Here's the deal: I went to Babies R Us with my Mom, sister, and "might-as-well-be-sister" (Jenny) to look at baby stuff. I'm telling you, I just about had a nervous breakdown in the middle of that store. Holy overwhelming. That was ridiculous. After that experience, I logged in to the website, because I figured that would feel less overwhelming. Yep, not so much. The insanity that is registering for baby registries is SO much more than I expected. Wow, not ready for that.
Here's where you come in...Would you PLEASE leave me a comment with your favorite NEED to have baby item? What's worth it and what is going to collect dust in the corner? How many of those ridiculous blankets do I really need - because probably the 8-12 Babies R Us is telling me is a little much? Moby Wrap or whatever that other baby backpack looking thing is? Video monitor or just the "old school" audio monitor? Drop-ins or bottles? I mean, I could list questions from now until this baby is born (and I'm not ruling that out at this point!)
On another note, I was recently informed that commenting on this blog might as well of been like breaking into Fort Knox - I'm sorry about that!! I didn't realize there were 4,378 steps in order to leave me a comment! I think I fixed that now, so there should be no reason to not leave me comments! :) {lets just keep our fingers crossed that we don't get spam comments now...}
You guys are amazing - thank you SO much for your help!
I absolutely LOVED swaddle blankets!!! They were life savers with both of my boys. We used Tome Tippe bottles, the are most similiar to a breast feeding and easy for babies to manuever with their mouths. I would suggest the 8-12 blankets, they get dirty fast! We kept extra in the diaper bag, each vehicle and at both granda and grandpas house. I had both old school and video monitor. I really liked the video monitor more. In fact I still use it and my boys are 2 and 3. I frequently wake up in the middle of hte night just to check on them and this way I can do it without entering their room. Boppy is also a must!!!!!! It will really be trial and error for Baby K. He/She will make the rules to what you do and dont need :)
ReplyDeleteI love reading your blogs, Katie! So much fun and excitement to see what's coming next for you. My must have is a bouncy seat (or whatever it's called now) that you can move around with you from room to room, leave on the floor while you're in the shower or wherever mama needs to be so she can keep watching baby! I also loved the gowns for sleeping, a quick diaper change in the middle of the night is always nice! I'll keep praying and you keep posting! xoxo
ReplyDeleteMy favorite "need to have" baby item is a great aunt who loves the baby!! You had one, I had one, we all need at least one. Luckily your baby will have several!! If you are asking for a baby "item", my baby days are so long ago, I can't be much help in that area!! :-)
ReplyDeleteWell I'm only a week into this mommy thing, but already I can tell you that there are several things that we like and have used a bunch already: a wipe warmer...makes for much quieter diaper changes; our Grace swing that is also a bouncy seat...she loves it; video monitor...I thought it was a ridiculous idea at first because our room is about 3 feet from her room, but I find myself just watching her sleep and not disrupting her in the process. We love our Moby wrap as well...keeps baby up by your heart and keeps people's hands away from baby when you're out in public :-) I'm sure more things will become much more important, but at week 1 that's what I have to offer. :-)
ReplyDeleteswing, wipe warmer; when my baby got stronger, the swaddle blanket was useless, so we transitioned to a halo sleep sack - priceless!! We also had a package of "birdseye weave" cloth diapers that we used for everything - burp cloths, wiping up spills, drying little baby hair. . ..
ReplyDeleteItems...several sets of fitted sheets and mattress pads....put them all on the bed at once. Then if they mess the bed u can just strip one sheet and pad and it's already made. Much easier when you have a baby in your arms. :)
ReplyDeleteForget the Diaper Genie (if they even make that anymore!). Agree with the wipe warmer, swing, bouncy/vibrating seat. Can NEVER have too many diapers! And lots of onesies! They go through alot!
ReplyDeleteAngelcare Breathing Sensor/Baby Monitor.
ReplyDeleteDidn't have one with my first baby= I NEVER slept because I was checking on him 700 times to make sure his chest was rising and falling.
Got the breathing/sound monitor and used it with my other kids...made for a MUCH more rested Mommy, knowing somthing else was "keeping an eye" on my little one while I slept! (<-welll...as much as any mom with a newborn CAN sleep anyway...) ;) Good luck! I'm loving following your story! =)
Hi Katie, It’s Rachel Neilson (Rachel Petersen). I don’t know if you remember me went to Ambrose but also was a tumbler for years - I can’t figure out how to sign on but I read daily.
ReplyDeleteAnyways – regarding your question I have a few tips I would love to share as I found very helpful along the way when having my two daughters. #1 – I would recommend having formula dividers. We had them ready every night with 2oz./4oz./6oz whatever the baby was at so we could have bottles ready with water and when baby was hungry dump in shake and feed. #2 – I would recommend if you will have your new precious gift in the winter a car seat cover. I was not fond of the ones that go inside (personal preference) but loved the elastic one to go over the car seat with the peep hole. These were 2 things I could not have lived without. Regarding your question about how many blankets – yes I agree 8-10 is too many. You will get hooked on using your favorites and the others will sit. I got probably close to 20 for my shower and birth and I wish I would have exchanged for something more I could have used. I still have a pile just sitting there used maybe one or two times.
I have to tell you that I am touched by your story. It is a gift and a miracle. It is a journey that once I started reading I am compelled to. It touches me in many places and bring me hope for a situation close to my heart. I would love to hear more about it and I know it is so personal however I believe everything happens for a reason and I am a believer in certain things and I believe your story has true meaning. I can’t tell you how happy I am for your family to be! Congrats and enjoy all the joys and memories that are being made daily.
Hi Katie! Its Lizette Swords :-). The one thing we had that I LOVED was our monitor. We got the Angel Care monitor with our second and it was AMAZING! For me it was always a little nerve wracking leaving my baby in the crib at 4 or 5 months all night to sleep. I always went in and checked a million times with our first baby. The Angel Care Monitor is movement sensitive. It cones with sensors you put under the mattress. If the baby stops breathing it will beep a few times, if it continues to not feel movement the alarm goes off! It was such a relief to know if my baby was sleeping in the wrong position and could get sufficient air because of it I would know! It has saved babies lives. :-).
ReplyDeleteWell I'm no expert, but there are definitely things around here we couldn't live without!
ReplyDelete*Video monitor. Love. I thought it was slightly ridiculous, given the price, but my sister-in-law convinced me and I'm so glad she did. She now has a toddler and says it's even more useful because her little one will quietly sneak out of bed to play :) but the video catches her!
*Floor play mat. Somehow I forgot to register for this and had to go out and get one right away. Addie just loves to lay flat and look up at the lights and listen to the songs. Don't need anything fancy though, I hear they grow out of them pretty fast.
*"Carseat Canopy" - check out their website. I had a coupon so I only had to pay shipping (I think they offer it a lot). This is a great cover for the carrier to block out sun and keep them warm, but not too warm. Will be good for your springtime baby! :)
*Mirrors and shades for the car have been helpful too.
Hope this helps. Keep these blogs comin! I'm loving the updates!!
xoxo- Megan
Well my must-haves all revolve around what we used to get the baby to sleep :). Swaddle blankets, a sound machine and sleeper gowns vs. sleepers with feet. Even if you have a boy get a bunch of gowns for overnight. It is so much easier for diaper changes in the middle of of the night. I had snap sleepers with Carter and it was almost impossible to get those back on with my tired eyes. Also, you had to take the entire sleeper off vs. just pulling up the bottom. And for when the baby is teeny-tiny use the Rock n' Play sleeper. This is the best thing for the baby to sleep in for the first couple of months!! It is light-weight so you can move it easier than a pack n' play plus it isn't very big so the baby feels all cozy inside. Also, it is angled so it helps with the moro reflex and will help if the baby has any tummy troubles. It will not work with an Angel care monitor though because it isn't flat.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of monitors, I only had an audio one with both kids and actually never really used it because our house, at the time, was small enough that I could hear them from anywhere :). That being said, I really wish I would have gotten a video monitor. They are expensive but really nice to have. It is kinda fun to watch the baby sleep and would have been useful for the times my kids cried out in the middle of the night but weren't really awake...until I swooped in and picked them up :).
Hope that helps! Congratulations to you! This is such an amazing journey ~ thanks for sharing!
Must have -- the miracle blanket -- helps you swaddle the baby TIGHTLY so they don't flail their arms around and wake themselves up constantly. Only need it for the first two months or so but it is a lifesaver! Didn't have it until my third kid -- and he slept like a charm!
ReplyDeleteSorry I didn't identify myself -- that was from Jenny Halupnik
Delete-3 swaddle wraps for early on or make your own giant receiving blankets if you're crafty. Regular receiving blankets are worthless after week 3 with a squirmer or big baby.
ReplyDelete-2 sleep sacks (get bigger sizes, they can still fit into them and use them longer)
-a package of sleep gowns or two for the first couple months. So easy st 3am
-basic bouncy seat so baby can nap in any room
-swing, lifesaver!
-video monitors are nice, but you'll be fine without it. Get long range regardless. Check to see if you can use your credit card points towards one.
-lay and play gym
-diaper genie is NOT worth it. Get a knock off that used regular trash bags or just a small tightly sealed lidded trashcan.
Relax on the blankets! We registered for 1 and got a dozen or more as gifts. People love picking that stuff out. That said, the average person does not know how to use a drop in bottle. They are easy if you do, but plan on teaching your relatives. Tommy Tippys are good/simple. Never used a wrap, but wished I had a Bjorn.
Garage sales and Craigslist can take care of a lot of big stuff for cheap too.
Most importantly, everyone wants to cry in Babies R Us and most of us have (guilty, more than once)
You're already a wonderful mother.
Audrey Felix (Miller)