Pregnancy/Baby Items

Jennifer - posted on 09/11/2010

the most useful item i bought was the Moby Wrap, and i honestly don't know what i would do without it. my son is nearly 10 months old and we still use it on a daily basis so i can have my hands free to get things done around the house. i love it, he loves it, win-win!

Lauren - posted on 09/11/2010

I would say that we got a convertible crib, which will save us money in the future because it turns into a toddler bed. Also if you like to walk or go do things a lot a travel stroller system is nice because it comes with a car seat and a stroller that just clip together. If you are breastfeeding I would get a pump esp if you are going back to work (I love my Medela pump). I would make sure you have clothes in different age ranges just in case you have a bigger baby. When I went to the hospital I brought both 0-3 month clothes and newborn clothes, my son was small, so he fit in newborn clothes until he was a month and a half, but I know other people who had 9lb babies that couldn't fit into newborn clothes. haha really there is a lot!! Many places (if you are creating a registry) will give you a suggested list of items to buy. You can also find lists online of essentials for having a new baby!! :-D

Tamieka - posted on 09/11/2010

a boppy pillow is wonderful! good choice! and they also have munchkin tub things that you put in the tub to find out if the water is cool enough. it will tell you on the bottom of the duck or cow that it is to hott or to cold. those things are awesome.

Jessica - posted on 09/11/2010

OMG there are SO many great things to get! There are these things I got for my neice and I will get for my soon to be (im 18 weeks now) that they didn't have when my son was a baby...they are sleepers without lets...they are like a nightgown but they are closed at the bottom and zip up! Oh they are fantastic...they cant kick it off and you dont even need a blanket! Also swaddle blankets are great too! The only recieving blankets that work are the ones at the hospital...and they only work for babies so big...and they have really nice ones every where that you don't even have to learn how to swaddle your baby...but at Target they have great swaddlers blankets if you do learn how to do it! ALSO bumbo seats! they are absolutly wonderful and if you get the little tray they double as a high chair and they are great for travel! Also when your baby gets bigger and expecially when eating solids there are bibs with a wide open pocket at the end...the good ones usually fold at the bottom and button behind...they are great so that you aren't picking up tons of tiny little pieces of food! BUT just b/c they sell something doesn't mean that it is something you should get...somethings are pointless and you will never use and your baby will never like! They get bored with toys quickly and don't really like to have the same things all the time

Brittney - posted on 09/11/2010

A bumbo chair for when your little one is a few months old. They're amazing, my son adored his, and I loved having an item that I could tote around house to house where he could play, eat, sit up and watch everything going on, or just hang out while I did something.

Jessica - posted on 01/04/2009

100% start reading it now!!!! A book called "The Baby Whisperer" from infancy through toddlerhood. by tracy Hoggs. Trust me! You will be emailing me and thanking me later. I started my daughter on the E.A.S.Y routine the day she came home from the hosptial and now she is 4 months old. takes 2 hour naps, slept through the night at 2 1/2 months old and my friends that follow her method on teaching baby's to sleep are just as happy. Good luck! are you having a boy or a girl?

Jen - posted on 01/04/2009

A swing (they make them to plug in the wall now), a bouncy chair, a play mat/tummy time mat, blankies, if bottle feeding then Dr. Browns nipples are good, a breast pump if nursing, for bath time I found it easier to buy the Huggies disposable washclothes that already have body wash in them, car seat toys, bibs, a booster seat that can travel with you, teething toys, a high chair, and a jumperoo. That should get you through the first year.

Jessica - posted on 01/03/2009

if you live in a cooler climate, i live ohio, you really need a car seat cover that has elastic to go around the seat to keep the baby covered. you don't have to worry about blankets falling off or blowing away to keep the baby warm. the elastic goes around the seat and then zips up and has an opening for the baby's face. you can add extra blankets inside on the baby, and it keeps them super warm, its almost like swaddling them in their carseat. the brand i liked best was KIDDOPOTAMUS. they are AWSOME!!!

Sarah - posted on 01/03/2009

I'm not sure what they are called, but its for them to sleep in your bed with you, it has walls so you dont roll on them but it also folds up so you can take it with you. It saved my life because my baby refuses to sleep in her cradle because she always wants to be close and cuddled, now i can sleep with my hand on her tummy and shes happy as can be.

Jennifer - posted on 01/03/2009

My absolute must is the Playtex drop in bottles!!! when you put your baby on bottles this is a must. It fixed my sons colic and they are the easiest to clean bottles out there! You just drop in the liner fill it up and put on a nipple then when they are done you throw away the liner and wash the nipple! It saves a lot of room in the dishwasher and a lot of time for you I even bought extra nipples so I didnt have to wash them as much. THEY ARE GREAT I will never use anything else!

Corry - posted on 01/03/2009

I see a lot of different posts on here recommending different baby items that are, in all actuality, not essential and cost a lot of money. The only things a baby really NEEDS are a proper car seat (never ever buy a used one, you do not know if it has been in an accident or not), a bed to sleep in (make sure it meets all safety regulations), clothing (don't buy a lot because they grow out of them faster than you think), and food (I recommend breastfeeding, as it is the healthiest food you could ever give your child and you don't have to spend an arm and a leg on it!)!
But the ONLY thing I will recommend, due to personal experience, is the AngelCare Sound and Movement baby monitor. It has 3 parts, the parent handset, base, and sensor pad that goes under the mattress. The sensor pad detects the baby's breathing and movement; if baby does not breath or move for 5 seconds the base beeps, if baby still does not breath or move after another 5 seconds, a very loud alarm goes off! The reason I recommend this is because my baby girl would not be here on this earth if it weren't for that alarm!

Kristen - posted on 01/03/2009

The item I was SO glad to have for car rides was the big mirror that attaches to the back of the seat! DD loves to look at herself in it and as she became more aware she began playing with the baby in the mirror. It also plays music and has lights. It has been a great distraction for her when we are in the car! BEST gift I received!!

Zoe - posted on 01/03/2009

Silicon Nipple Guards!!! They saved my life.

Carrie - posted on 01/03/2009

I really like the burp cloths that are more like the diapers from back in the day. They are thick in the middle and nothing goes through them unlike most of the long, skinny ones in stores today. Also, for when it gets cold, it is good to have a Bundle Me that goes in the carseat. That way you don't have to put a lot of blankets over the carseat. It just zips up and is fleece. Keeps them super warm. As far as diaper genies go, I don't have one. I was told by a lot of people that they are crap. I just keep a bunch of grocery bags next to the changing table. Most of all, I wouldn't go out and spend a lot of money on clothes and big accessories. Just ask around to see what you can borrow from others. I borrowed a crib, playmat, bouncer, 2 pack and plays and a bassinett. They only thing bought new was the stroller and swing and someone bought it for us. I just went through my 2 months old clothes today and he hasn't even worn half of his onesies. We got so many clothes given to us. Just ask around.

Barbara - posted on 01/03/2009

Boppy is WONDERFUL for breastfeeding, tummy time, and help sitting up! We like the carrier covers rather than losing blankets for keeping baby covered in cold. Avent bottles, with interchangeable sippy cup lids. Breast pump if breast feeding (used an electric dual pump, quicker and easy on boobies!), you'll eventually be away from your baby for a little bit. Bottle warmer for my spoiled little girl :). Swing came later for us (bought at a consignment store for half price!). We liked the wipe warmer for mid-night changings for first several months (she wouldn't wake up all the way!), but have weened her from that and bottle warmer (she's 1 now). I'd say definitely wash and cut tags off of all clothes/cloths/blankets/sheets/etc in addition to opening and setting up newborn diapers etc! It was great to have stuff pre-set up when we were exhausted!

Priscilla - posted on 01/03/2009

We would not have made it through the infant times without a bouncy seat and a swing.

We had both with our babies and my first likes the swing and hated the seat, my second was totally opposite. You will deffinatly want burp cloths and bibs to save your cloths and the babies. Formula stains terribly.. and one more thing I can think if is Buy stock in SHOUT..you are going to be using alot of it.

Lisa - posted on 01/03/2009

these are all really gud suggestions the only other thing i can think of is a cot sensor. a friend of mine whos not long gave birth got one from mkothercare and wot u do is put it in babys cot or oses basket under the sheet and if the stop breathing or moving for so long an alarm goes off. i thought this was a great idea especially to stop u worrying about cot death and having to keep going up n checking baby every 5 minutes!!

Jenna - posted on 01/03/2009

1. Safe T Sleep - www.safetsleep.com
its a sheet that you velcro your baby into - it wraps around a cot, single bed mattress and keeps your baby in the middle of the bed, great to take to mates place if you want to put your baby to bed as you only have to carry around a sheet.

2. Polar fleece blankets to cover everything!!! babies r messy. Polar Fleece also wash well and dry very quickly.

3. Comfortable chair for breastfeeding

4. A good Pram - we made the mistake for going cheap, it was way to heavy by the time i had bubs and all his stuff in it, with the amount of times you have to lift it in and out of the car - worth investing if you can afford it.

5. Moses basket - love them and they look so cute too.

Items i didnt find so useful
Changing table - found it quite dangerous very early on.
Someone also told me that if you would like a breast pump, investigate into what you think you would like before you have your baby, but dont buy it, just write the model name down, as not everyone can breastfeed. that was you wont be wasting your money as they are quite expensive. And you can just get your mate to go in and buy it once you are sure you will continue breast feeding.

Jill - posted on 01/02/2009

Bouncy seat!!! not papasan make sure it bounces.

Heather - posted on 01/02/2009

Hello! My name is Heather and my son is 5 months today. He was my first and I learned a lot if I ever had another. I bought way too much stuff! 50% of the clothes I bought he seriously didn't have time to wear. All those cute expensive name brand outfits probably won't be used because honestly they are way more comfortable in pajama's and they are easier to put on. You'll find out what type of clothes you like also. Some pajama's are easier to put on than others just the way they snap something I obviously didn't even notice. And top and bottom seperates...you'll want a onesie or something that snaps otherwise the tops always ride up and you always are pulling them down. Also pay attention to the season. Winter in South Dakota gets cold and I wasn't wanting to always be pulling his shirt down. I breastfed for the first 3 weeks and it was all good and I knew it was benefiting the baby but it's a big job! I started with playtexe vent aire bottles but I was constantly washes 5 pieces a bottle so we switched to the bag playtex bottles and I just love them. If you are having a boy a diaper wipe warmer isn't necessary but cold wipes are uncomfortable for any baby. Having warm wipes is kind of a luxury to a baby I guess. Swings are lifesavers! Jurren didn't like it the first month but the next month or two he always slept in it. He never would sleep in his crib...that's where the bobby pillow came in handy. Of course I used it for nursing, feeding, sitting in, and tummy time, but I put him in it in his crib and it must have made him feel more secure and snug. He just fell right asleep! About 4 months he started sleeping without it but we still use it for lounging. I don't like burbrags so I use receiving blankets because they are much bigger and I never swaddled Jurren. He never took a pacifier so that was a good thing. Don't buy a whole bunch unless you know he's gonna want one. A baby bathtub with a cloth tub chair thing. They don't slide and elevate so the ears won't get in his/her ears. We got a baby tub with a shower thing and we never used it. Some fancy things are a hassle. Noisy toys or ones that light up. My son loves his mobile! Now he might sit in his crib for a whole hour or two a day at seperate times watching it. A camera for yourself. That first month you will want to take a picture of every movement or outfit. My digital camera holds like 30 minutes of video too and I am constantly downloading to my computer making sure my camera is ready for tomorrow. Huh, more than you asked for? I will quit for now but any questions just ask. Motherhood is such a new but great experience. Hope to keep in touch!

Stefanie - posted on 01/02/2009

Wash cloths and bibs! Lot's!!! Babies are SO messy when they are learning to eat! They get wet - you get wet! I'm pregnant with my second. Forgot about that until just now... I better stock up too!

Kaleena - posted on 01/02/2009

all these posts have great suggestions-i will add a Sling i have tryed a few diffrent ones and i found the one called the 'Over the shoulder baby holder' worked the best.i used it alot in the first few months instead of the stroller and also around the house for getting stuff done,its really handy when you have other kids to attend too and need free hands(my youngest was very colic and always wanted to be held) infact i still use mine when i go camping and hikeing for my 21month old or even our three year old i just spin it around and snug them up on my back.

best of luck with your new little one

Bethany - posted on 01/01/2009

I would recommend getting a playmat that will convert to be used in a sitting position- otherwise it won't last long (and they can be really expensive!) I just got one by Fisher Price that will convert and it would have worked perfectly all along.

I know it sounds like a bit of a luxury but I would also recommend a video monitor (they are getting more reasonable and black and white is all you need). My son tends to lay awake in his crib before and after naps so with the video I can tell how much he is really sleeping...I didn't think it was going to be worth it (my husband got his mom to buy us one!) but I can't imagine not having it!

I also got the 3-in-1 swing that converts from a swing into a toddler rocker (can you tell I like to get my money's worth!). It wasn't the best swing when my son was an infant but at 6 months we are still using the rocker (and I imagine we will for at least another year) while our glider swing was outgrown in a couple of months.

I would wait before you buy a Bumbo- they are really expensive and I find I rarely use mine. Some people really love them but it's a lot of money to waste if you're not one of them. (Maybe keep your eyes open for a used one!)

Finally- my one other piece of advice- buy newborn size sleepers. All the books say to not buy a lot of little sizes but your baby will need something to wear at first! I had an almost 9lb baby and he still wore the 5-7lb newborn sleepers for the first few weeks but I was totally unprepared! My mom had to go buy some for me before I left the hospital! They won't last long but you will need them!

Enjoy your last few months- it will go so quickly! Best wishes ~

Kristin - posted on 01/01/2009

A playpen is essential for me. I set it up in the livingroom and toss all her toys in there and let her play while I do laundry and dishes. Comes in handy all the time.

Stacy - posted on 01/01/2009

a jumper a friend gave me her used one and I absolutly love it once my daughter got about3-4 months (she held her head up by herself) I put her in it and she loved it. It was a life saver because she loves to be active and loves to jump!

Also, if you are thinking about buying a jogging stoller and a regular stoller. I would suggest just getting the jogging one. They have ones that now come with the car seat and carseat base. I wish I would have done it this way.

I loved the sleep sacks for my daughter. She refused to be swaddled and this way she kept covered up with no problems.

Joyce - posted on 12/31/2008

A swaddling blanket really helped my daughter sleep (but I think they are only recommended for the first 4-6 weeks to prevent SIDS). I found it handy to have two; in case one got dirty then I had a back up for her next sleep. You can either buy square flannel swaddling blankets or you can buy swaddling pouches (Swaddle Me is the pouch brand I used)---they both worked for my baby and I have to say the swaddling pouches are far easier to use.

Nancy - posted on 12/31/2008

i would say a bouncer that vibrates, and some really soft different textured blankets that are not huge but big enough for them to grow into and not out of

Regina - posted on 12/30/2008

I agree with all these items posted! They all came in handy when I had my daughter. I would also say that having a travel crib came in handy for those first few weeks of her life which we were able to put in our room so I didn't have to go all the way to the next room to get her for those late night feedings/changing. It also proved helpful for when we went on overnight trips so we didn't have to worry about if the hotel had a good one or not.

Sarah - posted on 12/30/2008

My son wouldn't sleep unless he had his womb sounds bear. Also with carseats they have it now where you can order 2 bases, so you and your husband don't have to switch them from car to car and the carseat just snaps in. They can come with strollers to so you can switch the carseat to snap into that also. That made things so much easier for me!

Sarndra - posted on 12/30/2008

Hi there, a bouncinette or rocker and most definetly a breast pump if you are planning to breast feed it gives you some well needed time off also plenty of burp cloths otherwise known as cloth nappies save your clothes for sure! In the cold months we purchased a steam vapouriser great for colds, hope these are some ideas...

Paulena - posted on 12/30/2008

A mosses basket if your or the babies room (where baby will be sleeping) is far from the living room and kitchen (or where ever you spend the most time) a diaper genie #2 unless you are cloth diapering then I have no idea. A bumbo is a nice thing to have. We used one with my son and he was sitting up on his own at 4 months old. And a bouncy seat. My son didn't like the swing, but he LOVED his bouncy seat. He would sleep like a champ in it

Holly - posted on 12/30/2008

A swing was a life saver for us. My daughter would only sleep in the swing for the first few months.