Buying for your Bundle of Joy: Advice for First Time Moms

So you're expecting a little one, congratulations! There's some things you're going to hear over and over again, about being prepared for sleepless nights and not having time for yourself, because its not about you any more.  This blog isn't about those things.   It's less about the concept of parenthood and more about those items that will make it easier.

If you're anything like I was, you're going to obsess over exactly which items to put on your baby registry.  You're going to see the cutest thing, and you're going to want exactly what you want.  This is a mistake, and you will realize how unimportant your pickiness was soon after baby arrives, because as cute as that Thing You Love is, that Thing You're Not So Crazy About But Serves The Same Purpose will look just as cute when your little bundle of joy is using it.  Don't get me wrong, RESEARCH, know which BRAND of item that you want, but don't get too caught up on details like color or design, and don't go overly expensive when there's a brand of equal quality for a more reasonable price that someone will buy it for.

Again, if you're like me, you have people in your family who are picky about where they shop for you, and they want you to create a registry that is not at your Dream Store.  Do yourself a favor and make a registry there, because they are going to shop there whether you like it or not and at least this way you can make sure what they buy you from there is something you can use.  Create a second registry at the store you want for those who are more willing to listen to you wishes, but trust me when I say it's worth the trouble.

Now while I've all ready mentioned the importance of researching the items on your registry, or the items you will ultimately purchase for you little one, I also know there's nothing like advice from someone with experience.  And while your mothers and older relatives will be of great help, most of them know little about the newest brands and items out there for babies.

Let's get started.

The most important thing, and something I now realize I should have researched more BEFORE the baby arrived: what brand of diapers will you use?  Not all diapers are equal!  I got an assortment of brands at my shower and the only diapers that seem NOT to leak on a regular basis were Pampers and Huggies, and even still, Pampers is far better at drawing moisture away from the skin and preventing irritation.  Huggies brags about their more comfortable shape, but when your child is newborn and no where near crawling age, trust me, the higher risk of a diaper rash definitely make Huggies LESS comfortable.  Perhaps Huggies will be better for older babies, who are more mobile, and don't require so many frequent diaper changes, but I've yet to reach that point with my son.

The next most important thing: wipes.  This is the area that Huggies excels in, nothing compares.   I'll admit, I haven't tried the pampers brand, but that's because I can't really find many stores that carry Pampers wipes, Huggies is by far more popular.

Other things you'll want for diaper changing, besides that table to match the baby furniture set you love, or the stylish diaper bag you've got your eye on is a portable  waterproof changing pad and a refillable small on the go wipes container.  You'll also want to invest in carry-size hand sanitizer bottles for when you are not near a sink.

And of course: DIAPER RASH OINTMENT!  If you are the type to buy brand names, go for Desitin, but a generic brand equivalent will work just as well if you compare the ingredients.  Look for zinc oxide and make sure it's not water based, or urine will wash it away.

And don't forget to get a good diaper pail to have next to your changing table at home, look for ones that are more air-tight to eliminate odor, such as the Diaper Champ. 

Now that we've gotten past the poopy business, now to eating!  I am a firm believer of exclusive breastfeeding, so the following advice will be for mothers who at least partially provide nutrition for their babies through nursing.  

An absolute MUST for breastfeeding is the boppy pillow, or a pillow with similar shape.  It provides much needed support and saves you A LOT of muscle soreness.  It's also nice to prop your little one up against before the develop the support to hold themselves up or use chairs.

You will also need an insulated bag for transporting breast milk when you are away from refrigeration, conveniently sized, reusable icepack, and freezer safe storage containers to match whatever breast pump you choose to use.

As far as bottles go I recommend Playtex with wide nipples.  Drop-ins or VentAire will prevent your baby from swallowing too much gas, and the wide nipples helps prevent nipple confusion.

For those of you out there who have trouble affording an electric breast pump, which can possibly be the most expensive item on your list, and aren't lucky enough to have a state Medicaid insurance that provides one for you, they can be rented from WIC for $10-$20 a month.

UPDATE: After some research on starting my baby on solids, I've decided I'm going to make all his baby food for him.  For more information see my post on homemade baby food.  If this is something you'd like to do, then you need a food processor and baby food freezer trays (though regular ice cube trays could also suffice).

Last on the essentials list is items for your babies health you'll want to make sure you have before you bring your little one home.  A multi-purpose thermometer.  Rectal temperatures are the most accurate, and there for the ones doctors will recommend you use,  but if you're just looking for a quick reference axillary (underarm) temperature will come in handy.  Keep in mind that your newborn won't be able to take temperatures orally or have ear canals big enough for temperatures by that route for quite some time.

You'll want to have a pair of baby nail trimmers, as your little cutie can have quite the set of claws on them when they arrive, and if you don't want the scratching up their perfect little face, it will be a necessity. 

Lastly, make sure you have infant Tylenol (or whichever infant pain reliever/ fever reducer your pediatrician recommends) because if your baby gets sick unexpectedly in their first few weeks home, you won't want to run out in the middle of the night to get it.

Now, past the basics and on to the fun stuff!  Pacifiers for newborns are quite different from the majority of the pacifiers you will find out there.  Most are made for larger mouth with teeth, and have much tougher nipples.  The only ones my newborn would take were the Soothie pacifier they give you at the hospital, but you can find it at most superstores (Walmart, Target, etc)  Be careful not to buy the Super Soothie, as those are made out of thicker plastic for one your baby gets teeth.

Now Soothie pacifiers have these wonderful things called Wubbanubs, where they are connected to adorable stuffed animals make it so they stay in your child's mouth SOOOO much easier when they are too young to keep it in by themselves.  Not only are they adorable, but they are helpful.  By far one of my favorite baby items.  Unfortunately, you'll probably have to order one online if you want one, but in my opinion it's worth it if you have the money to spare.

When it comes to picking out toys, mobiles, and playmats, keep in mind that a newborns don't have the best vision and the objects that will stimulate their vision are the earliest are black-and-white patterns with  high contrast, and the color red.  While pastels are adorable, bright primary colors will be much more stimulating to the youngest of little ones.  And while you might love that animal themed toy, basic shapes like circles, triangles, and squares will be easier for your child to differentiate between.

You'll want at least one playmat to put on the floor for 'tummy time'  Since it is recommended babies DO NOT sleep on their stomachs to prevent the risk of SIDS, babies will need increased awake time on their stomach, supervised by an adult.  This will help them build the muscles necessary for pushing themselves up, and eventually crawling.  It is recommended a baby gets at least 10 minutes of tummy time at least once a day.

Another item that you should have on your list is baby monitors.  Get a set made by a brand associated with electronics, such as Sony, as these are usually more reliable and have less static.   For convenience, look for monitors that are long-range, and are rechargeable, so you won't have to buy new batteries all the time. 

Now, when it comes to bigger items like car seats and strollers, all I can say is what you want will depend on personal preference, but the most important thing is to choose a reliable brand.  This is one thing you do NOT
want to skimp on.  Same thing for cribs, though I recommend staying away from drop-side cribs, as they are so often recalled do to potential danger.

Something you might not think of is having a bassinet.  Even if you play to set up the crib in the same room as you, a bassinet can be placed right up against your bedside at night, and moved out of the way during the day.  It's worth it to you have your baby at arm's reach in those early weeks before they learn to sleep through the night, and it's especially convenient if you are breastfeeding.

Swings are nice for keeping your baby quiet, if you are lucky enough to have a child that will take to them, though I don't recommend any particular brand, just make sure, as always, that it is a reliable brand.

And lastly, you'll want to think about getting a baby carrier or sling to you use to keep your baby close without tiring your arms out, it will be especially helpful for those fussy times when they want to be held for hours on end.  

Sometimes it seems hard to stay sane when preparing for you little bundle of joy, but in the end when it's all said and done and you get those quite moments to relax while they sleep, you'll be glad for the effort you took.  Good luck, and best wishes!