Baby stuff

I am a strong believer of the following --

You will not know you lack something until you have it.

Baby stores are filled with things -- all very useful.  But here is the dirty secret:  you can probably do without them.  You will not know how much you need something until you begin using it.  Don't get me wrong, it would be wonderful to have each and every thing they had, but at the end of the day, it's just stuff that you will most likely only use for a couple of months at most.


This is why I have come up with a list of simple things that I have found to be very basic and which also have a relative long life.  (On a side note, this list does not include necessaries such as a crib, car seat, bottles, high chair, blankets, clothes, etc.)   

• Cloth wipes.  These are wonderful to have, whether you cloth diaper or not.  I keep them near my changing table with a squirt water bottle.  I use them to catch unexpected urine when changing a diaper, to wipe her dirty face or body, or drying her bottom before putting her diaper back on.  I like them so much, I made extra to give away at showers.  As Emma grew older and began eating, I began using them as napkins.  Forget about paper napkins, we now use cloth.  We go through so many napkins these days, it's just not worth it to buy them anymore.  We use them to wipe her face, hands, high chair, floor, etc.  Byron and I use them as well when we eat. 
• Cloth diapers.  I must confess, I was nervous leading up to using them, but once I did, I loved them!  I wish it was required for all parents to at least give them a try.  For the first few months, as long as you are exclusively nursing, you don't even have to rinse them -- straight to the washing machine.  Now that Emma is eating more solid foods, all I do is pick the poo up with a cloth and toss it in the toilet.  Every once in a while I have to rinse them, and when I do, I use rubber gloves.  No problem!  The money you save by using them is unreal.  Even if I worked, I would still cloth diaper.  It's that simple.
• Breast pump.  I mostly use a Medela manual pump.  It costs $40 and is very portable and easy to use.  I normally pump at least once a week and I currently have about 10 fl oz in the freezer for back up.  Enough for a bottle when needed.  If you will be working, an electric breast pump will be the way to go.
• Baby carrier.  This is a wonderful thing to have if you wish to be able to hold your baby and still be hands free.  I own the Baby Bjorn and have used it since Emma was two weeks old.  I didn't even own a stroller.  If I had to go somewhere, I just wore her.  I used it to go out on walks with her, grocery shop, and even do chores around the house.  I did eventually get a stroller someone gave me and have enjoyed it as well, but a baby carrier is wonderful in it's own way.  I will say that if you choose to get a carrier, don't get a cheap one!  You get what you pay for.  The one I got was expensive, but worth every penny.  The cheaper ones will strain your shoulders and not give good back support.
• Pacifier.  I know, I know, people have strong opinions about them, but this is mine: they serve their purpose, which is to help your baby soothe himself.  Emma carried hers around for the first 8 months of her life.  She eventually lost it.  We thought it would be a great time to wean her off of it since she wasn't interested in any other ones, even if they were identical to the one she used to have.  But I was pretty persistent, and would literally shove it in her mouth until she took the new one.  She now only gets to use it when she naps or goes to bed.  I will eventually wean her off of it, but I am still not ready for it.
• Stroller.  My only tip on this one is that there is no need to buy a new one.  They are sold in perfect condition for a fraction of their price at yard sales, consignment sales, or on Craigslist.  I just purchased a jogging stroller last weekend at a yard sale with a $99 value, and got it for $20.
• Floor fan or a white noise sound machine.  This is wonderful to have in your baby's room to block out noise from outside and help her sleep better.  We just use a floor fan.
• Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child.  No other sleep book is as accurate and as reliable as this one.  The author of this book is a doctor who specializes in sleep.  In it he walks you through each sleeping stage of your child, informing you of what you can expect in each one of them.  Other sleep books will try to suggest techniques to follow which your child may not be ready to undertake, and will eventually lead to a frustrated mama.  HSHHC is a long book, not intended to read all at once, but to use as a resource throughout your child's life.  One a side not, I have asked three different pediatricians in town what sleep book they recommend to their patients.  Two of them said HSHHC, the third one said none.
• Your Baby's First Year.  This book was given to us by Emma's pediatrician on our first visit with him.  We have used it as a resource on countless occasions.  It has answered questions related to nursing, eating solids, nails, ears, eyes, rashes, etc.

Before closing, I will add that I have very much enjoyed other baby related items as well.  Items such as the baby swing, walker, baby gym, etc.  I did not put these on the list above because they have a short baby life.