Baby stuffs that are good to have-newborn edition
i wanted to write a post about baby products that i found helpful for any new or soon to be of my momma friends to check out. personally, i found it helpful to get my friends' and other mommy bloggers' opinions since i didn't want to get stuck with a lot of unnecessary baby gear and wanted to at least try to keep as clutter free as possible. my plan is to post these things on a monthly basis so it will still be fresh in my mind. and also, this is just my opinion, so take what you need and chuck the rest. my intention is to just list what was helpful for me, so that hopefully it helps others out, too. oh, and this doesn't include the obvious like car seats and strollers and stuff like that. so here goes.
month one must haves:
-swaddler: because sometimes you just don't want to take the time to swaddle baby with a blanket, or in my case baby squirms out of a blanket swaddle no matter how tightly it would be wrapped. these things Velcro or zip shut and are ubiquitous so you can find many styles, fabrics, prints, organic or whatever out there
-burp cloths: i was given the gerber ones but i also use old school flat cloth diapers
-bath stuff: a baby bath, there are tons out there but the plain 'ol plastic blue tub works just fine, it's nice to have one with a little newborn "hammock" that way baby is partially submerged and you have your hands free to wash baby; baby washcloths, some people said these weren't necessary but i find it easier to get to all the tiny places with the baby wash cloths, plus they are softer than regular ones; soap, an all in one is the best, one that you use as shampoo and body wash, so far i have used earth mama angel baby (here), it smells like vanilla/orange and is a foaming all natural product, i also used their lotion and enjoyed both, it is a good choice if you want something that is organic with natural fragrances, without sulfates, foaming agents and dyes. i also use the classic Johnson and Johnson baby wash and baby lotion. although i have heard good things about say yes to carrots and California baby and will probably try each of those as well; something to pour water over baby's head; i didn't think about this before so i just grabbed a liquid measuring cup from the kitchen, i don't know what other people use but i'm sure a plastic cup works too; a hooded bath towel; these are awesome cause baby gets cold after a bath and this helps to keep his head warm, you could probably make one easily enough if you are so inclined
-diapers, obviously, but also diaper related gear. i use the bum genius 4.0 cloth diapers and love them, i have posted about it before, but if you are not going the cloth route, i would recommend pampers swaddlers. they have an easy to see indicator strip on the front of the diaper that turns blue when the baby is wet, this is nice especially with a newborn because you can just peek at the front of the diaper to see if they need to be changed rather than actually opening the diaper. that is nice because it eliminates any guessing when/if you have a screaming baby and you are going down the list of things to check to make them comfortable. plus, they fit really well; wipes, i use cloth wipes with water and it works really well, i like using cloth wipes because they really clean baby's bum well compared to a disposable wipe which i find smears the poo around and i end up using more to get baby's bum clean, plus the water doesn't bother my baby's bum at all, i bought some flannel wipes as well as cheap baby washcloths (don't worry, they aren't the same ones i use for bath time!), but if you aren't going the cloth route, pampers has some nice sensitive skin disposable wipes; in lieu of an actual changing table in the nursery, i just bought a portable changing pad. most of the parents i know don't actually use a changing table, they just change baby wherever is convenient (floor, couch, table, whatever...i always change baby on the floor) and use a changing mat like the one below. i bought one from skip hop that is actually like a little wristlet purse that opens up to fold out the mat and also holds a diaper and a wipes case. also, most diaper bag sets now come with a changing mat; diaper bag: i would have two if i had it my way, one that is compact and one that is bigger. but some nice features in a diaper bag include several inside and outside pockets to hold pacifiers, snacks, burp cloths, water bottle, whatever things that you need to be easily accessible so that you don't have to rummage around in the bottom of the bag for a binkie when your baby is screaming, a changing mat, wipes holder, adjustable strap that you can fit over your stroller handle, waterproof, an insulated pocket to hold bottles of milk, i got my bag as a gift, it is a silver gray one from Fischer Price and is great, however i would also like a smaller one as well. petunia picklebottom makes really cute ones that are messenger bag style.
-clothes for baby: a lot of people like the footless sleepers but i never did because they ride up and end up around the baby's chin. i prefer the regular onsie jammies that snap or zip, the zip is easier. as for clothing, think about accessibility; stuff with snaps and zippers, onsies, soft pants that snap at the bottom and let you get to the diaper easily, stuff like that. little cute outfits are nice for sometimes, but not every day. and you will go through much more laundry than you ever imagined. sometimes 3-4 outfits a day, especially in the newborn phase since often they have explosive diapers that leak everywhere. things with feets are nice because often times socks get kicked off.
-blankets: NOT for baby during sleep but just so that they can lay on during the day. it helps protect your floor/couch/lap from spit up, poo and pee. the aden + anais ones are wonderful.
-diaper rash cream: i have used A&D which is pediatrician recommended but not cloth diaper safe. so if they have a really bad rash you could use A&D with a disposable diaper. for mild rashes and a little redness i really like to use angel baby bottom care also by earth mama angel baby, and it's cloth diaper safe.
that's pretty much it for must haves. babies don't need a lot in the beginning besides mama, milk, diapers and clothes, and stuff for baths. below is a list of some nice-to-haves for the minimal mama:
-baby swing: this could go either way, some parents swear by this and that their child can only nap while in the swing, but some babies don't like it at all. my son will tolerate it for about 10 minutes and that's it, so i'm glad that we borrowed on from a friend before purchasing one. i would suggest doing that, borrowing one to see if your baby likes it, that way you don't waste registry space or money.
-video monitor: a baby monitor is nice but you may not use it for awhile, likely the baby will be with you most of the time, but if you do put the baby in another room to nap it is nice to have a video monitor
-portable crib: like a pack n play or a bassinet or sleeper, like the summer co-sleeper, you can fold it down and take it with you. it's nice to have if you are going to someone's house, or even just to have something to place baby down in different rooms of your house.
stuff for moms:
-breast pump: double electric is the best, i have a medela and really like it. it's nice to pump milk to have some as backup if necessary, and it may help keep your supply up. i used it more in the first month because my son would actually take naps then and i would pump in order to prevent engorgement.
-lanolin: for sore nipples from breastfeeding. "they" always tell you that breastfeeding shouldn't hurt if the baby is latched properly. that is incorrect. it hurts at first, for the first couple of weeks at least. basically, it takes your nipples time to get used to the hoovering movement going on. and the first 30 seconds or so after baby latches on may be a little painful, just breath through it and then it goes away. if after 30 seconds or so it is still really painful, then you likely have a latch issue. anyway, i used earth mama angel baby nipple butter for the first few days and had a little bit of cracking and bleeding still. then i switched to lanolin and within hours all was well. i'm telling you, there's nothing like lanolin to help heal. you should use breast pads when using lanolin because it is extremely emollient and will stain any fabric that it touches.
-water: in a big jug with a straw. drink lots of water.
-snacks: healthy snacks to eat between meals, being a mom is hard work and you need your energy and proper nutrients
-camera: you will want to capture this time with your baby on film!
-journal: or blog, computer, whatever, just a way to jot down your thoughts and what's going on with baby. it is not only therapeutic, but is also fun to go back and remember what baby was up to during the second week or how you were feeling, etc.
that's pretty much it for now. i will write another post for the next stage of babyhood, the 2-3 month-ish stages.
month one must haves:
-swaddler: because sometimes you just don't want to take the time to swaddle baby with a blanket, or in my case baby squirms out of a blanket swaddle no matter how tightly it would be wrapped. these things Velcro or zip shut and are ubiquitous so you can find many styles, fabrics, prints, organic or whatever out there
-burp cloths: i was given the gerber ones but i also use old school flat cloth diapers
-bath stuff: a baby bath, there are tons out there but the plain 'ol plastic blue tub works just fine, it's nice to have one with a little newborn "hammock" that way baby is partially submerged and you have your hands free to wash baby; baby washcloths, some people said these weren't necessary but i find it easier to get to all the tiny places with the baby wash cloths, plus they are softer than regular ones; soap, an all in one is the best, one that you use as shampoo and body wash, so far i have used earth mama angel baby (here), it smells like vanilla/orange and is a foaming all natural product, i also used their lotion and enjoyed both, it is a good choice if you want something that is organic with natural fragrances, without sulfates, foaming agents and dyes. i also use the classic Johnson and Johnson baby wash and baby lotion. although i have heard good things about say yes to carrots and California baby and will probably try each of those as well; something to pour water over baby's head; i didn't think about this before so i just grabbed a liquid measuring cup from the kitchen, i don't know what other people use but i'm sure a plastic cup works too; a hooded bath towel; these are awesome cause baby gets cold after a bath and this helps to keep his head warm, you could probably make one easily enough if you are so inclined
-diapers, obviously, but also diaper related gear. i use the bum genius 4.0 cloth diapers and love them, i have posted about it before, but if you are not going the cloth route, i would recommend pampers swaddlers. they have an easy to see indicator strip on the front of the diaper that turns blue when the baby is wet, this is nice especially with a newborn because you can just peek at the front of the diaper to see if they need to be changed rather than actually opening the diaper. that is nice because it eliminates any guessing when/if you have a screaming baby and you are going down the list of things to check to make them comfortable. plus, they fit really well; wipes, i use cloth wipes with water and it works really well, i like using cloth wipes because they really clean baby's bum well compared to a disposable wipe which i find smears the poo around and i end up using more to get baby's bum clean, plus the water doesn't bother my baby's bum at all, i bought some flannel wipes as well as cheap baby washcloths (don't worry, they aren't the same ones i use for bath time!), but if you aren't going the cloth route, pampers has some nice sensitive skin disposable wipes; in lieu of an actual changing table in the nursery, i just bought a portable changing pad. most of the parents i know don't actually use a changing table, they just change baby wherever is convenient (floor, couch, table, whatever...i always change baby on the floor) and use a changing mat like the one below. i bought one from skip hop that is actually like a little wristlet purse that opens up to fold out the mat and also holds a diaper and a wipes case. also, most diaper bag sets now come with a changing mat; diaper bag: i would have two if i had it my way, one that is compact and one that is bigger. but some nice features in a diaper bag include several inside and outside pockets to hold pacifiers, snacks, burp cloths, water bottle, whatever things that you need to be easily accessible so that you don't have to rummage around in the bottom of the bag for a binkie when your baby is screaming, a changing mat, wipes holder, adjustable strap that you can fit over your stroller handle, waterproof, an insulated pocket to hold bottles of milk, i got my bag as a gift, it is a silver gray one from Fischer Price and is great, however i would also like a smaller one as well. petunia picklebottom makes really cute ones that are messenger bag style.
-clothes for baby: a lot of people like the footless sleepers but i never did because they ride up and end up around the baby's chin. i prefer the regular onsie jammies that snap or zip, the zip is easier. as for clothing, think about accessibility; stuff with snaps and zippers, onsies, soft pants that snap at the bottom and let you get to the diaper easily, stuff like that. little cute outfits are nice for sometimes, but not every day. and you will go through much more laundry than you ever imagined. sometimes 3-4 outfits a day, especially in the newborn phase since often they have explosive diapers that leak everywhere. things with feets are nice because often times socks get kicked off.
-blankets: NOT for baby during sleep but just so that they can lay on during the day. it helps protect your floor/couch/lap from spit up, poo and pee. the aden + anais ones are wonderful.
-diaper rash cream: i have used A&D which is pediatrician recommended but not cloth diaper safe. so if they have a really bad rash you could use A&D with a disposable diaper. for mild rashes and a little redness i really like to use angel baby bottom care also by earth mama angel baby, and it's cloth diaper safe.
that's pretty much it for must haves. babies don't need a lot in the beginning besides mama, milk, diapers and clothes, and stuff for baths. below is a list of some nice-to-haves for the minimal mama:
-baby swing: this could go either way, some parents swear by this and that their child can only nap while in the swing, but some babies don't like it at all. my son will tolerate it for about 10 minutes and that's it, so i'm glad that we borrowed on from a friend before purchasing one. i would suggest doing that, borrowing one to see if your baby likes it, that way you don't waste registry space or money.
-video monitor: a baby monitor is nice but you may not use it for awhile, likely the baby will be with you most of the time, but if you do put the baby in another room to nap it is nice to have a video monitor
-portable crib: like a pack n play or a bassinet or sleeper, like the summer co-sleeper, you can fold it down and take it with you. it's nice to have if you are going to someone's house, or even just to have something to place baby down in different rooms of your house.
stuff for moms:
-breast pump: double electric is the best, i have a medela and really like it. it's nice to pump milk to have some as backup if necessary, and it may help keep your supply up. i used it more in the first month because my son would actually take naps then and i would pump in order to prevent engorgement.
-lanolin: for sore nipples from breastfeeding. "they" always tell you that breastfeeding shouldn't hurt if the baby is latched properly. that is incorrect. it hurts at first, for the first couple of weeks at least. basically, it takes your nipples time to get used to the hoovering movement going on. and the first 30 seconds or so after baby latches on may be a little painful, just breath through it and then it goes away. if after 30 seconds or so it is still really painful, then you likely have a latch issue. anyway, i used earth mama angel baby nipple butter for the first few days and had a little bit of cracking and bleeding still. then i switched to lanolin and within hours all was well. i'm telling you, there's nothing like lanolin to help heal. you should use breast pads when using lanolin because it is extremely emollient and will stain any fabric that it touches.
-water: in a big jug with a straw. drink lots of water.
-snacks: healthy snacks to eat between meals, being a mom is hard work and you need your energy and proper nutrients
-camera: you will want to capture this time with your baby on film!
-journal: or blog, computer, whatever, just a way to jot down your thoughts and what's going on with baby. it is not only therapeutic, but is also fun to go back and remember what baby was up to during the second week or how you were feeling, etc.
that's pretty much it for now. i will write another post for the next stage of babyhood, the 2-3 month-ish stages.
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