What baby equipment/product you cannot live without? [Archive]

Pinkpig

03-28-2008, 05:41 PM

ARodrigues just sent me this information and I thought I would start a thread to help us with our baby shopping. Please post the one thing that you could not do without when you had your baby. We have not bought anything yet and are still researching. So any help would be great. Thanks everyone.!

"The best thing I had when I had the baby was a baby carrier. They sell different types, but the one I had was the Snugli brand peanut shell or sling. My Grandmother picked it up at a garage sale and it made my life much easier. It was the only way I could have my hands free, and he would fall right to sleep in it! It's the only baby thing I'm holding onto...just incase!" compliments of ARodrigues.

Please share your best tip for the First Grand Piglet! :thumbup:

Pooh79

03-28-2008, 05:43 PM

jeialeigh

03-28-2008, 05:45 PM

A lot depends on the baby... For mi hija, it was our sling (hotslings.com) where my daughter stayed almost all day every day. The benefit of this is that it can be used until the kids are upwards of 20-30lbs, which infant carriers (like snuggli) can't!!

If she plans to nurse, you'll need a good breast pump. I got the ameda electric pump and loved it!! Also, if nursing she'll need some lanisoh cream, nursing pads, and a GOOD nursing bra!

Pinkpig

03-28-2008, 05:50 PM

The one thing I couldn't live without when I had my daughter was her bouncer. That was a life saver. She napped in it during the day and she went around the house with me while I was cleaning and cooking etc. It was a lil more comfortable for her (I think) than her carseat. I really really loved the bouncer and took it everywhere with me.

Thanks, Pooh79. Do you mean the chair that vibrates or the swing or the soothing center or the thing that hangs from the doorway. We are new at this and totally overwhelmed by all of the equipment that is out there.

My DIL says why does a baby need to vibrate? LOL They even have vibrating baby bed mattresses....:blush: I remember when they used to have those machines in hotels and you would put a quarter in to make the bed vibrate. LOL Do babies really like the vibrating chairs? As you can tell we need help.

~MP~

03-28-2008, 06:00 PM

slubberry

03-28-2008, 06:02 PM

The best thing ever invented for babies is the disposable diaper.

mpls-mexico

03-28-2008, 06:03 PM

LOL….My daughter did not like the vibrating chair but that could just be her.

I really liked the boppy pillow. It is nice if your DIL will nurse and then her hands can be free to read or whatever (I did lots of Sudokus). Also the pillow is great when they are learning to sit up…you can prop the baby in it. Definitely a diaper bag with straps that has an option for to go across the body. Nothing worse than holding a baby and have the thing slide off your shoulder...especially since you got to carry so much stuff with you. If it has enough force on the slide off the shoulder it might take her & baby with it!

Also big blankets for swaddling! Lots of babies like to be all wrapped up.

FloresFamilia

03-28-2008, 06:05 PM

If she plans to nurse, you'll need a good breast pump. I got the ameda electric pump and loved it!! Also, if nursing she'll need some lanisoh cream, nursing pads, and a GOOD nursing bra!

oooo this just made me think of my all time favorite tip! Without going into too much detail, I used Vitamin E in addition to lasinoh. Buy Witamin E gel capsules and poke a hole with a pin and use on chapping, cracked areas! It heals so quickly.

Hmmmm My favorite piece of equipment.....well aside from our double stroller(my kids were 15 mons apart), the bouncy seat was well loved, and also I absolutely LOVE the Alph Omega carseat. We had an older version and I know there are several versions out there including the eddie bauer, but the important factors to me were

the comfort level with the padding next to the head, and the recline

the easy up and down adjustment of the straps without having to rethread the whole thing

and most importantly it works with infants all they way up to 80 lbs!!!!

If I were to do it again, I would go cheap on the infant carseat(most likely used) and invest in the alpha omega right away since it means the child will not outgrow it!

http://www.amazon.com/Cosco-Alpha-Omega-Bouncing-Booster/dp/B0002TEA78/ref=cm_cr_pr_sims_t

jeialeigh

03-28-2008, 06:06 PM

I guess it all depends on the baby...but with my youngest I could not live without the bumbo seat and bouncer...loves those things.
Oh I forgot the miracle blanket saved my life...I think I would of gone mad without it...lol.

I friend of mine in Oregon is a bumbo vendor back from when they weren't available in stores. I LOVE THEM!!!!!!!!!!!

FloresFamilia

03-28-2008, 06:10 PM

by bouncer I think she meant(at least I did) this type of thing. You can get really simple ones or ones filled with all the gizmos(music, vibration, etc)
http://www.johnlewis.com/jl_assets/product/230190478.jpg

Chapital

03-28-2008, 06:11 PM

A bouncy seat is a must have. Although each kid has their own preferences all of my kids used a bouncy seat. They come in all different varieties (vibrate, sounds, etc) and get their name from the fact that the way most are designed they kind of bounce from the baby's weight. You can get them for as little as $20 or as much as $100. Swings are nice too and some kids absolutely love them. For my kids the vibrate feature was really only helpful for the first couple months--it calms them similar to rocking or walking them around.

I ditto the comment about a breast pump. I breast fed all three of mine and I am not one of those woman who immediately get the hang of breastfeeding....it was a struggle everytime. I was using my $300 breast pump within days of coming home from the hospital and then I was back to work after 6 weeks. I have a Medela. And the lanolin ointment is a must have!

We got a bassinet as a gift and honestly barely used it. Also, everyone I know thinks they need one of those fancy "travel systems" with the car seat and matching stroller and then says they rarely used the stroller part (some very good marketing happens with these systems!). We ended up eventually also buying a smaller umbrella stroller and a double tandem stroller instead. Maybe if you lived somewhere with year-round nice weather or you went for long walks everyday it would be different. But it's a lot of money for a walk around the block on the weekends and an occasional trip to the mall...my opinion.

If you are registering for gifts and others are going to buy stuff for you, be sure to register for a activity saucer type thing and a high chair....they are pretty pricey and if you are like me when you are pregnant it seems like so long off before you would need it, but time goes fast and if you don't get it as a gift when you have to fork over your own money after spending so much on the baby, you'll wish someone gave it to you as a gift.

Obviously I could go on forever! Good luck...it IS overwhleming to get all the gear...

Pooh79

03-28-2008, 06:12 PM

Thanks, Pooh79. Do you mean the chair that vibrates or the swing or the soothing center or the thing that hangs from the doorway. We are new at this and totally overwhelmed by all of the equipment that is out there.

My DIL says why does a baby need to vibrate? LOL They even have vibrating baby bed mattresses....:blush: I remember when they used to have those machines in hotels and you would put a quarter in to make the bed vibrate. LOL Do babies really like the vibrating chairs? As you can tell we need help.

Lol Well when my daughter was born the bouncers were much simpler and they had just come out. Jai's had a play rack on it and the belt and thats it no vibration. Here are some bouncers:

http://www.target.com/gp/search/602-3729861-1951013?field-keywords=bouncer&url=index%3Dtarget%26field-browse%3D1038590&ref=sr_bx_1_4&x=13&y=13

Oh, and just to note every child is different. Jai did not like her swing at all but when she did tolerate it and fell asleep in it she looked so uncomfortable and if I tried to take her out of the thing to place her in her crib she would wake up. I would wait to buy the swing and try it out in store before you buy lol.

Pooh79

03-28-2008, 06:17 PM

The best thing ever invented for babies is the disposable diaper.

LOL I just saw this............so true slubbery! :bounce::bounce:

lexidoodle

03-28-2008, 06:20 PM

machines in hotels and you would put a quarter in to make the bed vibrate.

Not too fussy what motels you stayed in.........................:bounce:

Sorry, I couldn't resist Pinkpig.....I'm surprised slubbery didn't have a response to that.

Nice to see you again slub!:cool:

Pinkpig

03-28-2008, 06:25 PM

Oh my gosh, You guys are so great. Keep 'em comin', please. I have all new things to research now.

I forgot we did buy the diaper bag already. http://www.petuniapicklebottom.com/collections/cake/societysatchel/lemonchiffoncake/

We saw it in a store and then found it on eBay brand new for less than half price. So that was lucky.

lexidoodle

03-28-2008, 06:27 PM

Pink, a glider rocker is a must have.

djones9714

03-28-2008, 06:30 PM

Pinkpig: The only comment I will make here Grandma is just buy one of everything.

Chapital

03-28-2008, 06:35 PM

Pink, a glider rocker is a must have.

Agree...gets lots of use even when they get older. I have always thought they were pretty unattractive, so we first bought a gliding, reclining leather easy chair...it quickly became part of the family room furniture so I broke down and bought a used one and love it....still don't love the look, but...

Again, my opinion, but the fancy matching crib bedding is so expensive and really not that functional. For my second and third I only got crib sheets and a bed skirt. I'd rather spend all that money on somthing else. It's really adorable stuff, but not very functional.

Cfloresgirl

03-28-2008, 06:42 PM

The two things that I loved with my youngest two were...

1. Jump-A-Roo..they would stay busy bouncing and jumping away when I was trying to do stuff around the house.

2. Tummy time toys..they are really good nowadays since they say to put babies on their backs to sleep.. Some Dr say some babies are slower to crawl without the extra tummy time...

MARIPLAY

03-28-2008, 06:47 PM

OK ..ONE IS HER WALKER ..(THAT SHE USED EVEN AFTER SHE STARTED TO WALK .. I STOPED PUTTING HER INT THERE WHEN SHE DISCOVERED HOW TO CLIMB OUT )

another one ..is the swing ..that swings like a normal swing but the little chair reclines and its for ages 3months and up ..and man that swing helped us allot ..

let's see ..another one is her exerciser ...it's kind of like a walker but it just keeps the babies inside and there sorrounded by little toys and noice toys ..it's cute ..this is good for babies ages (as soon as they can hold there head up ....to up to 18months ..)

Pinkpig

03-28-2008, 06:55 PM

Pink, a glider rocker is a must have.

OH yes, I forgot we did buy the rocker already as well. Those are the 2 things we have the rocker and the diaper bag. She is such a tiny thing, 4'10" tall and the gliders with the hassock were not comfortable for her so we went with a large rocker, swivel, recliner, lazy boy thing that she just fits in and will be able to nurse the baby and can be comfortable. It is all soft and warm.

You are right it may get moved out of the nursery and into the family room as well.

Even buying the rocker turned into a project. I cannot tell you how many chairs she sat in with a baby doll. LOL It has all been so much fun for us.

You are right it may get moved out of the nursery and into the family room as well.

We love all of this wonderful input. You guys keep letting us know what you love.

I am not going to comment on those bedside vibrators....and Yes, I cannot believe that Slub did not comment on that. He must be off his game. LOL

Thanks so much.

ojos_de_alicia

03-28-2008, 06:56 PM

ok here i go.. when i had my kids they didnt have their own room so i couldnt go out and get furniture and what not.. plus my room was super super small!! soo for both i bought the pack n play with the bassinet and changing table that kinda clips on the top of the play pen and they slept there.. the good thing is that its very functional and i used it uhntil they grew out of it.. and i could take it anywhere with me.

i couldnt live w.o my baby bottle warmer just add water to the bottom let it start heating up place bottle inside and woo la... heated bottle! works so much better than trying to warm under hot water at 3am!

lexidoodle

03-28-2008, 07:13 PM

A "play and pack". It can go anywhere with you, especially if you don't know what the baby sleeping arrangements are.

When my step daughter had her baby (4 mos ago) I couldn't believe the stuff out there to buy! Just the different baby bottles were amazing.

M&M

03-28-2008, 07:15 PM

My son and the baby I babysat loved my swing!!!! You just stick them in that thing and they are asleep in five seconds. My sisters bought me this one....

http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Ocean-Wonders-Aquarium-Cradle/dp/B0006FHFYS/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1206727362&sr=1-12

but I know there's lots that are cheaper. This swing had noises and music you could play. Different speeds and it would swing 2 ways. Front and back or side to side.

I had a bouncer that vibrated, etc.. for my son and a little play mat/jungle thing and he never cared for either.

I also agree about the carseat/stroller travel combo things. Don't get them. I've only used the stroller like 2 times. It's so big and bulky. Smaller strollers are lots better and easier to manuever.

Those Bopee(sp?) pillow things that mplsmexico suggested are great too. For nursing and propping your baby up different ways. They're cheap too!

brezarenee

03-28-2008, 07:17 PM

I'd say ditto on most of the things listed, but for some of it I'd wait and try it out in the store. We wasted $100 on a swing that my son couldn't stand. Also, he didn't like his exersaucer at all. And well, I'm glad we got a walker for him at a garage sale because he only like that for one month.

I also regret the travel system. The stroller is way to big to fit in the trunk of a car. We ended up buying another smaller stroller to bring with us in the car and the travel system stroller lives in the garage. It does get use on walks so I don't totally regret it. However, if I could go back and do it over again (with a better budget too -lol) I would have bought one of the lightweight compact higher end strollers like maclaran, etc.

The vibrating chair was amazing, it kept me sane and well, clean, hehe. I would bring it into the bathroom and put my son in it while I showered. He loved it and I could peak out at him while I showered. Without it, I don't know when I would have gotten a shower in during those first 3 months! lol.

To add something new, a must have for us was a co-sleeper. We had one that secured the baby in the bed with us, but you can get the ones that go up against the bed too. We wanted to co-sleep, but as first time parents were so afraid to crush our baby. This made us feel safe until we'd were confident that we wouldn't roll over on our son!

JMRJ

03-28-2008, 07:43 PM

Kiddopotamus swaddle blankets for newborns.

Fisher Price Rainforest Jumperoo. ( My kids love this. I tried a couple of jumpers, waste of money.)

For my girl: Hair accessories. Can't go out the door without it.

ARodrigues

03-28-2008, 08:15 PM

I will agree with the bouncer (the kind that reclines and vibrates) for when they are young, and the jumperoo when they get 4-5 months old. My God, my son will stay in that jumperoo all day if you let him and never get tired of it. Besides that, he'll pass out in it everytime. My son went through a colicky two weeks and I used to put him in the vibrating bouncer, put the bouncer on top of the dryer while it was running, and drink my wine in the garage.

Not needed: name brand baby clothes, wipe warmer, car bottle warmer, and don't spend much money on anything that they'll outgrow quickly. Buy tons of receiving blankets. The nicest thing you can ever do will be to keep the baby overnight just when you think she's about to lose it and let her have a whole night with her husband, or herself, however she wants.

The first time my mother in law took the baby for a night during the first few weeks, I cried my eyes out I was so happy. Even if people are around you, all you have time for is meeting the physical needs of the baby those first several weeks.

Pinkpig

03-28-2008, 08:28 PM

My son went through a colicky two weeks and I used to put him in the vibrating bouncer, put the bouncer on top of the dryer while it was running, and drink my wine in the garage. I love this....

The nicest thing you can ever do will be to keep the baby overnight just when you think she's about to lose it and let her have a whole night with her husband, or herself, however she wants. Oh you know this is going to happen!!!! :yay2:

Thanks, Everyone, for the great information. Keep it coming....:thumbup:

J3NNI

03-28-2008, 08:32 PM

the swing was great with all my kids

TorresSanchezKing

03-28-2008, 08:55 PM

The snuggli saved my sanity when I had my son, because he was colic and ALWAYS cried. But if he was against my chest, he was okay. And seriously, buy the expensive breast pump because if you're breast feeding, those things are worth their weight in gold!

carlosalica

03-28-2008, 09:20 PM

When our third child was born he was born in Mexico. I had NOO baby gear, only a few clothes a bassinet, and a car seat. I can say the thing I missed the most was a bouncy seat. It's so easy to move around the house. The vibrate thing never really impressed my kids, but just to be sitting up and watching mommy was enough for them. All of my kids liked a swing too, but not a must have.
With our first we bought a crib, it was nice, but than with the last two we've just gone the pack-n-play route, I LOVE it! So easy to travel with and small enough to put in our room to have the babies with us. Both of the boys have one, was a big help when we moved to Mexico.
One thing that i thought was funny.. my son was born in Mexico and we had no toys for him because we came to US soon after he was born. I guess you could say he made due with what he had because we would put him in the car seat when i was cleaning or whatever, soon after he figured out if he moved his legs he would rock himself. He would stay for an hour or so just rocking himself. Just funny how even if you don't have the right "gear" the baby will make due with what he or she has.

Pooh79

03-28-2008, 09:40 PM

The vibrating chair was amazing, it kept me sane and well, clean, hehe. I would bring it into the bathroom and put my son in it while I showered. He loved it and I could peak out at him while I showered. Without it, I don't know when I would have gotten a shower in during those first 3 months! lol.

omg i remember those days! I would do the same. The only way I got my shower in before my husband got home was if I brought her in her boucner into the bathroom with me. YAY for clean mommies hehehe.

slubberry

03-28-2008, 09:41 PM

Grand parents are useful too when it comes to baby accessories. It's like having the baby comes with a owners manual, help desk, and 24/7 tech support all rolled in one.

ARodrigues

03-28-2008, 09:47 PM

Warning-this will be way too much information. But you know how bad it hurts to go #2 right after you have a baby? I used to sit on the toilet for an hour in tears and would be rocking the baby in his carseat with my foot the whole while.

:shy:

Pooh79

03-29-2008, 02:05 AM

Pink I dug out a pic of Jai in her bouncer at 2 months old. See how comfy she looks lol. :wink:

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i29/JessiMarti/Bouncer2.jpg

oh and this is her 10 years later waaaaaaaaahhhhhh where did my baby go???

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i29/JessiMarti/Jai-2.jpg

ictomi

03-29-2008, 02:26 AM

Hmmmm My favorite piece of equipment.....well aside from our double stroller(my kids were 15 mons apart), the bouncy seat was well loved, and also I absolutely LOVE the Alph Omega carseat.

I agree with the car seat, buy a cheep or use a used baby seat then go all out on the toddler seat. Our car seat was stolen out of our car! so we are having a hard time not having one around...
My all time favorite baby necessity is my jogging stroller, It has big wheals so you can go anywhere and going up and down stairs is so easy, the stroller can carry just about anything in it and best of all if you invest a little extra money you can get one that is aluminum and adjustable, Worth every penny.

arcoiris

03-29-2008, 04:25 AM

This little thing right here was the best investment I made.
http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=533897&parentCategoryId=85184&categoryId=85221
Too bad he got so big that I couldn't carry him in it for very long.
I also rented a medela breast pump from a health care supply company.
My son LOVED this thing here.
http://www.babyuniverse.com/genProduct.html/PID/4699710/ctid/17/INstock/Y/D/
He played in it for hours. He got so good at jumping in it, I thought for sure he'd throw himself out of it and through the ceiling.

hectorswife

03-29-2008, 05:34 AM

Our live withouts have got to be...
1. Baby Papasan (http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2861767)... it folds flat! It was the only way that my first daughter would sleep through the night! Our 2nd daughter sleeps perfectly in her crib, so we use this to hold her while I take a shower, cook, feed her cereal, anything!
2. The glider (http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2603373) is a MUST have. It's just amazing, that's all... there are also more expensive upholstered rockers (http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2266604) that I covet...
3. The baby sling by modmum (http://www.modmum.com/) super cute and way necessary!
4. A bunch of tank tops (http://www.buckle.com/product/product_detail.jsp?bmUID=1206764336575&prd=55460UJ375TB&sku=7291780200&search=true&Ntt=tank&Nao=12&N=26+43+384) if you're going to nurse. (these ones have no built in bra, which is amazing for me, since I usually can't fit my girls in a built in) *sorry guys* A little secret of mine is to ALWAYS wear a tank top under my shirts, and when I want to nurse, I pull up the shirt a bit, pull down the tank top & "holder" and voila! I don't need a blanket half of the time and you can't see a thing! Really.
5. The best baby pj's (http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=15869&pid=391351&scid=391351002) my mom knows that if I have a baby, she better be there with a pack or two of these, flowers, and a starbucks decaf! :D They're awesome! You don't even have to wake the baby up, just lift and change...

I guess that's it, uhhhh... wait there's more... oh yeah,

6-8. (The bathroom stuff) A baby hammock type thingy (http://www.olivers-baby-care.co.uk/Batheasy/33pol491p.asp).. we got ours as a gift, but it was something like this.. I don't know of a site in the US to buy it, but it's great. And for the toys, this (http://booninc.com/frog.html) is always cute.. you can get it at Target. We got our potty chair (http://booninc.com/customer_potty.html) made from the same brand... it's great, our first looves it, and it can hold up to 300 pounds as a stool/bench for bathing the kiddos.

P.S. If anyone has 2 little ones, this is the BEEESSSSTTTT stroller EVER!!! It's the Phil & Ted's double stroller (http://www.philandteds.com/nz/sportdouble_07_1.htm) and believe me it's worth the price!