Baby Sanity Tips

Bare Bones

All you really need the day baby is born…

Sometimes your due date just creeps up on you. Sometimes baby comes a lot earlier than you expected. So someone other than you suddenly has to run to the store and get the bare essentialls. Here's a list that is the absolute bare bones minimum items you need to bring baby home.

1. Car Seat - The hospital will not let you take baby home unless you have one.
2. Bassinet or Moses Basket - Get a bassinet or Moses Basket and you are set for at least the first couple weeks as far as where baby will sleep…if baby will even let you put him/her down. Your newborn is so tiny and has just come out of a warm confined space. They’ll just look silly in a huge crib…and will be very uncomfortable.
3. Diapers, wipes and Vaseline - But note…you will probably be given a supply of these in the hospital. (You may have to ask for the Vaseline unless you bring some with you.) You can change baby on the bed or on the floor at home so you don’t need a changing table set up. Putting a little Vaseline on baby’s toushy at every changing will prevent diaper rash. Don’t be shy about spreading it in every crack and crevice. You will be surprise at how dry baby's skin is, particularly their hands, feet and ankles...Vaseline is also what you should put on baby’s skin to moisturized that wrinkly, old-man skin. Lotion has alcohol in it, so it dries their skin out more.
4. Bottles and Nipples (if you’re not breastfeeding) - If you are not going to be breastfeeding the old college try, you should get a couple 4 oz bottles and newborn sized nipples. The hospital will probably give you a kit with some formula in it.
5. Footed pajamas, long-sleeved onesies, caps and socks - Granted, the hospital has some clothes to put on baby but is all fairly ratty from repeated washings in idustrial machines, and usually too big. You'll want to have something more fitting for your little angel so bring some basics with you to the hospital. Obviously, you don’t know how big your baby is going to be...and in many case what gender is…so first you will obviously want something gender ambiguous (if you don’t know the baby’s gender). Regarding size however, I offer two possible suggestions. One, the BabyGap has some terrific “newborn” sized pajamas and onsies that say they go to 7 lbs, but BabyGap stuff runs a little big and our baby fit in that size until she was a few pounds bigger than that. Alternatively, you may want to get a couple “preemie” sized items in addition to 0-3 month items from any other store just in case you need it. The Children’s Place has a good selection of preemie stuff. I was disappointed with the preemie items at Babies R Us.
6. Receiving blankets - Bring a couple of these to the hospital to swaddle baby in. Again – the ones at the hospital are usually fairly old and ratty.

And really - that should do you for a couple weeks at least.

Oh My God! I have a BABY!

So, you've decided to have a baby! What fun you will have! Going out to find everything you need and everything you don't (it's ok!). What now?? Well... take it from someone who has 3 of them living under her roof. You'll be okay...no matter how fragile they seem, don't worry for a second on who will actually rule your household. Do you remember that cat or dog that used to be "the prince/princess"?? Guess what? They become the dog/cat. All the things that you used to think were critical will come second to none to the little bambina(o) that cuddles in your arms.

How are you going to take care of this little creature???Well, first, you're going to be overwhelmed, so expect it. Don't spend a lot of time reading a lot of books. Like Old Man Dr. Spock says.. "trust yourself and your instincts". You really WILL figure it out. And you will laugh at yourself and your efforts. What you think is logical with your first child, you'll "peshaw" with your second. You really are the best and only expert of your kids. Trust your instincts, go with your gut.... don't fall into the mass media mayhem.. if you want to go back to work; it's really OK.. if you don't; God bless you..welcome to the hardest job you have ever had.

Please feel free to email or post to me anytime.. I have a 5 1/2 year old, Mackenzie - an almost 3 year old, Sydney and the newest addition, Cassie at almost 8 months.

I won't profess to being the expert, but my goodness, have I learned a thing or two by default!

Good Luck............

What You Don't Need for Baby

Don't Waste Your Money on the Following:

• Wipes Warmer – In addition to being rather silly, some of these have started fires.
  
• Bottle Warmer – We had one upstairs (along with a mini-fridge) so we didn't have to go downstairs in the middle of the night so it worked for us, but if I had to do it over again I probably wouldn't get it. After I stopped pumping and Sadie stopped needing night feedings, we moved on to using the microwave despite all the warning labels against it. Most folks I know have done the same. Just be sure to shake the bottle really well to avoid “hot spots” and test it every time.
  
• Slumber Roll – These are things that supposedly help prevent a baby from rolling over and dying of SIDS. But, SIDS-watch groups are mixed on them, b/c they in themselves may cause a risk of suffocation if the baby rolls up to the side of it.
  
• Any kind of baby “china” – You may get some as gifts and then you’ll have to find somewhere to put it.
  
• Quilt that matche crib bedding – Since you can’t even put this into the crib until baby is way past the SIDS risk stage (about 1 year), don’t worry about buying this. By the time you can put a blanket or quilt in the crib, you’re likely to have gotten a couple of really neat ones as gifts.
  
• Baby B’Air Flight Vest. The company swears these are okay by FAA standards and the airlines swear they’re not. In this day and age, once you’re on a plane, what the airline says goes.

What You Need for Baby (Part 8: For Mom)

• Maxi-pads – you’ll need these for weeks after labor, even if you have a c-section. Bring some you like to the hospital, because you might not like theirs.
• Nursing pads – Disposable or washable. Intellectually, I liked the disposable b/c you could toss them, but the washable were actually more comfortable and fit better into my bra.
• Disposable underwear – I got these at the hospital and didn’t really need them by the time I came home. But don’t throw away the ones you get there – you can re-use them at home after washing. Some women have heavy bleeding for a much longer time, so having a few of these handy at home is a good idea.
• Nursing nightgown and robe – I didn’t get a specific nursing one, but had 2 nightgowns that gave easy access when it was time to nurse. It’s ok to buy something for this if you don’t have it, but don’t go out and buy something expensive that needs dry cleaning! Odds are you’ll get this a little dirty from the aforementioned bleeding. I bought 2 simple cotton nightshirts and robes and was glad not to wear the ugly hospital gown (let alone the robe). Look for robes that won’t bother your incision in the event you end up with a c-section – at least one with a zipper rather than a belt.
• Slippers or Slipper Socks - you can't walk around the hospital halls without something on your feet. Make sure they are big, loose comfy slippers...you can't imagine how swolen your feet will be. I had mocassin-type slippers and they wouldn't fit on my club feet.
• Your pillow – Make sure your pillow case is not a light blue or white like the hospital’s or you could lose it!
• Throw blanket from home – I followed this advice, and liked having it, but it was really optional in hindsight. Your hubby might appreciate it too if he decides to spend the night at the hospital.
• Nipple balm, such as Lansinoh or PureLan to soothe sore or cracked nipples… motherhood is not all pretty!
• Thank you notes and stamps
• A pretty journal or something to write in about the experience and who gave you what in the hospital and afterwards before you forget everything you can’t imagine you'd forget.
• Camera and lots of film - digital solves the film problem
• Baby book
• Comfortable clothes to wear home or hang out in while in the hospital if you’re up to getting dressed. I wore a loose dress home that buttoned all the way up and meant I avoided bending over and trying to get legs into pants. With a c-section, that was great and I imagine that may be even nicer when you’ve got a sore bottom, front and back, from labor.
• 3-4 nursing bras – Wait until late in your pregnancy to buy these, as your size may continue to go up. I went from 34B to 38D by end of pregnancy, and 38DD when nursing. On that note, buy 1-2 bras one size larger than your end-of-pregnancy size. When your milk comes in, the old ones really won’t do.
• Shirts that button in front for easy access when nursing

NOTE: the hospital will have some supplies for you and baby at the hospital – vaginal ice packs, disposable panties, maxi-pads, diapers, formula, and pacifiers are all pretty common. It’s there for you to take, so beg, borrow and steal as much as you.

What You Need for Baby (Part 7: Medicines)

There are a couple pre-packaged kits you can buy like Little Remedies that are a great start so you don't get caught off guard when that first case of the sniffles hits.

• Infants’ Tylenol drops
  
• Infant Robitussin (for colds)
  
• Baby Motrin (only for 6+ months)
  
• Pediacare (for colds)
  
• Benedryl (for rashes and allergic reactions)
  
• Saline nose drops (helps relieve congestion) – use this before using the aspirator to losen up the snot. Little Noses is the only brand of these that I have seen, and their aspirator is the best as it has a flexible tip. Sadie actually doesn’t mind getting her snot sucked with it.
  
• Mylecon drops (to help relieve gas). Some people swear by these. We never saw any effect on Chloe, and our pediatrician says none of the studies have shown these are anything but a placebo for the parents.
  
• Pedialyte (for dehydration)
  
• Ipecac Syrup (Once baby is older, tuck away in your medicine cabinet in case, as baby gets more mobile, there is ever a need to induce vomiting. Obviously, NEVER use this unless advised to by the Illinois Poison Control Hotline or a pediatrician.

What You Need for Baby (Part 6: Feeding)

Breast pump if nursing -- You can rent hospital-grade pumps from the hospital or from Parkway Drugs at 680 N. LSD (Playboy building). Alternatively there is the Medela Pump N’Style. Buying these are really, really expensive. It’s worth renting until you figure out if you’ll even keep nursing. Several of our friends’ babies didn’t take to breastfeeding and after several weeks or a month of pumping switched to formulasp they were really glad they hadn’t shelled out $250+ for the pump. However, I ended up using the Avent Isis and loved it! That may have been just cause that was what I started with, but when I switched to the Pump N'Style I couldn't get it to work for me. Not to mention that when hooking up both breasts you feel like a cow. Mooooo!

Newborn nipples

Bottles… - Most people use Avent. Only get (3) of the 4oz bottles though, especially if you are breastfeeding since baby will be eating more than 4 oz within a month or two. Note that some feeding accessorie items you buy have bottles included as part of the package.

…and Nipples – even nipples are high tech these days…Be sure to keep up to date on the proper nipple size based on baby’s age since otherwise they will get frustrated by the milk coming out too slow. Four nipples of each size should do you. After three months, the variable flow nipples ROCK! Plus they are cut so you can use them with cereal.

Formula – Similac and Enfamil are the big names in this, but we use Carnation Good Start, which is easier on baby’s tummy and recommended by our pediatrician when the other two were bothering her when we started weaning. Not to mention that it smells WAY better than the other two. You can ask yours, but our pediatrician said any of those brands are just as good as the next.

Newborn pacifiers – some people think that pacifiers will cause nipple confusion…others worry about orthodenture problems later in life. The nipple confusion thing is a big crock of baby caa caa. And believe me, if you don’t give them a pacifier, they’ll eventually suck on their hands and thumbs, so you’re fighting a losing battle. Babies have a sucking reflex and are gonna want to suck on something…so unless you want them to be permanently attached to your breast for the first month or two, get them a pacifier right off. Get a few different kinds since some babies prefer one over another. The “addiction” starts from constantly putting the pacifier in their mouths when they don’t need it. Right now, Sadie only uses hers to go to sleep. I understand that her dependence on it may increase, but I’ll worry about it when she is 21 and still sucking on it.

Nipple basket for the dishwasher if your dishwasher doesn’t have a “lid” on one of your silverware basket sections.

Bottle & nipple drying rack & Nipple and bottle scrub brush

What You Need for Baby (Part 5: Toys/Activities)

First, I have a general caveat on getting any toys for baby. I'll be posting a review of a great book, Einstein Never Used Flash Cards, that I recommend as a "must read". Based on that, don't worry too much about what toys to get for baby. Feel free to just pick toys by what looks fun…don’t worry about whether it is teaching baby the alphabet, the countries of the world, composers' names and faces, or how to speak French. However, you could easily get away without buying any toys at all. You'll probably get plenty from friends and family as gifts. Baby really isn't going to be able to "play" with anything for months. And anyway, Sadie's favorite toys (like a lot of babies), are the remote control, Rewdy's credit cards, clothing catalogues, cardboard boxes, and wooden spoons. But - if you can't help yourself, here are some suggestions:

• Gymini – a must, great for development once they’re about 6 weeks or so and a lot of fun for baby.
  
• Black, red & white toys & mirrors, etc. – I’m told they’re important for the first three months until baby can start seeing colors more clearly. But we didn’t have them and I am sure Sadie never missed ‘em. We had brightly colored ones and she interacted with them well enough.
  
• CD/tape player – for the nursery
  
• Developmental toys, rattles, etc. Good brands are EarlyYears, LaMaze, Sassy.
  
• Activity links – to attach to the bouncy seat activity bar, Gymini, etc. Fisher Price has actually recently come out with a whole Linkadoos system with all sorts of interchangable parts that work on all their products like their high chair, bouncy seat and swing.
  
• Books, book, books – These are very popular gifts, so don’t worry about buying a single one. We got practically a public-library’s worth of baby and children’s books. On that note, a good bookshelf or a closet shelf for books is a good idea, too.
  
• Children’s tapes and CDs – These are great, though the Beatles are Sadie’s favorite. However that may just be because it's usually what Mommy and Daddy are listening to.
  
• Baby Genius videos – some people swear by them…Sadie hasn't seen any yet since we are trying to keep Sadie away from watching too much TV since it is a mindless brain sucker that does not provide any challenging interaction for baby (and adults neither - of which I am a regular abuser so pretty much I'm being hypocritcal here).

The key to giving baby toys to play with is rotation and moderation. Give her only one or two toys at a time, otherwise she will get overstimulated. For the first few months, even giving baby too much to look at will upset them because they don't know how to look away when they get sick of looking at it. Even as they get older, one or two toys at a time is plenty - they'll eventually get sick of it and you'll have to give them something else.

What You Need for Baby (Part 4: Toiletries)

• Vaseline – put a little of this on baby’s bottom at every diaper change and you’ll prevent diaper rash.
• Aquaphor ointment, A&D, or similar ointment – For when diaper rash does strike. We use A&D, but I am sure it is 6 of one, half-dozen of another. Use whatever you get as a gift – however I must say that I hate the ones that have the zinc-oxide in them.
• Triple Paste – a miracle diaper rash ointment. Not usually stocked on drug store shelf. You have to ask the pharmacist for it – though it’s not a prescription thing, they keep it in back or will order it for you.
• Baby soap – We like Gerber’s Lavender baby wash.
• Baby Oil – We use Johnson & Johnson’s Lavendar Baby oil for Sadie’s massage. She smells soooo good…we could eat her up. Docs advise against using lotion as most of them contain alcohol which will dry baby’s skin.
• Rectal thermometer – digital – Vicks has a good one with a flexible tip. Sadie doesn’t even seem to notice. Don’t even bother with the ear ones…when you call the doctor they’re gonna want the rectal reading, so resign yourself to the fact that you’ll be butt diving eventually.
• Baby wipes – we like Johnson & Johnson, which sucks ‘cause you can only get them at Babies R Us.
• Cotton balls or cotton swabs – to clean baby’s eyes and ears at bath-time
• Baby manicure set
• Bulb syringe (a.k.a. Aspirator) (for the nose). You’ll probably get one of these from the hospital, but Little Noses makes a great one with a flexible tip.
• Purell – to keep out for visitors or for you. We were not as bad as some, but even non-germ lunatics like them to keep near the changing table and such. We still keep a travel bottle in the diaper bag, which is great for public places.
• Anti-bacterial soap - One pump for each sink.
• Baby brush and comb – we actually love the one we got from the hospital best.
• Band aids – we haven’t used these yet, honestly, but they’re good to have on hand.
• Alcohol pads – to clean cord and sterilize thermometer before/after use.

What You Need for Baby (Part 3: Accessories)

• Infant car seat (up to 20 pounds): with a snap-in base you can leave permanently in the car. We got a Graco Snugride because you do not NEED the base for the seat to work and living in the city and traveling as we do, we needed something we could easily strap into cabs, airplanes and rental cars. Getting the Peg Perego or some others would have required we drag the base along.
• Light Travel stroller. Snap N’Go LX is hugely popular (it’s on back order most places) and allows you to snap the baby seat into a metal frame which can be used as a stroller until the baby can sit up or outgrows the infant car seat.
• Baby Monitor – We like the Fisher Price Lights and Sounds monitor cause we can keep the sound down lower and look at the light bar. We stopped using the one in our bedroom early on since her room was close enough and the monitor just magnified every tiny little peep so we were more apt to go in and soothe/get Sadie when we probably had no need to. But, we can’t hear even her screams when we are downstairs, so we still use it down there.
• Bassinette or Moses Basket -- there are some relatively inexpensive bassinettes that sit on a metal frame with wheels, so easy to transport from room to room. Preferably get one with a basket or pouch on the bottom, for supplies in. We had the Graco Pack-n-Play set up in our room instead of a traditional bassinet and it worked fine. In fact, they have more compact, basinet-sized Pack & Play's now. The changing table part of ours was our savior. We would set that up in-between two of our dining room chairs and for awhile as that was the only place she would sleep without being held. The raised/curved sides were probably what did the trick. For that reason, and since we have two floors in our house, I found myself wishing we had gotten a Moses basket, so for the next baby I will. Be sure to get sheets for the bassinet or pack-n-play.
• Bouncy seat – This is great when the baby is about 2 months old, if not before. Some babies love the vibrating ones. Later, they’ll use the activity bar (about 3 mos). When the baby’s old enough, you can feed him/her solids in it before they’re sitting.
• Baby swing – Sadie was too small to use this in the beginning, but she may have liked the cradle kind (like the Fisher Price Aquarium one). As we got a hand-me-down, we didn’t try it until she was 5 months old and discovered she liked it. So perhaps we should have tried earlier…but she had enough to play with in general…
• High chair – you won’t need this until 4-6 months when the baby is eating solids and can sit up. Make sure the high chair has a detachable tray for cleaning. Some people swear by the Peg Perego Primi Pappa. I personally like the Fisher Price Healthy Care Deluxe – there are three pop-in trays that you can throw in the dishwasher.
• Stroller – Before I even start, you should know that EVERY friend we have has bought a second one a few months after their baby was born, b/c they ended up not liking the one they spent months agonizing over before buying. We got a Zooper Sport based on the recommendation in Baby Bargains – and love it well enough for walks around the neighborhood, but now that Sadie is out of her infant car seat, I went and got a Chicco London Stroller (only 11 lbs). If you’re going to get a jogger, wait awhile. Baby can’t be in this until about one year, and styles change, things get recalled, etc.
• Pack-n-Play – see notes above in the bassinet section.
• Baby Bath Tub – We is a 4-in-1 system that grows with the baby that has a little “slide” cloth the baby lies on (but doesn’t slide down) before she can sit. Some fit into kitchen sink, depending on your sink, which is convenient when they’re first home from the hospital and seem so tiny and fragile.
• Diaper bag (2) – one that’s a backpack (you’ll need your hands and don’t want to worry about keeping it from sliding down your shoulder while juggling the baby) and one that’s a bit nicer for “events” with baby. Whatever you choose, make sure they’re lightweight, b/c they’ll weigh a ton once you have everything you need inside.
• Boppy pillow for nursing or feeding - Some people love these and say they really helped their back. I never used mine. It can also be a great place to prop the baby in (only on the floor) if you have to run to get the phone or something. Also can help baby learn how to sit up a few months later.
• Plastic wipes travel pack – for the diaper bag. A lot of Stage 1 size diapers come w/sample packs of these.
• Bibs – you can’t have enough of these but don’t bother registering for them as you will get a ton as shower and “welcome to the world” gifts as part of outfits. The ones with Velcro are the easiest. Plus, you won’t use these until 2-3 months or so when the baby really starts using its arms. Until then, draping a cloth diaper under baby’s chin and over the chest works fine – especially since their necks are so small until they start filling out that a bib is worthless on a newborn. We did and NONE of our newborn clothes have spit up or breast milk/formula stains as a result. Once baby eats baby food, it’s another story. They should make bibs for their fingers.
• Front carrier (like Baby Bjorn) or Sling (New Native) – Makes it easy to carry baby around and use your hands at the same time. The front carriers are more for daddies, particularly if mommy is well-endowed. And even if mommy’s boobs are small, if she’s breastfeeding her boobs will be tender, so having baby pressing against your chest will not be comfortable. One thing to note too, is if you have a bad back, don’t even bother. My New Native Sling was a life-saver in the first month or two when Sadie wanted to be held all the time.

What You Need for Baby (Part 2: Clothes)

Rule Number 1: Don't take the tags off anything until you use it.

• Baby t-shirts with snaps on side – when they first come home, these are gentle on umbilical cord stub.
  
• Baby t-shirts with snaps at crotch (also called onesies or bodysuits)
  
• Layette/receiving blankets (3-4) – don’t buy too many of these yourself as these are popular baby presents.
  
• Hooded bath towels (2-3) and washcloths (4-6)
  
• Cloth diapers (about 12 for burping, spit-ups and cleaning)
  
• Baby socks and booties – Socks are a must. Not sure the booties are that necessary for spring/summer babies, but we’ve used them a couple of times as the weather has gotten colder
  
• Baby hats – (2-3) especially for the first month or two - the hospital will probably have some so you can just take a few of those instead of buying some.
  
• Footed sleepers with snaps at crotch -- a MUST for middle of the night diaper changes. Some of our friends SWEAR BY the sleep sacks (no legs, opening at bottom), but some babies hate them - it's a matter of preference.
  
• Nano bag or Nojo Baby Cover -- goes over/in car seat in cold weather. Much more comfortable for baby than bundling in tons of layers to prepare for outside weather, and then sitting in warm car. We found a great fleece one at One Step Ahead.
  
• Cotton knit sweater – good for layering, especially when strapping baby into a car seat (per note about bunting, above).

Clothing Care

• Dreft – I don’t buy into needing it for all baby’s clothes. But it’s a good idea to do the first wash or two w/it until you find out if your baby has any skin allergies, since you likely won’t know this until you’re home. We use it because it smells so good and babyish!
  
• Shout or Mommy’s Miracle Helper – for stains
  
• Laundry hamper for nursery