I've already learned that when you are pregnant people are very happy to give advice. Unfortunately, it's not always about things you want to know. Here are some things I would love advice about:
Crib bumpers. Are they safe? Are they necessary? Should I get them? I've read conflicting things...
Diaper bag. To splurge or not to splurge? How much did you spend?
Stroller. My baby is due in February. Remember, I live in IDAHO! Do I need to have the stroller before he's born or is that something I can buy a little later? Also, am I going to want a stroller that his car seat will "clip" in to or can I get a stroller that is just a stroller? (does that make sense?)
Rocking chair, glider, recliner, just a swing for baby, none ...Help. Which one?
What is the ONE thing you could not have lived without during the first couple months of baby's life?
Most importantly, when can I start buying things? Is it too early? Are there any "big" items that are always on sale Black Friday? Will anyone get up at 4am to go buy those items for me on Black Friday?!
I think that's all...for now!
8 comments:
Oh I need help on all those too! I hope people give you feedback so I can come back and check it too!
This may be a long comment, but here it goes....
My baby has always had her crib bumper on, but she didnt start sleeping in her crib until 3 months (she was in her bassinet until then).
I got a Petunia Pickle Bottom bag which I think is totally worth the money. They have a roll out changing table in every bag.I cant tell you how many times I have taken Hadley into a public restroom and they do not have a changing table, so I have had to whip out my PPB changing pad. Most of their designs are plastic-like material, so it wipes clean when you get baby gunk on it. PPB are very expensive, but they have a few sales a year where they go 50-75% off. Only catch is, you have to sign up on their website to recieve an invite to their sale.
If you want an amazing stroller that will last forever you should invest in a Phil and Teds. This was the one item I totally splurged on. It is compatible with Graco and Chicco carseats. It folds up with the push of a button. It is all terrain, and when you have a 2nd baby you can attach a 2nd seat without making the stroller any bulkier. check out their website...they are amazing.
I would stock up on newborn clothes. Not 0-3 month, they will be huge on your new baby...NEWBORN size(they can be found at target, baby gap,and gymboree). I also loved my bumbo and boppy. If you are going to breast feed, pick up a couple nipple shields they will be your best friend during those first couple days.
Oh and by the way, I love your blog. You crack me up.
When Ellie was born, I offered to buy Heidi one big-ticket item of their choice. Their choice? Phil and Ted's. And they are as awesome as they sound. And I've owned a lot of strollers in my life, I should know.
My kids have always had crib bumpers, but I'm old, so what do I know?
As far as a diaper bag goes, I've also owned a ton of these, and my favorite is made by Lands' End. It opens up like a doctor's bag, has a changing pad, pockets and places galore, wipes clean, goes in the washer, and it's not too expensive. I bought mine when I had Micah, and I've used it solid for the last SEVEN YEARS. You know how gentle my kids are. And it still looks great, every zipper works, and I would buy it again in a heartbeat. Not as cute as PPB, but I like them better, and for about half the sale price of PPB.
Swing for baby is nice, rocking chair is great, but the one thing I really liked when my babies were tiny is a front pack. When they're fussy you can carry them around no-handed and still make dinner, vacuum, walk the mall, whatever.
Is that enough advice?
The ONE THING I would never do without again with a newborn is this: Aquaphor ointment. I never knew about it until Hyrum was born, but I SWEAR by it. Much better than desitin, no white gunk, and it works FAST!!!
Ok, here's my rundown...I put crib bumpers in cuz their cute. I take them out when they start rolling
& then I put them back in when they are around 10 months- 1yr.
I have a double jogger & an umbrella stroller...not much help there.
I'm all about my glider with an ottoman, but I just saw some of the cutest gliders that look like big comfy lazy boy chairs that I really want! I rock my boys to sleep all the time & with nursing, I love them.
A&D ointment(not the white cream) is great for all uses, especially baby boys...
My boys are obssessed with the swing & both napped in them until they were 4 months.(not at night time tho).
love the boppy!
But the thing I couldn't live without are my Aden & Anais swaddle blankets. I'm all about swaddling...it works to calm them anytime!
Hope this wasn't too long...& hope it helped!
I'm realizing that it has been a REALLY LONG time since I've had a baby! Can't wait for yours to get here so we can try all this new great stuff! Can't wait for you to visit so we can go shopping too! I'll wake up at 4 am on Black Friday with you - Jason even plans on "camping out" somewhere the night before. Maybe we can have him camp out at Babies R Us! I think the ONE thing you could not live without is THE BABY and YOUR ARMS! Hold him while you rock him, take him to church, sing to him, read to him, feed him, love him! and when your arms get tired, give him to Dad...or bring him to visit Grandma!
I'm so excited for you!
I feel like I don't know anything, but here's what I liked:
- I have a crib bumper and have had no problems, Finn never snuggled up to them, but if I did it again I'd totally forgo one. It's such a HUGE pain to change sheets with a bumper. But I think a breathable bumper would be both easier to change sheets and safer.
- Diaper bag. I bought one on Etsy for $40. I don't know, that's splurging for me. I'm a boy. :)
- I loooove my Baby Jogger City Mini! I've heard good things about Phil and Ted's though, but I've heard more things about the City Mini which is why I got it. Easiest thing you'll ever unfold. Super light. I loooove it. LOVE. Not something you have to get right away, BUT just FYI we got our's before Christmas for 30% off on AlbeeBaby.com, and they probably have Phil and Ted's on there. I don't think you can go wrong with either.
- We have a rocker and I use it at night but not during the day. It's a big stuffed one I got on Craigs List for $30 and recovered. I love it, and for me it's a necessity at night. I don't know if you are breastfeeding or not, but for me I mostly nurse him on the couch during the day so I don't use it a TON. But still great to have.
- We were given a swing. Finn didn't like it until about 4 months and he still uses it now even though he's almost outgrown it. Honestly, unless someone gives you one, try and borrow someone's because some babies hate them and some love them.
- The ONE thing I LOVED and couldn't live without in the beginning... a tie between the Fisher Price Rock 'N Play Sleeper and SwaddleMe blankets! He slept with both until 4 months old. The first few weeks I tried swaddling him with the SwaddleMe and he hated it so I stopped, but he seemed to wake up a lot (well newborns do and they're supposed to of course) but I tried again and once he was in it he slept so much better. Check out reviews for the Rock N Play, it's fantastic.
Okay annnd as for when to buy things. Finn was due in January and I bought 95% of his things before Christmas and most of them from Amazon. I don't know if they do it every year, but all the stuff I got was on amazing deals! Like 50% off. Just check it periodically because different items I wanted went on sale at different times.
ONE MORE THING, sign up for Amazon Mom! You just sign up for free and you get 30% off diapers and wipes as well as a free year of Amazon Prime (which means free two-day shipping on any item shipped from Amazon)! Basically, signing up gets you 15% off baby items. Then when you go to, say, buy a box of diapers, it gives you the option to Subscribe and Save for another 15% off. Then once you've ordered, you go cancel the subscription and do the same thing every time you order. It's FANTASTIC. :)
Good luck! If you ever want to talk baby stuff... I love to do it. Haha.
not that i know anything because i don't and i'm learning like you, but i bought a messenger bag from ross for a diaper bag. it's fossil and i was eyeing it at nordstrom and then it was at ross! i plan on getting a plastic changing pad also.
amazon mom is great. you can earn up to a year of free shipping depending on how much you spend, and you start with 3 months of free shipping. i've only bought stuff for me (body pillow and some other things) but they qualified for the free shipping and now we have free shipping through feb. and you can register on amazon...
i'll keep checking this to see what others say!
Take these comments for what they are worth, because obviously I don't have children of my own. However, I have worked as a nanny and seen lots of moms and talked babies for hours and hours and so here goes.
Splurge on your diaper bag. You'll be glad you did.
You'll want a stroller if you ever go to the mall. And if you do, you'll want one his carseat can fit in. Simply because you don't want to wake a sleeping baby to transfer from one seat to another seat back to the first seat if you can avoid it.
I'll go buy whatever you want on Black Friday! ;)
And like the other posts, Amazon Mom is a must. I hear its pretty amazing.
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