Baby stuff and registry

[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.

[JenBKR]

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.

Boy are we ever! Talk about confusing. Someone told me that Luvs is a good brand too, and a little less expensive than other brands. Maybe we should start a new thread, a diaper poll....hmm not a bad idea....

[sparks19]

Boy are we ever! Talk about confusing. Someone told me that Luvs is a good brand too, and a little less expensive than other brands. Maybe we should start a new thread, a diaper poll....hmm not a bad idea....

Good idea.... in the poll....

Pampers
Huggies
Luvs

What other brands are there?

[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

[catnapper]

I have a big bin of clothes to give you, if we ever get a chance to meet up! its been in my car for two weeks now Most of it is baby girl clothes (my psychic powers say you're having a girl ...ok the truth is we had them left from when we bought clothes hoping Cameron would be a g irl LOL)

As for registry items, register for whatever you like. The moms will buy what they know you'll need and non-moms will buy what they think is cute!

[sparks19]

I have a big bin of clothes to give you, if we ever get a chance to meet up! its been in my car for two weeks now Most of it is baby girl clothes (my psychic powers say you're having a girl ...ok the truth is we had them left from when we bought clothes hoping Cameron would be a g irl LOL)

As for registry items, register for whatever you like. The moms will buy what they know you'll need and non-moms will buy what they think is cute!

LOL your psychic powers.... all the wives tales point to a girl too lol.

Thank you that is very kind of you now we just have to get around to meeting up lol. BTW are you feeling better?

[Sirrahsim]

some docs encourage you to pump in the beginning to help build up your supply. Even if you do have Daddy do a feeding you will probably need to wake up to pump anyway. If you go too long between feedings/pumping it can hurt your supply, you can become engorged and you will most likely wake up in a puddle of milk
I wouldn't trade a minute of the tiem that I breastfed Tyler. I think it is so special

[caseysmom]

I went back to work after 4 months and my daughter would SCREAM when she saw the bottle, I thought I would have to postpose going back to work, with my second I gave one bottle a day right away.