Ladies need a little help this is my first pregnancy

[pinkbelle]

What types of things do I need to get? I know the basics clothes crib bassinet diapers but is there some stuff I can start getting now to make it easier to pay for all of this?

[JoyRenee]

Wait until after your shower to buy anything (except clothes) so you don't buy multiples. I got EVERYTHING at my shower and didn't have to buy anything else except a changing table I found for $5 at a yard sale and an antique dresser I got for free for babysitting some neighbor kids and stuff to decorate (which I found at the dollar store!!!). I'm very thrifty. I decorated my daughter's nursery for $30-$40 including furniture (I can show pics if interested).

-NURSERY PAINT (Go to Home Depot, they have a section called OOPS! Paint. A gallon is $5 and a pint is $1. They're paint that people order and either end up not liking or they get mixed wrong or no one picks them up. NOTHING is wrong with the paint and it is GOOD paint---Glidden, Behr, Ralph Lauren)

-Pampers Sensitive are the best wipes!!! I've used every kind of wipe there is and I always come back to these.

-BOPPY (whether you breastfeed or not, this thing is amazing)

-Stock up on diapers (buy diff brands to get a feel for what you'd like... I bought 2-3 newborn, 5-6 packs of size 1-2, and 5-6 of size 2). Buy at Walmart because you can return unopened packages.

-Vaseline (I didn't use Desitin or anything else as it made my daughter's bottom break out so bad she had bleeding blisters. It contains an ingredient that is harmful to your baby's skin. Her peditrician told me that doctors don't like Desitin and prefer vaseline)

-Crib sheets, crib skirt, decorations (if you know what you're having).

-Go to www.cbomc.com (it's a children's book club) and sign up! I did and my daughters have a huge library!

-Toiletries (you'll probably get this stuff at your shower)

-Carseat/stroller

-Swing, bouncer (my babies lived in their bouncers... walmart has really great prices on these)

-Breastpump and Lanolin and other breastfeeding essentials if you're going to need them

-Baby bathtub (you really don't need a fancy one with a shower hose or anything! They don't really work. I have an amazing tub called The First Years Sure Comfort Deluxe Newborn-to-Toddler tub if you want to google it. It's blue and green)

-Towels, washcloths

-I used to have a Diaper Champ but now I just use a trashcan because the diaper cans are a waste of money and don't work (with smell)

[adawning4]

When you start buying get nuetral colors and I would only get a few of each size in clothes. Once you have the baby shower that will pretty much take care of some of the 'color" clothes. I would def. buy 0-3 months instead of newborn as for the diapers I would go with 2 packs of newborn 3-4 if your breastfeeding, then a get a few of size 1 & 2. The best newborn wipes I have found is Pampers Sensitive. If your gonna breast feed then the baby will have "runny, liquid like" bowel movements your gonna be glad for the Desitin Creamy.... Its a must have! You could make a list of all the things you still need, and send it out with the invitations to the shower! I did it with my second..
Good luck!

[LosingMyMindInGA]

my  youngest two had eczema realy bad so I really had to watch what I put on them, diaper rash and irritation rash came REALLY easy especially in the creases of their legs where the diaper rubbed.  OTC hydrocortisone didnt work for that...the only thing I found that worked for that was the hydrocortisone valerate that I got from our military pharmacy.  

[Michele, Katy, TX]

I got like 3 or 4 of the new born and then started with the next size up.  As I said, since I had 3 girls before this one, the main thing I needed and I got was diapers.  She is 6 1/2 months old and I just had to buy my first pack like 2 weeks ago.  It was a huge help.

LosingMyMindInGA,
The Desitin creamy is really good about coming off.  I know that the original one can be more difficult to wipe off but the creamy forumula comes right off.  It's not nearly as dense as the regular one.  I prefer the corn starch also.  The less perfumes you put on the baby, the better to me; especially if they do develop a rash.  The baby wipes/perfumed powders can really burn them.  I just recently got rid of a rash on my little one that got so bad that she had to have an antibiotic to get rid of it.  I used every ointment known to man.  I even googled it for home remedies and tried all of those including drying her bottom with the hair dryer.  Yes, I know it sounds funny but 2 people said to try that.  It didn't work for her.  

Wow....It's amazing what babies need!!!  My swing and bouncer are crucial for me.  It lets you have a break from holding the little buggers!!

[neasyc]

yeh i got 3 or 4 packs of newborn nappies my daughter was 10lb so only used 1 pack i also got new born clothes which did not fit her eather so buy 0-3 months

[LosingMyMindInGA]

most newborn diapers go up to like 11 lbs I think so maybe you can get 2 pks of the newborn ones and 3 or 4 of the size 1 that should have you covered.

[pinkbelle]

what size diapers should i get the newborn ones? but what if the abby is on the bigger side?

[ashleighnb]

If you are using disposable diapers you could start stocking up now, especially for those first few weeks you will want to have them on hand. As well as wipes.

Socks or mittens to put on the babys hands so that he/she won't scratch themselves.

All the toiletries such as baby wash, lotion, shampoo, brush, comb, desitin, aquaphor (really helps with the skin because some baby's have cracked skin right after coming home, my daughter had it around the back of her ankles and the aquaphor cleared it up quickly), powder, you can never have too many nursing pads (your breast will leak a lot especially when holding the baby.

That is all I can think of right now. Good luck to you!!! and Congrats!!!!

[MomNpain]

There is a book that I HIGHLY suggest you read. It's called Baby Must Haves and it's by Parenting Magazine. It cost me $8 and has shed so much light on this question for me. It tells you what you need, what you can do without, the prices of the things you need, and where you can get them from for the best value. It really is a wonderful book - it'll help you wonders!!

[pinkbelle]

Thank you Ladies so much this board is a real lifesaver and i value you ladies opinions so much you dont even understand :o)

[LosingMyMindInGA]

Since you'll be having a shower...just keep your receipts and don't open anything until after the shower...that way if you get a duplicate you can return the one YOU bought and use that money for things you DIDN't get.  

[LosingMyMindInGA]

Michelle, thanks for adding those things...can't believe I forgot that stuff LOL.  As for preventing diaper rashes, personally I found that desitin was REALLY hard to get off....when it comes to just preventing I preferred the squeeze tubes of vaseline and pure corn starch like you buy at the grocery store.  I only used the creams if there was an actual rash.  

Cotton balls and alcohol...a must for cleaning and drying out the cord.
diaper disposal system-personally I found those things were a waste of money...walmart carries these individual scented bags...I used those...MUCH cheaper and work better than those "systems"
If you don't already have a digital camera and camcorder I would add those to the list if it's within financial reason for you.  
Books-lots of books...it's never too early to read to the baby.
Carseat and stroller too...
Wash cloths and hooded towels...

I'll post again if anythign else comes to mind.

[pinkbelle]

im in my fourth month so and i knwo that i will have a baby shower but im not sure what they will and will not get me so i figured it cant hurt to go ahead and get some stuff thank you guys for all your help

[beautifullychaotic]

Well is anyone going to through you a baby shower?  Those things you really dont have to worry about if you through a shower....but if not then yep all those things you are going to need.  

[Michele, Katy, TX]

LosingMyMindInGA is pretty much on the money.  The swing/bouncer are life savers for me.  Do you know if anyone is planning on having a shower for you??  May want to add things like Desitin, baby wash/shampoos, baby lotion, etc.  I use A LOT of Desitin to prevent diaper rashes.  I use it for every change.  Then I put powder/corn starch on top of the Desitin.  That helps keep the wetness away from their skin.  I learned that from a Dermatologist.  LOL.  Makes sense.  Anyway, I'm trying to think....I have a 6 1/2 month old right now, but she was my 4th girl and I didn't have to get too much because I already had a lot of the big stuff.  Oh, maybe a baby bath tub too.  But they are so small when you first bring them home, that you can just give them a sponge bath.  You can't submerge the baby in water until the cord falls off anyway.  After that, you may even be able to use your sink for a while.  If I think of anything else, I'll post again.

[LosingMyMindInGA]

Here's a list of things I'd suggest going ahead and purchasing now:
btw how far along are you?

crib
receiving blankets (neutral colors)
onesies (neutral colors or just white)
crib sheets/bumper pad etc (you can pick a neutral theme)
grooming kit (w/medicine droppers, bulb syringe, nail clippers etc)
swing or bouncy seat
sleepers/gowns (again in neutral colors)
baby wipes
diapers (3 or 4 packs of newborn should be sufficient to start)
changing table or just a portable changing pad
burp cloths (I just used cloth diapers for those, cheaper)
nursing supplies if you plan to breastfeed:  breast pump, breast pads, nursing bras etc
baby book
bassinett or cosleeper if you would like those

There's really a lot of things you can purchase...I just can't remember everything right now.