I was so ill prepared for my first little one. I was on a budget so I couldn't over buy but I didn't know how much I really needed. After the experience of bringing home my eldest daughter I've learned a few things. I just set up the house for the new babies arrival (I'm nervous about my cerclage being removed and going into labor before my scheduled c-section so I'm prepping a little early). By the time you read this I will have already brought home my second daughter. As far as clothes go...accept all fo the hand me down clothes you can. I originally bought only 10 plain white button up shirts and onsies...and that wasn't enough. Also, buy plenty of bibs. I only bought 10 plain white bibs (the reason I went with white was so I could clePran all of them easily) and that wasn't enough. We ended up using receiving blankets (which are good as burp rags as well which you will need a lot of) because that wasn't enough. I would literlaly go through ten in one day but then my daughter was lactose intolerent and it took us awhile to realize that (we tried several formulas until we went with all Soy Enfamil - Prosobee and she stopped thowing up as much). Also, buy a couple cute outfits even if you don't intend to take the baby out becuase it is totally worth it...again I didn't indluge that way with my dauther (I was given a lot of clothes as hand me downs from my sister-in-law and cousin around the third month) and I do regret that...especially get the cute baby footie pajamas. When it comes to bottles, I get that the anti-colic bottles are popular- Dr. Browns espeically, but my daughter prefered faster bottles over those...they took too long. So try differnet bottles...again accept hand me downs (as long as your conmfortable with that but seriously you can totally sanitize this stuff) and try different types. Especially with the first few months you'll want a lot of them. The 6 oz ones are the most handy because you'll go through six a day at the least so unless you want to run the dishwasher every day you need to have quite a few on hand (luckily we were given a lot as hand me downs so I have already twenty- but I started off with four which was insane) and then you can buy maybe 12 total of the 8oz ones and you can run the dishwasher even less. Finally, totally buy lift-a-flap books marked 0-3 months. This will help you with baby bonding and may even help ease your baby into sleep (and defintely help you establish a sleep routine). My daughter can literally read some words already based on recognition after reading to her from day one. This is like tummy time- don't be afraid of it or being silly...just do it. Now, I'm going to share the big things for the newborn you bring home. You can take your time with other stuff, which I will touch on in the Conclusion, and really plan a smart budget instead of having it all ready to go (because literlaly it's overwhelming. In future blogs I'll touch on things to get as you hit milestones. Must Haves: Breast Pump I actually have two breast pumps. One was covered by the insurance and one was not. I got the second one really cheap on sale. I prefer Spectra. I did not like the Medela breast pump that they use at the hospital (they will provide you with the parts, charging the insurance so don't worry about buying one just to use at the hopsital while you're recovering from a c-secton or if your child is in the N.I.C.U.). I already have Medela parts so I'm taking them to the hopsital so I can have spare pumps because lord knows while I'm there sanitizing those things every two hours is a bit much and quite frankly the nurses at the hospital won't help you with santizing them. I'm all about washing them between each use. Spectra is so much better then Medela. There are far less parts to clean. My unit has a battery so I don't have to have the machine plugged in all of the time and I can use it anywhere I want. The screen lights up at night so you can double check the settings. without waking the baby. The machine is also super quiet. I have two because lugging it up and downstairs was a no go. That became really horrible ( plus it was on sale for $50 which was incredible). If you have a one story house I don't see having two as neccesary. *I cover the Breast Pump Bra in my Hospital Bag Blog Post but this is a most. Holding the cups to your breasts, espeically in the first few days when the nurses will push you to pump every two hours, is exhausting (especially with a c-section). This thing is a life saver. I have two. The links are far too big for me to share but you can find them on Amazon, Walmart, BuyBuyBaby and Target. Bottle Warmer I didn't think I needed one but I got one for $15 after burning my hand using the two coffee cup method. Even if your lucky enough to breast feed you'll want one because there will be times where you just don't want towake up and breast feed. Bottles come in handy so that Dad, Grandma or Grandpa can feed the baby. At the end of the day, popping the bottles in a bottle warmer that turns off at the exact appropriate time is pleasurable after nights of next to no sleep. You're not testing the milk after warming it up only to find it's too warm and you have to grab another one or it takes forever because you keep taking it out and it's too cold. This removes the guesswork making it safer for the baby and safer for the parents. Pac N Play Yes, this may be just a travel item for some but it was essential for us. We got a Pac N Play before a crib and used it exclusively for about the first six months. Having a two story house it's easier to have the baby in the Pac N Play the first month as I recovered from the c-section and then beside our bed in the bedroom until we were ready to put her in her own room. So, I think this is essential. Plus it's cheaper and I know at least one person who used a Pac N Play up until their daughter was ready for a big girl bed. Infant Bouncer/Hammock These are absolutely essential during the first few months. The only place our daughter was happy was in one of these when we first brought her home. We were lucky enough to be given two different ones (so we have one upstairs and one downstairs). I would just push her along to wherever I was so that the baby was always with me but could sleep. This is the main reason I didn't use a baby carrier. She was always nearby but not on me as I did chores and other things around the house which is why she may be so indepenent. Baby Bath I went through three differnet types of baths with my eldest daughter. The foldedable fabric type seems like it would be the best one. However, it was the worst. They sagged horribly and the baby ends up with their bottom on the bathtub. My daughter was never comfortable in it even though it can be adjusted. I tried every type of setting and solution but I hated those things. My mom bought one for her house (and ended up not using it) and I was gifted one by a friend. Then I had a PoohBear bathtub with a fabric sling in it. I was gifted this one. I don't think I would buy this one. Yet, I did use it when I first brought my daughter home as an infant because you can put it on the counter or table top. When the baby is tiny it is easier but it's for such a short period of time I don't think I would pay for one. (https://www.pinterest.com/pin/827114287786721622/) The Bath that I prefer is AngelCare because it keeps the baby up and out of the water. My daughter was perfectly comfortable. For me the angle and height was perfect to place it in the tub and kneel down next to it. The plastic mesh is firm but also soft enough to leave an impression. The link for this one is very long so just search AngelCare Baby Bath Support and you'll find it. Amazon, Target, BubuyBaby, and even Walmart. Temperature Ducky This is a very important item. Dream Baby Room and Bath Temperature Duck is my favorite. I did buy a Munchkin one that has a part on the bottom that turns white and says hot when it's too hot for the baby. However, I do not like that one becuase you have to turn the duck over and look at it to find out if the water is safe. I bought it for my mom and ended up giving her the Dream Baby Duck because she hate trying to use the Munchkin. The Deram Baby duck has the Temperature on top and a light that flashes red when the temperature is off or green when the temperature is good. Again, this takes out the guess work out of giving the baby a safe bath plus it's perfectly fine to use it as atoy later on (my daughter calls this one a Mama duck). Changing Bed/Co-Sleeping Bed
This Baby Delight backpack is made mostly for camping and co-sleeping. I didn't use it for that but as a changing table. The pad of this bed (it does come with a fabric cover) is water proof. This is the perfect place to change the baby's diaper and fold it into a backpack to take it anywhere. I also liek that if I want to I can take the baby outside and there is even mosquito netting (again for camping). I keep it by the 'getting ready' station and I even dress the baby while they are laying in it the first year. Stations I think it's a habit from working at Statbucks but I set up little stations with different storage boxes of things. This is nice and organized, even when you're exhausted it's easy to find things and anyone can walk in and use it. This just works for me so I want to describe how my system works. Bow/Sock/Beanie/Pacifier This is my "getting ready" station. This has many of the items needed when trying to identify what the infant needs. Plus, it's a one stop shop if I'm heading out (most likely only to go for a short walk). I keep my little changing bed/station right by this so that I just pop the baby there and they are nice and comfortable. Breast Pump/Feeding Station I set up the items I need for feeding by the breast pump because I like to use the same chair. I have bibs, burp rags, the breast pads, and a couple of bra's for holding the breast pumps in place (Pumping and Nursing Bra- they can get dirty fast especially if your pumping in the summer and sweat) all at the same spot. Conclusion There are a lot of essential items that are left off of a list provided by magazines or online articles paid for by advertisers. This is a list of things that made a huge difference for me with my infant daughter and will make my life a lot easier with my second daughter. This is a list of things that are helpful in just the first three months (which I will spend at home so my daughter can develop her immune system.) I will write another blog for the items that help with the third month and into the sixth/seventh month.
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Brave Soul! May Your Journey On The Path Of The Seeker Bring You Joy and Peace! I'm currently posting every Saturday. With a new addition the family I have pre-scheduled most posts through December 2022. Full Moon Posts will contain up-to-date content when I can get to them. Thank you so much for your support and understanding! This is a place where you can encounter new spiritual ideas that have helped me develop as an Individual On The Path of the Seeker. Take or Leave this information as you see fit. Archives
April 2024
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