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What are your must-have baby items?


lexi
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So we are expecting. And we gave away a lot of our baby stuff before we moved to our new state. Oops!

 

Anyway, I know there are tons of new and different things on the market now and I'd love to know what items you can't live without or what brands are your favorite.

 

So what should be on my wish list?

 

ETA: my baby is due on Easter so hopefully the weather will be getting a little warmer.

Thanks for all the suggestions so far!

Edited by lexi
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Maya wrap (or other sling of your preference).

 

If you cloth diaper, they have these snappi things now that replace diaper pins.  I never minded using pins, but the snappis made me comfortable with letting my older child do diapers.

 

Lazyboy recliner (seriously, if I get pregnant again, this is the only thing I'm buying).

 

Minivan or SUV so that you don't throw your back out lifting car seats in and out of the car.

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Muslin swaddling blankets. They also make good nursing covers, especially in the summer.

 

I second a good carrier/wrap. I love the ring sling because it's easy to slip on and off. I don'the have a bucket car seat to pull out of the car, so I use the sling for errands. I also have a moby wrap for winter and when I want to wear baby longer because it's more comfortable.

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I loved the JJ Cole Bundle Me car seat accessory. Mine hated being covered with blankets and would always kick them off. They Bundle Me zippered closed so they couldn't kick it off and get cold.

 

Stefanie

 

I hate to be a downer, but this shouldn't be on anyone's list of advice.  The Bundle Me will keep your car seat from acting as the emergency device it is meant to be, and they strive to confuse people on their website with their reference to FMVSS-213.  I tell people to stay far, far away from these things.  The car seat toppers are much safer if one is needed at all. 

 

CPST hat off, my favorite baby items were these:

 

ItzBeen timer.  It has four different stopwatches on it for eating, sleeping, diapers, and other.  It made the bleary nights much easier when I had a quick glance to tell me what was needed.

 

A good carrier.  Preferably 2, a newborn one and an older baby/toddler one.

 

Indestructibles books.  Paper-like, but could go in the wash.

 

A bucket tub.

 

Cloth wipes.  Baby washcloths are okay, but wipes are nicer, bigger, and thicker.

 

A playsilk.  Strange, but more versatile than a muslin blanket.  We had those, too, but I grabbed the silk more often as a thin cover.

 

Mattress pads.  We used the super thin ones as diaper changing pads because they were longer and took up less room.

 

Edited to add: a good car seat.  Since they go by weight unless you look up dimensions online, I tell parents to use their hand to measure the inside back for a newborn. Pick one that has shoulder harness slots that at least touch your fingers when you put your hand against the back, but if you can find one that goes lower, it will probably fit the first month better.  Newbs are tiny, and not all seats are right for every kid.  This will at least give you a good idea of what will fit an average baby well.

Edited by HomeAgain
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Pack and play, car seat and a backpack for a diaper bag :) we were really minimal with dd2 (we didn't have a shower or anything like that so we pretty much bought everything our selves) we did use a halo sleep sack though with dd2 for a while. We had dd1 in GA so it wasn't needed but dd2 was born here in MI in January so it was needed.

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I'm pretty minimalist with baby and kid gear, but I have three carriers and am glad I did. A MOBY wrap for under six months, a structured carrier (I had an Ergo) for olders, and a sling for holding the colicky toddler who had to be held all the time and would not tolerate being put on my back in the Ergo. The sling allowed me to get some cooking/cleaning done despite having to hold my middle child nearly nonstop for the first 18 months of his life. It was an unnecessary carrier for my other two - the Ergo and MOBY were sufficient.

 

Lots of books for all the time nursing (kindle reading is much easier when nursing than holding a book).

 

If I were to have more children, I wouldn't have an infant bucket seat. I always carried my babies in arms/carriers anyway, but in the seat, so the removable car seat was unnecessary. I'd just buy a convertible seat (with a appropriate weight range, of course) and use it forever.

 

Velcro swaddlers.

 

Lots of PJs, just one or two other outfits per size. My kids all lived in PJs until about age 1, so I learned to buy more pajamas.

 

A zippered mesh bag for collecting and washing socks so the dryer gnomes don't eat them.

 

One of those high chairs that attaches to a regular chair. Way better than a separate high chair if you are short on space, and easy to take with you when visiting others.

 

A cosleeper like Arm's Reach, if you are a cosleeper, but want a bit of your own space. Much easier to move baby to you for middle of the night nursing from that than from a Pack N Play.

 

Three or four different styles of pacifiers so that, hopefully, you can find your child's preferred style and prevent thumb sucking. Otherwise, start saving now for the orthodontist bills. Seriously. :-) (Our first was a thumb sucker).

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a sling. I used a maya ring style sling and also a moby sling.  The Moby was great when babies are tiny. I used the Maya until they were at least 4. I should add that my kids are small and I am strong and stubborn, lol.

 

When we moved from our apartment to a 2 story house I discovered that a changing table downstairs is a good thing. I didn't think we would every need one, but it came in super handy.  And when the baby was new I would put the Moses basket baby sleeper thing on top of the changing table for naptime. Oh, I liked that moses basket quite a lot. I only had it with one though, so I don't know if it was really a 'must have' or just nice for that kid.

 

Aside from a car seat, a sling was really the only must have thing for a baby I can think of.  Everything else could be worked around.  I used cloth diapers and I loved having a diaper service...and I was a diaper cover princess.  I had so many of the darn things. I never had a cover crisis, lol. But none of that is a necessity.

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I was such a minimalist, it drove my MIL crazy. But I'm so thankful I didn't truly need much--I never could understand why people haul around so much junk or clutter up their homes for a newborn. Baby needed a crib (because he wouldn't co sleep), a safe car seat and a simple hand me down stroller. And right from the get go, lots and lots of books. :)

 

I'd wait on things like a sling or wrap. DS hated those things with a passion, so I just got used to doing things one handed. :)

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I'll be the dissenter about the Moby. I hate it. However, I love, love, love my mei tai for the newborn stage. And my Boba carrier for when baby is a little bigger.

I will forever love the Boppy pillow as well. Nursing was a very rocky road with our oldest. Without the Boppy, I am sure I would have thrown in the towel. It didn't get quite as much use with kids two and three solely because nursing wasn't a struggle. 

Skidders shoes are awesome for when the start walking.

Congrats!

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My three favorite baby accessories:

 

A Kindle Paperwhite, for middle of the night nursing sessions (and any others that I can get a little peace and quiet)

 

A great carrier; YMMV here. I love my Lilebaby, but there are a bunch of wonderful slings and soft structured carriers on the market, of course.

 

The last one is a bit spendy, but I love my Baby Bjorn bouncer. I don't have any swings or vibrating chairs or what have you, but both my kids have LOVED the Baby Bjorn chair. My toddler still tries to get in it. It's small, folds up for out of the way storage and keeps baby happy while I shower or cook.

 

ETA: Congrats!

Edited by HOPE_Academy
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The Fisher-Price sleeper rocker thing was my favorite thing that we had for our last baby that I wish we had had for the others.  Dd5 often took her naps in it and we could put it in whichever room was most convenient at the time.

 

It also put her at the perfect height for the other dc to interact with her.

 

 

http://www.fisher-price.com/en_US/brands/babygear/products/Newborn-Rock-n-Play-Sleeper-BHV55

 

Ours was the older version without the battery-operated whatever-it-does.

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Congratulations!

 

I have a two month old and I am finding that he likes different things than his brothers. I still hate muslin blankets.

 

A carrier of your choosing is a must. My older kids loved our homemade sling, this one screams bloody murder in any sling and loves to be in the ergo (I'm sure any sufficient ssc would do).

 

Snappies are awesome. I love wool diaper covers, but I know they are not everyone's speed.

 

My older two loved the swing, this critter likes to just sit in a stationary seat.

 

If you don't need to carry baby in the car seat, or need three-across like I do, this car seat is AWESOME!

 

If you do bottles, these silicone ones are my new favorite. I used Glass born free bottles with the others and I still like those, but second best now.

 

The baby would like me to recommed you have windows and ceiling fans available to state at.

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I hate to be a downer, but this shouldn't be on anyone's list of advice. The Bundle Me will keep your car seat from acting as the emergency device it is meant to be, and they strive to confuse people on their website with their reference to FMVSS-213. I tell people to stay far, far away from these things.

I still loved it.

 

Stefanie

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Car seat made for an infant. I've never liked how the convertible seats fit an infant, and I prefer to keep the seat inside in hot (burning hot buckles on tiny bare newborn legs, ouch!) and cold, plus I like the canopy for summer, so I get infant seats, but the bigger ones, and they hold my infants until about eighteen months.

 

For a winter baby, especially, the car seat topper. Doesn't interfere with the straps and keeps an infant snug without falling off.

 

Cloth diapers: prefolds in a couple of sizes, wool covers, and either snappis or pins (or both, depending on style of cover), gentle soap or wool wash for covers, vinegar for the diaper rinse, lanolin for waterproofing. Changing pad and a couple of covers. Cloth wipes. Something to put the diapers in until wash day.

 

Diaper bag with plenty of pockets for multiple water bottles for Mom and toddlers. Small change pad for the bag and a reusable wet bag.

 

Booster seat for the table. Bib with sleeves. I don't start solids until a year, and toddlers are messy self feeders.

 

Couple of hats for summer and winter.

 

A sturdy blanket for playtime, couple of light receiving blankets for naps or to use as sunshades.

 

Nursing pads and bras.

 

Cute onesies for summer babies, footie sleepers for the cooler months (or if you have window AC units that blow near the baby at night). Side snap shirts to go with knitted diaper pants or shorts.

 

Goldenseal powder for the cord. Ibuprofen and after ease tincture for Mama postpartum for the after pains. Belly binder for postpartum.

 

A good carrier or two. I like a stretchy wrap or a ring sling for newborns, a woven wrap for around the house for long periods of time, especially starting around the two month mark when they don't eat every twenty minutes and take three hour wrap naps, an ergo for back carrying and older baby/toddler and for hiking, a mei tai as an all purpose carrier when they're older, and a ring sling again for quick carries with toddlers. Of just those, definitely the wrap and then also either the ergo or the mei tai.

 

Um, that's about it. There's a lot of stuff I don't need or use.

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Baby carriers.  My dil has a Moby and an Ergo which she uses all the time (not so much the Moby these days).  I had a B'Jorn that I really liked.  I also like my Maya Wrap (which I saved but haven't used with my grandson...).

 

Cloth diapers:   A Snappi, some prefolds and some either Proraps or Bummis Super Whisper Wraps.  For pockets: Bum Genius.

 

Lansinoh "cream".  Great stuff for breast soreness.  I give it to all the young moms for baby gifts.

 

Muslin swaddler "blankets".  Dil got some for baby gifts.  Lovely, lovely things.  I've gotten them for baby gifts for other young moms now since.

 

I am a minimalist with baby stuff.  I just don't love all the paraphanelia (however you spell that) that's on the market these days. 

 

Oh, and a nice Hanna Andersson cap.  They aren't the prettiest on the planet, but they fit sooooo nicely.  

Edited by Colleen OH
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Moby.  I do *not* love it past 4 months, but up until then it is my go to carrier.  After that, a mei tai.  
 

We don't do cribs with newborns, so the mesh side rail is fantastic as are the Halo sleepsacks.

 

I have to second the Aden and Anais gauze blankets for wrapping, especially if it will be a summer baby.  

If you do pacifiers, my Kitty is a paci baby and she only will take the Jolly Pop ones - they aren't stiff like store bought ones.

Wal-Mart socks stay on baby feet!  (I can't tell you how hard this is for me.) I think they are the Child of Mine (Carter's Wal-Mart brand.) They are the exact right amount of ankle elastic to keep them on without any marks!

 

RRL tea for nursing.  A nice cup for you.  

 

I don't own a diaper bag.  I despise them.  Try a backpack with that many littles - you'll love it far more.  Plus, they wash nicely and many, many times.

Make sure the 2yo and 4yo get a sweet and wonderful doll they will love this Christmas or you may never get to hold the baby.  ;)

 

I've found the more babies I have the less stuff I tolerate, lol.  At this point I'm happy with a carrier, breasts, and permission to stay home and do nothing for a month.  :P :D

 

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Cloth diapers (preferably pockets, but prefolds with snappis and covers get it done), an unpadded ring sling (such as maya wrap) and an Asian style baby carrier. A convertible carseat that starts rear facing. Some T-shirts (not onesies). Basic means of feeding.

Edited by Ravin
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Thanks for all he ideas!

 

I know I want some type of carrier, a car seat (not sure what kind), swaddle blankets, pj's, and eventually a crib.

But I think I want some type of swing or chair.

I plan to nurse the baby and I'm hoping not to have to pump (been there, done that and it was not fun).

I don't think I'm going to cloth diaper (ducks head in shame).

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I have a 5 week old here and am loving our Fisher Price Cradle n Swing.  It sits nice and high for ease of reaching baby and swings side-to-side or front-to-back.  It has held up well through our first and now the second baby.  My only regrets is that it doesn't plug into the wall, so it eats through D batteries.  I also have the matching vibrating chair which I keep in the kitchen for when I am prepping dinner during his fussy hour and my husband isn't home yet.  I love to wear my baby in a carrier, but not in the kitchen when I am cooking and using sharp utensils.  

 

If you are planning on nursing, you might want to consider some reusable nursing pads (lots of sellers on etsy).  They are soooo comfy and easy enough to toss in the laundry.  I also recommend Undercover Mama tanks or a homemade version (I have a few of both).

 

Congratulations!  :)

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If you get an infant carrier for the car, you may want to get a spare base. We only own one car, but I put the spare base in my parents' car for when we visit. It was very useful over Thanksgiving when I used their car and dh had ours.

Just for the record, car seats can still work as car seats without the base, so no need to spend $$ if you don't have it.

 

Also, I don't know what kind of car you guys drive, but I could not fit a rear-facing convertible in my (older) Jetta, and I cant use a base for our infant seat because it doesn't fit!

 

Forgot to say congrats!!

Edited by Ailaena
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Moby. I do *not* love it past 4 months, but up until then it is my go to carrier. After that, a mei tai.

 

We don't do cribs with newborns, so the mesh side rail is fantastic as are the Halo sleepsacks.

 

I have to second the Aden and Anais gauze blankets for wrapping, especially if it will be a summer baby.

If you do pacifiers, my Kitty is a paci baby and she only will take the Jolly Pop ones - they aren't stiff like store bought ones.

Wal-Mart socks stay on baby feet! (I can't tell you how hard this is for me.) I think they are the Child of Mine (Carter's Wal-Mart brand.) They are the exact right amount of ankle elastic to keep them on without any marks!

 

RRL tea for nursing. A nice cup for you.

 

I don't own a diaper bag. I despise them. Try a backpack with that many littles - you'll love it far more. Plus, they wash nicely and many, many times.

Make sure the 2yo and 4yo get a sweet and wonderful doll they will love this Christmas or you may never get to hold the baby. ;)

 

I've found the more babies I have the less stuff I tolerate, lol. At this point I'm happy with a carrier, breasts, and permission to stay home and do nothing for a month. :P :D

Word! I have less baby stuff with each baby :)

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My wish list would include a wrap of some kind, probably a Mei Tai, nursing pillow, Bumbo with tray for feeding and bath time, some kind of bouncer or rocker to put baby in for sleeping, prefolds and such for cloth diapers and a Snappi so the older kiddos and husband could diaper. I'd keep it very simple as a baby doesn't need much. 

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My absolute essentials

1. Something for baby to wear (probably about 1/10 as many items as most people seem to think you need)

2. Something for baby to eat if you don't intend to breastfeed

3. Something to carry/hold baby in (I prefer soft slings, but I know some people need a pram/buggy because of back problems or other issues)
4. A safe car seat / capsule (this is the item I would prioritize to buy brand new if at all possible) - even if you don't drive it might be needed for lifts/taxis (I learned this one memorable occasion when we visited my SIL and BIL with our first baby, then a toddler, and they picked us up at the airport with the plan of sitting him on a cushion with an adult seatbelt!)

5. Some kind of diapers (even ECers still need a few) and associated paraphernalia - if going modern cloth, only get small sizes in case you decide to switch to sposies later on.

6. Somewhere for baby to sleep (we bed shared with all our kids but we still had a cot for occasions when it wasn't safe/appropriate to put them in our bed)

 

Can live without, but good to have

A few books - both nice ones for you to read to baby, and sturdy ones for baby to eat look at

A high chair

Wraps/swaddling blanket/whatever you call them

 

Things most people get that I wouldn't bother with

Fancy clothes that will get worn once for photos and then abandoned because they are impractical

Shoes before the kid is walking

Any nursery furniture apart from a cot, eg change tables

Products, eg baby shampoo, baby soap, baby powder, potions for your breasts 

Formula and accessories 'just in case' (if you're planning to use them, buy them, but if you're planning on exclusive breastfeeding, having ABM and accoutrements around is undermining)

Baby bowls, spoons, sippy cups, any eating equipment apart from a bib. 

A special bag that is labelled 'baby' and costs three times as much as a normal bag.

Any baby swings, bouncers, seats, etc. 

Play gyms and floor time / tummy time mats 

Baby monitor

Baby bath

Tiny crib or Moses basket

 

 

Obviously YMMV on all of the above (one person's waste of money is another person's essential!), so here is some actual useful advice:
Don't be shy about asking for things. When you have a baby, people are going to buy you stuff. Even if you tell them not to bother, they will still buy you stuff. And if you don't manage this process yourself, chances are at least some of them will buy you stuff you don't want or don't need. So make your own list of what you need and let your friends or relatives have the satisfaction of getting you something you will use.

 

 

 

 

Edited by IsabelC
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Things I would pay money for:

 

Boobs (well, not money, but necessary) or formula/bottles

Diapers

Clothing (mostly footed onesies and bedtime gowns)

Swaddling blankets

Lovie

Carrier

Stroller

Car Seat

Rock and Play

 

Things I loved for a short time so would only borrow:

Swing

Bouncer (the kind they 'stand' in with the toys around them)

Highchair

Cute clothes. I borrowed from friends for photos/holidays.

Pack n Play. Used rarely, mostly for travel, would never pay money for.

Crib. We used from 6-14 months, not worth the cost of buying, and always had one available to borrow. If I didn't, I just use a pack n play until I could put the kid on a floor mattress.

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I am pretty minimalist when it comes to babies. I'd gotten rid of almost everything after DD4, and then surprise! we found out we were expecting again. Here was my list of what to re-obtain:

 

- My Breastfriend nursing pillow (LOVE this, so much better than a Boppy; wonderful, firm surface, plus it fastens to you so it feels much more secure)

- infant car seat (helpful for the first 3 months, depending on the size of your newborns)

- swaddling blankets

- baby wrap (I made my own Moby-style wrap)

 

Friends gave us a Bumpo-style seat, which I'd not buy but find helpful.

 

 

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