Ultimate Portable BabyStuffList
May 20, 2010 11:49 AM Subscribe
Babyfilter: What are the most essential and portable baby things to buy for the first year?
In a couple of months I'll be heading to Canada (my home and native land) to have a baby.
I won't be staying for long.
I've seen some good posts before about babylists, but decided to post my question because I need stuff that is portable (I think that leaves out the highly recommended swing...) and I can't "just get it when needed" (as suggested by many in previous posts).
So my goal is to create a list of stuff I definitely should buy while in Canada.
I'd like to keep it as essential as possible because I'll be travelling back to Nigeria (where I live) and suitcase space is not in abundance.
What kind of portable, available in Canada, things do you think are baby essentials for the first 8months or so?
Hoping to create a great list with your help mefis!!!
In a couple of months I'll be heading to Canada (my home and native land) to have a baby.
I won't be staying for long.
I've seen some good posts before about babylists, but decided to post my question because I need stuff that is portable (I think that leaves out the highly recommended swing...) and I can't "just get it when needed" (as suggested by many in previous posts).
So my goal is to create a list of stuff I definitely should buy while in Canada.
I'd like to keep it as essential as possible because I'll be travelling back to Nigeria (where I live) and suitcase space is not in abundance.
What kind of portable, available in Canada, things do you think are baby essentials for the first 8months or so?
Hoping to create a great list with your help mefis!!!
If you are planning to breastfeed, the ridiculously-named My Brest Friend is a godsend. You can get a travel version that is inflatable for extra portability, but then leaks become an issue. There are other nursing pillows out there but I liked this one that allows you to get up and walk around without taking it off. Yes you feel like a human raft but during the growth spurts when baby is nursing all the time it's very handy.
Also check out baby carriers. The Moby worked well for me, but this is highly subjective so try a bunch out before settling on a particular one.
posted by ambrosia at 11:57 AM on May 20, 2010
Also check out baby carriers. The Moby worked well for me, but this is highly subjective so try a bunch out before settling on a particular one.
posted by ambrosia at 11:57 AM on May 20, 2010
When my second daughter was born, we lived in a teeny tiny little house with no room for a crib or changing table, so I got a 3 in 1 Play Yard. It serves as an infant bassinet, a crib for when they get bigger, and has a changing table attachment. Plus, it folds up and slides into a nylon bag for travel. I loved that thing.
posted by SamanthaK at 11:58 AM on May 20, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by SamanthaK at 11:58 AM on May 20, 2010 [1 favorite]
Oh crap, I didn't read closely enough. Do you need to be able to buy it at a brick and mortar shop while in Canada? They have a retailer in Ottawa.
posted by otherwordlyglow at 11:58 AM on May 20, 2010
posted by otherwordlyglow at 11:58 AM on May 20, 2010
I'm not sure how easy these things are to find in Canada, but we've gotten a ton of use out of a peapod tent with mini-foodgeek.
posted by foodgeek at 12:05 PM on May 20, 2010
posted by foodgeek at 12:05 PM on May 20, 2010
Seconding the Graco Pack and Play. Also, I'd go with a Baby Bjorn over any other kind of sling. My daughter is three months old and we've still never used our stroller. Like, seriously, not once. The Bjorn is better in every way. Though, I'm sure we'll use the stroller eventually as she gets heavier.
The Pack and Play makes it a little redundant, but we also have one of these for taking with us to hotels and such. The baby slept in the snuggle nest, in between us in bed, for the first month. It's really nice to not have to get out of bed when you wake up in the middle of the night and need to check right now if the baby is still breathing.
posted by 256 at 12:11 PM on May 20, 2010
The Pack and Play makes it a little redundant, but we also have one of these for taking with us to hotels and such. The baby slept in the snuggle nest, in between us in bed, for the first month. It's really nice to not have to get out of bed when you wake up in the middle of the night and need to check right now if the baby is still breathing.
posted by 256 at 12:11 PM on May 20, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks for this stuff! I'm probably going to go the collapsible stroller route for airport purposes and will be backing my baby African-styles, so likely won't go with the slings.
What about other stuff?
Penaten cream?
Breast pads?
Are nursing t-shirts useful?
How many nursing bras are needed?
posted by pick_the_flowers at 12:20 PM on May 20, 2010
What about other stuff?
Penaten cream?
Breast pads?
Are nursing t-shirts useful?
How many nursing bras are needed?
posted by pick_the_flowers at 12:20 PM on May 20, 2010
OMG! Eek! Back wayyyyyy up. To warn you, people feel quite strongly about what you need for a baby, but really, every baby is different and every mommy is different. Some kids hate swings. Some kids hate slings. Some mommies hate slings. Most baby stuff is a complete waste. Baby can sleep with you or in a drawer.
Do not waste your money. Do not buy all this stuff.
Truly, what you NEED for the first 8 months is this:
- CLOTHES: some onesies and pants and socks for the baby. You won't be back until kiddo is 8 months old? I don't know your laundry situation in Nigeria, but assuming that you can launder fairly often, I'd get 10 short-sleeved onesies in 0-3 months (no preemies- - 0-3 work fine), 5 long-sleeved onesies in 0-3 months, 5 short and 5 long-sleeved onesies for 3-6 months and 6-12 months (don't bother with 9 months!), 5 pairs of comfy pants (Carter's, a brand that I normally hate has good infant pants, but American Apparel does too) for 0-3 months, 3-6 months, and 6-12 months. I'd get 2 hoodies for 0-3 months, 3-6 months, and 6-12 months. Get 6-10 pairs of 0-12 month socks.
- diapers
- some Baby Tylenol and Baby Motrin (recently recalled, so be careful.)
- some Hyland's Teething Tablets
To be on the safe side (especially in case breastfeeding doesn't work out):
- Dr. Browns bottles (in case kiddo is picky) - I'd get ~5 if you're willing to wash often.
- some pacifiers just in case
- ~3 swaddleme brand swaddle blankets
- some washable breast pads
- 2 nursing bras
- vasoline for diaper rash
In terms of carrying, I'd get an Ergo to last you the longest. It is the carrier that I've seen in person and online that most people like. Mobys and slings REALLY vary in terms of people's liking and using them.
posted by k8t at 12:31 PM on May 20, 2010 [3 favorites]
Do not waste your money. Do not buy all this stuff.
Truly, what you NEED for the first 8 months is this:
- CLOTHES: some onesies and pants and socks for the baby. You won't be back until kiddo is 8 months old? I don't know your laundry situation in Nigeria, but assuming that you can launder fairly often, I'd get 10 short-sleeved onesies in 0-3 months (no preemies- - 0-3 work fine), 5 long-sleeved onesies in 0-3 months, 5 short and 5 long-sleeved onesies for 3-6 months and 6-12 months (don't bother with 9 months!), 5 pairs of comfy pants (Carter's, a brand that I normally hate has good infant pants, but American Apparel does too) for 0-3 months, 3-6 months, and 6-12 months. I'd get 2 hoodies for 0-3 months, 3-6 months, and 6-12 months. Get 6-10 pairs of 0-12 month socks.
- diapers
- some Baby Tylenol and Baby Motrin (recently recalled, so be careful.)
- some Hyland's Teething Tablets
To be on the safe side (especially in case breastfeeding doesn't work out):
- Dr. Browns bottles (in case kiddo is picky) - I'd get ~5 if you're willing to wash often.
- some pacifiers just in case
- ~3 swaddleme brand swaddle blankets
- some washable breast pads
- 2 nursing bras
- vasoline for diaper rash
In terms of carrying, I'd get an Ergo to last you the longest. It is the carrier that I've seen in person and online that most people like. Mobys and slings REALLY vary in terms of people's liking and using them.
posted by k8t at 12:31 PM on May 20, 2010 [3 favorites]
I rotate between 2 nursing bras (they're expensive!!) & use washable breast pads that I switch out daily (though I've managed to leak through them anyway, so I've been known to double up). I never bothered with nursing shirts, primarily b/c I hate shopping & don't mind lifting my shirt up to nurse.
You might want a breast pump if you're planning to breastfeed exclusively but would like to leave the house without the kiddo for any length of time. & if that's the case, bottles, too!
Honestly, you really, really don't need much in the way of accessories, especially if you plan on wearing the baby a lot (vs stroller).
posted by oh really at 12:33 PM on May 20, 2010
You might want a breast pump if you're planning to breastfeed exclusively but would like to leave the house without the kiddo for any length of time. & if that's the case, bottles, too!
Honestly, you really, really don't need much in the way of accessories, especially if you plan on wearing the baby a lot (vs stroller).
posted by oh really at 12:33 PM on May 20, 2010
Once baby hits @6 months and starts sitting up and eating, a travel high chair is great.
posted by gnutron at 12:33 PM on May 20, 2010
posted by gnutron at 12:33 PM on May 20, 2010
You can get reusable cloth breast pads but you may only need them the first month or so. I loved nursing tank tops with a built in shelf bra but I skipped nursing shirts. I think this depends on how comfortable you will be with nursing in general - some women want to be more modest and so opt for the shirts. I still wear the tank tops even though I am long done nursing.
posted by turtlefu at 12:35 PM on May 20, 2010
posted by turtlefu at 12:35 PM on May 20, 2010
Oh, also, I do have to recommend a bouncy seat -- Baby Oh Really definitely prefers to not be completely horizontal at times & being able to put her in a bouncy seat while making dinner or washing dishes or generally doing something where she can't be held/worn has been a lifesaver.
posted by oh really at 12:37 PM on May 20, 2010
posted by oh really at 12:37 PM on May 20, 2010
Wipes wipes wipes. My friends all think I'm nuts but when they're expecting I usually buy them a couple dozen birdseye weave cloth diapers. These are not the fancy body-shaped ones but the gauzy rectangular kind that you have to fold up several times if you actually want to put them on a baby.
But they're not for putting on the baby, I've just found them to be the absolute best thing to tote around for wiping up the inevitable stuff that comes out of both ends of a baby. After a couple of washes they're both super-light and super-absorbent. You can stick them over your shoulder to protect your clothes, you can use them as a quick changing pad, you can mop up or wipe down anything. In a pinch you could even use them as ... diapers! When my son was an infant I always kept two or three of them stowed in the diaper bag or whatever I was carrying.
Washable breast pads are good. How many bras depends on how expensive they are and how often you want to wash them. I found my favorite ones at Target for like $15, but YMMV depending on your size and preferences.
I tend to think that diaper rash is caused or at least exacerbated by over-bathing the baby. You're constantly wiping them off; they rarely get dirty enough to require soaking. But zinc-oxide cream is good.
posted by mneekadon at 12:38 PM on May 20, 2010
But they're not for putting on the baby, I've just found them to be the absolute best thing to tote around for wiping up the inevitable stuff that comes out of both ends of a baby. After a couple of washes they're both super-light and super-absorbent. You can stick them over your shoulder to protect your clothes, you can use them as a quick changing pad, you can mop up or wipe down anything. In a pinch you could even use them as ... diapers! When my son was an infant I always kept two or three of them stowed in the diaper bag or whatever I was carrying.
Washable breast pads are good. How many bras depends on how expensive they are and how often you want to wash them. I found my favorite ones at Target for like $15, but YMMV depending on your size and preferences.
I tend to think that diaper rash is caused or at least exacerbated by over-bathing the baby. You're constantly wiping them off; they rarely get dirty enough to require soaking. But zinc-oxide cream is good.
posted by mneekadon at 12:38 PM on May 20, 2010
Nursing pads (washable or disposable) are necessary! But the nursing shirts are not - you can very easily nurse with shirts that unbutton or are low cut enought to pull down. It is cheaper just to get a nursing drape to put over you when you want privacy.
As for nursing bras, I would say get at least as many as you have days between laundering. They get wet when you nurse (baby milk drool) and you will probably only wear them once before they need to be washed. Hopefully you've got access to your own washing machine. Another note about nursing bras - don't get the size you wear right now. When your milk comes in, you'll likely need a different size than what you are used to. I needed to go up one band size and two cup sizes, but everyone is different. If possible, only buy a couple of them ahead of time, and wait to see if they fit before getting more. You can also nurse with a regular bra, but your regular bras won't fit any more so you might as well get nursing bras.
Congratulations!
posted by Knowyournuts at 12:39 PM on May 20, 2010
As for nursing bras, I would say get at least as many as you have days between laundering. They get wet when you nurse (baby milk drool) and you will probably only wear them once before they need to be washed. Hopefully you've got access to your own washing machine. Another note about nursing bras - don't get the size you wear right now. When your milk comes in, you'll likely need a different size than what you are used to. I needed to go up one band size and two cup sizes, but everyone is different. If possible, only buy a couple of them ahead of time, and wait to see if they fit before getting more. You can also nurse with a regular bra, but your regular bras won't fit any more so you might as well get nursing bras.
Congratulations!
posted by Knowyournuts at 12:39 PM on May 20, 2010
Forget nursing bras - my baby is 15 months old and I am still rocking my nursing tank tops. Every day. If it's warm enough, no other shirt is necessary. If not, throw a zipper hoodie over it and you're good to go.
A wrap (nothing with straps or clips, I'm talking a long piece of fabric) - later it can be used to backpack carry or as an awesome scarf or a makeshift blanket.
Pacifiers. You don't have to use them, but I would hate to live without them early on. We liked Soothies.
If you want a portable bed/play area/babyjail, I recommend the Joovy Room2. It's no heavier and not much bigger than the other portable cribs BUT it's almost twice as big when open so it accommodates a kid a lot longer and it's tough enough that a grownup can get in there with baby. (That's if you don't want to co-sleep - though be warned that co-sleeping can get dangerous as soon as baby can wiggle over a bed rail and off the bed).
Onsie undershirt thingies. Some newborns barf a lot. They come in packs of six sometimes. It's the only clothes you'll need if it's warm.
A hat. Most babies don't like sun in the eyes. In winter, make it a warm one.
posted by Never teh Bride at 1:07 PM on May 20, 2010
A wrap (nothing with straps or clips, I'm talking a long piece of fabric) - later it can be used to backpack carry or as an awesome scarf or a makeshift blanket.
Pacifiers. You don't have to use them, but I would hate to live without them early on. We liked Soothies.
If you want a portable bed/play area/babyjail, I recommend the Joovy Room2. It's no heavier and not much bigger than the other portable cribs BUT it's almost twice as big when open so it accommodates a kid a lot longer and it's tough enough that a grownup can get in there with baby. (That's if you don't want to co-sleep - though be warned that co-sleeping can get dangerous as soon as baby can wiggle over a bed rail and off the bed).
Onsie undershirt thingies. Some newborns barf a lot. They come in packs of six sometimes. It's the only clothes you'll need if it's warm.
A hat. Most babies don't like sun in the eyes. In winter, make it a warm one.
posted by Never teh Bride at 1:07 PM on May 20, 2010
- some Hyland's Teething Tablets
I think k8t just proved her own point as I think Hyland's are the biggest waste of money you could ever expend. But as for your question on nursing bras, two at the minimum. One to wear one that you've just washed and are leaving to dry. Also, you may prefer to sleep in a bra so keep that in mind.
Also, not to be too pessimistic but I just want to inject a small dose of realism here and suggest that it's entirely possible that breastfeeding will not work anything like you planned for it to. I was super prepared with all sort of supplies and such and for a variety of reasons, it was a complete failure. So if at all possible, wait until you know it's working before we spend too much money of stuff you might not need.
posted by otherwordlyglow at 1:30 PM on May 20, 2010
I think k8t just proved her own point as I think Hyland's are the biggest waste of money you could ever expend. But as for your question on nursing bras, two at the minimum. One to wear one that you've just washed and are leaving to dry. Also, you may prefer to sleep in a bra so keep that in mind.
Also, not to be too pessimistic but I just want to inject a small dose of realism here and suggest that it's entirely possible that breastfeeding will not work anything like you planned for it to. I was super prepared with all sort of supplies and such and for a variety of reasons, it was a complete failure. So if at all possible, wait until you know it's working before we spend too much money of stuff you might not need.
posted by otherwordlyglow at 1:30 PM on May 20, 2010
For a travel high chair, try this. Not sure if they're available commercially, but I think you can find one on etsy.com. Or make one, if you can sew.
I've never needed nursing pads. I have one nursing bra, which I wear a lot. If you're not leaking and not sweaty, there's not much need to launder them between every wearing. When I'm at home, I'm basically in pajamas most of the time anyway. Nursing shirts are not necessary.
Nthing the Graco Pack n Play. I've got the one with the bassinet insert and the changing table. I've used it for both girls, traveled with it, everything. It's awesome. Remember that most airlines let baby gear fly free, no extra charges. I'd recommend an umbrella stroller for when you do actually travel. It's nice having somewhere to set the baby when you're at the airport, and that type is usually very lightweight and small.
They do make travel-sized swings that fold up flat. Just FYI. You might be able to find someone in Canada who will at least lend you one for a few months. You really don't need it much beyond the 6 month mark anyway.
Diapers, diaper cream, burp cloths, clothing, pacifiers, bottles. Blankets for swaddling. Baby soap. I got one of those giant baby-sized sponges for sink baths, and even used it in the big tub for anti-slip purposes once baby could sit up. And they're CHEAP!
Car seat, of course. A few toys.
That's all I really needed.
posted by wwartorff at 1:46 PM on May 20, 2010
I've never needed nursing pads. I have one nursing bra, which I wear a lot. If you're not leaking and not sweaty, there's not much need to launder them between every wearing. When I'm at home, I'm basically in pajamas most of the time anyway. Nursing shirts are not necessary.
Nthing the Graco Pack n Play. I've got the one with the bassinet insert and the changing table. I've used it for both girls, traveled with it, everything. It's awesome. Remember that most airlines let baby gear fly free, no extra charges. I'd recommend an umbrella stroller for when you do actually travel. It's nice having somewhere to set the baby when you're at the airport, and that type is usually very lightweight and small.
They do make travel-sized swings that fold up flat. Just FYI. You might be able to find someone in Canada who will at least lend you one for a few months. You really don't need it much beyond the 6 month mark anyway.
Diapers, diaper cream, burp cloths, clothing, pacifiers, bottles. Blankets for swaddling. Baby soap. I got one of those giant baby-sized sponges for sink baths, and even used it in the big tub for anti-slip purposes once baby could sit up. And they're CHEAP!
Car seat, of course. A few toys.
That's all I really needed.
posted by wwartorff at 1:46 PM on May 20, 2010
I was coming on to suggest cloth diapers, but mneekadon beat me to it. So I'll second that! I always buy a pack for expecting moms...even if you're not planning to use cloth diapers, they have so many handy uses!
You can never have too many onesies. In the summer, my kids lived in them.
Baby bath towels, the kind with the hood for their head, are worth stocking up on. Get at least 2 or 3.
Safety nail scissors. Their little fingernails grow fast and they scratch up their faces if you don't keep them trimmed.
The night-time Johnson's baby wash with the lavender in it. They didn't have that when my kids were babies but I've used it on nieces and nephews and it seems to be effective.
I found most bibs to be absolutely useless and a pain to put on, except the kind that are like a dish towel with a stretchy hole in it, that you can just slip over the baby's head. Get a bunch of those if you can find them.
Actually, what I learned from having two babies and being pretty poor with both of them is that there's very little that babies really need. I think most of the crap we buy for them is just because it's fun and makes us feel better!
posted by cottonswab at 1:46 PM on May 20, 2010
You can never have too many onesies. In the summer, my kids lived in them.
Baby bath towels, the kind with the hood for their head, are worth stocking up on. Get at least 2 or 3.
Safety nail scissors. Their little fingernails grow fast and they scratch up their faces if you don't keep them trimmed.
The night-time Johnson's baby wash with the lavender in it. They didn't have that when my kids were babies but I've used it on nieces and nephews and it seems to be effective.
I found most bibs to be absolutely useless and a pain to put on, except the kind that are like a dish towel with a stretchy hole in it, that you can just slip over the baby's head. Get a bunch of those if you can find them.
Actually, what I learned from having two babies and being pretty poor with both of them is that there's very little that babies really need. I think most of the crap we buy for them is just because it's fun and makes us feel better!
posted by cottonswab at 1:46 PM on May 20, 2010
w/r/t the nursing bra vs. nursing tank thing: that totally depends on the job you are asking the bras to do. You're pregnant, you know already that you are bigger than usual, and nursing may make you larger still. Lots of my friends wound up in nursing bras with F, G or even J cups. The nursing tanks are awesome but if you wind up rocking a G cup, the nursing tanks may not have enough support. Only you will know what your needs are.
As to quantity, I'm a fan of the one to wash, one to wear, one to spare mindset.
posted by ambrosia at 1:58 PM on May 20, 2010
As to quantity, I'm a fan of the one to wash, one to wear, one to spare mindset.
posted by ambrosia at 1:58 PM on May 20, 2010
There's a flannel backed rubber pad you can get. That's all we used as a changing table. All the stuff was in a basket, and we changed the baby on the bed, couch or floor, with the pad underneath.
I never used nursing pads, just folded a paper towel in quarters and tucked it in. I always carried extra paper towels, often quite useful.
Our best cure for diaper rash was sunshine and fresh air; same for nipples sore from nursing (soreness didn't last long).
digital thermometer and batteries.
One or 2 outfits that you think are crazy adorable on your perfect baby. Mazel tov.
posted by theora55 at 2:12 PM on May 20, 2010
I never used nursing pads, just folded a paper towel in quarters and tucked it in. I always carried extra paper towels, often quite useful.
Our best cure for diaper rash was sunshine and fresh air; same for nipples sore from nursing (soreness didn't last long).
digital thermometer and batteries.
One or 2 outfits that you think are crazy adorable on your perfect baby. Mazel tov.
posted by theora55 at 2:12 PM on May 20, 2010
There's a flannel backed rubber pad you can get.
My memere was a major klepto later, right up to the end. Even in the nursing home, she found ways to steal by putting stuff in our bags when we went to visit her and having us smuggle them out. One day my mom and aunt came out with a bunch of adult-sized changing pads. I don't know where you'd get them but they were awesome for babies! You could cover half the bed with one, and it was super absorbent and soft, but nothing got through it.
posted by cottonswab at 3:03 PM on May 20, 2010
My memere was a major klepto later, right up to the end. Even in the nursing home, she found ways to steal by putting stuff in our bags when we went to visit her and having us smuggle them out. One day my mom and aunt came out with a bunch of adult-sized changing pads. I don't know where you'd get them but they were awesome for babies! You could cover half the bed with one, and it was super absorbent and soft, but nothing got through it.
posted by cottonswab at 3:03 PM on May 20, 2010
Congratulations!
There's an ocean of stuff that will flood your life once you have a baby. We have a six-month-old and are pretty minimalist. Here's what I would buy, if I were doing it again:
*car seat
*some kind of carrier - mei tai, wrap, whatever.
*some clothes. not too many.
*(cloth) diapers
*(cloth) wipes
*three nursing bras.
*a nursing pillow (Boppy or Brest Friend, etc.)
*some kind of bag to cart your diaper and baby stuff around in when you manage to leave the house.
We don't really use anything else. We change him on the floor or on the bed, we don't own a stroller, we don't own a crib, we don't use bottles. We wash him with plain water.
(We may be failures as consumers, I don't know.)
posted by thehmsbeagle at 5:27 PM on May 20, 2010
There's an ocean of stuff that will flood your life once you have a baby. We have a six-month-old and are pretty minimalist. Here's what I would buy, if I were doing it again:
*car seat
*some kind of carrier - mei tai, wrap, whatever.
*some clothes. not too many.
*(cloth) diapers
*(cloth) wipes
*three nursing bras.
*a nursing pillow (Boppy or Brest Friend, etc.)
*some kind of bag to cart your diaper and baby stuff around in when you manage to leave the house.
We don't really use anything else. We change him on the floor or on the bed, we don't own a stroller, we don't own a crib, we don't use bottles. We wash him with plain water.
(We may be failures as consumers, I don't know.)
posted by thehmsbeagle at 5:27 PM on May 20, 2010
re: cloth diapers. We do cloth when we're in the US. We wouldn't do cloth in Armenia because of water and power issues. You guys will need to do the math to see what works for you.
posted by k8t at 5:38 PM on May 20, 2010
posted by k8t at 5:38 PM on May 20, 2010
Do not buy all this stuff.
I would suggest doing a terrific amount of window-shopping, so you know where to find an infant XYZ at a good price when you discover, four days after birth, that you NEED at least five XYZs, you will know exactly where to go. But most of this junk you won't miss if you never have it.
Damned if I know what good a "Pack and Play" is, or bottles or homeopathic candies, and I cannot think of anything less flattering to a postpartum figure than a nursing tank. But waterproof pads! I invested $100 in five of these wonderful mats and still find them critical almost three years later.
But I'm sure lots of parents are reading this thinking "WTF do you use a mat for?" (Answer: changing pad, protecting my mattress from the pee of a co-sleeping toddler, milk-catcher for the early spit-uppy days.) And I am scratching my head at paper towels for nursing pads; that would've worked for five minutes for me. Hold off on as much purchasing as possible, with a plan to blitz the stores shortly after birth, when you will have a better handle on what YOU need. Particularly with bras. You may not want to bother with nursing bras at all and just use regular ones with enough stretch to let you pull them down. And you may end up a crazy size for a bit.
All that ranting aside, these Tweezerman cuticle scissors? Absolutely vital for clipping the scratchy labels out of hundreds of onesies and snipping tags off teddies without removing fur, also good for clipping nails, but the tag removal? Vital...
posted by kmennie at 5:48 PM on May 20, 2010
I would suggest doing a terrific amount of window-shopping, so you know where to find an infant XYZ at a good price when you discover, four days after birth, that you NEED at least five XYZs, you will know exactly where to go. But most of this junk you won't miss if you never have it.
Damned if I know what good a "Pack and Play" is, or bottles or homeopathic candies, and I cannot think of anything less flattering to a postpartum figure than a nursing tank. But waterproof pads! I invested $100 in five of these wonderful mats and still find them critical almost three years later.
But I'm sure lots of parents are reading this thinking "WTF do you use a mat for?" (Answer: changing pad, protecting my mattress from the pee of a co-sleeping toddler, milk-catcher for the early spit-uppy days.) And I am scratching my head at paper towels for nursing pads; that would've worked for five minutes for me. Hold off on as much purchasing as possible, with a plan to blitz the stores shortly after birth, when you will have a better handle on what YOU need. Particularly with bras. You may not want to bother with nursing bras at all and just use regular ones with enough stretch to let you pull them down. And you may end up a crazy size for a bit.
All that ranting aside, these Tweezerman cuticle scissors? Absolutely vital for clipping the scratchy labels out of hundreds of onesies and snipping tags off teddies without removing fur, also good for clipping nails, but the tag removal? Vital...
posted by kmennie at 5:48 PM on May 20, 2010
DO NOT BUY BABY BENADRYL. You're not supposed to use that stuff until your kid's like, four yeard old. I just bought some and then looked at the packaging, and called my pedi to make sure, but no. Not for babies. (Mine's 16 months).
Boppy pillow, diapers, a couple waterproof changing pads like others said, some clothes, and whatever you want him to sleep in. And the car seat. I got a Graco and then got the small stroller accessory that the seat snapped into. A cheap umbrella stroller won't be useful until your baby has good muscle control and can sit with assistance, but when they hit that age it's certainly worth it.
I had a couple nursing bras, but in the end I just bought some sports bras and they worked just as good, i put the boob under or over depending on the shirt.
posted by kpht at 6:28 PM on May 20, 2010
Boppy pillow, diapers, a couple waterproof changing pads like others said, some clothes, and whatever you want him to sleep in. And the car seat. I got a Graco and then got the small stroller accessory that the seat snapped into. A cheap umbrella stroller won't be useful until your baby has good muscle control and can sit with assistance, but when they hit that age it's certainly worth it.
I had a couple nursing bras, but in the end I just bought some sports bras and they worked just as good, i put the boob under or over depending on the shirt.
posted by kpht at 6:28 PM on May 20, 2010
OH, and yeah, my kid lived in a tiny room for the first 16 weeks as we got work done on our house. So we were down to the basics, and even then we acquired too much stuff.
posted by kpht at 6:29 PM on May 20, 2010
posted by kpht at 6:29 PM on May 20, 2010
The Ergo sling is very good. It's too big for new infants, really, but lasts forever once they get big enough to use it.
Clothes. The whole idea of acquiring baby clothes is to avoid frequent laundry, I think. k8t has it right for inventory. Before you purchase, I would hit up relatives/friends for clothes for 0 to 1 years. Once you get the garbage bags of clothes delivered, sort them into piles as k8t suggests, and rebag. Otherwise I'd go to thrift stores in posh neighbourhoods and/or Target or similar stores and buy multiple onesies, small t shirts, romper suits, shorts (Nigeria is hot right?). And a sunhat or two.
For books these TyBooks are great for young uns, indestructible, washable, chewable, and take up no space at all. They're basically the thickness of a few sheets of paper. I'd buy two or three.
A cute card mobile is a nice touch for a nursery and will pack easily.
posted by carter at 7:13 PM on May 20, 2010
Clothes. The whole idea of acquiring baby clothes is to avoid frequent laundry, I think. k8t has it right for inventory. Before you purchase, I would hit up relatives/friends for clothes for 0 to 1 years. Once you get the garbage bags of clothes delivered, sort them into piles as k8t suggests, and rebag. Otherwise I'd go to thrift stores in posh neighbourhoods and/or Target or similar stores and buy multiple onesies, small t shirts, romper suits, shorts (Nigeria is hot right?). And a sunhat or two.
For books these TyBooks are great for young uns, indestructible, washable, chewable, and take up no space at all. They're basically the thickness of a few sheets of paper. I'd buy two or three.
A cute card mobile is a nice touch for a nursery and will pack easily.
posted by carter at 7:13 PM on May 20, 2010
Uh, more (as I think about it).
Pharmacy: Pediatrician recommended vitamin drops (ours suggested Poly Vi Sol). Diaper rash cream. Diaper infection cream (Nystatin). Anti-histamine cream. Antibiotic cream. I haven't used body soap w/ jr. up at all until now (he's now 2 years). We use a very mild hair shampoo, mainly to get the food out. Peds. recommend against body soap anyway for the first months.
One of those play mats with an arch of dangly things above it might be portable enough. However you can always improvise these things. IKEA (if you have one) has some cute small cheap stuffed toys.
Maybe a portable LED nightlight?
The one thing we have used over and over again while travelling is a small external speaker for the iPod. You might want to get one that runs off power and batteries. We have an mp3 player with womb music, folk music/children's folk music (Smithsonian, Elizabeth Mitchell), Aphex Twin, nice reggae, bach lute music, other favourites, etc. It relaxes both jr. and us.
posted by carter at 7:57 PM on May 20, 2010
Pharmacy: Pediatrician recommended vitamin drops (ours suggested Poly Vi Sol). Diaper rash cream. Diaper infection cream (Nystatin). Anti-histamine cream. Antibiotic cream. I haven't used body soap w/ jr. up at all until now (he's now 2 years). We use a very mild hair shampoo, mainly to get the food out. Peds. recommend against body soap anyway for the first months.
One of those play mats with an arch of dangly things above it might be portable enough. However you can always improvise these things. IKEA (if you have one) has some cute small cheap stuffed toys.
Maybe a portable LED nightlight?
The one thing we have used over and over again while travelling is a small external speaker for the iPod. You might want to get one that runs off power and batteries. We have an mp3 player with womb music, folk music/children's folk music (Smithsonian, Elizabeth Mitchell), Aphex Twin, nice reggae, bach lute music, other favourites, etc. It relaxes both jr. and us.
posted by carter at 7:57 PM on May 20, 2010
I think k8t's list is about right, but I'd skip the teething tablets. Some babies have a hard time with teething, but not all do. Everyone said teething was the most horrendous thing ever, but my kid never fussed even a little about it. Save teething supplies for when the baby is actually cutting teeth (around 6-8 months). I'd also add a couple of nursing camisoles to the list. I got a couple of these from Target. They're nice to wear to bed, or for other times when you just don't feel like wearing a bra.
posted by lexicakes at 7:59 PM on May 20, 2010
posted by lexicakes at 7:59 PM on May 20, 2010
Eh, if you travel a lot to visit the grandparents a pack and play can be handy. Otherwise, they are just things you have to move around a lot. We leave ours at my inlaws because that was the only time we needed it.
Pick a diaper bag that you really like because you'll be using it for a long time.
If portability is key, get a simple bottle system where you don't have to worry about lots and lots of parts to clean and lose. (We used Born Free, but you could use a multitude of others)
I'll phrase it like this. for the first two months you carry around a lot of garbage everywhere you go to compensate for the total change in your sleep schedule. After that, you figure out that you don't need that much.. of stuff and sleep.
posted by Nanukthedog at 8:00 PM on May 20, 2010
Pick a diaper bag that you really like because you'll be using it for a long time.
If portability is key, get a simple bottle system where you don't have to worry about lots and lots of parts to clean and lose. (We used Born Free, but you could use a multitude of others)
I'll phrase it like this. for the first two months you carry around a lot of garbage everywhere you go to compensate for the total change in your sleep schedule. After that, you figure out that you don't need that much.. of stuff and sleep.
posted by Nanukthedog at 8:00 PM on May 20, 2010
Forget nursing bras - my baby is 15 months old and I am still rocking my nursing tank tops. Every day.
Just had to note that if you go up to a big enough size, you're probably going to need a bra for support. And if you're a gusher, you're probably going to need nursing pads, too. I use Lansinoh's disposables because I'm very prone to mastitis (breast infection) and the disposables don't hold bacteria from previous uses. I use them the whole time I'm nursing, over a year, because I get huge and leak like crazy. I have to sleep with a bath towel to catch the overflow from night nursing, it's absurd.
And then there are people who think the bra-and-nursing-pad is overkill, and can get by with just a bare tank top (I'd have a river of milk down my pants doing that, seriously) so I guess all of this is to nth the idea that you could maybe have a list of different "nursing-related possibilities," and then try to wait until after baby is here, even just a few weeks, until you know better which of the various possibilities you'll need.
Congrats!
posted by palliser at 8:18 PM on May 20, 2010
Just had to note that if you go up to a big enough size, you're probably going to need a bra for support. And if you're a gusher, you're probably going to need nursing pads, too. I use Lansinoh's disposables because I'm very prone to mastitis (breast infection) and the disposables don't hold bacteria from previous uses. I use them the whole time I'm nursing, over a year, because I get huge and leak like crazy. I have to sleep with a bath towel to catch the overflow from night nursing, it's absurd.
And then there are people who think the bra-and-nursing-pad is overkill, and can get by with just a bare tank top (I'd have a river of milk down my pants doing that, seriously) so I guess all of this is to nth the idea that you could maybe have a list of different "nursing-related possibilities," and then try to wait until after baby is here, even just a few weeks, until you know better which of the various possibilities you'll need.
Congrats!
posted by palliser at 8:18 PM on May 20, 2010
Yes, with clothes especially, reach out to your networks. I was BEGGING people to take my baby clothes from my. I was so excited when my sister-in-law got pregnant right after our kid was born. I just box it up and go. Then when her kid is done, she boxes it up and sends it to my other friend.
posted by k8t at 9:49 PM on May 20, 2010
posted by k8t at 9:49 PM on May 20, 2010
Seconding nursing tanks over nursing bras. I only needed nursing pads for the first couple of months, then everything settled down and I didn't leak any more, but of course YMMV. The point about tanks not being very supportive is good, depends on your size. The most supportive tanks are the Bravado ones, the cheapest and best for everyday use are the Target ones (linked above) and my favourite ones are the Glamormom ones.
I haven't really ever used a pack and play, and those things are bloody huge, even when packed up. I used the bouncy seat, with a vibrate function. The plopped baby down on a playmat with an arch and dangly toys. Very portable, but not for sleeping in. If you co-sleep then this isn't an issue.
Nthing cloth diapers as burp cloths and general absorbent things. I bought a changing pad that folds up and gets stuffed in a bag, so you don't need a diaper bag (which are all ridiculously overpriced).
All babies really need are some clothes, somewhere to sleep, food (your boobs are the most portable food supply ever! but no guarantees breastfeeding works out) diapers and lots of love.
posted by Joh at 11:44 PM on May 20, 2010
I haven't really ever used a pack and play, and those things are bloody huge, even when packed up. I used the bouncy seat, with a vibrate function. The plopped baby down on a playmat with an arch and dangly toys. Very portable, but not for sleeping in. If you co-sleep then this isn't an issue.
Nthing cloth diapers as burp cloths and general absorbent things. I bought a changing pad that folds up and gets stuffed in a bag, so you don't need a diaper bag (which are all ridiculously overpriced).
All babies really need are some clothes, somewhere to sleep, food (your boobs are the most portable food supply ever! but no guarantees breastfeeding works out) diapers and lots of love.
posted by Joh at 11:44 PM on May 20, 2010
I cannot think of anything less flattering to a postpartum figure than a nursing tank.
Whaaaaaa? A plain black tank with a little tightness to hold in the belly? Better, IMO, than a shapeless sack or something with an empire waist that'll make a woman look like she's still pregnant.
Note: you can totally use leak pads with a nursing tank and I, as a DD, found mine supportive enough for everyday. I don't know how it would work for someone bigger, though. And I work from home and spend time with casual folks. Nursing tanks will create the "uniboob" (think sports bra) so I'm talking function and comfort over form.
posted by Never teh Bride at 6:13 AM on May 21, 2010
Whaaaaaa? A plain black tank with a little tightness to hold in the belly? Better, IMO, than a shapeless sack or something with an empire waist that'll make a woman look like she's still pregnant.
Note: you can totally use leak pads with a nursing tank and I, as a DD, found mine supportive enough for everyday. I don't know how it would work for someone bigger, though. And I work from home and spend time with casual folks. Nursing tanks will create the "uniboob" (think sports bra) so I'm talking function and comfort over form.
posted by Never teh Bride at 6:13 AM on May 21, 2010
Oh, and wrt "baby towels," as someone who comes from a family with 7+ kids, I will never understand these. As long as your regular towels are not hugely thick and also made of burlap, there's no reason you can't dry a baby with a regular towel (wrap em up in it!) or even a tea towel if you want something thinner for the foldy parts.
posted by Never teh Bride at 6:24 AM on May 21, 2010
posted by Never teh Bride at 6:24 AM on May 21, 2010
I agree with doing as much of your shopping after the baby comes as is possible. I understand that certain things will be hard to get in Nigeria, but there are probably certain things in Nigeria that make a new mom's life easier that don't exist in Canada. (Ex: there's this baby hammock thing they use in Southern India that our boy *loves* and we just can't find one here.) If the most important consideration is portability, then the last thing you need is a bunch of crap you won't use. Our house is full of stuff we thought Baby Bartfast *needed* but never used.
But what I really came here to say, is that we bought first a Moby, then a Bjorn, before we discovered that the Ergo is the way to go, just way more comfortable for everyone. They make an insert for newborns and you can use the Ergo til the kids like 2 years old.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 1:51 PM on May 22, 2010
But what I really came here to say, is that we bought first a Moby, then a Bjorn, before we discovered that the Ergo is the way to go, just way more comfortable for everyone. They make an insert for newborns and you can use the Ergo til the kids like 2 years old.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 1:51 PM on May 22, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by otherwordlyglow at 11:53 AM on May 20, 2010 [2 favorites]