Necessary and unnecessary baby items?
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The bassinet for me was completely useless and a waste of money. We messed up on his bath tub too and got one that just didn't work out at all. I'm a big believer in convertible items. Carseats that convert and cribs that convert too. Both his carseat and crib will last him longer because of it. I got one of the fancy insulation trash cans too. We used it for a couple of months and now it's just waste of space.
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We absolutely love our car seat/stroller system - the Graco Snugride. It’s a convertible system that will work for baby for several years and is so easy to transition from car to stroller! We also love the “Boppy” pillow, which has been a life saver for holding baby while breast feeding. Our least used item right now is the infant tub, since I have been getting into the bath with our little one. Good luck and don’t stress about making everything exactly perfect before baby arrives, I promise he/she won’t notice if it’s not!
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Thank you! I’m looking into a travel system actually. This is very helpful!
I’ve never heard of a wipe warmer but I would say don’t bother buying any ‘gadget’ type things as they’re just a waste of money as you either won’t use them or will only use them a few times. Get the basics, you really don’t need anything more. Good luck xx
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😂 a wipe warmer sounds insane... yeah the cold can shock them but there’s no issue with it at all!
Yeah I think the wipe warmer is a child-specific thing in the end, not a necessity for every baby. Like some kids will be such light sleepers and like you said, get too worked up by a cold wipe. Many kids are just whatever about it.
We used a bassinet next to our bed so nighttime feedings would be easier. We also used the swaddle clothes and now use sleep sacks. We had a wipe warmer, but it was unnecessary for us. Convertible items are really useful! Our car seat goes up to 100lbs so we can use it for a long time and his crib turns into a toddler bed when ready
Must haves: A wrap or sling for baby wearing. He is so calm and happy in there and I get to get things done. Also if you plan to pump at all, get a hand free bra, otherwise you will be holding the bottles for 20mins! Swaddling sleep sack. I love Halo sleep sacks and SwaddleMe pod. No use: also infant tub. We either sponge bath or just shower with him.
I couldn’t live without the rock and play! That thing is magic!! Don’t bother with fancy bedding sets. Just get 2 or 3 fitted sheets. Velcro swaddlers are amazing, and blanket sleepers are good for chilly nights when baby is too small for blankets. If you plan to nurse, the boppy pillow will be your best friend! Congratulations, Mama!
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A puj tub!! It’s a tub that lays flat or curves up and fits in the sink! Our son is 4 months and I still use it! It even works great is small sinks. 40$ but you will use it forget. Check target.com. Also our co sleeper has been a god send. It’s called a snuggle me.. it’s a little cheaper then the doc a tot. Lastly, get a nice back pack as a diaper bag.. it so much easier to carry around! Good luck and congratulations!
My husband and I live in a small house so we were very careful on buying multi-use or compact items. We use a pack n play that also doubles as a bassinet that we have in our room until he moves to his crib. It folds up very compact and I know we will use it as a regular pack n play when he gets older. The Dock a Tot is also a MUST have in our house. It’s expensive but 100% worth it - and they let you do monthly payments if you can’t pay all up front (that’s what we did). Its a great lounger/co sleeper and is great to bring on trips to let baby sleep in. I can’t say enough how much we love the Dock a Tot. We also have the Rock and Play, which folds completely flat and is stored behind our bedroom door. It was great when he was really tiny and needed to be right by our bedside for dream feeds. Halo sleep sack swaddles, and halo wearable blanket sleep sacks when they get older. Also a baby bath was totally unnecessary for us and took up too much room. Congrats!
Pack and play, mini bathtub, bassinet and boppy were all a waste of money. Gripe water is a holy grail
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Ok. Good to know! I’ve just recently heard about gripe water... I will add that to my list. Thank you.
Totally weird (please no one judge me haha!)...but using the puppy training pads for diaper changes has saved us having to wash the changing pad a thousand times (although to be honest we haven't used the changing table yet...i can't bring myself to walk upstairs for every diaper change), and I'll just use them under her and change her on the floor, the couch, the bed...whereever we are! It's also saved the couch and rug multiple times when she's peed everywhere as soon as her diaper came off! Just throw it out when it gets dirty!
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That is genius!!!!! Haha I’m going to use that for SURE!
We use Muslins for this too! Just pop them in the washing and she isn’t sitting in her own wee
My bag to carry my pump the work everyday. Game changer, everything is in one place including extra parts, couldn’t live without it. We used the rock and play for sleeping until 4 months as the halo bassinet he hated so that was a huge waste. My other must have it an umbrella stroller that allows the infant car seat to hook into. We use that multiple times a week for quick trips in and out of places. Swaddled were also a huge necessity until he was about 4.5 months old. We also really like our Aden and anais swaddle blankets for covering him up, letting him play on the floor etc. oh and K’Tan for when he was little, now the lillebaby since he is a bit bigger.
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Those are great. Thank you!!
We have found that washable wipes have been really good for not getting nappy rash, much better than the synthetic ones... we weren’t keen at first but they aren’t too messy and have made a big difference.
Something super random I never thought to put in my son’s room was a clock! When we first brought him home and would be up with him nursing in the middle of the night, I had no idea what time it was or how long he was nursing! So simple but so useful.
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Ha I wouldn’t have thought of a clock either. Good idea!
Loved lulyboo, halo sleep sacks, infant bassinet attachment for stroller, microwave bottle sterilizer, swing pump, munchkin 360 cups, sleepers with zippers not snaps, activity mat, bouncy chair (or anything that props them to an angle where they can see what's going on), baby carrier. Waste: given way too many blankets when we only needed one muslin and one warm blanket, nursing cover (just gets in the way), mesh teethers for frozen fruit, soothers (baby wouldn't take them), pack n play (baby hated it), change table, nursing pillow (regular pillow is fine), u-shaped baby head support pillows and any other after market car seat accessories (not safe)
A play yard with a bassinet and changing table attachment. That's been the most used item since baby was born three weeks ago. It acts as changing table, bassinet, crib, and just a safe place for baby to be set down. Mine have pockets on the out side, some even have shelf areas. I just love that it's so many things in one, great for families on a budget or with limited space
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That’s an awesome idea. I’ve added that to my list.
Binky clips they pull them off anyway 😠
I love to babywear. I use a woven wrap now but started with a moby (stretchy) wrap. Different people like different carriers so try some from a babywearing group if you can. A play mat with hanging toys. Swaddles (we like Halos because Velcro and zip from bottom) Fuzzy blankets since my boy runs cold Zip up sleepers Pack and play with bassinet—little dude has slept there since we came home Nice glider/rocket and ottoman Dual breast pump Hands free pumping bra White noise machine (the $20 one from Amazon)
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All great recommendations thank you!!
Great suggestion for the babywearing group—if there isn’t one, you can still usually borrow from other moms if your baby doesn’t like a certain carrier.
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A must have for me is the AVENT baby warmer , super quick !!
Swaddles were totally unnecessary, my LO hated them. Bassinet is a waste too! One thing I absolutely love is my wipe warmer! He does not cry when he’s being changed and I believe it’s because of the warmed wipes! Another thing I love is my boppy pillow. Especially if you are breastfeeding. Don’t worry too much, you will figure out what works for your little baby and what doesn’t. Good luck! I wish you the best!!
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Awesome thank you!!!
Too funny, our experience has been pretty much your opposite! Ours loved the swaddleme pods and hasn’t needed a wipe warmer, and the boppy never helped me much, maybe because of how I fed her, but now she does love playing all over it...
The swings are an absolute need. They were so useful!!! Along with the boppee and bumbo seats....my daughter doesn't like to be confined to the bassinet, saucer play thing, and bouncy chair were all useless...wipe warmer was awesome for the first couple of months but after that a waste, we didn't use bottles so didn't really use a bottle warmer, can't ever have enough blankets and spit up blankets, and buy more 3-6 month clothes than newborn lol.
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I’m second that. The swing is a must. It was my lifesaver the first few months. I used mama & papa starlight swing and it was brilliant
One more thing we loved and still do: a shower head with the removable sprayer hose. GREAT for cleanup when your baby’s skin is just tired of being wiped! Things we bought but didn’t use much: -Baby bath tub. -The Otteroo (an inflatable float for babies) was also a waste for us. To me, it was much more fun to get in the bath with the baby, and support their floating with my hand. -At $90, the Keekaroo Peanut changer was not great. It was always cold on baby’s skin, even in the summer, and even if we put a blanket on it in-between changes. Anytime my little baby boy peed during a change, it went over the changer and onto the floor anyway. We ended up just changing him on a waterproof travel pad or a towel on the bed.
Few things we didn’t need - 1-baby blankets (they can’t sleep with them, so I found one or two nice ones is enough) 2-mamaroo swing (thought this was awesome until I realized how quickly he had outgrown it) 3-lightweight stroller in first year (I know people love these but I didn’t really use mine (baby jogger city tour) until after first year) Few things I use/used every day, especially as he got more active - 1-Fischer Price Jumparoo (this was a gift and OMG such a lifesaver if you need a moment with your hands free) 2-Nuna Mixx2 travel system w Pipa car seat (with load leg) - still using this even though LO is almost 14 months - love being able to snap in car seat + the huge basket I use for groceries. It also fits my MINI Countryman boot, which is amazing. Super easy fold. It is heavy but so smooth/sturdy that I find it worth the trouble. 3-Dwinguler Castle and Dwinguler Playmat - a huge safe area for my son to play and crawl around. 4-Halo sleep sacks - LOVE 5-Bamboo change pad liners
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Awesome! Thank you.
The Dock-a-tote was an amazing thing to have. Our baby daughter loved it. She slept in it from birth and up until 4 months. She’s just a big girl for her age, otherwise it could’ve lasted much longer. It costs a pretty penny, but was a life saver for us.
So everyone told me not to get a wipe warmer but I found one on clearance and got it anyways because my daughter would scream about cold wipes. This thing has been awesome. I cloth diaper 90% of the time and you can put washable ones in there too. Boppy pillow is multifunction and a life saver if you’re breast feeding. Nose Freida for boogers... 🤢 I swear I’d never be this Mom and then my daughter got her first cold and I had to do everything I could to make it better. This thing changed lives. Still gross though. Useless stuff for us... Sleep sacks (my daughter hated them), tie on onesies, bottle hangar/dryers, crib shoes, and... fancy strollers. Congratulations and good luck! Every mom and baby is different. 3 of my friends had kids within 2-4 weeks of me and none of us liked the same things 😜 Try not to stress.
I made a document list of things like this actually! Send me a message if you’re interested!
Swings are a total life saver. Swaddles are awesome and a good bassinet or cosleeper (we cosleep). Wipe warmers and diaper pails are a waste. Also if you have more than one, a baby wrap saves so much you so trouble when trying to keep up w an older baby w little baby in tow. Ive also loved my video monitor. My kids share a room so its nice to be able to look in on them and make sure no shinanigans are going on.
Owlet baby monitor - my #1 couldn’t do without
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Oh! I want that! Glad it’s as good as it sounds!
Things we used consistently- Nose frida Gas drops Aden & anais muslin blankets (or any of that type material. Seriously would make my little guy just knock out just covering up with them! Non bulky/not any fabric type high chair that’s easily cleanable and the tray comes off easily. SOCKS instead of hand mittens to prevent her scratching herself at first. The mittens do not stay on their little wrists. Quality monitor! This is one thing I didn’t think we would need because our home isn’t huge, but we got it as a gift and it was used everyday until it finally gave out 2 1/2 years later.
The rocknplay bassinet thingy is the best thing ever!!!! My baby loved sleeping in it at an incline. You can adjust it so it’s flat also. Anyone who is using formula, the baby breeza formula pro is AMAZING. It’s like a Kirug for baby bottles. My baby also loved his little bright starts activity gym mat thing. I would say the one thing I got the least use of was the bumbo. I got it in the cutest color but seriously used it less than 5 times.
Don’t get a bottle warmer waste of money
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That seems to be a popular waste of money. 😂
Why are they a waste? You just don’t need them? Or because they drink cold? Lol (I’m pregnant and browsing)
I’m sure you’re going to have lots of comments to read and some conflicting so I’ll keep it short..! I would really recommend buying the Groegg, as it really helped us sleep better knowing that room wasn’t too hot for our LO. Kokoso (which you can buy from Boots and we still use this on his bum every time we change him and touch wood he’s never had nappy rash) and a Baby Box for him to sleep in (we’ve been about safe sleeping and he slept like a dream in it) If you’re planning on BF I wouldn’t bother buying a steriliser kit with bottles... we spent £80 on one as a back up in case I couldn’t BF and we’ve never used it!
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Kinsa thermometer (target) it’s one you plug into your phone- it never needs a battery and stores all the info on its app. It’s great bc I’ll get tired and forget what her temp was or when I gave her meds. But it’s all on the app! Couldn’t live without it !
Awesome thanks!
Wipe Warmer was a waste. Some moms do this but I brought various nipples and bottles prior to my baby arriving. That wasn’t a good idea.
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Get a bassinet. If you’re breastfeeding, it helps to have baby right beside you. Easier to get baby fed and back down asap without having to wake up too much. I love boppy breastfeeding pillow- helps you to not crouch over as you’re feeding. Other than that? A stroller, I love my baby K’tan baby carrier, and a place to change baby. Totally unnecessary- a baby bath. My Little was so tiny & squishy, it’s easier to bathe her in my lap when I bathe.
Awesome thanks!!!
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Some type of carrier or wrap to strap the baby on to get things done is a must. I couldn't live without my Freemie cups when breastfeeding. Best money ever spent. A video baby monitor and bottle warmer for me was most used. Never really used wipe warmer, or any of the lullaby or noise machines.
I wanted to breastfeed, but had to stop feeding off the breast after a few days and stopped pumping after a month because of the medication that I was on. While pregnant, I requested or wanted a lot of breastfeeding items. I’d suggest getting the bare minimum of breastfeeding items until you know that you’ll stick with it.
White noise machine(we have one called the Dohm), a Rock N Play, a wrap/carrier to wear baby in(I had the Moby for his newborn months and an Ergo for when he got bigger). I swept by the Nested Bean swaddles. It has a tiny weighted area that mimics the feel of your hand on their chest, and my little dude slept so good with that on. A lot of people recommend the Boppy pillow for breastfeeding, but only because they never tried the My Brest Friend pillow. I had both, and used the Brest Friend one 99% of the time. It has lumbar support, snaps around you and baby won’t slide down in between you and the pillow, and slightly raised areas to elevate babies head. Also has a pocket on it for little things you may need to keep with you like an extra burp cloth.
Mamaroo or Rockaroo (instead of a swing), we bedshare so basically everything that a nursery required was cut. FAWN DESIGN bag, invest in a damn good diaper bag that is universal for a handbag!!! Diono Radian car seat- INVEST in one (and only one) car seat you’ll ever need! An umbrella stroller was a lifesaver, and super cheap!
A few things that made our life easy— Rock n play until 6 mo—super easy to move around the house and bring on trips. Boppy lounger— this worked for us for a long time over the regular u shaped boppy. Dock a tot— Just get one. Sound machine— we had a small portable with batteries and Mybaby with sounds and a light projector. Also, your phone has sounds. Baby carrier— we loved the Solly wrap over the Boba when he was a newborn and up to 4-5 months. Carrying him when he was so little was great for mommy and daddy!! The baby bjorn and Ergo are great once they can hold their own head. Carriers are much needed! Baby breeza— The bottle washer and DRYER! Key! Baby food maker, you’re welcome. Bath seat— we loved the Fisher price seat with the infant sling that grew with him until 6-7 months. Then we switched to a Keter bath seat. Suction cups on the bottom and it keeps them from slipping in the tub. Good luck!
Baby carriers are a godsend! I have 3 different styles now and we used them all the time. We also loved swaddle sacks (particularly the love to dream swaddle up). I didn’t use my swing much at all. Also didn’t use my nursing cover even once. I definitely could have done without my stroller until she was old enough to face forward, she didn’t like the car seat- so it was kind of a waste to get the one that clips with the bucket seat. If I had to buy again I’d go second hand since I really didn’t need the set.
Depending on whether or not plan on breastfeeding bottle-feeding or both I would say the boppy lounger or a carrier wrap that you can easily wear around the house like the baby k'tan or Moby. I am able to make her a bottle do some housework and blow-dry my hair out of the shower when I'm wearing the wrap. just makes my life so much easier I wish I put it on my registry.also more than one changing pad if you have a multi-level home. I love my portable changing pad clutch buy rabbit which I found on Amazon
Good to know, thanks!