GP Moms
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Favorite Products
I have been looking up baby items and just mentally preparing myself for all the things that will need to be bought. It's a nice way to pass these early weeks. : )
What are some products that you could not get by with out? And vice versa, what are some products that you thought you were going to need and haven't really used?
Also, any products that you are absolutely loving right now?
After awhile, you just want to be with the one who makes you laugh. - Mr. Big
Re: Favorite Products
Products bought for pregnancy totally count! ; )
Body Pillow...I bet that is a great investment! : )
Any specific moisturizer/lotion you swear by?
After awhile, you just want to be with the one who makes you laugh. - Mr. Big
As far as the body pillow goes, I got the $10 one from Target and it works great. I would LOVE a snoogle, but they're so expensive.
I really like the Dessert Essence moisturizer (it's for your face), but it's a little pricey. You can find it at Whole Foods. I prefer that one for my boobs since it makes me feel better to only put natural ingredients on my boobs, lol. Also, Vaseline intensive care seems to work really well and soak in fast.
A&A burpy bibs. they have been the only thing that have worked for our majorly spitty baby. now that he has grown out of his NB prefolds we use those also.
RNP.
sleep sheep.
boppy.
play mat. he loves to play with his friends.
baby einstein exersaucer. we chose it because it has extra neck support, which we like while he's still learning to stabilize his head.
i love our city mini. i do not envy those with snap and goes when i see them out and about. they look so low to the ground. and most strollers people seem to be hunched over them because they are low. this isn't the case with the CM. it maneuvers awesome and is so easy to pop up and down.
car seat frame swing. it doesn't work to soothe him otherwise but it works awesome when bringing him in from the car. it often will keep him asleep for awhile longer. it's also a good place to "store" the car seat when it's not in use.
sleep sacks. he is a serious cuddle bug and loves to cuddle with blankets. since i can't let him do that he loves the cozy sleep sacks with arms (from carters). when it gets warmer i may switch him to halo sacks since they don't have arms, but i may also just find short sleeve sleepers for him since we do have a/c and he may still be chilly.
he hated being swaddled, confined, vibrated, etc after his honeymoon period. i got excited because he would sleep in his swaddleme's at first. but then i learned he was only doing that because he was still a sleepy newborn that had yet to really wake up and realize what was going on. so all of those swaddleme's went to waste. i'm glad we didn't get or spend money on lots of A&A blankets. we did buy one for $15 and he did like it for awhile randomly, but he was 3 months and i knew you generally start weaning swaddling around 4 months so i decided to stop using it so that we wouldn't have to deal with him hating to sleep without it.
we really didn't have much for him and still don't really. the exersaucer is new. we borrowed my mom's old skool swing and he liked it ok but it didn't do anything amazing for him.
The Boppy is great for tummy time and propping them up but I found the My Brestfriend pillow way easier for nursing. The Boppy is curved and the baby didn't seem to fit on it properly for me.
Besides the obvious things like car seat (with an extra base), crib, etc....I would say our video monitor has been wonderful. I love peeking in at her when she makes a noise to see if she actually needs me or is just fussing. It obviously not a necessity, but is very nice IMO.
I also have been very happy with our diaper genie. I know others say they start to smell, but if you take it out regularly it really doesn't. And the bags, though expensive, last a long time and aren't too bad when you order them through Amazon Mom.
Things like swings, bouncers, etc are nice but it really depends on your baby as whether they are going to love or hate it, so if possible I'd try borrowing one from a friend if you can to see how they like it or buying a used one at a consignment store.
I would say definitely stock up on Muslin wraps and/or sleep sacks. The first few months baby will probably mostly be in onesies, so while little dresses/pants/etc are adorable they aren't all that practical. As far as burp cloths, stock up on the Gerber cloth diapers. They work better than any burp cloth I have found.
Playmats are great for tummy time and to help them start reaching for things. Our pack n play was nice to have in the family room for nap time and when we visited people.
I'm sure there's other things I'm forgetting, but most of these things, while nice, aren't necessities. I also say skip things like bottle warmers (a pot of warm water works just as well, or if your baby is like mine they won't mind taking a cold bottle when they need to) and wipe warmers.
I would definitely recommend the Baby Bargains book (I think a new one comes out in April) to help you sort through all the stuff and decide what's worth it and what's not. They have some great advice, recommendations, and rate a whole bunch of different products. It was really a life saver the first time around.
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We don't use our boppy. I tried a Breast Friend Pillow and I liked it much more. We didn't swaddle so all of our swaddlers went to waste. Our swing is just okay. I'm really glad we didn't waste our money on an extra car seat base. We just take my car.
Products I love:
BioGaia probiotics
Boba wrap, but if I went back Id get the JPMBB wrap instead.
White noise machine and yoga ball for getting him to sleep.
Freddie the firefly toy
Sassy go go bugs for the carseat.
Clevamama towels
Baby legs for under his sleepsack at night
Lastly, it is a little gross, but the Windi was a lifesaver for us some night when he had terrible gas pain. Works rapidly and much better than gas drops.
To make you feel my love.
Boppy, swing, bouncy seat, zip-up sleepers, Nuk pacifiers, gerber cloth diapers to use as burp cloths, gas drops, saline nose spray, swaddleme sleep sacks, wipeable bibs once you start solids, sleep sheep or some type of white noise, triple paste.
Right now I'm loving Munchkin trainer sippy cups, teething tablets, and infant advil!
We borrowed a swing from friends because I didn't want to spend the money if he didn't like it. It is currently where he has slept every night since he's been home from the hospital and the only place he will nap aside from on our chests. We also have a bouncy seat and he doesn't much care for it.
Sleep sacks are awesome, our baby is another one that hates to be swaddled (he loves his hands by his face) so the swaddles we have aren't being used.
We got a video monitor and really like it because we can determine if he's just fussing or if he really needs us. It also gives me peace of mind while I shower if he's in his swing because I can watch him.
If you're going to BF and pump, I got these different flanges for the medela pump called "pumpin' pals". They are angled down so you can recline a bit while you pump. With the regular flanges I always need to sit totally upright so gravity will let the milk flow into the bottles.
Congrats to both my TTC buddies, Amberley18 and sb2006 on their beautiful babies!
I'm sure there are more, but these are/were our top 3 MUST haves with Audrey:
Swaddle Me swaddles (Audrey hates being swaddled with her arms in.)
Rock N Play. It's the only thing Audrey will sleep in.
Onesies with zippers (The Children's Place has a ton) - makes for easy diaper changes
GP buddy to blenderdance
For baby items, especially in the newborn stage, I just posted on my blog last week (link in siggy) some things that were incredibly useful. Everyone is different and will find different things helpful or useless. I personally never had a need for a wipe warmer (dries out wipes) or bottle warmer (I wanted her to be able to take a bottle at any temperature, right out of the fridge or from the tap), and Lily has always been a good sleeper, so I never needed a white noise machine, a sleep sheep, or anything more than a little swaddler and a place to put her down.
I would highly recommend a 4 pack of Aden and Anais swaddle blankets. They are incredibly multifunctional and I use them for everything - swaddling as a newborn, a light nursing cover (tie 2 end around your neck), covering the carseat or stroller when transporting in rain or snow outside, and I also used them instead of burp cloths or bibs and to wipe up spit. They absorb a LOT. And they come in a pack of 4, so you can have one in the diaper bag, one hanging out on the couch, one in the baby's room and one in the laundry. We just rotate them out as needed. They are ~$50 and worth every penny.
In the newborn stage, I also thought sleepers (sleep and play) were the best. Onesies were hard to get over her wobbly little head, and with sleep and plays I knew she'd always be warm and cozy, which to me, is more important when they're newborns than getting them dressed up every day. She'd sleep in a heavier one at night (fleece or terry) and change into a soft cotton one during the day. We had about 10-12 of those and she wore all of them regularly.
If you have any specific questions, let me know! I love talking baby products. haha
my blog
Congrats to both my TTC buddies, Amberley18 and sb2006 on their beautiful babies!
oh i forgot about the car seat cover. i just put the flap down when taking him outside. i found it annoying to throw a blanket over the car seat and once i put the cover on i found it easier for me. it also seems to keep him cozy and he sleeps well in it while out. i also think it keeps people from touching him while we're out. i've never had anyone touch him, actually. people will peek in but because all they can really see is his face and not his hands or feet and because it is more like reaching in to his personal space they don't seem to bother him. we do not have the jj cole car seat cover, we have some cover my mom found at a consignment store (never used) (it's an NHL cover, which is why she bought it, lol).
do not buy a bundle me. do not buy a bundle me. do not buy a bundle me.
In the summer our friend made us a cloth that just velcroed onto the handle of the car seat and you could flip it in half to cover/uncover baby. I'm not explaining it very well but it worked great!
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WOW! Thanks for all of these replies! I suddenly feel like I have sooo much to learn. : )
I will have to do some researching to learn about some of these products. It's great to know they are Mom Approved! Also to know what products just aren't worth it.
Thanks, again!!
After awhile, you just want to be with the one who makes you laugh. - Mr. Big
Aden and Anais Swaddling Blankets - don't cheap out and get no name brands. These are teh best. You can swaddle with them, use them for tummy time, breastfeeding shield. AH-MAZiNG!
A good pump - you can't predict what you're going to do. It pays to have a good pump. Seriously. I EP now and my baby would not be fed my milk without out it.
A good pack and play with storage.
Aden and Anais swaddlers are amazing. We don't use them for swaddling, because he hates it, but they're great for a light blanket and they're basically just giant paper towels, great for spit up, barf, boogers and everything gross.
Fisher price swing. It has been a lifesaver for sleeping.
Bouncy chair
Moby wrap
^^^ all things I love.
I HATE my nursing pillow. It's made by Jolly Jumper and its way too big and lumpy. It sucks.
I didn't use a Boppy for nursing, it was just one more awkward thing that I felt got in the way. I do use it to prop Lily up to play, although now she is sitting up well on her own. I also used it for tummy time a lot. Could I have lived without it? Yes. It's one of those "nice to have every now and then" things.
Moby wrap - awesome for newborn stage, once you get the hang of wrapping it.
my blog
Also check your insurance policy, but a lot of them are covering the cost of pumps/pump rentals now. Mine sent me a free Ameda Truly Yours double electric pump!
Also highly recommend the Ergo (baby faces towards you only) or Beco Gemini (baby can face inward or outward) carriers for when they're a little bigger. Do not get a Baby Bjorn as it causes the baby to dangle from its crotch which is bad for the baby's hips and I've heard it also kills your back.
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Love: nose bulb from hospital, Miracle blanket, lap (waterproof) pads to line changing table and naked time, kimono tops (use them as undershirts all the time), regular cloth diapers as burp cloths, carseat-only stroller (we have the Chicco one since our carseat is Chicco), activity gym, Ergo, hanging laundry bag, rattling toys, gripe water
raves for mom products Lilipadz, Bravado bra and tanks, and my camelbak edy waterbottle
Things I thought would be useless but actually love: sleep sheep and mobile
Things that turned out to be duds: Receiving blankets (we hardly use them but got like a trillion as gifts-- we could get by with like 4), Ktan (she prefers the ergo), regular sleep sacks (because she is always swaddled)
I love that you've given such great suggestions. This is a great post I'm going to come back to later,
However, professionally, no baby should be in an exersaucer, jolly jumper, whatever until they have full head control and even then time in on should be limited.
Cycle 8,9,10 - 50mg Clomid - BFN
i got the boppy brand body pillow and loved it! I think Wayne found a brand new one on EBay for like $35
thanks, but i'm going to trust my pedi, not an internet stranger. he has neck control but still bobs a little. he has always, always hated tummy time, no matter what way we went about it (boppy, floor, bed, couch, my chest, over legs, etc) so the pedi likes that it will help him there as well.
and never, ever face your baby out in any carrier. the girls here will tell you the same, as they taught me when i asked about carriers. no bjorn and no facing out.
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One more! The Nose Freida - gross as hell at first, but you get over it real quick because it really gets all the snot out. Lily hates it, but it does such a good job clearing out her nasal passages. And you can easily take it apart to clean it out, as opposed to the bulbs, which never really get clean. I saw a disgusting picture of one that someone had cut open and it had dried, mildewy boogers and grime all over the inside.
You may now continue to eat your lunch.
my blog
Ick! I'm glad I was done with lunch when I read that! Doesn't help with the morning sickness though! ; )
After awhile, you just want to be with the one who makes you laugh. - Mr. Big
there are only one or two carries that are designed to support baby properly when facing out. Most do not, and the bjorn is a major offender. Ergonomically, it puts a lots of strain on the wearer because the baby is hanging off off you rather than resting on you, if that makes sense. When you wear them facing you on your front or back, they become almost an extension of you, if you have a good carrier. We use the ktan the most right now but just ordered a kinderpack. I also have a ring sling that I love to use.
Could not get by without: cloth diapers (hands down our best investment), boppy pillow. RNP, PNP, and swing (helped with the reflux). Our city mini stroller. Car seat cover. Sleep n plays and long sleeve onesies. A&A blankets. My breast pump. Baby legs.
Nice to have things I love: activity mat, avent bottles, grass drying rack
duds: newborn outfit sets - we live in onesies with baby legs or sleep and plays. The outfit sets were all given to us and we wear them when we go out but the layers are annoying.
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