What's Your Number One, Must-have Product?

Congrats on your baby! I too was beyond overwhelmed with all of the stuff out there, and we are also in a 1 bedroom apt. my midwife once said, all a baby needs are diapers, love and breasts (and you have 2). So I waited, and got things as my daughter changed. She's almost 10 months old now. So here are some of my must haves:
AT BIRTH--Moby wrap for carrying her (It allowed me to get out of the house and do what I needed to do. She can sleep and even be breast fed in it!). Also, it's made for babies any size (my baby was too small for a bjorn, and the bjorn is a killer on your back!!) Ergo's are also good!

-a few simple soft comfy baby clothes. She was born in summer and she got a lot of hard, frilly, over-the-top outfits. I just wanted her to be comfy w/o worrying about being cut by a ruffle.

--pacifier: invaluable. not all babies like them, but she was addicted. it helped her go to sleep a lot, and soothed her when running errands.

--sun hat for summer. Flaphappy makes nice ones.

Currently I love my MacLaren Triumph stroller. I only take it out since I have an elevator in my building and when i'm going on walks or only with subways with elevators. otherwise, it's just better to wear her. It's comfy, turns on a dime, and easily collapsible! Got it brand new on Ebay.

CUISINART DUO FOOD PROCESSOR/BLENDER: It is the best for making her baby food! Homemade babyfood is fun, healthy, and takes less than 30 mins a week. Use the blender to make a high protein smoothie that you can sip while running around the house with the baby. A real must have!!

Also, she loves her graco doorway jumper. it's helping her walk and strengthen her legs. plus, I can shower and still watch, especially now that she's crawling and pulling herself up.

Okay, finally---ordering seventh generation diapers and wipes on amazon.com! the shipping is free, they come 4 packs of diapers in a pack, and you can auto order and save. it's great that we always have enough diapers (without compromising space) and we never need to lug diapers from the store. Diapers last 4-6 weeks a box, wipes last 2-2.5 months!

Sometimes these baby things are trial and error. We spent money on a swing that she hated and took up too much space. Also, we researched the best britax carseat, but it was also too big since we don't have a car AND it's super hard to carry by hand unless you have the rolling attachment.

Finally, some of her best toys are homemade. I put some beans in a tightly sealed plastic vitamin bottle and she LOVES it. Keep it simple and it's all good!

1 mom found this helpful

It's an interesting question, S.. We, too, live in a space challenged Manhattan apartment. The volume of products and marketing aimed at new parents is staggering. My husband and I adopted our infant son with 3 weeks notice. We simply didn't have the time to research and digest all of the products. We really had to stick to the basics and build from there. The basic necessities I'm glad we made room for:
A comfortable chair to rock my son to sleep (you may already have your comfy chair).
A changing table with lots of storage underneath. Ours is a dresser with a changing area on top.
And a soft item that really doesn't require space but was indispensable:
Our son is a fitful sleeper -- a "wearable" sleep sack swaddle blanket was just the ticket. It held him securely and he couldn't kick off his blanket. That item offered sound sleep to baby and his parents.

We had borrowed a playpen and found that we didn't have the room or need for one. We put our son in his crib if we needed to put him down in a safe place while we did a task that required both hands. Once he got more active, we got an exersaucer to keep him entertained and safe. He's 11 months old and we're still using it.

I know you asked for the "one" item -- these are my three "one" items. :-)

Congratulations and best wishes, A.

I would definitely say some sort of vibrating chair. We had the Newborn to Toddler portable rocker from Fisher Price and it was a godsend! Our baby girl would only sleep in this chair for the first two weeks - she hated the bassinet. I can't speak for anyone else, but this particular chair is extremely versatile and she loves it. Here's the link so that you can check it out: http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=2000&e=bouncers
Oh, and it folds up nicely so that you can tuck it away when you're not using it. Nice when you have limited space.

Good luck and enjoy!
Alex B
proud mama to a 4 mo. baby girl!

Hi S.,
Congratulations! We live in Brooklyn and were in a studio when our son was born. We actually had a diaper changing table built so it could fit on top of our flat file and be the right height for us to change him on. You definitely need a changing area where you can keep clothes and diapers, etc. A small bureau with a changing pad on top works well. The only other thing that we use constantly is the Fisher Price Rainforest Bouncer Seat. You don't need it right away, but its great for them to sit in and eventually play in. Our five month old son has been playing in it for months now. I think the play pen's are overrated. We never use ours. Good luck!

hi S.
this isn't exactly what you asked for but i read your "what happened" post and thought i'd throw my 2 cents into the fray;) i apologize if someone else said what i'm about to and i missed it... carrying a baby in the city is pretty great. even when they start getting a bit too heavy for long outings, you can use a carrier on the subway and just bring a light weight folded stroller if you need to walk a lot after the train ride. the bjorn is better i think when they're a little older (over 2 mos, but check about the whole hip-displacement conversation), the sling is great when they're littler (and until it's jut not comfy- which for some people is years!) and the ergo is rad when they get too heavy for the bjorn/sling (for me- around 20-25lbs.: 7-8 mos.) we also got hand-me-downs, so we only purchased the ergo when our son got too heavy for the bjorn. the nice thing about the bjorn is they can face out around 4 months- and my boy hated facing in! there are babywearing workshops if y'all really want to experiment with different things, it's cool you got 2 options already!
another thing i thought i'd mention is that the diaper decor is a good diaper trashcan- if you want to use one. it's nice because it doesn't let smell out, as long as the inner flaps are down, and it doesn't require a plastic bag for every diaper. the downside is taking up floorspace and taking it's own special bag-thing. but you can get them at buy buy baby: which, by the way, feels MUCH less overwhelming after the baby comes! good luck!!! and as others have said- you really don't need all the stuff you see! trust your instincts. get some nice cotton diaper-type burpclothes. i particularly loved ones from gerber- so soft! (and you can use them to put over the edge of the bjorn so you don't have to wash the whole thing so much!)

Hi S.,
We have the fisher-price jungle themed bouncer and absolutly love it. Our son is 2 months old and really enjoys looking at the colorful lights, the moving monkey and frog and listens to the music/rain forest sound.(also soothes him with vibration) It is very practical in a small space b/c it can be put on the coffee table or the floor and you can bring it in the bathroom while you shower or take it with you when your on the go. good luck-- hope this helps you!
S.

Maybe you should get a playpen bassinet or just a bassinet. Babies really don't like to sleep in cribs at first.

if you arent going to do a swing- I would say a bouncy seat- and the most impostant- a boppy pillow for nursing- the best way to position the baby- and they can lay it too- I brought mine to the hospital and was so glad i did!!! I can honestly say I wouln't have nursed as long or as comfortably as I did with out it. M.

Hi S.,
Great that you are thinking about this kind of stuff. I come from a minimalist make-it-yourself viewpoint. As far as necessity goes all you really you need is: a stroller, a baby carrier- like baby bjorn or Didymos for easy subway travel, a place for baby to sleep, breastpump, the usual stuff: clothes- Onesies- baby size bath tub- etc., and to start out, that's about all. You will be amazed how much stuff people will give you. For my son, we bought nothing except a stroller and cloth diapers, every thing else was handed downfrom friends or bought by friends and relatives. The baby market is totally overwhelming, you really do not need those things. Start our simple, see how it goes, and if you find that you absolutely must have the whatever, you can then go out and get it. The baby is not going to care whether his/her changing table is state of the art, or simply blankets folded up on top of a secured dresser, and believe me, after a few sleepless nights- you won't care either.
Good luck
N.

The most important thing you can do for your baby is give him/her plenty of opportunity to be on his/her belly. All of the developmental movement patterns originate from the being on the belly, and brain pathways are set down through these learning opportunities to move from the belly. So you might want to get something colorful and comfortable to lie on the floor, so that your baby can lie on it and begin to explore the world. From his/her back the baby does not have mobility. He begins to push with his hands to come up and see the world, roll, etc, and finally crawl from this position. sometimes babies don't like to be on their bellies--get down on the floor with your baby and be eye to eye with him/her. Or place your baby on your chest when you are lying down. "Tummy time " is of primary importance to a baby's healthy development. Definitely do not get a walker. Let your baby develop his own strength to pull up and to his feet and cruise around holding on to furniture or you (obviously this will happen months down the road). If you stand and walk a baby before they are ready and have developed their own capacity and strength to stand up, they do not get a chance to develop a strong foundation for everything else that comes after. When I had my baby, I just had a blanket for him to be on the floor and begin his exploration of the world. On his back, the baby is stuck in extension. He needs plenty of time to both extend and recuperate in flexion. I wish I could explain better, but I am speaking from my experience of the infant development work of Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen.

Have a wonderful time watching the unfolding development of your baby! Best wishes!

J.

S...
If you buy one thing, other than a crib, make it a motorized swing....doesn't take up too much room....the babies love them, and you can get something done while they are in it!
Good luck,
Barb

Hi, I will tell you one product that you SHOULD NOT get...the diaper genie. Waste of time and money. Just purchase those little disposable sacks they sell in the grocery store.

Buy a boppy pillow. Great for nursing moms ! Good Luck.

N.
Mom two two beautiful girls Erin 5 Caileigh 3

S., how great that you are posting here- congrats on daddy-to-be - :)

The Medela Pump is great- I used it for 2 kids while I worked full time- and it cost $300.

However, the Avent Isis pump for $49 was much better. I won't go into details with you on why, you may get bored, but if your wife wants, I can email her more info- I have 6 years of breastfeeding experience with 4 kids, and can honestly say the $49 I spent on the Avent isis Manual Pump was the best money spent.

Another thing I recommend is a Maclaren stroller. They are light, durable and compact.

I don't recommend a lot of furniture. I too have very little room and don't like clutter anyway. :)

Lastly, I would recommend getting safe products into the home, products that are safe, non-toxic and green. I know there are many brands out there, so please go with green products, they're safer for your home, the environment, and especially your baby - children absorb chemicals from the environment,their bed sheets, their clothing, etc. thus the reason why so many kids have allergies, asthma, add/adhd, etc.. i only learned all of this 5 yrs ago.. and now I am very passionate about teaching other parents the same.

All my best,

L. A.

###-###-#### bus
###-###-#### cell
###-###-#### fax

Going green while working from home
www.ahealthyworld.com

If you have such a small space I wouldn't bother getting a playpen. Unless you travel and need it as a travel bed in which case I'd get something small, portable and with wheels. If you are thinking of the playpen for say the family room during the day, I'd suggest getting a bouncy seat instead. They much smaller and then the baby will be sitting up a little more and able to look around, and they can sleep in it too. Otherwise for sleeping and tummy time you can just spread a baby blanket down on the floor. If your wife is breastfeeding the one product I couldn't do without was a boppy pillow. It makes those first 8 weeks much easier.

You still have time, but when you do need a high chair, I highly recommend the Fisher Price Space Saver High Chair (http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2508005). It's perfect for small spaces because it attaches to a regular chair and is only $50 (or less if you use a coupon). It has a full sized tray, which most of the compact chairs don't have and it cleans up very easily (extremely important).

I agree 100% forget the playpen...... never had one and did not miss it one bit but the SWING is a must and get rechargable batteries or you will be paying an arm and a leg!! The Nautures Touch Papasan Swing (Fisher Price) is great and it holds the baby in a nice position.... my children slept in the swing so much during the first months is was crazy. The Skip Hop diaper bag is great.... the strap comes off and you can put it on the stroller without it hanging on the ground and it is very dad friendly...... my husband loves it and they come in tons of colors.... they also have one that fits right on the stroller so you are totally hands free....... love that one too it is on my Phil and Teds stroller. If you are planning another baby you might want to look at this stroller because it is very city street friendly and when the second baby comes all you have to do is add the second seat not another stroller...... the side by side does not fit in any stores and then you will be spending more money...... I know it happened to me!!! Now for baby items...... Nowa Li slippers are the best in the world and the baby cannot pull them off...... my children still wear them AND we taught our children sign language so the crying would be limited..... best thing we could have done ...... Signing Time is the website. Children can sign before they can talk no crying for milk or water or daddy they can sign what they need. Good luck but I know you will be more then fine!!!!

Hi, Having lived in the same situation as you (and having worked in advertising for years!)--I'd say skip the graco unless you will need it for travel. We got the Stokke Bassinet and Crib. Yes, it's expensive, but being able to roll it from room to room was amazing in the beginning. It is small enough to fit through doorways, and the fact that it converts later on is wonderful and not ugly! Only problem is if you think you may have trouble bending over to pick up a toddler later on...The other thing we loved was the Baby Bjorn bouncer chair--she could sit in that for long periods of time (after 3 mo old) while we made coffee in the morning! Also Swaddle me blankets were a godsend, due to the velcro. If you are against synthetics and want to do the traditional swaddle, make sure your blanket is at least 40x40 inches or they will do the Houdini and break out. There is a nice organic swaddle blanket at Giggle...

Hello S.,

My family travels A LOT and although our house is spacious, I do not like tons of clutter and oversized products in our home. The one item I loved for my kids was my infant travel swing. I used it at home as well as when we traveled. Its great because it completely folds down (could be stored under a crib or bed), its light, and all three of my kids were comfortable in it (for naps and play). Please keep in mind that once your baby can sit up by itself, its best to stop using it... but by then, the baby will be keeping itself busy playing with toys and won't need it anymore. The travel swing is especially useful because the baby can sit and watch you (eliminates the need for a bouncy seat, which my kids were bored by), swing (can play while swinging or can nap), and it can be moved around easily to wherever you are going to be. Both Fisher-Price and Boppy make versions of a travel swing. When I bought mine, only Fisher-Price was on the market and it survived all three of my kids as well as my cousin's daughter. It is now in storage for the next relative who wants it. Good luck with your new baby!

K.
(Stay-at-home Mom of three blue-eyed beauties! - daughter(age 5), son (age 3) and daughter (age 1)

If you are getting a car seat, you should get the graco snugrider. they just upgraded it to take the weight of 30 lbs instead of 20. my daughter is very petite and she is just growing out of the 20 lb one at age 2. If you get this you HAVE to get the stroller base. it folds up nicely and has a good basket for carrying things. DO NOT get a travel system unless you have an elevator or something because the big stroller weighs something like 30 lbs and takes up a whole trunk.

G.

Hi S.,

Congratulations to you and your wife. I just had my first 7 weeks ago and I was so turned off by the mentality perpetuated by baby stores and the baby society of NYC - which is that you need everything!! Don't go that route! You are right to realize that it doesn't have to be like that :)

That being said:
-The company's name is MEDELA (expensive - read reviews to be sure)
-If you decide to go formula, I love the BORN FREE bottles. No BPAs and great for reducing gas.
-PACK AND PLAY is a good Collapsible playpen/travel thingamajig.
-Get AN EASY TO USE stroller - space being limited in the city. Also, makes you that much more self-reliant. If you need a car seat, then I like GRACO and their simple travel system. Safe and Manuevers perfectly. Jogging strollers do not maneuver as well.
-I love my baby carrier - very handy, but you need to try it yourself. Get one with back support.
-Infant onesies with ZIPPERS are faster than buttons. Limit OVER THE HEAD tops for newborns - traumatic changing them.
-COSTCO diapers and cucumber/green tea WIPES are excellent and cost less.
-Hats to keep head warm - helps their sleeping!

These are the things that have kept things going smoothly for us. Good luck and blessings!!

K.

Since you're planning on getting a breast pump, I *highly* recommend a hands-free pumping bustier-type-thing. So your wife can read, have a snack, or do whatever when she's pumping. I got one at my baby shower and was like, "OK, that's weird," but I still use it several times a day. It makes pumping much more tolerable. Here's the one I have:

http://www.easyexpressionproducts.com/

Good luck!

I'm due in August and I've been doing a lot of research on this. I asked my mommy friends and here are the favorite products: Bjorn or Ergo Baby Carrier. Moby Wrap sling. Lots of people used cloth diapers for burp cloths - need enough for 10/day. For bibs there are ones at Target that come in a 10 pack/diff colors with a plastic back. Boppy's were a MUST HAVE - get a least one or two extra covers. Be careful with bottles as there is a lot of bad chemicals in the plastic w/ some of the popular brands - Born-Free are safe. Everyone tells to try a few brands of pacifiers as your baby will have its own favorite brand. They also say most hospitals give you a bunch free. Diaper champ is the recommended diaper pail b/c you can use a trash bag and not have to buy their specific bags. Wipes warmers you can do without. Saving space get a diaper bag that both of you feel comfortable with - unisex looking. Symphony in Motion was hands down the winner for a crib mobile. For crib mattresses check out this site to make sure you get a safe one (everything is toxic these days!) www.watoxics.org/safer-products I'm happy someone told me that those cute crib bumpers are actually a suffocation hazard as are blankets until they get older. The Miracle Blanket was the top recommendation for a swaddling blanket - learn this skill in the hospital w/ the pros. I was warned that I will receive a ton of blankets from friends/family. Good tip on all that stuff is don't remove price tags until you know you are definitely going to use it/wear it/etc. You can return stuff to go towards things you need. Fisher Price Aquarium bouncer seat was another hands down winner and must have. A play mat was another must have. Keep in mind your baby is going to like what he/she likes but these were the most common recommendations given to me. Good luck!

hi, i totally understand what you mean. i have a 2.5 year old daughter and i realized that a baby/toddler actually needs VERY FEW things.
first, you might need an infant car seat if you drive a car. otherwise, i just used a ring sling (adjustable, very lightweight, and very versatile) to sub for a stroller.
second, maybe it would be a good idea to either get one or the other only (crib or playpen) because it could serve the same purpose. if your wife plans to breastfeed then co-sleeping makes it so much easier, no need for a crib!)
third, maybe diapers (cloth is better, less rashes, less toil on the environment)
as for toys, regular household things are better. less commercialized

Hey, S.---
Yeah, as our kiddo got older, a swing was great because it helped him nap (he had some sleep issues).
But I'll tell ya, a Baby Bjorn was the big kahuna for us. Easy to wear, less cumbersome than a stroller for short jaunts or subway rides, and your baby gets the comfort and warmth of being up close and personal with you as you go about your business.
Playpen? Something fold-up, like a Pack n' Play was helpful (we took some trips and this worked as a playpen and a crib).
Good luck, and congrats!

Hey S., congrats on the new baby and I think it is great that you are doing some of the research. It can be mind numbing for sure with all of the products out there to choose from. We too live in a small NYC apartment and bought very little until we knew what we would need. Things that I used ever day when our boy was born was the bobby nursing pillow, it was a gift and I loved it and used in on the floor to prop him up later on when he could hold his head better. We were also given the bobby baby lounger as a gift and we totally groaned because it is a big round pillow, and we were thinking where are we going to put this damn thing, but we used it every day until he got too big for it. You can put it on the floor or on the couch, as long as you are near in case he rolls off, and it has a big dip in the middle. When they are born they are so curled up from being in the womb, our little guy loved the fact that he didn't have to lay flat, it hugged his body. We also bought the largest Graco car seat we could get that could also be used in the snap in base so it doubled as a stroller. When he was 6 months old, we bought a Maclaren stroller, such a must if you are going up and down the subway, and then kept the car seat in the car and got rid of the stroller base. I know that is more than you asked!!! I have one other suggestion. If your wife is planning on breast feeding, which it sounds like she is, I highly recommend knowing your options with help. My son was tongue-tied and the first few weeks with breast feeding were brutal. I think an amazing resource in Manhattan is a place called Real Birth. Check out their website www.realbirth.com. For 20 bucks you can go to an open breastfeeding clinic and get help from lactation consultants. They also have support groups which I used until my son was 10 months and great classes for babies which we still go to. He LOVES them and so do I. A great place for your baby to socialize and a must for Mommy or Daddy.
OK, here is my short list:
The boppy breast feeding pillow
The boppy lounger
Real Birth
When he was six months we started watching some sign language videos. He also LOVED them and is now signing when he is hungry or sleepy or wants milk, water, juice, etc. I'm so glad we did that.
OK that is it! I'm out.
Good luck!

Forget the swing you are talking about 500 square feet. Go for a bouncy seat they take up less room, cost less and do the same thing as the swing. Oh and if you decide to go away for the weekend the bouncy seat is portable!
Oh and instead of a high chair you can get one that straps onto a regular chair to save room. I wish I had thought of that when we bought our original high chair.
I wish you best of luck!
W.

Hi S..

We have an 8-month-old and were totally in your boat last summer. In fact, the first few times I went to Buy Buy Baby, I cried. My husband renamed it Cry Buy Baby.

Anyway, we are very protective of space and here is what are must-haves (in my opinion):

--bouncy seat
--somewhere to change the baby (we have a changing station on top of a dresser)
--some people think swings are a savior, but we got rid of ours
--bath to put in the bathtub

I actually use the Pack n' Play (with bassinet and changing table attachments) and do not have a crib, and it works out great for a newborn, certainly for the first few months. I also have a contoured changing pad and put it on top of my dresser, and have made space in the top drawers for baby clothes.

If you're getting a carseat (love the Graco Snugride), Baby Trend's Snap n' Go is a foldable, lightweight stroller frame that works very well for city sidewalks and park paths. We are not going to buy a stroller until we have to and have an idea of what our baby likes.

And certainly the obvious: diapers, wipes, washcloths, a few hooded towels, baby-friendly cleanser (Johnson & Johnson Head-to-Toe). If you are going to take your baby out a lot, get the diapering kit (a foldable pod that includes changing pad, wipes case) by First Years which is less than $10. I just use that and put it in my usual bag/backpack and voila! Diaper bag without the expense.

A BOPPY pillow was our God-send. Our son still sleeps with it today at age 2. When he was a baby, he would fall asleep on it and to him, it felt like arms holding him. It was able to keep him in place on the couch before he started rolling over. It helped me as a mom breast feed and helped other bottle feed him. It has many uses and I believe we did them all. Definitely a Boppy Pillow and our son also LOVES (still does) the baby Einstein videos. Just don't get them all individually since you'll spend a fortune. Simply go to Ebay.com and search for baby Einstein DVD set and you can get 26 videos for about $45-$50. These videos taught us and our son sign language so we could communicate with him before he could speak. He still communicates with sign language sometimes. Watching a Baby Einstein video has become part of his nighttime ritual. Congrats and Good Luck!!

I agree about the no need for playpen--we had the one you put together when you need it made of plastic panels that interconnect--it became his jungle gym, climbing thingie when he was too old to play in it(didn't play in it when it was age appropriate). We borrowed a pack'n play many times for travelling/visiting and it was REALLY useful, but only if you think you will be travelling.
I remember the swing saving my life many times, so I agree with the swing. Our bouncy seat wasn't great, but each baby reacts differently to swings vs. bouncies.
We still use his chest of drawers with the changing shelf still attached on top--now good for quick storage underneath the shelf and normal top of chest use(night light, toys, etc.)
I used the kitchen sink for baths with a plastic bin placed inside--I don't think you necessarily need the ones you can buy specifically for baby baths. Just get somehting that fits into the kitchen sink.(as long as you can swing the faucet out of the way while baby's in the sink). By the time you want to transfer to the tub you won't need the small plastic one anymore and your back will be happier standing at the sink.
Don't bother with the diaper genie--it broke twice and doesn't work as well as you would hope. A tall thin garbage bin that you could put standard garbage bags in (or even supermarket shopping bags) will work well--the ones that the top dips in when you put the garbage on it and the garbage slips into the bin. You just change the bag when the odor calls...
If she is going to breastfeed, she really will need a comfy chair with armrests and I so loved my rocking chair that I still have it in my bedroom--I love to read in it or just rock myself to calm my stress.
You can get seats that attach to regular chairs or to the table instead of a high chair so that it will take up less room, but you MUST have something that is very sturdy, EASY TO CLEAN!!! and can harness Jr. in safely so (s)he can play whilst Mommy cleans/cooks/eats/talks on phone/does hand laundry(?)/breathes.
Toy storage is always a nightmare, and I found that getting something that could hold storage bins with lids (not necessarily a baby-specific unit--you can get something at a raw furniture store and buy bins at BB&B) to be helpful. A tall, narrow vertical shelving unit can hold covered bins in the upper shelves, and the lower ones can have the things that you want Jr. to crawl over and self-serve. As Jr. ages, it can become a bookcase. The upper shelves can also hold clothes, diapers, or whatever.
Don't buy toys yet--you'll get more then you want as gifts, and Jr. will eventually just want to play with cardboard boxes and the pots and pans, anyway. Just get some teething thingies that can go into the freezer, and be sure to have a "Whoozit" of some kind and one book of black and white pictures.
And get some sleep now.

Forget the playpen. The only time you need one is if you have a multi-level or big house because you put it where you will mostly be and have the baby in there. But being that you live in a small space, the crib will end up being the playpen. I would suggest a travel swing. It's smaller than a regular one and does the same job. Even though I have space, we got the travel one and it was perfect. I have to say that I haven't used it lately (my son is 7 months), but at the beginning, it was very useful.

Also, no need to get a changing table. You put a receiving blanket on your bed and change the baby there.

As long as you have plenty of diapers, wipes and onesies, you'll be good to go! Best of luck!

Hi S.,
You NEED a baby carrier. I have used The Snugli, Bjorn, and Ergo. As a woman you had back surgery I found the Ergo to be the most comfortable but NOT the easiest to put the baby in alone. After a little practice I LOVED THIS CARRIER. It can be used for front, hip, and back carry.

Also, Graco snap-n-go infant carrier holder is a great product early on. Your baby will be traveling in its infant carrier (car seat) for several months so you don't really need a stroller right away. The snap-n-go is compact with a huge basket, lightweight, and takes minimal space. It gives you some time to decide which type of stroller will meet your needs in the future and saves some space for the hear and now.

These are 2 items I couldn't have lived without. I am a mother of 2 girls now 3 yrs. and 1.5 yrs. and my husband travels constantly!

Good luck!!!!!
Jen

S.,

I am the mother of 3yr old twin girls and live in 1000 sq feet in manhattan. #1 must have does not come to mind but "definately do not needproducts do":

You absolutely can live without a diaper genie, a wiper warmer, a changing table (a towel on a bed works great or if you get a changing table get one that doubles as a dresser). We didn't even use cribs until the girls were several months old - a packnplay is smaller and works great.

The most useful item was probably a small foldable seat(sort of like a fabric mesh hammock) for bathing the babies in the sink or tub. Don't remember the brand but I think babies r us carries it. Also hospital rent breast pumps (you just have to purchase the attachments - about $50) They are better than the lower priced models at baby stores but less expensive than buying those that cost $300 and up (unless of course your wife plans on breast feeding for several years). Good luck

L.

Ergobaby Carrier. (w/ infant insert at first.) Distributes weight better than bjorn, and can be used into toddlerhood.
But really any carrier that leaves hands free, such as a sling, of which there are (again, overwhelmingly) many styles to choose from (try SlingStation, i think). You can then walk around doing house or computer work or brush you teeth. and not be bothered with the stroller on the subway stairs and crossing the streets and in the narrow aisles of city drugstores and supermarkets. If your baby needs a lot of walking to settle, your back and arms will thank your lucky stars. I personally have more than one sling (preferences and trial and error)as well as the ergobaby---Space wise it's like having a couple of new bath towels. by the way, i keep a sling in the stroller in case baby freaks out and I want to hold her, but still need hands to push stroller.................(Playpen is a floor space eater, crib serves same purpose for a long time) Congrats to you and your wife!

Her swing! She is 10 months old and we still use it nearly every day. It works great for calming her down and getting her to take naps.

If you are nursing, I highly recommend a bobby, too. Love mine!

Hi S.,

Great question. I'm with you. There's way too many products out there that are so not necessary. Then again, I'm a minimalist. ;) That said. I've owned a white noise machine since my first child (who's now 6 yrs old). We still use it to this day and pack it whenever we go on vacation. I got it at Brookstone.

We've always used our bed as the "changing table". Just use one of those handy travel changing pads. Its comfy too. Just sit on the bed with your lovely baby in front of you and spread out what you'll need handy (diaper, wipes, etc). My preferred anti-diaper rash ointment was Aquaphor.

If your crib provides room underneath, I'd consider getting a couple of underbed drawers and use those to store clothes and blankies.

When your baby is 2 months old and very aware, a mobile over the crib is great entertainment and it doesn't take up extra room. We used the ones that hang from the ceiling. There are some really nice modern looking ones too.

Lastly, utilize the wall over the crib and place a narrow bookshelf on the wall sideways. Or Ikea has some nice wall shelf units for this purpose. You can then purchase baskets to fit into some of the shelf cubbies. This will give you plenty of storage for diapers, wipes, toys and of course books! :)

Congratulations and good luck. Don't let all of those baby stores persuade you of anything. You're smart to be asking others who have given it a try what works for them.

Oh lastly, we used a sling to carry my boys. We realized we didn't really need a stroller until they reached 6 months old. So you don't really need to rush into that purchase yet (IMHO).

a portable, collapsible baby swing!

S., we also live in Manhattan. We found that you really do NOT need most of the stuff they sell, alot is just commercial. here are a couple of things that we loved.Also, you don't need a lot of cloths either.
1) for bathing, the Daphne Bath Seat (google it). It's small, fits under many sinks and most of all is not hideously ugly. We used it for many, many months. Costs about $30.
2)The Mini Co-Sleeper by Arms Reach. Attaches to your bed underneath the mattress and let's baby sleep right next to you at night, but not in the bed. Makes feeding a lot easier.
3) the ERGO carrier. Not the Bjorn. The Ergo places weight on your hips, not on your neck and back. I still happily carry my 17 month-old in the Ergo.

i would have been stuck at the hip to my two kids if it weren't for our swing/chair. the one we have is the aquarium one i believe by fisher price. but really research the best one for your space issue. i'm sure it's out there. all i would do was plop them in and buckle them up and i did all the chores i needed to do AND i fit in a shower. and during all that...they would drift off to sleep. it was perfect!

I'd skip the playpen and get a bouncy seat that has a vibration that can be turned on or off and toys that can be attached or detached. Your baby will be able to sit in it and sleep, play, watch you pay bills or eat or whatever.

My son and I live in a small apt too and the bouncy seat, swing and glider (rocking chair) are invaluable. Ask around because many people pass on their equipment because no one wants to keep stuff any longer than needed.

Good luck and enjoy!

Hi S.,

Congratulations! We, too, are city dwellers and faced the same OVERWHELMING dilemma. The one thing that we had that doesn't take up any space but was absolutely essential was a ring sling to carry our son in. My husband and I both loved it. We got a Baby Bjorn when he was older which we both liked a lot, but I preferred this wrap from tinybirdorganics.com which is essentially a long piece of fabric you use to wrap your child next to your body. (It looks complicated at first but once you get the hang of it, it's great and is the most comfortable thing I've found yet, as it distributes the weight all over your body!) I have to admit, my son was happy in all of them.

Other than that, we got a bouncy seat (Fisher-Price Rainforest) that vibrates and was great to be able to sit him in securely for a few moments and/or get him to sleep.

Best wishes to you and your family.
K.

S.,

Congrats on expecting your first little one. After having 2 kids, I realize you dont need much to be ready for the baby.

We live in Manhattan also. We live close to CP, so it is like our backyard.

I used the sling for the first year, babywearing is great for babies if you can do it. I have been reading about alternative slings and you can even make them out of fabric. We had a Bjorn for our first son and it worked really well. But when I figured out how to use the sling with my second I wished I had it for my first. I think that my 2nd son was pretty content, bc he got his "swing dose" in the sling.

We also had a playpen but we used it like twice. Because of our older son with special needs we would made our living room into kind of a therapy room. So we always had a gym mat on the floor. Earlier on I would use big quilts on the floor. That became kind of the "safe area".

Try to use what you got. We opted for taller dressers for more "space." Used the gym mat as a changing area as it was easy to wipe down etc.

As far as diaper genie it was a waste of space for us. My solution to a dirty diaper..you know all those bags you get from shopping? Grab one of those. Change diaper. Place dirty diaper in garbage bag. tie and put on door and the next time you go out throw it in the garbage.

As far as stroller the lighter and most durable is the best in the city. I would not opt for the big caddy on this one. You want something you can get down the aisle in super markets, But be able to carry your house in. I would probably get a Maclaren, bc it seems to me to be the most durable. I bought a stroller at toys r us midtown, when my son was about a 6 months year old. I returned it the next day, because it was so hard to carry on and off the train.

I do have my older son's old Maclaren, for when I have to do shopping. But I only use it in the neighborhood. As far as a swing I would probably do a bouncy chair. It is smaller and more compact and easy to put in the closet if you are planning on another one. (also it can double as feeding chair early on.)

A high chair might be something you want to look at later on. We used ours for about 8 months. But I like our son to sit at the "table" with us, So I think a booster would have been more useful in our situation.

Hope this helps. Also tell your friends not to buy stuffed animals, they are hard to part with and take up tons of room!!

Hope this helps.

A baby swing. Both of our children loved being in the swing. It was a place to put them in awake so you could get things done and a place where they could nap too. We had the Fisher Price Ocean Wonders swing which is small and foldable.

Baby Papasan Chair by Fisher Price. It is inexpensive, folds flat, vibrates to soothe an infant, and cradles them so that they feel secure. My son used it all the time until he was too big for it.

We received a bouncer at the baby shower for our son, and I can't tell you how many crying fits the vibrating feature soothed. He loved the rocking motion, also. The one received is the Fisher-Price Rainforest Bouncer which has a really cool toy that can be attached. At nearly 11-months, he still loves to sit in the bouncer and play with the toy (though he barely fits, haha). Good luck!

M.

Just had to add this, my baby hated the swing. She cried whenever I put her in it. She didn't start liking it until she was about 6 months. Sad. The book, Happiest Baby on the Block really saved us. The vibrating chair worked better for us. Just a thought.