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Things you need to have for the baby right away?!
so im a first timer and were having our shower in a couple weeks and then i have a little under a month till the baby comes. We havent really bought much of anything for the baby besides random clothes that have been on sale and cloth diapers bc everyone told us to wait and see what we get at our shower to save $. But now im starting to get worried bc a friend of mine just had her shower and didnt get too much off her registry or much of what she actually needed. So im just wondering what are the things we absolutely need for the first few weeks the baby is home? What is necessary right away and what can wait for a bit? Im nervous were gonna be stuck buying tons of expensive stuff in the few weeks We'll have after the shower since we waited rather then spacing it out over the past few months. Thank you!
I think a swing and/or a bouncer is something I'm going to look for at a secondhand store or a family member. I think I decided to have one baby shower at the end of April and then another in the middle of May, that way they aren't too close together and hopefully I'll be big enough by then for the baby shower to be plenty of fun for everybody.
Babies may like one or the other, or both. My son only liked the swing, and it had to be a fast one. My neace loves the bouncer and swing (on low setting). Personally I liked the swing the best, we got a really nice one that could play your iPod, and other music (including "white noice" for infants).
Do you have a second hand baby store near you? Or look at a Good Will. There's sometimes a "New to You" or by us we have a "Lots for Tots" that have that type of stuff, you won't pay as much, there used but still in decent condition.
Do you have a second hand baby store near you? Or look at a Good Will. There's sometimes a "New to You" or by us we have a "Lots for Tots" that have that type of stuff, you won't pay as much, there used but still in decent condition.
i used both...they help soothe differently, but honestly whichever you prefer would be fine. you can even choose based on music or lights which you like better. the bouncers help with gas and soothing baby to sleep, but the swings are better IMO when they're awake and need distracting for a little bit because there's so much movement and action...but they can both substitute for each other and it's really up to you :)
Im so confused on all of this too. I dont know what to have and what not to buy. Should I get a Swing or a bouncer I dont want to buy both since they dont use them that long.. which one is the best. And I bought a pack n play to put baby in for the first few weeks so he can sleep in my room. Then its off to the crib for him. lol..
I am having my baby shower in two weeks!!! I'll be 32 weeks then and I think its a perfect time. That way I still have 2 months (hopefully) lol to get everything around, and I'll be big enough for everyone there to obsesses over my belly. I'm also gonna be doing some maternity pictures withing the next few weeks.. Im hoping it will start to get nicer out and the snow will melt first. lol Gotta love Michigan, knowing our luck it will snow all through March and into April. lol
I am having my baby shower in two weeks!!! I'll be 32 weeks then and I think its a perfect time. That way I still have 2 months (hopefully) lol to get everything around, and I'll be big enough for everyone there to obsesses over my belly. I'm also gonna be doing some maternity pictures withing the next few weeks.. Im hoping it will start to get nicer out and the snow will melt first. lol Gotta love Michigan, knowing our luck it will snow all through March and into April. lol
My son was born May 1st, and we got maybe 12 newborn and 3 month sleepers. I suggest getting more 3 month than newborn unless you expect a small baby. My son was 8 lb something and was only in the newborn stuff for a month! June and July we actually did a lot of time in just the diaper. Also find a good stain remover, the 3 month and under clothing got LOTS of poop stains on ours! Our son would go through 1-2 a day. Some times he'd wear the same sleeper for 2 days if no diaper explosions!
How many 0-3 newborn sleepers and onesies would you suggest getting to start with? I don't want to purchase too many, but I don't want to be constantly doing laundry or going to the store after the baby is born. I am finding it hard too to figure out what to buy since the little one is due mid-May. It can be warm that time of year, but cool here too.
using a pack n play for the first few weeks should be ok. We had a hot spell about the time our son was born and spent a few weeks at my inlaws, and our son was in a plack n play then. The first 6 weeks, I think he spent more time in a pack n play than crib.
With reusable diapers, there may be other pale type things you need, not sure though. I mentioned it because I believe a couple people were asking, and it is nice if not doing reusable ones.
It'll be just fine, you will still have enough time to get things ready for your little one, and after your shower I'm sure you'll feel better about it all!
With reusable diapers, there may be other pale type things you need, not sure though. I mentioned it because I believe a couple people were asking, and it is nice if not doing reusable ones.
It'll be just fine, you will still have enough time to get things ready for your little one, and after your shower I'm sure you'll feel better about it all!
i def want a bouncer/swing. Is using a pack n play for the first few weeks okay? im not buying a diaper genie since we are usin reusable diapers. i think we'll be alright its just all so stressful. i wanted my shower earlier but they waited till i'll be 36 weeks!
totally, lol. my daughter's the same way...she's a little rocket and if I turn on a movie for her so I can clean or cook she watches it for maybe 15 minutes and then she's been sitting long enough and moves on to another activity...it's such a relief to me. my nephew's a bit of a couch potato b/c of what his parents did with the tv, but my daughter only ever wants to be outside...even though we used a swing and a bouncer with her when she was a newborn ;).
Yeah, I'm SO glad our son at almost 22 months dosen't like the TV, he's active, so it's SO nice to force us to get out and do stuff! It's easy in the summer, but we got Y memberships so we could run around with him when it's cold out now! The swing was the only thing our son would have to calm down when he was little. It's at my MIL's place because my SIL is using it with her baby and my son will crawl in and turn it on for him! lol. Any tool you use with your kids should be used in moderation, but things like a swing or bouncer are SO nice for when you want to sit down and eat with out spilling food on the baby!
do it whenever you feel like the time is right!!! after all, you'll be the one scrambling to get the nursery ready if you wait too long!
I also agree....my SIL and BIL got their 2-year-old a portable DVD player and used to put him in his room with it for hours every day and that really pisses me off...why have a kid if you plan to use TV to raise him/her?!...but putting the baby in a bouncer or swing when they're a few weeks old and too fussy to sleep? not so bad IMO...lol.
I also agree....my SIL and BIL got their 2-year-old a portable DVD player and used to put him in his room with it for hours every day and that really pisses me off...why have a kid if you plan to use TV to raise him/her?!...but putting the baby in a bouncer or swing when they're a few weeks old and too fussy to sleep? not so bad IMO...lol.
I agree about the "substitute mom" crap. I think when people park their kids in front of the tv for hours and hours on end that that is substitute parenting, but I guess to each their own. I just told my mother that I was thinking about having the shower in April and she was like isn't that a little soon? Lol oh well, I do not want to be rushed after the shower trying to return things and get whatever we need still and get it all set up.
LOL cocacola that's a great idea....after-baby shower! although it would have to be several weeks AB (after baby) IMO so you're not wiped when everyone comes over ;).
and diaper genie I forgot that...it can wait a little while but it's definitely something to have by the end of month 1 or 2 post-partum...the bag trick works but not nearly as well. I actually liked diaper genie I better than II but the II was REALLY nice for pee diapers and small poo diapers...but the genie I has scented bags and each diaper is individually wrapped so the smell is harder to leak out IMO. we have both of them and I use them equally but for different things.
and I want to agree with cocacola (again lol) a swing or a bouncer was REALLY helpful in my opinion because sometimes you're just exhausted and nothing you're doing is soothing baby to sleep...and those things work miracles. but some women really hate them because they're "substitute moms" but I think that's rubbish and we used ours a lot and my daughter was STILL cuddled and loved all the time.
and diaper genie I forgot that...it can wait a little while but it's definitely something to have by the end of month 1 or 2 post-partum...the bag trick works but not nearly as well. I actually liked diaper genie I better than II but the II was REALLY nice for pee diapers and small poo diapers...but the genie I has scented bags and each diaper is individually wrapped so the smell is harder to leak out IMO. we have both of them and I use them equally but for different things.
and I want to agree with cocacola (again lol) a swing or a bouncer was REALLY helpful in my opinion because sometimes you're just exhausted and nothing you're doing is soothing baby to sleep...and those things work miracles. but some women really hate them because they're "substitute moms" but I think that's rubbish and we used ours a lot and my daughter was STILL cuddled and loved all the time.
Jilly - Yeah, we had our shower at 7-8 months as well, I had two showers, one for friends and one for families, they were about 2 weeks apart. I'm actually wishing I had one of the showers after the baby was born so everyone could meet my little angle. Maybe I'll do that this time?
Car-seats, although they do have requirements some are much safer than others! What we liked was a car seat stroller set, that worked really well for us. We spend extra money to get a great brand for the car seat/stroller set. The stroller worked with the car seat, and also with out for when they grow out of the car seat. As far as Cribs I would say look at reviews as well as one that converts to a toddler bed (and buy the toddler bed conversion kit with it so they match, otherwise the finish may not match). Also, you may want to look at reviews for a Monitor if you decided to get one, I've heard there are some pretty bad ones out there. We didn't use one at home, but my mother in law got one for when were over there.
I'd also reccomend putting a diaper genie II on the list, we've done the plastic bags trick but trust me, you will want a nice diaper pale for the hot days. Even in winter if we use plastic bags from the store our son's room smells!
Also, keep in mind, there will be items you'll buy that you may not need that other's say you had to get, and you may find you wish you had something. I wish we put a swing on our registry because we bought one a few weeks later and it really helped us a lot!
Car-seats, although they do have requirements some are much safer than others! What we liked was a car seat stroller set, that worked really well for us. We spend extra money to get a great brand for the car seat/stroller set. The stroller worked with the car seat, and also with out for when they grow out of the car seat. As far as Cribs I would say look at reviews as well as one that converts to a toddler bed (and buy the toddler bed conversion kit with it so they match, otherwise the finish may not match). Also, you may want to look at reviews for a Monitor if you decided to get one, I've heard there are some pretty bad ones out there. We didn't use one at home, but my mother in law got one for when were over there.
I'd also reccomend putting a diaper genie II on the list, we've done the plastic bags trick but trust me, you will want a nice diaper pale for the hot days. Even in winter if we use plastic bags from the store our son's room smells!
Also, keep in mind, there will be items you'll buy that you may not need that other's say you had to get, and you may find you wish you had something. I wish we put a swing on our registry because we bought one a few weeks later and it really helped us a lot!
I would say buy the sleep positioner!!!! I used it every night with my daughter and it gave me such peace of mind. they can adjust for side sleepers, too, but the advantage is that they won't slip like a blanket might!
Jilly::
I researched for strollers and car-seats and cribs, but everything else I chose based on aesthetics and what I felt would work the best for us.
Also I had my shower right at the 7-month mark and that was perfect for us. It gave us enough time to get what we didn't receive at the shower, and it gave us plenty of time to set up the nursery.
Jilly::
I researched for strollers and car-seats and cribs, but everything else I chose based on aesthetics and what I felt would work the best for us.
Also I had my shower right at the 7-month mark and that was perfect for us. It gave us enough time to get what we didn't receive at the shower, and it gave us plenty of time to set up the nursery.
My due date is July 9th but I have no idea when to have my shower. I was kind of thinking in April, is that a normal time frame? Thank you so much for asking this question because what to register for and what to buy haunts me too. I just know that if we buy something nice and get it set up in the nursery someone at the shower is going to give us and even nicer one. Ugh..this is so much more complicated than a wedding registry. Did you ladies research the things you put on your registry like as for what was rated the best and all that?
I never used a sleep positioners. The hospital actually told us we could take a blanket and roll it up tightly and use that to help instead of buying one of those. In the hospital we used a rolled up blanket to let our son sleep on his side, since he liked that the best.
I am having my baby shower in mid to end of May (due sept 2nd) I want a few months to be able to get the larger items that we don't get at the shower. I don't want to have to do any last minute shopping for large items. I've already got quite a bit saved up to purchase the crib and dresser changing table.
The other ladies pretty much covered the majority of what you will need before hand and what you can wait on. Good luck hope you get a good variety of gifts.
The other ladies pretty much covered the majority of what you will need before hand and what you can wait on. Good luck hope you get a good variety of gifts.
If it's a range of ages and family/friends you may get a nice mix of things. Those who know much about babies don't typically get newborn or 3 months stuff, and will get 6 month clothing or 9 month. I even got a 1T from someone!
I'd say you will use anywhere from 4-9 diapers a day, depending on your child. The hospital may give you a few diapers that are left over from the open pack. If you buy a bag of diapers, that should be good. If you get too many, it won't be the end of the world because you may find when you go out places, it's nice to use disposable, (I know a lot of mom's who do that). Some babies use more diapers than others, our son never told us when he needed a diaper change (still doesn't at 21 months), and others will fuss with the slightest bit of pee in the diaper.
People do like picking out clothing, especially if it's a girl it seems!
I'd say you will use anywhere from 4-9 diapers a day, depending on your child. The hospital may give you a few diapers that are left over from the open pack. If you buy a bag of diapers, that should be good. If you get too many, it won't be the end of the world because you may find when you go out places, it's nice to use disposable, (I know a lot of mom's who do that). Some babies use more diapers than others, our son never told us when he needed a diaper change (still doesn't at 21 months), and others will fuss with the slightest bit of pee in the diaper.
People do like picking out clothing, especially if it's a girl it seems!
How many disposable diapers would you think We'll need for the first 2 weeks or so? Were gonna use disposables at first while we get use to just having a baby then slowly start using the cloth ones once we are more confident with everything else. Our shower will be a mix of family and friends of all different age groups. We didnt really put clothes on the registry bc we figured ppl pretty much pick out what they like any ways..did any of you get an over load of one size of clothes? We have some like new hand me downs for the first few months so im hoping we get clothes for a bit older.
Is your baby shower mostly friends or family? I found that family got more larger items. My husband and I bought our Crib and Changing table, and because of Christmas we got our Car seat and stroller as a gift from parents. I don't know too many people who got those items at there baby shower unless it was an umbrella stroller.
You will probably get things like blankets (If you have any people who sew or knit they may make a blanket for you). You'll also get lots of clothing, toys and books.
If they play a game at the shower where you guess how much each baby item costs, you may get general things like Shampoo, baby lotion, baby oil, pacifier and other smaller baby items.
At my shower I also got a baby bath tub, it was nice, but we used it for a week or two and switched to the real bath tub as our son hated it! I also got burp cloths, a nursing pillow, Pack n Play, diaper genie and refills, clothing hangers, and not sure what else. I found that family were the ones that got a better variety of things, friends mostly just got clothing or blankets. Oh, and we got like hundreds of towels! We also got a baby first aid kit.
We got things like a thermometer from the hospital. The hospital will give you what is left over from being open, so any open diapers, wipes, etc. We also got a nail file, nail cutters, and a swaddling blanket. Every hospital will give different things. I think we used the nose squeezy thing once or twice, but we never used the thermometer as he was old enough for our ear one by the time he got sick.
I'd say some big items you may want to get, but waiting a few weeks to get some of the smaller stuff is fine.
Also, we never used a a baby monitor as our son's room is right next to ours, with the doors open it wasn't needed. My mother in law bought one for her house for when our son was sleeping over there since there rooms are spread out more.
I'd suggest to have a good outfit to take pics at the hospital with, but other than that sleepers with footies are the best! No need to loose socks!
You will probably get things like blankets (If you have any people who sew or knit they may make a blanket for you). You'll also get lots of clothing, toys and books.
If they play a game at the shower where you guess how much each baby item costs, you may get general things like Shampoo, baby lotion, baby oil, pacifier and other smaller baby items.
At my shower I also got a baby bath tub, it was nice, but we used it for a week or two and switched to the real bath tub as our son hated it! I also got burp cloths, a nursing pillow, Pack n Play, diaper genie and refills, clothing hangers, and not sure what else. I found that family were the ones that got a better variety of things, friends mostly just got clothing or blankets. Oh, and we got like hundreds of towels! We also got a baby first aid kit.
We got things like a thermometer from the hospital. The hospital will give you what is left over from being open, so any open diapers, wipes, etc. We also got a nail file, nail cutters, and a swaddling blanket. Every hospital will give different things. I think we used the nose squeezy thing once or twice, but we never used the thermometer as he was old enough for our ear one by the time he got sick.
I'd say some big items you may want to get, but waiting a few weeks to get some of the smaller stuff is fine.
Also, we never used a a baby monitor as our son's room is right next to ours, with the doors open it wasn't needed. My mother in law bought one for her house for when our son was sleeping over there since there rooms are spread out more.
I'd suggest to have a good outfit to take pics at the hospital with, but other than that sleepers with footies are the best! No need to loose socks!
IMO, the things you absolutely have to have are::
~~Crib/bassinet (although you can co-sleep in a pinch if you and your partner aren't big movers)
~~diapers (I would get cloth AND disposable just because you never know when you might not have access to a washer)
~~bottles/breast-pump (good to have bottles and at least a hand-operated breast-bump in case breast-feeding has a snag)
~~burp cloths (can use the cloth diapers for this...they're actually great)
receiving blankets for swaddling
~~hats
~~socks
~~pacifiers if you choose to use them...(good to have at least one or two around just in case even if you don't plan)
~~a thermometer (rectal is best at the newborn stage..more accurate and easier to use ~~in a baby that's going to squirm and wriggle his/her head around)
~~a gentle baby shampoo/soap (sometimes the hospital will send you home with ~~something, but johnson and johnson's makes a really gentle one that's good...I didn't ~~like the huggies brand because it dried out my daughter's hair and skin)
~~a bouncer/rocker chair for baby
~~mobile
~~car seat that can double as a carrier so you don't have to wake baby when you're ~~going to and from appointments and/or errands
~~a nursing pillow that can double as a snuggling pillow or be used for bottle feedings
~~a baby monitor (just audio is fine, but they make some nifty ones with video too which is good for a first-time mommy)
and things you'll need within the first few months but can hold off on getting right away:
~~stroller
~~play mat that you can put baby down on his/her belly for tummy time
~~rattles and toys (they don't usually show much interest in those for a few weeks)
~~colorful patches of cloth to hold up and help develop baby's eyesight
~~music to play to stimulate baby's mind
~~a changing table if you decide that changing on any available surface is inconvenient (I used my changing table for a few weeks, and haven't used it since so it's completely up to you and what you prefer...an alternative is a changing mat which can travel anywhere with you)
~~more onesies because you'll probably have used up the original ones you had....(plain is best at first. you can get a few outfits for pictures or for taking baby out, but white/plain onesies (The kind gerber makes that come in packs) are the best for early on, and they most likely will get ruined (some of them) so don't spend big bucks)
~~Crib/bassinet (although you can co-sleep in a pinch if you and your partner aren't big movers)
~~diapers (I would get cloth AND disposable just because you never know when you might not have access to a washer)
~~bottles/breast-pump (good to have bottles and at least a hand-operated breast-bump in case breast-feeding has a snag)
~~burp cloths (can use the cloth diapers for this...they're actually great)
receiving blankets for swaddling
~~hats
~~socks
~~pacifiers if you choose to use them...(good to have at least one or two around just in case even if you don't plan)
~~a thermometer (rectal is best at the newborn stage..more accurate and easier to use ~~in a baby that's going to squirm and wriggle his/her head around)
~~a gentle baby shampoo/soap (sometimes the hospital will send you home with ~~something, but johnson and johnson's makes a really gentle one that's good...I didn't ~~like the huggies brand because it dried out my daughter's hair and skin)
~~a bouncer/rocker chair for baby
~~mobile
~~car seat that can double as a carrier so you don't have to wake baby when you're ~~going to and from appointments and/or errands
~~a nursing pillow that can double as a snuggling pillow or be used for bottle feedings
~~a baby monitor (just audio is fine, but they make some nifty ones with video too which is good for a first-time mommy)
and things you'll need within the first few months but can hold off on getting right away:
~~stroller
~~play mat that you can put baby down on his/her belly for tummy time
~~rattles and toys (they don't usually show much interest in those for a few weeks)
~~colorful patches of cloth to hold up and help develop baby's eyesight
~~music to play to stimulate baby's mind
~~a changing table if you decide that changing on any available surface is inconvenient (I used my changing table for a few weeks, and haven't used it since so it's completely up to you and what you prefer...an alternative is a changing mat which can travel anywhere with you)
~~more onesies because you'll probably have used up the original ones you had....(plain is best at first. you can get a few outfits for pictures or for taking baby out, but white/plain onesies (The kind gerber makes that come in packs) are the best for early on, and they most likely will get ruined (some of them) so don't spend big bucks)
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