Baby stuff and registry

[sparks19]

I have a few of those sleepers. I have always seen them marketed as "sleep sacs". I guess they're a good idea but a good tight swaddle is just as effective and makes a new baby feel more secure. For the first couple months of his life Tyler slept SO much better if he was swaddled as tightly as we could manage Those sleep sacs seem like they'd be useful once you're past that stage though

Some friends of ours gave us this swaddling blanket that has velcro on the sides to keep a nice tight swaddle.... they said it was a God send when they had their son lol. Now I just have to figure out how to swaddle correctly

[Sirrahsim]

Some friends of ours gave us this swaddling blanket that has velcro on the sides to keep a nice tight swaddle.... they said it was a God send when they had their son lol. Now I just have to figure out how to swaddle correctly

Once you get the hang of it, it IS fabulous!! We didn't have one of the ones with velcro but I bet that wil be great Chances are very high that they will swaddle your little one for you in the hopsital and you can always have them teach you how to do it with a regular receiving blanket.
Tyler preferred a kind of modified-swaddle with his hands up by his face with little mittens on

[sparks19]

Once you get the hang of it, it IS fabulous!! We didn't have one of the ones with velcro but I bet that wil be great Chances are very high that they will swaddle your little one for you in the hopsital and you can always have them teach you how to do it with a regular receiving blanket.
Tyler preferred a kind of modified-swaddle with his hands up by his face with little mittens on

Oh good I hope they will teach me. How did you discover that he likes to be swaddled that way?

[luckies4me]

Buntings are awesome! Swaddling is a must for newborns though. It makes them feel a lot more secure, but once out of this stage buntings are great. A wipes warmer is fantastic as well, especially during the winter months when a cold wipe can send your little one into hysterics. A good brand to look for is Prince Lionheart. It's anti-microbial and doesn't brown your wipes, which is common with the cheaper brands, and it won't dry your wipes out.

Don't forget to stock up on safety supplies, shampoo/lotion and diaper rash ointment, a rectal thermometer, lots of burp rags, waterproof changing pads and hats. Newborns lose a lot of their heat through their head.

One thing I want to mention are wraps. I practice Attachment Parenting and even Dr. Sears recommends "wearing" your baby. It makes them feel so much more comfortable as newborns, and heck you can even breastfeed while doing the dishes.

And don't forget about mom either! You'll need gel soothies in case of sore/cracked nipples, lanolin to keep your nipples soft, pads, a nursing bra and nursing pads! You don't want to be out and about with no protection when you start to let your milk go. It can be quite embarassing.

I have a list around here somewhere that I will try to find and post for you and all the other expectant mommies on Pet Talk. Though I've been through this before (I have a 5 year old) you do forget many things along the way, and having a list can be a nice memory jogger.

[sparks19]

Buntings are awesome! Swaddling is a must for newborns though. It makes them feel a lot more secure, but once out of this stage buntings are great. A wipes warmer is fantastic as well, especially during the winter months when a cold wipe can send your little one into hysterics. A good brand to look for is Prince Lionheart. It's anti-microbial and doesn't brown your wipes, which is common with the cheaper brands, and it won't dry your wipes out.

Don't forget to stock up on safety supplies, shampoo/lotion and diaper rash ointment, a rectal thermometer, lots of burp rags, waterproof changing pads and hats. Newborns lose a lot of their heat through their head.

One thing I want to mention are wraps. I practice Attachment Parenting and even Dr. Sears recommends "wearing" your baby. It makes them feel so much more comfortable as newborns, and heck you can even breastfeed while doing the dishes.

And don't forget about mom either! You'll need gel soothies in case of sore/cracked nipples, lanolin to keep your nipples soft, pads, a nursing bra and nursing pads! You don't want to be out and about with no protection when you start to let your milk go. It can be quite embarassing.

I have a list around here somewhere that I will try to find and post for you and all the other expectant mommies on Pet Talk. Though I've been through this before (I have a 5 year old) you do forget many things along the way, and having a list can be a nice memory jogger.

What kind of safety supplies?

Is there a particular diaper rash ointment you would recommend.... there are lots out there but I don't know the difference.

also.... diapers? pampers or huggies lol. I have heard a lot of people don't like huggies.

Gel soothies? Hmmm I will have to look for those. I never heard of them and would have over looked something like that

[JenBKR]

Boy am I glad we have so many experienced moms here to guide us! I sort of feel like I have no idea what I am doing. The diaper question is a good one, what is the best brand to use? There are many, many different brands and I don't even know where to begin.

[sparks19]

Boy am I glad we have so many experienced moms here to guide us! I sort of feel like I have no idea what I am doing. The diaper question is a good one, what is the best brand to use? There are many, many different brands and I don't even know where to begin.

We are in the same boat jen lol. it's all so overwhelming. there are so many options and I would like to avoid the trial and error with diapers if I can hahaha.

[Sirrahsim]

Oh good I hope they will teach me. How did you discover that he likes to be swaddled that way?

He would squirm and fidget and stretch his little tiny body until he got his arms out and was able to hold them by his face The techs there (military hospital!) experimented with wrapping him different ways and discovered that that worked that best!

[Sirrahsim]

Never ever ever ever ever ever ever (etc...) insert anything into your baby's ears!! Even "safety swabs" are not safe as it is extremely easy to damage the eardrum. Even adults should never ever ever ever ever (etc..) insert anything into their ears. Nature has its own way of getting rid of excess waxy buildup and if it is bad enough to need to go digging for then it is a doctor's job!

I can't believe that some medical people still say that this practice is ok *faint*

Many of the older generation will tell you that it is ok but just do some googling... it's an old fashioned practice and it's dangerous!!
That being said, q-tips work GREAT for applying rubbing alcohol to the umbilical stump to help it dry up and fall off. Even using those there is questionable though.

[sparks19]

So much great info. I love this. I am definately keeping this thread handy.

So much I didn't know about diapers and creams and q tips and stuff. Awesome.

So it is OK to pump sometimes even if you are breast feeding.... can these extra pumpings be used for daddy's turn at night time feedings? lol

[Sirrahsim]

absolutely you can pump to have Daddy feed It is recommended to wait to feed baby a bottle until about 6 weeks if you are breastfeeding to avoid nipple confusion but Tyler didn't have any problems switching between breast/bottle of breast milk/pacifier. It depends on your little one's temperament. Don't know if you are on any sort of assistance, but if you qualify your local WIC program can probably hook you up with a hospital grade pump for little to no charge if you plan on pumping a lot.
I only pumped occasionally and LOVED my Avent Isis hand pump

[luckies4me]

Never ever ever ever ever ever ever (etc...) insert anything into your baby's ears!! Even "safety swabs" are not safe as it is extremely easy to damage the eardrum. Even adults should never ever ever ever ever (etc..) insert anything into their ears. Nature has its own way of getting rid of excess waxy buildup and if it is bad enough to need to go digging for then it is a doctor's job!

I can't believe that some medical people still say that this practice is ok *faint*

Many of the older generation will tell you that it is ok but just do some googling... it's an old fashioned practice and it's dangerous!!
That being said, q-tips work GREAT for applying rubbing alcohol to the umbilical stump to help it dry up and fall off. Even using those there is questionable though.

I think the majority of us know that already. There is no need to stick a q-tip into the ear canal, but they are great for cleaning up excess wax on the outside, and especially great if the baby gets an infection, to help remove crusty material from the outside. Also great for cords too...not sure why that would be questionable??? It's surely not going to do anymore harm than using a cotton ball, unless you're jabbing your baby with it, in which case you have issues lol. FYI, safety swabs are much too big to even fit inside a babies ear canal. Shoot, they couldn't even fit into mine! They are much too big. Might be able to fit up my nose though lol.

[Sirrahsim]

I didn't mean to sound like I was attacking you luckies4me Most people knwo that but there are still some who are out there who don't know it. I may be a little over sensitive to the issue because my husband is a q-tip user and it makes me squirm everytime