BTDT Mommies... What do I need?

Hi Mommies... I'm sorry if I'm intruding over here, but I was hoping you BTDT ladies could help me with a question:

We were not planning on buying much before the baby is born, but we know that we have to have SOME things ready for baby's arrival... can you list some of the things that we will ABSOLUTELY need for the baby's first few days home with us... including how much clothing (and what type) and anything else you can think of that are must-haves for the beginning?

Thank you so much!!! I hope you don't mind me barging in over here!

Re: BTDT Mommies... What do I need?

I had a preemie who came home before my shower, so this should be easy...

Car Seat - hospital won't let you leave without one.

Onesies
many, many One piece outfits - they explode out of diapers until you get the hang of it.
Depending on what time of year - Bundle me, warm clothes
Hat

Cloth diapers/Burpee

Diapers
A&D Ointment
Rubbing Alcohol swabs for belly button
Balmex or some kind of diaper cream
Bacitracin (if circumscion)
Bottles (if bottle feeding)
Lansinoh cream (if breastfeeding)

Place for baby to sleep with sheets - we borrowed a bassinet since they're only in it 3 months

Place to change baby - we used a towel & a storage bin

Bouncy seat is a plus so you can put him/her down


eta. it is a lot easier to get the stuff beforehand if you can. The last thing I wanted to do was to leave the baby home to go shopping with leaky breasts...oh you can add, the breast shields.

Message edited 12/26/2006 4:22:57 PM.

Re: BTDT Mommies... What do I need?

Thank you-- I'm taking notes!
Anyone else?

Re: BTDT Mommies... What do I need?

Honestly, the most essential things imo are:
Somewhere to sleep, whether that be a co-sleeper, bassinet, crib, whatever.
A carseat.
A bouncy seat.

Those are like the basics in terms of gear, as far as I'm concerned.

You don't need a changing table, you can just change the baby on the bed.
The bouncy seat is nice so you can have your hands free, but even a sling would be good.

As far as clothes go. Tons of one piece pjs and onesies. That's really all you need. I assume you know you need diapers

Re: BTDT Mommies... What do I need?

Carseat
Basinette
Swing/Bouncy seat
Blankets
Burp Cloths
PJ's
Newborn T-shirts that snap so they don't go against the belly button
Socks
I used a My Breast Friend because I nursed

Message edited 12/26/2006 10:56:46 PM.

Re: BTDT Mommies... What do I need?

If FF or pumping get a ton of bottles - if you're going to be a SAHM maybe not as important for that many but if going back to work you'll find it easier. If no dishwasher get a microwave or plug-in sterilizer.

Definitely a bouncy seat and/or swing. We have both.

Undershirts (the onesie kind) - I have about 12. Feety pajamas/play rompers - Kohl's and Children's place have great one and are great for hanging inside the house and short trips.

Diaper Genie

Emory boards for nails - they say not to use clippers for baby hands since it's too hard to cut and you can cut skin.

Triple Paste ointment (that's the brand name) for bad diaper rashes.

Don't bother with baby oil or powder - the powder can get into their lungs and the oil is too slick.

BABY TUB

Tons of bibs and burping cloths.

Pacifier if you go that route - we have 3 duplicates but really just been using one for the most part.

Receiving blankets for swaddling.

Message edited 12/27/2006 9:45:17 AM.

Re: BTDT Mommies... What do I need?

Most of this stuff was posted

I couldn't survive without my Boppy.

Re: BTDT Mommies... What do I need?

mostly everything was posted. But somethings I can tell you not to get is a sterilizer, just put them in a pot with boiling water. Diaper Genie its great but not needed, just put them in zip lock bag or food shopping bags and throw bags away at the end of the night. And as for bottles, sign up on line for free samples, because for my baby shower I recieved so many bottles and I still had to go out and buy others because he did not like the ones I had. So the samples came in handy to see which he liked. One thing I did love is the travel changing station, it is cheap. It has two pockets for stuff and 5 bands to hold diaper rash cream or whatever you want. BRU sells it. Good luck. I am a new mom, and it is the greatest.

Re: BTDT Mommies... What do I need?

Car Seat
bundle me if you have a winter baby
a place for a baby to sleep
3 sheets and 2 matress covers for the baby's bed
10 oneies and 10 outfits
10 pairs of socks
Dreft to do baby's laundry
hat (winter)
2-3 blankets
bottles if you are not BFing
BF moms- good LC's phone number and a copy of Nursing Mother's Companion Guide
Burp clothes or cloth diapers to put over your shoulder when burping the baby
Diapers, wipes, baby bath
A place to bathe the baby
A diaper bag of some kind
Baby nail files (you will need to file the baby's nails when you get home) or clippers (but the nails are small so filig is easier)
a baby themometer (rectal takes an more accurate temp), baby motrin, baby thylenol. (You do NOT want to have to rush out in the middle of the night, but always call a ped first when a baby is very young)
I had a diaper gene and loved it, but you don't NEED one. those blue bags are great, especially when you travel.
Aquaphor is the best stuff ever
A diaper rash cream. Molly could not use Destin. Butt Paste is great IMO

Re: BTDT Mommies... What do I need?

Re: BTDT Mommies... What do I need?

I think everyone covered it but wanted to stress the cloth diapers- they were so important in the beginning for us.

We got the plain white cheap ones and lined the changing table with them so when she peed or pooped on the changing table we just changed the cloth diaper, instead of the sheet a million times a day.