Baby Stuff

Very shortly after I found out I was pregnant I started doing research on baby stuff...all the accessories that are neccessary (or just fun) to keep my baby alive, clean and fed (and happy!). Unfortunately, if you don't already have children...you don't know what you're doing. I THOUGHT I knew what I was doing...I read all the blogs, all the books, and talked to a lot of people with kids. I still wasn't prepared. I bought a lot of stuff that I shouldn't have and didn't buy other stuff that I should have. Soo....for my next baby and for anyone who's interested....here are my thoughts.

Baby blankets: one soft, large blanket for wrapping up to keep warm when holding, or to lay the little one down on to play. I received lots of blankets that were really beautiful but were the wrong size or shape. My friend ended up making one out of very soft flannel and that's become Henry's favorite...it's a perfect square so it can be used to swaddle him on cold days too.

Swaddle blankets: Luna Lullaby gauze blankets are the BEST! They are thin so they don't overheat the baby and they come in cute patterns. Find them here: http://www.lunalullaby.com/

Bottles: Don't bother researching bottles and buying a bunch of one kind ahead of time. Your baby will be picky about the nipple and the nipples are not interchangeable. Make sure they are bPA free and buy one of a couple different types. Henry started out liking the playtex dropins and now after 3 months we're on the search for a new one. Currently he likes Born Free & Dr. Brown's. Here's some info about bPA: http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/healthday/080207/report-shows-dangerous-chemical-can-leach-from-baby-bottles.htm

Diapers: You can use cloth or disposable...but either way you'll probably start out with disposable. It's hard to find cloth diapers that are small enough for a newborn and even harder to figure out how to do laundry. If you have a preemie, you'll be using disposable longer than if he's just a regular sized newborn. Preemie diapers are hard to find...but I liked Pampers Swaddlers P-S. Once Henry got bigger than 6lbs (hard to believe he was so small!) I started using Seventh Generation brand (still not confident that I can do the laundry!). The diapers are chlorine and bleach free: http://www.thegreenguide.com/doc/95/diapers . Seventh generation also makes awesome wipes...they don't feel like they're going to fall apart and they're the safest thing to use on baby's bum. Though sometimes I just use a warm, wet washcloth if he's a little sensitive/verging on a diaper rash.

Swing: We got one but he hasn't gotten into it yet. Who knows...this seems to be one of those things kids either love or don't.

Bouncy Seat: We bought it a little early for him. He's 14 weeks and is just now starting to like it. He kicks around and plays with the animals on the toy bar. Ours vibrates which is a major blessing for keeping him calm when we're not holding him. We never use the music...it's annoying.

Stroller: Bugaboo Bee...more expensive than a lot of other strollers, but we love it. It's compact, easy to use, lightweight & attractive. We can leave the seat in it and he can lay down in a little nest or I can snap our car seat on it. Also...it will carry us through until he's older...when we have a 2nd little one we can add a wheeled board to it so Henry can stand/ride while the little one strolls. We also have a Baby Trend Snap 'N Go for traveling...it fits in the x-ray machine so you don't have to go to secondary inspection like everyone with a regular sized stroller...it folds up easily (one hand), you can put a ton of stuff in the basket underneath...it is wobbly...meaning it feels cheaply made and it would certainly rattle apart on a street...but it's perfect for traveling....gives you the extra hands you need and takes up almost no space...and it's only $50!

Car Seat: We started with the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio...it was supposed to be compatible with an adapter for the Bugaboo...we kept waiting for the adapter to come out and finally gave up this week. I finally broke down and bought the Graco Snugride which DOES work with the adapter for our stroller. The Peg Perego is going to Grandma and Grandpa because we don't want to get rid of it...it's heavier than most but fits in an airplane seat and the base is insanely easy to install in a car (a MUST for traveling)...also it works beautifully with our Snap 'N Go.

Rocker: Ikea hand me down...one of my favorite baby things! We use it every day...we fight over who gets to sit in it and it bounces gently which immediately calms Henry down. http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S39840162

Crib: He uses a co-sleeper...he hasn't graduated to the regular crib yet. http://www.armsreach.com/ . We didn't get a whole bedding collection because they all come with padded crib bumpers which are not recommended. http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0022347607003630 We use a mesh one: http://www.breathablebaby.com/ . Also, he uses a sleep positioner when he sleeps to try to even out his plagiocephaly (which is a major possibility for all back sleepers!). http://www.amazon.com/Basic-Comfort-Symmetry-Sleep-Positioner/dp/B0013TOCD8

Boppy: YES. I love it...some people love the My Breast Friend...I've never tried it so I can't comment....but a nursing pillow (even if you're not nursing) is awesome to have! Make sure whatever you get...you purchase a couple of slip covers...there will be barf. Oh, yes....there will be barf.

Burp Cloths: My favorite are unbleached pre-folded cloth diapers. I also love the packs of White Martex dish cloths from Costco.

Detergent: I don't usually use it on the baby clothes. I just wash everything on a hot water cycle and dry on high. Occasionally I use Dreft for detergent and I don't use dryer sheets for his clothes.

Diaper bag: I go back and forth between my JuJuBe backpack (nice to not have a diaper bag falling off your shoulder) and my Kenneth Cole diaper bag (yay craigslist!) which looks more like a really big purse...I just wish it had more outside storage pockets. Both have light interiors so it's easy to find stuff. Also I have a changing pad that rolls up like a wrist purse that holds a couple diapers so when I go for a walk I don't have to bring the whole diaper bag...just the essentials.

Baby skin products: California baby is awesome! It's for super sensitive skin. I use it for his shampoo/body wash. When he reaches 6 months old I'll start using their sunscreen too. I don't use lotion for him...he doesn't seem to need it.

Bathtub: I wish I would have gotten a bath that drained the gross water out as he was taking a bath...it's a major pain to try to empty the dirty water out (with him in it) so I can rinse all the stuff off. I guess a bathtub isn't really necessary...you could use the sink lined with a towel...but this would be handy: http://www.securebaby.com/sbt-01.html When I use the bathtub, I put it in the kitchen sink or in the regular bathtub and kneel on a rolled up towel. I have 2 bath towels and that seems to work out perfectly. He gets a bath every other day which gives me time to have a clean one always on hand.

Bottle Sterilizer: I WISH I had one. I'm looking on craigslist for one. I've been using these: http://www.amazon.com/Medela-Quick-Clean-Micro-Steam-Bags/dp/B000096QQ5 which are pretty awesome...but they're getting expensive. They're better used when traveling.

Bottle warmer: I haven't felt like I needed one. We warm up cold breast milk in a cup of warm water and when I make formula he takes it at room temp.

Formula mixer: Need it...love it. Can't seem to get all the little bits to dissolve without it.

Padded wings for the car seat: Still don't fit...he's 11 lbs and they interfere with getting him in the car seat correctly.

Sleep sacks & Kiddopotamus swaddlers: They're awesome! I have 3 light weight sleep sacks for summer and 3 heavy weight for winter. I turned my nose up at the swaddlers initially...being a swaddling purist...but these things are awesome! They can be used to quickly calm him down and they can also be added to a car seat or bouncy chair for calming him when he's extra angry (which doesn't usually happen). I don't use the sleep sacks much yet because he still startles himself in his sleep.

Diaper stacker: Haven't needed one. I have a cute rattan box next to the changing area that I fill with a few days supplies.

Floor mat/gym: He loves his! It was the first thing he played with. We have one that has toys for when he's on his back that we can move to rings on the floor for tummy time.

Foot/wrist rattles: They really piss him off. Don't wanna piss the baby off...nuff said.

Nail clippers & files: Couldn't bring myself to clip his nails...but the file works like magic! Those suckers grow FAST! I have to do it every 2 days or so.

Baby monitor: I love my bebe sounds Angelcare sound/movement monitor. I couldn't live without it...well...at least I couldn't sleep without it. We would have been taking shifts those first couple weeks. http://www.bebesounds.com/

Ipod: Seriously. an ipod. We hooked an ipod up to some computer speakers in the bedroom and downloaded a waterfall "song" to our ipod which loops and it's the best thing for him while he's sleeping.

Google photos: We upload all our photos to picassaweb...you can share your photos and people don't have to give any personal information or sign up for anything. It's awesome! http://picasaweb.google.com/

Camera: Canon PowerShot Digital Elph. We bought a large memory card and two batteries so one is always charging. I leave it in my diaper bag and can take beautiful still photos as well as short movies of the baby.

Baby steps?

We just got back from Michigan...we made it! Another trip under our belts. I'll post later about the details...but wanted to mention something that's been on my mind.

Baby talk...I feel so f-ing awkward doing it...I know I need to stimulate the little guy and interact with him...and I do...but I feel really self conscious doing it...like I'm trying to talk dirty or something. It's not that I care what other people think. I just don't know what to say really. I sing and dance and give a running commentary about what I'm doing, but I feel weird. Totally weird. I'm sure it will get easier...I'll just keep doing it and I'm sure I'll get better.