Taking All Baby Product Suggestions

As you know, WifeGeeding and I are going to be first time parents and we are clueless when it comes to baby products.

Pretty soon we will be buying and registering for all things baby, but I thought I would take this time and ask all you experts a few questions, most of which relate to each other:

  • If you could recommend one baby product that will make life easier, what would that be?
  • What’s the one thing as a new parent that you can’t live without?
  • Are there any brands that we should steer clear of, or that we should steer towards?
  • If there is one book you would recommend either for pre or post birth events, what’s the book?
  • Is there a store that you recommend above all others when it comes to buying all thing baby?
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27 Responses to Taking All Baby Product Suggestions

  1. Rev. Hart says:

    The best advice I've ever gotten about the "stuff" is that really, my baby just needs time with me. Of course, he needs diapers and clothes and a place to sleep, but beyond those material things, he really needs me and his mother with him.

    Having said that, I can highly recommend one of those vibrating seats. When our boy had collic, it was the only thing that would sooth him sometimes.

  2. Todd says:

    Ultimate Crib Sheet – a little pricey, but totally worth it.

  3. petri dish says:

    our son lived in his swing for months b/c he hated laying down in his crib or anywhere else, really. We went thru batteries like crazy b/c EVERYTHING takes batteries. We got a swing/bouncer combo which is a great space saver but we didn't get a swing that plugs in, which I really wish we had. In the early months I loved having him in the one piece sleeping gowns that have elastic at the bottom. I know it looks girlie but in those early morning hours when you're so exhausted you don't know what day it is, it's so nice to not have to take off pants or button up a sleeper. I actually won't do button up sleepers/jumpers anymore, only zip up.

    You don't need an expensive diaper bag, receiving blankets or outrageous crib linens. You will be amazed at how fast they grow and that spending more than $5 on one article of clothing is just ridiculous, especially if they spit up a lot, like my son did.

    The thing that saved our marriage (not kidding) was a swaddle blanket and a sound machine. Get the book/dvd called Happiest Baby On The Block where he talks about swaddling.

    We also do the Baby Wise books/method and it has worked amazingly well for us. Might be harder if the new baby is going to daycare after you both go back to work.

    There aren't a bunch of stores with affordable baby stuff, so you might have to divide and conquer. I buy diapers and wipes from Costco (or Sam's) and clothes from Target or second hand stores. There are expensive baby boutiques that have adorable things but that's up to you and your budget.

    Hold off on buying a pump to see if nursing is going to work out for WifeGeeding. We spent the most money on a good car seat carrier b/c we are in the car a lot. I could go on and on, but you pray about it and see what is good for you and your family. People will try to tell you what to do your whole life…..sift thru it….figure out what's worth trying and chunk the rest.

  4. jb Giddens says:

    Huggies better than Pampers, glass bottles better than plastic (Dr Browns), Get a swing that also plugs in, Babies R Us is good. We didn't read too many books. Your instincts will kick in. It doesn't matter how much you buy now, there will still be weekly trips to the store.

  5. Nathan S. says:

    Diaper Genie
    http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productI

    As I think about more, I'll come back to post.

  6. CowtownDoug says:

    Boudreaux's Butt Paste. http://www.buttpaste
    Don't know how good it is, but the name makes me laugh when I see it at Sam's.

    • Allison says:

      We have used this with all three of our kids and will most likely use it with the fourth. Best diaper rash cream!

    • Sharon says:

      I don't have much baby advice but to say pray and listen to other's no matter how much they annoy you (everyone has advice, especially strangers.)
      I wanted to make a comment about the Boudreaux's butt paste. Joan Rivers interviewed the guy who makes this cream (this was the only time I have seen her show "How did you get so rich?") He was a pharmacist and he mixed the formula one day and sold it for millions.

  7. Darrik says:

    The Simpson's baby translator from episode 324 works pretty well.

    http://thesimpsons.com/episode_guide/0324.htm

  8. Andy says:

    Don't bother with a bassinet, since the baby won't be in it for very long. Start buying diapers now…If you buy from babies/toys r us then you can do exchanges on unopened boxes without a reciept. That's really nice since most stores these days won't do that. My wife and I bought the Chicco brand giant stroller/carseat, and really liked it…so simple to use. Don't buy too many newborn clothes since people will be giving them as gifts.

    Will add things as I can think of them as well.

  9. Chris says:

    I have been through six babies now and here is one key piece of advice: Only by clothing that you are willing to see sacrificed to the wonder of baby poop and baby barf. Babies can sense the price of an outfit and will stain only the most expensive clothing items.

    Hit consignment sales if you want to save money. There are some huge ones in DFW in the next few months and you can save a lot of money.

  10. paulette says:

    Enter text right here!There is a series of books What To Expect – When you're expecting, With toddlers, the first years. A must must have it the bouncy seat , also known as vibrating seat. It is an absolutely sanity saver. The boppy pillows are the greatest for breast feeding or just helping baby sit up on their own. ( Just the basic one, the one that has straps for strapping them in is just extra unnecessary fluff.) Remember not to waste money on newborn clothes they grow so fast. There are little shoe/slippers called Robeez, and there are cheaper knock offs now, but they are the best foot coverings for young kids. They actually stay on their feet. Easy to put on but they do not fall off. Other shoes are really cute, but they're a waste of money. I used the swing alot too. The exersaucer is great to have too. My kids like theirs as soon as they could hold their head up and control their arms.

  11. stephanie says:

    Hands down, without a doubt, our LIFESAVER was the "miracle blanket." They only sell them online, and I DON"T know what I would do without it.

    It's a swaddle blanket that is super easy to use and impossible for baby to get out of. My baby would sleep like a rock with it, and would be restless and wouldn't be able to sleep without it.

    The only draw back is that he got used to, and he needed it to sleep until he was eight months! i was worried he would never let us not swaddle him, but it was fine.

    I could never use a traditional blanket to swaddle, and they can work themselves out of them before they are ready to not be swaddled.

    I always teased that if my house were on fire I would grab the baby and the miracle blanket.

  12. Stephanie says:

    Oh, and the best baby store is CRAIGSLIST! It's great because you purchase your item from someone who has out grown it, then when your baby outgrows it you can sell it for the same price – so it's like you're borrowing it.

    We even bought formula on craigslist when he stopped nursing at six months. At the store you will pay $20 a week for a supply, and on craigslist you can buy the same amount for between $6-7. So instead of paying $80 a month you'll spend closer to $30.

  13. Swifty says:

    Freecycle, it is a yahoo group. We haven't had to buy a piece of clothing for our baby period and he is now 20 months old.

    BPA free botles if you can't find the glass bottles. Target has them

    Are you breastfeeding? If so, La Leche league for advice, Attachment Parenting in Denton will help. A Boppie Pillow will help w/ nursing.

    Cloth or plastic diapers? If Cloth, the use a dry pail and buy Bum Genius diapers. Expensive at first but you save a lot of money in the long run.

    Find books for home remedies, that's how I treat me child with everyday herbs, spices and such

    Last but not least "Gripe Water" It is at Drug Emporium in Denton. Colic, teething, upset stomach… Really works wonders.

    Goto: swiftwords.blogspot.com and ask the host if you want to do all natural parenting. She knows it all!

  14. Deb says:

    Once upon a child for clothes and some furniture and baby gear
    Kid to kid is a little more expensive but not bad
    Sign up on baby product websites like Pampers and Huggies, Enfamil. They will send you a ton of coupons
    An awesome nursing pillow is the MY Breast Friend… the baby lies on a flat surface unlike the boppy pillows.
    Congrats!

  15. Tasha says:

    One baby product that would make life easier: you expect me to just pick ONE? Lol.. Keith, if you knew me, you'd know how impossible that is. That said, here are my top three that I have recommended to every new parent I know. 1.) I second the Happiest Baby on the Block DVD. My kiddo had colic, and this was hands down the best thing I learned to help soothe her. 2.) Hooter Hider. This is a really neat cover to wear while breastfeeding. 3.) Moby Wrap or Ergo. Baby wearing made so many things easier to do since you can still carry around your kiddo but have your hands free to get other things (like blogging!) done. This response also answers your question as what I couldn't live without .

    Re: brands: depends on what you're talking about. Bottles? Carseats? High Chairs? Clothes? I can tell you what we chose and why but that would make for an incredibly long comment :).

  16. Tasha says:

    cont'd…

    Book recommendation: You probably already have it, but the What to Expect When You're Expecting is great, as is Baby Bargains (reviews on almost all baby products- it was our go-to book when putting together our registry items). After birth: The No Cry Sleep Solution (amazing book on how to help your baby sleep through the night).

    Store: again, it depends on what you want to buy. Babies R Us is what we frequent most for general items; Kohls has great bargains on clothes; Albeebaby.com has great deals on carseats and other items; Etsy has cool decor for nurseries…..

    Other advice: definitely check out consignment sales and shops for clothes. DON'T OVERBUY NEWBORN CLOTHES! Seriously. Baby Micah will grow out of them quickly and won't wear half of what you buy.

  17. John Paul says:

    – Diaper Genie… greatly improves the odor in the house; especially once solid food gets introduced
    – We read through Baby Wise and while we did not hold strictly to the guidelines in the program, the schedule concept is invaluable…
    – Swaddle Blankets, absolutely
    – Sound Machine…. we just used the static on a stereo system. Either way it produces a white noise
    – Portable Booster… don't waste your money on a high chair; we bought the expensive high chair and never used it once. Once we got beyond breast feeding / bottles, we were in the portable booster at our table and then could take it with us when visiting others
    http://www.amazon.com/Safety-Grow-Portable-Booste

    These are just a few that jump to mind… good luck!

  18. Shannon says:

    Costco diapers (Kirkland)! Cheap and they don't leak as much as pampers or huggies! My brother in law did a 3 way comparison and they won hands down.

  19. Andy Box says:

    Lots of good suggestions here. I'll add a few:

    Video baby monitor ($99 at Babies R Us or used somewhere for much cheaper) – VERY helpful, and we jsut got another one for our new baby

    Pacifiers: if you plan to breastfeed, which I recommend, get some special pacifiers called Soothies (generally a green color) for use as a newborn. Unlike regular pacifiers, they are nipple-shaped and interfere less with breastfeeding.

    Diapers – each baby is different, and a brand that works great for one baby is leaky for another. Experiment and find the ones right for you. We like Target diapers for during the day. After several months we had to start getting special overnight diapers for night use b/c Brenden kept overfilling the regular ones.

    Cribs – do NOT get a drop-side crib (one side can slide up and down). The design is poor, and many cribs using it have been recalled. Brenden figured out how to drop the side on his own, creating a big fall hazard. We got a nice fixed-side crib for our new one at IKEA for about $100 I think.

  20. Andy Box says:

    …cont:

    Toys – You'll be tempted to buy every toy on the market, but don't. Like with clothes, babies outgrow toys at an alarming rate. Pick a few and see what he/she likes, but don't go nuts. Garage sales are good places to find good toys for cheap.

    Books – What to Expect and Babywise. Take Babywise with a grain of salt, but it has some good basic principles regarding baby schedules.

    Advice Websites : Babycenter.com and Mamasource.com are both excellent.

    It's a little intimidating, but don't panic – you'll do fine! I do recommend you spend some time around babies in advance, perhaps by volunteering in your church's nursery like I did. It will build your experience and confidence. When they're upset, it's usually because they're either hungry, dirty, or tired. Figure out which one and fix it, and you'll probably have a happy baby unless there's something unusual going on (such as acid reflux, like Brenden had).

  21. Gracie says:

    Common sense: Choose wisely when it comes to safety (car seats, cribs, etc). Spend the extra money if it means a safer product. For all other items, go to Walmart, yard sales, craigslist, etc. and save your money.

    As a parent, love overwhelms us. We want them to have everything. It is often difficult to look at their angelic baby faces and realize how quickly they will grow and that perhaps the most valuable thing a parent can spend their money on is an education.

    Start thinking about a college fund now.

  22. Amy O says:

    A well-rested baby is a happy baby. People always asked about our daughter, "Is she always this happy?" Yes, yes she is. Partly it's her personality, but mostly it's because she needs lots of sleep, and she gets it!
    Best book ever: "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child," by Marc Weissbluth, M.D. We have a bunch of friends who all use this book and love it. This guy really knows what he's talking about, and goes into the science behind sleep to prove it. Read it before baby comes home, or right after they're born.

    Also, if Wife Geeding is thinking of breastfeeding, try the book, "So That's What They're For!" Very informative, without taking itself too seriously. Hilarious stories, too.

  23. Dave L. says:

    CONGRATS…. I tell all my first time parent friends…. It is truly amazing; You will bring home from the hospital, something the size of shoe box, and the entire world changes around it – in ways that you could never imagine before.

    A few have posted Diaper Genie…. as a dad with a gooood gag reflex…. its a life saver, definitely belongs near the top of the list.

    Bassinet, either borrow/hand-me down, but not purchase (seems such a waste for so little time you actually use it).

    A bunch of Cloth Diapers…. BUT NOT FOR THE "BOTTOM"… they are the best, softest, handy rags for everything. From cleaning up burps, spitups, formula spills, and even to help wipe the inevitable "blow-outs" that happen. They are just the right size, no wasted (or rough) paper towels, or bath towels, they are easy to clean, and your baby will begin to like them – they tend to hold/feel them. They are cheap (I think we had 20 of them), we always kept a couple in the diaper bag, everytime we went anywhere, we threw one in the babyseat with a blanket… always handy (especially for a quick clean up without going through the diaper bag).

    Avoid Baby Enstein DVD's …etc.. I think they proved that they were of no help if not detrimental to childs learning.

    I swear by "Baby Signing" – baby sign language – I didnt believe it first, but I have a small sample of proof it works (my boys vs My Brothers – plus a group of friends that we convinced to try it, also swear by it) …. They will learn to speak, talk, read, most of temper tantrums are caused by child not being able to express themselves… my boys never had a "temper tantrum".

    Thats about all I could think of…. for now. Best of luck.

    It's truly a blessing – remember to enjoy the ride – it will fly by so quickly.

  24. Eileen says:

    First, CONGRATULATIONS!!!

    My opinions:
    Cute outfits are kind of useless for new babies, my kids almost only wore onesies and receiving blankets for the first three months. Don’t buy any clothing that you have to take completely off just to change a diaper!

    I never bought clothes that would fit my kids, I would go to the baby/kid stores like The Childrens Place, Baby Gap, Gymboree and go straight for the sale rack and buy the next size up. The kids were only going to get bigger, the clothes were ADORABLE, and they were on sale!

    If you're doing disposable, Diapers are different for every kid, so to start, have one package of each of the major brands. I found that some smelled like nothing after he peed and some just reeked of it, all depends on the baby.

    Oddly enough, if you put a (pee only) diaper in a trash can with a sealed lid, it will smell terribly after half a day. If you have one with a lid that doesn't completely seal (i.e. a swinging lid) it gets enough air to not turn foul. Poop diapers immediately go in the outside trash can, I never even tried the diaper genie. This may be totally different for you!

    Have an excellent camera handy at all times! 😀

    Your baby won't require a lot of toys with batteries yet, but when it gets older, you will need to keep stock of: AA, AAA, D, and C! 🙂 If you have a battery controlled swing or vibrating seat, stock up on batteries for that though!

    You might prefer a little nail file to little nail clippers as it's a delicate operation to clip tiny nails, but you'll need to do it often as they can't control those little buggers.

    Take all of the free samples of baby formula you can get, my doctor gave me many containers of many different kinds. Even if you don't plan on using it, or using it right away, sometimes, like God, babies have other plans.

    If you don’t want to use a pacifier, get just one anyway. Just in case.

    I see a bunch of people have said don’t use a bassinet. Well I used one and probably couldn’t have lived without it! I could barely walk after the first baby and it was a godsend to have her right next to me (without worrying of rolling over on her in bed and smothering her and YES this can happen-more later) and with my son 10 years later (same bassinet!) it was wonderful to have him in the same room as I’m a HUGE worry-wart and could peak over or, in the dark, put my hand on him to make sure he was still breathing. I think also the small space around the baby is more comforting to them than a wide open crib but that’s just me.

    About the sleeping in bed with the baby thing, there is a product out there that is basically a plastic shaped U to put the baby in so they can sleep right next to you, it is padded of course.

    I know it sounds weird, but EARPLUGS lol When my hubby watched our son so I could rest I could NOT sleep if I heard the baby make ANY noise at all, so earplugs were great for me.

    Be a team, the first 2 weeks can be tough, if one of you is irritable, make sure they eat and take a break!

    Don’t be afraid to ask for help!! You don’t have to be at the end of your rope!

    Tell Wife Geeding to listen to her body!! Don’t let doctors, nurses, or even friends/family dismiss her concerns as “first time mom” B.S.
    And on an important but gross note, get Tucks pads and Preparation H. Pushing makes other things swell too and that’s stuff you want to have right when you need it and not wait for someone to get it from the store.
    When Mom’s milk comes in, use hot washcloths over the boobs if they get too full and baby’s not eating, or if they hurt. Get an electronic breast pump NOW. You can rent a good one, or buy a relatively inexpensive one and can return it if you don’t use it. I threw cash at people and barked at them to “BUY ME A PUMP NOW” when my milk came in lol

    Finally, and most importantly, EAT WELL. Processed foods are extremely unhealthy and there’s lots of information available on eating healthy. Our generation was bombarded by advertisers since birth and we’ve become accustomed to eating terribly. We “know” that calcium comes from milk and Vitamin C is in orange juice, right? That’s the result of effective advertising. Where else can we find those nutrients? Question your habits! 🙂

  25. Chris says:

    I may not be a parent, but i AM an infant/toddler teacher and parent educator, i'm constantly trained about whats good and not good for baby.

    sleeping tips:
    -your baby's crib does NOT need bumpers, blankets, stuffed animals etc. this increases the risk for S.I.D.S. just a mattress sheet, and your baby's cozy PJs is all he needs to sleep in.
    – if your baby will take a pacifier, esp in the first few months, give it to him. this DEcreases the risk of SIDS.

    toys/playing:
    -newborns dont need expensive stuff. solid color toys, black&white or high contrast toys, or just toys that are fun to look at in general.
    -tummy time, tummy time, tummy time! several times every day! it helps to set up a routine… i.e. for a minute after each diaper change. tummy time helps build muscles and prevent flattening of the back of the head.

    formula/diapers:
    dont feel you need to buy the expensive brand. the generic or store brand are just as much of an option. start with one, try it, and see what works.

    stores:
    i wouldnt recommend a store, but Craigslist.com. i see others have said it too, so i wont repeat the reasoning, just that i wholeheartedly agree!!!

    every day is a new learning experience for your infant/baby and he is constantly learning. treat every moment as a learning opportunity and fill his days with experiences, even tiny little ones we might take for granted, can provide learning opportunities for an infant like you wouldnt believe.

    i am an open book and love talking if you have any questions 🙂
    -Chris

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