1. Angelcare Baby Monitor - didn't use monitor or sensor pads EVER
2. Swing - you know one of those chair swings that works on batteries? She HATES it!
3. Baby powder
As for everything else - I love it all...including change table.
1. Way to many clothes, we were given alot and I went overboard.
2. Wraps/Bunny rugs, we were given a heap of them as well.
3. Toys/Stuffed animals, what can babies do so many of these???
I didn't use my baby monitor, change table (much) or sling (unfortunately - both kids hated it). I was also given truckloads of scented nappy disposal bags, and only actually used them when I was out. At home, I used plain old plastic bags.
I love the baby moitor, as I have it on when in the shower, on the computer (which is noisy), or when we have people over or music/T.V on in the room we're in....it allows me to relax (but I hate the feed-back that we get here).
Love the change table (up to a certain point)...once they're too big for them, it's just awkward, and the floor is much better.
So yeah....completely depends on the individual and type of house and routine you have going.
I loved the rocker (bouncer) with my son, and used it every day, as he was a very laid-back baby and was happy to rest in there while I got housework done, etc. However, we've never really used it with our daughter, as she just wants to be held (so I only get things done while she's asleep).
Lotions and potions - waste of money, and the purfumed ones are a bit too scary to put near baby's skin (for me, anyway)....we just use QV bath oil and wash.
I got a nappy bin (that sausage thingy) and it didn't work, so I sent it back and got my $80 back.
Personally couldn't live without good un-scented baby wipes, good nappies (esspecially for night time) and nappy sacks.
Oh, and we have a nappy recycle service (not available everywhere), which is about $10 a fortnight, allows you to have room in your regular bin, and gives you peace of mind that the environment is being taken care of at the same time.
Baby Bath Seat
Baby Carrier
Baby Shoes - we just used socks or booties
Bassinet Sheets - i used new flanny nappies to line matress, as we had to change them every hour due to sons reflux.
we were pretty thoughtful about what we bought, and can't think of anything really of the top of my head that was a "waste of money"
Sure some of the more extravagant clothing barely got worn, but they were gifts. Quite a few were never opened, so we'll use them as gifts to others
Definitely love:
(things WE bought)
* swing
* change table/bath combo - flip over the table and has a bath underneath. And it really is the perfect height for both Jen & I - worth the money at even double the price !!!
(pressies/onloan)
* monitor - useful with a 2 storey house. Jordy is still in our bedroom, but allows Jen to feed in there, and I work downstairs... so she can talk normally and I can hear if she needs a hand with anything etc (dunno if the movement part was really needed but if Jen's peace of mind is at ease, then I'm happy too) - though this was a pressie from her 2 brothers
* tommy teepee nappy sausage thing - most excellent device for hiding those smelly nappies for up to several days (the actual unit is on loan, we've bought the refills)
* "Milkbar" feeding pillow - this was a godsend for Jen's shoulders as it put Jordy at the right height for breastfeeding. Solved her very painful shoulder immediately that no end of Physio did a single thing for
there's probably a few other godsends around here too
Meg - we do that too. Gabby has stacks of coke bottles filled with rice and pasta that we coloured with food dye. I had loads of fun making them and she loves playing with them (and so do her friends!).
I too love my change table and my monitor. we have to keep the doors all shut as we have a cat that chews..... so a monitor is a must in this house.
And the change table is a godsend. I hate dressing her on the floor as it hurts my back.
We borrowed our baby bath and rocker, so I dont feel like I wasted money on them, but they didn't get much use.
Most useless items would be booties (especially for an early walker on tiled floors!!!) top sheets - we use a sleeping bag and dresses smaller than a 1. Jenna didn't get much use at all out of these as she was crawling in a 00, and starting to walk in an 00-0, so dresses are just dangerous when they are crawling.
Hmmm- tough one.
1- Change mat - planned to put it on a table, but ended up using the couch when she was little and now the floor. I use it, but don't need it, a towel would do to catch accidents.
2 - Good clothes - had to many at one stage and not enough at home cloths, really just need 2 sets and 1 semi good one as back up in the nappy bag
3 - Fancy bedding - as has been said before what is the use of the pillow case? Mainly use sleeping bags/suits here, so top sheets etc aren't that much use.
I do use a baby bath, we have no big bath and the laundry/kitchen sinks were too cold for a winter baby. Only time we did not use it was when Maggie was too long for it, but was not yet sitting (we showered with her). We used it again once she was sitting really well by herself.
For toys rather than bottles I use the little specimen jars (unused of course). Hundreds and thousands work really well in them and they are small enough for bubs to hold
I can't believe how many don't like change tables! LOL. I love having everything on hand. I'd hate to have to grab the wipes, the nappy bucket, the new nappy.. etc etc.. at every change.
I can't think of 3 things that we haven't used! LOL. We do use the monitor.. but only really if we're downstairs or outside.. during the night he's right next door, and I only have it on silent so I can see the temp in his room hehehe.
umm... We have the bath under the change tables (same as abs) but I don't like it, coz it makes it a 2 person job to bath the baby, coz while you hold the wet slippery baby, someone else needs to put the changetable back down so you can then dry him! Plus he got too long for it VERY quickly, it's a pretty small bath. I'll move him to the big bath eventually. hehe.
Quilts - we were given these as presents, but of course can't use them yet. So I guess that's something you'd need later?
Rocker - use it ALL the time, coz he's not always impressed to be put flat on the floor, he can see us better when he's sitting.
Pram - get a good one! I love ours, sooooo easy to drive, and useful for putting to sleep through the day.
hmmm... i've still only got 2 things. LOL. Oh well. We didn't really buy a great deal, so not much has gone to waste. Poor little darling is still waiting on some decent toys! LOL. He's quite happy just singing songs with mummy at the moment
aaah... good one Astrid! Changemat! Yup... never used them. Use flat nappy on the change table, and when we're out I use the disposable ones. Have only had to dispose of about 2 so far.. so reusable lots of times
I guess it helps that I work from home re the change table/bath combo, so am always at hand when it comes time to do the bath
Though I do know what you mean re the size of it - won't be tooo much longer before Jordy has outgrown it too. I see Tallon is about 3 weeks older than him
Yeah.. DH works from home on and off, and bathtime is usually around 9pm anyway, so we're both around, but it's just a pain. hehe. And he hasn't been able to have a good 'swim' in the bath for ages coz he donks his head on the end. LOL. He won't know himself in a big bath!
I think you can get a change table with a pull-out bath.. so they're side by side.. that probably would have been better.
i found that alot of the things i bought were really helpful and handy when i lived in my old place (a two bedroom, two storey town house) but now that i have moved to a much larger three bedroom single storey house, i no longer use it. for example; the nappy wrapper and the babybath - both were essential in our old place but in our new place we could have easily managed without them.
our baby monitor is a godsend - because although jelly is only one wall away, i seem to have built up an immunity to her crying, i can just sleep right through it (the crying usually just gets incorporated into my dreams). the monitor it good though because i can put it right next to DH's ear and he will wake up for her (and then wake me up to feed her). also during the day i can put it on if she decides to sleep and i can go and have a bath or get on the internet, etc, etc...
cltohes are definately something she had / has too much of. but in my defence she does wear all the clothes i buy, it's just that everytime my mum goes downtown she picks up something new. i gave some newborn stuff still with the tags on to someone who just had a baby ( no point keeping them, when i have my next one i'm sure nanna and myself will go just as crazy with shopping espeacially as i won't need any more big ticket items).
1. Baby powder and most creams/lotions – don't need them
2. Bedding sets – we just use a bottom sheet and then a blanket
3. Avent Breastfeeding Essentials kit (sterliser, pump, bottles etc) – I've just returned it … no need as I don't have the urge to be away from Cooper. I'm happy with just BF-ing. Initially I thought I would have DH feed Cooper EBM but now that Cooper is here, I see that I don't want to do this.
PS. I love our baby monitor and change table! Also we have a baby bath and bouncer but these were gifts.
The worst things or things that I didnt use:
Booties - Allegra was a summer baby so she didnt have anything on her feet and they just fell off. Now she wears cotton tights and shoes!
Pilchers - never used them and they were gorgeous wollen ones. We use disposables!
Bottles - I hate cheap bottles. They go all murkey after a few uses.. spend the a few extra dollara for good quality ones and they last and look better.
Things I have and LOVE:
Nappy wrapping system. Mine is fab - I cant understand how people dont love it.. stores the nappies away. Who has time to walk and put every dirty nappy in the bin?
U shaped pillow - I use it for feeding still and also it great when she wants cuddles and she falls asleep on my lap
Blanks - we use every one we got given either as play mats, on the bed or in the car as extra wraps
Her mat (one with the toys hanging like gym mats) she spends hours on it and loves all the toys which we rotate.
BellyBelly Life Member - Love all your MCN friends
Jun 2004
The Festival State
3,008
i would like to know, how useful are the various sorts of nappy bags? The compartments look good, but i'm worried then i would load them all up and end up with heavy bag (bad back i must consider). If you got desperate, could i use a beach bag (waterproof material lining). We're looking at lightweight prams/strollers (5 - 6 kg) and apparently you can't put the nappy bag in the storage basket when you have a newborn, or put the nappy bag on the handles (will tip the stroller over). What to do. What worked for YOU?
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(the actual unit is on loan, we've bought the refills)
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