Edited for privacy
I would definitely do a crib over a pack n play. You can find some really inexpensive ones at Walmart if price is an issue. But in the long run, a crib is the way to go.
For carseats, I only ever buy Graco or Britax. Graco for the infant carrier always. Britax was just too clunky for my likes. For convertible & booster seats, it just depends on how much you’re willing to spend. Saftey-wise they are similar.
I’m a stroller junkie. I think I had about 6 different strollers for my daughter. I love, love, love my Bumbleride. Pricey but it was a dream. I’d avoid a traditional stroller system. Often the strollers in those sets are bulky. My Bumbleride, my sister’s [name_m]Bob[/name_m] (and many others) have attachments you can buy for the carseat.
I highly recommend a [name_u]Baby[/name_u] K’[name_m]Tan[/name_m] if you plan to wear your baby. Snug fit for newborns and I still carry my 15 month old nephew in it and he’s a beast. Ergo is probably better for the long run although you do have to buy a separate infant attachment. When I have another I plan on just using the K’[name_m]Tan[/name_m] for the newborn stage and then do the Ergo.
I cloth diapered my daughter and will again with future babies. I liked BumGenius and FuzziBunz pockets or AIOs. There are so many websites with great information but I really liked the diaperswappers message board.
If you plan on having more babies, I’d register for as much as you can. This baby might not like it, but your next could. But if space is an issue, you can always wait until after baby is born and see what they like. I had the top of the line swing, bouncer, etc and all my daughter wanted to do was be held. My nephew on the other hand, LOVED his swing. Craigslist or local Facebook groups have amazing deals for situations just like that. My swing was barely touched and I sold it for only $50.
If you are unsure of whether you will co sleep or not, I would start with just a pack n play. It is just generally a much smaller investment. I know some people really like the rock n play, but I think they advise against those for nighttime sleep now.
We are not cosleepers, so we loved the ikea cribs. Sniglar- solid unpainted wood and $70? Awesome.
A&B- depends a lot on your car. If you drive anything over than a minivan, try and take it to a big box baby superstore. They should let you try out all of the floor model seats in your car. You want to be able to put the front seats back far enough to actually drive and ride comfortably. This is not possible with many car/car seat combinations! Also, the car seat lady dot com is a wealth of information on this.
Other than that, they all have to meet the same safety standards, so its really more a matter of finding one with buckles you can easily work.
C- if you can possibly borrow these things, do. Some babies love bouncers. Some babies love swings. Some babies hate everything. The bouncers tend to be smaller, cheaper, and more portable, so I would start with that and see if you can get by without a swing.
D- clean? Very firm? With a couple of fitted sheets and waterproof covers?
E- we did thirsties covers plus prefolds with up&up (target) disposables at night and for travel. Up&up are, I think, the best generic disposable. Their formula is great too, if you end up using that.
F- how big is your house? We quickly discovered that there was nowhere in our house that we could not hear the baby cry, so we didn’t need one.
G- for carriers, the Ergo is probably the most versatile/longest used. It goes from newborn to three year olds (backpack carry on long hikes.) There is an infant insert for the Ergo, but it is just a thick blanket sack with a cushion at the bottom so the baby can ride higher. You can skip this and just roll up a receiving blanket to act as the bottom cushion.
I loved the [name_m]Moby[/name_m] for early days, but you could easily just use an Ergo the whole time. Again, you can try these on at a big box baby store. Or many cities have baby wearing groups that will lend these out so you can try them.
For strollers, it really depends. Are you driving places in the car then getting the stroller out? Or are you using the stroller as more of a car replacement? Are you hiking over rough terrain? Jogging in the suburbs?
If you are not opposed to buying used, check out consignment mommies dot com for a nationwide list of pop up consignment sales. Easier than trolling craigslist!
My 2 cents
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Crib or pack n play or something else?
I used a [name_m]Moses[/name_m] basket (wicker bassinet) for the 1st 2 months and then a cot/crib. I am guessing a pack n play is a portable foldaway cot? Never used one, only when we go away. They seem really uncomfortable to me, compared to a cot. -
[name_f]Do[/name_f] you have recommendations for:
a. [name_u]Infant[/name_u] car seats
No, never used. See below.
b. Convertible car seats
I love my Diono radian car seats. They go from birth to age 7 ish (which is when kids need to be in car seats here in NZ). They are slim so I can fit 3 across the back seat. I used a capsule a bit for my 1st babe, too heavy and annoying for me, I didn’t see the value tbh.
c. Bouncers/swings (and do you have a preference for one over the other? Should I wait until baby’s here to find out if I even need one?)
I never used one, for 3 babies so I wouldn’t assume you need one. I’d wait and see.
d. Crib mattresses
[name_m]New[/name_m], firm, with a protective topper.
e. Diaper brands (disposable/cloth/hybrid?)
I am a cloth nappy mum. I like my pockets, fuzzi bunz and the like.
f. [name_u]Baby[/name_u] monitors
I like my video monitor.means you can see if baby is crying lying down and going back to sleep, or standing up and really getting cross. Good for sneaking a peek!
g. Strollers and baby carriers
My stroller is a phil n teds because I needed a double option for kids close together. It sucks. I wouldn’t recommend. My carrier is a manduca which I love. Goes from birth to 3-4 with no newborn insert (it’s got a built in one). I use it heaps.
h. Breast pumps
I had a medela (electric). Did the trick, didn’t use it heaps (not working outside the home) but when I did it was fine.
- Anything else I might not have thought of?
I recommend a white noise machine, good swaddles, natural fibre sleeping bags for when baby is not swaddled and in a cot. A change table… I used one for my first a lot, my the time I got to number three I never did, always changing in the lounge where I could see the other two! Great places to store stuff though!
Good luck, exciting times!
- Crib or pack n play or something else?
I did a crib, but first a co-sleeper that attached to the bed. We used the co-sleeper for the first four months, but could have gotten by with just a crib. I didn’t find a pack and play useful until my son started crawling/standing and I needed a place to pen him if I had to run downstairs.
- [name_f]Do[/name_f] you have recommendations for:
a. [name_u]Infant[/name_u] car seats
b. Convertible car seats
I bought a Graco travel system, which is the infant car seat/stroller combo. Once my son grew out of the car seat, I bought a Graco convertible one that will last a while (MyRide I think). I found the travel system really great as a new mom since it was no muss, no fuss, click and go kind of thing. As he approached his first birthday, I started wanting a new stroller, especially a jogger so that I could get out more and get moving!
c. Bouncers/swings (and do you have a preference for one over the other? Should I wait until baby’s here to find out if I even need one?)
This one is tricky. I would buy something ahead of time, even if it’s just a little bouncer chair. What worked for me personally (which will vary for everyone) was a swing for soothing or just giving him a spot to chill when he was wound up, and then a [name_m]Fisher[/name_m] [name_m]Price[/name_m] [name_m]Rock[/name_m] N Play (like a bouncer/porta crib combo). The [name_m]Rock[/name_m] n Play in particular we used almost every day. He would nap in it occasionally. I’d drag it in the bathroom while I showered, or near the kitchen while I cooked.
d. Crib mattresses
I just bought the most popular one on Amazon, the Safety First I think.
e. Diaper brands (disposable/cloth/hybrid?)
We did disposable. I used the super soft Pampers Swaddlers for a few months, then switched to the less expensive Luvs brand, which work great. They’re not as soft as the Pampers, but are softer than the generic store brands.
f. [name_u]Baby[/name_u] monitors
We have a no frills VTech audio only monitor that does the job!
g. Strollers and baby carriers
Stroller I answered. I used a Boba wrap (like a [name_m]Moby[/name_m]) when he was tiny, then an Ergo which supported him so that he was sitting in a chair-like position (not dangling like you see happening with some other ones.)
h. Breast pumps
I tried pumping with a Madela hand pump, but it never worked out for me. Pumping I mean, not necessarily the equipment. So I am no help here.
- Anything else I might not have thought of?
Water, water, water and little snack stations if you’re breastfeeding. I bought dollar store caddies and filled them with granola bars, fruit leather, bottles of water. I found a nursing pillow helpful, but you could wait on that. White noise machine. A couple of brands of pacifiers on hand, even if you think you will go the no pacifier route. A Netflix subscription Anything secondhand when you can.
I don’t know if you saw this already, but here is a thread with some ideas!
Necessary items are things like basic clothes, car seat, a stroller, [name_f]IMO[/name_f] a baby carrier/wrap (unless you have back or stroller problems and shouldn’t use them), stuff like a baby first aid/hygiene kit (nail clippers, thermometer)…a crib or other safe place to put the baby with sheets, possibly a baby monitor depending on house size (newborn cries are quite quiet).
Unnecessary things are 95% of the lists at stores like babies R us. Swings, weirdly fancy bathtub situations, jumpers, etc. a changing table. A rocking chair is helpful, not 100% necessary.
I would get both a crib and pack and play, honestly. A lot of moms use the pack and play instead of a bassinet. I also put mine in the living room and she would nap there when she was so small I didn’t want her seperated from me much (probably for 5-6 months). It was also a safer place to put her than the floor, especially if you have pets, when you’re making a bottle or something.
Only other recommendation I have is don’t get the baby trend expedition travel system. I did, hated it, and have only seen bad reviews since.
A sling wrap and swaddler PJ sack (with arm flaps and Velcro). Not every baby will like them, but I actually had my brother go to target and get one and bring it over when DD was about a week old, DH went back to work, and she was suddenly strong enough to break out of her swaddle blankets and waking up every 3 minutes. I wore the sling almost constantly for 3 months…it was often the only way she’d sleep and calm down.
We bought a travel system that I hated, but I did like the infant car seat in the beginning, we switched around 8 months to convertible. It seemed pretty cost efficient and it’s far easier to carry/move the smaller infant seat, which you will definitely do with an infant.
Breast pumps; I was one of the few people who had no luck with a hospital grade medala pump. A hand pump was all that worked for me. You don’t need it in the beginning but if you’re having trouble, try it. Some insurance companies provide breast pumps, call and see. You’ll likely have a choice of 2-3.
I prefered cloth diapers, but if you’re returning to work shortly and your child will be in a daycare center, I may not recommend it.
Re: leadmythoughts
On breastpumps- in [name_u]America[/name_u], all insurance companies are now required to cover the cost of purchase or rental if a breast pump. But some may only cover handpumps, others may only cover the cost of a rental for a limited time, so do check. They are also required to cover lactation support now. Sorry for interjecting- I just think this is really awesome.
If you have WIC, you can also be provided a pump through them if you sign up for nursing mom benefits (you will get extra food instead of formula.) My sister said it was a huge pain, though. She had to bring the pump into the WIC office at every appointment to prove she still had it. They also require you to attend their breastfeeding classes, so you have to be able to make time for that.
Unfortunately, a lot of insurance companies were grandfathered out of the bill to cover pumps. So even though there’s been a law saying they all have to, many do not
As how breastpumps-
If insurance doesn’t cover one, you may also check with the hosptial you give birth at. Mine rented them out for a very small fee.
As to everything else- as with everything parenting, everyone is going to have their own personal preference, and it all will conflict, which can be confusing for a first timer!
Id say the most helpful piece of advice here would be to just think about the purpose of the item and what you need out of it.
As far as car seats. A travel system is helpful for newborns who fall asleep in the car. You can just take the entire car seat out of the car and into wherever you’re going without waking the baby. Once they get to be over 15 lbs it starts to get bulky and a pain in the butt. But honestly it’s a lifesaver the first year. We transferred our son to his convertible seat at 1, and still miss the other seat sometimes. When you pick out car seats, of course check to see that it has a newborn insert, he size limits, etc, but also check the cushioning. We forgot to do it with out graco, and found them to be quite ‘hard’. [name_m]Chico[/name_m] and britax tend to have much more cushioning.
As far as strollers, just think about what you’ll need it for, as I said. [name_m]Will[/name_m] you be jogging? [name_m]Just[/name_m] walks around the neighborhood? Traveling a lot with it? Make sure to test them out and see which one will fit your needs the most. Also it is very helpful to check out ratings on Amazon to see what people like/dislike about it. That goes for everything.
A lot of the other things you mentioned will just be unique to your baby. We initially bought a crib and had no intentions of ever cosleeping. That went out the window the very first week! If I could go back id have invested in a side cosleeper.
We use our packnplay every day. If you have a larger house, it makes a great napper/changing station for downstairs. Right now our packnplay is in our room, and my soon plays in it while I shower or clean. I’d say if you have a crib it isn’t really necessary, but it is nice to have.
I tried 59 billion carriers and my son just hated them all. Some babies like them, some do not. I’d say if you by an ergo or an expensive carrier, make sure it faces outwards as well.
Swings, bouncy seats, Etc… Some people say they are life savers and a complete necessity, others had babies who hated them. There really is no telling!
One product recommendation for me, though, is the rocknplay. My son lived in it. You can drag it around the house while you’re getting things done, it’s a safe place to set him, and he slept in it right next to our bed for the first 4 months.