It feels like 2 weeks ago I had a baby that couldn't lift her head and now I have a little monster rolling all over the place. Being a mom is definitely the best and most challenging experience of my life thus far and I wouldn't trade any of it for the world. I definitely wish that I wasn't working full time, but I don't know that I would be able to be a stay at home mom. My 10 weeks at home with Abby were the hardest days of my life. I think if I was a full time stay at home mom you would find me on a park bench with spaghetti in my hair having a conversation with a squirrel. It amazes me how much time and energy tiny humans command from your life, but there is absolutely nothing in the world I would rather do when we are with her. Nothing beats a smile, a laugh or a squeal. Watching her discover something for the first time is the most amazing thing to watch. Discovering her tongue is hilarious, watching her roll over for the first time...you would think Ron and I were watching a game that we had money on. It was exhilarating!
Things I wish somebody would've told me before I had Abby:
1. Buy as much as you can used, minus safety items - ie car seats. Baby consignment shops, consignment sales, yard sales and craigslist are your best friends. Babies go through things FAST and you have to wash everything first regardless of whether it's new or used so who cares where it came from? Babies need a lot of things and those things are expensive. If you can save a few bucks and get something in excellent used condition - why not? We got Abby's exersaucer, swing(s), highchair (i bought a new cover for it), tons of clothes, and tons of toys all at consignment, craigslist and even some last minute good will purchases. Make sure you check safety recalls though. I can't stress enough how awesome buying used baby items is.2. Everyone will tell you to make sure EVERYTHING is washed before baby is home...I bought a head and I took this to mean rip ALL tags off & wash EVERYTHING up to a year. Don't do this. If you want, wash up to 3 months but no more. There will be a ton of things your kid will never wear and you can either A. return the item or B. consign it and you will get more money if the tag is still on.
3. Everyone will tell you not to buy newborn clothes - well I listened and Abby ended up needing newborn clothes and oops I had none and had to rush out and get some! I don't think it will hurt to have just a few outfits - maybe buy them used and if they don't wear them you can just get rid of them.
4. People will tell you and you will not listen but honestly - sleepers are your best friend in the first couple of months. Onesies are annoying to pull over a tiny baby's head. Abby was a summer baby, I laughed at my coworkers when they said you aren't going to want to put her in little outfits. I said NO! She will wear dresses...all the time! Ummm yea, she wore sleepers b/c babies poop and pee and eat and sleep and don't need to wear dresses, atleast not when they are 1-2 months old!
In the 1st 3 months you really only need the following:
1. Swing - the good kind that goes side to side OR front and back (we bought 2 of these on craigslist so we didn't have to carry one up and down the stairs)2. a pack and play if you want to have baby sleep in your bedroom - invest in one that has a changing station on it (this is one of the only items we bought new) ... we had another one in our family room but never used it except for the changing station. Next time around we will probably just have a changing station set up and not the full pack and play.
3. millions and millions of diapers and wipes- buy size 1 because atleast for us we got sent home with almost 100 from the hospital and tons of wipes
4. boppie - again I bought this used for $7 on craigslist and just bought a new cover for it. If you think you can live without this my husband used a pillow which provides the same function!
5. baby gym
6. infant car seat - we have the chicco keyfit 30 which is rated for up to 35 lbs. This is crazy heavy but it's #1 for saftey on consumer reports so we will deal.
7. snap & go/caddy: Abby is almost 6 months old and we still haven't purchased our fancy stroller yet. The snap and go/caddy is crazy light and easy to fold and perfect for infants since you just pop the carseat right into it. We are getting ready to take the plunge for a real stroller since Abby likes looking around much more now and she is getting too big for me to carry her in the carrier but as a baby baby a caddy is all you need. The chicco one is $100 but these are ALL OVER consignment sales and shops - I bought my coworker one for $25. BUY USED PEOPLE!!!!!!
8. baby bath - I DO NOT RECOMMEND THE BLOOMING BATH! We bought this for abby and omg it's the cutest thing in the world but it sucks!!!!!!! Abby loved it and I loved the concept but it is not mildew resistant, it drips everywhere, you can't just airdry it, it's impossible to wring out and you have to dry it everytime which results in making a mess through your house unless you are washing your baby in a utility sink (doubt it). You will also have to wash it every other time in the washing machine...which we did and it only lasted 3 months before the smell of mildew wouldn't leave. buy a regular annoying baby tub used! We got one for $7.
9. bottles (obviously) - go ahead and buy dr. browns...all the hype is for a reason, they rock. I don't know that it's annoying to clean all the parts because I have never known any other bottle.
10. Bottle drying rack - I have the boon grass and I love it. The only annoying part is that the water doesn't drain but we just run it through the dishwasher once a week. Love the grass. LOVE LOVE LOVE
11. If you're breast feeding - get a pump. I had the pump and style and I guess i liked it? I hated breast feeding. I will do it again but I hated it. Every minute. Don't waste your money on the bra because it wastes so much time putting that on. Eventually you'll figure out a way to hold it with one arm so you can text or facebook or play candy crush with one hand.
12. If you are doing formula - do yourself a favor and buy the baby brezza immediately! It's like a baby bottle k cup machine! You load it with formula and water and it makes your baby bottles whatever size you want...ummm awesome! Yes we JUST got this at 5.5 months and I wish somebody would've put this on my registry.
13. good burp clothes - the cute ones are eh. We bought the ones that everybody raves about on BRU. They seem like crap when you first get them but then you wash them and they fluff up and omg they're awesome! Abby loves them!
14. Good bibs! Carters teething bibs are awesome and terry cloth bibs are I guess ok for when they're little.
15. ergo baby and the infant insert. I didn't have a baby carrier at first and Abby was definitely a "i'm going to cry if you're not holding me" girl. I bought the baby bjorn used for like $20 (WASTE OF $20) and a sling (waste!) hated them both...then I found the ergo baby...oh you're so amazing! If you're super lucky you can find these at TJMAXX for like $80 or super super lucky you will find somebody parting with theirs at a consignment sale but it's doubtful. These can be worn 3 ways (back, front or hip) and they are crazy comfy. They are worth the investment! Wish I had found this prior to the end of my maternity leave...I might have managed to actually accomplish something!
16. Halo sleep sacks - there are other brands but honestly Halo is superior! The zip from the bottom is just awesome for the middle of the night. Love them. You can find these used or at TJMAXX, Marshalls. LOVE. **Tip** Halo sleep sacks with Snap sleepers or Halo sleepers (zip from the bottom and snaps or zip from the bottom and zip from the bottom), don't pair with zip sleepers b/c you're zipping all the way to the top and defeating the convenience of the bottom zip
17. Sleepers - millions of sleepers! Don't bother buying fancy outfits, just buy sleepers! Zip sleepers will be your best friend! Zippers are not dangerous for babies if you know how to operate a zipper. Think about the most tired you've ever been and now think about snapping a million little snaps...it never fails you miss one and have to start over (insert gun to head!!!!)
Things I don't think you need:
1. Baby towels - yes they are so cute and who doesn't want the picture of their baby looking like a whale or a fish or a duck? But honestly - They suck! I had to use 2 everytime to absorb the water and while they aren't going to break the bank they aren't necessary. I don't know if you know this but you most likely already have towels in your house...those can be used on babies! WHAT?!2. The blooming bath - see above for reasons why that thing SUCKS
3. A napper - a bouncy seat is I guess ok but a napper is totally stupid! Unless your baby has acid reflux this thing is a waste!
4. A recliner/glider/rocker - We spent more money than it would've been to buy a new chair to get my pop-pop's chair recovered for Abby's nursery. I love this chair and will charish it. But it's a hot pink and lime green chair which only matches Abby's room. I sat in it to take pictures and that's it. I never used it to nurse Abby or feed Abby or to put her to sleep and it takes up a very large footprint in her room.
5. A changing table - Some people love these, we opted for a dresser with a changing pad on top. That way when she is out of diapers (OMG i can't wait for that day to come!) she can still use this piece of furniture.
6. Bedding sets - I think most people already know this. Bumpers are actually illegal in the state of MD now. I did buy a quilt for Abby but I got it for when she has a toddler bed, it has never been in her crib. Buy a bunch of fitted sheets and a dust ruffle - that's it!
7. Stuff animals that aren't educational - You will get 9 million stuffed animals that talk, creepily turn themselves on and start singing songs and teach your child. You don't need ones that just sit there and don't teach your kid anything.
8. Baby shoes - Ok, these aren't necessary, you don't really need them...I did however buy like a million pairs of baby boots which Abby did wear and they were awesome!
9. If you're having a girl wait until she is born to see how much hair she has before you buy either headbands or hair clips. I bought like 10 headbands (and no clips) for Abby before she was born and guess what? She could wear them for like a month before her hair was too long and now she gets texas hair if she wear them! Should've waited and bought 9 million clips instead!
10. baby hangers - these are so cute and omg who doesn't want tiny slim line pink hangers? HOW CUTE?! Well guess what? baby clothes come in outfits with pants and a shirt and those hangers that they come with keep them organized. Ugh my ocd has taken a major slap to the face in Abby's closet. I love those hangers but you know what?! The crappy plastic hangers are just more convenient!
11. Fancy brands - babies are fluid machines! They poop, they pee, they spit up, they vomit! You don't need a $60 onesie that your baby will wear one time for 1 hr and vomit on. Abby has had a blowout every single day for the past 2 weeks. Yesterday she blew through 2 outfits at daycare AND a sheet. Imagine if those were $60 outfits...even $30 outfits. **IF you find a good brand used, by all means buy it, I don't pay over $5 for a clothing item unless it's a name brand I will go up to $10 and I have to REALLY want it.**
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