What are some must haves???

[Leigh]

All right all you experience parents out there, what are some must haves for this new little one?

We plan on getting a pack and play with bassinet (vibrating) and changing table built in, a crib that converts to assisted toddler bed, daybed, and full size bed, and a stroller with car seat attached. We also plan on getting a swing, though I am not sure what kind. (any suggestions) I know we need stuff like diapers, clothes, bottles, and etc, but what are some other must haves that I need to get, and couldn't or wouldn't want to live without?

[vea29]

coming from a daycare view...a vibrating bouncy seat.

[littlesista06]

a glider rocker (instead of a regular rocking chair)

[AnnW]

Why are you getting a day bed and full size bed??? plus a crib? that room is either very big or very crowded!
I never had a changing table. I just changed my kids on the floor or on the bed in the room.
A swing is a must!!! get one that has an easy front open to get the kid out rather than one where you pull the kid from behind.
wish there were carseat to strollers when my kids were young!
i loved my portable crib..is that the pack and play? why the bassinett?
i loved my playpen!!!! so did my kids.
i liked the fisher price baby bath tub. you could either put it in the sink or the tub...made bathing so easy.

[Melody]

Ann, the bed and daybed is the crib, it converts. Smart idea Leigh, you want something you can use down the road instead of always buying at different stages.
Swing, my sil has the ocean wonders swing that goes back and forth and side to side and swears by it. Some you have to wait until the baby is three months old and this one you don't, which is great if the baby has colic. I had a little portable one for ds3 and liked it too because I could take it anywhere.
Target (wish I had one here!) has a diaper bag that has a built in change pad/bassinet with high sides so you could double this. I think it's brilliant. lol
If you get a baby tub, you want one with a no slip grip under the bottom. Frankly, I think the kitchen sink works just as well.
I really think a lot of stuff is just gravy. I had a wind up swing for ds1 and then got rid of it. Didn't have one at all for ds2 but he was never cranky or colicy. All the boys had an excersaucer and loved it but I wouldn't call it a must have.
I did love the high chair that reclined though, my boys were always sleepy after eating and it was nice to not have to move them and I could keep them in the kitchen with me while I cleaned.
To be honest, I don't care for anything that vibrates near an infants head. I know they say it's safe but I wonder what all that constant motion is doing to their little brains. jmho
Have fun shopping Leigh, I know it's exciting preparing for a little one's arrival.
:)

[MaryL]

It's funny...for the first baby it's so much fun to look at and buy all of the unique baby things. With the second baby...you realize how little you really NEED! LOL For example, with ds1, I really wanted a "Diaper Genie". (You put the "used" diapers into it...like a diaper pail.) Well...after a few weeks of using it...and seeing how many diapers we really used...we abandoned the ole diaper genie...and just used the regular garbage can. (With the stink, we needed to empty it at least once each day anyway!).

Invest in a nice crib, highchair, and stroller. You will use the stroller more than you will ever know...and for more years than the crib, most likely. Spend the money (or ask for a really nice one as a gift!)...it's worth it.

I liked having a big stroller (car seat attaches, etc) for big outings, but I also had a smaller "umbrella" type stroller that was just perfect for little trips. I almost always left it in the car...and always knew I had it! The other thing I liked was the "exersaucer". Ds1 had a "walker"...but supposedly those aren't safe...so someone gave us an exersaucer. Ds2 loved it!!

Some babies LOVE the swing...some babies HATE it! I would ask for that as a shower gift...that way, if your little guy hates it, you haven't wasted money on it. KWIM?? Or better yet...borrow one!

We had a bassinet for our boys (borrowed one)...but mainly because we have a 2 story home, and it was nice to have a safe place to lay the newborn down on the lower story if they fell asleep. Babies outgrow bassinets very quickly!! Our boys always slept in their cribs (at night) from the time they came home...we never had any sleep issues with them. They got used to their crib right away. We had a pack and play (a gift)...mainly for travelling to the grandparents.

[RCT]

Invest in a package of Cloth diapers...you can get them at Sears or Penneys, little more pricey than WalMart...but you will use these over your shoulder as the best spit up clothes ever....

The front loading Battery operated Swing.
Baby sleep wedge
http://babyride.stores.yahoo.net/bc-45002.html

[Leigh]

a glider rocker (instead of a regular rocking chair)

That is the kind I got, it came with a glider ottoman.

Here is our rocker.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4407808

[Leigh]

Why are you getting a day bed and full size bed??? plus a crib? that room is either very big or very crowded!
I never had a changing table. I just changed my kids on the floor or on the bed in the room.
A swing is a must!!! get one that has an easy front open to get the kid out rather than one where you pull the kid from behind.
wish there were carseat to strollers when my kids were young!
i loved my portable crib..is that the pack and play? why the bassinett?
i loved my playpen!!!! so did my kids.
i liked the fisher price baby bath tub. you could either put it in the sink or the tub...made bathing so easy.

We are not getting all of those. The crib we are getting turns into all of those. It is only one piece of furniture. The pack and play is a portable crib, and the bassinet is attached to it, so I figured why not. It basically just means you don't have to reach way down to put the baby in the playpen.
I hadn't thought about baths at all. I guess I need to start looking at those now.

Here is the crib that we got.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4195495

[Leigh]

Thanks gals! I can't wait. I will have to look for all of that neat stuff. Keep the ideas coming if you think of anything else.

[angie r]

I never used a changing table either even though I bought one all three times. I swear by the vibrating bouncy seat, what a life saver they are!!

My only new advice is to go ahead and buy a double stroller now. They have them that come with the baby carseat that pops in and out. Then when you are shopping, or going out somewhere you actually have space to put things. Then when you are ready for #2 you won't have to abandon the old one and buy another one that's seats 2 kids.

I love the pack n plays with the built in bassinets! So smart!

Yuck to the diaper genie too!

How exciting!!!!!

[RCT]

I agree I loved my double stroller Great for two kids, or one and everything you purchase....LOL

[Diane]

All great idea's. :) I don't think there is anything else that I could possibly add. LOL

I never used a changing table either, even when I did day care. Like Ann, I used the floor and/or the bed. I had a matt that I'd slide under the couch and when I needed to change them I'd just pull it out and slide it back under when I was done. :)

When I had my first one there was no such thing as a battery operated swing, only wind up's which were a real big PITA. Dawn would always wake up the second the swing would stop swinging so when I'd go rewind it and the sound of that would startle/scare her awake each/every time. Those nice battery operated ones are so quiet and keep the swing swinging for as long as you want. (or the battery runs out... LOL

I'm sure after the baby is born you'll think of some other things you may need/want. Everyone has different needs/wants and what I may love/like you may not care for. :biglaugh: Have fun shopping...

[vea29]

We are not getting all of those. The crib we are getting turns into all of those. It is only one piece of furniture. The pack and play is a portable crib, and the bassinet is attached to it, so I figured why not. It basically just means you don't have to reach way down to put the baby in the playpen.
I hadn't thought about baths at all. I guess I need to start looking at those now.

Here is the crib that we got.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4195495
Wow...that is a nice simple crib that converts...I saw them when they first came out years ago when my cousin wanted one and they were $$$$$.

LOL...I love my glider and I don't even have kids.

[Melody]

I had the diaper genie for ds1 and it smelled so gross. It's fine for a day until you get a poopy diaper and then when you change it, yuck. lol I saved all of my shopping bags or little brown lunch paper bags and used those to wrap up the poopy diapers and put them in the garbage can, no smell.

I had a change table for each, loved it. Fil built it though, nothing that was purchased. It's taller than most (good for me), with high sides to prevent rolling off, two drawers under the change area plus two big double doors under that. I kept it in the living room for extra baby blankets and clothes so I wasn't always up and down the stairs and of course to change him on. lol And, since fil made all the other furniture, it matched the living room. :)

Good idea about getting the double stroller now Angie. I would have been lost without mine.

OK, I have baby fever now. lol :tinysmile

[Diane]

That is the kind I got, it came with a glider ottoman.

Here is our rocker.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4407808

I just had a rocking chair and always wanted one of these. :) I'm sure you're really going to like it!!

[littlesista06]

I just had a rocking chair and always wanted one of these. :) I'm sure you're really going to like it!!

Ohhhh I just loved mine!! (it's in the attic waiting for dd's baby... LOL)
I can't tell you how many naps dd and I had in it. :)
I sure wished it had the ottoman though...

[Diane]

Ohhhh I just loved mine!! (it's in the attic waiting for dd's baby... LOL)
I can't tell you how many naps dd and I had in it. :)
I sure wished it had the ottoman though...

Sarah always loved our rocking chair. It was always the first thing she'd run to when she walked into our house. "It" was her soother seeing she couldn't suck her thumb or pacifier. LOL It's funny because if something scares her (loud noise) or if she's feeling down about something, she'll still run for the rocking chair and start rocking. LOL Definitely a "must have". LOL

[KarlaB]

My only new advice is to go ahead and buy a double stroller now. They have them that come with the baby carseat that pops in and out. Then when you are shopping, or going out somewhere you actually have space to put things. Then when you are ready for #2 you won't have to abandon the old one and buy another one that's seats 2 kids.

Are you talking about the sit/stand double strollers? Like these: http://about.pricegrabber.com/search.php?form_keyword=sit%20n%20stand&mode=about_pregnancy&skd=1

We had a double stroller when ds2 came around and sometimes that thing was so bulky and difficult to manuever. I'd go with the single stroller to begin with - even with another baby down the road, there will probably come a time when it will still come in handy. jmo :tinysmile

[KarlaB]

Ditto about the Diaper Genie!! I didn't know they even sold those things anymore. LOL

The dresser we bought for oldest ds is sort of elevated and we put a pad on top of that for changing him, but rarely used it - he was usually on the floor - much more convenient. :tinysmile Plus, I swear every time I changed him on the changing area he peed on his wall. LOL

Our stroller had the attachable car seat and I loved that. However, with dd's stroller we figured out way too late that the seat that she sits on now does not recline and it is a total PITA! You'd think by baby #3 we'd have had the stroller shopping down, but I guess I just assumed that all of the seats would recline and I was so intent on getting a stroller with the tray thing on the front this time. Also, everytime I put her in there I have to buckle her in bcuz there is nothing that goes btwn her legs. If I could do it again, I may have looked for that option. (Does that make sense?)

Ditto what Renee said about the cloth diapers. Some of the spit up cloths you can buy are terry cloth and just don't seem as soft. :) I did find some cotton ones at Target or somewhere though with cutsie little patterns on them.

Also, another vote for the bouncy seat and exersaucer. My dks never liked the swing, but some babies LOVE them!!

[RCT]

Are you talking about the sit/stand double strollers? Like these: http://about.pricegrabber.com/search.php?form_keyword=sit%20n%20stand&mode=about_pregnancy&skd=1

We had a double stroller when ds2 came around and sometimes that thing was so bulky and difficult to manuever. I'd go with the single stroller to begin with - even with another baby down the road, there will probably come a time when it will still come in handy. jmo :tinysmile

I had one that both could actually fall asleep in, and did
http://comfort1st.com/grbacldostdu.html
worth every darn penny. IMHO

I

[vea29]

Ditto what Renee said about the cloth diapers. Some of the spit up cloths you can buy are terry cloth and just don't seem as soft. :) I did find some cotton ones at Target or somewhere though with cutsie little patterns on them.

Also, another vote for the bouncy seat and exersaucer. My dks never liked the swing, but some babies LOVE them!!
found this


http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4088156

[Melody]

oh, can't believe I forgot about snugglies! This is probably my biggest must have. All the boys loved it, so did I because if they were colicky I wasn't stuck to a rocking chair all day. They really are hands free so it's nice to get up and get things done, say vacuuming or making a sandwich. lol Going for walks through fields when we had the dog when they were babies was great because that was an area where it was too rough to bring a stroller. If it gets cold where you are, there is one I had that was like a snowsuit. I would have been lost without it too. And it had the hole in it for the car seat strap to go through. It was green, I can't recall who made it but I've seen covers for other snugglies before too. Plus, sometimes you need to be somewhere at a function and you know someone is going to be there that you don't want holding your baby, this is a great way to say no, he's comfy and I don't want to make him as fussy as he was before coming here. lol

Also forgot this, receiving blankets that are bigger than the store ones. Did you say already that the baby is measuring big? It may have been someone else. But this is what happened to me: I bring newborn clothes with me to the hospital for ds1 assuming he's going to be as small as me, siblings, dh, or his family. Um, nope. Ds was over 9 pounds and he wouldn't fit into the newborn clothes. Then we get home and I go to wrap him up in the receiving blanket and he's too long. Thank goodness my mom sews, she ran out to the fabric store and got a bunch of material and made me some extra large blankets to wrap him in. Lesson learned, I brought clothes with me to the hospital for the other two that didn't have feet, just in case and it was a good thing. lol So....you may want to look into the size of receiving blankets and maybe have a few big ones. :)

[RCT]

OMG I forgot about SNUGLI too...DS lived in his, and dd too, was colicy....

what godsend that product was....

[KarlaB]

I had one that both could actually fall asleep in, and did
http://comfort1st.com/grbacldostdu.html
worth every darn penny. IMHO

I

I agree - well worth it with 2 kids, but I was just saying I didn't know if I'd want to haul around a double stroller with one kid. We had one like the one you linked and sometimes it just seemed so BIG! LOL

[KarlaB]

found this


http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4088156

I had some like those and they weren't as soft and snuggly as I expected. :\

[littlesista06]

Dd also liked her Johnny Jump Up - not sure they're called that anymore but it's a doorway jumper. She could bounce and twirl around and see me all the time. :)

I never got the hang of the Snuggli... or the baby backpack, all too cumbersome. I liked the idea, but you need another person with you, practically, to get them in and out of it (the backpack). LOL

Another ditto on the Diaper Genie. YUCK.

[aztec_judy]

Have ya thought about bottles yet ??? Are ya going to breast feed ??
You will still need bottles; I preferred the plastic ones. The disposables insert ones are great !! but but they tend to get a little pricey; and with twins decided they were tooo pricey for me.
I worried about the glass bottles, so used plastic for us.
but other than that cant think of anything that the other ladies haven't already mentioned. except for fingernail clippers; you will want to keep them handy, and that, nose bulb thingy, it comes in handy too.
Your due in Oct ? Nov ? you will need things to start for the winter, so if anyone crochets or sews it is nice to have the Larger blankets. I do think they have shrunk the receiving blankets, they are sooo tiny now.
Also with the winter ya need a small afghan to cover you and baby with, while relaxing on the couch (or in the rocker) .. lol
Great idea getting things that will "grow" with baby those are always nice.
Also just encase: I would put aside the money that i would use to buy disposable diapers with for now. You dont' ever know if the little one might not be allergic to any of them; (mine were allergic to huggies) Some store bought ones are good; but most are useless; because ya end up going thru alot of them tooo fast. So watch for thickness of the diapers.
They have really cute ONSIES out now; but don't buy alot of them small; the baby grows really fast. Because depending on weight baby may never wear the 0 to 9 mths much before they are too small.
Bibs are nice, but not the too large ones for a small baby nor the too small ones for a large baby.
Check out the dollar stores for a few of the items too. You can get bibs, washcloths, nail clippers, shampoo, oil, powder etc there and they are small bottles. They are about the right size to test with, encase of allergies.
hmmm
anyways .. before I get carried away here .. lolol oh yes .. and becareful of perfumey smelly things like that .. some babies are allergic to them some are not ..
oh an 2 diaper bags would be nice, like that ya always have one ready to run with, otherwise dont' get in a hurry to run out the door anymore.. lololol

[angie r]

I love avent bottles and they make the switch to a sippy cup using the same bottle and just buying a sippy lid.

[littlesista06]

Ohhh this is bringing back some sweet memories.

I remember dd hated things being pulled over her head when she was 'new'. Mom went out and bought the little shirts that snapped in the front instead of the onesies that went over her head. Poor thing she looked traumatized whenever I'd slip one on her. lol

Also, for when Brayden is very new, the little cotton 'mitts' are nice to slip over their hands to keep them from scratching their little faces. Those fingernails tiny but can really scratch. I also had the gowns that the sleeves slipped over her hands to make a little mitt.

[Leigh]

Thanks gals! Keep the ideas coming as you think of them. I am keeping a running list!

[AnnW]

I loved the drawstring gowns for ds when he was a newborn till almost 3 months!!! you could pull that string and almot swaddle them, fold the sleeves over their hands so they don't scratch themselves and super easy for diaper changes!!

i used the heck out of a bouncy seat with both my kids..great for feeding them when they are still not great at sitting up in the high chair. also they just get tired of being on the ground.

don't forget a baby monitor..loved mine!

[angie r]

and for babies gassy belly - Mylicon is your best friend.

[aztec_judy]

hmmm avent bottle ... now thats totally new one on me .. but greattttttt its nice to have things that go more or less start to finish .. lolol

teething rings .. are neat to have ..
are you going to allow pacifiers ??? some parents like them some dont ..
I know the twins one ended up being a thumb sucker the other a pacifier sucker ..
Also what about a baby shower .. when ya think ya mite have that ?? I know closer to time but I mean .. ya know .. when ya think it mite be ??

[KarlaB]

I loved the drawstring gowns for ds when he was a newborn till almost 3 months!!! you could pull that string and almot swaddle them, fold the sleeves over their hands so they don't scratch themselves and super easy for diaper changes!!

i used the heck out of a bouncy seat with both my kids..great for feeding them when they are still not great at sitting up in the high chair. also they just get tired of being on the ground.

don't forget a baby monitor..loved mine!

Ditto! Ditto! Ditto!! :)

[Diane]

I loved the drawstring gowns for ds when he was a newborn till almost 3 months!!! you could pull that string and almot swaddle them, fold the sleeves over their hands so they don't scratch themselves and super easy for diaper changes!!

i used the heck out of a bouncy seat with both my kids..great for feeding them when they are still not great at sitting up in the high chair. also they just get tired of being on the ground.

don't forget a baby monitor..loved mine!

I loved dd's bouncy seats... :) I bought several things I could move them to/from. :) If they'd get bored in one thing I'd move them to another. Doing day care, I didn't always have the time to pick up and carry them around... so it was nice having several different things to help occupy their time. I couldn't have lived without the baby monitor either. :)

[Dnk119]

oh my goodness. I think you got it all here. Are you taking notes? LOL
One thing though I don't think I saw was a carry around seat for the house. Kinda like a car seat but meant to stay in the house. My sister had one for her ds and dd and passed it to me.She called it a nipper napper LOL.My kiddos would nap in it. I would take them and sat them by the shower. Or doing dishes> Very very handy to have.
A boppy or a lap pillow if your gonna breast feed will come in handy too. We bough cloth diapers and used them on the shoulder called them spit cloths LOL.I use walmart brand white cloud diapers.Itried huggies with dd1 and tried these and am still using them 6.5 years later. wmt wipes are good too.
NIC

[PamE]

Hmmm... speaking of diapers... don't buy too many packs before the babe is born. You might find that certain brands work and certain ones don't. The stores are really good about exchanging them for that reason (and the babies outgrow sizes quickly), but still. I loved Pampers for the first three babies and when the last one came along (ds2) he kept peeing out the leg of them!!! 8o He had such a tiny little butt that hardly anything fit! :lol: A lot of the generics are good, but there again you'll find some that work and some that won't. :)

[angie r]

Hmmm... speaking of diapers... don't buy too many packs before the babe is born. You might find that certain brands work and certain ones don't. The stores are really good about exchanging them for that reason (and the babies outgrow sizes quickly), but still. I loved Pampers for the first three babies and when the last one came along (ds2) he kept peeing out the leg of them!!! 8o He had such a tiny little butt that hardly anything fit! :lol: A lot of the generics are good, but there again you'll find some that work and some that won't. :)

That is so true about the diapers! I could use any old thing on ds and usually bought Sam's Club brand diapers, dd's went right through them every time! I used Luvs for the most part.

[KarlaB]

Ditto about the diapers! LOL Loved Huggies with oldest ds, then Pampers and I think Luvs is the all-time fav for me - absorpency, fit, "texture", and cost. :)

[kat]

Wow, this has been like a cyber shower. What fun. Looks like you're all set. The only thing I would add is Johnson's bedtime bath and bedtime lotion enriched with lavender and chamomile. It smells so incredible. I absolutely love it. I couldn't wait for gb to get back that baby magic smell, but this stuff is even better.

[vea29]

Wow, this has been like a cyber shower. What fun. Looks like you're all set. The only thing I would add is Johnson's bedtime bath and bedtime lotion enriched with lavender and chamomile. It smells so incredible. I absolutely love it. I couldn't wait for gb to get back that baby magic smell, but this stuff is even better.
I love baby magic....I actually use it my self....LOL.

[kat]

I love baby magic....I actually use it my self....LOL.

Well try the lavender and chamomile. It is heavenly.

[Diane]

Well try the lavender and chamomile. It is heavenly.

I love good smelling lotions. :) I'm going to have to look for and try this. It sounds wonderful!

[Melody]

Wow, this has been like a cyber shower. What fun. Looks like you're all set. The only thing I would add is Johnson's bedtime bath and bedtime lotion enriched with lavender and chamomile. It smells so incredible. I absolutely love it. I couldn't wait for gb to get back that baby magic smell, but this stuff is even better.


I bought the lavender lotion for bed by Johnson's but when I got home and read the bottle I couldn't use it for ds3. Not supposed to with breathing problems or asthma, which he developed as a baby. So, I had to use it. lol