Must Have Baby Products

Snuggle spot...It is a baby bed/pillow that makes a baby feel like it is being held when you cant hold it. www.laneybug.net

This is AMAZING for newborns and up (there really is no age limit...my 5 yr still lays in one!!)

My kids are 6, 8 and 12 now, but the best baby products I ever used were the Arbonne ABC line. In fact, I still use the diaper cream for rashes and bug bites. In fact I used it on my 8 year old last night!

A baby swing, at least 10 cotton diapers for multiple uses, good child carrier to keep child close to you, infant seat, something for baby to sleep in like a pack and play, fold up easy to use stroller.

The short list:

- Your breasts
- Diapers & wet paper towels or wipes
- Someplace warm and dry and safe to sleep
- Someplace to wash baby & baby things & yourself
- Car Seat
- Doctor's office & # to call in the middle of the night for med advice
- Your Gut

Everything else is extra... and it changes in regard to need/desire from family to family.

Probably the single most important thing, though, on the list above, is the last one. Every baby and family is different. Learning to trust your own instincts and observations, and to do what is right for YOUR child, is absolutely invaluable. Just as 2 examples:

- My son HATED swaddling. Could not and would not stand or abide it from hour 1. I had a killer OB nurse, who wrapped him six ways from sunday, in every way imaginable... stood with her hands on her hips... looked at me... and said "Well, MOST babies love this, you're going to have to see though what works for him, because right now, he's not having it, and the most important thing is what works, not what SHOULD be working." (<laughing> an understatement. Swaddle = Red face and screaming, Unswaddle = cooing happy/asleep baby). And we did try a few different ways/times. I am SO glad for that nurse ... or I might have kept trying and trying. I've kept that piece of advice next to my heart for the past 7 years.

- We'd planned on co-sleeping & using a sling. Boy oh boy... did he HATE both. We put him in a crib in "his own" room in week 2 and he slept 9 hours... and slept a minimum of 5 at a time after that, every night after that. Don't get me wrong, this boy has always been a LOVE (snuggles, hand holding, SUPER social), but he very very much has always wanted his own space. At 7 he'll pile into our bed with us, when he feels like it - which is about half the time, but he likes space, and HATES confinement of any kind, and any confinement has always had to be on his terms. A carseat was fine (he could move his arms and legs as much as he pleased), and later a hiking backpack (he needed to be able to see me AND where we were going to be happy) ... but the sling/kangaroo pouch/ stroller of any kind = misery on the move.

So trust your gut. We all become experts in our own children very very quickly.

Here's the list of other extras *I* loved:

- A crib (see above)
- A washing machine & dryer
- Having someone with me so I could nap when he was sleeping in the daytime, and not worry about over sleeping.
- Spit up cloths (to put over my shoulder when burping)
- A rocking recliner that was big/comfy enough that I could go to sleep on it
- A changing table
- A waterproof bedsheet X3
- A radio/cd player in the baby's room
- A good series of books to read while nursing/burping
- A gazillion onesies (he was a spitter, and so I changed his clothes maybe 5 times a day)
- A "Get Out of the House" backpack (packed with diapers, wipes, changes of clothes for him and me, infant tylenol, etc. Everything I needed to be able to leave the house in 2 minutes flat).

Anyhow.. Good luck & have fun!

These are the items that I felt we used the most and got the most value out of:

Britax Marathon Convertible Carseats...for use from 5 to 65lbs. I would have never gotten the infant carrier had I known better. Once your baby reaches about 10lbs, your back will tell you why. It just gets too heavy to lift and carry around with the baby in it. My son was in the carrier for about 3months, my daughter even less. With my DD I bought her Marathon right away and would just pull her out of the carseat and right into the Maya wrap when we were out and about. It's also FAA approved (for planes and trains). Not all carseats are. And yes, we have taken the carseats on planes several times. Easy to install and take out of both the car and the plane.

Maya ringsling wrap. Both my kids LOVED to be squished in that thing. Easy to wash, fit right into the diaper bag, good breastfeeding cover up, and can be used as a diaper changing pad, blanket, burp cloth, etc. And much easier on the back than the Baby Bjorn (which we got as a handmedown for my son).

Bob Revolution jog stroller. If you are an active family like we are...you need this stroller. Yes, it's expensive ($300), but worth every penny. We got our single when our son was a year old after suffering with a Graco. This thing rolls over EVERYTHING! And it fit just fine into our Camry with the diaper bag and other stuff in our trunk. I used it as my jogging and everyday stroller. My parents liked it because it was easy to push and because the handlebars were higher, they didn't get a back strain from pushing my son around. When we got my daughter, we bought the Revolution Duallie. LOVED IT! And now that my kids are a little older (4 and 2), we went back to using the single. I just have 1 sitting in the seat and when the other gets tired, they sit in the foot hold. My kids love riding that way. So we've used our Single now for almost 4 years and our double for 2 years. And the resale value of the Bobs on Craigslist is pretty good too :). So when you are done with strollers you will get some of your investment back.

A decent, well built crib. Not necessarily the most expensive though. Our crib we bought before my son was adopted cost $200. A simple sleigh style with a drop side. It's gone through one tough and rambunctious boy jumping, banging and climbing all over it, and now my daughter uses it. So almost 5 years of solid use.

I'd skip the diaper changing station and buy a very solid dresser instead that will last through your baby's childhood. Besides, you rarely change your child in their room. We mostly changed diapers on the floor or on the bed.

A back pack style diaper bag. Much easier on the back and your hands are free to run after your little one or carry them. I used to look like a camping hobo walking around the mall with my backpack on my back and my infant in front in the Maya wrap :). But atleast I was very balanced...heehee!

Diapers in size newborn and 1 and 2. Babies grow very fast in those first few months.

Clothes in size newborn, 3-6, and 6-9 months. My son was born at almost 9 lbs so he never fit into the newborn size stuff. He went straight to the 3-6 months stuff and by the time he was 5 months was already into the 6-9 months stuff.

Items for you:

A good rocker or glider for feeding and bonding with baby. You need to be comfy too:).

A boppy or My Breast Friend pillow type thing, especially if you are breastfeeding.

Nursing tank tops...I lived in those things when I was breastfeeding.

A good book on sleep training your baby/toddler. I liked "Healthy Sleep Habits, Healthy Child".

Things I got but thought were a waste of money:

wipes warmer, bottle warmer, Diaper Genie (yuck!), infant carrier seat, and Graco strollers (we also got a handmedown Duo Glider when my daughter was born..it felt like I was driving a hard to steer limo!).

Congrats on your baby on the way!

A nasal aspirator... I'd go with the one from One Step Ahead (online) that is battery operated... the bulbs do NOT work. blankets... spit up or receiving blankets and the book The Sanctity of Human Blood

I used a bassinet near my bed and liked it, but he only stayed in it for 6 weeks then was off to his crib.

Welcome to motherhood!

Must Have: A good baby carrier.

Trust me, the baby bjorn is a piece of junk as is pretty much all the carriers at Target and BRU. They destroy your back and they are bad for the baby's hips and spine. The best kind for a newborn is the Moby Wrap. I seriously could not live without that. The stroller is unnecessary (although it does make a good place to stick your purse and shopping bags in the mall!), but the carrier is wonderful. It makes it possible to do all the things you didn't think you could do with a newborn!

Also, for books, Happiest Baby on the Block and some good swaddling blankets. I reccomend the Aiden + Anais blankets. You can get them online and some Target stores and Babies R Us stores carry them. Knowing how to correctly swaddle and sooth a newborn was a godsend for us.

The My Breast Friend Pillow for nursing. The Boppy is great for helping an older baby learn to sit up. But for nursing, it is, IMHO a piece of junk. my daughter and I struggled so much with the stupid thing. It was too soft and slid all over. The Breast Friend pillow has to dumbest name in the industry, but it is the best nursing pillow out there.

The prince lionheart wipes warmer, sounds like a luxury...but it helps so much! When your baby wakes in the middle of the night for a diaper change and feeding, if he/she is not jolted even more awake by a cold wipe, the whole experience goes easier! We would get through a nighttime feeding very calm and sleepy, so it was easier to put both my baby and myself back to sleep.

You've got a lot of great advice already, but I disagree on nixing the Bumbo seat. I'd get one. My 4 1/2 month old LOVES it, because she can sit up next to her dangling toys on the baby jungle gym and play with them that way instead of laying under them. It's like a new perspective for her on everything. And everyone I know has loved their Bumbo's. I wish they had those when my older two were babies.

BUT, the single best thing we got this time around, that we didn't have for the older two kids, is those Kiddopotamus swaddling blankets. SOOOOOOO much easier than trying to use a normal swaddling blanket. I'd ask for at least 4 in the small size (for newborn, since they spit up so much), and 2-3 in large size for 2 months and up. Swaddling the baby is HUGE, they sleep SO much better and such longer stretches. And as our baby grew out of them, we just attached the velcro lower, instead of the blanket over the shoulders thing, kind of like a sleeping bag for her mid to bottom half (hard to explain, but you'll see what I mean).

I do have to give one bit of advice though. We went through a small stretch when the baby was one month old, and so did quite a few of our friends, where the baby wanted her arms OUT of the swaddling blanket for a couple weeks, and slept better with the velcro around the mid-section. But then after a couple weeks, she started sleeping worse again, so we re-tried swaddling completely with blanket around shoulders again, and she slept great again. So weird. And so weird that we had friends who had the same thing happen.
Anyway, I cannot emphasize enough how awesome the kiddopotamus swaddling blankets helped the baby sleep longer stretches at night and during the day. Any swaddling will do this, but the kiddopotamus ones are SO easy because of the velcro tabs.

From the "stuff" point of view, I did great with just a crib, changing table, rocking chair and swing...and most of it was second hand. I didn't know I needed the rest of it, nor did I miss it. I did invest in a really nice stroller, but that was it.

From a philosophy point of view, I would encourage you to figure out what kind of child you want and start from day one. For example, my husband and I wanted a child who slept well and would behave appropriately in public and we worked it from day one. Both our sons were sleeping through the night at 6 weeks (and never stopped, unless ill) and people rave about how great they are to have around. They have their moments, of course, but I think much of our success is because we "began with the end in mind."

Last but not least, find moms of different generations for comparative child-raising advice. I found myself agreeing more and more with my grandmothers (moms during the 40s and 50s) than I did with current philosophies, but it was good to find mulitple points of view.

Hope this helps,
Steph :)

Get the book Baby Bargains! It has everything in there from car seats, cribs, clothes, bottles, everything. It rates them all & tells you the advantages & disadvantages. You'll see people walking through babies r us with it! Good luck.

Hi Maren,

If you haven't gotten it yet, I suggest buying the Baby Bargains book. It really gives you lots of good advice on what you really need and don't need. And it gives great money saving tips. Whatever you buy, keep in the package with the receipts until you actually need it - because you will most likely be returning or exchanging things. A lot of what you need will depend on your baby. If your baby spits up a lot you'll need lots of extra bibs and shirts - but you won't know this until after the baby is born.

You really need the basics... diaper bag/car seat/stroller/crib/sheets/diapers/diaper changer/diaper rash ointment/antibiotic cream/baby bath/baby towels/a bunch of small blankets/bottles & formula if you're using formula/some baby toys and books/jackets or sweaters if you're in a colder place/some socks. Start with these things (I've probably forgotten a few) then see what else you might need. No need for high chair yet.

We bought a bassinet for the baby. My son HATED it from the first day. So he went right into the crib. The bassinet was a waste of money for us but other babies love them. My husband insisted we only needed 3 pairs of pajamas and returned the rest. Well, one fun night we went through all 3 pairs - luckily I found a 4th pair that we were unable to return. So we really needed more pajamas. Other babies may need fewer.

You'll find that as a parent you do a lot of "winging it".

GOod luck!

since the baby will be here in winter, I would suggest a wipe warmer.

I loved the sling, kept my newborn close to my heart where we both felt comfortable!

Hi there. Please check out my book - What Haven't They Told Me? I would be happy to give you a discount if you let me know you found out about my book on Mamasource.

All the best,
L.
www.OffRampPublishing.com

Infant car seat (not a convertible)--you don't have to wake baby up for errands.

Stroller for walking--one of the best things I did after baby was born! (and start w/in the first week or 2)

Nursing tank top (2x)--to sleep in so you don't get so cold lifting your shirt in the middle of the night feedings.

The little clip on a string for pacifiers--the most wonderful way to not lose a pacifier! (don't use in the crib, but definitely in carseat, stroller...)

Book: First Year, month by month--I kept it by the couch and read while nursing to give me something to occupy my mind.

Sleep sack--for warmth, and no dealing with confusing buttons in the middle of the night diaper changes!

Diaper Champ--it uses regular trash bags. OR reuse plastic grocery bags (stuff them in a reused tissue/wipes box for the changing table)

Baby bathtub--small, that you can leave on the kitchen/bathroom counter. you can avoid bending over the tub for at least 6 months.

Bouncer seat--we used the heck out of ours!!!

a blank calendar--or a baby book--to document milestones and baby measurements and photos.

--
I'd say you don't need a Bottle warmer--I bought one and returned it...I never heated baby bottles, what a hassle! just use regular room temp tap water to mix formula.

Nor do you need a bottle sterilizer--boil everything in a pot for 5 minutes the first time, and then just wash with hot water.

no Bumbo seat--you can let your baby learn how to sit naturally.

no shopping cart liner--just wipe the cart with a wipe...do you really need that many more things to lug around?

no shoes--but do get socks with a good cuff so they don't fall off all the time

--
what you'll want later:
High chair--btwn 4-6 months
Cabinet locks, socket covers--6+ months
Books, books, books--touch and feel books, flap books, $1 bargain books, hand-me-down books...

Congrats! my baby turns 1 this January. I hope you are able to put your feet up each night until then!

I didn't read the other posts, so hopefully I am not being redundant here...

If you are looking to save money (aren't we all?! hehe) then I would say skip the changing table. It is just as easy to change baby on a changing pad (or towel) on a bed or on the floor. You can also skip the diaper pail (which is another "kind of big" expense) and just use plastic bags to toss diapers in then put that in a small regular trash can that will be near where ever you change baby. You can also wait on any "big" toys such as bouncers, for which baby has to be older to use. You could also wait on a high chair since you won't need that right away...

The things you really can't wait for (IMO) are; diapers, wipes, clothes, crib if you plan on using one, bottles if you are not breastfeeding or plan on pumping at all, diaper bag or just a regular bag that is big enough to carry all your stuff around in when you go out, a baby bath is always great to have, "burp clothes" are always really useful for all those spit-ups, and maybe some pacifiers just in case it's the only thing that soothes baby, since you just never know!

I'm sure there is other stuff that I am not thinking of, but it's a start ;)

good luck and congrats!!

Hi Maren,
I was a product freak when I had my son. I spent way too much time researching and reading reviews. I will try to help so you can avoid some of the insanity:)

Do not get the wipes heater, the bottle sterilizer, the bottle storer, the diaper genie and all of the other things that fall into this category. Just the room alone that these things take up is reason enough not to get them. I boiled the bottles (Dr. Brown's) for the first few months and after that used the dishwasher. As for the diaper genie, it just smells. I just do not like anything that is so deoderized where a "good" smell just really overwhelms the bad smell. Yuck. We just threw the diapers in reused plastic bags from the supermarket and threw then outside in the garbage where they belong.

I would get the snap and go as a stroller for the first few months, especially if you live somewhere where you need a car. Forget the big and bulky car seat/strollers. The snap and go is so light and easy to store. I wish that I had not spent so much money on an inglesina pram stroller. I used the snap and go and should have used the maclaren after a few months. Go with anything light, really the stroller can get so heavy and annoying!

We ended up returning a ton of stuff from the baby shower and using the money to buy diapers and formula. We soon realized that we did not need half the stuff we asked for. Less is more in this house!

A nasal aspirator is a must! My poor son had a VERY clean nose.

I also could not have enough towels and blankets.

Also, skip the baby baths in the real bathtub as this is back breaking! Use the sink and just clean it very well.

Good luck!

I kind of glanced through other responses and didn't see much in the way of what momma needs. You need to have breast pads whether you're planning to nurse or not as you will leak when your milk comes in. Personally, I love Johnson & Johnson breast pads. I also had a comfortable sleep bra to carry me through the nights. You also need kotex pads...overnight protection/heavy flow with wings! My opinion for the baby must haves...diapers, onsies (whether in pajamas or t-shirt style...anything with snaps between the legs to make diaper changing easy), wipes or more preferably soft clothes with warm water, alcohol & q-tips to clean the umbilical cord, baby finger nail clippers, baby blanket (especially for swaddling) and a car seat and stroller or carrier (i.e. baby bjorn). I prefer the car seat that snaps onto a strolling devise so I didn't have to wake/disturb the baby when transitioning between the car and wherever we're going. Selfishly, I loved a baby swing. It gave me hands free quiet time with both my kids when I need to get things done. But, it's not a necessity. I also could not have lived without a changing table. With all the diapers I changed, it really helped to have an organized table that everything handy and didn't break my back. Other things may be needed if issues occur (i.e. diaper rash, breast issues, etc.), but most things are extravagances. Congratulations and good luck!

Must have and must read for all parents. I highly recommend.- Susan Urban's short guides - especially about teaching how to fall asleep alone and about making a kid love going potty. The guides are short so i could read them in an hour or so.
I have found it here: www.parental-love.com and i think it is available on Amazon but I am not sure. Helped me with both my kids. I highly recommend.

You can hold off on a high chair, bumbo, books, toys and clothes 6mo+. Also fancy bedding is a waist in my opinion. buy a cute sheet and crib bumper, but the comforter is a waste (babies don't use blankets). I had too many baby cloths. you only need like two cute photo opp outfits per size and everything else can be sleepers and onesies (think cozy and washable, you spend a lot of time at home when baby is little). Also consider yourself for clothes, I had to go out and buy a new wardrobe. I was a career woman turned SAHM, and I hardly owned a pair of sweats, nor did I realize I would be spit up on daily for months. Even though you likely aren't planning a c-section, they are common and I didn't have any underwear to wear with the incision, you need major over the belly button grandma panties for a good 8 weeks.

here are a list of things I really relied on.

burb cloths galore!
a good swing (one that has a natural pendulum motion, not one that rocks from the base)
baby bouncer recliner (you take a new born into every room and need a place to set baby. If you have stairs, have one of these for upstairs and one for down)
a set of bottles in case breastfeeding doesn't work out (start with Avent and buy fancier ones only if your baby struggles with gas)
Commercial grade beast pump (not everyone needs this, you can work it out at the hospital and rent one)
Lanolin for soar nipples (hospital gave me some)
good baby wearing device (research ahead of time)
sleeping arrangements are very personal but I didn't buy a decent pack n play thinking they were unnecessary, but I know people who used them in place of bassinets before transitioning to crib and get good use of them.
Also baby changing station. I used a dresser and a change pad. You can use a bathroom counter top, but you need a place to stand and change.
baby bath tub! I bought too many until i found the right fit. My advice is start with the reclining tub that fits in your kitchen sink. its a back killer to do it another way until baby sits up.
Swaddlers! The ones with velcro work great and large reicving blankets, not the little ones you buy in a pack of three. You really need like 4 good swaddlers becasue you swaddle constantly in the begining and baby spits up on them a lot!

I waisted a lot of money on clothes not realizing that 3 mo means up to 3 months, 6 mo means up to 6 months. Give a lot of thought to season and size and determine first if your child is ahead or below the growth curve to make your clothing dollars go farther.

I ditto a lot of Sandra O's recommendations. Just make sure diaper bag is dad friendly so dad can grab baby and baby bag and give you a break.

I may be in the minority here, but aside from whatever you need in the first two weeks, buy as needed. I have dozens and dozens of bottles that were never used. See what baby likes in that department (if you're going to use a bottle, I would recommend NOT waiting as long as I did, she never took it). I think after three or six weeks you can start on a bottle and it won't affect breastfeeding? Not sure on this one.
Definitely need diapers. I didn't use wipes for the first two months, just Viva papertowels and water (extremely soft, pediatrician recommended). I use California Baby shampoo. Onesies that have hand covers. Swaddling blankets, although the hospital should give you a few. Pacifiers if you use them, even if you don't, you might want to have one on standby. My friends swore they wouldn't use one and their first night home at 2 am they rushed to the store to buy one. Nail clippers (safety first has good ones). Blankets. Organic bassinet sheet or crib sheet (or regular). Dreft or non-allergenic laundry soap. Everything you need for pumping, if you're going to pump - storage bags, bottles, nozzles, the pump. Dishwashing soap and brushfor bottles. Hand sanitizer for changing diapers in the middle of the night. burp cloths. Okay, you need to get a lot,but hold off on anything needed after those few weeks. Oh, warm cozy lounge wear for you. old navy has great knit house slipper boots. I lived in mine. good luck and congratulations.

Run do not walk, and get a copy of The Happiest Baby on The Block by Dr. Harvey Karp. It was a lifesaver for us. It teaches you techniques to soothe your new little one while they are adjusting to life outside of the womb. It is AMAZING. I had 7 of my best friends all preggo at the same time and we all used it and loved it. We also have a Soundmaker 2000, it makes white noise, heartbeat, and music sounds and also projects an image on the ceiling for your little on. I think it is made by homedics. Congrats on the pregnancy! Get plenty of rest before your little one gets here! : ) Oh, almost forgot, a Boppy for sure! Awesome product, I still use mine.

I was the exact same way! Really you only need the basics. All the toys eventually become a nusance. I was given a bouncy chair and that was a life saver. You can take it with you everywhere. A swing is another great thing to have. Good luck!

You've gotten some really great advice from the other mamas...but one thing I didn't see is a sound machine. We got one for our son when he was 9 months old, and it was a life saver. At the time, I wished someone had told me about it prior to our son being born. It helps them sleep more restfully, longer. Trust me, when you need YOUR sleep, you will be LOVING your sound machine. Babies love white noise. Many toys and products include the white noise however they shut off after a set amount of time, usually less than 30 minutes. We play our son's sound machine all night long, every night. We even travel with it. And, now, we're buying one for all our friends who are having babies. Best advice I can give....They aren't cheap, but worth the investment. The one I got is from Marpac LifeSounds. Its about $70, but again worth the investment. Good luck!

http://www.sleepwellbaby.com/Marpac-LifeSounds-440-p/life...

Like others, I sacanned your previous resposnes...having a November baby...just as the cold weather was beginning...make sure you have the sleeper blankets that zip onto the baby - kinda like a sleeper, but no feet in it. Also, make sure you have both tylenol infant drops and motrin infant drops.....you don't want to use without the dr's advice, but you don't want to be running to the store when your baby isn't feeling well! Also, make sure you have "little tummy" drops or mylacon (they are the same thing - LT are cheaper). I called them "kiddie krak"...when all else fails and your little one is still fussy, give them a does of these and it calms them in minutes! OH yea, the most important thing you need is FLEXIBILITY. All the things you thought you would or wouldn't do will be tossesd out the window the minute you bring that baby home. Best of luck on your litte one!

Don't buy many newborn diapers. My little guy only used them for a week, and they were leaking all over for the last three days of that week! Buy size 1 and 1-2. Buy lots of wipes, and take some to the hospital. Where I live, hospitals don't provide them.

Bouncer chair was a godsend! Get one if you can!

Lots of 0-3 month sleepers. Don't bother with too many newborn ones.

Dr. Brown's bottles are great. Look for a sale on these since you have a few months. Make sure you have some bottles (and formula -- maybe some manufacturer samples) in the house. Breastfeeding didn't work for me, even with medication, so you can never be absolutely sure that you're going to be able to nurse exclusively, even though you plan to. My baby screamed all night the first night he was home. He was starving! Health nurse visited next morning and told us to give him some formula (through a tube) until milk came in.

Have a couple of crib sheets.

Make sure you have some infant Tylenol. Ovol and Gripe Water are also great. The Johnson's Bedtime bath really smells nice!

We used a crib right from the beginning. We were given one of those co-sleepers as a gift, but only used it one night (doesn't work so well with two adults in a queen size bed as well!) The Bumbo was a waste for us.

Medela Gentle Care Lanolin (the softer, more expensive tube) works well for sore, cracked nipples.

Cheap baby monitors work. We had bought a $160.00 Angelcare monitor, it took us 2 months to figure out how to program it, and then its batteries wouldn't hold a charge. Waste of money. Bought the Fisher Price one second hand at a yard sale, and we've been using it without problems for months.

Pacifiers! They may allow you to get some sleep between feedings! We use the Playtex Ortho Pro ones.

Go to yard sales and thrift stores when you start needing toys.

The Jolly Jumper on a stand is fabulous when your baby is three and a half months old.

Best wishes! :-) Make sure you e-mail or write to companies to ask for coupons and samples: Similac, Nestle, Enfamil, Heinz, Beechnut,Pampers, Huggies. I'm in Canada, so I have no numbers for the US, but these companies are very generous. Check out couponing websites to check on baby freebies and find out how these companies distribute their coupons. Coupons can make a huge difference if you're on a budget.

Two things come to mind that most people don't think about and that is for the health of your baby:

1. The Vaccine Book by Dr. Robert Sears
the current schedule for vaccines is too many too soon and the CDC, who mandates this schedule, has a separate one for it's employees and one for the rest of the country.

2. the products that you put on your baby's skin can and are very irritating if you are using Johnsons and Johnsons. Sensaria Natural Bodycare does not have sodium laurel sulfates, petroleum, dyes, phthalates and uses plant extracts and essential oils for the scent instead of synthetic perfumes.
See my site in the Local Business Reviews

Definitely stock up on diapers. I few months prior, I started buying a package of diapers whenever I went to the store so the cost would be spread out. Also, it is tempting to buy all the adorable little outfits. When your baby is tiny s/he will only be wearing soft, comfortable sleepers, especially since your baby will be born in winter. Just buy a couple of cute outfits for photos and holidays. You won't want to put your sweet little newborn in a denimn, cordoroy or fussy ruffled dress any longer than it takes to take a picture.
Don't stock up on bottles too much either until you find out which type you prefer.

Don't buy a bassinet...borrow one. They are very helpful, but are used for such a brief period of time you can likely borrow one from someone.

You don't need all that fancy high tech gadgetry.

I know your baby isn't even born yet, but I highly recommend an eBook that my daughter read while she was still pregnant. It's a book written by a public school teacher, and it helps you prepare your child for Kindergarten, even before birth. This book takes you from birth to Kindergarten and beyond. Here is a link to the free chapter the author has provided.

http://www.survivepublicschool.com/home_schooling/free-ch...

This book is great even if your child won't be attending public schools. It's comprehensive and well written.

Really, all the baby needs is you :) And of course, it depends on how you plan to raise your child. My "need" list was very short since our lifestyle is different than mainstream. I look at it like the less *stuff* I use to entertain my child, the more relationship-building we do. I "needed"

--clothes (pajamas worked best for me for the first several months--specifically ones that don't have to go over the head and have easy access for diapers/pottying)

--blankets (cotton, since polyester seems to overheat my babies since it traps heat in with no airflow)

--natural bathing products (bought from Henry's or a Whole Foods type store)

--a super-soft wash cloth and towel (baby bathes with me so no tub for her)

--an absorbant pad for diaper-free time (can also use a plush towel)

--cornstarch for diaper rash, also sunlight

--a carseat (the best)

--a baby carrier [which I make and can "make" your own wrap with just some fabric and no sewing, if you are interested] (since I "wear" my babies--no stroller for us)

--some cloth diapers [which I also make] (since I use cloth often in-between doing elimination communication) [a good expensive set of cloth diapers are still cheaper in the long run than disposables, and INFINATELY better for the environment]

--a changing pad to place on various surfaces (which can be made from almost anything)

--a bag big enough to hold changes of clothes and diapers and such (diaper bag are actually quite annoying to me with all their excess pockets and such for things I don't use like bottles)

--a baby monitor (even though I cosleep, sometimes I leave the room when my babies are sleeping on our bed and like to hear as soon as they awake so they don't have to cry to get my attention)

--All detergent (free & clear--worked fine for sensitive skin)

--and a breast pump to help with engorgement. Because I breastfeed, we didn't need bottles or any bottle stuff, and because we have a family bed, I didn't need any baby bedding or furniture, which is the most expensive thing people purchase. I went all out on a carseat, because I wanted to have the best (safety and comfort are SO important for this purchase).

You could start out with the basics and save money for purchases as you go, beause there will always be accessories to parenting that will help you as you go :) I am thinking about saving up for a baby hammock.

For me, since I am baby-wearing, deep v-neck tops work best for nursing. If I want to be discreet, I "cover" with the sling, carrier, or or wrap I am using. I also got some cloth pads (well, made myself some).

Another thing, get a really nice camera, because you are going to want to take pics and videos of everything :)

Best of blessings to you! :) Congratulations <3

I absolutely LOVED the book called Baby Bargains!!! You could probably get it at the library but I read that cover to cover and just bought the basics and it was exactly right...just what my baby needed! All the best to you!!

You don't need the top of the line on everything. "Itsybitsy" gave us an excellent list! (Where were you when I needed you?) Her's is pretty complete.

I would only like to add that for medical reasons, I had to stop breast feeding at two months and we switched to formula...which can be very expensive. Our pediatrician recommended the Target Brand baby formula. He said it is made by the Wyrick company and was an excellent brand. So, we did. Now we have a healthy, VERY active three year old!

The only thing we bought that was costly (but worth it) was one of those convertable cribs from Target (I swear I don't work for them!) =-) We converted it into a toddler bed last year...still very sturdy.

Oh, getting the stuff is the easy part...the thing you will need the most is rest...sleep when the baby sleeps...let the house go a bit.

Good Luck and God BLess!

D.

This is a hard one to answer because everyone has different methods of raising their children. What complicates things more is that you may not even be aware of what type of parenting you will do until the baby gets here. Learn to expect the unexpected! For example, will you breast feed, bottle feed or both? Will you co-sleep or will the baby go to a crib right away? Will your baby be super relaxed or will your baby have colic and fuss all of the time? There are so many products out there because there are so many different scenarios.

Here is what I love based on my experiences:

If you are nursing, get a nursing blanket poncho style to help cover you in public. Also get a few nursing shirts and bras. These help if you are busty because they make it easier to be discreet. Some people with smaller breasts say they didn't need either of those.

Get a Bobby Pillow!!!

If you plan to go back to work and use breast milk, you will need a good electric pump. I liked the Medela double breast pump. You will need to pump shortly after giving birth otherwise it becomes a challenge to build up an extra supply.

If you plan to bottle feed, the Playtex Nurser is awesome. They now come BPA free. They seriously reduce gas (you literally push all of the air out) and are not expensive. The down side to them is that you use bags which is wasteful and a continuing expense. I breastfed and bottle fed and there was no nipple confusion and both my kiddos LOVED these bottles (they are super easy to clean too).

You only need a bottle warmer if you store your breast milk. It is still a luxury though because you can thaw your milk by running it under hot water. It makes life super easy to serve bottles at room temp rather than having your child expect something warm every time.

As other moms have said, don't buy newborn anything. Diapers should be size 1 (the hospital should give you a starter pack of newborn size and you might need to buy one pack if your baby is small) and clothes should be 0-3 months. This applies if your child is 7lbs or over. They grow fast the first several weeks/months!

I had both a baby sling and a baby Bjorn carrier. I liked them both (not that you need both - go to the store and try out a few to see what is most comfortable for you). I also loved the baby swing as my daughter with colic slept longer during naps while in the swing. The baby bouncer is wonderful!!! My kids both loved the vibration of the chair. This allows you shower time, cleaning time, etc. You can put the baby down and not have any guilt.

For bathing, I am not a fan of the portable bathtub. My friend used it and her child cried from being cold and she struggled washing the baby with one hand while she managed the slippery baby with the other. She is the one who told me not to use it. I just got the baby sponge for $4.00 and laid in directly in the tub. Yes, you have to lean over the tub, but if your back and knees are ok then this is easy. Sometimes I would just climb into the tub with my kiddos and play. They loved being in the tub and it was great bonding time. Both my kids were sitting up on their own by 4 months so bathing became super easy then.

For clothes, you don't need onesies for a January baby. 0-3 month sleepers are best and all you'll need. Once your baby hits 3-6 months, you will need the onesies then pending the weather. You will probably want 1 or 2 cute outfits for pictures and that's it. For me I preferred sleeper with zippers rather than the snaps. I found it to be much faster and easier on the fingers.

You don't need a changing table, but a changing pad is nice to have to set on top of a dresser. (It is still a luxury not a necessity) Also, I prefer the Diaper Champ to the Diaper Genie. You use your own bags with the Champ making it more cost effective. This is another luxury item, but when you have a newborn, you change 5 -10 diapers a day and this makes it super convenient.

A lightweight stroller is another great item to have. I have used mine so much!

When you go to the hospital (if you are having a hospital birth) you will need to have your car seat installed before you leave. You will need an outfit to bring the baby home in. Also, bring wipes just in case. One hospital I was in provided them while the other one provided dry wipes that you had to get wet which was inconvenient when you are so sore.

Congrats to you! Welcome to motherhood, you are in for an awesome journey!

You really need very little. Depends on whether you are breast feeding? And cloth vs disposable diapers? You will need a baby bed, car seat and base, stroller. And as far as a daily routine... really your baby only needs something comfy to wear (count on at least 2 outfits a day), a few burp cloths, socks, hat, swaddling blanket or two (the new ones with the velcro work great!) and a few basics like aquaphor, diaper rash medicine, lotion, baby wipes, alcohol and q tips for the umbilical cord, a good baby wash and wash cloth and a nice towel for bath time, maybe something for the baby's bath to hold them... everything else is something nice to have. I have three and with each baby I purchased less and less from $1000's of dollars for the first to a few hundred for the third. Good luck.

Don't forget about you too mommy! You'll need Aquaphor for your chaffed nipples if you're going to breastfeed. I recommend a bottle warmer for your nightstand (the walk to the kitchen is LONG when you're up for the 5th time that night). A bassinet w/ a light & opens up to the height of your bed (you'll wake up several times, for no reason at all to make sure the baby's still breathing & you'll be so sore, even lifting a 5 lb baby up & out is a task at first). I also had something called a "close sleeper" w/a light. It allowed us to have the baby in the bed, but not roll over on her.

I recommend drinking cammomille tea over Mylicon for gas (only if you're breastfeeding). Helped better than Mylicon w/ my daughter's gas when I drank one at night and one in the morning.

Purrell hand santizer & clean receiving blankets for all the friends & relatives who want to hold your baby. Be firm about this! I had trouble telling my mother & law about kissing my daughter w/ her makeup on. I got bold when she finally broke out in a horrible rash on her cheek! People don't realize the pollutants, perfumes, lotions, etc. that are on their clothes in general.

Lots of onesies - you'll rarely dress your baby in those cute outfits the first month or two.

Cotton balls, q-tips, at least 2 changing pad covers; Diaper Genie II (I love); Dr. Browns bottles are expensive & a pain to clean all those little pieces, but really does cut down on gas/colic; a good baby fingernail clipper/file set (their nails grow SO fast!); baby hair brush & comb and baby bath tub.

Good luck!

For baby:
Diapers (newborn and size 1 or 1-2)
T-shirts with snap closures
Receiving blankets (can also use for swaddling)
Wipes
Diaper ointment (have an emollient one like A + D and a medicated one like Desitin for rashes)
Changing pad
Washcloths
Very gentle/mild baby shampoo
Baby bathtub
Hooded towels
Footed sleepers with zipper closures (Children's Place carries these)
Car seat
Stroller compatible with car seat (e..g Baby Trend's Snap n' Go)

Re: sleeping - we co-slept for the first 3 months. If you do this, buy a positioner with a slight incline. We used a Pack n' Play for naps, and bought the crib later.

Pediatrician - start interviewing now so that you can select one and get an appointment.

For you:
Nursing tanks/nursing bras (Target has good ones by Gilligan O'Malley that are reasonably priced)
Lansinoh for your nipples
Breast pump
Tucks pads - these are medicated moist pads that you can use to wipe/clean after going potty. Good for alleviating soreness, too.
BIG water bottle
Line up people to bring meals to you and your family
Comfy pajamas
Lots of lounge clothing
Glider/rocking chair
Boppy pillow
** If you are not nursing, then the the top 3 items are irrelevant

I didn't have time to read all your other replies, so forgive if I'm repetitive. My must-haves: crib/bassinet; stroller that the car seat could pop in and out of; "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" by Dr. Marc Weissbluth; Aden-Anais swaddle blankets; BreastFriend nursing pillow; sound machine (a LIFE saver for muting noise so that you can actually watch TV/have conversation!); ibuprofen for you. :)

One other tip - have a space in your house that is set up for feeding. Make sure it is a comfortable chair where you can put your feet up. There, you can keep your nursing pillow, TV remotes, water for you, a phone, and a book. A funny book if you are nursing - "If These Boobs Could Talk". A great book for Mommas - Chicken Soup for the New Mom's Soul. :) Blessings as you prepare for your little blessing!

R. G.

DREFT Stain Remover spray. There will be lots of messes on clothes in the next couple of years - this stuff gets just about everything out of those precious little things!! My son is 5 and I still buy this - in fact, I'll never go back to any of the other stain remover brands. Target and Babies R Us carry it, Wal Mart might.

Congratulations and Good Luck!

*Find a Pediatrician. Make a list and then an appointment to "meet/interview" them. They are used to that, and it is the common thing to do. See if their views/approaches are similar to yours or not. And choose a male or female Ped if that matters to you.

1) Get a Boppy Pillow, for nursing. Its GREAT for months, and I would even use mine for reading like a lap pillow.

2) nursing apron... for when you are not home
3) lots of onesies... both short sleeved and long sleeved
4) a Moses-Basket... I LOVED my Moses Basket for my son. ANd he loved it too. This is where he slept as a newborn until he outgrew it. Its portable and you can take it anywhere and put it beside you.
*But also get a crib or co-sleeper depending on where/how you want your baby to sleep.
5) Car seat
6) LOTS of newborn sized diapers and diaper wipes
7) Mylicon gas drops for infants. Infants often have gas problems and it causes gas pains.
8) baby wash cloths

*baby "toys" can wait... and you will get TONS of these anyway as gifts.

9) baby bottles... if you are going to use bottles. I recommend the "MAM" brand which I got from www.amazon.com GREAT bottle! AND it is "BPA" free... no toxic plastic chemicals in it. My son LOVED this bottle, me too. For my daughter I never used a bottle, I just breastfed her and she never took a bottle.

BUT.. you will probably have a baby-shower, right? So you will get lots of things from that, too.

All the best, just some things off the top of my head, and which I used a lot with my kids as newborns.

Congratulations,
Susan

There are many great answers already, so I'll keep this brief with just a few additional items: I agree with the Mom that said have pacifiers on hand even if you think you won't use them. We swore we wouldn't and when we gave in around week 2 we thought 'why on earth didn't we do this earlier?'. For our particular kid, the paci and bottle feeding once a day (from Dad, at night) did not cause confusion with breast feeding at all. Then the miracle blanket (if you and your baby like swaddling) and the happiest baby on the block. Congratulations and enjoy!

these were my favorite things for my daughter- a swing that swung side to side, boppy pillow, tummy time mat, fisher prices space saver high chair, bumbo seat, a good monitor, dreft baby laundry soap, sleep sacks (if you fear using blankets) and the most important thing you need is a plan! you cant find it in a store but you can disscuss it with your SO lol.

what my used most in the first few months was the swing, boppy, and a blanket on the floor the mat came at about 3m, we used a bassinett till she was 3 1/2 months (and waking only 1-2 times at night) we used dreft till my daughter was a year.