5 things you couldn't live without & 3 things you didn't need
Hello!
As a confused Mum-to-Be, I was looking at the Articles section for info on setting up a nusery and there are 2 articles that caught my eye:
5 things Mums love
3 things Mums dont need
While the 5 things list is quite good, but still from a limited range of mums, the one for 3 things list has only one entry from 1 Mum. Could you lovely ladies do a bit of a refresh on what you found you couldn't live without and the things that you bought or were given but didn't need?
I'm sure there are lots of us mums to be that find the whole setting up a nursery thing confusing! Save our sanity and our wallets and update here with your recommendations.
Thanks!
Last edited by Chalalan; February 17th, 2008 at 02:07 PM.
1: When she was little- Burp rags, bibs just don't cut it for those big up chucks that most babies do once in a while!
2: Bottle warmer (only cause bf wasn't as successful as I had hoped, so only if not bf)
3: Microwave Steriliser, soooo much easier than boiling on the cook top.
4: Dummies!! I hate dummies, but they have been a god send! DD wouldn't take one for a few weeks, but now loves them, LOL!
5: Music light show thingy (they go on the cot). When she was smaller, DD would lay in her cot for the whole 10 mins it played and watch, sometimes I even got 20mins out of her and it would also occcaisionally put her to sleep. She still watches it sometimes, though won't go to sleep with it anymore .
3 things I didn't need:
1: Wraps. DD would only stay wrapped for about six weeks before figuring out how to get out of them, even the big ones...Now I have two drawers full of the and I don't use them.
2: Baby bath. Besides the fact that DD only fitted in it for about 6wks, it was just such a hassle to fill it and drain it, even though it had a hose thingy to the bath.
5 things I loved:
1. high change-table (so I don't need to bend over)
2. LOTS of wraps - ds loved being wrapped for months.
3. nappy disposal bin (many people find this un-necessary, but we found it made life so much easier)
4. rocker/bouncinette (so handy for putting ds in when having a shower, ours had a vibration function and he loved lying in it in the bathroom)
5. the book "Wonder Weeks" - really calmed me down to know all babies and mums go through the same stages.
3 things we didn't need:
1. Baby Bjorn - hurt my back so I didn't use it much. This time am getting a sling instead.
2. Bassinette - only used it as we got it free, but really ds could have just gone straight into his cot.
3. too many newborn clothes. I bought heaps then got lots given to us so we ended up with many outfits never being worn.
Not sure that I have replied to this one before so I'll have a go here
Things I couldn't live without:
1. A packet of flanelette flat nappies to use as chuck rags, line the change table when I used it and for nappy off time.
2. Sleeping bags.
3. Bodysuits.
4. Cordless phone.
5. Gorgeous teddy that plays classical music called Brainy Baby.
Things I could do without:
1. Change table because I ended up doing most changes on the floor (under a flanny flat nappy )
2. Big bulky pram.
3. Baby shoes. Socks were enough!
1. hab for when ds was first born, wore it to parties, out to dinner, everywhere!
2. ergo carrier- using it right now- best settling technique i've got!
3. breasfeeding pillow- puts ds at exactly the right height to feed properly. really helped me when i was establishing bfing.
4. bonds wondersuits- awesome!
5. rainforest swing- great for when i'm making dinner or something.
could have lived without:
1. cot- we've been co-sleeping since ds was born, cot has not been touched yet!
2. size 000 clothing- lasted all of two weeks. i've still got stuff with the tag on
5 things I couldnt live without:
- Dummy
- Grobags
- Electric steraliser
- Formula dispenser for going out and about
- FP rainforest gym
3 things I didnt need:
- Baby bath. We used the kitchen sink and now the normal bath.
- Bought too many cute but way too impractical clothing
- Same as raven with the pram, a stroller is so much easier
things I needed
1. Terry squares, used as spew towels. She went through a really spewy stage where she'd do a huge spew after or during each feed.
2. Sleeping bag - she hate having a sheet/blanket over her so sleeping bag was great in winter. We also got one with holes in it for the pram straps and it always kept her nice and warm in the pram.
3. Baby carrier . We had a babybjorn, but I think any carrier would have been so handy for when she was grumpy and wanted to be held for long periods, or if I wanted to go for a quick walk without getting the pram out.
4. Rocker - good for when she was grumpy and wanted to be rocked and my arms were sore. She also slept in it during the day for a while. She would also get grumpy if I was hving a shower and she wasnt in the bathroom too, so I'd pop her in the rocker and sing to her while I was in the shower and she'd just smile and laugh at me.
5. Wraps. She liked being wrapped till about 5-6 months and we also used them as play-mats for when we were out at someones house.
6. Nappy sacks. Very handy for when we were out and Claire did a monster poo that was hard to contain in the nappy.
things I could have done without
1. baby bath. She got too wiggly for it really quickly, and there would be water absolutely everywhere, so we just ended up using the big bath. I still do use the baby bath but we only use it as a toy - I take it outside and put water in it and them put some floaty toys into the water.
2. Shoes. I cant see the point in wearing shoes if she isnt walking. Socks were fine to keeep her feet warm.
3. Suits that do up at the back, or the ones that only have two or three buttons at the top. I found these types of outfits sooo impossible to get on her. When she was newborn, the easiest outfits I had for her were wondersuits.
1. Angel care baby breathing monitor is by far the best thing!!. i really had trouble sleeping because i was constantly checking on him all the time the whole time he was sleeping. sometimes waking him up when i placed my hand on his chest.. lol
2. portable bouncer. he loves being bounced while looking at mummy and daddy
3. growbag... ds HATES being wrapped and would kick any covers off within 2 seconds
4. sights and sounds portable music player.. he loves it and it is a sleep cue for him now.
5. dummy.. a dummy for us is a god send!
things i could do without:
1. wraps. ds hates being wrapped
2. feeding pillow.. (its still in the plastic)
3. all the soft toys everyone bought him.. there is about 100 of them and we have no where to put them.
Couldn't live without
(Much the same as everyone else!)
-Jumpsuits..DD lived in these for the first few months! (easy to change, and throw into the wash), and now uses them as pjs.
-Bouncer that vibrates..DD slept in this all day for the first 3 months.
-Muslin wraps (but not TOO many, probably about 6 was plenty for us. And I found it best to get the thicker, better quality ones rather then the cheapies).
-Bassinette..I absolutely LOVED having DD sleeping right beside my bed every night for the first 4 months. We had a 'moses basket' style one which I hated at first but in the end it was great as we could rock her..Plus it was just so comforting having her close and easy for night feeds.
-Chuck towels/cloth nappies..Great for a spewy baby (I had just one packet of maybe 8 towels but definitely should have bought more to help with all the messes!)
Things we could do without
-Baby blankets..People always give you them and you only need a couple not hundreds! I especially hated the polar fleece ones, they just don't breathe for the bub.
-Fancy smancy clothes for little babies (ie. Under 4 months)..We have so many that were never even touched.
-Toys for a newborn (and teddies etc)..What newborn plays with toys! hehe Save your money and get them later..and we have been given SOOOO many teddies.
1. Bouncer chair (vibrates and has kick activated bubbling aquarium toy that sits over it) - He LOVES it and I can go have a shower or make something to eat whiel he plays in it
2. Swing - when he's overtired and can't settle, or really fussy I pop him in and he's happy and usually falls asleep.
3. Pacifiers - I'm not a fan of them either was convinced I would never use them but DS is 3 months and teething and can't hang onto a teether yet, and the soother keeps him soooo much happier. It's saved my poor nipples form being used as a pacifier.
4. Bassinet - It's so much easier for me to feed him in the night (and keep a paranoid eye on him) if he's right beside me. I'd never be able to sleep with him in our actual bed and I'm too tired to get up, go to his room, then bring him to the living room or bedroom to feed him.
5. Burp cloths. We needed so many more than we bought so I've made a pile of them and we leave at least one in every room. You go through them sooo much quicker than you would ever think. I probably have about 20 now and sometimes it still doensn't feel like enough.
6. Had to add #6 as we also really like our sling baby carrier. It's great to carry newborn around in. It always put him to sleep and kept him asleep if I kept moving. Now I use it to carry him sitting upright (which saves my arms) and I find it is more comfortable than one of those front/backpack style carriers. I do use one of those too when Dh and i go for long walks.
3 things I could live without:
1. Baby tub - it was great for a few weeks when I was all awkward bathing him but he got too big for it fast and now we just bathe him in the big tub. We got it second hand for $5.oo though so not really a big deal.
2. Baby monitor - since he sleeps in our room we haven't used it yet. I bought it so he culd be sleeping hin his room and I could go downstairs to check the computer but he sleeps on my lap when I do that so we haven't needed it.
3. Too many baby blankets and socks. Don't buy more than one blanket, you will be given more than you could ever use. I have a huge pile of them that have been given to me. Socks never stay on his feet and he is usually in footed pyjammas anyway, we have a drawer full of unworn socks.
Other things we found usefull:
Change table - It's much easier on my back to use the change table then the floor. We sometimes use the crib but it's lower and so again hard on my back. The change table also makes a great place to store all our diapering needs. We got a crib and table combo second hadn though for really cheap.
Playmat/Gym - DS is just at the stage now where he is interested in it and it keeps him busy for decent stretches of time. I can sit beside him folding laundry or sewing and talking/singing to him while he bats happily at the toys.
Onesies - Shirts are terrible as when you pick them up they bunch up around the armpits. Onesies (long sleeved and short sleeved) are much better as they stay put when you pick up baby.
1 Bassinet on pram. Piper slept in it for first six weeks and we could wheel from room to room. Also great for shopping, as didn't have to cart around baby capsule. Although only useful for about five months (she crawled at 5.5 months) she loved lying on her tummy and pushing up on her arms and people watching while out and about, lol, so cute.
2 Baby carrier. I remember pacing the footpath outside my house with Piper crying and me reading a book over her head. Multi tasking lol.
3 Plush minky style blanket. We were given one that was about 1mx 1.5m (so not as big as bed size) and it was thick and soft enough for baby to play on, take to mums groups, wrap her up outdoors, etc. Plus easier to wash than sheep skin.
4 Baby bouncer. Not an old fashioned one, but one shaped a little like a simple car seat. We were given a simple style one without attachments and it was fine. Great for keeping baby nearby when your in the shower or doing chores etc. She could sit in it and watch you and still play with a small toy in her hands.
5 Onesies. Look neater and more comfortable for baby. Separates are really awkward until they can stand up.
6 Soft lamp in bedroom. So we could see her from door and check chest was rising up and down lol.
Things We didn't need
1 Bottles. I bf for 13 months, exclusively for 5-6 months. Piper didn't really take to bottles, pretty much went straight on sipper cups. So we had soooo many bottles that weren't used.
2 Knitted cardigans. They look so cute, but there was no way I was putting hand wash clothes on her before I had used all the clean drip dry no iron outfits lol
3 Teddies. OMG it seems like they breed in the night and Piper just wasn't interested in teddies or dolls until she was about 2. (Except for one or two favourites)
Things we didn't have and didn't miss
1 Baby monitor
2 Mobile over cot (just had two cute things tied to sides)
3 Baby walker
4 jolly jumper
5 nappy wrapper
6 Dedicated bf chair. I would just bf in bed or in front of TV/computer etc
7 porta cot
1. Change Table - I know some people say they are useless but we love ours.
2.Dummy - We were only planning on using one if we really had to and never ended up actually buying one. Noah went to Special Care the night he was born and apparently this often cause seperation anxiety for a few days. Noah wouldn't sleep unless you were holding him for a few days one night Phil went to touch him and try to settle him and his finger went in Noah's mouth and all of a sudden SILENCE but when he pulled the finger out crying again. So we called mum and at 10.30 at night she went out to find somewhere open to buy a dummy. So even if you don't like them I recommend keeping one JUST IN CASE
3.Cloth Nappies - to wipe up spews or whatever
4. Gorgeous Outfits - I have to say Noah has always and still always wears cute outfits so I do think they are worth it even though most would disagree with me.
5.Dog Dog - Just a cuddly dog that makes music when you pull the tail. Was good to settle Noah and he loved it slept cuddling it every night for the first few months
1. Too many blankets/wraps - Noah was only in them for a few weeks.
2. Baby Bath - Only used it a handful of times and then we showered Noah and now we shower him or bath him in the big bath.
1. Singlet suits that do up at the crotch. Whenever I picked DS up his top and normal singlet would ride up and expose his back to the cold Melbourne winter!
2. Symphony in Motion musical mobile. DS loooved this and I could put him underneath it and nip off to to have a shower and he would goo at it happily while I had those precious 5 minutes to feel human again.
3. Breastfeeding pillow
4. Blackout curtain for DS's room.
5. Bodysuits with an envelope neckline - DS hated having clothes pulled over his head.
Things I didn't need - I can think of more than 3!
1. Breast pump. I bought one and found that I had a lot of trouble expressing. What a waste of time and money. No problem with breastfeeding, just couldn't express. Hire a machine first before splashing out on your own.
2. Baby bath - DS was in the big bath by the time he was 4 weeks old because he liked to stretch out so kept bumping his head on the edge of the baby bath.
3. Had way too much bedding, blankets, etc. Everyone gives you bedding and all you need are fitted sheets and sleeping bags, once baby is getting out of the swaddle.
4. Too many cute expensive outfits that he only wore once or twice (some not at all). This includes way too many baby hats and baby shoes.
5. Stuffed toys. Everyone gives stuffed toys and DS couldn't give a stuff about them!
6. Lotions and potions! Something very plain and fragrance free such as Cetaphil is fine and much better for their skin.
7. Three wheel pram. Wish I'd gone for a 4 wheel pram that was smaller.
8. Nappy wrapper bin. Just use scented nappy sacks and get rid of them in your normal rubbish. The nappy wrapper bin really stinks whenever we open it to empty it now, despite regular disinfection. And the nappy wrapper refills are really expensive!
Twin Sister - great idea but unfortunately ours is one of the ones that is made to go between the bars of the cot, so it won't fit to the change table. I have taken it apart and have the bit with all the little toys hanging from a ribbon from the roof above his table, and the music part etc has just been stored away in the cupboard. He doesn't pay any attention to it at the moment because once he is on the change table he is too busy trying to roll over, make a grab for anything on the side of table and to touch his 'boy bits'
1. Ocean Wonders Musical Swing
2. Jolly Baby Play Mat
3. Avent Isis Manual Breast Pump/Bottles(great to use when nipple are sore/cracked and for when I went back to work so DS can have EBM).
4. 3 Wheeler Pram and a proper sun shade to fit pram.
5. Muslin Wraps and now a Sleeping Bag
I need to add another thing I love, Lucas's papaw ointment. Can be used for soooo many things.
3 Things I could do without
1. So many body suits that people buy for babyshower or when bub is born. I think I ended up with more than 30 of these. They are great for sleeping in but really don't need so many.
2. Way too many pairs of socks. DS can't wear most of them as his feet are quite long but his legs are skinny and they just fall off.
3. All the lotions and bath products we were given. Just need the basic bath wash.
1. Nappy Wrapper - so handy to have right beside the...
2. Change table - at the right height and can be wheeled to the bathroom door for easy undressing and dressing pre and post bath.
3. Baby bjorn - so good for settling them in the early weeks and so handy now that she's a bit heavier if I just have to go a short distance after a car journey and don't want to lug the capsule about
4. Express machine - I don't use it much, but in the early days when I felt really full really often and bub had had enough, I used to express off the excess to feel comfortable and prevent mastitis
5. Mobile with a remote control - she loves it and it sends her to sleep nicely. But if she lasts longer than it's auto-shutoff, I can re-activate it from the doorway without her seeing me and wanting to be picked up!
Things I don't really need:
1. Oh, the cuddly toys! So many gifts and so many just sat about pointlessly gathering dust. I keep meaning to take some down to the local hospital, but they probably don't want them either!
2. Fisher price bath - I like the actual bath, but we haven't used the sling at all, so would just recommend buying a cheaper baby bath
3. Summer clothes in the size she'll be in winter and vice versa. Again, well meaning gifts, but I doubt she'll wear them.
5 things you couldn't live without & 3 things you didn't need
Mum-to-Be, I was looking at the Articles section for info on setting up a nusery and there are 2 articles that caught my eye:
Reply With Quote
.
Bookmarks