As you know, we are expecting baby boy #3 in about 13 weeks. We have kept most things related to babies and toddlers so fortunately we will not need too much. Except that this baby will be born in May and Andrew and Carson were both November babies. There will be a few sizes of clothes that will not match up for the season; 0-3 month clothing, 6-9 month, 12-18 month, 18-24 month...that is actually more than I realized but we will make due with what we have and buy some new items when needed. I've already purchased quite a few clearance items in the 6-9 month size for next winter! So fun.
We needed a new infant car seat. Our base for the car seat we used with both boys has an expiration date of Dec. 2009 on it. Is that for wear and tear on the plastic base? I'm not exactly sure. But we also were having issues with the car seat locking into the base, not good. Sometimes we would get home and realize that the car seat wasn't actually locked into the base correctly! Or we would have issues getting it disconnected from the base. So what do we do with this old car seat? It's really not safe to use...do we just throw it in the trash? I was able to find a new travel system (infant car seat, base and stroller) for a good deal. So I will try and sell our old stroller.
We still have our crib (though it is a drop side crib which I guess aren't safe anymore) Pack-n-play, high chair, bouncy seat, swing, activity mats, exercauser, door jumpy thing...so we won't need many new items. When Carson was born, we didn't get too many new things. We did however get a Bumpo seat, something I wish we had when Andrew was an infant! He always wanted to be upright - much more content that way.
But there are a few things I am wondering about, considering purchasing. Those of you with little ones, I would love your advice!! If something worked well for you, or didn't work so well, I would love to hear about it!!
Some of the things I'm considering have to do with nursing. Andrew & Carson are going to be around a lot of the time when I am breastfeeding. I feel like I need to be a little more discreet - even in my own home this time. I was never very good at that, especially with Andrew....trying to be modest and he hated being covered with a blanket while nursing! I actually didn't like it either, it was hot! So I was considering one of the nursing cover ups, The Hooter Hider or Udder Covers or some other cover up. And I never found a nursing cami that I liked either. I would think these would be nice, no need to have a bare abdomen exposed. I had one, a pretty well known brand (I think it was a Glamourmom) but it just didn't work for me...for reasons I don't really need to go into here. And what about the nursing tops, shirts that have some secret way about them to make breast feeding your baby easier. Never had any of those. But maybe you wouldn't need the nursing tops or nursing tanks/camis if you had nursing cover up. Advice?
We probably need some new bottles since ours were bought before the whole BPA thing came out. We probably won't need to use too many bottles since I'm not working this time but would like to have bottles that are BPA free for on those rare occasions that we might go on a date or something. We had Avent bottles before and liked them. Advice?
A baby carrier. We have a Snuggie baby carrier but I really didn't use it very much. I found it difficult to put on and difficult to put the baby in. And once I did have the baby in and the Snuggie on, it just wasn't very comfortable. It hurt my back. So I'm wondering about a baby sling or a different kind of carrier. Advice?
A baby monitor. Ours has all kinds of feedback! Not exactly something I like to hear when attempting to sleep!
And while I am thinking about baby items and asking advice.... this will be the first time we bring home a newborn to this house. Andrew & Carson were born where we lived before. In that house, our bedroom and the baby's bedroom were right next to each other. The boys were in their crib, in their room from night one. At our house here, we have a ranch and our bedroom and the baby's bedroom are as far apart as possible and still be in the same house (well unless it was downstairs). I'm not looking forward to recovering from a C-section and having to walk clear across our house multiple times a night to feed the baby. There is a queen size bed in the baby's room but I just want to be in my own bed. So I am thinking the baby will be in our room for a few weeks until I feel recovered enough to make the trek multiple times a night. I think we will probably put the Pack-n-play in our room or maybe have the baby sleep in a booster seat during that time. Any other thoughts on that situation.
I would really like to hear from you...tell me products you liked or didn't like and why. Thanks for your help!! If you don't want to comment on here, send me an email.... ckkauffman@embarqmail.com. Thanks.
11 comments:
hey! ok, i happen to be a certified car seat technician (there is a lot more to know about car seats than i ever thought...) so i would def. recommend buying a new infant seat since the base of yours has expired. they usually give seats about 5-6 years because of wear and tear, etc. Also if the seat has ever been in an accident (especially if the car couldn't be driven away you want to get rid of it). As far as what to do with the old one i would just trash it or i think babies r us takes trade ins. as far as other advice, i was given a hooter hider and i used it whenever we were out and about or when we had people over and i needed to be more modest. :) i thought it was pretty easy to use and it was a light fabric so neither nolan nor i got hot. with sleeping, we had nolan in our room with the pack and play and i thought that worked well.
i think that's all i have for now but if i think of any other things i will let you know. how exciting!!! :)
Kristi,
My all-time favorite, must-have nursing tank is by Bravado. I buy them on breakoutbras.com, and I think I even have a coupon code for 15% off till Valentine's Day - if you want it, let me know. They are comfortable, supportive, hides the postpartum belly while nursing. I always wear them under a regular shirt and just pull the shirt up to nurse, leaving most of me covered. Love them!
My all-time favorite baby carrier is the Ergo. Super comfortable, easy to get baby in and out, can wear on front or back (or hip, though I never did.) I will say it's better for when they're a bit older, not teeny tiny...(you have to buy an additional insert for babies too little.) I've always used a Peanut Shell sling when they're really little.
We also used a pack n play in our room for the first while, and I liked not having to get up and walk too far every few hours to nurse! We have one with the bassinet attachment and it's worked great.
We had a bumbo and loved it! That's a good thing to have...and if you don't have the little tray, that might be something to look in to, too. We actually used that when Mady was very little to take with us on trips for a seat to feed her in. The tray is great for little snacks or a toy.
I had a hooter hider from Target and loved it. i would definitely recommend something like that. It's lightweight, and you don't have to worry about exposing yourself.
Unfortunatley, I can't advise you on bottles since my child was stubborn and wouldn't take one, but BPA is the way to go these days....and practically all you can buy.
Have fun getting ready for the new arrival!
We used the glass BornFree bottles and really liked them. I also used a lot of carriers...I used a ring sling that I REALLY liked and the Moby - both good when they're infants. I have an Ergo carrier like Jill and we LOVE it. Liam can still fit in it and he is 14 months. I think we put Miles in it until he was 16 mo. We bought a little infant insert that you can use when they are itty bitty which was a good investment. The Moby was good for working around the house. I think I could seriously hang upside down from handlebars and he wouldn't fall out. :) The ring sling was nice because it was a quick on and off.
I never used any of the breastfeeding cover-ups, but I did carry a giant pretty scarf around that served the same purpose and I already had. As far as nursing tops. I got some at Target that I really liked. They only have one nursing bra/tank brand in-store so you can't miss them. I don't know what to tell you about the carseat. There are some places where you can recycle them. I would just look it on google.
I hope that helps! I'm definitely no expert, but since I never got a baby shower with an infant I had to be really choosy about what we purchased....in fact, I'm not sure what half those things you're talking about at the top are. :) p.s. I love you're blog...and reading about someone else that has 2 boys. :)
I didn't have any nursing tanks but I wanted to keep my stomach covered (and warm) so I wore a belly band and just pulled it all the way open/up when nursing - it worked great! For carrying I really like the mei tei. The only downfall for me was the really long straps to maneuver, but you can get them with clips instead, I think they're called an Ergo? For a quick nursing screen I used one of these http://www.forever21.com/product.asp?catalog_name=FOREVER21&category_name=top&product_id=2068336728&showBACK=OK it's not really fully covering, but cute :) I hope you are feeling good these days!
I don't use a nursing cover but wear a tank top every day. I love having my belly covered and am able to nurse way more discreetly without having to have anything over top Stella. The kids were sooo interested in what I was doing at first and now it doesn't even phase them. I like that they are comforable with it and have been around other nursing moms since and haven't embarrassed me. :)
My all time favorite baby carrier is the Moby Wrap and then when they are a toddler I love the Ergo. We used them a ton in Vancouver because we walked everywhere. The Moby Wrap is the only one that never hurt my back. It will take you a little bit to get used to the 40 feet of fabric and how to wrap it but it's wonderful and easy to use once you have practiced a time or two.
Excited for you!
I have a Baby Bjorn carrier and could never get the top to stay folded down when the baby was facing out. I would not recommend it. I used nursing tops and liked them, but it sounds like others had better ideas. If you have specials tanks, etc you can wear reg. clothes with them. I had a friend who used a baby sling a lot. She nursed the baby while he was in the sling when we were walking around at yard sales and nobody had a clue. I think if the baby is always being covered to nurse, they will do better with being covered, even when they are older. Have Fun!
-Karen Short
Hey! I have several nursing tops that you can try/borrow. Patrick was very curious like Carson may be. Lots of questions. It was hard for me to be discreet when at home because he really wanted to know what was going on. Anyway- At least with some type of cover or top you are minimally exposed. When Joslin was born we had her in the room with us. It was nice to just roll out of bed and get her. We could hear her rustle around and I enjoyed hearing her all her little noises...ones that wouldn't really keep me awake. I used a ring sling and loved it. I was able to nurse with the sling on although switching side was a little cumbersome. I used it in the store and she would just sleep away in there. Some come with little pockets but I would slide my wallet and keys in by her feet and run into the store. Quick trips in with the diaper bag left in the car were nice. I did have someone ask me in a store one time though if I still had to use a carseat if the baby rode in the sling. Ha! (scary!) Anyway- glad you are having another boy so you don't have to change the name of the blog!
Thank you so much everyone for your very helpful advice! I am excited to check out the products you suggested work well for you. Nice to know what has worked for others instead of just choosing blindly! We actually were pretty fortunate with most of our baby equipment and were able to borrow it from a good friend (except crib & other furniture, pack n play, high chair and carseat). Thanks again!
I could offer you some suggestions of things we used raising our 4 children but they are probably all outlawed by now and you would probably be charged with child abuse. I can't believe you all have made it this far in life. I can't wait!
Dad Short
Hey! Would you consider helping me out and helping me surprise Kent? Thanks and Blessings!
Carrie
Go to my new blog here:
www.itsgodsgospel.blogspot.com
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