What Do I Need??

two things Baby wipe warmer and side snap t shirts. I hated the onsies. The onsies are so difficult to get over their heads! I like the side snap kimono stylr t shirts. Gerber used to make them. I got some at mervyn's years (6) ago.

A Baby Bjorn...buy the Baby Bjorn brand. I have 2 children and used a knock off carrier for my first and the bjorn for my second. The bjorn was so much better, for baby and the person doing the carrying. Makes housework a breeze when you have a baby that loves being held!

My 2 mo old can't live without his bouncy chair and his swing (baby papasan- swings 2 ways, lights, music...) Good luck :)

The first shower you have after labor feels like the best shower of your life despite the fact your hobbling around in it. Buy yourself some nice soaps! I bought some little herbal essences travel soaps and travel size oil of olay body wash and it felt like a godsend in that first shower. Don't bring anything in your hospital bag that you are afraid to lose!! And don't forget to bring a toothbrush and toothpaste!

Other things that I loved:
Lansinoh brand lanolin, nursing pads, and breast milk storage bags.
Tucks medicated wipes.
Dermoplast pain relieving spray for direct application!!!!
and if you are taking narcotic painkillers afterwards then don't forget your stool softener, all narcotics make you constipated and if you rip badly like I did being constipated is the last thing you want.
Also after giving birth try to take short walks, whatever you are comfortable with to help with the swelling in your feet.

There are so many wonderful tips here! Please try to read them all!
1) Comfrey tea to stop the bleeding after birth. This was a suggestion from my midwives and all you have to do is buy dry comfry leaves from a health food store, boil 3 qts of water, put in a handful of leaves, and let it steep for about 30 min before straining. Have someone else do this for you and drink hot or cold in the first few days after birth. Make sure to put the rest in the fridge.
2) a mommy group: check before your birth with your hospital, or in a local parenting magazine you can find at some baby stores, or check online at www.meetup.com or www.cafemoms.com or www.lalecheleague.com or even www.craigslist.com for a local group. Kaiser & Sutter here both have new moms groups that meet weekly for free and you don’t even have to belong to their medical group! I think a new mom’s mental health is greatly improved by talking to other moms that are going through the same thing and it’s really nice to gather a group of similar aged children for your baby to play with as he or she grows. Go to a meeting or 2 while you are still pregnant to see how the group works, ask questions & make some connections that you can call for help after baby is born and see if the group fits your style: every group is different, so keep looking till you find one that works. Just look at the responses you’ve gotten: Aren’t other mommies great! They really like to share what works if you just ask.
3) People may ask what they can do to help. Don’t be shy. Take them up on the offer with a very specific suggestion in the first few weeks or in the first few weeks after your partner returns to work if you have a partner who will stay home from work a few weeks to help you : Could you bring a dinner on this night? Or this week? Or ask them to pick up a few of your grocery items when they go shopping for themselves. You can write them a check when they bring your bag of food to you.
4) Gather some good websites for info: http://www.askdrsears.com/ (med. Advice, sleep advice, babywearing…), www.mamatoto.org (info site to all kinds of baby carriers), www.kellymom.com (info site on breastfeeding & parenting.)
5) Learn to nurse laying down. It will save you from having to wake up all the way and sit up until baby is done. You can learn to go right back to sleep, especially when baby stops pooping at night and you can just leave him in a good quality (wet) diaper all night, just change in the morning.
6) rub olive oil on baby’s bottom at diaper changes, all natural, protects from wetness, and helps get off the meconium poo in the beginning (also advice from my midwives)
7) advice/info: how to set up your diaper bag and changing station ahead of time, plan to stay in your jammies (so everyone knows you are in recovery) in bed for a week, on the bed/couch for a week and near the bed/couch for a week: that will remind you not to do to much & tell your partner about it ahead of time so he’s prepared for helping you, where to go out to eat that has a diaper changer in the restroom & where to go to nurse & diaper when you’re out shopping (surprising lack of changers & comfy seats)
8) baby book or calendar to record all the wonderful moments, it’s nice to be able to look back at what you can’t remember because your brain was in a fog…keep it and a pen in a place you will easily see it, like by the changing table or nursing station
9) Keep a notepad & pen by your nursing place to write down your thoughts, things to do, grocery list, etc. before you forget. I was using one hand to hold baby and one hand on my breast so my husband bought me small tape recorder. That allowed me to record some baby noises and later talking too. I also recorded the songs I made up so I could remember them. Keep pillows to support your back and arms, even though you already have a nursing pillow. A nursing stool is really wonderful. It provides you with a lap and it’s at an angle so it’s more comfortable that a regular stool.

I had a very big "aha" experience traveling on a
bus in southern Mexico. There was a cute Indian
woman traveling in the bus, sitting just in front
of us. It was a 3-hour trip. I noticed that she
had no plastic shell to carry her 9-month-old in.
Just a simple rebozo (a Mexican shawl).
She didn't have a diaper bag, either. Just a normal
ladie's purse in which I spied a plastic bag and a
cloth diaper. She breast-fed him twice on the trip. He
slept most of the rest of the time. Maybe from
the swaying effect of the bus. She was traveling alone
on the bus, and didn't seem to need any help from any-
one and was very calm and unrattled.

The "aha" was that babies don't need a lot of Stuff.
And that American babies have too much Stuff, much of
it distancing the babe from his/her Mommy.

So, I would say, keep it simple. Only get what you need
when you really need it. You probably already have more
than you need.

God bless, Grandma N.

For baby: Mylicon gas drops, a square flannel blanket for swaddling and a good crib toy (I've got the little einstien turtle.)

For mom: good slippers that stay on your feet (no open backs) and have no-slip bottoms for those 3am feedings, a warm robe, easy grab and eat foods (trail mix, granola bars etc.)for when you need something but have no time/energy to actually make food and a DVR to record decent TV so you don't get stuck watching infomercials during those 3am feedings

For dad: Food he can cook for mom.

Good luck and congratulations!

Many congratulations, it's so exciting!! You will receive a zillion responses from this posting and they will all be different because needs, as you know, are unique to each person. Having said that, I could not have made dinner EVER if I didn't have an excersaucer. I also relied on my baby-to-toddler chair. When we traveled I would take it with use to use as a high chair.
Best of luck to you and the daddy!!

Hi, Joceyln & congratulations. Such an exciting time. I'm the first-time mom of a 3-month-old boy, so I know exactly what you're going through.

The one thing I couldn't live without is my Boppy (the same as a Breast Friend). That said, there are quite a few things - some convential, some weird - that have helped us quite a bit.

First, I'd recommend reading "The Happiest Baby on the Block" by Karp and "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" by Weissbluth BEFORE you have the baby. We read the book by Karp beforehand and it was very helpful to us in understanding our baby. The other book we didn't read beforehand, so we're trying to read as we go along - not always an easy thing to do.

Next, if you don't already have one, get a nice, cozy robe for yourself (and hubby, too, if he'll be getting up in the middle of the night.) You'll appreciate the warmth and baby will appreciate snuggling in it.

Do you have a rocker? I know they're high-ticket items (we got a hand-me-down) but very helpful. I don't know where you live, but if you're in Napa, check out "4 Kids Sake" which is a great consignment shop for baby/kid items.

Now, two things that we couldn't have lived without but didn't realize it - a stability exercise ball and our vacuum cleaner. I can't tell you how many hours hubby & I spent on the stability ball bouncing with Jack. It was amazing - he would instantly stop crying as soon as we started bouncing. Then, a few weeks later, we realized that turning on the vacuum cleaner had (and still has) the same effect ... as does the fan in the bathroom, the vent in the kitchen, the hair dryer ...

Another gadget we have is called "Itz-been" and it's a little electronic device where you can keep track of how long since the last feeding, diaper change, nap ... some of our friends really gave us grief for using it, but it really was helpful to us. It's not always easy to remember those details & it helped when the baby was crying to look & see how long since he last ate (b/c I sure couldn't remember!) and know that he was probably hungry as opposed to tired or needing a change.

Let's see, what else? (Sick of me yet?) I don't know what your hubby's situation at work is, but my hubby was able to be off a little over 2 months and it was WONDERFUL. Don't know how I would have done it without him. The first 6 weeks were paid disability (just like for the mom) through the EDD - yes, dads are entitled to paternity leave, it's just not very well advertised. His work made up the difference between the disability payment & his salary by using his sick time. He then added on some vacation time to stretch it out. Something to think about and check into if it interests you.

Also, if you are in the Napa area, there's a program called "Welcome Every Baby" that is free to all new families in the county, regardless of insurance carrier. Through this program a nurse will come to visit your home several times after baby is born, just to make sure everything is going ok & to answer any questions. It really is a great resource.

The two best pieces of advice I got were:
1. Sleep when the baby is sleeping.

It's so true. You are going to want to do other things - clean, laundry, phone calls, etc. Don't do it. The only thing you really need to do is shower. Skip the hair & makeup for now. You have no way of knowing what tired is right now. People tell you, but until you're living with a newborn - no matter how good the baby is - you are going to be tired. And I'm not saying this to be negative, it's just something that I wish I could have understood beforehand. At our first baby appt. the nurse told me that my job was to feed the baby, feed myself; clean the baby, clean myself; and sleep. I specifically remember her saying not to answer the phone & not to write out thank you cards. So we kept a log of phone messages and gifts received and after a few weeks we started to take care of them & they do get done eventually. And people understand.

2. Let people help.

If you have friends/family in the area, let them help. They really want to - especially if they've already had a baby, they understand and it's part of paying it forward. A group of our friends got together and organized dinners for us. Every couple of days somebody would bring us dinner with enough for leftovers or to freeze. Other friends would come over & do laundry. Others would come over & just hold the baby so we could sleep. It's hard to let go of control of your household for a while - and no, your towels won't be folded the way you like & you may have to look for things that were put away in a different place in the kitchen, but seriously, let them help. I cooked quite a bit before the baby was born - doubled recipes & put the portion we didn't eat that night in the freezer. Big help.

You might want to get a few small packages of diapers until you figure out which ones you like. We went with Pampers Swaddlers. Same with bottles if you'll be using them. We got a whole bunch of the same kind of bottle to feed pumped breast milk for when I go back to work - and he hated them. We had one of a different brand (Dr. Brown's) that someone had given us. I finally broke it out & gave it a try and Jack took to it like a champ. Basically, you're going to go through a lot of trial & error with many things.

Okay, I've gone on waaaay too long. As you can see, I'm so excited to share what I've learned and hope that something may be of help you. I'll stop now, but feel free to e-mail me if you have any other questions.

Good luck & Enjoy!!
D. M.

You need Baby Moon!
www.cherubtyme.com

Also
http://birthnetworkmonterey.googlepages.com

A sling!! I found this to be an invaluable way to carry my daughters, through their whole first year. I've seen two types: a long narrow cloth with two rings that close it at the shoulder or a long cloth that's sewn in a circle, like those old fashioned towels in public bathrooms. The sling cradles your baby in a way that might look cramped to you but feels snug and protected to baby. And leaves your hands free for, well, the rest of what you need to do when she wants to be held for hours on end. I did a bunch of travelling, too, with newborns and found it a super way to hold the baby against me in the seat, while not worrying about falling asleep myself and loosening my hold. My husband loved holding our daughters like this, too.

Good luck!
J. P.

With my daughter the swing was the best but my son hated it. A moby wrap is a carrier that can be used right away and both of my children loved it. My son was early and had health problems and he was only happy wrapped and against my bady for months. A boppy pillow is a must for breast feeding. A floor mat with toys that hang from above is great to have. Ours was a verry simple old version and both kids still loved it. When my son was born we got a bunch of meals premade and frozen and that was a huge help. The baby book from Dr. Sears and what to expect the first year are the two books I could not live without.
Good Luck and Congatulations

J.,

Congratulations! I have a 2.5 month old boy and I am loving every minute.

It may seem crazy, but the itzbeen timer was a godsend for us the first month (after that you have a rhythm and don't need it as much). It helps you keep track of when the baby last ate, was changed, slept, which side you fed him from, etc. It's about $25 and you can get it on amazon.

Also our friends got us these little clothes by absorba that really help for breastfeeding (I use them to wipe his mouth when milk dribbles and to wipe my breast when he's done). They are really soft. I don't know where to find them, but if you can, they are great. Cloth diapers work well, too.

My son loves his activity mat, by Tiny Love, as well as the tiny love mobile.

I'm a huge fan of Lily Padz. All the other nursing pads I've used were visible under clothing and got really messy. The Lily padz are reusable, too.

Also, make sure you have pants! We got so many onesies and only realized after he was born that we needed more pants.

I don't have one but my friends who live on two floors or one one long floor love the ubi changer as a 2nd changing station.

I'm sure there are things I'm forgetting but hopefully this helps!

Best,
J.

I loved the wipe warmer and the boppy pillow.

A little about me:
I am a stay at home mom that does in home wine tastings for wineshop at home. Mom to Kylie 3 & Ethan 2

Hi there, the one thing that made things easier for me was my co-sleeper. Late night breasfeeding was not so bad because I didn't have to get out of bed. I also love the nursing cover by Hooter Hiders. (yeah i know, they should have given it a different name) but it works great. Oh, both of my boys loved their bouncer.

I see you have had a ton of responses, I don't have time to read them, so sorry if I repeat things but I wanted to share what were lifesavers for me.

I'm not sure what a "breast friend" is but I would recommend a boppy or something similar if you plan to breast feed. I loved it and used it every feeding. Also a Bjorn or some other sort of carrier. I would put my son in it to even do things around the house like vacuuming and laundry. My number one recommendation is the Miracle Blanket. It's a swaddling blanket and definitely is a miracle. For the first 2 months we swaddled my son with receiving blankets and during the night he'd wake up every 2 hours. The first night we used the Miracle Blanket he slept for 5 hours straight and only improved from there. It is now my go to gift for baby showers.

Congrats on the baby, you're going to have so much fun!

Breast feeding bra's and pj's! That was a major oversight of mine and I was given one set that I lived in for the first few weeks. Congratulations!

ERgo infant carrier or any other one that you like. I can't live without it. i have been using it for my newborn son since birth. He was a big baby so he fit in it without the infant insert. Even with a bad back, I am able to wear this one comfortably. I couldn't do it with my first two children, so I am glad that a friend recommended this one.

Oh...also, my electric breast pump. I was and am committed to strictly breastfeeding with no supplements. That pump has been a lifesaver. Another thing I didn't have with my first two...what was I thinking.

For breastfeeding...breastmilk storage bags, breast pads, nursing bras - plenty, dedication....I nursed all three of mine and didn't have any problems with any of them latching on...But, I know it is difficult for some so just be patient and don't give up. give yourself and the baby time to figure things out but, don't beat yourself up if it doesn't work. La Leche League is always a good source for information and problem solving.

As for PRODUCTS, you'll figure out what you need as you go along. All babies have different needs and preferences which you will find out about soon. (I, for example, regret buying a crib because it turned out my baby liked to sleep with me. She didn't need her own furniture, her own room, just mom and dad.) I would recommend a sling, though, one that can travel easily wherever you go like the New Native. You can always pull it out at a moment's notice to hold your baby close and soothe, if you're not already wearing your baby, that is. :)

What's more important than products, is SUPPORT. In your mind, line up who you feel comfortable having near you and who you don't feel comfortable having near you. Who nurtures you? Who criticizes you? Plan to politely exclude those who bring you down. You need to NOT have those people around those first couple months after you have your baby.

As for SPECIFIC SUPPORT, I'd recommend that if you want to nurse, as it seems you do if you've got a breast friend, get to know 2 specialists now - one, a La Leche League Leader, and second, a lactation consultant who lives near you. Have their names and phone numbers handy so that you know you can reach them if you need them. Hopefully, you won't need them, but if you do, the last thing you need is to be flipping through a phonebook or going on a goosechase to find someone.

Oh, one more PRODUCT reference - if you're going back to work or school, the best pump at the best price is the Ameda Purely Yours. It is better than the Medela Pump In Style & almost HALF the price.

Best wishes!!!! You're going to love your baby and your baby is going to love you!

a bouncy seat - nothing fancy, but a great place to put the babe once you've got them swaddled and snoozing. best of all, you can put it wherever you want and can bounce it with your foot while sitting down!

hi J., for my first baby i loved the nursing pillow the "boppie" and a lambs wool for the carseat and crib. Other that materialistic things, you need to have time. Time to sit and hold you baby while they sleep, time to watch each new smile & coo, time to be with your new little family and reflect on what is really important in life. The time will go by so fast and before you know it you won't have the time to just sit and watch your baby sleep, you will be going to school meetings, cooking and laundry constantly, then they are off in the world and you wish you had that time back to sit and hold your baby while they slept. good luck and take care. enjoy each and every moment. children are the greatest blessing.

First of all CONGRATS! What an exciting time for you. I would say, as a mom of two girls who opened a store for mommies after her first, the things I wish I would have done the FIRST time were; attend a brestfeeding class, I thought, what's to know, boob baby, end of story. Well it wasn't so easy for me, I took one the second time around and what a difference. Having a couple of GOOD pretty nursing bras, and if I could do it ALL OVER AGAIN I would have a DOULA! And MOST IMPORTANTLY, I would have RESTED for at LEAST TWO WEEKS after the baby was born. Make a plan with friends and family so that you don't have to do ANYTHING but recover and nurse and BOND with your baby. There's more, but I don't want to sound like a comercial. Congrats again, take a deep breath and know everythings going to be great. You are already a great mom!

We couldn't live without a bouncer the first 7 months, I have the pink Boppy bouncer that I received as a gift from Target and it is the best and under $50. I would put my daughter in her bouncer while I was cooking, at the dinner table, when I get ready to go to work, and even brought her in the bathroom while I took a shower. Some of my friends used the car seat but my daughter hated her car seat. Hope this helps!

A few things I would suggest are extra baby mittens and extra baby socks. They always seem to get lost. I love the baby sleep sacks (with long sleeves) especially right now since it's cold. And sometimes in the first few weeks besides waking up in the middle of the night to eat, they wake up because they are cold. Once I started bundling up my baby he slept a little longer every night and by 3 months was at least sleeping 6-7 hours a night.

A couple of must haves are a swing (I like the small portable swing). This way you can fold it up and bring it with you where ever you go. Also, it doesn't take up too much space in your house. A play gym mat for them to lay under and a Boppy pillow.

Enjoy every second because it goes by so fast!!!

~ Mom of 2 boys - 8 months & 4 years. :)

Congrats! I love my sling! I find it a lot easier just placing my baby boy into it rather than lugging around the carseat carrier. Slinglings is a great website with lots of different styles. A breast pump would be another most have especially if you need some time away every now and then! The last would be looking into a mother's group. Alameda has a great one called Smart and Healthy Babies (you can find it oneline) it's near Southshore. I found so much was placed on the birth and not much planning was placed on the after part. The support I found from this group is amazing.

Best wishes! Get a lot of rest now!
Hope this helped.

Congratulations!

If it hasn't already been suggested, I would say, invest in the Angel Care Monitor. I only worry if I turned it on or not, as opposed to if the baby is still breathing or not. I LOVE it!!! I did see a couple of suggestions about swaddling blankets, and I agree completely! We used the ones from Babies-R-Us http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2265547
And finally I suggest a digital thermometer - to be used rectally; It really is the only reliable way to take the temperature of a new born if he gets sick. The other fancy ones can be used later.
Best wishes!!!

You need a big yoga/excercise ball. My son gos right to sleep, as soon as we start bouncing

Well from my experince I couldn't live with out a swing,bouncer seat and a Pac'n'play. The swing because with a new baby you will find out that you will have a lot of laundry to do and dishes every day almost, from bottles to leakes from dipers and spit up which all all of above will be on your clothes too. The swing saved me,it keeped my daughter happy and gave me enough time to get things washed and cleaned up. The the bouncer seat can be good to because you can bring that into the bathroom with you while you shower and still keep a close eye on your baby and they still know your close. The pac'n'play was great for me because we go out of town alot. It's a crib/play pin/changing table all in one.We used it visiting grandparents, friends,and camping even at home!Congradulations on your upcoming baby. Another piece of advise sleep when you baby sleeps you'll probably hear that from alot of moms!

A big enough swaddleing blanket, and a good sling (or three...)

I'm going to be a first time mom myself due in august, so i have a while! I have heard you can't live without a breast pump.

Weused almond oil (spectrum, culinary quality) to get off the first poops (myconium- like black tar), and for his skin. I used the culinary quality as I knew it had no additives. Also, the wipes warmer was great. Much better than a cold wipe on a little sweet bun.

1. Meals in the freezer or friends willing to help you by making some meals in the first weeks!

2. Sleep!! Sleep now while you can.

3. I agree with everyone who said a sling and swaddling blanket. I'd also recommend some one piece outfits for your boy that don't have to go over his wobbly little head and neck.

4. A haircut close to your due date so that you don't feel scruffy in your exhaustion. It is so hard to make time for your personal care with a baby around who's demanding your breast every two hours or more!

CONGRTULATIONS!! You will find more love in your heart than you ever thought you could have for another human being.

Mylicon nursing leak pads and a trustworthy responsible on-call babysitter.

hey congratulations in advance!!!!!
well I think if you are one of those active moms that is on the move all the time I think you might want to consider one of those baby slings ( i am not sure what they're called!) that you wear around your shoulder and the baby sleeps cuddled up in them. they are very useful for walking around - even when you need to finish up those important things around the house and can't be away from your baby!!!! good luck::))))
I.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! I am a mom of two beautiful boys!! Lots and lots of fun!
Our necessities were lots of diapers, wipes, burp rags and onesies. Most newborns spit up quite a bit so you are always changing their clothes. Another thing I couldn't live without was a steady supply of chocolate!! he-he
Also for yourself (sorry if this grosses you out), no one told me about this... buy some feminine pads to keep at home. The hospital will send you home with some but you'll need more. As long as you have food, a place for baby to sleep, diapers/wipes and warm clothing you are pretty much set. Good luck and again, Congrats!!

Congratulations on your impending arrival! In terms of bigger items, I would suggest a swing and a vibrating chair. If your baby is fussy, it could really help to calm him down. The vibrating chair was must-have for us. We actually went through several of them.

Also, it sounds like you are planning to breastfeed. Do you have a pump? You may want one at some point. You can rent a hospital grade pump to bring home, which I would highly recommend. It will help you increase your milk supply and help you do a little stockpiling. That way you can have the option of letting your husband do an occasional feeding and give you a chance to get some sleep!

Have a great time bonding with your new son!

CONGRATS!! Get yourself a mirror so that you can see your child, in his rear facing car seat, from your rear view mirror. They are available at any store with baby supplies.

Do not think you need to buy all of this stuff new or at all. Ask around people will be thrilled to lend or give you things that they are finished with. I had my child over 3.5 years ago but, I will list all of the other things I really used, in the very beginning:
-changing table with pad
-changing pad covers (2)
-baby monitors
-mobile for your crib (another for your changing table, if you like)
-if you get bottles, don't get a lot until you know if she will be particular about the type
-burp rags (cloth diapers are good but, anything will work, get lots)
-receiving blankets
-crib sheets (I got the t-shirt material kind, much easier to get on the mattress)
-crib mattress cover (water proof)
-waterproof pads (for changing table, crib, diaper bag, they keep you from having to change sheets as much and they do not maintain their ability to repel water forever)
-bumper for your crib
-night lights
-baby Bjorn or inflant sling
-rocking chair or glider
Anything I forgot, I am sure others covered! My brain isn't what it use to be!!

The best advice I ever got was from the midwives I went to during my pregnancies. For #1, they had me use a washcloth on my nipples, and instructed me to roll them when bathing to "toughen them up" and to try to squeeze some colostrum from them. When I had my 9 pounder, he had lots of milk to drink. They also instructed me to hand express, explaining that "the more you take, the more you'll make." I breastfed all 3, and always had milk in the freezer for the hubby and/or babysitter, which gave me some much needed breaks. I hear so many women complain about "not having enough milk" and so they give up, but no one has ever mentioned any type of conditioning their breasts prior to delivering, or successfully manually expressing their milk.

The best thing at the time was a nice comfy robe! It was warm and I was able to nurse my daughter easily. The only other thing you probably should have is a blanket to swaddle your son in. A blanket that has a little stretch to it works the best.

Congratulations!!! I never thought I could go through so many burp cloths, so have plenty on hand. Cloth diapers work really well. I also wasn't expecting to have such a hard time breast feeding, so if you don't have a pump, you may need to buy or rent one. You may also want to have some bottles handy (glass or the safe plastic), just in case you want your hubby to help feed at night, or need to supplement with formula. Get lansinoh cream for your nipples, this is a god send!!!
I also couldn't live without a swing and/or bouncy chair. It is a safe and fun place to put baby when you need your hands free.
Good luck and enjoy every moment with your little one!!

Every minute of sleep that you can get. When the baby sleeps, you sleep. Sleep deprivation is a serious problem with new parents since babies wake and nurse so often. Let house work and cooking go and get sleep, sleep sleep and you will feel better and be happier.Enjoy the wonders of your new baby and being a family.

I my two sons are now 31 and 26.

Hi J.,

Congratulations on your up coming new addition to your family! I have a 3 1/2 month old baby boy named Mason. He is our first child. One thing I know I couldn't lve with out is a boppy pillow. It really saves my neck, shoulders, back and arms! Also, I put Mason in my brothers Fischer Price Rain Forest Bouncer chair ($50) and was absolutely entertained by it at 2 months old! I had to buy one for our home. Also, if you're concerned about the chemical (I forget the name) produced from plastic baby bottles, you'll want to buy "Born Free" baby bottles. They're a bit expensive, but you can get them online for less cost. Feel free to contact me if you like.

I hope this helps.
B.

Some things that I needed for myself and couldn't live without were: Fibercon chewable tables, these are a must!!! Plenty of comfy panties, be sure to get extra long pads. For your son, buy a bunch of different binkies, I like mam or nuk. I also couldn't live without newborn gowns for the first month. Hope this will help! Congrats!

Some Ideas:

*Cook some meals ahead and freeze them.

*Lansinoh (if you aren't allergic to lanolin) or other nipple cream. (I hardly used mine, but when I needed it, it was good to have)

*Extra menstral pads for you.

*Breast pads

*Nursing bra that doesn't have underwire, unrestrictive, that is comfortable enough to sleep in. I didn't have one and milk would start shooting out at feeding times. So I would grab a washcloth and try to control the milk flow that way; but without a bra to hold it in place, I had a messy time for a few weeks (c-section I couldn't drive for awhile)

*Gripe water or Mylicon drops (or equivalent from healthfood store)little is worse than a colic attack at 2 am and not a store in town open.

*Extra diapers & wipes (or wash cloths)

*Recieving Blankets (you will likely use these more than clothes at first)

*Baby Gowns (carters was best fit) the kind that just have the elastic (avoid the drawstring type) in the bottom. Keeps baby warm and makes diaper changes a breeze (example: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2788977)

*Pacifier (sampler pack) We didn't use one the first three weeks because we didn't think he would need one. We were wrong. He really found comfort in the pacifier...when he didn't want to nurse and he didn't suck his thumb. He abandoned it at about a year of age.

Newborns don't need much. Just lots of love, attention, feedings, changes and sleep. Congrats and best of luck to you.

A hands free baby carrier, like a sling or Baby Bijorn. You can't put them in right away most of the time as there's a weight requirement, but once I could put my son in it, it changed my life. He was happy, cozy and quiet, and could do any thing. I had one for the house and one for the car for walks and shopping. I also had a Boppy for the car so I could feed him anywhere. Congrats!

A good, sturdy diaper bag with many pockets, a baby monitor so you can hear the baby from another room like during nap time, and stock up on diapers, baby shampoo, etc. before the baby is born so you don't have to worry. Also, a babysitter you trust for date night with hubby!

God bless you and your family.

My daughter's first pediatrician was one of the few doctors who still advocated breast feeding in the formula-soaked days of the 50's and 60's. When we had our baby in 1998, she caught a cold within a few weeks. The doctor advised I squirt a little breast milk into her nose, and that it could also be used on her eylids if they got goopy. He was right! I tried it myself just to be sure, and I was astonished at how quickly my stuffed sinuses cleared. He said he got the hint from a very old Russian book on infant care. Since my aim was terrible, I put a little milk into a small bowl and used either a dropper or soft tissue to apply it to her little nose when it got crusty. I used this treatment for as long as she continued to nurse. She had very few colds (even after she started preschool!) and NEVER had a single ear infection until after she quit nursing at age 4.

A baby carrier you will wear! I love the Maya wrap sling (I carried my now 3 year old in it until she was two!). The carrier helps you get things done around the house as well as getting out for some exercise! Find one you like (baby bjorn and ergo carriers are very popular)so you'll actually wear it!.

Congrats on your new baby!

Hi there! Congrats :) I have a 3 and a half year old son and a 3 month old daughter...and one thing has saved my sanity that you did not have listed...the swing!! If you can, get the fisher price aquarium one...it is really the best, and it swings side to side, which both my kids love/d. My son actually would not sleep anywhere but the swing for the first 7 months! Could not live without it :)

Good luck!!

The best thing we had is something we called a bouncy chair. It is a place to put them that they sit up some, but are able to move alittle and they can see what you are doing. For my older daughter it was the battery powered swing. Hope this helps

Hi, J.. Congratulations! You have a lot of postings already, so I will only mention what hasn't already been said:

*waterproof mattress cover for YOUR bed. People often talk about what is needed for the baby, but not what you will need for yourself. In the early days you will be sweating and bleeding a lot. Also, even if you are using a crib you will likely occasionally have your baby/toddler in your bed...babies and toddlers can me messy in many ways! Enough said!

*infant tylenol for fever (talk to your pediatrician about how much to give and when...it's actually better to hold off on tylenol if the fever isn't high because it's helping to fight off infection) and...

*saline nose drops to loosen stuffy noses. You will want these last two things along with a thermometer and nasal syringe on hand for the first time the baby is sick. It might come on all of a sudden, and you won't want to be running to the drug store at 2:00 a.m.!

*Good coffee! Better yet, espresso and your own espresso maker. (Well, some babies may be sensitive to caffeine if you're nursing, but I experimented and didn't notice any difference) : )

*plastic links- the kind that make a chain- for when the baby is older. You can attach one end to a toy and the other to a high chair in a restaurant, car seat, whatever, so when the baby drops the toy, it doesn't fall on the floor. Also, rather than bending down to retrieve the toy you can fish it out with the chain.

*SMALL board books THAT YOU KEEP IN THE DIAPER BAG. This is so that when you are out and have to wait, such as in a restaurant again, doctor's office, etc., you can entertain your older baby/toddler. You keep it in the diaper bag so that the baby doesn't see it everyday and it keeps it interesting so they aren't bored with it.

Ok, so those last two things you can wait for a bit, but they really saved me with my first boy who is now going on 5 (my second one is 7 months, so I am just starting to need them now).

Good luck, and enjoy your baby!

A boppy, snugli or sling, baby monitor, swing, rocking chair and a breast pump.

I good sling/baby carrier. A lot of my friends like the native sling or the moby wrap. Or you can always get the baby bjorn. I had a sling and the bjorn.
I loved wearing my baby and hardly ever put him in the stroller bassinet or carseat.
Once he is over six months old i highly recommend the ergo carrier. This was the BEST purchase i made!!!
I use it, my husband uses it and when my mom comes down to visit, she uses it.
It's great when you need to get some housework done and your child want you attention or you need to do a quick errand and don't want to have to dig out the stroller.
even my hudband straps him to his back to go out to do light yard work or to just water the plants.
As for everything else, it looks like you have the major basic.
I might say a co-sleeper.
While i loved my baby beeing in the same room with me, i realise that that is a personal/family choice.

good luck!

the mechanical swing is great if you can locate one...when my daughter was an infant, she was comforted by the back and forth motion, and would sleep deeply...I hope you have a wonderful Birthing experience! Best wishes...Lan

A baby swing. I couldn't have lived without mine. It relaxes the baby and frees up some time for you. My baby boy is now 18 and that's the thing I remember most about waking up every two hours for his first 8 months, the baby swing!

Congrats on your soon to be baby boy! I would recommend a baby swing for those fussy times. My oldest son had colic and would only be calm in the swing, it saved our sanity many times! And tons of burp cloths! Have a great time with your new baby!
T.

Don't put too much pressure on nursing, it is hard. I did it for 13 months but the first 6 weeks were hard.

I didn't like the wipe warmer. The minute the wipe hits the air it gets cold again. It is better if you just warm the wipe with your hand for a little bit.

I couldn't live without:
*a breast pump
*breast pads (Lanisoh's are very thin and not bulky and super absorbent. They usually include free samples in the boxes too)
*Lanisoh nipple cream
*plenty of blankets for swaddling (the thin flannel ones work just fine)
*sleeping gowns for baby (onesies you have to snap and for late night diaper changes you just pull these up)
*carter's or old navy socks. Most other socks just get kicked off.

Good luck. Make sure you trust yourself. You have motherly instincts that you should not ignore. Make sure you have your lactating specialist help you out the the breast friend. It is wonderful (I never bought it because I just thought it was too expensive) but I used it at the hospital and the nurse showed me exactly how to use it. It would have been great.
Good luck!

A sling- they are great when they are infants because it supports them in a little ball right next to you. My son loved our sling....

Congratulations!
I would recommend a good rocking chair, a Snugglie and large flannel recieving blankets. For the blankets, you may have to find a seamstress to make them. A friend made some for my son. They are about 40" square. A baby swaddled in one of these won't come undone very soon. They are large enough for all the ends to stay tucked in and the flannel doesn't slip. My son will be 3 in April and we still haven't put those blankets away. We use them in the car to cover his car seat in the summer and they make good emergency towels or changing pads, the list of uses could go on and on.

Hi J.,

Here's a list of what we couldn't do without:

~babywise book by Ezzo - sleep thru the night within 8-12 weeks
~many cloth diapers/burp cloths
~cotton waterproof bibs by: just one year-carter's (get these at target) we have at least 50!
~undershirt with snaps on the sides
~mittens at least 4 pairs
~eurotub - big, but works from birth up to 3-4 yrs (depending on your baby's height)
~pack n play - graco
~lots of zipper sleepwear (coveralls b/c gowns might be too cold for this time of year) - carter's is a good brand.
~heater - your baby needs it to be warm!
~little thermostat to tell you the temperature in the room
~Cetaphil cleansing lotion for sponge baths and baby Aveeno moisturizing bath wash after the cord comes off.
~baby bees skin creme - works wonders for ezcema!
~A&D diaper rash cream
~baby bees (burt's bees) baby powder for any place that gets sweaty (under the neck, diaper area, underarms, behind the knees, feet...etc.)
~fragrance free detergent - either cheerfree, all free or purex which is hypoallergenic
~Try not to use any fabric softeners/sheets - they tend to be harsh on baby's skin due to chemicals.
~asthma friendly (kid's preferred) stuffed animals which are washable - newborns love to chew/suck on soft things!

My 2 can't live withouts were my baby bjorn and my baby mointer. Ok, a 3rd would have to be my bouncy seat.

If nursing- soothies found at walgreens, put them in the freezer or a bag of frozen peas for your boobs
LARGE maxi pads
lip balm, socks, and tunes( i also liked rose water) for delivery
Those bag like gowns, cause my husband took a while to master all of those little snaps
and diapers!
good luck
ps. always sleep when the baby sleeps
hire a house keeper if you can afford it
A.

Hello J.,
Congratulations and welcome to the "club"!
I'm also a 1st time mom of a little boy, he's now 6 months old.
Here's a few things that literally save(d) us so far:
-swing chair (he fell asleep many many times in it)
-baby carrier (that also supports you back. Mine is this one http://www.thebabyhammock.com/mobywrap.htm
-yoga ball. This ball helped us a lot when he was fussing and crying. We'd wrap him up in a blanket, cover his head, hold him close and bounce on the ball 'till he fell asleep. Worked as a charm. The problem though, is that, after the 3 first months, my husband and I ended up with a very sore middle back. So, use it, but remember to stretch, get a chiropractor adjustment or just do it in moderation.
-Homeopathic colic drops or tablets. The drops worked almost instantly w/ our baby.
I hope I could help.

Good luck and enjoy!
Another thing: When you're giving birth, try to visualize openings... doors, windows, the sky... and make deep noises with your mouth open. I read an amazing book that opened my mind a lot, "Birthing from Within". If you have a chance, check it out.

A.

i loved long sleeve onesies and halo sleep sacks when mine were that little. it was nice for middle of the night diaper changes. i didn't have to completely undress them when to change diapers. a wipe warmer is nice so that the cold doesn't shock their poor little bums when you do said diaper changes.

I'd get the Itzbeen if I was a first time mom planning on breastfeeding. It runs about $25 and it a small cell phone sized gadget that keeps track of time since the last diaper change, feeding, nap and another slot for whatever you want. Those first few weeks it gets hard to remember and this thing looks cool. I'll probably get it for the next kid. It also keeps track of which side you nursed on last...I'm sure you can find it online.

We loved our bouncy chair and the Baby Bjorn.

Hi J.,
Congratulations!! One thing that was a lifesaver for me was a Boppy! It makes nursing so much easier, and it saves your arms and your back. My girl is 8 months now, and is bottle fed, but I still use it! it's wonderful.

That is great that you are so excited - you should be, but seriously - you are in for the shock of your life.
What do you need? People to wait on you hand and foot. The first month is the worst in my experience. I'm almost in month 5 (post partum) and I am still trying to balance life w/ our first baby - wonderful as she is.
That first month... you don't have a lot of time, so eat and sleep when you can. Throw everything else out the window. Make other people do laundry, dishes, cleaning - hell hire a cleaning service for a few months if you can.
Between the healing from a c-section (couldn't stand upright fully for about a month,) lack of sleep, not knowing when my window was to eat, and raging hormones - way worse than my teenage years - I was a mess. I sat at home and cried most days. Luckily I didn't have a lot to cry about - my baby was/is wonderful. She sleeps like a champ and is super happy. A helpful mantra was "this will soon pass."
Good luck honey :)

J.,
Your question sure did get a lot of responses, I scrolled through the first half a dozen and it seems there was a lot of good advice. Perhaps somewhere on that very long list someone also gave you this tid-bit but I will add it here just in case.
You will need a sense of humor. You're going to get unsolicited advice from everyone, your friends, family and perfect strangers. Some of it will be redundant, some hysterical. You will hear wives tales and warnings, home remedies and personal stories, I wish I would have written it all down to look back and giggle at. Just listen with a smile and a silent chuckle, and remember they are giving their advice with the best intentions.
Best of luck,
S.

During and right after your milk comes in, keep a bikini top in the shower to wear to protect your SENSITIVE boobs from the spray of the water. It was the best "trick" I found.

Also, one of those u shaped pillows that forms around your neck (like the kind you use in a car or airplane...here's a link to one at Linens and Things http://www.lnt.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2654613 ). That was a life saver during the middle of the night feedings when I would drift off nursing my little guy.

Best of luck and enjoy this time...it goes so fast!

I loved my exersaucer!!!!!!! So many moms say they can't get in a shower but I took one everyday while the little one napped in his bassinet, and then when he got big enough to hold his head up steadily he was in the exersaucer in the bathroom with me. Some come with all kinds of gadgets on them for the little one to play with, and he'd be in there and I'd be in the shower (often singing songs to him). When he got a little older there'd be cherrios on the tray too. It was easy to take to the grandparents house to keep him corralled at their place (and could feed him in there too). Congratulations on your upcoming arrival. Boys are great (I've got 4)!!!

A rocking chair is a new mom's best friend, especially at those 2 am feedings! I wasn't sure I needed one and put off the purchase, but once I got one I couldn't imagine having a baby in the house with out one!

(31 Year Old, married, mother of a 2 1/2 year old boy)

I couldn't live without my Boppy Bouncer seat! It was a life-saver in the beginning when my daughter wanted to be held all the time and I needed to take a shower! She is 5 mo old now and her needs have changed and so have the wonderful inventions I've discovered. Like her activiy play-mat...she loves it! And, her exer-saucer...she loves bouncing in it and playing with all the toys. Also, from the very beginning a front pack was crucial because I got tendonitis in my wrist from carrying her around so much. I love the Moby Wrap and the Baby Bjorn and still use them all the time!! Congratulations on your future bundle of joy!!

Hi J.,
I'd recommend the following:
~The No-Cry Sleep Solution (book) by Elizabeth Pantley
~The Happiest Baby on the Block (DVD)
~A good swaddling blanket, like a Miracle Blanket
~Lansinoh nursing pads (they're very comfortable)
~A baby wipes warmer for diapie changes on cold winter nights
~A bunch of cloth diapers to use as burp cloths
~Go to Dream Dinners, and make up some meals ahead of time that will be all ready in your freezer, since you won't likely want to cook after the baby arrives
~Some sitz bath herbs to relieve post-partum discomfort
~Some witch hazel and a spray bottle (same reason)

Best wishes!

Burp cloths - Cloth diapers work best for this because they are thicker

Pacifier Attacher - After you pick a pacifier up off the floor 50 times, you will understand

Bibs, bibs, bibs - there is a lot of drooling going on, especially when teething, so unless you want to change his clothes every hour, some good bibs are essential (the plastic or rubber backed ones don't seem as comfortable, but the cloth ones need to be changed a lot because they will soak through)

Bouncer - bouncers are great for a place to set the baby down - my kids even napped in the bouncer when they were very little

big swaddeling blankets, like REALLY big, flannel, they work great. Have them at Giggle. We love our bouncy seat and swing is so so recieved. Mat for tummy time.

your going to LOVE your my breast friend, it is the best gift a new mom can have. Its nice and big, I had twins and I breast feed them until they were 23mo. It worked wounders. The other thing that I love, and still use is Calmoseptine. Its an ointment that they actually use in neonatal intensive care units, but it works wounders for healing and preventing diaper rash. If you put it on your baby at the first sight of a rash it will prevent it from getting worse and clear it up usually within 24hrs if you use it with every diaper change. I also put it on my babies everytime they went to bed for the night, its even more important when they start sleeping thru the night. My girls never had any diaper rashes (with the exception of when they were teething). It can also be used for small burns and cuts. It costs less then all the other creams out there only 6.99. I get it at Kaiser Hosp. in the pharmacy but you can get it online at www.calmoseptineointment.com and you do not need a percription. Congradulations and good luck.

Congratulation, J.! I am mother to 3 boys ranging in age from 18 yrs. to 8 yrs...they are wonderful creatures!

There are 2 things that I used most...the Boppy is great for nursing (or bottle feeding) as well as letting you prop them up either lying on their tummy or leaning back while sitting up. The other is a sling...it allows the baby to be cradled against you or propped up on your hip while leaving your hands free to do other things.

Enjoy your wee one when he arrives!

D.
Sonoma

One of the things that I can't live without is an Auto Mirror. We have a Fisher Price one and I love it. It has a remote to turn on and off the lights and music around the mirror.
Even if you just simply get a mirror (lights and music not required) it'll make your trips (whether they are hour drives or even just up to the grocery store) so much more relaxing.
Also, I bought these things that wrap around the car seat/carrier straps so that the straps don't "cut into" baby's neck. Turns out they really help keep my son's head straight so that he's not slumped over. The things that go over the baby's head never worked for my daughter or my son.
Congratulations!

Start reading on sleep - Westbluth, No cry stleep Solution, and Ferber. Get you and your husband on the same page about what are the philosophies about sleep, sleep training, and not sleep training. It may be come one the most devisive subject in your relationshionps......Educate yourselves NOW.
S.

Hi, Just a little advice on what you "should" do, not what you need. When your baby is sleeping....don't tippy toe around the house, have the radio/TV up & on. He will get used to the noise while sleeping, you don't want him a lite sleeper. I did it with my kids and they fall asleep with any noise. I told my girlfriend to do this with her baby...she didn't listen and now she's wishing she would have. He wakes up at anything. Good luck and congratulations!

We didn't have this at first and it would have saved us many a day and night of sleeplessness. The baby papasan swing. It was a godsend. I had to work from home when my first was 4 months old and this is what she napped in. We should have had her sleep in it at night, as it provided constant motion...something she wanted from the start. It has built in songs and sounds...it's great. I highly recommend it.

If you plan on nursing, a "must have" is Lansinoh cream. Use it after EVERY feeding without fail and your breasts will thank you!! :) I nursed all 3 of my children for at least a year each and I SWEAR by this stuff!!! Be patient and persevere, nursing is the best thing ever and so worth the effort, but the first few weeks can be challenging. Use the cream and your experience will be easier.

As a long time mother and now grandmother I suggest that you keep it as simple as possible. Remember, much of what you buy is for you and not for the baby. The baby needs a safe place to sleep, a place for the clothes (keep it limited) and the most important thing is the car seat. When I raised mine we held them in our laps and I believe strongly in the safety of a car seat. the more stuff you have the less time you have for yourself and the baby. It all takes time in one way or another. Just my years of experience speaking. Have fun!!!

Congratulations J.! As a mother of two, I found HELP to be something I couldn't live without. When my oldest (3YO daughter) was born, my MIL lived about a mile away and she would call to see if she could bring me anything or come over to give me some free time. Looking back on it, I was very lucky to have her around. It meant a few extra zzzz's if the baby didn't sleep well that night, a shower in the morning, food for myself, simply some time to take care of myself. Something that you often forget as a new mom. I think it really helped me physically and emotionally until there was some sort of routine in the house.

Do you have family or close friends that could take this role? Talk to the person or people and let them know what you would like. Even make plans to have someone stay with you (good if you would like help in the middle of the night) or maybe have them call and check in every morning. Perhaps have a friend come by in the afternoon to give you a break even with some adult face time or go out with you for a walk or lunch and you'll have a second pair of hands. This is a start!

It's funny, down the road you find out that babies don't really need a lot of "things" but a BABY CARRIER such as a sling or pouch I found extremely helpful and I used the heck out of mine with both babies. But before you buy just any carrier, you may want to wait until the baby has come home and you can find one that you find easy to use and is comfortable. You'll use it for simply holding (and giving your arms a break), going for walks, doing chores, shopping, etc.

This ended up being quite wordy, but helpful I hope!

Hi J.,

I am so excited for you. When are you due? Do you know if you're having a boy or girl? I love having babies!!

I didn't have time to read all of the responses thus far, so I apologize if I am repeating anyone else's advice!

I have six kiddos (my youngest is 5 months and my oldest is only 7) and, after seven years of having babies, I have found that less is more. But, aside from the items you mentioned, I truly believe every mom should have the following THREE things:

1. A baby carrier of some sort. I have tried many carriers, but all of them seemed to be super uncomfortable. Until I found my Rockin' Baby Pouch and Moby Wrap. I now prefer a sling or pouch when baby is small, but a wrap when he gets bigger. Babywearing is the best thing you can do for you and your baby. (You can read more about both carriers on my blog - http://www.fromdatestodiapers.com/2007/09/im-baby-wearin-... and http://www.fromdatestodiapers.com/search?q=moby)

2. A Nesting Pillow (www.blessednest.com). These pillows are amazing, and so much better than the Boppy, in my opinion - It's filled with buckwheat hulls so it provides flexible and stable support. I used mine before baby was born, at the hospital while I was in labor, nursing and sleeping with baby, and now to help baby sit up.

AND

3. I almost forgot a good breast pump is absolutely necessary! Even if you don't plan to ever give baby a bottle, it is good to have a pump on hand to help with engorged breasts, just in case of an emergency situation, or to increase milk supply if needed.

Hopefully this has helped.

~C.
www.fromdatestodiapers.com

As an old fashioned Great-grandma I suggest a good book on baby care. In my day it was Dr. Spock and I understand his book has been up-dated, but there should be many more. It is a wonderfull thing to depend on in stressful times, especially in the middle of the night. Good luck G. V

Congratulations J.. You have very exciting times ahead! I am a first time mom with a daughter who just turned one!

A few things that we found to be so helpful...The footless night gowns (sacks) for those first weeks home from the hospital. They allow for easier diaper changes in the middle of the night so you dont have to worry about snaps. As our baby got a little older (2-3 months), we worried about blankets in the crib/basinet so we bought some "Sleep Saks". They go over the baby's pjs and have no arms, they zip and its like a potato sak. This allows extra warmth for baby without the concern of blanket suffocation. Lastly, a Bumbo chair was not only fun but very useful. It allows the little ones to sit up before they are ready which is fun for mom & dad to see plus it helps them be upright when you are first trying solid foods at 6 months.

Congrats again and good luck with everything!

A swing a car seat that latches to a base ! Both of those are heaven !

J. -
Congrats on your baby boy. He will be here before you know it. And you won't remember what life was like before he arrived. Get as much sleep as possible now. You need it.

Here are my words of advice... after he's born shower as much and as often as you like. It really rejuvenates you when you are sleep deprived and in a fog from round the clock nursing/feeding. Sleep when the baby sleeps. Its easier said than done. You will want to catch up on laundry and everything else around the house. DON'T. Everything else can wait. You're baby is only small for such a short time. Savor every minute. Having my baby sleep on my chest has always been one of my favorite things. I have a 3 1/2 yr old daughter and an 8 moth old son. Make casseroles and freeze them now. You will thank yourself later.

As for items... definitely 2 -3 sheets for the crib and bassinet. The sheet savers for the crib are great. You will want to have one clean so you can replace a soiled one right away. I love Dreft laundry detergent and Dreft stain cleaner. They are a little pricey but gentle for multiple washes. Also the Clorox bleach stick is awesome for getting stains out - even on color clothes. Just don't leave it on too long. We can't live without passifiers in this house. We love the Nuk laytex kind. Definitely a personal choice/decision.

My babes loved the swing. A remote control is convenient. I love the new BebePod. It alows the baby to sit up (3 months on). Get the one with the tray. Also, the exersaucer is a life saver for the baby to have some independent/exploring time.

Love onesies and sleepers with zippers. Buttons and snaps are tough at night without a light. Some people love the sleeper sacks. I didn't. Never buy any shirts - they never stay tucked in. Annoying. I love Pampers Swaddlers. I have tried all the diapers and I just feel the Swaddlers stay on the best and absorb the best.

Breastfeed as long as you can. Formula is expensive. The bonding is great. Lansinoh is a Godsend so are the leak protection pads.

Again congrats and good luck.
-D.

P.S. I concur with the lady who said waterproof pads for your bed. You can't live without that the first few weeks.

Congratulations J.,
My advice is to absolutely hire a birth doula. Well worth the money.

A swing is what we used the most... we even let our daughter sleep all night in it because when I would try to lay her in her bed she would wake up... the swing let us all sleep better!!! Congratulations!!! And my they grow up fast, my daughter is already 15 months!!!
D.

~ GRIPE WATER ~ !!!!
Oh my gosh, I only wish I would have discovered it for my first who was the colicky one.
Find it at Long's in a small blue box where the rest of the baby stuff is. For us, it was a miracle....worked every time and our son loved the taste. To this day, he begs for it and he is 3.
I live in Alamo and have ALL my baby stuff still as I just have not been able to part with it. Perhaps we could meet sometime as I have the cutest, like new (as in worn maybe once) boys clothes. Also a very popular Little Tykes item my boys just loved. Go on eBay and search "Little Tykes activity garden" if you want to see it. They go pretty high$$ as they are no longer available, but I would love for mine to get a good home for lots less. I also have a lot of great baby videos (Einstein). If you know of anyone needing a darling chabby chic looking highchair (from Bellini) or barely used Graco infant car seat (gender nuetral, olive/khaki/cream check) with base.....I noticed you already have those things.
Ok, sorry for the novel ~
T. : )

Congratulations!! It is going to be wonderful and it goes by so fast, so enjoy every moment with your little guy. Mine is seven already and my daughter is five. With him everything was so new, I had decided to breasfeed for a year, and I did. However, from the beginning I realized that I needed a pump, my poor little guy couldn't swallow fast enough and he would choke and get frustrated and mad, I had to pump out some milk so he would be confortable. I couldn't live without the pump. Hopefully your experience will be better. Have fun!! E.

Read the book "You are your Child's first Teacher", an amazing book with many insights and helpful hints and a book that you will many times pick up and look up stuff. There are so many more things that you need but all the important stuff is in the book.
Good Luck!

Congratulations! Having a baby is a great experience that is like nothing else.

In the first few weeks of my son's life having a person around to help with the diaper changes and late night crying was a blessing. My husband is a very hands on dad and it has been wonderful.

The one thing I was so happy to have was A Baby Bjorn...buy the Baby Bjorn brand with the back support. You do not use it right away but it was great hands free kit.

get an ergo baby carrier! it's perfect for strolling in the neighborhood, shopping and traveling the world. My oldest is almost 5 and I still squeeze him in when his legs tire on hikes.

Something musical for the crib. My kids loved the Fisher Price Wonder Aquarium~ plays music and light up with little moving fish. Our 2 1/2 yr old still uses his even though he is in a big boy bed now! Those blankets that button up are nice, too, since most babies move a lot and become "unswaddled" and chilly. Also, for you, plenty of witch hazel pads and Motrin! Best of luck!

Congratulations!

Some things that help are...A stocked freezer (It's too hard to cook for about a month), Someone to clean your house (friends or family that know it helps to have them do dishes etc, a few dozen wash cloths, flanel blankets, and long sleve onsies.

Before purchasing baby things, I highly recommend picking up Baby Bargains book; they go over the best of the best in each category (stollers, carseats, cribs, etc) based on their own research and consumer reviews.

What I bring to every new mom now: Miracle Blanket (the BEST swaddling blanket on the market--lifesaver!) and Happiest Baby on the Block DVD. The DVD showed us soothing methods for a fussy baby that totally worked!

Congratulations!

I would not buy a bumbo. I had one w/my daughter and because of the way they sit in the chair she would throw up. It is definitely a waste of money. It is also a babysitter you do not need. I would definitely buy a crib wedge. It allows the baby to sleep on an angle. My daughter had a hard time breathing until she was about 1 month. She had a lot of mucus from my pregnancy in her system still. Also when they get sick you are suppose to elevate them so they can breathe better and their sinuses can drain. Humidifier is also a must have. Many blessings.

Hi J.,

Congratulations on your baby!! It sounds like you have a great start--- I would say to have a few good swaddling blankets on hand,a swing or vibrating chair, and of course a pacifier. Good luck to you and I hope that you have a wonderful, safe, delivery.

Molly

My son is now 13, and still a joy! The things I couldn't live without when he was a baby were the swing, battery operated, for those fussy times when nothing else works, and a bouncy seat. The best investment we made was a high chair that was convertable. It reclines when they are infants, the seat height adjusts to allow it to convert to a chair that sits at the dinner table. From the time my son was born we sat him at the dinner table with us. He used that same chair until he was over 4 years old.

Hey J.! Congrats! I have a 14 mos old little boy! The things I used the most were the breast friend pillow, electric breast pump (I wasn't going back to work so I thought I didn't need one...totally wrong!!!), monitor and lots and lots of diapers!! They go through them like crazy when they are first born!! And especially if you are nursing, stock up on some healthy snacks and water bottles and place them wherever you will be nursing. Every time I sat down to nurse, I was thirsty or hungry!

I like the bouncy chair. It looks like a car seat almost, and you place the baby in, then there is a strap betweeen the legs. The chair has batteries, so you turn it on and it vibrates, or you can push on the end and bounce the baby. You can also feed the baby in the chair. I think they are about $20, and they have them at Target, Walmart.

Things I couldn't live without when my daughter was an infant:

Undershirts with the little mitten flaps that folded over her hands (to prevent her from scratching her face!) We had a lot of these - just so we didn't have to do laundry everyday. (You'll be amazed how many shirts your little one can go through in a day - especially if he is prone to spitting up! You'll also be amazed at how fast his fingernails grow!)

Kiddopotamus Swaddle Me blankets. I coluldn't get a secure enough swaddle with a cotton blanket, my daughter could always squirm out of it. She needed to be swaddled though, as she had a strong startle reflex and would wake herself up when she wasn't swaddled. The Swaddle Me blankets (which have velcro to keep the swaddle secure) are easy to use and a lifesaver!

Baby Gap infant socks. (The kind with an elastic band at the top.) I probably tried every brand of infant socks in a desperate attempt to find ones my little wiggly girl couldn't kick off. The Baby Gap ones were the only ones that stayed put.

Knit caps. The hospital sent us home with one and then I purchased a few more. A must for keeping baby warm everywhere, including indoors, for the first few weeks. And, later a must for outings. I really liked the ones by the brand Zutano. They are fairly inexpensive, have cute designs and stretch a bit for a good fit.

The Infant Stim-Mobile - Wimmer Ferguson by Manhattan Baby. My mom got this for my daughter and it was the only toy that she had any real interest in for the first few months. It's based on decades of research into infant vision and although it seemed a bit boring to me (it doesn't spin or have music) it is completely captivating to an infant. We used the black and white cards for the first few months and then at about four months added in some of the colored cards. We had her in a co-sleeper (attached to the side of our bed) and it was easy to set this mobile up in both the co-sleeper and later in her crib. (She outgrew it at about six months and that's when we switched to her Winnie-the-Pooh spinning mobile with the music.) We have since given this mobile as gifts to least three families and they all now rave about it, too.

An iPod (with speakers) loaded with calm music/soft classical music set to "repeat all". This blocked out just enough of the noises of our life (dishwasher, doors opening and closing, etc.) and let our daughter sleep! (It took us a few weeks to figure out we needed this and life was a lot better once we did!)

A good digital camera. Even if you didn't take a lot of photographs before, you will now! I actually took a photo of my daughter everyday for the first year -- then put them into an album. The year that they are babies goes by so fast and a good portion of it goes by in a sleep-deprived state for mom. It's amazing to have a photographic record of all of the changes.

A housekeeper. We have someone who comes in once a week. At first, I loved this beacuse I was so tired, it was nice to not have to choose between taking a nap and mopping the kitchen floor. Later, I loved this because I didn't want to spend my time cleaning the bathroom, I wanted to spend it with my little girl.

Congratulations on the impending arrival of your little boy!

Hi my name is J., I'm 32, married and a mom to two boys, ages 6 yr. and 18 mo. I breastfed both and something I couldn't live without were Gas drops. There are all sorts of brands, but we would always get the off brand from Walmart, less expensive and same ingredients. Some things I ate during breastfeeding, didn't agree with both of my children and caused a lot of gas pains. Just a little drop of the gas drops helped them tremendously.

I love my Moby wrap for an infant carrier, it is super comfortable and baby falls asleep in it so easily, when baby gets older, I recommend the ergo carrier- it is great!!
I really used the swaddling blankets with velcro- good for calming flailing arms in a newborn, also read the book "the happiest baby on the block" the suggestions really work for newborn fussiness, and explains the swaddling techniques. The Dr Sears, "the baby book" has great info on newborn and infant care- I read it cover to cover over the first month with my newborn. If you are interested on cloth diapers get a diaper service for at least the first 3 months - it is a godsend- Tiny Tots is a great service in the southbay and santa cruz area.
Good Luck, the whole experience is awesome, and really your baby doesn't need a lot of stuff, just you and your time

J.,
We didn't use it for a week or two, but the Ergo carrier with the infant insert was my favorite and still is. I could stick my daughter in there when I needed a break and do my own thing. As she grew, we took out the insert and now i wear her everywhere. It's AWESOME!

Congrats and good luck!

I couldn't live without my Diaper Genie. It cuts waaay down on the smell of dirty diapers. I have dogs and they would climb to get to the garbage can to dig out the dirty diapers. I got tired of cleaning up messes or walking out to the garbage can after every diaper change. With the Genie I leave it right next to the couch or bed or wherever I happen to be and the dogs don't bother with it at all.

One thing I couldn't live without and most people won't know to tell you because I found it on a fluke on my first and now make them when my friends have kids is a blanket the size of a doll blanket(that was my fluke I had a doll blanket from when I was young that I found was the perfect size) about one foot wide and 2-3 feet long(closer to 2) it's the perfect size for the car seat stroller and nap time. My kids are now 4 and 6 and still use the blankets I mad them for their dolls.

Oh and plenty of cloth diapers for burp cloths.

things that i needed that probably would help you is a lot of bibs or little towels and diapers... when they are first born sometimes they spit up alot and they will pee or poo alot so those are some things that you might need..

also just get ready for alot of laundry cause they will probably get messy.. LOL but they are so much fun... and remember just sleep when they sleep, trust me it will help

Things I couldn't live without were tons of burp cloths (get the thick kinds- they are actually cloth diapers, but they are great as burp cloths as well) and undershirts. Also if your little one has gas problems- Mylicon is always good to have on hand. I didn't know about this until my little one was 3 months old- I wish I knew about this sooner. It was a real lifesaver for baby and parents.

Wow, you evidently asked a question everyone wants to respond to...

My motto is you need three things for a baby: a car seat, diapers, and an Ergo Baby Carrier. We got an Ergo when our daughter was 4 months old, and she lived in it. As a person with a back injury, I tried 4 carriers before falling in love with this one. Use a sling the first few months (learn how to use it properly to help your back)... then please consider purchasing an Ergo online. It's $90, but worth every penny. I could carry our daughter in it easily for over an hour until she was about 10 months old. (... and up to 2 hours or more with perhaps just a little bit of discomfort - not bad though). It can swing around to your hip or back once your little one starts getting heavier. She loved it, and I loved it. When shopping, it was nice never to have to worry about keeping an eye on a stroller or shopping chart. She happily went wherever I did.
Blessings to you and your little one!

Hi Jocyelyn, First off congrats on the up coming arrival of your first baby. I was like you with my first child, who is now 2 and Im expecting #2 in July. I didn't feel I needed to go broke on baby stuff if I could avoid it. One thing I couldn't live without my son's first year was a swing. He loved it and took naps in it. Also a pack and play was great. I think you have the basics for now. Good luck!
CV

If you plan on breast feeding, I would recommend Lansinoh nursing pads. They are great.Congrats on your little blessing.

The most handy item I had was a cushion that had a snap-on rim to keep baby's head from rolling back & forth in the car seat. It also doubled as a cushion in the supermarket shopping cart or in restaurant highchairs.

Also,if you plan to nurse, definitely contact the Le Leche League about renting the electronic pump. Well worth the investment. It does the pumping while you relax. (If you are not relaxed, your milk doesn't flow as easily.)

A boppy pillow, a moby wrap (www.mobywrap.com) and a swing...our saving grace for sure!

Congratulations, you are about to embark on one of lives most extraordinary journeys - to become a mom! What I found helpful was a lot of swaddling blankets, especially at this time of year. A baby sling or a Babyblörn carrier is wonderful when the baby need to be close to you and you still need to go about with the day and do things. And a bouncy baby seat or swing. Last but not the least, a good family and friend network that can help you not only with the baby but to support You as well with. all the overwhelming emotions that are quite normal around childbirth and the first months to come. With the right support and to stay open to what mothership has to offer your Journey can be amazing.

One thing you should definitely get is a Whoozit (http://tinyurl.com/lgx9a). Once your baby is about 3 months old and is able to grasp things, he/she will LOVE this toy! Both of my girls had one when they were babies (they're 9 and almost 7 now) and played with them more than anything else.

Another useful thing to have is one of those little mirrors you attach to the back of the seat behind your baby's car seat, so you can see the reflection of the baby's face in the rear view mirror. Your baby is going to be facing backwards for the whole first year, and it's nice to be able to see what he/she is doing!

Good luck!

I am a new mom of a 5 month old. Two things I could not live without are my swing and Summer video monitor. The swing is great if you want to take a shower, eat, or be hands free for a few minutes. It is easy to move around the house wherever you need it. The video monitor allows me to instantly check on my daughter from anywhere in the house. It is small and portable and we take it with us when we go out of town. Get all the sleep you can now and good luck!!

Hi,
Congratulations! You need gowns for the baby. Sometimes people do not get them, but they are the easiest for middle of the night changes, which will be many. I think some sort of bouncy seat or baby papasan type chair, particularly one that vibrates - or a swing. That is a must have, and very soothing for the baby.

You also might consider some pre-made dinners and freeze them closer to the due date. That way they can just be popped in the oven or microwave.

Just do what feels right for you, don't feel the need to give in to the pressure of what everyone else did.

Enjoy!!! :)

Hi J.,
If you're planning on breastfeeding, you will definitely need a quality, electric breast pump. Those cheap, manual things will NOT do! The ones most recommended by lactation consultants are the Medela Pump in Style pumps. They can be pricey, but soooo worth it, and you can actually find plenty of them on Craigslist for much less. Just buy your own tubing and plastic horns at someplace like Babies R Us, or through a lactation consultant. I didn't have one at first, cuz I didn't think I'd need it, and if I did, I figured I could rent one from the hospital (which I did for awhile), but this ended up being an absolute necessity. There could be all kinds of nursing dilemmas that come up that can be cured by a little (or often a lot!) of pumping. I wish I would have prepared for this before my first baby was born.

A.

A wet wipes warmer was a HUGE help when our kids were in diapers. When changing a baby, it's bad enough to be cleaned up for him or her, but having an "icy wipe" just makes the poor child miserable. I think a lot of moms don't use wipes now, it seems the trend is to use just a washcloth and water, but whatever you do...make it warm.

M. P.
Los Gatos

I recommend reading "The Wonder of Boys" by Michael Gurian.

Good Luck!
Mom to one boy and one girl!

Cloth diapers - about a dozen. They're great at soaking up all sorts of messes and much more absorbant than bup cloths. You can also put them down under baby in the crib so your number of sheet changes per day is lower. Best of luck with everything!
R.

Hi J..
Congratulations! Everyone will most likely give you the bigger 'ticket items'. I'd like to suggest a smaller, yet indispenible one/s (in my opinion): Little socks. The kind that are all cotton, fold over and have little clumps/bumps around the top when folded over. They stay on the baby's feet well and can be worn whenever not in water. :) I'm amazed at how many people will over or under dress their babies. If you're cold/hot - they are too. Try not to over do it in either direction. (I'm a mother of 3 and grandmother of 2 -- trust me, the socks are GREAT!) Oh, and when in delivery, remember these words, 'this too shall pass'. :) K.

The advice that I have to give to you is that no matter how cute you think of the baby clothes, trust me you only need onesis and pj's not too many.. I made the mistake of buying cute little clothes for my first baby and it was just extra clothes to put away and wash!! Just keep it simple!! I hope that this is helpful!!

Congrats!! you are going to have the time of your life!! I truly think the my breast friend is a like saver!! much better than the boppy!! and amke sure you set up a nursing station where you will be nursing the most.. have mags or a great book, a comfy chair, nursing pads and burp clothes.. chap stick, pleny of water, and maybe some snacks.. you will be spending alot of time there so make it comfy and cozy ;-> it sounds like you are pretty set though.. oh and if you are going to pump get the bra that holds the cups in place.. it free's your hands and makes life much easier!!!

Good advice below, although I don't think you really need much. One warning. Someone advised almond oil. I would go with organic olive oil instead, as nuts are often allergens. The last thing your newborn will need is an allergic reaction! Have fun!

The best breast pads for nursing. Made from natural lanolin so you don't need any cream. Heals nipples quickly. When my son was first nursing my nipples bled a little these pads were the best. They prevent leaks too. The small pad is enough for a C cup. They run big in size. I'd bring them to the hospital or wherever you are giving birth. You can use them right. I got them as a gift from a friend and have recommended it everyone since. I wore them everyday. Don't need to wash because wool natural antibacterial, but they sell a wash too.

http://www.danishwool.com/products/item/nursing_pads.html

I would sleep. It sounds like you are ready and that you really want this little bundle of joy. I think that you are going to make a great mom, good luck. Cheers A.

Hi J.,
Congrats!!! I read some of the other comments below so I wont repeat what they suggested! All great suggestions by the way! I have an 11 month old son, Matthew. If your going to breastfeed and pump I would recommend the playtex drop-ins for bottles and the Playtex One Step storage containers (for your milk). You can freeze your milk right in the drop in liners, thaw and drop right into the bottle! I loved them and so did a few of my friends! Taken in every moment of your little one and enjoy!! They grow so fast!
Good luck!!!

Here's a link to the bottles and storage kit.
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2408961
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2401913

Hi J.... another must have on your list is definitely a Swingo Matic! The rocking motion is very soothing to little ones and put them to sleep, even if feeling cranky. They are great 'babysitters'. Also a Snuggly babysling, for when your baby is little, and feels more secure being next to your body without being held in your arms. Sincerely, CJ

Get yourself a sling. And don't forget that your baby will be happiest when he's right next to you, so you really don't need much. Use your stroller to carry your diaper bag, and put the baby in the sling! Those little baby sacs are really great. I took baths with my babies, slept with them, carried them, and didn't really have to buy much that way. Plus, I think it was more enjoyable for all of us!

Hi,

We found the baby sling was an essential item, among other things. The one we had was a "Maya wrap" although there are lots of other kinds available.

Good Luck! Enjoy!

JL

Hello and Congrats! This sounds crazy, but get 4-5 quilted bed pads from a medical supply store. Tuck it under your crib/bassinet mattress. Babies spit up and diapers leak so much that this will save you from constantly changing your mattress bedding. The medical supply store products are industrial strength and last for years, are quilted cotton made to breathe against the skin. The mattress pads in the baby stores tend to pill and are scratchy. They also are smaller, afraid of free edges rubbing baby's face or obstructing their mouth.
Enjoy Motherhood!

Congratulations J.!

One thing I was always grateful for was our bouncer chair. My son had the "Bobblin Band Bouncer" from Fisher Price, and he loved the lights and music until he was just to big to fit in it anymore. What I loved about it was that I kept it outside my bathroom for when I showered. I could put him in there and not have to worry about him getting into any trouble, he was entertained, and often, he would fall asleep in it!

Another thing we found very useful was a mobile for over the changing table. We found one at BabiesRus.com that attached to the wall. It was shaped like a lion and had a mirror that hung down so baby could see himself. He loved it. It really made changing easier for us and fun for him.

Also, a floor gym is really useful when they're little and can't do much other than lie on their backs. I can't remember the name of the one we had, but it folded up into a "bag" shape which made it easy to bring along wherever we went. I think I got it at Target.

Hope this all helps. Good luck and enjoy your little one!

T.

Hi, A sling or carrier is really important and a bouncy seat or swing to put the baby down with some motion-they like to always move it will give you a break so you can get up an take a shower...congratulations & blessings for an easy healthy birth and baby... also be sure your home is toxin free- I do consulting on healthy homes...

BOUNCER OR SWING
EXCERSAUCER - WHEN HE CAN SIT UP.
LOTS OF BIBS
CLOTH DIAPERS FOR WIPING UP SPIT-UPS & RUNNY NOSES
PURELL HAND SANITIZER BY THE GALLON FOR VISITORS (IT'S FLU SEASON)
"THE PEDIATRICIAN'S GUIDEBOOK" FROM BABIES'R US
EXTRA CRIB SHEETS
A SIGN FOR YOUR DOOR TO WARD OFF SOLICITORS WHEN HE'S SLEEPING
BABY MONITOR
HUMIDIFIER
BABY BJORN CARRIER so you can get stuff done...
Go on Consumer Reports & print out the baby check-list. It's really helpful especially for Dad.( gives him something to do)
Register @ Target or similar store for necessities that you won't get for your shower so Daddy has a shopping list incase Baby arrives early. My son was due 11/23 & born 10/26 so don't assume your due-date is accurate like we did. wE DIDN'T HAVE A CAR SEAT & THE BASSINET WAS ON BACK-ORDER!!
If you haven't had your shower yet - you'll get tons of cute outfits and nothing practical 'cuz that's no fun to shop for. :)
Pack your bag including a pillow for the hospital and warm Pj's that can be washed (they'll get bloody) Hospital beds are super uncomfortable. Take lots of maxi-pads - heavy duty strength; the hospital ones are from 1956 and HUGE and hard and just gross.

have hubby take the carseat to a fire dept. or sherrif to make sure the carseat is intalled correctly 95% are wrong & unsafe!!! I think Triple-A does it for free too...
Best Wishes!!
A.
mom of Ian 3yrs. old

If you are breast feeding, I would definately get a pump, so you don't have to be the fedding machine every single time. Even if you are the only one who gets up at night, ifyou pump, you can go out and somone can come give youa little break. For bottles, get Dr. Browns.

The one thing we could live with out, was the bouncy vibrating infant seat. It was heaven! My child loved it and would sit it in forever. They run from about $20 to about $80, depending on thebrand, design and bells and whistles. We didn't have a lot of money, so our just had a toy bar and the vibrations. It worked, but I could see how some other things might have kept him in it even longer. Also, when I have my next baby I will absolutely have one of those cradle swings. I couldn't afford one the first time around, but I wish I had. Good luck! Sorry this is kinda long :-)

A few things that can be so helpful, for the mom, in the first few days and weeks are, tucks (medicated pads), lanolin (if you are planning on nursing, and heavy flow menstrual pads that you like. You also might want to set up a nursing station for when you come home. That would be a comfortable place that you can sit and nurse your baby. It should have a small table to keep some stuff for you like, something to read, the phone, water, some snacks for you to munch (fruit, crackers, etc), breast feeding pillow, burp cloth, lanolin, maybe the TV remote. Anything that you might need or want while you are sitting and nursing. Hope this helps and congratulations!
A little about me: I'm a 35 year old married mom of two (a 3 and 1/2 year old and an almost 2 yr old)

When your baby is born take the time to holed him close and sing or hum to him. That gives him the close felling that he needs. And it will help him to fall asleep in a safe place. Also rub his lower back and bottom with your hands. Babys like to have a good back rub just like you would. GOOD LUCK
S.