[momof2armybrats]

Just something kinda fun to give some advice to new mommies!! And maybe even BTDT moms...

If I had known then what I know now.... I wouldnt have bought SO many clothes from newborn to 6 months. I had an overload and they grow out of them so fast!!!

[sunny]

I wouldn't have wasted so much money on so much STUFF in general haha! Babies although need quite a bit they really don't NEED all that stores lead us to believe they need hahaha!

[Lilmom]

Yeah. Ditto on the newborn stuff... but actually I didn't buy anything! People bought me tons of NB clothes and diapers at the shower and then Ivy was nearly 10lbs and almost none of it fit, even right out of the gate. She went straight intot he size 1 diapers and wore the 3 month old clothing. Dont' buy a lot of NB stuff. Just buy a little bit, and it doesnt take up a lot of room in the washer so you can just wash it 2 or 3 x per week and keep using it. Thats what I did with her stuff from 3 months to about 12 months. Plus remember you can put clothes on the baby that are a little too big, but you can't make them wear something that is too small.

Other than that, if you are planning on BFing... they eat very frequently. Like every 2 hours. I had a friend who had her baby a few months after me and one day about 2 weeks after she had the baby I get this phone call "Theres something wrong with the baby! He wants to eat all the time, I can't get anysleep! I don't think I'm making enough milk! He must be starving" I called her back and told her that was normal. Shes not supposed to get any sleep but that if she wanted more rest she should try the side lying position in bed and that was she can at least lay down. I also told her that her supply was fine, the babys stomach is just small and it goes right through them. I think that just hearing that it was normal was enough. Apparently she grew up in a culture where there was apparently alot of misinformation about motherhood and babies(she was not born and raised in the US). Once I told her that yeah newborns don't sleep through the night and yeah BM is better, but sort of doesn't last as long, she started doing better...

[*~LuckyCharms~*]

Another thing about breastfeeding....all I heard and read before he was born was, "If you are doing it correctly, it won't hurt." BULL!! It HURT HURT HURT for two whole weeks! After that it got better. This time I will be using the nipple cream for awhile before I give birth, in hopes that that will help!

[**Jenn**]

Originally Posted by *~LuckyCharms~*

Another thing about breastfeeding....all I heard and read before he was born was, "If you are doing it correctly, it won't hurt." BULL!! It HURT HURT HURT for two whole weeks! After that it got better. This time I will be using the nipple cream for awhile before I give birth, in hopes that that will help!

What I was going to say! My boys both had great latches but those first two weeks hurt! It's something your nipples have to get used to!

I wouldn't have listened to so many people and followed my gut. I didn't learn this until Liam was a couple months old.

Regarding newborn clothes, I listened to everyone when they told me not to waste my money so I didn't buy any and only one pack of newborn diapers. Well my first wore newborn clothes and diapers for 2 months and even my second son (who was almost 8 1/2 lbs at birth) wore them for one month! I stock up on newborn stuff now!

[eli's momma]

i wouldn't have registered for a wipe warmer....totally dried out the wipes and was useless. ended up in a garage sale for $2.

same thing with the diaper genie. it is a great concept, but it attracted flies and that was REALLY NASTY! now we just throw them in the regular trash and take it out each day.

[Lilmom]

Good point on the diaper genie. I use the Diaper Champ... It is fine for the first 6 months, but after that it is no good. Once the babys poo starts to stink, It stinks. I never had fly problems with it but it definately had a funk. Since we are going to put our house on the market, I'm going to stop using it entirely now and just take the garbage out everyday (I was still using it for wet diapers only and even with just wet diapers, it stinks).

[katy625]

I wouldn't have let people bully me into breast feeding when i knew it wasnt something i wanted to do.....and BF didnt work at all.

i wouldn't have bought expensive name brand items that my dd hated and never used...which was almost everything. I was the best stroller, best bouncer, best swing etc for her it seemed.

[Lori B.]

I agree totally about the wipes warmer and fancy diaper pails. I won't be getting either this time. I also won't be getting a bassinet, we never used our last one. And no more stuffed animals!! DD has enough for both kids. I also had no need for a changing table last time, I always changed her while sitting in the floor. This time, the crib I bought has a changing table attached so I'll give that a try.

[Landon n Lorelai's mommy]

Not everything they say you need is actually needed. We got a changing table and never really used it, mostly just laid him on the bed or whatever. Yeah it's nice to have but not NEEDED. All the newborn clothes, - get a little bit bigger ones they can grow into them and you would rather to big of clothes than ones they never got to wear or only once If you stock up on diapers don't open then all to stack them away neatly so ones that are still closed you can exchanged for the right size. The Boppy pillows really come in handy

[**Jenn**]

I agree with the changing tables, not necessary at all. I never bought one, I just got some waterproof pads (cloth diaper work well too) and laid them on that to change whether we were on the bed, floor, couch or wherever.

[Anne Gables]

I am a minimalist of sorts, and what I learned is that if I got a gift from someone that I knew I was never going to use and did not have the reciept for (and it wasnt from Kohls which has a great return policy) to get it out of the house as soon as possible. No use having it around for maybe some day.

Same goes with toys. If they are books that look awful or that I dont agree with or toys that are big or obnoxious, I dont even let DS see them. They go straight to Goodwill.

Babies dont need much, at least mine did not. From my observation, it is usually the parents who want all the stuff, not the baby.

I dont mean to sound cynical, but in a somewhat small space, I dont want my space hijacked by what other people think I should have. Just smile, say thanks for the gift, and move on. The quicker stuff goes out, the less guilt you will experience.

[Lilmom]

I disagree somewhat on the changing table issue. If you have an elevated surface some where that you can use (counter int he bathroom whatever) then you can use that, but I didn't have that option. I found the changing table indispensible though for several reasons.

1) I don't like using the bed. No matter how quick you are, there are times where you aren't quick enough and something gets "loose". I don't want to have to change and wash the sheets on my bed just because of a diaper change gone arwy. Sure, you can use a waterproof pad but that doesn't help if the poo or pee is projectile.

2) After the c-section I couldn't bend much so the changing table was really handy for that.

3) I have a wiggler. And by wiggler I mean my toddler does not always cooperate with diaper changes. Sometimes my only option is to throw her on the changing table and hold her down. If I try to do it on the floor she'll roll away or wiggle and kick so much that poop gets EVERYWHERE. I don't want it on the carpet. Changing table? Wipes right off and the pad cover goes in the wash. I have no idea what her deal is, I know that she behaves just fine for them at daycare (I asked about it). I have tried time outs, explaining, saying no, I have even spanked over it. I have no idea why she fights the diaper changes, she doesn't have a rash or anything either... but regardless I don't know what I would have done without the changing table. But thats just me.

[MN~Mom]

Don't buy too many bottles right away. You may have to try a few different brands/types. Some babies don't like certain bottles. If you have all Playtex Vent Aires and find out he/she won't use them, you'll be bummed that you spent all that money on something you won't be using.

[sunny mama]

Thanks for all this info. It is really helpful. I saw the thread on Things for Baby, which is quite comprehensive. The problem is that I don't really know what to eliminate from that list. I am a minimalist and I don't like a ton of stuff in the house. Obviously, I know that bottle, clothes, crib are essential items, but some other stuff, I'm not sure about. Now I know that a changing table is a preferential thing. Thanks again.

[ollybgolly]

I agree with Sunny ~ I know I don't want or need a TON of stuff, so it's really nice to hear tried and true from BTDT moms! Thanks ladies!

[Mrs_Brady]

I actually dont have a need for a crib either. I co-sleep from the moment they are born, so no crib is needed. And as for naps or what not, the baby can always sleep on the bed (until it starts rolling), or in the playpen. I may get some sort of bassinet or moses basket though.

What I found invaluable was the bouncy seat!!!! Also, you don't need an expensive diaper bag. What else? Um...you may be STARVING and THIRSTY when breastfeeding at first, so keep snacks and a big thing of water handy.

[lizard]

For a diaper bag, just use the one they give you at the hospital (if they do that where you live). It is big enough to hold everything you would need for a day trip. The only reason I have had to go out and buy another one was that it is a little too small to hold items for multiple children.

As for the changing table, that is all about preference. I find it to be necessary. I have problems with my back, so I found it very nice to have something that was high enough that I didn't have to do any bending to change a diaper. Also, like another poster said, I don't have to worry about my active one rolling around or trying to escape and flinging poop everywhere. It makes it much easier to keep her where I need her.

And, here is a serious one: Don't doubt your parenting skills. Not every baby is the same. So when someone comes on here and posts that their baby is sleeping through the night at 2 months old, don't be discouraged if yours still gets up 5 times a night to eat.

[New Mama]

Hmmm...fun.

Let's see, I disagree with the changing table too. I thought it was GREAT for those in the middle of the night changings in the dark. Just the right height and I could find everything I needed easily. I also used the Diaper Genie and like it because I can toss the diaps and the whole room doesn't smell....like my pantry does when we throw dirty dipes in there! Same with the crib. Nora co-slept with us for about 4 months, but she's used the crib ever since and sleeps like a baby now...finally!

I would have tried harder to put my LO down more often to fall asleep instead of always holding her constantly. I don't "regret" it, but it would be nice not to still be rocking her to sleep as a one year old, and don't get me wrong; I don't mind. It's just that 16 lbs and a year later, she's a lot heavier and it's a lot more time consuming to walk around getting her to fall asleep.

Last thing for me is I wish I would have just trusted my instincts more and not doubted myself and just did the things that worked for DD, DH and me without worrying about what people would think, listening to so much unwanted/unsolicited advice. Every relationship/household is different and you just have to do what works for you. It really all does work out in the end.

[TXMomTimes3]

I wish someone would've just been honest with me upfront instead of making those oohs and aahs about labor. It's like hidden code - moms that I know in person don't dish out the honest truth. I think God makes them forget on purpose.


Sometimes I think ignorance is bliss. : )

Labor is hard work. The first time I pushed and pushed and pushed for 12 hours. Holy cow! Then almost had to have a C-section. By the grace of God literally I found enough energy for that last push and didn't have to go in surgery.

Who knew how SORE I would be immediately and for a week after?

Amen about the soreness from breast feeding. OUCH! OUCH! OUCH! Cream is such a good plan early on.

And I wore those damp hemorrhoid pads for a week, at least. Stock up ladies.

Lastly for the night - it always seems like babies sleep their life away those 1st few months. Ha! I remember vividly a night sitting on the couch with #2 watching some stupid infomercial and crying my eyes out. I had slept maybe 3 hours, she would not sleep w/out me sitting up holding her and I was SO out of energy I felt delusional.

Now - on the flip side - those serene moments with her were priceless. Her little hands so very sweet and soft, and now that she's older she is literally the funniest person I know! Her sister is the sweetest.

It is DEFINITELY worth all the pain and discomfort! (as I remind myself of that everyday this time around)