Baby Stuff

Everyone always says babies need a lot of stuff. Well, yes and no. I feel like they accumulate a lot of stuff. Yea there is stuff you need to prepare but people way over do it. Nico is 6 months old and I still don't have his nursery ready. Everyone will want and handle having a baby in the house differently. Some people want everything in case they need it. All babies like different stuff. Some will love swings, others will only want to be held. So I just waited. I waited until I needed something to buy it. I also do and did a lot of research before I buy anything. TheBump.com, Amazon reviews and buybuybaby.com and babiesrus.com reviews.

First of HAVE A BABY SHOWER! Do a registry, think about what you really need, don't just scan everything cute. AND remember you're having a baby, not a 2 year old. So all the cute toys and stuff....forget it. Only register for little baby things. People will buy toys and clothes so don't register for those either. Do stuff that will help, like the stroller, car seat, high chair, playmats...big stuff that people can buy as a group and will save you lots of money. I was sooo lucky and had two baby showers. I only now had to start buying clothes and not even many. My family bought a bunch of the big things for me so I was set. Nico is the first baby in our family in a long time so I really lucked out. Most friends and family can't do that but you will be surprise. People love to help out and love an excuse to go baby shopping.

I love buying 2 in 1 or convertible things. If it can serve more purposes or grow with baby, I'm hooked.
CARSEAT - I already mentioned my Graco travel system in my first post.

HIGH CHAIR-I started using my Graco DuoDiner high chair and love it. It can recline for infants, then sit up as baby grows. It's easy to clean and has 5 point straps so I don't have to worry about him getting out of it if I'm not sitting right next to him. It converts to a booster chair. One and done. I can use it early, just a few months old, and continue to use it until he can sit at the table.
   I don't think it really matters what kind you get. I picked mine based on the fact that it converts and the color. I preferred to have it machine washable. Make sure it has straps so you don't have to worry about them climbing out when they get wiggly.


ROCKER/GLIDER- I still don't quite know the difference and I don't think the companies do either. I was told rockers rock in an up and down arch and gliders just go back and forth but I've seen them labeled differently. YOU NEED ONE. You will spend a lot of time in a chair. Make it comfy. Also, you will be surprised to find out that you will want a straight backed chair. I sat in them and wanted to pick the most comfortable. I didn't buy one for a while because I couldn't find one that was tall enough to rest my head. I figured I'd be tired and want to put my head back in the middle of the night. I was using IKEA Poang chair when Nico came home but quickly got tired of that crap. I had to put two pillows behind me so I could sit up straight. Bouncing in the IKEA chair got old too. Well, now that I have one, Storkcraft Tuscany Glider, I know what's important. When you're nursing you need good posture, not only for the baby to latch correctly but also for your back, which will hurt. The Storkcraft chair came with a "lumbar pillow" that is very helpful so no matter what chair you choose you will need a pillow for your back. I used my Boppy pillow too under the baby. Think about where it will fit and what style you want. Doesn't matter if it rocks or glides. Oh, make sure you get a footrest, either the ottoman it comes with or buy your own if you don't have one. You will be much more comfortable with somewhere to put your feet.


BREAST PUMP - I can't live without my breast pump. Sucks but it's the only way you will get any break, ever. The doctor made me give formula to Nico the second day, they said he was dehydrated and I wasn't producing enough for him. I think they're all a bunch of dumb dumb heads but it got Nico used to taking a bottle from the start. I pump just about everyday so if someone wants to go do something, I can be down to roll. I have extra milk ready at all times. The electric ones are expensive but most insurance companies will actually buy you one, a good one. Our insurance let us pick which one we wanted and they reimbursed us! I bought a manual one that I can travel with. I have a Medela. Again,  don't think it really matters which one you get but you need one.

BOTTLES - There are so many!!! My pump came with 4 bottles so those are the ones I use and Nico took them so I didn't have to shop or anything else. Some babies are picky and you will need to buy different ones until they take one. I wouldn't register for bottles or buy any until you need them. But once you do, you will need a bottle brush and drying rack.

Diaper, wipes and more fun stuff to come