tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694279843836474744.post6036629690048586176..comments2023-04-15T06:16:37.809-05:00Comments on Fruit Basket: Baby StuffHillaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06296858691498147371noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694279843836474744.post-88687986081466759062010-12-16T11:20:23.228-06:002010-12-16T11:20:23.228-06:00Cloth diapers! They save tons of money, are past c...Cloth diapers! They save tons of money, are past cute, and they are quit simple! www.doodersdiaperpail.comMindyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02625026343226317625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694279843836474744.post-82399066717014293592010-12-04T14:19:13.234-06:002010-12-04T14:19:13.234-06:00Hey! We have had lots of babies in our house the ...Hey! We have had lots of babies in our house the last 5 years. I recommend reading Babywise. I read it before I had Will, and have used the basic principles with all 4 of my babies. At 5, 4, 3 and 1 they are still really good sleepers - it works! I received a graco travel system when I was pregnant with Will, and used it for all 4, and it held up great. I used avent bottles, a medela pump in style pump, mustela nursing pads (a must-have for nursing), and Lansinoh cream. Get a good swing - I have a graco sweet-peace swing and love it. I also really like a bumbo and a bouncy seat - great for taking to grandparent's houses and taking from room to room at home. I have a graco space saver high chair that sits in a regular chair, and I really like it. I also like the boppy pillow and the boppy floor lounger. I used pampers swaddlers diapers and pampers sensitive wipes. The pampers are great for newborns because there is a line on the outside of the diaper that changes color if the diaper is wet. And I loved having layette gowns for when they were newborns - easy middle of the night diaper changes.The Lowery Familyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14657637894889628737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694279843836474744.post-26660893734085293302010-12-03T12:18:26.220-06:002010-12-03T12:18:26.220-06:00Hillary -
I love reading your blog so I thought ...Hillary - <br /><br />I love reading your blog so I thought I would actually comment for once.<br /><br />Everyone has had great advice, so I may repeat some, so sorry in advance.<br /><br />Bottles - we used Advent which seem to be more expensive but they were suppose to prevent gas better than other. I have no idea the truth to that - Bryce still spit up and had gas form time to time. I am not sure if it would have been worse or the same with other bottles.<br /><br />Swaddle blankets that velcroe - I bought mine at Toys R Us and Bryce was swaddled until he was almost six months old.<br /><br />A sleep positioner - this is great also if they get a little head cold because it can elevate them some.<br /><br />A cool mist humidifier<br /><br />DO NOT invest in the diaper genie. They have a diaper champ at Target that is super cheap and takes regular sized trash bags so you save a bundle not buying the diaper genie refills. <br /><br />Definetly a bouncy chair, swing, and jumparoo - although she will not need the jumparoo until later. We also have an excersaucer that is now converted into a play area for todlers. We have a walker but he was never a fan.<br /><br />If you are going to breast feed they do have certain breast feeding kits at stores where you could borrow the pump from a friend and you would save a bunch.<br /><br />I like my high chair because it has wheels and moves around easily, however, I do see how ncie it would be to have a smaller one that is in a regular chair.<br /><br />We used Advest brand pacis as well, only because they come in sizes for certain ages. Looking back we have spent too much money on them so I would just recommend any brand.<br /><br />I did follow Babywise and it did pay off but it is hard at first so stick with it.<br /><br />We did spend more on our crib and dresser, only because the crib can be converted to a toddler bed and then full size bed so we felt it was worth it. We do have a changing table attched to the dresser right now and that has been used every day since he was born.<br /><br />We had a Pack n Play given to us and it was nothing fancy and worked just fine for Bryce sleeping in our room for about two months and it has worked for him sleeping when we have traveled and as a place to put him when he was mobile to allow me to go to the bathroom or out of the room for a minute.Sarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12257280566989687153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694279843836474744.post-35105890914998936312010-12-03T10:20:50.505-06:002010-12-03T10:20:50.505-06:00The miracle blanket- swaddling for dummies and it ...The miracle blanket- swaddling for dummies and it was awesome! Why did I only discover it with #3?!<br /><br />We liked the Kolcraft snap 'n go. And then we got a nice umbrella stroller (Chicco) that reclined. But it all depends on your lifestyle- we were on public transport going to 20 different countries with our first baby!<br /><br />Pack 'n play- we got our money's worth with that thing- it lasted for all 3, (and 2 overseas moves!).<br /><br />We had the black/red/white Tiny Love gymini- all 3 loved it.<br /><br />A Baby Bjorn- that brand is the best.<br /><br />Nursing cover up.<br /><br />We use(d) the Skip Hop or something like that diaper bag- I loved that the strap came off and there were built in clips to attach to the back of our stroller.<br /><br />Loved the bouncie seat. <br /><br />We have a First Years reclining seat with tray you put on a chair that all 3 have used- $20. It's been awesome and doesn't take up a lot of room.<br /><br />And that's about all the gear we really found necessary- we moved so much that there was no point. And we found we really didn't "need" it all. Save your money for diapers, a housekeeper, a sitter, and a date! :) You are the best parents this little one will ever have!Tara G.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09199251979718649256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694279843836474744.post-40633174350728175652010-12-03T08:10:50.150-06:002010-12-03T08:10:50.150-06:00Hey!
Saw your blog on Kelly's Korner! I rem...Hey! <br /><br />Saw your blog on Kelly's Korner! I remember feeling that way with my first (I"m due with # 2 in april and feel like there's a lot I wont use this time). <br /><br />I don't know if you know this site but www.kidcrawl.com will show you where everything you're looking for is for the cheapest price... include diapers! Also lots of reviews from mom's! <br /><br />Good luck!<br /><br />SuzanneThe Wellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03192773624567675665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694279843836474744.post-48727903522594337442010-12-02T22:18:15.218-06:002010-12-02T22:18:15.218-06:00Hillary,
I am new follower to your blog. Congratu...Hillary,<br />I am new follower to your blog. Congratulations on the upcoming arrival of Sadie. Such an exciting time. I have an 18 months old daughter and here are a few of my thoughts.....I splurged on monitors and got 2. I used the AngelCare monitor when she was a newborn and loved it. It has a sensor mat and if there was no breathing an alarm would go off. It worked great for us and I don;t think I would have slept any if it wasn't fot this monitor. I was always paranoid that the baby would stop breathing. Then I switched to a Summer video monitor when she moved into her crib and I LOVE it. They are worth the money. As far as a pack n play goes I wish we woulnd't have gotten the one with all the bells and whistles.....just a plain one would have done it for us, because we had a separate bassinet that she slept in for the first 3 months.Katrinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14525113846724750653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694279843836474744.post-82751486993103237892010-12-02T21:10:21.600-06:002010-12-02T21:10:21.600-06:00You'll get LOTS of advice..."You don'...You'll get LOTS of advice..."You don't need _____", "You definitely need____________". Every baby is different, and you may not be able to tell exactly what your baby will use. My advice...put it all on your registry...you may be surprised what you receive!<br />As for things that we loved (we did lots of reading reviews and Consumer Reports), and have loved these things for our first son (he's now 11 months)...<br />Chicco carseat (I've used lots of carseats through the years and this one is GREAT!)<br />ERGO baby carrier...amazing, baby loves it, doesn't give you back pain<br />Video monitor...our summer handheld is great<br />Get a good breast pump...I regret I didn't put that on my registryCBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06501428942436232098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694279843836474744.post-51423668616223919662010-12-02T19:16:58.777-06:002010-12-02T19:16:58.777-06:00Hey Hilary! I haven't commented since your bi...Hey Hilary! I haven't commented since your big news,so congrats! I'm Lauren from Baylor, hopefully you remember me! :)<br />Anyway, here's my ten cents on some things...<br />*DON'T buy a travel system, you won't use it! The stroller I use the most is my umbrella stroller!! <br />*The velcro swaddler, is a MUST have! Parker slept in it from day one and is the BEST sleeper! They look like a little sleeping burrito!<br />*a regular monitor is good enough, video not necessary!<br />*Shermag gliders are good, I love mine, really comfy and not pricey<br />*Braun ear thermometer, most doctors use these, very acurate and easy!!<br />*don't need a high chair until later, Graco is good, make sure it's a vinyl seat though, some of theirs are cloth and you don't want that!<br />*DON'T get Gerber crib sheets, Carter seem to fit much better, I've taken off nails trying to get Gerber sheets on and we have a standard sized crib mattress. <br />*Pampers diapers hands down<br />*Baby swing...Parker took naps in it until he outgrew it!<br />*Bumbo seats are overrated, so are wipe warmers<br /><br />I think that's about it, good luck!Laurenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13778439858773138520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694279843836474744.post-74644585109354842732010-12-02T17:48:57.027-06:002010-12-02T17:48:57.027-06:00The only thing I can think nobody has menttion is ...The only thing I can think nobody has menttion is a sling. My baby just turn 1and I still use it.Katyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08142310810825899487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694279843836474744.post-8227702578600815742010-12-01T21:38:00.352-06:002010-12-01T21:38:00.352-06:00Also, you should seriously check out Amazon.com - ...Also, you should seriously check out Amazon.com - they just started a program called Amazon Mom - and you get a year of Amazon Prime membership for free (which normally costs $80 a year), and you get some great prices with free shipping - you can also get seriously discounted diapers/wipes when you subscribe to receive them directly at your house - I get size 4 Pampers Sensitive diapers for $28.00 - and it's twice the number of diapers that I pay the same price for at Target.Carriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14402086760851726959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694279843836474744.post-10651242477353022822010-12-01T21:31:30.019-06:002010-12-01T21:31:30.019-06:00For my third, and last, child, I finally invested ...For my third, and last, child, I finally invested in a video monitor and I am SO glad we did. Pampers Sensitives are fabulous, for boys and girls both. Aveeno body products are so good on their skin. Temporal scanning thermometer (forehead) is the best for getting an accurate read (ear thermometers are the pits, and equally expensive). I finally got some sense and, instead of buying a true high chair, I bought the Fisher Price Space Saver chair - it looks nice, and is easy to clean, not a cumbersome size, and is easily portable to throw in the car for a trip.Carriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14402086760851726959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694279843836474744.post-3104109652205876562010-12-01T21:31:08.866-06:002010-12-01T21:31:08.866-06:00Play mats - had one of the least expensive ones fr...Play mats - had one of the least expensive ones from babies-r-us and he loved it. it had a mirror and a few toys to grab.<br /><br />"how-to" books - i took a little from here and little from there. mostly we just did what worked for us and so far, so good :)<br /><br />baby books-for memories - we have a nice one that i hardly ever remember to write things in :) but it sure is pretty.<br /><br />swaddle blankets - he hated being swaddled! but i've heard great things about the miracle blanket - search the internet for the best price. and also heard great things about the woombie<br /><br />pacifiers - had a few varieties and he refused one after about 2 weeks...<br /><br />bottles - rarely used them, but had the playtex drop-ins because i got a few in the mail. and since they have less parts to clean, i figured they'd do the trick. also you just squeeze the air out of the drop-in if it's a not full bottle.<br /><br />thermometers - we had a few digital ones on hand<br /><br />diaper bags - i have a coach one that we got at the outlet. i <br /><br />Certain clothing items you can't live without - loved gowns for the first few weeks/months for sleeping and daytime. kissy kissy makes great ones.<br /><br />diapers - we started out with pampers swaddlers, which leaked as fast as i could put them on...seriously. so we switched to huggies supremes and never had that problem. now all are going to leak occasionally when they are little - it's just the nature of the game. But if they are leaking every time you put them on, it's time to try something else. i think it all depends on the babies shape. i had heard good things about target diapers and we started using them when he was 7 months and we've been using them ever since. i just wish we have switched sooner! i think the swaddlers or huggies for when they are little, but then try target out when they are in a good size 2.<br /><br />wipes - huggies are the best!! they are much thicker than pampers and any generic i've tried. although the equate brand are far superior to targets. we use the sensitive ones.<br /><br />boppy - i didn't really use mine to nurse, but he slept snuggled up in it for the first few weeks. i know lots of people that love the "my breast friend" pillow for nursing...think i'll try it next go round.<br /><br />bumbo - highly recommend. look around on craigslist, etc for a used one if possible.<br /><br />and that's all i can think of...:)Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04183476682942096043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694279843836474744.post-55920034465369686062010-12-01T21:30:53.663-06:002010-12-01T21:30:53.663-06:00Try to hold out until your baby showers...I got al...Try to hold out until your baby showers...I got all the big stuff from just two showers. The only thing I didn't get was the exersaucer and playmat - and I had plenty of credit from other things to get those.<br /><br />Car Seat - we had a graco snugride and it was great.<br /><br />Stroller - so i have one of those pretty pricey ones...<br /><br />High Chair - i got a chicco one as a shower gift, but decided i really wanted a wooden one. i found one for 39.95 at the antique store and stripped and refinished it. my mom has the spacesaver one that goes in a chair and it works great!<br /><br />Cribs - any kind you like. jenny lind makes a classic crib for around $200 (and while it looks great white, i've seen it painted various colors too!)<br /><br />Rockers/Gliders - we have a best chair in the nursery and it is super comfy. we paid around $300 for it. i nursed my son all over the house. but it was great for middle of the night feedings once he started sleeping in his room. he loves to rock still (and he is 17 months), so we rock for about 15 min before bed now. LOVE IT!<br /><br />Baby monitor - we have the angel monitor and it's worked great for us. we only have it set on the sound now, but we used the motion sensor for the first 10 or 11 months. i probably would've gotten a video monitor, but this was a gift.<br /><br />Walker - didn't have one. we had an exersaucer that he loved, but he wasn't really big enough for it until 5-6 months. we also had a jumper for the doorway, but he never liked it like most kids do :)<br /><br />Bouncy seat - he loved it...and you can get these pretty inexpensively. i would say it's a necessity because it gives you a safe place to put baby while you shower, etc when they are little bitty<br /><br />swing - my son didn't really like the swing. it was also a shower gift, but if you don't get one as a gift I would recommend borrowing one if possible to see if she likes it. If she loves it, like some babies, then buy one for her.<br /><br />Pack-n-play - we have a graco pretty basic one (i think it's around $120 as opposed to the graco ones that are close to $200). we use it only for traveling and we've used it a good bit. mine has only slept in his, but lots of people use them for play areas too.Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04183476682942096043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694279843836474744.post-79058687083791840632010-12-01T09:17:12.042-06:002010-12-01T09:17:12.042-06:00The Ham Family must-haves:
1. Sleep sacks. Babi...The Ham Family must-haves:<br /><br />1. Sleep sacks. Babies don't need to sleep with blankets on them & toddlers kick them off at night. Sleep sacks are fleece (or cotton) sleeveless "blankets" that zip up the front & keep the kid warm all night. We LOVED ours; they're easy to make too, and there are patterns all over out there!<br /><br />2. We had a Graco travel system (stroller & infant car seat). We loved it! I agree that it'd be nice to have a $700 stroller system, but it's just not realistic, in my mind.<br /><br />3. Britax Marathon car seats (after they turn 1) are the way to go. A bit pricey, but the safest car seat on the market. Plus, it'll be something that your child will be using for 4 years. (Austin is 5 & we just moved him out of his to a booster seat!)<br /><br />4. A good breast pump! Since I stayed home with both kids, I just used a manual one, but if I would have gone back to work, I would've gotten an electric one. I've heard the Avent ones are AMAZING!<br /><br />one more thing....<br />5. Lansinoh Nursing Pads. Yes, your boobs will leak milk when you start nursing. It's gross, but it's a fact of life. These Lansinoh pads are AMAZING; soft, absorbent & discreet. I went through BOXES with each kid... LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THEM!!!<br /><br /><br />Good luck, girl! I'm so excited for you!!!Ham Familyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09694942423555912515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694279843836474744.post-12868249147944026362010-12-01T08:51:42.319-06:002010-12-01T08:51:42.319-06:00You really just need some sleepers, blankets, paci...You really just need some sleepers, blankets, pacis, bottles and a whole lot of love! :)The Stockton Crewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18438593139323168967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694279843836474744.post-84659587093565843302010-12-01T07:07:03.663-06:002010-12-01T07:07:03.663-06:00I highly recommend buying the book "Baby Barg...I highly recommend buying the book "Baby Bargains" by Denise and Alan Fields...they break down everything (and I mean everything) for you in a very easy way to reference and understand. It is totally worth it and super fun to read. It also does comparisons and rates each product as far as safety and easibility (is that a word>) goes! Best buy ever for us!<br />Good Luck!Theisen Triohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10022523386727824040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694279843836474744.post-19664775450725119032010-12-01T00:23:18.689-06:002010-12-01T00:23:18.689-06:00With our first child we were so poor and we decide...With our first child we were so poor and we decided that I should stay home full time and be a full time Mommy, well...that was really hard to do. My family couldn't help out with all the major purchases so we did the best we could, which was to go on craigslist and find the most gently used items that we could find for the best price. It took a little bit of time, but we ended up with major name brand baby items and spent so little on them. My friends who were well off would ask me where I found my $500.00 stroller and I would tell them with a big smile on my face, I found it on craigslist for $50.00. I was careful to clean everything up really well and to wash all my used items in baby soap before I put them on my new daughter. It not only saved us a fortune but also enabled me to stay home full time. I have used this method for everything that I have bought in my home. We have beautiful Ethan Allen furniture throughout our entire home, and it was all purchased used on craigslist, no one would ever know, and I love that I have saved thousands and thousands of dollars. It is worth a shot, but I totally understand it you are not a used furniture/equipment type of girl, I have lots of friends like that too and I totally understand in my heart of hearts I wish I could walk into a store and buy everything new, but then I think I am honoring God by being a good steward of the money He has given us and that makes me feel proud. <br /><br />Also...I agree with Laurie....Babywise is amazing and totally works. <br /><br />Blessings to you and your new family !! <br /><br />Elizabeth from CaliforniaElizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14497797492168800160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694279843836474744.post-76178821842002531252010-11-30T22:14:50.122-06:002010-11-30T22:14:50.122-06:00Oh, and I should have mentioned...the 30% off pric...Oh, and I should have mentioned...the 30% off price does not show up until you login as a member, and sign up for the delivery. It shows the Amazon price, so it looks like they are about the price of Wal-Mart, and then once you add to cart, it shows the 30% off. :)Brian and Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09473340956029609798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694279843836474744.post-74562531079187320912010-11-30T22:12:18.283-06:002010-11-30T22:12:18.283-06:00I don't think I have anything to add that hasn...I don't think I have anything to add that hasn't been covered, but I recently learned about the best deal on diapers! It is through Amazon - you go to www.amazon.com/mom and sign up for their amazon mom membership (totally free) and sign up for auto delivery on diapers and you get them for 30% off the amazon price (amazon price is about the same as Wal-Mart/Target), no tax and free shipping! I live in the Dallas area and recieved my order the next day. You can choose how often you want to receive them, and go in any time and change your delivery time if you need them sooner or need to push the date out further. You can also get wipes and all the other baby goodies on there as well. I signed up for it and received one delivery and then cancelled it because my daugher just turned 2 and we are potty training, so we just don't need them anymore - but it would have saved us SO MUCH money on diapers if they had started this two years ago. Ok, I'll stop now because I sound like an infomercial - ha! Seriously though, SUCH a good deal :)Brian and Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09473340956029609798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694279843836474744.post-71265920477967502212010-11-30T21:37:16.441-06:002010-11-30T21:37:16.441-06:00Honestly? Most of it is just stuff that's cute...Honestly? Most of it is just stuff that's cute & maybe handy, but not necessary. All you *need* are clothes, diapers, blankets & a car seat! :) <br /><br />As much as you can borrow or get as a hand-me-down of the equipment & toys, do it. They use all of that for such a short time! Invest in a good quality car seat & light-weight stroller. Many that come as a travel system are functional, but not light-weight or easy to fold. Even if the car seat & stroller don't "match," it's worth it to have a more versatile stroller. Totally agree about space saver high chair that buckles to your chairs - I wish I had gone that direction with the boys. A pack n' play is only necessary if you will be traveling a lot. If you plan to breastfeed, the Avent Isis is an awesome manual pump. Only about $45 & worth every penny. I used it with my last 2 & wished so much I'd had one with the 2 older boys!<br /><br />Basically, don't buy anything until you see what you'll get at your showers; even then, don't just assume something is necessary. If you don't get something, wait & see if you think you will use it before you buy it. And again, borrow if you can! Just remember that all Sadie will know in the beginning is that you meet her basic needs - food, diaper, snuggle - she won't care about the rest :)sweethomealagirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17919824030731869137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694279843836474744.post-65625800340699090762010-11-30T21:26:45.815-06:002010-11-30T21:26:45.815-06:00My son Maverick just turned One, and here are a fe...My son Maverick just turned One, and here are a few things that made our life a lot easier.<br />Congratulations! Take care and God bless! :)<br /><br />--When he moved into his crib, I was too afraid to put thick bumpers in the crib for fear of suffocation. But he kept waking up during the night with his legs stuck between the bars...so I was thinking it would be great to have some sort of mesh/breathable material to use. There is a brand called "Breathable Baby" that has awesome bumpers that I love!<br /><br />--Kiddopotamus swaddling blankets were amaaaaazing!<br /><br />--A small fan or white noise maker<br /><br />--I live in the midwest, and a cool mist humidifier has always been super helpful for runny noses/congestion.<br /><br />--We really love our Angelcare monitor. It has a sensor that goes under the mattress that detects even the slightest breathing.Jenni and Robbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13748769292924069916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694279843836474744.post-9749099202684943122010-11-30T21:05:53.901-06:002010-11-30T21:05:53.901-06:00Okay so I just had my first child in April and I w...Okay so I just had my first child in April and I wanted EVERYTHING for her. And I got most of it. But the thing is, you don't NEED all of it. Based on what I used and didn't use, here's what I recommend<br /><br />1. Carseat/Stoller- We have the Chicco Travel System and it's amazing. I could not love it more.<br /><br />2. High chair- We have actually used her Bumbo to feed her in until just now. We just bought a high chair (a Graco that will transition to a booster) when she figured out how to get out of the Bumbo. <br /><br />3. We didn't do a glider. I rocked/nursed her in the living room 99% of the time. We didn't have the room for a glider and we've survived without.<br /><br />4. Monitor- We have a Graco plain monitor. And it's fabulous. Unless your house is so huge that you can't get to the baby quickly, I say you don't need a video monitor. I can hear every noise the babe makes on that thing.<br /><br />5. Pack-n-play: I can count on one hand how many times we've used this. We had BG in our room in a cradle and then straight to her crib. We've only used this to travel.<br /><br />6. I would get an activity gym. They're pretty expensive and BG loved hers. As far as a mat? I just throw down a quilt and she goes to town.<br /><br />7. BabyWise. A must. I will mail you my copy if you want. It saved my sanity. I started doing that method and BG has been sleeping through the night since she was 6 weeks. I owe that book my life!<br /><br />8. Summer Swaddle blankets. They are pretty inexpensive and they work like a charm. <br /><br />9. We got a bouncy seat on clearance at Target. It's a must. I also loved our Graco swing. BG slept in that thing most of the first month of her life.<br /><br />10. Dr. Browns Bottles. Yes, they're a bit more expensive but they cut down on gas and we're still using the same ones we've had since our shower. <br /><br />11. We bought a ton of Nuk pacis and then BG decided she only wanted her Wubanub. I wouldn't buy a ton of these until you figure out which ones Sadie prefers.<br /><br />12. Clothing. You need onsies and sleepers. I can't tell you how many adorable outfits BG never wore simply because she didn't leave the house a lot when she was tiny. And she spit up a lot. Buy them in bulk at Target, Burlington, Walmart. You don't need expensive ones.<br /><br />Good luck Mama! Let me know if I can help anymore. I just hope this helped you out a bit!Perfectly Imperfecthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16128584550959614381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694279843836474744.post-9467095393169471422010-11-30T20:46:26.109-06:002010-11-30T20:46:26.109-06:00Hi! I think this is my first time leaving a commen...Hi! I think this is my first time leaving a comment. We didn't spend a lot of money on expensive baby paraphenelia. <br />Diapers: We loved Huggies, but that is what worked for us. My friend loved Walmart's brand of diapers, but she had girls. We tried them, but for some reason certain diapers don't work well for boys if you know what I mean.<br />I breastfed but never really utilized a breast pump until my second son was born. I breastfed my first son for 4 months straight and he didn't have a bottle until then. But that depends if you'll be staying at home with the baby or not. By doing that...you won't need any bottles...but looking back I don't recommend that because you'll never get a break, and you'll be totally tied down to the baby. That's not good and can cause depression like it did for me. We had a cheap baby monitor and that worked for us...like someone said..you could hear them breathing. <br /><br />Like many I did not purchase bumper pads. I was told by a doctor that it can be a contributing factor to SIDS and I didn't want to take that chance just to make the baby's bed look pretty. I guess having bumpers can restrict the air flow which is needed to flow though the crib bars. With both boys we had no problems with having no bumpers...they never hit their heads on the railings. <br /><br />Kelley was right...every baby is different...what one might love another may hate. Try things like swings out first, before you make a purchase. For our first we loved the Fisher Price Rainforest Cradle Swing! It plays music and goes from either front to back or side to side. Our first son LOVED this...but our second son..not so much! But I like the swings that can go in either direction because some babies prefer one direction or the other. <br /><br />For convenience since I breastfed every two hours I used a safe Infant Co Sleeper that fit in between my husband and I. That was the only way to get any sleep for me. I was worried about the baby and I wanted him to be right there with me. With this co sleeper it was a little bassinet it was made of netting so the baby wouldn't smother if it rolled against it...plus it was sturdy so a person wouldn't roll on it either. It gave me piece of mind at least with my first that the baby was fine and right there safe beside me. Plus it folded up for travel. With the second I didn't use it much. <br /><br />We never purchased a son machine thankfully. While they are a lifesaver to many, I never wanted my children to depend on something to put them to sleep. I hear a lot of my friends saying "oh we have to be really quiet because the baby will wake up...or the baby can't sleep without..."<br />we wanted our children to develop good sleep habits and be able to sleep deep and on their own. Fireworks could go off in their bedroom and they will remain sleeping...we never tip toed around them when they were babies.<br /><br />That's the thing...you'll get and buy a ton of stuff with the first and by the second you realize that you don't need all these bells and whistles! lol Women have been having babies forever and they didn't use any of these things! lol<br /><br />Anyway that's just my opinion...what works for some doesn't work for everyone! <br /><br />Just relax, you'll be fine! :)Ruth Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16568017190120770889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694279843836474744.post-60027741117837620832010-11-30T20:46:07.148-06:002010-11-30T20:46:07.148-06:00Hi Hillary - I have never commented on your blog b...Hi Hillary - I have never commented on your blog but found yours through Kelly's Korner. I love reading your blog! I have a 15-month-old son so most of this baby stuff is still fresh in my mind. :)<br /><br />•Car Seat/Stroller - we have a Baby Trend brand travel system and it works just fine. It is not "top of the line" but still a good buy. The carseat/base is great - love it! The stroller is good but not the best. It's a little hard to open/close (only problem really). I would go to Babies R Us and try them all out yourself to see what you like! I've heard Chicco is great but it is expensive (IMO). Graco is another popular brand and more affordable than Chicco.<br /><br />•High Chair - Fisher Price Space Saver high chair is awesome!! snaps right into a regular chair and takes up no extra space (we have a small kitchen) I would also recommend getting a booster seat (Fisher Price makes a great one) for travel. You can wait til ~4-6 months to buy these, though.<br /><br />•Cribs - brand we have is called Pali and we like it. It is espresso colored so it does scratch and show marks and scratches pretty easily, though.<br /><br />•Rockers/Gliders - I ordered a glider/ottoman from WM website for around $180 and I like it. brand is Storkcrat.<br /><br />•Baby monitor - we have the Summer Infant day/night handheld color video monitor and it is the best baby purchase we made! lovei t!!<br /><br />•Walker - don't have one.<br /><br />•Bouncy seat - a MUST! we have the Fisher Price Rainforest one and it is awesome! I have a lot of friends who buy for looks so things don't stand out in your house....and then regret it b/c the baby could care less about looking at white/tan colored teddy bears who don't "sing". They'd rather see flashing lights and colorful things so consider that when you're looking for these kinds of items....in my opinion!<br /><br />•Pack-n-play - again, this is just my opinion but the really fancy ones with the newborn sleeper and vibrating pad and music, etc are a bit overboard (to me anyway). We bought the Graco one that has the basinet and changing station and even then we did not use those features much...especially if you have a small house or apartment - you can just change the baby in the nursery. The ones with the basinet feature are handy if you want the baby to sleep with you in your room, though. We use our pack-n-play a lot when we travel or to put our son down at friend's houses if we're staying late.<br /><br />•Play mats - any of the colorful ones will be great. we have Fisher Price Rainforest one and love it!<br /><br />•"how-to" books - I like Babywise...but read it and take the high points from it..."eat, play, sleep" worked great for us and getting our little one on a schedule. Also, I like Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child - great info on sleep training (I did not read this until 4 mos and that worked fine)<br /><br />•swaddle blankets - our son didn't like to be swaddled so I don't have an opinion here.<br /><br />•pacifiers - whatever Sadie likes! mine liked the Avent ones.<br /><br />•bottles - again, whatever Sadie likes! we used Playtex Ventaire ones. you can register for a few different kinds to try them out.<br /><br />•thermometers - a digital one<br /><br />•diaper bags - oh man, there are so many...you'll just have to shop around. Mine is a Carter's brand I got at BRU and I'm still using it 15 months later. It's held up great!<br /><br />Hope that helps!Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15684028059773596811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8694279843836474744.post-46095177750338191002010-11-30T20:45:47.710-06:002010-11-30T20:45:47.710-06:00Hi! I think this is my first time leaving a commen...Hi! I think this is my first time leaving a comment. We didn't spend a lot of money on expensive baby paraphenelia. <br />Diapers: We loved Huggies, but that is what worked for us. My friend loved Walmart's brand of diapers, but she had girls. We tried them, but for some reason certain diapers don't work well for boys if you know what I mean.<br />I breastfed but never really utilized a breast pump until my second son was born. I breastfed my first son for 4 months straight and he didn't have a bottle until then. But that depends if you'll be staying at home with the baby or not. By doing that...you won't need any bottles...but looking back I don't recommend that because you'll never get a break, and you'll be totally tied down to the baby. That's not good and can cause depression like it did for me. We had a cheap baby monitor and that worked for us...like someone said..you could hear them breathing. <br /><br />Like many I did not purchase bumper pads. I was told by a doctor that it can be a contributing factor to SIDS and I didn't want to take that chance just to make the baby's bed look pretty. I guess having bumpers can restrict the air flow which is needed to flow though the crib bars. With both boys we had no problems with having no bumpers...they never hit their heads on the railings. <br /><br />Kelley was right...every baby is different...what one might love another may hate. Try things like swings out first, before you make a purchase. For our first we loved the Fisher Price Rainforest Cradle Swing! It plays music and goes from either front to back or side to side. Our first son LOVED this...but our second son..not so much! But I like the swings that can go in either direction because some babies prefer one direction or the other. <br /><br />For convenience since I breastfed every two hours I used a safe Infant Co Sleeper that fit in between my husband and I. That was the only way to get any sleep for me. I was worried about the baby and I wanted him to be right there with me. With this co sleeper it was a little bassinet it was made of netting so the baby wouldn't smother if it rolled against it...plus it was sturdy so a person wouldn't roll on it either. It gave me piece of mind at least with my first that the baby was fine and right there safe beside me. Plus it folded up for travel. With the second I didn't use it much. <br /><br />We never purchased a son machine thankfully. While they are a lifesaver to many, I never wanted my children to depend on something to put them to sleep. I hear a lot of my friends saying "oh we have to be really quiet because the baby will wake up...or the baby can't sleep without..."<br />we wanted our children to develop good sleep habits and be able to sleep deep and on their own. Fireworks could go off in their bedroom and they will remain sleeping...we never tip toed around them when they were babies.<br /><br />That's the thing...you'll get and buy a ton of stuff with the first and by the second you realize that you don't need all these bells and whistles! lol Women have been having babies forever and they didn't use any of these things! lol<br /><br />Anyway that's just my opinion...what works for some doesn't work for everyone! <br /><br />Just relax, you'll be fine! :)Ruth Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16568017190120770889noreply@blogger.com