I just spent an hour putting together a list covering most of what everyone’s said here, and in related SDMB threads, and in a few other Internet places (including the American Baby magazine Best Stuff lists). I tidied things up, put them in categories, added quotes, fixed spellings, etc. (Forgive me; I’m a copyeditor, OK?)
I did this because I’m getting carried away already getting stuff for my faraway pregnant best friend, and I know she has a bunch of broke friends who may not get it together for a shower but would like not to duplicate each other’s gifts.
It’s a MS Word document, five pages long. Anyone who’d like a copy, drop me an email.
Ok…new mommy to be here. I’ve seen those ‘wipe warmers’ at Target, Walmart and the like. Is a ‘wipe warmer’ REALLY all that neccessary? I mean, will my baby catch cold from a cold wipe against his/her bum?
MetalMaven
From what I understand wipe warmers are only necessary if you have a really small preemie and even then your hand warms just as well as a machine.
Wipe funny story… when my MIL would change the baby she’d pat her bum with the wipe ever so gently. (Obviously a pee change) I would laugh myself silly over this… they are ‘wipes’ ma not ‘pats’ good thing she didn’t have to change a poo… a whole box o wipes wouldn’t clean a bum with that method.
Important new mommy notice… grandma’s forget everything they ever knew about babies over time!!!
Oh, and something I didn’t realize for the longest time: if your baby is having diaper rash, skip the diaper wipes and just use a warm wet washcloth for awhile. Something about the wipes, even the unscented ones, irritates the rash even further. You can go back to using the wipes when the rash is cleared up, though.
BNB, I’d think four bottles would be plenty. As for the pump, if you won’t be pumping often, I loved the Avent Isis. It’s a manual, easy to use, and uses a different extraction method than most manuals. It presses and sucks at the same time. That makes it more efficient and, surprisingly, more comfortable to use. It’s also extremely portable and easy to clean.
You can only attach it to the Avent bottles, which is something of a drawback if your baby doesn’t like them, but you can always pour the milk over into another bottle.
I am not bred to be a dairy cow. Only a Medela hospital pump would get anything out of me. The Isis handpump was a joke. Even the “Pump in Style” was a joke (took an hour to get four ounces). The Isis was an expensive investment that couldn’t be returned.
You could buy a used (or new ) Pump in Style electric pump, then sell it on eBay for what you bought it for. You’ll need to buy your own tubes, cups, bottles, etc. if you buy a used one
Talk about serendipity - I was just thinking that I should start a thread like this! I am really appreciating the advice.
We’ve already purchased an entire carseat package at a yard sale - car seat, stroller, base. But it sounds like that was a bad idea. I’ve got the owners manual, etc. so I can check that it wasn’t a recalled model (it’s a Graco), but I’d never heard that a used set was a bad idea because of a possible accident. Now I’m worried about that.
Someone in another similar thread back in March said that a Baby Bjorn was a good thing.
Someone at my book club was telling me just last night that a changing table was a Bad Thing. She was babysitting for a 5 week old just recently and has since heard that the baby spent the night at the hospital because she wiggled right off the table before her dad could catch her. However, the comment someone made in this thread about the changing table saving her back sure makes sense to me.
changing tables these days have straps for when you have a wriggly baby and they have contoured pads that can make them harder to wriggle off of.
A good rule of thumb is to have one hand on baby at all times when they are on the table.
I got a ‘diaper depot’ at babies R us that holds diapers/wipes/stuff and attaches to the side of the changing table so stuff is always at arms reach and you don’t have to turn away!
Having learned that lesson myself, well it’s a good idea to make sure you have everything you need for changing right there before you start to do so and always stay next to the table.
That said I doubt I will be getting a changing table as unless I buy it in a taller size, it’s going to mess with my back anyway. I can deal with the floor I want to get a stroller mainly because I’m going to be doing a fair bit of walking… in winter I don’t want to have caterpie bundled in a sling over my winter jacket… really awkward I would think. But I have to shop around for a stroller made with taller people in mind.
This might help you with the height/stroller issue: stroller extension handles. Some strollers come with these, but they’re the way pricier models, many times.
Everyone has their Baby Bible. Our was " Your Baby and Child", by Penelope Leach. Insightful, not overbearing or preachy. Funny. Good stuff.
I’m six foot two. My kids LIVED in a Gerry Backpack. Now, they’re adopted and weren’t newborn when either arrived, but I have seen Gerry packs with head support panels for wee bairn who cannot hold up their head.
You are freed from the physical stress of carrying your baby in your arms, and are able to function in your house while at the same time, your baby is in CONSTANT physical contact with you. I found it very bonding, and I know my kids had been kept in the traditional Korean blanket/baby wrap which holds them to the back, with their foster mothers. They sleep with their faces against your neck or back, it is beyond sweet. I always knew when they woke up, they’d start to pull on my (then) ponytail with great glee and giggling… I heartily recommend looking into a Gerry Pack ( Geri? )
Aside from that, everyone has great ideas. I would offer this overall thought : It is a process that is unique to each new parent. All of the helpful and not at all helpful comments or suggestions on this book or that device that you just MUST have aren’t worth a hill of beans, because it’s such a completely organic thing. Nobody knows your child like you do, you will re-assess what works and what makes your child happy on a day to day and hour to hour basis.
I don’t mean to suggest that you are a slave to that concept, but rather that you will quickly learn to read your child and discover what is the best way to go in all areas of parenting.
What must you have? Only the fierce desire to nurture, adore, love, protect, nourish and grow with your child. Everything else is a cakewalk. Fun? Taking a bath with your kid, splashing them and getting shampoo everywhere. Man… I miss having a baby around the house now. -sigh-
lol… Cartooniverse I realized that I’d get a bunch of different things but like I said, I mainly wanted the little things that the majority of parents found useful that most ‘standard’ baby item lists don’t mention.
I’ve been getting that as well as everything else! It’s nice to have other peoples ideas on what to get, tips on where to get good deals etc.
Lots of good input here. One thing I got as a gift when my kids were a little older (2 yrs.) was a set of bright red washcloths and a red towel.
These are always clean and set aside for when your child ends up falling or getting hurt in some other way and is bleeding. They won’t freak out nearly as much if they can’t see the blood, especially if they need stiches. Yes, it happens. I’ve given sets to other new parents and several have later thanked me when they used them as intended.
My kids are older now and I’m not sure it gets any easier until they’re 25.
It’s not that they’ll catch cold from a cold wipe, it’s that warm wipes feel so much better in general. They help with diaper rash and are less likely to startle the baby. That said, they’re not vital to the baby’s overall health, but if you can swing it (or can register for it), by all means get it.
It’s the difference between a cold, wet washcloth and a nice warm, wet washcloth.
Well alright. You do make a good point, Robyn. I just saw one and thought “What a silly thing to make. People have survived millions of years without warm wipies and when you go out with the baby somewhere, it’s not like you can take warm wipies with you anyway.”
Those stroller extension handles are incredibly useful. We bought some to go along with our cheapo Target umbrella stroller, and even though I’m only 5’8", I much prefer using the stroller with them than without them. For my 6’0" husband, they’re a must.
I do remember seeing the handle extensions, and I know that will be on my must buy list. I once walked a kid around downtown for several hours and my back was killing me because they didn’t have that on the stroller. I was babysitting and the couple were a shorter couple so they didn’t need it but I was pretty tall already though I hadn’t finished growing.
I’m 6’ 2". I never knew from those handle extensions. Man, did I hate the stroller- but not as much as the DOUBLE stroller we needed. Kids 16 months apart.
Man, I’m glad they’re so much older now, and are no longer 16 months apart.
I want to get a stroller mainly because I’m going to be doing a fair bit of walking… in winter I don’t want to have caterpie bundled in a sling over my winter jacket… really awkward I would think. But I have to shop around for a stroller made with taller people in mind.
I heartily recommend looking into a Gerry Pack ( Geri? )