The Imperfect Community

[Petulant Pixie]

I've been shopping like crazy and I think I'm pretty well stocked up now!

The little bed arrived today.
I have the travel system.
The bathtub.
Diaper genie.
Two packs of diapers (40 NB, and 50 size 1).
I have a box of wipes.
I have 10 little suits--1 terrycloth NB (to wear home), 1 cotton NB, 3 Target brand cotton ones that SAY they're 0-3 months, but the legs are shorter than the Carter's 0-3 month, so I'm just calling them "small", 2 Cater's terrycloth size 0-3, two Carter's cotton size 0-3 and one adorable little shorts outfit that Eileen sent.
2 packs of t-shirts (4 that are NB size and 4 that are "small").
1 pack (six or nine in the pack?) of "small" onesies.
5 receiving blankets (a pack of 4 that I bought and a reversable one Eileen sent that matches the shorts outfit).

We already had in the house--two hooded towels, 6 "baby" washcloths, a slew of "burp rags" (since Katie was attached to them--we have them in all manner of color and pattern) and Desitin and A&D Ointment. My cousin gave me the wind-up swing and the PIS. Kristy is so generously giving me the sling system!

I have sent in the order for the free convertable car seat and the high chair from dh's work.

For myself I have the Bravado bra and a box of disposable Lanisoh nursing pads.

As far as what I still NEED: Another nursing bra, a bunch of pads, baby shampoo and bath, and the monitor.

And I still WANT to get the bouncy seat, probably a battery operated swing, and an exersaucer. I've looked at the consignment store near me and they seem to carry that stuff pretty regularly, so I'm going to wait until closer to the end to pick up that sort of stuff. I should probably see about getting another fitted sheet for this little crib thing, too.

Is there anything I'm fogetting? It's been forever since I've done this!

[honeybee]

You mentioned the nursing bra and pads, what about some cream? Lansinoh or PureLan, just in case you have nipple soreness. One tube is like $7, but lasts f-o-r-e-v-e-r.

A nursing pillow, like a Boppy? Personally, I found them terribly uncomfortable and never used one, but I know a lot of people swear by them. I did wish I had one later, for when baby is ready to start sitting up though.

Definitely a bouncy seat. I dragged ours all over the house to put baby down when I needed my hands free -- especially to go potty or shower. Also, being sore from the c/s, I couldn't hold baby for very long without my back killing me in the beginning.

Do you have sleepers, besides the outfits you mentioned? Nightgowns are the best, IMO!! Our boys live in those for the first couple weeks. SO much easier to change all those diapers, especially in the middle of the night.

Also remember, that if you are bfing, Elizabeth is going to be pooping a lot more often and breastmilk poo tends to leak out a lot. Make sure you have enough outfits to cover yourself for frequent wardrobe malfuctions.

[honeybee]

Oh, and some baby detergent? Dreft or All Clear?

Extra sheets for the bed -- though, I found it easier (and less expensive) to use a receiving blanket over the fitted sheet. Much easier to pull up and wash when needed. Often had to do this several times a day, between leaky poops and spit-up! Fun fun!!

[julymom]

We had this kind of swing. Ours was a different pattern, but it is one of the smartest things we bought pre-baby. It can rock like a cradle or a regular swing. Cooper loved it and so did I. He pefered the cradle motion to the swing motion. They make another version of it in the Ocean Wonders range.
As far as exersaucers go, we had the FP Step and Play Piano which is by far the BEST money we ever spent on a baby toy. He started using it around 6 months (when he could sit up well enough) and we just gave it to a friend back in Oct (he was 2 and 3mos), right before we moved. We probably could have kept it and he'd still play with it, but we have so much stuff we had to pare down and my friend needed an exersaucer for her baby. I was so sad to see it go though because he had so much fun in it.

I can't believe you're so close to having her! I'm so excited for you!

[Petulant Pixie]

Thanks for the input! I had a tube of Lanisoh when I had Alex and never had the opportunity to use it. So, I am being superstitious and am not buying that unless I need it. I can send Mike out for it, if it becomes neccessary.

I had a Boppy with Katie and never used it either. I will keep that in mind and Mike can get one of those too if I find I need one, lol.

I've never used a bouncy seat with either kid. They look like a good idea, which is why I'd like one, but I've just managed without twice before. This is the one I had in mind: http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/602-0623006-6168620?%5Fencoding=UTF8&coliid=I3KAD2LCAX4CAO&asin=B0002ZOI9W&colid=3GSPYMQXX3VSU&bckreg=lc At the consignment store, they had several ranging from $5-15. But this one is only $30, so I may just end up getting it later on.

The swing is a must, but I'm just not willing to spend the money on those multi-movement ones. If one shows up at the consignment store, I'll grab it. But, I've seen several battery operated, standard swings there and they run like $12. Believe me, after the wind-up Graco that we used for A&K, any new-fangled battery operated thing is going to seem like a luxury, lol.

The exersaucers I was looking at are these: http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/602-0623006-6168620?%5Fencoding=UTF8&coliid=I1CUU03BZX6J4Z&asin=B0002U1SFE&colid=3GSPYMQXX3VSU&bckreg=lc and http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/602-0623006-6168620?%5Fencoding=UTF8&coliid=ICHET7F4T1DAL&asin=B0000CCOJM&colid=3GSPYMQXX3VSU&bckreg=lc The step and play piano is pretty cool, though, too. But, like you said, they can't use those things right away, so we have time to check those out.

The other things I've been looking at are the play mats like this: http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/602-0623006-6168620?%5Fencoding=UTF8&coliid=IIEZHLUMHGZKZ&asin=B0000936LR&colid=3GSPYMQXX3VSU&bckreg=lc and this: http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/602-0623006-6168620?%5Fencoding=UTF8&coliid=I3AR8L90LATE5Z&asin=B0006A0GQ2&colid=3GSPYMQXX3VSU&bckreg=lc

Melissa--I had a bunch of gowns for Katie. Being breech though, she had the frog-leg sleep and the gowns would end up all bunched up around her waist, with her bare little legs sprawled out in the open! Which is all right for summer (or anytime in Texas, lol), but not right away. Lizzy Lou is also sitting breech and transverse (has yet to try the traditional "head down" position favored by so many of her peers at this stage, lol), so I'm wary of the gowns for that reason. But, if she sleeps like a normal baby, then yeah, I'll send Mike out for those, too.

And, I was going to ask if you use All Clear do you still have to use Dreft? Because we always use All Clear here.

[honeybee]

All Clear is fine. I think it's basically the same thing, but probably less perfume-y than Dreft.

I really like both the saucers you listed. They look like fun -- more crap connected to it, the better! Owen would flip for that Einstein one, even now -- he's a Baby Einstein addict.

I had a play mat and LOVED it. We got a lot of use out of it, both boys liked it well into the sitting up stage, I think they enjoyed finally being face-to-face with it. I would put it away once they reached the pulling-up stage, since they would try using the bars for support and crash. It's neat too, becuase the toys are detachable, so you can change them out and clean them easily.

I had the FP cradle swing too and it was AWESOME. I can't fathom using a different swind, that think just rocked. (pun intended)

What about bibs? If she's a spitter, they might be good to have!

I'm so excited for you!

[Rebecca_R]

You sound very prepared! That's more than I had when I was having Aaron. We don't use things like special baby bathtub, baby washcloths or baby towels. But one thing I think you may be missing, is lansinoh if you are going to be bf'ing. It helped a lot in the beginning with the initial cracking, until the latch is perfect. Hopefully you won't have that problem, but JIC! It's nice to have handy.


I'm so excited!

[Rebecca_R]

[honeybee]

Thought of a few others...

GAS DROPS!

Maybe have some infant Tylenol on hand, just in case... just something you need to have stocked, IMO.

baby bath wash/soap

binky?

...and I have a sealed Gerber breast therapy pad thingie. It's supposed to be a soothing compress for soreness. It was a free sample that I never used. It will expire long before I have another kiddie, so if you want it, it's yours.

And those samples that Becky mentioned you could get from the hospital? Those are great. They are just tiny little packet thingies, but each one is good for 4-5 applications. I really liked them because that goo is SO thick and hard to smear, you really need to warm it up so it spreads better...those little packets warm up in your hand really easily, you can just breathe on them to heat it up (and we all know you are full of hot air) (HAHA! )...the kind in tubes is impossible to warm up adequately. I would actually sleep with my big tube under the covers with me so it would be useable in the middle of the night -- Owen was such a terrible nursling in the beginning. Ugh.

[Petulant Pixie]

Yeah, the medications...I had cupboards stocked before A&K were born. This time I'm going to be optimistic and just play it by ear. Maybe she won't get sick for a long time!

And the gas drops worked great with Katie, but they didn't do anything for Alex's colic. So, we'll see!

[MainstreamMom]

Ok I just skimmed through everyone's replies but I thought of a few more (sorry if any are repeats):

A bunting insert for the infant seat or some sort of winter coat (since it can still be very cold even in June). I have the original "Bundle Me" and have used it with both kids and it's now on loan but I highly recommend it.

Also, how about Mylicon drops just in case? I know I used them a ton with Jack.

Bottles? Even if you BF you'll need bottles.

Binkies!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'd buy a few different styles b/c babies can be so picky.

I like the Aquarium that both kids had attached to their crib. They loved the noise to fall asleep (you won't need that right away if the baby is not in a crib).

Snot sucker tube thingy (lol you know the bulb thing), nail clippers, cotton balls and alcohol for the belly button, ONE neutral or blue outfit just in case LOL, diaper rash cream, baby wash...

[DietCokeHead]

I would stock up on all the medicines just in case. But my family is a bunch of people that should live in a plastic bubble, so there ya have it.

I never used separate detergent for baby clothes, we use All dye free or whatever it is called.

I forgot to bring a paci to the hospital with Jack and had to send Marshall out to get one, so if you want to use one bring your own!

[julymom]

[Scout]

Yes, Gripewater is the bomb! It kicks Mylicon's ass. I have even taken it myself when I had a stomach virus and it workd within minutes on the stabbing cramps. I had people drive 45 minutes from the burbs to get 3 and 4 bottles at a time at Mothersville. It's made by baby's Bliss, and their website lists local stores.

PP, go to http://www.hotslings.com and look at her sizing matrix to let me know what size you think you'll need. I should have some testers in periwinkle this week (it's fairly laveneder-y blue, very pretty). If you want the red or the Seacrest green, which is kind of a soft celedon (it's pretty and neutral), it will be hopefully just a few more weeks. LMK

[DietCokeHead]

Where do you get Gripewater????