A LOT!!

- Newborn sized Onesies in addition to older sizes, in case baby doesn’t fit into 0-3 month size when leaving hospital

- Happiest Baby on the Block DVD-teaches how to most
effectively sooth a crying baby (great for colic, acid-reflux sufferers)

- Boppy pillow

- Baby Bach or Baby Einstein CD’s

- Video Baby Monitors: great because you can see baby before going in to check

- Bottle warmer for the car...great for long trips

- Start buying diapers now...cause it gets very expensive...don’t buy too many
size ones though cause it wont be long til she/he is in a size 2.

- Pacifiers – NUK by Gerber, Orthodontist approved

- Baby head protector/car seat cover: http://www.mypreciouskid.com/infant-car-seat-cover.html

- If breast feeding: breast ointment, pure lanolin

- Sunshade for car windows

- Bib Clips by Kipiis: http://www.kipiis.com/bibclips.php

- A really cute diaper bag: like Kate Spade or Juicy Couture, just because!

[npittard]

I have heard that The Ultimate Crib Sheet is a great thing to have because it goes over the fitted sheet and doesn't require you to remove the matress and bumper to clean up any messes. Seems like a good idea for 4am.

[preggers]

Great list of must haves!

My 2cents:

Two great books I referred to with my first and now my second baby:

Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Weissbluth-great ideas and explanations for sleep habits of babies and children up thru teen years.

Your Baby's First Year Week By Week-it's consise so quick to read and it has updates on what is happening with your baby. It also has tips along the way that relate with what's happening.

Oh, my experience is the boppy pillow is useless for breasfeeding because it's too thin. it's good for setting the baby in though and using it to prop the baby on her belly to practice tummy time.

All the best to you preggies!!
Patti

[skipnjif]

I agree with Patti about the Boppy pillow...it's not very comfortable for breastfeeding, but my son loved to sit in it! Also, I got a baby carrier by Infantino that I really like...it accomodates bigger babies than the Snuggli ones and can be used many different ways (inward and outward facing, rear-carrying, etc.)

[Kara]

I've had several friends who hated the Boppy pillow give raves to one called My Brest Friend, so I've gone with that instead. It has much more solid and firm shape and it's also equipped with a strap. Just from looking at it - I doubt it's very useful outside of breastfeeding. (I'm due this weekend so I guess I'll see for myself soon enough.)

Also, breast-feeding moms probably want to avoid the orthodontist approved pacifiers. They encourage the infant to bite tighter than regular pacifiers. Good for forming aligned bite patterns - but not so good for mom's nipples.

[tingzon72]

Patti is so right on! The Boppy is great for baby to sit in, but is a terrible nursing pillow. It is too soft and it falls away, so baby bites down on the nipple to hold on because s/he feels unsupported. The My Brest Friend is a great pillow to nurse in. The Bosom Baby Pillow is also okay because you use it like an L shape instead of a crescent. It is a really good alternative for the plus sized mommas, and can also be used for sitting the baby up.

I recommend not having any pacifiers at all in the 1st month. Babies can get nipple confused in the beginning, ad the AAP even says not to introduce a pacifier in the 1st 4 weeks to a BF baby. If the baby is being fed on demand, s/he really doesn't need a pacifier.