Okay so preparing for a baby is hard! I started my registries (even though I am not 100% certain it's a boy so it may change after Monday) and with all the different products and brands out there it's hard to know what to use. And I just don't have the time to sit and read through a million customer reviews on line (Amy, would you do that for me? ha ha). So I thought I would ask those that I love and trust the most . . .YOU! Tell me what brands you have and like on the following things:
Strollers- I found a jogging stroller I really like, but a regular stroller, I have no clue.
Car Seats- what are the best kind? Should I get a stroller/car seat that fits together? Or does it matter? What is the safest? Easiest to put in your car. Do I need two?
Bathing products- what are the best soaps and lotions, etc to use on a baby?
Bath tub- do I really need all the fancy colors and gadgets and toys or should I just stick with the basic one until the kid gets bored in the tub?
Audio monitors- what's the best? Which one has the farthest range? Best quality of sound?
Is there anything else I can't live without? I've registered for a boppy, everyone that has one loves them. But what else is there? What are those things that you just can't live without or really wish you had? I am open to feedback on any and all things baby. It's really starting to set in now. Even though it's a little early I'm having my first shower on the 15th and I'm totally freaked out that I'm not prepared. I know this summer is going to fly by, it already has so far, so I'm a little stressed.
BTW only 2 days and 19 hours left!
6 comments:
Hey girl! You are on the countdown now! I have so much I want to share with you about what to get. There is tons of stuff you'll never use, or stuff that will absolutely love. I'm a total gear whore, so you can take my advice with a grain of salt. Due to my very generous clients, I was fortunate enough not to have to buy much. So I understand my reality is a little tainted. If I had to buy all this myself, I probably wouldn't have. Also, I am a huge fan of EBay and KSL.com. A lot of people are funny about used baby things, but when you are looking to find high-end stuff, they are usually very well taken care of. I also have six sisters, who have bought and tried EVERYTHING, and have often learned the hard way. So, being know-it-all that I am, I consider myself somewhat an authority on this.
Strollers/Carriers-You get what you pay for! I was blessed with the Peg-Perego set, and I absolutely love it. I can't stand dirty and crusty car seats, so I washed mine a lot. It looks brand new! They hold up so well. The stroller turns on the dime and literally glides when you push it. All my girlfriends have Graco's and Evenflo's that have a hard time fitting in their trunks. The Peg is uber compact and cleans up so nicely. I can't say I love the cupholder system that much, but it does the job. The carrier is on the bigger side, but that can be good if you like to keep your baby in them for a long time. I know you're supposed to keep them in them until they're one, but I put Tex in a front facing Britax at ten months and he loves it! I have a jog stroller, but let's be honest-I rarely ever use it. I take it to the park and when we go for walks. I bought it mostly because I didn't want to damage the Peg. Jog stroller are hard to manuever in stores, so it generally gets left in the garage. If you plan to use either the stroller or car seat for more than one child, I recommend spending the extra cash to upgrade. It's very worth it. However, my little sister was able to make a matching set from Ebay and KSL that were about a year old and you would have never know they were even used. She paid $125 for everything. It took some time, but she found them.
Bathtub-Forget it, and don't waste your money. If your exceptionally concerned, I would pick up one of the three dollar foam teddy bear ones from Babies R Us. They're good for the first few weeks and can even fit in your kitchen sink. When I taught swim lessons I could always tell which kids were coddled in the bathtub! Don't be afraid to get their faces wet.
Audio Monitor-Either go really cheap or really expensive. There is no in-between. The higher priced ones don't really work much better than the cheap ones. I bought the Summer Video Baby Monitor after my girlfriend brought hers when she came to visit. I totally made fun of it in the beginning, but by the time she left, I was hooked and in search of one online. I have since converted my entire family on them and they are the best. There is something about seeing your little stinker on a monitor that is more fun than listening to them. They're pricey but totally worth it.
Bobby-An absolute must whether you nurse or not. We are major lake rats, and starting at 3 weeks old, we shoved Tex in it while we water-skiied. He slept for hours on end in that thing. It has countless uses.
Bath Products-As an aethetician, I am a total product lover. I love Paul Mitchell's, Baby Don't Cry, mostly because my little one has sensitive skin and No More Tears is pretty rough. My sisters totally make fun of me for this, but I don't care. I'm so pathetic that I purchased Kiels baby products for him in the beginning. Now I pretty much slap whatever I can find on him.
Breast Pump-This may or may not be something you use. To some people's suprise I am very pro nursing. However, I pumped a lot and gave my baby a bottle so that my husband could help out. This led me to trying pretty much all that are out there. My two favorites are the Avent Isis Duo, and The Big Daddy Medela. Both have their pro's and con's. If you want a hand pump, only get the Medela. Breastpumps are not returnable unfortunately. If you would like to borrow mine and try them before you buy one, you are more than welcome to. Some people are very neurotic about this, but pretty much all parts can be sterilized and I don't think it's a big deal. Maybe it's because i've grown up around a million women, but I don't stress about that kind of stuff.
This is probably way too long of a post, but it could give you some ideas. Also, Target has the WORST return policy. So only register for things that Babies R Us also carries. That way your not stuck with doubles of anything. Gift cards are always nice! If you want you can call me and i'll give you the nitty gritty on registering. Good luck sista!
P.S. Only use Pampers Swaddlers in the beginning. The rest are junk! It's worth the extra buck or two.
Hey Lins, Ok Here goes...Get a stroller/car seat combo for sure! You will be surprised how often your baby is asleep when you go to get them out of the car and you won't want to wake them up just to put them in a stroller. Also don't buy two car seats just buy an extra base to put in Josh's car or to go with your mom. The Graco car seat base is an extra 35-40 dollars and totally worth it! You really do need a boppy..they are the best! Many uses and it makes it way more comfy when you are feeding. Moniters come in all varieties but as long as your baby's room isn't too far away it really doesn't matter which one you get because you will be surprised what your own ears hear all by themselves! As far as bathtubs go, I have a little tub that we put by the sink and that is where I bathe my babies until they get too big for it, I like to be able to spray them off with the kitchen sprayer. After that the bear sponge is a great tool. I always just use Johnson's baby products but I got so much of them for Skylar's showers that I haven't had to buy anything for baths yet! I have the Medella breast pump. It works great but is super expensive. The good news is it will last forever! You will just have to find the bottles that work for your baby because every kid is different and what works for one might not work for another. I think one other thing that is a must is an inclined sleep positioner. I put my babies on them and you know that they arent going to roll over and get smothered on their blanket or bumper and I have heard that the slight incline makes them feel fuller for longer periods of time so they sleep a little longer at night. Anyway's that's my 2 cents and if I think of anything else I will let you know!
I'll just talk to you about it tomorrow! :0)
I have many likes & dislikes, but not enough time right now. However, I do have to agree with a previous comment about the Pampers Swaddlers. They really are the best! I also am a huge fan of the Diaper Genie. I can't stand having to take a poopy or wet diaper out to the garbage everytime you change one. So to slap that baby in the Diaper Genie and then empty it once a week (or whenever it gets full) is pretty slick. Just my opinion though. I'd say get a cheap tub. No need for one with all the bells & whistles. I really only used it until my kids were able to sit up and then I get these really good bath mats from Bed Bath & Beyond and stick them in the big tub once they can sit up. There are so many choices, it really is overwhelming. But there's my 2 cents on a few things. You'll quickly learn your likes & dislikes. Oh, one other thing too. If you have a colicky/gassy baby (heaven help you if you do), I'd suggest the Dr. Brown's bottles. They also have the Dr. Brown's bottles that are free of that chemical that everyone is freaking out about now (can't remember the name of it at the moment). Anyway, they are great and don't let the air get into the babies tummy. If you're strictly nursing though, then obviously you won't use the bottles. But I really liked them.
Can't wait to hear if it's pink or blue tomorrow! Have fun! Such a fun day! :) Hope all goes well!
Hey congrats on finding out its a GIRL!!!! How fun! Now you will have so much fun shopping for clothes! As for car seats I say combo, and go with chico or peg perego if you can, when they get older definitely recommend britax, lots of money but SO...worth it! It took me until my third child to figure this out! Bathtubs sheesh go cheap i got an expensive one my last round and it broke, so not worth it, I say cheap tub and bear sponge :) Bottles? I used avent my first two, my third NEVER took a bottle ugh...and breast pump I loved the medela harmony, again though I wasnt pumping into a bottle really so who knows! Again congrats!
Okay...so I am not very experienced with the kids stuff yet, but I will offer my advice on what I wish I would have done differently and stuff that I am very pleased with!
First...stroller/car seats - I LOVE our GRACO travel system (combined car seat and stroller). It is so nice to just leave him in the car seat when he is asleep and attach it to the stroller without waking him up! The only thing I do not like is that the car seat we chose is HUGE! It does not fit anywhere and it is very heavy. I would look for something lightweight, but still durable.
Bathing products - we got a ton of baby wash (Johnson and Johnson) at showers and stuff. I doubt you will have to buy anything! We LOVE the LAVENDER baby wash by Johnson & Johnson! It smells so good...and it really does relax Jake - which it claims to do. But it smells so good and I find myself SNIFFING my kid constantly! ha ha ha ha..... It probably relaxes me as well! We use either the Aveeno Lavendar lotion or just the regular yummy baby lotion in the pink bottle!
Bath tub - We are such dorks about this one. We got the whole baby spa thing from Babies R Us and it is so funny! It has a sprayer thingy and creates bubbles like a Jacuzzi! ha ha ha......But seriously, I think they all pretty much serve the same purpose. We have a regular one too and it is exactly the same as our spa one.
Audio monitors - we have a really neat one that was recommended to us. It is a regular monitor and has an extra little pad that you put under the mattress and it monitors movement. It will go off if the baby stops moving. It is really neat. It is called BeBe Sounds Angel Care. The monitor is really sensitive. I can hear him stretching! It is amazing.
Don't forget a diaper pail. We have a hands free one and it is awesome! Especially when you have baby in one hand and a stinky diaper in the other. And the best part....it doesn't stink (until you have to empty it...YUCK)!
Ummmm....also, make sure you register for the little head support things for the car seat. When they are that little, their head gets lost in that big car seat! That is something that I never thought about and my friend bought one for us and we used it from day one.
I would also register for a playmat, a bumbo, a first aid kit, hand mitts, socks, a bundle me (especially since she will be born close to winter time), outlet plugs and drawer fasteners, a play yard and anything Baby Einstein!
I have an extra baby sling if you would like one of those. I have 2 so I never used the other one. If you are interested, it is yours!
Also...Adiri makes a freaking awesome bottle! They are a little pricey, but so worth it!!!!
Ha ha ha....when we were registering, I felt so greedy, but if you want it...register for it! You just may get it!
The End (of my little novel) Sorry my response is so long! We love you!
Post a Comment