Tuesday, December 16, 2008

How much does one baby need?

I need your help.

Casey and I have nothing for Ginger.
Nothing.
And considering I'm now in my third trimester
I am feeling the pressure.

The lists of crap necessities these baby books
recommend are endless.

But I know there is no way I need all this stuff.

So please... I would love your input.
What do I really need, and what can I live without.

And... What do you know now, that you wish you knew when you had your first newborn?

19 comments:

Kristina P. said...

I am of no help. Except diapers. Lots and lots of diapers.

Unknown said...

whoever hosts your baby shower you should put on the invite to bring a bag a diapers for a chance to win a prize and draw a name during the shower and give that oerson a little gift, trust me we did at mine I got enough diapers to last till logan was 6 months old!! it was worth it!

Whitney R said...

Oooo, swans have a GREAT idea! And let me know when your shower is because I doubt I'll be able to make it but you still get the benefits of me being your friend :)

Don't buy TONS of newborn clothes. You need a lot of onsies. They grow out of clothes SO FAST, but they also go through like 3 to 5 or more outfits a day depending on how spitupy your princess is or if she isn't as dainty as she looks and poops out of her diapers.

But what do I know!

Ashley Outnumbered said...

Honestly, I was like you....waited and then panicked. It really hasn't been a big deal though. I know a lot of people say to stock up on diapers and wipes, but I disagree. You don't know when your kid is going to graduate to the next size, and who wants to store a bunch of small diapers? We didn't get a lot of diapers/wipes, and we just go buy one Costco box at a time. Kade has changed sizes very different from what the box says he should be wearing. When we runs low, we just go pick up another. It's not too expensive (like $30 diapers/$15 wipes), and I'm totally loving the diapers/wipes compared to the major brands.

I agree with Whit on the clothes. You'll get a bunch of clothes from your showers, and they will be more than enough. It's weird how your kids don't fit in the sizes they should by the time the season ends (translation: Kade has a ton of summer clothes that he never grew into before the snow set in--even though they were "supposed" to fit). With the clothes too, you can just pick up what you need here and there. We buy like 3 pairs of pants for Kade, and then when he grows out, we just go pick up another 3. If you like namebrands for you kids, I've found the best stuff at Dillard's on their clearance racks. They are awesome! Now everytime I go to the mall, I hit the Dillard's racks.

Geez, my advice (and comment) could go on and on. Basically I would say to just relax. It's not going to all come at you so fast that you won't have time to breath (and go out and buy as needed). I really did get panicked (we were trying to sell a house at the same time), and looking back, I realized we had everything we needed....and it wasn't much. Plus, you don't want to end up with a bunch of supposed "must-haves" that your baby ends up not even liking. Relax. Enjoy the end of your preganancy and the first few weeks of life. Everything will fall into place, and you'll be so surprised at how little your baby actually requires from you (materially). If you ever have any other questions, or want advice on products, etc, feel free to email me. I'm so excited for you!

I'm with Whit. Let us know when your shower is. I probably won't be there, but I could send something in lieu of my presence (wink, wink).

And the longest comment ever comes to a close.

Victoria Elder said...

Well babies in the begining only where onsies & little pants, best size is 0-3 months, we only got dax about 4 newborn things cause they only lasted less than a month. 0-3 he stayed in till about 5 months. I would get a few blankets that you can use to swaddle, a bottle or 2 just in case, hygiene neccessities, bibs & burb cloths, also those sleep sack pj's are amazing for late night diaper changes makes it so much faster & easy when your exhausted.
I also LOVE slings thats something I reccomend for everyone to get! I have a peanutshell brand which I love, I still use it to this day! it's nice cause you can pop the baby in it & go hands free about your day cleaning & blogging, & what not :) They can be used up to 36lbs!

Anonymous said...

i totally posted about this awhile ago for my friend in new york. check it out: http://ankrobertson.blogspot.com/2008/06/all-essentials.html
i hope this is helpful!!

i panicked when i was pregnant too. so i decided to have my sister sign into my registry and take-off or add whatever i would REALLY need.

i think we did pretty well. we didn't over buy. we took some gifts back. there was not one thing that we haven't used.

i am more than willing to help. i am be your pretend sister!!

aubri said...

Okay, so it looks like you got good advice on everything to get! I don't ever think you can have too many clothes though...especially since it's your first, I say just have fun with it!

Okay, so I just wrote out a whole thing and realized that it sounded negative and having a baby is SO not a negative thing! Just kinda hard sometimes but ALWAYS so worth it!

Here are some things I recommend you do buy: Mylicon (infants' gas relief drops) It works miracles!, Lanolin (if you decide to breast feed) I'd recommend that you start using this now to help you later on, a really good thermometer (If you're like me you might stress at every slight change in your baby's temp. so if you have a nice one it'll help ease your stress!), a swing...most people say they don't invest in these but mine saved my life the first few months:), mucho bibs if she spits up a lot- this way you don't have to keep changing her clothes, and a toy to hang on her carseat to keep her occupied when she's alone back there!

Okay, I know that I'll think of a million more things later so don't be shocked when you get really random comments from me!

One more thing, go on lots of dates with Casey now :)

Corynn said...

This is not a question you can just leave a short one or two sentence answer to. I agree with a lot of things. Diapers are good, but you don't know when they will change sizes and when they are little it is hard to make it work or keep them in a size that is not what they should be in because that equals a leaking diaper everytime they poop. I waited to see what I got at my baby shower and then when shopping and filled in from there. I had my baby shower 3 weeks before my due date and I was having anxiety about it too, but you save money that way. You always get small clothes at your shower. 0-3, 3-6, and some 6-9 for the most part. So you shouldn't have to buy too much if anything in those sizes. I never did with either one of my kids and I had plenty of outfits to choose from. Hopefully you'll get some hand me downs from your in laws. I bought every baby thing. A swing, bouncer, exersaucer, baby bjorn, pack n play. You don't need all that crap. If you get a swing get the small ones. Basically all those are is something to put your kid down in for a little bit so you can get something done. Having all those means you have to store all those, and most of them don't store that great. So pick one and make it one that can be easily moved to different places in your house. Someone commented on the sling I like mine a lot too. The diapers from Costco are the bomb. They are like the Huggies Baby dry. You have to becareful when it comes to cheap diapers, because a lot of times they don't save you money. They are like $35 and $15 for wipes which is always painful for me when I check out and I have just spent $50 something bucks on cleaning my kids ace, but they last about a month- month and a half. So consider that also when buying there if your kid is close to moving up a size. If your going to breastfeed you have to decide now and decide to stay commited or you won't do it. It's not easy, but it's worth it. Oh yeah this is kind of gross, but after Drae I remember thinking what the hell nobody told me about the recovery. It sucks, it hurts. I remember Julia telling me to take some stool softners towards they end and I was like thanks, but no thanks Julia. Seriously take some stool softners. Or I promise you will be crying and tramatized after your first crap. Just do it. Ok now that I've covered just a few things I guess I'll end here.

kurt and ash said...

ahhh... my sweet baby Ginger... I have no advice, seeing I have no real experience, but I do have to say that I can not wait for that baby to get here!!! She will be the most fashion forward newborn vegas has ever seen!!!

amber belmonte said...

lmao @ corynn! where was she after i had taylor?! her advice was perfect + i already gave you my two cents. :)

yay for babies!

Victoria Elder said...

oh my heck corynn's advice amazing on the recovery, load up on those stool softeners it's almost the worst part of having a baby!
lol! loved it!

Jo said...

A swing, and a good baby carrier, like a sling or a maya wrap. Invaluable! I also put a basket with some wipes and a few diapers in the living room, so I didn't have to run to the bedroom everytime the kid needed to get changed. Good luck!

Cheryl Whitney said...

I wish someone would have told me..."VERTICLE....NOT HORIZONTAL"!!!

Chelsea said...

I'm a stranger to you, but I know Amber. I have 2 kiddies, and one on the way. My Biggest recommendations-- Do the Costco Wipes, and by your diapers there (once the baby is big enough, they don't start at newborn) But don't get a bunch of Crazy gadgets. You wont use most of them. I do recommend a Diaper Dekor (or genie) cause the beginning they "go" so much you end up taking a million diapers out, this way you just sick them in the trash.When it comes to bath stuff, the baby towels aren't that great, unless you get the bigger size and it can be used for a long time. And the Clothes, you will get some, and want to buy some, just don't go crazy with LOTS cause they grow super fast in the first year! You will buy too many 3mo and they will grow out of it before they got to wear it! My Mommy Tricks, I can't stress enough how much I love swaddle blankets. For the first 3 months they save my life! http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2265544 is the link to my FAVORITE ones! The next BIG thing for me is http://wearyourbaby.com/Default.aspx?tabid=180 I know it is the WIERDEST looking thing, I'm no crazy naturalist, but I used this all the time with my son, it is the ONLY thing that you can wear for hours on end! My back never would hurt. We did disneyland with it, and had NO problem. It is a "wrap" and you just have to get 5 yards of fabric from a fabric store, cut in lengthwise, and you have 2 wraps. (just don't get anything with any stretch.) Seriously, the best. I own 2 backpacks, a sling, and this is the BEST thing. It is what women in africa and places like that use. The best. Otherwise, Good luck!!!!

lacie tidwell said...

Hey Ali, found your blog through Amber's- I just had a baby girl two months ago so I thought I'd put my two cents in- cuz its fun! A lot of it is trial and error. I did the diaper thing at my shower and it was AWESOME- you get a lot of diapers and lots of variety do you find what you like and what works best for you (we like pampers cuz they cater to taller skinner babies and have a blue pee strip indicater which is nice) huggies cater to fatter, chubbier babies- and Hailyn wore all the diapers she got- why waste them? If I'm going to spend money, I know what I like now.
Get a few bottles- make sure they have newborn nipples
Nipple shields were my life saver breast feeding!
So was a boppy!
You're having a girl so you won't need to buy any clothes- seriosuly.
Desitin, powder, baby was (I like lavender- is smells nice) nail clippers, beanies, brush for her hair, lotion (again lavender), I have a baby bather which is nice- not the big bulky plastic one but a small mesh one I set in the bathtub, one hand on baby, one to cleanse- it was like $14 at Babies R us and I got it for ten cause I registered there- you get discounts
I love my bouncer!
I got a swing from my cousin- again they grow out of stuff quickly its not worth buying one for $60-160 bucks- but it is nice having one!
Wipe warmer- don't need one and everyone tried to convince me I did
pascifiers- get a variety of ones- newborn sizes- you'll find which ones you like- same with bottles (for us its Nuks and Avent/Dr. Browns)
LOTS of bibs and burp cloths!
Lanolin cream and breast pads- I like Lanisoh- Gerber sucks!
binky clips- took mine back- waste of money for me
Infants Tylenol, Motrin, Myclolin gas drops- lifesaver!
when they start to teeth baby orajel- mine just started at two months!
Ok, now for advice! Always take everyone's advice with a grain of salt- old people will always offer unwanted advice and may make you feel you are doing soemthing wrong- you're NOT! You're her mom and you;ll find what works best for you and your baby and your family! Oh, I read Baby Wise- it's great- get's your baby on a schedule so you can have a life and baby is happy and content- I recommend it!Wow I could write a novel- sorry- I'm just living this now! Lots of info! Ok, if your baby is changed, fed, burped, has no fever or anything wrapeed around her fingers or toes, safely put her in her crib and its ok to let her cry- oh I got a bassinet and ended up returning it- I put her in her crib in her room from day one and it was fine- with baby monitors and instinct you will know when your baby needs you- it's been awesome! Oh, anyhow, it's ok to let her cry for five, ten twenty minutes. It's good for her lungs. In the middle of the night, stop and go to the bathroom when she cries, she may put herself back to sleep.
Ok what I wish people told me...
After birth, you will have to 'push out' the afterbirht- it still hurts. You may get stiches and they do hurt after. It hurts to use the bathroom for a while after (Tucks, witchhazel, massive pads- get them- also get the big pads to lay down on couches (like the ones in the hospital) your bed, chairs you feed her in) spotting does occur- agh! They will push down on your stomach to shrink the uterus back down- it hurts. You will still have to do Keigels everyday after birth- ugh. Oh, take all the stuff they give you in the hospital. The baby wash, diaoers, the baby bulb to get snot out, thermometer, pacfiers, wipes, those extra sheets you lay on in bed- they will charge you/your insurance for it anyway- you may as well take it- its yours!Oh most important, take care of yourself! It's easy to get wrapped up on taking care of your baby and I ended up in the hospital after three weeks of having her because of dehydration- UTI's, loss of blood, all of that can happen- take care of yourself! AS far as stuff, I was freaking out becasue a week before she came we still didn't have a mattress pad, ect. Guess what? When you get closer people will ask you what you still need and bam- it will all come together! I hope you are getting info you can use- CONGRATULATIONS and don't worry- these things have a way of coming together!

ABBOTTLAND said...

These are the things I couldn't survive without when I have a newborn...diapers, I choose Pampers from the start, they are reliable and last through the whole night. Don't buy a lot of newborn sized diapers, they grow out of them quick. Bottles; I have formula fed and now I'm nursing Niamh for the first time. I pump my milk too and bottle feed, like at church and places where I don't want to nurse in public. I bought a really expensive electric Medela pump and it's crap. I recommend a hand pump. I like the Playtex nurser brand of bottles. Bibs and burp cloths. The hospital will give you diapers, wipes, the nose aspirator to help suck out mucus from the nose. A comb for the dry stuff that gets on the babys scalp, a pacifier. They'll give you alcohol wipes for the babys umbilical cord, but Niamhs took about 6 weeks to fall off, so I had to buy some at walmart. Mylicon drops are great if the baby has gas and they are natural. There was a recall on them in November, but I think they are okay to buy now. Diaper cream; always good to have at the first sign of redness. I use Desitin. Blankets. I got tons of onesies and seriously she will never wear most of them. I'd say a good 7 for each agegroup(Newborn, 3-6 months, etc.) I'm sure you will get tons of clothes at your shower and from friends and family, but this is your first baby and a little girl at that, so just have fun, like Aubri said. They have such cute clothes for girls. I love gymboree. They are a little expensive, but I shop their sales. Also, Target, Walmart, Ross, Babysrus. I could not live without my bouncer right now, Niamh loves it and sleeps all day in it. She also loves her swing and it is a lifesaver when you need to get stuff done. You will find you don't have to have everything from the beginning. I hope this helps and if you have any more questions, let me know. Can't wait to see your little princess.
~Mandy

Brazil's Girl said...

Glad to know I'm not the only stranger here, I also found your blog through Amber's.

You will probably end up buying everything that those lists have. No, not really, but a lot of it. I was the same way when I had my first son. 1 month before he was born I finally ended up buying his furniture! I would definitely get a wipes warmer, BPA free bottles, and I personally would buy all the clothes myself. But I'm really picky about the style I want for my kids. I'm not into the super babyish clothes. Also like someone else said, get a wrap or Baby Bjorn those are awesome.

Good luck!

Anonymous said...

Again, another blog stalker who found you through Amber!

When I was pregnant with my daughter, I bought everything I could find and then returned so much stuff after she was born that we never used.

Things to have when your little girl first comes home [don't worry, I am not including anything about afterbirth here]

one pack of newborn diapers [the hospital will give you some as well], bpa free bottles, burp cloths, sensitive wipes, onesies, pajamas, mylicon drops, a bouncer with the vibrating option, a swing and a couple swaddling blankets

You don't need anything fancy like a wipe warmer or newborn jeans or sweaters! After Andrea did her list of must-have baby 'crap', I made my own. Everyone has an opinion, take it with a grain of salt and pick what you feel you will use!!!

http://korrs04.blogspot.com/2008/06/items-i-loved.html

The iLLMaTiC said...

Don't stress over the simple things in life.

Basically, a baby is a person... Give the child some leftovers, a loving spank with some B Powder and let the music of rockband put that child to sleep. Call me if you need help with the last one, i'd be glad to come over and assist.