I Am Am Boggled - Please Help Me Get a List Together of the Basic Big Ticket Ite

First, congratulations. Boys are awesome. I have two, ages 1 and 4. Here are my thoughts on your request:

*Crib (4 in one so it includes the changing table) - I don't know about 4 in 1 cribs but I would say that a crib that turns into a daybed or toddler bed would be worth the investment. But, if you are on a budget, IKEA makes great, simple, inexpensive cribs. And even though they are nice to have, you can do without a changing tables. Both my kids outgrew theirs by 6-8 months. If you get one, I would suggest you get one that can also be used as a dresser, etc. Otherwise you'll have this huge piece of furniture that you can't use for anything else.

*Stroller/car seat combo - Yep, a must have.

*Diaper Pail - Again, you don't necessarily have to have one. I did for baby one, didn't for baby two. I would recommend the Diaper Champ over the Diaper Genie. The former can use any garbage bag; the latter uses special bags (at least that's how it used to be).

*Hanging thing for above the crib - I suppose some crib 'ornament' is good for the baby, but rather than an overhead mobile I would suggest a 'peaceful planet' aquarium or the like. The baby gets more use out of it and as they get older they can turn it on and off themselves.

*Breast pump (where can I get an inexspensive one?) - Inexpensive breast pumps are handy but expensive ones are GOOD. If you don't want to buy an expensive one or can't get your office or group of friends to chip in and get you one, try renting a top of the line one from the hospital. A so-so pump will exasperate you; a good one is a lifesaver and a worthwhile investment, especially if you plan on going back to work. Generally they don't offer these at consignment stores because reselling voids the warranty, but you could try EBAY ...

*One of those things where you hold the baby in front of you - definitely try garage sales or consignment stores.

try once upon a child, a little behind, baby and beyond, bon ton's, bugs and bows, children's orchard, kids kloset, kidswap, purple pony and wee resell it

Good luck!

Marsha -

congrats on your upcoming addition!

It IS boggling, I know. Be careful, though, not to overbuy. It's easy to do, I know. But really think through how you will use everything. Your first thing should be to make a budget, as it can get really expensive really quick. With that said,
do NOT buy your crib, stroller, or baby seats used. You cannot verify they have not been structurally damaged and the few bucks you save will not be worth it if (God Forbid) something were to happen. I found that BabiesRUs, believe it or not, was about the best priced out there. They have all price ranges and you can quickly assume you need a more expensive something, but trust me, you don't. I recommend the changing table you get be a dresser, too, as changing tables lose their usefulness real quick. It is a good idea to wait until you need something before you buy it, as your tastes and budget may change. For instance, you may not need a crib right away if you plan on having your baby co-sleep or be in a bassinet.

consignment stores are a dime a dozen. They're everywhere, and you'll quickly learn to either love or hate them. They are great for clothing and some toys. I like Once Upon A Child and Kid to Kid. Both are chains and can be found everywhere. Furniture is discounted a little bit, and you'll have to continuously cruise them to find what you're looking for.

Also check out garage sales. It is REALLY worth it to get up early on a Saturday, grab a muffin and a latte (decaf!) and just cruise around neighborhoods. You don't ever have to get out, and trust me you'll see the baby sales a mile away. Go really early - like 7-8. People want to get rid of that stuff and price it really well. The best neighborhoods are the newer ones - they tend to have young children and you will have a higher concentration of baby sales.

Good luck, take it slow, and enjoy this anticipation....

Try Kid 2 Kid. You can check out their website for the one closest to you. I bought my daughter's exersaucer there for a good price.
Also, I would suggest the Diaper Champ over the Diaper Genie so you do not have to continue buying refills.
Enjoy your pregnancy!

first i wolud like to say cogratulation
on the new little one. have about two
good diaper bags and one for over night and one for just a few hours out in the public.also diaper towels are great for when they spit up and very easy to clean a highchair,a walker with the cute little toys on them its great for developing there eye sight and the walker helps them to develop there strong leg muscle babay bib great because that milk they drink it is very hard to get out of baby items
pacifers need them that first year of life please dont for get them plat tex has great bottles so the babay want have air in his stomach andbaby monitor so you can hear them from another one.make sure you have a hat for his head when he goes out so he want cacth colic they have pills for that but i a mother from the old school and colic can keep you and him up all night if not treated right I hope i help with your list of items.

You've probably already got a lot of advice but...
NEVER buy a used car seat. It may have been in an accident and is not longer at it's safety best.
Breast Pumps are not cheap if you want a good one...but spending more is worth it.
Anything else you listed you can definitely get used...try Once Upon a Child, located throughout Dallas area.

i would add a rocking chair

crib set..make sure changing table is right height so you don't have to bend over (your husband too!)

stroller set...make sure the stroller and seat are lightweight - you'll lift both a lot...i found the graco carseats to be the best - good sunshades, secure 5 pt. harness, good handle, good safety reviews...i got the snugride and love it!

diaper pail...i got the diaper champ - good because it doesn't require special bags, just a garbage bag...some people prefer the diaper genie because they feel the smell gets trapped inside better

mobile...studies show black/white with classical music is the best for brain development...be sure to see how it hooks onto the crib

breast pump..TRY TO BORROW OR RENT...you will use it a lot, but only for a few months...they can be very expensive...several of my friends just breastfed for 2 months and were stuck with expensive pumps...i borrowed mine from a friend and it has worked great...you just buy new tubing a breastshields and you're ready to go...you can also rent from the hospital...i use the medela pump in style.

baby holder...i have the baby bjorn and it is fantastic...i got it off ebay for cheap...they have similar models at target, but the quality is not as good

also, baby clothes hangers, bottles (avent has worked well for most of my friends), dreft, wipe warmer (i used it a ton the first 2 months but don't need it much anymore since the number of BM's per day has decreased), lamp with a dimmer so you can still see at night without turning on the light, chagning pad for table (contoured one is great), 2 sheets for pad, 2 crib sheets, small "travel" swing is a lifesaver, small vibrating chair is also great (i have the ocean one with the hanging fish to kick), "swaddle me" swaddle blankets are awesome!....i could go on and on...email me if you'd like more information. it can be completely overwhelming!
M.

Hi Marsha!
Congratulations! It can be boggling--I understand. I had my 4th baby 18 months ago and the main items that I've used are:

definitely crib
stroller/carseat
breastpump

I honestly didn't use a changing table--it was always quicker to change the baby where I was (in the living room, my bedroom etc.). I've kept a small stack of diapers and wipes both upstairs and down.

I also never used my diaper pail (diaper genie) It works great to take a walmart bag, drop the diaper in there, twist it a few times and then wrap the bag around it again and tie it up tight.

The fun items that my kids seemed to like are the swing (battery operated), exersaucer, and a "johnny jumper" (the bouncing seat that hangs in a doorway). The downside is that they used each of them only briefly. They are soon crawling and not as interested in them. I would see if you could borrow them or get them from a consignment store.

My favorite consignment store is "Once Upon a Child". There are several locations. "Kid to Kid" is also nice, but more expensive.

Hope this helps.

Blessings,
A.

I am not familiar with any consignment stores in your area.

I think most of your items can be purchased there, but I would buy the crib new. I read somewhere that it is safer because when you buy a crib from a consignment store you can not be sure if it is assembled correctly or has all of the right parts and that is not safe. Baby Depot in Burlington has layaway for 3 months big ticket items like this.

Also, check ebay. The mobile that I wanted was $50 at Babies R Us and I got it for $30 on ebay.

Good luck!

Consignment stores are wonderful. Just make sure you clean everything well before your baby uses anything- wipe down plastic things with antibacterial wipes, wash cloth things and clothing with fragrance-free detergent (All Free & Clear is good). I don't recommend changing tables because it's easier to change a baby on the floor/bed given you have to put the wipes, diaper and paste somewhere anyway (no room on the table). The hanging thing is a mobile. Check eBay for cheaper breast pumps (eBay has a lot of baby gear for much cheaper than retail). The baby front-pack is great if your back is strong, and Baby Bjorn is the best brand, though not cheap, so shop eBay for it. Kid 2 Kid in Bedford is a great consignment shop (Central & 183). :)

I am a first time mother of a boy as well (also born in March). A MUST....automatic swing and vibrating chair. I would use the vibrating chair if I needed to take a shower. The swing would keep him happy for hours. Both of these you can get from a consignment store. I love Once upon a child. There is one on Midway and Trinity Mills, one in Plano and one in Garland. I bought alot of clothes for my son there as well.

I rented my breast pump from a lactation specialist. Let's face it, no one is going to use that thing too long and then you can get a high performance model. (You own the parts that the milk touches)

Many baby consignment stores (if any at all) do not sell most of what you asked about given legalities on used carseats that may not meet today's requirements, breast pump bacterial issues, etc. I have never heard of a combo changing table & crib all in one. Cribs that are called "convertible" mean only that when you are done using it as a crib, it can be used as a headboard for a full bed. You would NEVER want to place your changing table or anything tall that the baby could climb onto within at least 6 ft of the crib anyway. As per the other stuff - diaper pails, etc that is your call on whether to buy used. They are relatively inexpensive new and a used one might have a lingering odor. I frequent baby consignment stores for CLOTHING, as I am sure that is their largest profit from parents looking to save a buck. The babies outgrow stuff sooooo quickly and its insane to always buy new, especially when they go through a "I stain every shirt I come into contact with" phase of eating. Since you live in Las Colinas, just go by some of the ones in your area (Yellow Pages). You can usually tell whether they meet your cleanliness standards when you walk in. Most do not accept anything with stains b/c they would not sell. I buy new with tag merchandise at a fraction of the orig price and get brands that I would never buy "unused" like Ralph Lauren, Tommy H., etc. Regarding a breast pump, depending on how chained you want to be to lil cherub, I would strongly urge you to purchase the $200 Medella pump. I had a hand held Avent pump with my firstborn and it took so long to pump a bottle's worth of milk that I just stopped. My baby would not accept formula so until he got on whole milk at 1yr I was the only one who could feed him. I got smart with my second and got the Medella. It was amazing and took minutes to pump a bottle's worth. Within the first month I filled up our freezer with extra milk so that anytime we could get away for date nights, etc I had no excuses. I would definitely wait to purchase any of this until you know breastfeeding is for you, the baby accepts it, etc. For some it is hard and they give up and have a pump that they cannot return b/c they opened it or something.
If $$$ is an issue, don't feel like you need to buy everything all at once. The baby will be too small for the infant carriers for at least the first month. Diaper pails are nice, but you will still find yourself walking really stinky diapers outside! A bed serves as a great changing table and is easier on the back!
Hope this advice helps. Good luck! :)

I urge you to go pick up The Girlfriend's Guide to Baby Gear at any big bookstore. It really weeds through the stuff you're pressured to have vs. stuff you'll actually use, and it considers your home - apt, 2-story house, city, rural, etc.

My first is 15 months old, and I only wish I'd had that book prior to registering for gifts, it can really be helpful.

The main thing they say to buy new is a car seat, because of possible structural damage even from a small fender bender, plus you need to have it registered, as there are so many recalls.

They also get touchy on cribs, but if you can get full instructions, check if its slats are the right distance apart, etc. you should be okay - get a new mattress though! (helps with firmness, no old icky things lying in wait for baby) My baby slept with me in bed, now uses a pack n' play and will go straight to a toddler bed, but ideally a convertible crib will last you years.

Hope that helps!

hi Marsha, I have a 17-month old girl, and happen to have some of your necessities that I no longer use. If you are interested in what I have, let me know. I have a combo stroller/infant carseat in near-new condition, Medela breastpump ($275 new), stand-alone jumperoo, front baby carrier, etc. Looks like we might we're not too far from each other either.