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Baby Needs - 6/5/2008 3:35:35 PM
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SweetLittleErin
Posts: 3395
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First time mommy to be here and I trying to budget and come up with a list of what we NEED to have and when we need to have it by. I'd like to use this thread to discuss that. I know everyone's needs vary so I kind of want to just get an idea, there are many things that I dont even think about.
Let me know if I amleaving out anything important.
So far...
Crib & mattress & Sheets
Dresser
Car Seat
Pack and Play (since I plan to use it bedside at night)
Breast Pump (since I plan to BF and will be going back to work)
Things I will probably get at showers...
Bottles
Sleepers
Receiving Blankets
Diapers
Burp Clothes
_____________________________
~Erin~
Mommy to Isaac, born 7/29, 12 weeks early.
<----My little Superman
A Glimpse Of Pink
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RE: Baby Needs - 6/5/2008 5:06:32 PM
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pbaribeault
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OK - I'm pulling up my list....
Don't bother with booties or too many socks for the first 3 months or so -- usually they just live in sleepers except for special occasions.
Depending on where you live, you might want some warmer gear for the winter following October...
A 'coat' that is basically a sweat shirt or fleecie with a hood is nice, especially because it protects baby's neck from the car seat straps.
Also maybe a 'blanket sleeper' -- a sleeper made of something like polar fleece, a size bigger than what they would be wearing under it makes good outer-wear.
For bed time you might want a sleep-sac type zip-around blanket bag thing.
You will want a laundry receptacle somewhere near your change table, or a basket for laundry as part of the change table.
If you are using your diaper pail for cloth diapers, you will want an additional trash basket.
Also, stain spray. Oxy baby spray is great. You can just spray it on, then toss it in your ordinary hamper and it can wait until you get around to washing it. Nothing takes everything out, but it's nice to be able to address a stain as you are undressing the baby, instead of trying to remember to get it as you're doing the laundry.
Vitamin D drops.
Nursing-leaking pads. I use about 6 pair of washables, plus I keep a box of disposables so that if laundry is behind (often) I have something to use without wasting too much money. (Also, if you are engorged, you can soak a couple pads, put them in a ziplock (stacked) and freeze them. Then you have nice little round ice packs that fit inside your bra... wear a dry pad between your skin and the frozen one though.)
You'll also want plenty of maxi pads. A C section will be like a heavy period for a week, then lightening. Others may be able to speak to how long you'll need them after an ordinary delivery. My skin is sensitive, so I use all-natural, but I imagine everybody's skin is sensitive if you have to wear them for a long time.
Obviously, you'll want bottles & nipples, though I didn't see them listed.
Think about your ordinary PJ's. If you wear tops & bottoms, you'll be fine. If you wear nighties, you will probably want a nursing one. If you don't wear much, you might want to think about skulking around your house a few times a night, and make accommodations.
Baby nail clippers, snot-sucker bulb thing (OK nasal aspirator), baby skin lotion (unscented is best - you never know what they will be sensitive to).
Baby tylenol drops or equivalent... you'll need them eventually, and you don't want to have to run out to buy them when you need them.
Head-hugger for your car seat
Mirrors for your car are a nice item, so you can see if the baby has gone to sleep or not.
Stroller that you can set your car seat into (most larger ones work fine - it doesn't have to be a snap=together system).
Diaper bag that suits you and can accommodate your purse as well as baby's needs (you don't have 3 hands).
Front-pack style carrier, wrap, sling... whatever suits you.
For the crib - a mobile, or better yet, a thing that plays soft music & casts lights.
A night light baby's room, and more if you need them on your way there.
Baby monitors.
Glider rocker, or other nursing chair.
U-shaped nursing pillow.
You might want a wind-up swing... if you ever want to do something with both hands while the baby is awake, but too fussy for the floor or bouncy seat. You also might want one of those toy arches that the baby lays on their back and bats at. And, yes, on the bouncy seat.
You will probably get plenty of toys and stuffed animals. You might want to select one safe small stuffed animal and make it into a comfort item by wearing it inside your shirt and keeping it nearby as you nurse. This can help with the transition to sleeping alone. (If you use a pacifier, you can also tie that (securely and safely) to the animal's neck, which will be even more comforting, and also makes it easier for baby to find their own pacifier and go back to sleep without your intervention.
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RE: Baby Needs - 6/5/2008 5:33:20 PM
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peculiar_lady2
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quote:
Never thought of a diaper pail.
it's not really necessary. We have never had one...we just use the trash cans and use grocery bags in them for liners. At the end of the day we empty them. If it's a stinky diaper we tie it up in it's own bag and it goes outside to the trash can immediately.
quote:
Don't bother with booties or too many socks for the first 3 months or so -- usually they just live in sleepers except for special occasions.
unless you live in a place that is going to be super cold (two of ours were born mid winter...one in TN and one in Germany...and we had to use socks under their sleepers to keep their feet warm)
quote:
You will want a laundry receptacle somewhere near your change table, or a basket for laundry as part of the change table.
YES for sure!!!!! Depending on the baby...some can go through one to two outfits a day while some others can go through five or six or more!!!! By my changing table I keep something to put clothes into and I keep laundry pre-treater so I can spray it right then before it even has time to set in.
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RE: Baby Needs - 6/5/2008 5:40:16 PM
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creationtalk
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The number one most important thing you can have for your baby, needed BEFORE it gets here and (probably) won't cost any more than your time is
INFANT CPR and First Aid Classes.
None of the rest of that will matter if something happens and you need one of these classes and you didn't have it.
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RE: Baby Needs - 6/5/2008 5:47:44 PM
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manda59
Posts: 5449
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From: Hampshire, UK
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quote:
ORIGINAL: isaacsmom
Baby bathtub
I wouldn't call this a "need". I didn't have one for either of my two children!
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Mrs Wifey, August 2008.
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RE: Baby Needs - 6/5/2008 5:55:37 PM
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SweetLittleErin
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quote:
ORIGINAL: manda59
quote:
ORIGINAL: isaacsmom
Baby bathtub
I wouldn't call this a "need". I didn't have one for either of my two children!
Thats kind of where I am sitting with that. I WANT one pretty badly, but if I cant afford it, we'll skip it, at least at first. But the one we want is about $12 so it will probably be purchased at a shower.
_____________________________
~Erin~
Mommy to Isaac, born 7/29, 12 weeks early.
<----My little Superman
A Glimpse Of Pink
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RE: Baby Needs - 6/5/2008 5:56:33 PM
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peculiar_lady2
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quote:
ORIGINAL: manda59
quote:
ORIGINAL: isaacsmom
Baby bathtub
I wouldn't call this a "need". I didn't have one for either of my two children!
I wouldn't call it a need either. I just use a towel or something in the bottom of the kitchen sink until they are old enough to sit up on their own. The kitchen sink is a great thing though cause then you have the sprayer to use!!!
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RE: Baby Needs - 6/5/2008 6:02:28 PM
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manda59
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From: Hampshire, UK
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quote:
ORIGINAL: peculiar_lady2
I wouldn't call it a need either. I just use a towel or something in the bottom of the kitchen sink until they are old enough to sit up on their own. The kitchen sink is a great thing though cause then you have the sprayer to use!!!
I found it great too because it was the right height too - no stretching or leaning, much easier on the back, much more comfortable.
_____________________________
"That's what I would say as well."
Mrs Wifey, August 2008.
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RE: Baby Needs - 6/5/2008 6:04:57 PM
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manda59
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quote:
ORIGINAL: clag4christ
- rubbing alcohol for the umbillical cord or witch hazel pads
With both of ours, we were given a supply of special wipes to use, so we didn't need to buy anything.
_____________________________
"That's what I would say as well."
Mrs Wifey, August 2008.
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RE: Baby Needs - 6/5/2008 6:08:54 PM
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manda59
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From: Hampshire, UK
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Erin
Just wanted to second pbaribeault's suggestion of a changing bag (diaper bag), especially one that has a built in changing mat. I had two - one that I used when we were out, the other I kept in the car all the time, with a few basics in, just in case I forgot the main one, lol.
There's some nice ones here at Amazon:
Amazon.com
_____________________________
"That's what I would say as well."
Mrs Wifey, August 2008.
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RE: Baby Needs - 6/5/2008 6:23:51 PM
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purejoy
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For me, a stroller is a need. Especially in the fall, I know we will be out and about so much. And/or a wrap. I'm hoping to get or make a Moby-type wrap, but I also have shoulder/neck/head issues, so I definitely want a stroller for longer amounts of time, too.
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RE: Baby Needs - 6/5/2008 6:38:37 PM
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manda59
Posts: 5449
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From: Hampshire, UK
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quote:
ORIGINAL: purejoy
For me, a stroller is a need. Especially in the fall, I know we will be out and about so much. And/or a wrap. I'm hoping to get or make a Moby-type wrap, but I also have shoulder/neck/head issues, so I definitely want a stroller for longer amounts of time, too.
I hated wraps/carriers, but thankfully my husband didn't so he wore our children when they were babies!
The thing we used most of all though, from when they were 6 months old, was a baby backpack carrier. For us this was far more practical and manoevrable than a stroller - we did however make sure and get a very lightweight one, because some of them come up quite heavy.
We did use the stroller a little round town (I used it if I was out on my own), but the backpack carrier got the most use.
Not sure I'd call it a need, but it was definitely something we found absolutely wonderful, especially for going for country and seaside walks, which we love.
_____________________________
"That's what I would say as well."
Mrs Wifey, August 2008.
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RE: Baby Needs - 6/5/2008 6:53:16 PM
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thisistheday
Posts: 10480
Joined: 4/11/2005
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Baby "needs" depend much on the parent and baby. So I'd suggest getting just the most basic of things for now, at least if purchasing new. For example, I never used a diaper pail. Just wrapped up diapers, and took them out as needed.
I liked having a swing, but I don't know if I'd have ever bought one brand new. Some babies don't like them, I hear. It's easy to find a nice one cheap at a yard sale. I often see nice baby bathtubs at yard sales as well.
For diapers, I don't think I bought any (or very few) size one diapers for my last baby because we were given some and she wasn't in that size all that long.
Dee
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RE: Baby Needs - 6/5/2008 7:12:48 PM
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isaacsmom
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quote:
ORIGINAL: manda59
quote:
ORIGINAL: isaacsmom
Baby bathtub
I wouldn't call this a "need". I didn't have one for either of my two children!
I found mine at yard sales for $1-$3. Very nice ones. It was a need for me, I couldn't hold baby in one hand in the sink and bathe with the other. I needed BOTH hands free, and the baby can lay on the inclined platform in the baby bathtub. Before their umbilical stub fell off, I'd lay them on a towel and bathe them. When I started immersing them I figured out I needed a baby tub. (2 weeks old until 6 months, when they could sit up). Tiny babies are very slippery! LOL!
quote:
The kitchen sink is a great thing though cause then you have the sprayer to use!!!
Uh-huh, the baby bathtubs fit right into the sink, that's where I set mine, and used the sprayer because it's gentle.
< Message edited by isaacsmom -- 6/5/2008 7:39:09 PM >
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RE: Baby Needs - 6/5/2008 7:39:09 PM
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thisistheday
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I used regular oxy clean for baby stains with VERY hot water. I'd heat part of it in the microwave since out hot water heater isn't turned up that high. I think it got pretty much everything out. Also good for yard sale stuff as it can get out stuff that might already be there. That and sunlight.
Dee
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RE: Baby Needs - 6/5/2008 7:46:25 PM
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Mrs.X
Posts: 2337
Joined: 7/7/2005
From: Newberg, OR
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I like waterproof matress pads instead of the ones posted earlier. They tuck in and serve the same purpose as the one that doesn't tuck in. But, it's not totally necessary since crib matresses themselves are covered with waterproof material.
I second the diaper bag with the changing pad. Most grocery stores I've been to forget to stock the changing table with liners, and some restaurants and other places don't even have changing tables in restrooms.
If your rear windows aren't tinted in your car, you ought to get some pull-down window shades. Safety 1st brand sells two in one packag at wal*Mart, and there are cute ones too like Elmo and Winnie he Pooh.
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RE: Baby Needs - 6/5/2008 7:49:58 PM
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purejoy
Posts: 874
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quote:
ORIGINAL: manda59
I hated wraps/carriers, but thankfully my husband didn't so he wore our children when they were babies!
The thing we used most of all though, from when they were 6 months old, was a baby backpack carrier. For us this was far more practical and manoevrable than a stroller - we did however make sure and get a very lightweight one, because some of them come up quite heavy.
I know there's no way I will be able to use one of these.  I did put one on our registry, for my husband, because then he can use it when we go camping/hiking/etc. But for us that isn't a need, just a convenience.
quote:
We did use the stroller a little round town (I used it if I was out on my own), but the backpack carrier got the most use.
I know I will be out and about on my own alot. At least that's my plan.  And like I said, I don't know how long I'll be able to last with the wrap...that's something I'll just have to see how it goes!
My other needs:
Crib
Crib sheet
Pack & Play with bassinett (really, crib or PNP, I don't need both to begin with.)
Diapers
Some clothes
Blankets
Car seat
Those are the main things I can think of right now that I really would absolutely have to have. Otherwise I'm not too worried about stuff. I registered for a bit, but a lot of those are just convenience items.
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Look at all the stuff I forgot, some of the things I didnt really forget, I think I was assuming I get some of that stuff at showers. My MIL got me a bobby (well off brand one anyway) already. She found them on sale and bought one for me and SIL and is making covers. 
