Holy Crap. I'm officially a Mommy. Holy Crap.
Did I mention Iv NEVER changed a diaper?
Iv never fed a baby.
I have only ever held one maybe two other newborns in my life.
Iv never babysat or cared for this small of a child. Not EVER.
Holy Crap.
Iv read about it. But lets just face it, you can READ about Nuclear Physics and the reactions of nuclear cold fusion. But that does not mean you can do (let alone understand) how to do above mentioned craziness.
Thankfully you don't need a PHD to clean a smelly butt or make a bottle. They also have tons of books to help you out these days as well as full prof baby products. But some of these products make you feel like you need to sell your kidney to pay for them. I work hard for my money. I don't like to feel like I'm wasting it, and I know there are lots of people out there just like me. So you'll find I don't have any problem buying some items used, on sale, cheap, and that I know can be used for years to come. You will never see me posting a crib that cost $500. Lets get real, baby's grow fast, some items will be used for a matter of months if not weeks. Why shell out 50.00 for an Easter dress that they will wear once, AND get a stain on it?
What I read-
While pregnant I read What to expect when your expecting both the book and this website. The website is handy for alot of reasons. You can sign up to get email updates to learn what you should be doing and also how your baby is growing at that stage. It has articles as well, everything from what to eat to what to buy for the upcoming baby.What to expect also as another handy little book called What to Expect the First Years. Another great book for those who may not know much about raising a child. There are a lot of pages you can skip over because lets face it, like I said before its doesn't take a genius to change a diaper. but other things, like when is your child old enough for solid food was helpful to me. The website I linked above also goes on to baby's third year so you'll have help for years to come.
What I bought-
Aquatopia-Safety Bath Time Thermometer
This little guy was handy because it eliminates the guessing game of what temperature is baby safe. In addition to the reading it gives you on the top it also beeps when the water gets too hot AND too cold (something those little rubber duckies with the heat sensors don't do). I purchased mine at Walmart for $10.00 but you can find them online too.
While you don't have to purchase this system exactly I do recommend purchasing something similar. These systems are great because the car seat clips directly to the stroller for use when baby is too small to sit in the stroller seat, but easily converts to a regular jogging stroller. It does fold down for easy storage in your car truck but still takes up a fare amount of room. It comes with the car seat base for your car as well.
I think I paid about $175 for mine. Trust me its worth it. Car seats alone can cost that much.
These come in a standard bottle, and a wide bottle. The wide mimics the shape of nipple better if you plan on supplementing with breast feeding. And they come in 6oz and 8oz sizes for both types. The thing I love most about these bottles is that they come completely apart for easy cleaning. The base unscrews and makes it so much easier to shove a bottle brush inside to clean. I read some reviews complaining about this feature, stating it has too many parts, but I loved these bottles. I never had any problems with them leaking either. You can buy them in gift pack for a shower gift, packs of 3 and individually. They are BPA free and said to reduce ear infections (my child has never had one) and should help with gas, colic and spit up. My baby still had a terrible time with gas though. Prices vary depending on where and how you buy them but are similar to any other bottle out there.
I tried several brands and they all seemed to work the same for my baby. Just a drop in the bottle helps eliminate air bubbles for a much happier munchkin. I had a horrible time with my baby and gas for the first 4 months. I changed formula and tried every trick I could find to help her (pumping her legs, fussy gassy formula, soy and more). Nothing was 100% but these at least helped more than anything else I found. They are cheap too. I would buy it a Target and could usually get a two pack for about $6.
The reason I choose these bags over a traditional microwave bottle steamer is they don't take up space on my counter or cabinets (I HATE having things cluttering up my counter tops). They come in a box with 5 bags and each bag can be re-used 20 times, I would use mine more though. Fill the bag, add 2 oz water, seal the bag and microwave for 3 minutes. I would scrub my bottles after each use, and steam them at the end of the day to make sure they were good and clean. I have only been able to find these online and at Target and usually cost between $5-$10
As a side note I recommend buying big ticket items such as the car seat, stroller, highchair and swing in a gender neutral color if you plan on having more than one child. You may get excited that your having a girl and want everything pretty in pink for your little one but think to the future. Your next child might be a boy, and you might be strapped for cash the second time around. You cant blame every passerby that see's your little boy in a pink car seat and say's "Oh what a darling little girl you have!" Trust me you'll appreciate your smart thinking down the road. Its also is easier for resale too. Craigslist is often the first place a mommy strapped for cash will shop. You'll appeal to a wider range of shoppers if your items are neutral. Don't be afraid of second hand items but be smart. Buy only things that can be washed and sanitized. Big ticket items are great to keep an eye out for too. I purchased a great matching crib, dresser and changing table on craigslist for $200. I recommend steering clear of car seats though, you never know if they have been recalled or in a crash. Another thing to keep in mind is you dont need to rush out and buy everything all at once. Think about what your baby will need right away (like the items listed above) and the items that can wait a few months, like a walker or fancy toys.
I will be posting new products every so often for you guys to check out so keep checking back!
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