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Some hints as to what supplies new parents could use as the journey begins...
Raw
supplies.md

Friend No. 1

  • STROLLER/CARSEAT

    • Baby Jogger City Mini (We picked this over the Britax B-Agile. The Baby Jogger handle height was a little more comfortable for me, but they are essentially the same.)
    • Chicco KeyFit w/infant insert
    • Adapter to use the infant carseat with the stroller
    • Stroller console (useful for neighborhood walks, to hold a coffee mug, keys, burp cloth)

  • CRIB:

    • Ikea Sundvik (The reviews are mixed, because previous versions had a recall. But for us, it does the job, feels sturdy for the right price. We have friends who spent a lot more and are also happy, so to each their own.)
    • Crib Mattress (We got Naturepedic No Compromise Organic Cotton Classic Lightweight)
    • Mattress Pad Cover
    • Fitted Sheets (Get two, for when one is in the wash)

  • BABY SEATS:

    • Swing (We got the Graco Duetsoothe Swing Plus Rocker, which was a godsend for the first 3 months. Now he doesn’t like it.)
    • Bouncer (A friend gave us a hand-me-down BabyBjorn bouncer, which he started enjoying a lot about when he stopped enjoying the swing. We also got a motorized Fisher-Price bouncer that we never used and returned.)

  • BASSINET:

    • Pak N Play (Sleeps in this in our room as a bassinet, and will convert into a playpen when he moves to the crib. Also easy to travel with.)
    • Pak N Play Sheets (2)

  • BOTTLES:

    • Comotomo 5oz bottles (don’t buy a lot until you figure out what bottle baby likes; this was the third brand we tried)
    • Drying Rack (We got and like the Boon Grass rack)
    • Bottle Brush

  • PACIFIER:

    • We got a pacifier but he doesn’t like it, so we don’t use it.

  • FIRST AID:

    • Thermometer (whatever Amazon recommends)
    • Nose Frida (weird, but very useful)

  • BATH:

    • Bath Tub (The First Years Infant To Toddler Tub, never used the insert though)
    • Towel and Wash Cloth (come in sets, we got several as gifts, don’t over-buy)
    • Shampoo / Body Wash
    • Hair Brush
    • Nail Clipper (we just used a file for the first few months)

  • BREASTFEEDING GEAR:

    • Nursing Pillow (We have one Boppy and one My Brest Friend. Both are great. I like the Boppy for extra support when Dad is sitting and holding or bouncing the baby.)
    • Nursing Pillow Covers (2)
    • Nursing Cover
    • Breast Pump (We got one through our insurance that quickly broke. Replaced it with a Spectra that we bought ourselves that works much better.)

  • DIAPERING:

    • Diapers (We did a mix of cloth and disposable. To start, get one package each of size N and 1 disposables, and order more on Amazon when baby comes. Can say lots more about cloth if you want.)
    • Wipes

  • NURSERY:

    • Diaper Bin (for disposable diapers, wipes we use a real trash can rather than a diaper pail and it works great)
    • Cloth Diaper Bin (for cloth diapers)
    • Planet Wise Reusable Diaper Pail Liner (2)
    • Summer Infant Contoured Changing Pad (plus two covers)
    • Dutailier Sleigh Glider and Ottoman (everyone likes it, and we do too. Ottoman or some kind of footstool is good to have)
    • Activity Mat
    • Exercise Ball (maybe the best thing we got — great for during pregnancy, great to use during labor, great to bounce on with newborn)

  • TRAVEL:

    • Diaper Bag (will come with a changing pad)
    • Wet Diaper Bag (We like the Bummis Fabulous Wet Diaper Bag)
    • Travel Nursing Pillow (We didn’t see this on any lists, but has been great to keep in the car for nursing out-of-the-home)
    • Carriers/Wraps (If you can try a few out with baby, by borrowing from friends, do it. The wraps never really worked for him or us. The ErgoBaby carrier did, so that’s what we got and what we use.)

  • CLOTHES:

    • People will give you lots of clothes, so don’t overbuy. Basics to start: 6 onesies, a couple pairs of pants, a few pajamas, 6 pair of socks. We were given lots of t-shirts/cute outfits that we never use because they aren’t practical. Order more onesies once you know the right size.
    • Swaddle blanket (We tried a few things, and the simplest option worked best — just a blanket that you wrap up as a swaddle, no extra Velcro or snaps or anything)
    • Burp Cloths (a dozen maybe)

  • THINGS BECAUSE THEY WERE ON A LIST:

    • Back Seat Mirror
    • Bath Spout Cover
    • Car Window Sun Shades
    • Portable Changing Pad (all diaper bags come with their own)
    • Halo Sleepsacks
    • Bibs (we’ll use eventually)
    • High Chair (wait until the baby is eating at the table to figure this one out)
    • Baby monitor (we just got one, but didn’t have any need for it the first five months. Wait until you figure out your routine/new life to see what features you need and don’t)

Friend No. 2

  • You never know what kind of swing or seat or carrier your child will tolerate until you have the kid so if anyone offers you free stuff just take it -- you might as well try it out.

    • Also, they change constantly, so something that doesn't work one week might work the next.

  • The things that helped me the most:

    • Car seat with the accompanying stroller because I liked leaving the house a lot in the first few months and this was the easiest way to do it
    • Some kind of vibrating chair, because little tiny babies can be fussy and it's nice to have something that calms them down
    • Burp cloths--the cheap gerber ones
    • Kids gym--the mat with dangly things over it--not so much for newborns but for 3+ month olds
    • Boppy pillow for sitting the kid down while you're in the shower or whatever
    • Easy swaddles--like halo sack or aden & anais snap swaddle. Because swaddling when you're really tired is quite difficult to do.

  • Unsolicited advice:

    • little babies sleep a ton, so if you're up for it, take advantage and go out to dinner, go to the beach, whatever. baby don't care as long as they're warm and have food.
    • Depending on your sleeping quarters, you might just want to start off with a crib and skip the various newborn sleeping arrangements that various people recommend.
    • Don't worry about having everything ready for when the baby comes. amazon and diapers.com are so fast at delivering stuff. and you can, of course, leave the house.
    • Ignore everyone's advice (including mine, i guess) because no one knows what they're doing and there's no one right way to do anything, from feeding, to sleeping, to whatever -- that's part of the fun of it!

Friend No. 3

  • DIAPERING: You will have to face the big choice of cloth or disposable. I wish I had the patience for cloth, but I didn’t… We have used Seventh Generation and have been very pleased. I recommend buying from diapers.com or amazon which will deliver to you the next day. Also, not a bad idea to have diapers of a few different sizes on hand ready to go… Eliza wore preemie diapers for the first few weeks of her life and those can be hard to find in stores, so not bad to have at least a few on hand. Also, as your baby gets older and starts sleeping more through the night, I recommend the Huggies Overnight diapers. They are the only ones we found that didn’t leak

    • DIAPER CREAM: definitely have some ready to go. We use Desitin and it works well.
    • WIPES: we get the ones from Costco. They work great and save a lot of money
    • DIAPER PAD: very helpful to get a couple of these for when your baby will inevitably pee or poo on the changing table: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4086282
    • DIAPER PAIL: we have the Diaper Genie which works well enough… I’ve heard good things about the Diaper Dekor as well.
    • DIAPER BAG: to be honest, I think diaper bags are a scam… finding a good big bag with lots of pockets that you like is key, whether or not it’s marketed as a diaper bag. Also, Eddie Bauer makes some nice diaper bags that are more fashionable for dads.
    • WIPE WARMERS: I think these are a waste of time.
    • POTTY TRAINING: There are some who believe you can start potty training babies as early as 6 months. We got a Bjorn Potty for Eliza and started using it with some success at 11 months. I recommend getting a little board book called POTTY by Leslie Patricelli to read to them on the potty.

  • CAR STUFF

    • CAR SEAT: you’ll definitely need a car seat and will probably want two if you think both you and your husband/partner will both be driving with the baby in the car a lot (you can also get two bases and move the one car seat back and forth between cars if that works with your situation.) There are two kinds of car seats to choose from: you can get one that is specifically for infants, which have the positive side of fitting into some strollers quite easily and having a bar on the top that you can use to whisk the baby around when she falls asleep in the car, which she will do often. Be sure to get an infant insert for your car seat if it doesn’t come with one. The other type of car sear, known as a convertible car seat, will last you from when they’re an infant until when they’re about 70 pounds, which will save you money. BUT it’s a lot harder, if not impossible, to take this seat out of the car or to fit in a stroller, which will make it hard for those first few months. We got the Chicco keyfit 30 car seat based on Consumer reports and other reviews and were incredibly happy with it. Very easy to use, lasted well and fits in well with various Chicco Strollers and the Snap and Go stroller. For car seat installation, you can go to Children’s Hospital which will install the seat or check your installation for free. Most local CHP offices and fire stations will do this, too.
    • CAR SHADES: You might want to buy one for each of your cars. Some people even do two sets - one for each window in the back seat. We like the Brica Stretch to fit kind.
    • STRAP COVERS: not totally necessary, but I found strap covers helpful for the baby who loves to mouth (and spit up on) anything near her: http://wwwtoysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2967802
    • CAR TOYS: Car seat toys can keep them entertained for hours. E loves these guys: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3872891
    • MIRROR: Good to get a mirror that attaches to the head rest so you can see what babe is up to and she can amuse herself by digging on her own reflection. Something like this: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3502245

  • ON THE GO

    • STROLLERS: So, at first, you are going to want a stroller where the baby can face you so you can see what she's up to, pop the pacifier back in, clean spit up etc easily. I recommend the Baby Trend Snap N Go which is amazing and so portable and easy. We also have a more sturdy Chicco stroller which I got at a consignment sale and is great for longer walks, providing shade (which the snap n go is not great for, but you can put a blanket over the car seat). Later on, when baby is 6 months and older, you may want to invest in a jogging stroller if you like running or hiking with your baby. We have the BOB revolution which we like a lot: pricier than other jogging strollers, but super sturdy.
      • Also, strollers are like cars, in that new models come out each year (I think in March or April). you may want to wait until then to see what they come up with... OR to get a good deal on close outs of older models. also, craigslist and mom's groups are GREAT for used strollers. And these are one of the few things that you can feel pretty good about buying used with no major safety concerns.
      • It’s also helpful to have a sling wrap which is easier to get baby in and out of. I got the Snuggy baby which is pricey but I love it: http://www.snuggybaby.com/sunshop/index.php
      • Finally, there’s a site called paxbaby where you can try out different carriers before buying. If you feel confused or unsure about babywearing, I recommend getting in touch with a great woman named Laura Brown. She does babywearing workshops where you can try out different types and she’ll show you how to put them on. She’s amazing: www.theclothmama.com

  • DINING

    • HIGH CHAIR: You won't be needing these for at least 6 months most likely. So you may wanna hold out on registering for one of those if you are tight on space… We have the Inglesina Fast Chair –if it works with your table, this thing is GREAT in that it’s super small and pretty easy to clean and you can take it anywhere with you. As for bigger chairs, I hear a lot of great things about the Stokke Trip Trap chair, it’s supposed to last forever with bigger kids. But it’s REALLY pricey. I also hear good things about IKEA’s high chairs. Again, here is a place where you can buy used and get a good deal and not worry about safety, etc.
    • BIBS: good to get some basic small cloth bibs for when your baby is small and nursing or taking bottles because she will likely spit up a lot. As they grow older, I really love the Mimi the Sardine bibs, they are super easy to wash without putting in the laundry and they have a little pocket to catch spilled food.
    • SPLAT MAT: it’s basically a big piece of plastic/vinyl material you can put under the high chair to protect your floors. Makes it a LOT easier to clean: http://www.amazon.com/Sugar-Booger-Numbers-Feeding-Collection/dp/B002C1AX0M/ref=sr_1_3?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1340408789&sr=1-3
    • BOWLS: good to get some with suction on the bottom to prevent baby flinging food everywhere
    • SPOONS: we really like the shape of these: http://www.diapers.com/p/playtex-mealtime-infant-spoon-4-pack-21523
    • SIPPY CUPS: like with bottles, you have to see what works for your kid. We like the Nuk ones a lot. We started with this: http://www.diapers.com/p/nuk-learner-cup-silicone-spout-girl-70343 Moved up to these: http://www.diapers.com/p/nuk-fun-grips-2-handle-spill-proof-cup-6-oz-2-pk-pink-99072 Some recommend also getting them used to straws as it’s better for their speech development. I’ve heard good things about this: http://www.diapers.com/p/foogo-10-oz-vacuum-insulated-straw-bottle-pink-21924
    • FOOD MILL: if you plan on making your own baby food, you may want to invest in some equipment. You can totally make do with a regular steamer and a food processor or blender. But some people like getting a food mill, which you can use to grind up food on the go. Others rave about the Beaba Babycooker and the Baby Bullet. Honestly, I found that the puree stage comes and goes so quick that if you don’t have a lot of time, easier to just buy pre-made like Earth’s best and use a food processor when I had the time to make my own food.

  • NURSING

    • PILLOWS: I really liked the My Breast Friend much better than the Boppy, but it never hurts to have one of each. Whichever you get, I recommend getting an extra cover for when your baby inevitably spits up or poops on one of them.
    • PUMP: I use the Medela Freestyle and for the most part love it. It’s super compact and very portable, even plugs into your car charger! I’ve also heard really good things about the Hygeia - http://www.hygeiababy.com/
    • PUMP PARTS: if you do get the Freestyle, I suggest getting a pair of the hard nipple flanges since the soft ones the freestyle come with aren’t great. If you are going to be pumping at home and at work, you might want to get a spare set of parts so you don’t have to schlep them back and forth.
    • BOTTLES: each baby will have her own preferences. For us, we found the tommy tippee bottles available at babies r us were great at the beginning and then the Born Free bottles were great. I recommend starting off just with 5 oz bottles. I bought a pack that had all different sizes only to find that Eliza never took more than 5 oz at a feeding, so it was a waste.
    • BRAS: I recommend registering for several different types of bras. I have some that are nice elaborate contraptions that make my breast look nice (I recommend the Bravado seamless nursing bra). Others that are comfy ones that I can throw on easily (Mamajama Easy Bra rocks!) It's good to have a bunch of them, I'd say at least 4 or 5. Get measured when you are in your third trimester coz that's when you'll have the best sense of how big those boobies will be. The Pump Station can properly fit you. They are pricey but they have an excellent selection. You can buy one or two there then order online as it’s cheaper.
    • HANDS FREE BRA: if you are going to be pumping, definitely helps to get a hands free nursing bra. They’re ridiculous looking, but very helpful.
    • NIPPLE CREAM: I like the Lansinoh brand. They should give you some at the hospital, but good to have extra at home
    • NURSING GEL PADS: I'd recommend two sets, so that one pair can cool while you are using the other one
    • NURSING TOPS: I recommend getting a bunch of them. I like the Mamajama stuff, the bravado tanks, and nixilu brand. Again, you can try on at the Pump Station and then buy online to save money.
    • HOOTER HIDER: might want to get something to cover yourself while nursing in public. Bebe au lait makes a nice one.
    • ACCESSORIES: you’ll want to get lots of milk storage bags, sterilization bags, lots of extra storage bottles. If your child will go to daycare, you’ll need to get nametags for all his/her stuff, especially bottle. Namebubbles.com does a great daycare pack!
    • BOTTLE WARMER: we never had one… found a crock pot worked just fine.
    • BOTTLE BRUSH: definitely want to get one of these.
    • DISHWASHER BASKET: e got the munchkin brand, super helpful for washing nipples, plastic spoons, teethers, etc
    • DRYING RACK: we really like this one: http://www.diapers.com/p/the-first-years-spinning-drying-rack-29920. if you are going to be pumping a lot at work, you might want a second one for work.
    • VITAMIN D: the one thing breastmilk doesn’t have is Vitamin D. Chances are your Dr. will recommend vitamin D supplements. I like the Carlson Vitamin D drops, available at Pump station and Amazon. You can put a drop on your nipple once a day before nursing and you are good to go. Doctors often recommend VitASol but the taste is pretty nasty and I found it had a lot of sugar in it.
    • NURSING AIDS: always check in with your doctor or a lactation consultant first, but if you have trouble with your milk coming in, or with supply, fenugreek and blessed thistle to help. Also, foods like oatmeal and beer!
    • PACIFIERS: Not all babies take to them, but for some, they’re a lifesaver. We went through several brands before discovering the Nuk Orthodontics, which we liked a lot. Also, there’s a great toy called a Wub A Nub which is a pacifier connected to a small plush toy. These are great for when the baby is in the crib or car seat and the pacifier falls out: it’s a lot easier for them to get back in with these toys. And when baby outgrows the pacifier, you can cut it off and still have the toy!
    • PACIFIER WIPES: if you have pacifiers, invest in some pacifier wipes.
    • PACIFIER CLIP: if your baby does take a pacifier, a pacifier clip can make it a lot easier to not lose them and to make sure they stay clean.

  • BATHING

    • INFANT TUB: the first years tub works great at the beginning; http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2403667. As they grow and can sit up, the Munchkin White Hot Safety Duck Tub is awesome.
    • HOODED TOWELS: good to have 2. I think these are a lot better than robes, since you don’t have to deal with sleeves.
    • WASHCLOTHES: get a ton of these. You use them for everything, from spit up, to cleaning up after meals, to bath time
    • BATH TOYS: good to get some bath toys. I really like the Green Spouts stacking cups. Also any kind of squirting toy is fun.
    • SOAP/SHAMPOO: lots to choose from. We like California baby brand.
    • COMB: baby might not have hair for a while, but it’s not a bad idea to get a baby comb

  • HEALTH AND SAFETY

    • SAFETY KITS: several companies make safety kits complete with thermometer, nail clipper, etc. these are helpful to have, though it’s also not a bad idea to buy your own kit with the best brands of each
    • THERMOMETER: if your baby takes a pacifier, a pacifier thermometer can be very helpful. Otherwise I recommend a temporal artery thermometer so you don’t have to worry about sticking a thermometer somewhere your baby doesn’t want it.
    • SUNSCREEN: there are several baby kinds out there. We like one by Neutrogena that comes in a stick form that is easy to smear on the face and a spray kind for the rest of the body
    • NOSE FRIDA: this snot sucker works a lot better than the bulb kind (http://www.diapers.com/p/nosefrida-the-snotsucker-nasal-aspirator-70269)
    • FACE LOTION: Eliza had a lot of rashes on her face as a newborn. Aquaphor helped, but the best was Weleda Baby Face cream which you can get at Whole Foods.
    • MEDICINES: definitely good to have infant ibuprofen and acetaminophen on hand. Also, Colic Calm, which you can get at Whole Foods, is super messy, but works great. Mommy’s Bliss Gripe water can be helpful too.
    • HAND SANITIZER: I recommend getting a couple of big bottles to place throughout the house, especially good for visitors coming in who want to touch the baby. Also a few pocket sizes to take with you in the diaper bag.

  • TEETH

    • TEETHERS: good to gets lots of different kinds on hand for when teeth come in, look for BPA free.
    • TEETHING AID: I like the Hylands teething tablets which you can get at Whole Foods
    • AMBER TEETHING NECKLACES: some moms swear by them, others think they’re a total crock… The amber is supposed to release a natural analgesic when next to the baby’s warm skin (they don’ta actually chew on them.) If you get one, look for the milkier stones as these are said to be more potent.
    • TOOTHBRUSH: as soon as they have teeth, doctors recommend brushing them. There are toothbrushes for babies by Oral B that are good. Look for stage 1. Apparently the brushes that fit over your finger are totally useless when it comes to cleaning teeth.
    • TOOTHPASTE: look for ones WITHOUT fluoride until they know how to spit. I like the Toms of Maine strawberry flavor.
    • SOPHIE THE GIRAFFE: don’t know why this teething toy is so very popular, but the babies do seem to love them!

  • TOYS

  • BOOKS

    • ‘What to Expect the First Year’ is great, so is a book called Baby 411.
    • “Dr Sears the Baby Book” is pretty good standard book, but definitely with the attachment parenting angle. If you want something a bit less biased, you might want to check out Penelope Leach's Your Baby your Child. Nursing:
    • "Breastfeeding made simple".
    • Soothing/Caring for Baby;
    • “Harvey karp's happiest baby on the block.”: great easy to read on how to soothe a crying bay. There’s also a DVD version
    • “ Bright from the Start” is really interesting about how kids develop and what you can do with them to get their brains going in the right direction.
    • “Your Self Confident Baby” by Magda Gerber. This is also one child-rearing philosophy (RIE) that may not be for you… but I found a lot in this book helpful, especially when it comes to dealing with newborns.
    • “Healthy Sleep habits, Happy Child” is the least biased and most helpful.
    • If down the road you decide to do sleep training, I HIGHLY recommend “The Sleep Easy Solution.”

  • NURSERY

    • BASSINET: Most parents like to start out with a bassinet. We used the Arm’s reach co sleeper and really liked it. I also know parents who saved a lot of money by just getting a new small dog bed which they put near their bed There are also come nice travel bassinets (we had the Brica one - http://www.target.com/p/BRICA-Fold-n-Go-Travel-Bassinet/-/A-13463069), which are great for when you are traveling and baby needs to nap outside the home You can get a bassinette or just skip it and go straight to a crib. You could also get a pack’n’play (which is a travel crib that you can use for years and years) and then get a crib later--CRIB: LOTS of options out there. No need to spend a fortune. We got one that is a combo/crib and changing table and that has worked out very well. Some friends just had their kid sleep in a pack n play which has the pros of being a lot cheaper and gets them accustomed to sleeping in it when you travel, but they’ll outgrow it quicker. If you do have them sleeping in the pack n play full time or for travel, I recommend getting a pack n play mattress by LA Baby because the pads that pack n plays come with are awful thin and not comfy.
    • CRIB MATTRESS: after much research we got the Colgate Kids organic mattress.
    • CRIB BUMPERS: there has been a lot of back and forth on this, but the latest research says these are more of a hazard than a help. I’d say skip them.
    • SNUGGLE ME CUSHION: Eliza was a really wriggly baby so we got one of these so she didn’t wake herself up. It wound up being one of the best purchases EVER - http://www.snugglemecushion.com/
    • BLANKETS: you’ll definitely want a lot of these for the first few months. Depending on what season your baby is born in you’ll probably want some thicker, warmer ones as well as some thin muslin ones. I like the Aden and Anais muslin ones: you wind up using them for everything from a stroller cover to a swaddle. A friend of mine had this one with clips and that also seems like a brilliant idea to me: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12800215&cagpspn=pla&pla=plab
    • MONITOR: We have the summer video monitor and it’s worked great. Be careful when choosing monitors as some models will interfere with your cordless phone
    • HUMIDIFIER: good to have, especially for when baby gets a cold. We got this one and seem to like it so far: http://www.amazon.com/Crane-Gallon-Humidifier-Hello-Kitty/dp/B000MR4IX6/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1315000678&sr=1-1
    • SOUND MACHINE: good to have something that makes white noise or other calming sounds for baby to fall asleep to. We got this one and like it a lot - especially the ocean sound http://www.amazon.com/Sound-Sleeper-Support-Soothe-Children/dp/B004DJ1F62/ref=sr_1_2?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1315000726&sr=1-2. ALSO, you can download apps on your iPhone for calming sounds on the go
    • GLIDER & FOOT STOOL: you definitely want a nice comfy rocking chair or glider to nurse baby in. I recommend getting a regular rocking chair, not the baby specific ones which are often butt ugly. Also, definitely recommend getting a foot stool to go with. I got this one at a yard sale and it's great http://www.amazon.com/Medela-Nursing-Stool/dp/B000056JIH/ref=sr_1_3?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1315000835&sr=1-3
    • CLOTHES HAMPER: I found it helpful to have a small container to put dirty baby clothes in. I used a diaper stacker that someone got me because I didn't find I really needed the stacker
    • MOBILE: good to have at least one. I put mine over the changing table to keep her occupied as she is getting dressed or changed.
    • NIGHT LIGHT: we actually wound up putting ours in the bathroom for her to look at during baths. she loves it
    • TINY LIGHT: this was indispensable to us for middle of the night diaper changes babeebrite: http://www.mommybeehappy.com/
    • BOUNCER: these are little seats to put babies in. They are called bouncers but few of them actually bounce much. Some babies love them, others hate them, so I suggest getting a used one if you can.
    • SWING: most babies really like swings and they can help with getting your newborn to sleep or calm down. These things are huge and you don’t necessarily use them for long, so I suggest getting a used one.
    • BUMBO: there was recently a recall on these things… some moms swear by them. I honestly found that Eliza hated it. and a lot of occupational therapists say not to put baby upright like that until they can sit by themselves
    • JUMPERS: we got Eliza the Merry Muscles jumper (http://www.merrymuscles.com/products/Merry-Muscles-Baby-Exerciser.html). This was the only kind approved by physical therapists: they say other ones can stretch out the legs in a bad way. Eliza had fun in it a couple of times, but honestly, not sure if it was worth the money.
    • EXERSAUCER: aka the circle of neglect. These things are huge chunks of plastic that will take up a good portion of your living room, but they can be a life saver when you need a free hand. I recommend waiting to buy one until when your kid is old enough to use one, and then look on craigslist or a consignment sale: DON’T buy new!

  • POST NATAL

    • Last but not least, a few words about stuff to have for YOU! Definitely plan on having a lot of maxi pads and panty liners at home as there will be blood for a while. Also a good time to stock up on ibuprofen and ice packs. I also found that I went through a LOT of paper towels, detergent (don’t buy Dreft! Any kind of dye free perfume free will do), stain remover and dish soap in those early weeks. And, stock up that freezer and fridge with nutritious, easy to eat food!
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