Babies sure need a lot of stuff

[norsegirl]

I started my hunt for baby stuff in earnest this week. It's amazing to me how much stuff you need for a baby. I got some stuff used, and some stuff brand new but on clearance. A few rare things I paid full price for. I still ended up spending a small fortune though.

Things I got used:
- travel play pen
- car seat
- baby bath
- booster seat
- small box of toys
- high chair
- diaper champ
Got all the above for a mere $50. It isn't in the best shape, but for the price I can pick and choose once I've got it clean

Things I got new and on sale for cheap:
- Infant car seat, reg $170, bought the floor model for $48
- MacLaren Traveller buggy, reg $80, bought an "open box" model for $60
- MacLaren Quest Sport stroller, reg $245, bought last year's model for $175
- Maclaren infant bouncer/rocker, reg $90, floor model (or open box I can't remember which) $45
- 5-pack of 0-3month onsies $2.37 - gotta love that price, got 2 packs of them
- 3-pack of long-sleeved onsies in 3-6 and 6-9 months, $5

Things I paid full price for because I'm a sucker:
- 2 different 4-packs of receiving blankets ($10)
- 2 packs of "baby washcloths" ($3)
- 1 pack each of newborn and 0-3 month onsies ($9)
- 2 packs of fitted crib mattress covers
- 2-pack of fitted crib sheets from Ikea
- crib mattress from Ikea
- Changing pad
- Changing pad sheet

Things I still need to get:
- Gulliver crib from Ikea. Apparently they're having some sort of supplier problem. I hope they solve it before I give birth.
- Disposible diapers for the first few weeks and then we'll look into cloth
- some sort of play mat
- slings
- Need to refinish the old dresser to be storage and a changing table

Things I lust after but am having a hard time justifying the expense of:
- Stokke Tripp Trapp High Chair seriously, have you seen a more beautiful piece of kids' furniture?
- a new playpen instead of a used one. The used one could then be used for camping and outdoors and I could keep the new one clean and neat. But do I really need 2 playpens?

Any of the more experienced mothers out there have anything to add to the list that I don't yet realize I'll need?

Comments

[sionnach-sidhe.livejournal.com]

I'd say footie jammies and a wrap sling (I've got the Moby brand; it's my fave babycarrier, so from just as perfect for newborn as a 6mo old). Otherwise I think you've got more stuff than we had, & M turned out just fine so far ;)

[sionnach-sidhe.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah: breast pump* & bottlestuff. You're going to want to go out on your own sometimes!

*manual or electric, your choice. I have the Medela Swing.

[eve-the-just.livejournal.com]

I'm reluctant to try this. Apparently when my mother gave me the first bottle I refused to ever take a breast again because it was easier to get food from the bottle. I don't really want to wind up pumping all the time. Also, I'm not sure I ever will get to go out alone. Jason works ridiculous hours, so if I run errands when he's around, I tend to drag him along because I get PLENTY of alone time all day. And it's not like we have grandparents to drop the kid off with.

I will remember the model recommendation in case I do go there later. Thanks

[sionnach-sidhe.livejournal.com]

We didn't offer her a bottle for several weeks, after I was confident in our "nursing relationship". It was still a very emotional thing for me to see her bottle feeding.
She now recognizes bottles and makes her "I'm hungry--I want that!" noises, but obviously still prefers her milk straight from the source :)

[eve-the-just.livejournal.com]

Just as a caution, in case you have another one, it's not all about the "relationship". Kids are strange and unpredictable creatures. My mum tells me that the second I tried a bottle, that was it, no more going to the source, I'd refuse it. On the other hand, my sister refused bottles. It wasn't a preference for either of us, it was a stand our ground, we're getting what we want dammit! Maybe kids in your family are easier going and a little less "my way or the highway", but my family is famous for being stubborn.

I'll probably look into it in a few months when we start thinking about going out into the world as adults and consider babysitters, but I don't want to accidentally sentence myself to permanent pumping in the first month.

[sionnach-sidhe.livejournal.com]

DRU POSTING HERE

Think about alone time for a moment. You get alone time now. You will not get alone time when the bub comes along. You will get 'Tend to my every whim time' all the time. This will wear you down more then you can imagine. That bottle might be the difference between 1 hour of sleep and 3 or 4.

Also The bottle is really good for the dad as well, it is good for our feeling apart of the whole process. It also lets us take the bub out on our own, or alternatively to send stressed out mom to a movie or yoga session or whatever will help her center a bit.

[eve-the-just.livejournal.com]

I think I might skip on the footie jammies. I'm due in late August and the temp here averages around 36 degrees as the high. For now I'll wait and see on that one.

As for the wrap sling... I looked at the Moby one, it looked very nice, but I can't shake the feeling that I can make one for cheaper. It's just a strip of knit fabric right? Would you mind measuring yours and sending me the dimensions? That said, I also kind of need the directions because there's no one here that I know that has tried baby-wearing yet to show me the ropes. Maybe I'll hunt online for a good deal on one...

[duir-sidhe.livejournal.com]

Buy the moby, the particular stretchiness of whatever they are using is just right, and since it is so comfortable, it will get plenty of use.

I Second on what Em said about the breast pump.

[eve-the-just.livejournal.com]

Yeah, and I realized I probably can't get that quantity of fabric for much cheaper anyway. I'm trolling e-bay now.

[rectangularcat]

-one of those mirrors you put on your back seat so you can se the rear facing baby
-a couple newborn sized undershirts as onesies chafe with the umbilical cord still on.
-you got any baby hats?


How do you feel about ladybugs? I found this cute little costume and I had to buy it for someone. I found you the perfect goth 0-3 month old outfit too *cackles*

[eve-the-just.livejournal.com]

Re: chafing - should I be going with nothing but undershirts for the first few weeks and just return the onesies?

I don't have a mirror specifically for that purpose, but I'm sure I can adapt the convex one I picked up to watch my beagles in the yard and never installed in Edmonton. Good suggestion, thanks!

And no, I hadn't considered hats yet. Not getting a hat in this climate would probably set me on the path to "bad mommy", so I will look into it.

As for ladybugs, I would have to say I am ladybug neutral. I don't dislike them but I don't get excited either. Looking forward to seeing the goth outfit *grins*

[rectangularcat]

The undershirts are only for the first 5-7 days and you fold the top edge of the diaper down too. So keep the onesies!

The goth outfit is precious. *evil cackle* It has skulls, spiderwebs and frills and it's all black!

[eve-the-just.livejournal.com]

So keep onesies and acquire undershirts. So much to learn.

I can't wait to see it. Sounds preciously evil :)

[rectangularcat]

baby clothes stand out in black! it's not the easiest colour to find but when I saw those pieces, you came instantly to mind!

[firefred.livejournal.com]

Not a fan of this device, but it has its uses:
http://www.parenting.com/gear-article/Gear/Baby-Essentials/The-Ultimate-Baby-Gear-Guide-Book-1200691941480/2