TIPS FOR FIRST TIMERS: BABY GEAR

So, what do you REALLY need for a new baby? Which items will make your life easier? And what can you easily do without? Here's my take on the whole baby registry paradigm...

ESSENTIAL GEAR

- infant carseat (This is one of the most important purchases you will make for you baby. Do your research and decide on a brand that has excellent safety ratings and great reviews. I recommend getting one that goes to 30 lbs and 30 inches, since some babies are chunksters and will pass the 22 lb limit of some carseats well before their first birthday.)

- layette (The basic clothing and accessories: hats, gowns, onesies, pants, socks, receiving blankets/swaddlers, and a bunting if baby is born in the fall/winter. You can skip shoes for the first 6-12 months, or longer. Anything with a kimono-style closure will be your favorite while your baby is itty bitty and floppy-headed. Bibs can be useful if your baby spits-up or drools a lot, but I guarantee you'll get 10 dozen at your baby shower whether you register for them or not.)

- high chair (I have no preference here: wood or plastic, full-size or travel-size. Just get what you like and what fits in your kitchen. Don't worry about getting one with a recline feature. Your baby shouldn't be eating solid foods until they can sit up well anyway. Do get something with a high back for support though, since not all babies can sit up unsupported at 6-months.)

- diapers (If you are using disposables, go ahead and list a couple big boxes of each size on your registry. And some wipes. And some diaper cream. If you plan to use cloth, I still recommend getting 1-2 big boxes of newborn disposable diapers, then starting your cloth diaper stash with a few different brands of one-size diapers. Once baby is big enough to fit into the one-size cloth diapers, around 8 lbs, you can try them out and decide what you like best, then order more of those to complete your stash, while finishing up the disposable diapers you have in the house. With Amazon's baby registry/wishlist and their 'universal wish list' button, you can add cloth diapers from any website you want.)

- health/meadical/grooming kit (Rather than buying a ready-made kit, make one yourself with these essential items: electric nasal aspirator, rectal thermometer, underarm thermometer, infant's acetaminophen/ibuprofen/gas relief drops, large soft-bite medicine syringe, soft brush and comb, safety nail clippers, and an infant toothbrush and toothpaste. All these items fit great into a small plastic box or a craft tote to keep them organized and accessible.)

USEFUL ITEMS

- extra carseat base (For your 2nd car or grandma's car, if you think you'll be switching cars often and/or dividing up daycare drop-offs and pick-ups. Otherwise, save your money. The infant carseat bases are VERY easy to move from car to car and it takes less than 2 minutes.)

- convertible carseat (You won't need it until your baby is around a year old, but go ahead and register for it now. Get one that has excellent safety ratings, has good reviews, and is user-friendly. Be sure you pick one that rear-faces to at least 35 lbs, if not more.)

- baby swing (Get one that plugs into the wall because batteries don't last long, especially if you have a swing-lover on your hands. And get one that swings in 2 directions: side-to-side and front-to-back. Usually, one direction soothes your baby to sleep and the other keeps them entertained while awake. They even come in 'glider' styles now, if you want that added feature.)

- glider with footrest (This item is absolutely worth the money! You will use it to sit in when feeding your baby - no matter HOW you feed your baby, by the way - and you will likely use it for hours on end just rocking your baby to sleep. Invest in one with a footrest and which reclines for ultimate comfort. You may just find yourself falling asleep there right along with junior...)

- crib/pack-n-play/bassinet/co-sleeper (Even if you plan to bedshare, it's a good idea to have a secondary place to lay your sleeping baby for times when you aren't in bed together or if you need to take care of something, or just want a break and a safe place to store baby for a few minutes. Babies roll. And eventually crawl. And fall off beds. And cats and dogs like to sleep snuggled right next to, or on top of, snuggly little heaters. You may even want two such safe places to lay baby: one for your room, until you're ready to move them into their nursery, and one for their nursery, or for another room in the house, especially if you have a bi-level house and don't feel comfortable leaving your baby napping upstairs while you work downstairs, when they are itty bitty. Don't laugh, LOTS of mamas can be quite paranoid at the safety of their babies and prefer to keep them as close as possible, all day, and night, long.) and bedding to go with them.

- mobile (We never used them much over the cribs, but our kids LOVED them over the changing table. It totally distracted them during diaper changes!)

- baby monitor (They can be expensive, but I highly recommend getting one with video as well as sound. Believe me, babies are loud when they wake up hungry or angry, you will hear them even if you have the sound of your monitor turned off. In which case, you will sleep better because their every grunt and toot won't wake you up. But when you do wake to check on them, you can position that camera so that you can literally watch them breathe and smile in their sleep. When they start sleeping those longer stretches, it's VERY nice to be able to stay in your own bed while simultaneously checking on them throughout the night.)

- mirror for the car (Your baby will be rear-facing in the car for at least their first 2 years, so invest in a good, big mirror that you can position so that you can check on them at every stoplight with a quick glance in your rearview mirror.)

- babyproofing gear (Socket covers, cabinet locks, drawer locks, and toilet lid locks, as well as smoke alarms and a carbon monoxide alarm with fresh batteries. If you have a room or more that you don't want baby in, ever, or stairs, then go ahead and register for a baby gate. They are extremely useful.)

- baby carrier (There are a few types: soft-sided carriers, wraps, and slings. And many styles and brands. As for the soft-sided carrier, my advice is to avoid brands and styles that have narrow crotches and promote forward-facing. Your baby's legs need to be bent at a 45 degree angle, in the same position they would be in if you were hand carrying them. Letting their legs dangle and/or facing them outward, which bends their spine in the wrong direction, is bad for their development. Soft-sided carriers can be used to carry your infant on your tummy and your toddler on your back. Some even work for hip carries. Wraps are also great for all ages, but be sure you check the fabric. Stretchy fabrics are only good for small babies. Woven fabrics are better for larger/older infants and toddlers, and for back carries. There are actually LOTS of different carrying positions with a wrap. Slings are awesome too, and can also be used in a variety of ways for a variety of ages and weights. Just be sure you read all the directions and watch the how-to videos, and practice at home first, before you use them. And please don't use the cradle carry. While it can be done correctly, it is simply MUCH safer to face that itty bitty newborn in an upright froggy position up on your chest.)

- stroller (Personally, I think the 'travel systems' are worthless. They are huge and bulky and heavy. Unless you plan to push your baby around in their carseat often, you won't use it. Instead, buy an awesome umbrella stroller with a 5-point harness that fully reclines and is meant to accomodate babies from as little as 5-10 pounds.)

- infant bathtub, shampoo/baby wash, baby washcloths, hooded bath towels, and a kneeling mat and insert for the big tub (for when baby outgrows the infant tub and can sit well on their own)

- potty seat (Yes, it's OK to register for one, even though you won't likely need it for 1.5-2 years - just like registering for that convertible carseat, it's nice to be prepared)

- play gym (These are the padded mats that have arches and loops for hanging toys. When baby is doing "floor time", it's nice for them to have things to look at and reach for, and they can promote development of motor skills. Some come with little mini-Boppy pillows to encourage baby during "tummy time", which I have found to be really helpful.)

- bouncer (This is the little seat that bounces when baby kicks and usually has toys and music, and often a "vibrate" feature as well. Some babies LOVE these. Most at least like them. Personally, I found the bouncer to be an essential piece of bathroom gear, especially while I was home on maternity leave. It's a great, safe place to put baby while you shower.)

- jumperoo/exersaucer/walker (These are nonessential items, but boy are they awesome! Both my kids have loved all 3 versions of these "entertainers". The jumperoo especially. Though the exersaucer can usually be used earlier, since it requires less height and balance. As for walkers, as long as you get one with the feature that causes it to FREEZE if a wheel so much as tips 1/4 of an inch, they are perfectly safe. Just don't use them upstairs or on patios.)

- changing pad/waterproof mattress pad (You have to change your baby somewhere, and while it doesn't matter where, you do want it to be someplace soft. And if you're changing baby on your bed or couch, you want something waterproof under their bum to protect your furniture!)

- Boppy pillow (Awesome for mama and daddy alike. They raise those itty bitty babies to the perfect height for breastfeeding or bottle feeding, and help give your arms a rest even when you're NOT feeding the baby, but simply holding a sleeping infant for hours at a time. I have two: one for upstairs and one for downstairs, so I didn't have to cart it around while also carrying the baby around.)

- bottles (I recommend buying just one small pack of whatever brand you THINK you want to use, since some babies are particular about what type they will use), bottle brush, dishwasher basket (for the small parts), and bottle drying rack. If you are planning to breastfeed, get your nursing gear (breastpump, storage bottles and bags, nursing pads, lanolin). If you are planning to formula feed, the hospital will send you home with free samples, or you've likely gotten some via your birthing classes and OB or in the mail. If you want to have more on hand, I'd just buy one can, since you have no way of knowing whether your baby will need a particular type (i.e. some babies are lactose intolerant need soy milk or other special formulas).

- infant-sized spoons, a wipeable, plastic/rubber bib with a pocket (Seriously, best invention EVER for keeping clothes and the highchair clean!), and a sippy cup (Again, don't invest heavily now, since lots of babies are picky about what type/brand/style of cup they are willing to use).

- humidifier (Useful when baby has a cold or if your house is dry. Also PERFECT for white noise to run all night long and help baby stay asleep and sleep longer - though any kind of white noise will work. Most pediatrician's recommend cool mist humidifiers, not warm mist.)

- pacifiers (Even if you don't want your baby to use one, I suggest getting a couple in different brands/styles. Lots of babies have a strong need to suck, and they just won't be happy unless they are. My favorites are the gumdrop vanilla-scented ones. They are shaped like Soothies, but have a notch to accomodate the baby's nose, and the vanilla is an appetite enhancer, so they can be really useful if you have a sleepy newborn. Not to mention they smell awesome and make your baby's breath even that much sweeter. I order mine through Amazon, via Hawaii Medical.)

- diaper bag (Totally up to you what size and style you want, and how much you want to spend. Some parents each want one of their own, some share. We have gone through LOTS of bags. And backpacks. Currently, our diaper bag is a Go-GaGa messenger style bag. It is LARGE - big enough to hold cloth diapers and accessories for 2 kiddos, and it have a sling-style shoulder strap that is the most comfortable strap I've ever used. When we're done with it, it will convert to a laptop carrier. Each kid also has a separate diaper bag that is used for daycare only. And honestly, I keep meaning to stock one of our smaller diaper bags with the essentials keep it in the bag of the van for emergencies...) As for what goes INTO your diaper bag: a travel-sized wipes case, a good large changing pad, 3-5 diapers (NEVER underestimate your child and leave the house with only one diaper, even if you're only planning to be gone for 10 minutes), a change of clothes (or two) for the baby and a clean shirt for yourself, a small toy, a teether, a pacifier and pacifier clip (so you don't lose it), a nursing cover (even if you're not nervous to breastfeed in public, and you shouldn't be, it's still nice to have one in case you find yourself in a situation in which you'd be uncomfortable, especially with a wiggly newborn) or bottles filled with the appropriate amount of water and formula packets or a formula dispenser, diaper cream (if your baby uses it), a thermometer and infant's acetaminophen (you always want to be prepared), a bulb syringe, and 2 burp cloths.

- toys (Any and all kinds, whatever you like. Yes, many household items can be toys - whisks, cardboard boxes, etc. - but they make some awesome things for babies these days. Go ahead and register for some if there is something in particular that you like.)

EXTRAS (Remember, this is just one mom's opinion...)

- diaper genie (Give me a break. Do your diapers really need to be individually wrapped to throw them away? Just empty your nursery trash can into your outdoor bin once every day or two. There is no need to store your dirty diapers in your house for a week until trash day. Please consider the environment and cut back on the amount of plastic bags you use.)

- wipes warmer (They dry out the wipes and they can be a fire hazard. Sure, they work for some people, but we thought it was a waste of time, not to mention precious space in our little nursery.)

- steam sterilizer (Your baby does not need to live in a bubble. Please let them be exposed to a few germs here and there. They do not need everything they come into contact with to be sterilized. In fact, if you do so, you are doing them a disservice by not allowing their immune system to develop and adjust to the real world.)

- shopping cart cover (Too big and bulky. We almost never used ours. We either carry the baby in a baby carrier, or place them in the shopping cart with our own strap. Since many shopping carts have broken, faulty, or just plain disgusting straps, we ordered a padded multipurpose strap from Amazon to keep in the diaper bag.)

- carseat accessories (Honestly, just buy a good carseat. It will come with padded straps and an infant insert to use during the itty bitty newborn months. Anything else, purchased separately from the carseat, is not guaranteed for safe use with the carseat, no matter what the package says. Any rescue worker checking your carseat installation will tell you to leave them out.)

- baby mittens (They get lost, both in the wash and out. They can come off in bed and become choking hazards. Just skip them. Buy the sleepers and gowns with fold-over sleeves instead and use those for the first 2-3 months.)

- sleep positioner (They have all been recalled due to suffocation risks.)

And one final tip, when choosing your baby gear for around the house (the swing, play mat, jumperoo, bouncer, exersaucer, etc.), do NOT buy the entire coordinating set. I guarantee that you will regret it when you have to listen to the same annoying music in every room of your house, no matter what gear your baby is using (I know, because we made that mistake with James). Instead, switch things up. You'll likely have the different gear in different rooms anyway (bouncer in the bathroom to use while you shower, jumperoo in the kitchen to entertain while you cook, exersaucer in the computer room to entertain while you work, play mat in the living room so baby can exercise while you fold laundry, etc.), so who cares if it coordinates? Besides, babies like variety, and the more things you expose them to, the better off they are. On the same subject, skip the neutral gear. It doesn't matter if it blends or looks better in your living room. Babies respond better to bright colors and contrasts. Help your child learn and develop by challenging their mind, even when they're itty bitty.