Okay, the time has come. With the holidays just around the corner (and mainly motivated by my family celebrating "Christmas at Thanksgiving"), Greg and I took the plunge and made a trip to Babies R Us yesterday.
This was actually our second trip. The first one was over a month ago, and I begged him to let us walk through the store once when we were shopping nearby. It didn't go so well. My marvelous husband made it through 1/3 of the store with me in about five minutes and had to run out to keep from hyperventilating. I can definitely understand his response -- the massive amounts of STUFF they're trying to sell us and the prices and the fact that he probably didn't know what half of it even was -- that's enough to make anyone hyperventilate.
Well, this time we did a little prep talking and set a 45 minute time limit and a goal -- open a registry and look at car seats and strollers. Greg was awesome, and we even had time to pick out a bjorn as well!
So here is the purpose of this post. I know a lot of you that follow us are parents, and we would love your advice on what items you think are necessary for a newborn. First though, you have to be aware of our situation. We live in a teeny tiny apartment (and will be here for at least the first few months with baby) without a washer and dryer or dishwasher (thus cloth diapers will have to wait). We already snagged a bassinet off Craig's List, so we're set with bedding. Finally, due to the ambiguity of our future, we are really trying to walk the route of simplicity and minimalism. Okay, knowing all that, what items do you suggest we include or not include on our registry?
We've already started one at Babies R Us if you want to see the tips we've received thus far. I found this post about items to include and this post about items not to include immensely helpful to get us started.
Bring on the advice!
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16 comments:
Oh, so fun! I can't wait to see what advice you get; great way to get the opinions of those "in-the-know"!
we have been using a book called "baby bargains" which several people recommended to me. it's very helpful because it has a chapter on every "category" of baby stuff out there, with what's really necessary, what's a waste of money, where you can go cheap, and where it's best to spend a little more money for the quality. have fun :)
we have registered for most of our stuff at babies r us and target, so feel free to check out our registries too!
I think a swing a bouncy seat are important. I know they take up room but they are so helpful! I'll let you know more in a few days after the baby comes! I'm so excited for you all!
You can rent the breast pump...cheaper that way. I would also make sure the blankets are big enough (and square) for swaddling or get one of those that fastens without all the tucking. When they get older (around 2-3 months) sleep sacks are great. You can change diapers on a pad on the floor (or on top of a dresser)...the bonus of the floor is that they can't roll off...if they do roll over they get some bonus tummy time. You don't need a bunch of toys, mobiles, etc. You do need lots of changes of clothes and hats and socks and bedding...it's amazing how quickly that stuff gets dirty (can anyone say spitup and diaper leakage?). The diaper genie isn't that great at controlling the smell in my opinion...you can do that better with individual biodegradable bags. Hmmm. This is getting kind of long...we should just talk sometime. :-)
I didn't take the time to read your other lists, so some of this may be redundant. Since my baby is almost eight, I'm sure I'm not up on the newest "must have" baby gear, but I thought I'd chime in anyway with some things I never had and didn't miss:
1) Diaper Genie - they stink
2) Changing table - much easier to change them on the floor, on the bed, on the couch, where ever you are than toting the baby to the room where the table is all the time.
3) Expensive breast pump. I had a little battery operated one that I used occasionally. If you're working after the baby, you need a nicer one, I'm sure. But if you're staying home, eh.
4) Lots of newborn toys, stimuli, etc. Really, they grow so fast. Don't go overboard on toys they'll outgrow in a few months! An exersaucer was WONDERFUL for about two months, then we were done with it. Maybe you can borrow one? They are a space monster!
5) Baby swing. I never had one. We did have a bouncy seat that I would set on the counter while I cooked or carry from room to room with me. My babies would sleep in that just as well as in a swing, and it took up SOOOO much less space!
6) Crib - you don't really need one until the baby is older. Ours stayed empty for the first four or five months. They slept in a bassinet next to our bed until then.
I'd better not let Jerry read this. It's making me tear up just thinking about my babies - he would really be sad! He might just book a flight to Boston so he can hold your little one for awhile :) We're so excited and happy for you!
My kids didn't like the swing and it was so big. You can get a bounce seat that is also a swing and hopefully they'll enjoy one part of it.
You'll need a boppy and cute cover. I registered for bottle that I never used, ha! So don't over do it.
I wrote Kel an e-mail about this that I will forward to you, but off the top of my head,
-a high chair that sits on a chair at your table. Way less space. Easier to hide away and can use longer. and cheaper.
-we got a little bouncy chair that swung slightly and not a big swing. easier to store away.
-don't register for lots of clothes and blankets unless they are just must haves. You get plenty of those without registering for them.
-I use a diaper champ for my disposables it is cheaper and you can use generic bags with it. I think it hides the smell pretty well. and I think it is easier to use than a genie.
-well and my opinion on a changing table is to use a dresser. I'm not a fan of changing them all over the house. It seems that turns into leaving diapers and all the stuff all over too and I don't like that. Like to keep it all contained.
-definitely a boppy and an extra cover. You can get a cheaper extra cover at Target.
-I agree, an exersaucer is great. But I got mine used on Craigslist when the time came that I needed it.
Hmmm....that's all I can think of now. :)
How FUN!!!
We can definitely relate to the tiny apartment, new baby, no laundry, no dishwasher challenge! You might want to consider some type of sling or wrap for when your little one is still too little for the bjorn. We've got a sling that we both used (I actually used it with Soren until he was 16 months old for short stints at the airport) and it takes up hardly any room. We'll definitely be using it again with #2. Lap pads were huge for us when Soren was little. I think we had about 10. They were extremely helpful in extending time between laundromat trips (especially with a baby boy's free pees). We have a papasan cradle swing and it is huge. We put it in our living room and he loved being in it so it was worth it to us, but it will take up a ton of space. If you want an easy swadle solution, you could try a swadle me; we found them helpful, especially with the cold winter. We got a diaper champ from craigslist for $10 and it works great and uses generic trash bags. Good luck!
You all are AMAZING! I cannot tell you how helpful this is! I know NOTHING about all this. You all mostly affirmed everything I've been reading from other parents, so this is really reassuring! So I definitely need to look into what a lap pad is. And I'm wishy washy about the boppy as I've read awesome stuff about the "My Brest Friend" pillow. The advice about the breast pump is really helpful - I changed my registration to a simpler, cheaper ($40 as opposed to $350!!)one until we know what work will look like for me. I've read a lot about slings...should look into that...and much more. Don't hesitate to send me more! :) THANK YOu!!!
Let's see... I skimmed the lists, but figured I'd just add my quick two cents and let you read them all closer.
Our must haves:
A bouncy seat, we're still using ours and she's 7 months old. It's a great place to put her when I'm getting ready in the AM, cooking, feeding her, or doing something else that I need her to be contained.
As she gets older we're using our exersaucer more and more. She will use it for another 9+ months at least, especially when I'm taking a shower in the mornings and need her staying out of things.
Lots of burp cloths!!! Like a couple dozen at least. If you have a spitty baby and no means of doing laundry daily.
A nice stroller. You'll want one that can be used for as many things as possible. Walking, running, lying down flat for naps, has a tray for snacks when they get older, etc. Put a lot of research into this choice. If you don't have room, you don't want a million strollers for different occasions.
Now to my DON'T need list:
a changing table, a boppy, a playmat, a swing, lots of clothes... maybe enough for 2-3 changes a day for a week each size. You'll get plenty as gifts and they outgrow them so fast... you'll be disappointed how many don't get worn. A large highchair, just get a small one that sits in a chair at your dinner table. That's it for now, there are a billion other things. Just know that you can really do with so much less than they "push" at you.
Good luck!
This has nothing to do with registries. However, if you're going the minimalist route and don't want to spend a ton of money on maternity clothes, get a bellaband or beband in the maternity section of target. It will allow you to continue wearing your normal pants. I'm 8 months and still using it. Maternity clothes can be so darn expensive!
everyone has had great advice! If you need more, though, please shoot me an email and I'll compose some "small-apartment" minded registry items. our space is TEENY and we quickly came to realize just what we did and DIDN'T need!
Yazdiginiz cok harika bir sey! Gelecek bebeginiz icin tebrikler!
It's cool to hear you're expecting and seem to have a healthy baby. If it's a boy, I'm predicting he'll be born with a pipe in his mouth!
Congratulations! So excited to hear you're having a baby! With 2 (in an apartment) we're definitely understanding of the minimilist route. Everyone has given fabulous advice - I totally agree with it all (go Diaper Champ - we've tested it's stinky proofness many times!). If you ever have free time and want to stop by and hang out/get some baby practice, I would love to see you! Another great book is Parenting Magazine's Baby Must Haves. I just loaned my copy to someone, but it has tips for people limited with space. It was my registry bible! - Kim
Don't buy a Bjorn; buy a Dahlia or a Bothild or a Jannike instead. Scandinavian women are much better with children than Scandinavian men, what with their battle axes helmets and lutefisk and all.
borrow as much as possible. We had very little with Calvin, no bouncy seat, so swing just our arms. We just used a pack-n-play for a crib. They have the bassinet attachment too.
But we did use our baby carrier a lot! We bought a baby bjorn but we actually just ordered an Ergo Baby, which is much better and can be used for much longer.
When we returned to the states were were able to find much of things he needed on craigslist.
I remember being very overwhelmed but it all worked out. How are you guys doing in regads to your future plans, any new developments? We are being appointed tomorrow!
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