New mom of a 6 month old...a few things we can and can't live without for all you 1st time moms out there

Hi ladies...
I don't get on LIF much at all anymore but just have been thinking about posting some of the things we really couldn't live without and the things that aren't really necessary.

This is a newer item in the last year or so and it is my #1 cannot live without item. DD slept in it instead of a bassinet every night until she was probably 3 mos old. After those night feedings I never wanted to lay her flat and I wanted to get right back to bed...this has an incline - it's approved by the American Ped. Assoc as a safe place for baby to sleep. DD would hang out in it during the day. It's just a great thing to have. We stay at my parents house a lot and this was so easy to just fold up and take along...she'd sleep in it anywhere.
It's the Fisher Price Rock and Play Sleeper...a must for all baby registrys!!!


We CAN live without this...it bores DD to tears. Literally - after 5 minutes in here she is crying and wants out. It is just very boring...not enough stuff going on for her in here.
Baby Einstein Discovery Center Entertainer


We CANNOT live without this...DD would stay in here for hours if I let her. She jumps like a maniac in here - never gets bored in here. This was a hand me down. If I had to choose 1...I'd go with jump-a-roo over an exersaucer any day....so much more fun for the little ones to be able to jump.


Can't live without the Miracle Blanket...was the only swaddler that worked on my daughter. Used it every night for 1st 3-4 months.

I got SO many blankets as baby gifts. You need a few but return if you get a ton...I will now never give a blanket as a baby gift again knowing how many people get as gifts and how you just don't need that many.

Can't live without this book....hands down best sleep book out there. DD is on and has been on an amazing sleep schedule thanks to this book. This helped me most with her nap schedule and getting her on a good nap routine.
Start reading it now while you are prego. No one told me to read it before the baby arrived...I had no time to read it until she was weeks old...would have been helpful had I read it sooner.


Can't live without these for the dishwasher...takes up much less space than those hard plastic baskets they sell. And it's mesh so it expands so you can fit a ton in these things.
Get them at buy buy baby


Never used a bottle warmer or bottle sterilizer.

If you are questioning whether or not to use a Snap-N-Go style stroller for the early months....it's not even a question in my mind. Best thing ever - so lightweight and quick open/close. Greatest thing to just plop the infant car seat in and go.

I did not register for an umbrella style stroller and now really wish I had - like a Maclaren. DD is big and is about to grow out of the infant car seat which means no more ease of the snap-n-go for me. I love my big stroller I chose but it is HEAVY and I dread the thought of lifting that thing in and out of my trunk daily. I use a stroller every day...wish I had a lightweight one. I'm shopping around for one now.

A friend suggested this and I think it's been great...keep something like this in your car. Just in case you ever run out of diapers in your diaper bag....you will have backup. I can't tell you how many times this has come in handy for me. It's also a bigger pad to lay baby on to change them than most that come in your diaper bag. I have done many back seat diaper changes on this...great to just leave in the car with wipes and diapers as backup.


Life saver..the Ultimate Crib Sheet. My other can't live without item. Have at least 1 clean back up (I have 3 total). DD drools and spits up a lot...I would hate to be changing that fitted crib sheet all the time b/c you pretty much have to take the mattress out to change it. This is the best invention - I love it!

Oh - I did not register for this. I registered for the Euro Primo bath but I LOVE this and am still bathing 6 mo old DD on it (which is def. unsafe b/c she tries to jump off...it's just so quick and easy I always keep one hand on her to make sure she stays put). It's just so simple - you put it in your tub and it's mesh so you dump a cup of water over the baby to rinse them and they are never sitting in a pool of water. DD pees in the bath all the time...so if she were in the actual little tub she'd be sitting in dirty pee water - I love this seat...it's the best. Been using it since Day 1 and hate to have to put it away soon. It's SO much better than all those little baths they sell...trust me you will not want your little 2 week old in a bath full of water. This is really easy.



And last but not least...I think every baby's favorite - brings such a smile to DD's face...just don't lose it for $20 you hate to have to replace it!
Sophie...


Hope this helps - just have been meaning to come on here and share for all you prego ladies out there.
If I think of anything more I will add it here.
Good luck and congrats to all of you!

PS - I also love the Mommy Hook for the stroller. Very useful little item. Holds heavy bags.

ETA: Do not buy too many small size diapers before you bring home baby. DD started out in Size 1 (i of course had newborn size at home) and was only in Size 2 for about a week...went right into Size 3's. So don't buy too much ahead of time b/c you don't know what size you will need!

Message edited 12/17/2010 12:07:27 AM.

Re: New mom of a 6 month old...a few things we can and can't live without for all you 1st time moms out there

Thanks for sharing! Great info! Have fun being a mommy!!!

Re: New mom of a 6 month old...a few things we can and can't live without for all you 1st time moms out there

Just thought of 1 more thing.
My DD spit up a bunch in the beginning. I had a ton of these bibs...I kept going out and buying more b/c I do not like doing laundry every day (I've managed to do it I think once a week which I hear is good with a baby...probably b/c I had so many pj's and burp cloths and bibs I could go a week)...
Anyway from Buy Buy Baby these were my favorite bibs for the 0-3 mo age...only come in white for the newborn but they are great. Make sure you have enough in case you have a spitter upper!
They come in bigger sizes Stage 2 they call them - those come in colors!
Great bibs

Also if your baby takes a pacifier...they will give you in the hospital those green rubber soothie ones. DD loved that and we took lots of car rides to see family when she was really small....she always needed the binky in the car. If she lost it - that was it. This is a great invention...I got it too late when DD could grab it and tug at the stuffed animal which would pull the binky out of her mouth. For newborns it's great b/c they won't be pulling it out and it should keep the binky in place...love this!
Wubbanub - Buy Buy Baby sells them but I don't see it on their website.


I also love the MAM brand pacifiers! DD loves them.

Re: New mom of a 6 month old...a few things we can and can't live without for all you 1st time moms out there

Great post-- Thankk you soo much!!! Getting that book today!!

Re: New mom of a 6 month old...a few things we can and can't live without for all you 1st time moms out there

thanks!!

Re: New mom of a 6 month old...a few things we can and can't live without for all you 1st time moms out there

very helpful post. thanks so much!

Re: New mom of a 6 month old...a few things we can and can't live without for all you 1st time moms out there

wow amazing!

thank you so much!

i jusst notebooked this!!

Re: New mom of a 6 month old...a few things we can and can't live without for all you 1st time moms out there

Thank you so much!

Notebooked!

Re: New mom of a 6 month old...a few things we can and can't live without for all you 1st time moms out there

Thanks for sharing!!!!!!

We got the rock and play sleeper-after seeing Dana (DSLaff) using it non stop, I put it on the registry and, pooof!!!!! we got it at the shower.

This is GREAT advice, thanks for taking the time out to write this out for us.

Re: New mom of a 6 month old...a few things we can and can't live without for all you 1st time moms out there

Thanks so much!!! Great info.

I just added to my registry the Rock and Play Sleeper (thanks!). I had just heard from another BTDT mom last week to add too.

Re: New mom of a 6 month old...a few things we can and can't live without for all you 1st time moms out there

Thank you! Great information. Love the puppy!

Re: New mom of a 6 month old...a few things we can and can't live without for all you 1st time moms out there

This is a great post thanks so much!!!! I've already updated my registry with some of these stuff!!!

Re: New mom of a 6 month old...a few things we can and can't live without for all you 1st time moms out there

you're so welcome! Love sharing any good tips or items that have helped us.
ALso this goes without saying but the video monitor is so helpful. And I keep it on a shelf - not mounted down to anything b/c we are away a lot so I take it with me everywhere we go.

And that wubbanub pacifier thing I meant to tell you comes in all different stuffed animals. You can buy them online or I know the BBB in Garden City (Carle Place?) sells them. So great for car rides for little newborns. Don't be like me and start using it too late when it becomes a toy and they pull at it.