[Resi]

I thought I would make a list of things that I could have done without. Either they were not used much, Oliver didn't like it, or I bought to many.

Co-Sleeper/Bassinet - only used it about 2 weeks.
Pack N Play - have not used it much at all
Swing - he never has liked it much
Infant Bathtub - he didn't like it and it is easier to bring him in the bath with me
Blankets - I have way too many. I could have gotten away with 4-6
Bottles - Too many different kinds. We only use one brand. 4 is enough
0-3 month sized clothes - This is what I got a lot of and he outgrew them fast.
Changing table - I never got one and never would have used it much.
Bumbo - I only used it maybe 5-10 times and didn't think it was worth it.

Now for a list of things I could not live without:

Bouncy/vibrating chair! He fell asleep in it all the time. I put him in it when I take a shower and set him right next to the tub.
Cloth Diaper Covers - BEST investment ever.
Pacifer - I only had two to start. Now I have 3.
Pump In Style Breast Pump - It's the best for working moms!
Medela Micro Steam Bag - These save so much time at work for cleaning the pump parts.
Breatmilk Storage Bottles & bags for freezing milk - I have about 16 bottles and I wouldn't have less. They all attach to my pump. I use the bags when freezing milk.
Glider Chair - I use this several times each day. So does Damon.
Moblie - Oliver loves looking at his.
Camcorder - A camera is great but a camcorder catches so many memories a camera doesn't.

I'm sure there are more but those are the big ones for me. What about other moms out there?

[thepinkleprechaun]

I have to disagree on the swing, we use ours ALL the time! I think it depends on the baby though, but it always calms him down even when he's really cranky.

And I couldn't live without my changing table, but it's where we keep all the cloth diapers! I have them organized in bins on the shelves underneath. I also have drawers with the kids clothes in them next to it, as well as a hamper for dirty clothes, a wetbag for dirty dipes and a diaper genie for wipes!

Totally agree on the Pump in Style, awesome pump! A must have if you have to go back to work especially, and totally worth the money.

Also agree on the bumbo, we don't use ours either.

I couldn't live without the boppy pillow, love it for breastfeeding and Phin likes to lay in it and sleep in it.

[ANGWife]

I'm interested in seeing what you BTDT mommies say. But I think alot of it has to do with parenting styles as well.

[Resi]

Yes. It's all about what each baby likes and how each Mommy parents.

Yes yes I love this!!! More more more. Come on BTDT us new mommies need all the great info we can get!!

[szczepanski]

No kidding...I am completely clueless. Walking down the baby aisle makes me hyperventilate.

[**Jenn**]

What I could do without:
I've never used a changing table. I personally don't like them and prefer to lay down a cloth diaper or a changing pad on the couch, floor, bed or wherever.

Our swing didn't get much use at all with either of the boys. Neither did the bouncy seat. They much preferred to be held.

Pacifiers--they both hated them and would never take one.

They both HATED the bumbo too.

The pack n play hasn't gotten hardly any use either.

I also have too many blankets. Most are/were too small to really use but they do make great burp cloths. The waffle weave receiving blankets are my favorite and thats really all we used for them.

My must haves are:
My Medela PIS was great til the diaphragm cap ripped and now it doesn't work. I don't know what I'm going to do when we have our next baby because I can't get squat out with a manual pump.

The exersaucer!!!! They both LOVED the exersaucer from about 4 months til they outgrew it. Total life saver!

My sling. I so wish I had one with Liam.

My boppy. I still use it for early morning nursings on the left side.

My glider. Still gets used every day.



I actually made the mistake of not getting hardly any newborn clothes when I was pregnant with Liam. Everyone told me that he would grow out of the within a week and not to bother. Liam was a slow weight gainer (he was almost 5 weeks old before he was back up to his birthweight--7lbs 5oz) and I had to run out to the store when he was a couple weeks old to buy clothes for him. Even Lochlann was a pound heavier than Liam when he was born and regained his birthweight in 2 weeks but he still wore newborn clothes for at least a month. It's a staple I won't go without again!

And you can never have too many onesies!

[misfitinmn]

We could have done without:
The bumbo/bebepod chair...he just hated it!
many, many, many of the 0-3 month stuff - so cute, so tiny
we could have done without about half of the towels/washclothes that we have
bassinet - he didn't sleep in our room nearly as long as I thought he would, our sleep styles just don't mesh!

We have used these things extensively:
SWING! He wouldn't nap anywhere else for the first probably 4 months of his life!
Bouncy seat - calmed him down and allowed us to put him down to grab a bite to eat once in awhile
Boppy pillow - we still use this sometimes
Changing table - I like having everything in one place, and do the majority of his changes there.
Jumperoo - once he figured out how to bounce in it, it entertained him for quite awhile!
Motrin - to ease the teething!
My pump-in-style
The rainforest soother in his crib, helped him get used to naps in there!

I guess we actually used a lot of the "stuff"!

[Kerysma]

What we didn't use:

Baby bathtub, but then I didn't buy one either because I knew I wouldn't use it.

Pacifiers, she took soothies for a couple of months but it was hit or miss and now it just ticks her off if you even try to give her one.

Swing AND bouncy vibrating chair, she hated BOTH of them, sigh. I even went the "nothings too good for my baby" route and bought the Graco Sweetpeace. No go.

Designer burp clothes. I knew better, but I bought the fancy ones anyways, and of course, I was right. Just get the cheap cloth diaper packs, it works so much better.

Crib bumper pads and matching comforter. Another two things I knew better about, but I couldn't stop myself from buying. Granted, I have some cute pictures of her room all done up, but that doesn't change the fact that from the day she came home from the hospital it's been packed away in a tote in the garage.

Nursing tops/pajamas/bras. I am back to wearing my regular clothes/bras/pj's. The only change I have made is I no longer wear shirts that are so tight they cannot be pulled down a bit to nurse in. I think that was only 1 item in my closet. I spent a fortune on nursing bras and while they were pretty, they weren't as comfy as my underwire bra's, they didn't give me fabu-boobs and man it got boring wearing the same 4 bras over and over again.

Couldn't live without:
Bumbo- I put her in it every single day on the bathroom counter in front of the mirror to do her hair. She loves looking at "The baby in the mirror" and I can get her hair done in no time.(before that I thought they were a stupid waste of money).

Playmat/gym thingy- she was very entertained at two-four months with this

Nursing cover- Good lord what a lifesaver! Ivy has a huge tendancy to grab the cover and try and pull it off, thanks to the neckstrap, she can't.

A good digital camera-there are like, 3 pictures of me as a baby, Ivy will not be having this problem(by a long shot)

Shopping cart cover- I really thought this was overboard but I actually use it on a daily basis, since she is so tiny it holds her in and if she DOES slip a bit it cushions her so she doesn't get hurt.

3-6 month size clothing- shockingly she is STILL in 3-6 month size, I actually had to toss a pair of her jeans because she wore a hole through the knee! How insane is that? She even has a couple stuff still in 0-3 month size she can wear.

Highend socks- she used to go through socks like she was eating them, wash them twice and they looked awful, all pilled up and elastic coming out. I even had that issue with Baby Gap socks! Now I strictly use the Gymboree kind with the bow on the back, they might be $10 for three pairs but they last wash after wash looking brand new.

Simple, $3 stacking cups. HOURS of entertainment.

Maclaren Volo-at only 8.6lbs and it folds up tiny, it is super convenient to just keep in the car, plus its the only one I liked that worked for me since im so tall.

Britax Marathon-Cowmooflage print makes me smile inside every time I see it and Ivy loves how comfortable it is, I love how safe it is.

Serena & Lily Market Sling- its sooo pretty! not to mention comfortable, and convenient, but really I recomend any sling/moby wrap/ergo carrier. Babywearing is how I get the house cleaned.

Twilight Ladybug- this absolutely fascinates Ivy. The first time I turned it on when she was five months old she actually giggled!

[ScottishBrit]

Melissa the Volo Is ok for you? We are looking to get the most expensive one only cause it's the only one with Adjustable handles and since DH is so tall he wants it, that's another reason we had to forgo the travel sytem and go for a higher end stroller.

CAN DO WITHOUT'S......
Bouncey
Bumbo
Travel System
Playtex Drop In's ( I swear your always running out of inserts and having to go to the store to get them )
Too many blankets
We got 3 first aid kit's...I still haven;t used anything in there.
Designer burp cloth's, the cheapies work so much better!
Shoes, she has so many she never wore



COULDN'T LIVE WITHOUT.....
Boppy
Pump
Swaddling blanket ( Miracle wrap, Jess was right it's the best!!! )
Glider
Pack and Play ( she's been in It for about a month now and off and on for a few months before )
Monitors ( only cause we have 2 storys )
Swing
GAS DROPS!!!!!
We actually could have done with more NB or Preemie clothing. She's still in some of her 3-6 and 6 month clothes. 9 months are big on her.
Socks, even thought Im still trying to find some that really stay on her feet.

[Frozendesire]

Must haves:

Boppy pillow is really nice actually, I never had one with Curtis but I now know they are great to have!! He sleeps on it, plays on it, and feeds on it!

Bouncer/play mat - it's nice for them to have something to entertain them when they are still too small for an excersaucer/jumperoo especially when you are on your second little one!

Moby wrap - ugh this is just a life saver!!! I can get so much done and shopping with it is SO nice. He is fine in it for ALONG time, hours!! Unlike in the uncomfy stroller or carseat (obviously I mean in the carseat outside of the car haha I do not use the moby in the car while driving). I also love using it when I take the boys out to play, then I have free hands to play with Curtis and I still have Dustin all snuggly warm and close They both get great bonding time.

Bumbo - I actually love mine. I rather use that when they are small for the first few feedings... I find it nicer then the big highchair when they are small. Also will be nice to have him in there and on the floor playing with us.

Jumperoo - I know this will come in handy, it sure did with Curtis!! He loved it. They can watch every one around them and play with the toys and jump.

Humidifier - man my little guy has the most stuffed up, dry nose. There is always something going on with his little nose and it can keep him up at night.. well it did until we got a humidifier, now he sleeps from 9 - 4ish. I couldn't be happier haha

Big blankets - just a few are nice to have. To lay on the floor so baby can play on there. I also lay one on our bed and use that to change him on. Also handy for where we live since it's always raining and we can drap them over the carseat when we are going from car to house and vice versa. (These my MIL made for me, nice large think flannel blankets)

I think that's it. Those, diapers, wipes, and a baby bathtub and I'm set!!!

My must haves are:
Infacol drops (colic medicine)
bouncy chair - she adores it!!
boppy
cot mobile
changing table (mine lays across the cot)
pram system
sling
breast pads

Do without (not much so far!):
swing

[ANGWife]

Originally Posted by szczepanski

No kidding...I am completely clueless. Walking down the baby aisle makes me hyperventilate.

Don't worry. That use to be me. But it's fun to get baby stuff now haha

[**jessie**]

This is SO helpful! Thank you all for taking the time to write this out- I am definitely printing off this list for later use.

I'm glad so many of you like the Medela In-Style. I found one on sale off of ebay and went ahead and bought it, even though it was still expensive. I will also be sure to get some small/preemie outfits- both me and hubby were small babies ourselves so I'm sure those will come in handy.

[Resi]

Originally Posted by **Jenn**

What I could do without:
I've never used a changing table. I personally don't like them and prefer to lay down a cloth diaper or a changing pad on the couch, floor, bed or wherever.

Our swing didn't get much use at all with either of the boys. Neither did the bouncy seat. They much preferred to be held.

Pacifiers--they both hated them and would never take one.

They both HATED the bumbo too.

The pack n play hasn't gotten hardly any use either.

I also have too many blankets. Most are/were too small to really use but they do make great burp cloths. The waffle weave receiving blankets are my favorite and thats really all we used for them.

My must haves are:
My Medela PIS was great til the diaphragm cap ripped and now it doesn't work. I don't know what I'm going to do when we have our next baby because I can't get squat out with a manual pump.

The exersaucer!!!! They both LOVED the exersaucer from about 4 months til they outgrew it. Total life saver!

My sling. I so wish I had one with Liam.

My boppy. I still use it for early morning nursings on the left side.

My glider. Still gets used every day.



I actually made the mistake of not getting hardly any newborn clothes when I was pregnant with Liam. Everyone told me that he would grow out of the within a week and not to bother. Liam was a slow weight gainer (he was almost 5 weeks old before he was back up to his birthweight--7lbs 5oz) and I had to run out to the store when he was a couple weeks old to buy clothes for him. Even Lochlann was a pound heavier than Liam when he was born and regained his birthweight in 2 weeks but he still wore newborn clothes for at least a month. It's a staple I won't go without again!

And you can never have too many onesies!

I love our exersaucer too. It seems to be one of his favorite toys. Also love our Bjorn. I thought I would hate it but it's the only carrier/sling he would go for.

[**Jenn**]

Wanted to add another must have for me was their baby bath tub. I see a lot of ladies here never used it but until they could sit on their own unassisted that's what we used. They both really loved it and Liam actually didn't even want to transition to the big tub for a while. I have one with a newborn hammock for it and love that feature as well. But then again, I'm not good bathing a baby one handed so it's a must have for me.

[Resi]

For those who plan on buying a Pump In Style go to http://www.bestbuybaby.com/me20puinstad.html You have to call to get the price and order. I got mine for $200. I saved $80!

[thepinkleprechaun]

Originally Posted by **Jenn**

Wanted to add another must have for me was their baby bath tub. I see a lot of ladies here never used it but until they could sit on their own unassisted that's what we used. They both really loved it and Liam actually didn't even want to transition to the big tub for a while. I have one with a newborn hammock for it and love that feature as well. But then again, I'm not good bathing a baby one handed so it's a must have for me.

Phin loves his infant bathtub too! He just lays in it and kicks his arms and legs around, he loves being in the water
I also hate taking baths, I'm a shower person.

[IamMom]

Great Idea Resi - every baby is different and unfortunately sometimes you won't learn until after you learn your baby what was needed and what wasn't. I have updated what Resi listed for what we needed and didn't based on our life style and my baby's personality:

Co-Sleeper/Bassinet - never got one - would have never used.
Pack N Play - used it for him to sleep in his first 3 months - still used it after to go on trips for him to sleep in at hotels and staying at others homes. Never used it as a playpen or anything.
Swing - my son LOVED the swing - we used it all the time - however we had one of those small travel side ones so it didn't take up alot of room and I could move it around the house with me easily with him in it - almost like a car seat!
Infant Bathtub - DS Loved the tub - we used it until he got to be really good with sitting on his own in the big tub. We got one that had a sling type thing for him to lay on and then a little seat thing for when he could sit up but not real good - it was fabulous! We'd put it in the big tub and give him baths that way - it got him used to the big tub - he still takes baths every night - loves the bath!!!
Blankets - I have way too many. I could have gotten away with 4-6 DITTO!
Bottles - we only got one kind but we also got way too many! Maybe 4 of each size (our kind had 3 sizes).
0-3 month sized clothes - Harrison was small - we used 3 months clothes for a while...but we never used some that were the wrong season - if you know the clothes are the wrong season return them - I stupidly somehow thought I would use them b/c they were cute.
Changing table - Used ours often but could have gotten away without it....
Bumbo - Never got one - probably wouldn't have used it anyway



Bouncy/vibrating chair! LOVED it!!!
Cloth Diaper Covers - No way I don't have the patience or time for washing all these diapers.
Pacifer - My son never took a pacifier after about 3 weeks, he never needed it really either. and I had soooo many. Buy a few and see if your child even likes or needs them.
Pump In Style Breast Pump - The pump never worked for me - I shouldn't have bought one - just rented it. I didn't get much ever by pumping.
Medela Micro Steam Bag - see above didn't use
Breatmilk Storage Bottles & bags for freezing milk - see above didn't use
Glider Chair - We used the chair for DS up until he moved into the big boy bed.
Moblie - Had one and it was just for looks - DS didn't care about it....I won't be getting one for this baby.
Camcorder - A camcorder catches so many memories a camera doesn't. DITTO

Here are a couple more things I liked having or seemed to always need more of or didn't like and will do different:

Jumperoo (over a walker)...Harrison loved this.
Several bottles brushes - I seemed to go thru them fast
Tons of burp clothes - I went thru tons a day while nursing and had to keep buying more - cathcing spraying milk (HE HE HE)
Sleep sacks - for sleeping in at night - worked better than swaddling DS didn't like swaddling
Umbrella stroller - great for when he could hold his head up, we'd just throw it in the car instead of hauling the bulky stroller!
Baby videos - DS never seemed to be into them - like Baby Einstein
Snugli - hated it - we used it like 2 x - I'm hoping that having a better model this time will make it more useable and comfortable to carry baby!
Tummy time mat - never got one but will probably get one this time around.

[~*Bethy*~]

Co-Sleeper/Bassinet - Never had one
Pack N Play - We use ours everyday for naptime
Swing - Couldnt live without this - thank god this thing plugged into the wall!! Colicky baby + upright swing = peace for momma LOL!
Infant Bathtub - Never used one
Blankets - Never too many blankets.
Bottles - We only used one kind, playtex nurser with inserts.
0-3 month sized clothes - Depends on the child - Ian grew out quick, Morgan was in 0-3 till she was about 5-6 months!
Changing table - I never got one and never would have used it much. <~~ditto
Bumbo - Never had one

Bouncy/vibrating chair - eh she liked her cradle swing better!!
Cloth Diaper Covers - Never used them
Pacifer - She is still on them
Pump In Style Breast Pump - I didnt use the breast pump much
Medela Micro Steam Bag - never used them
Breatmilk Storage Bottles & bags for freezing milk -Again never used them
Glider Chair - Never had one
Mobile - never had one either
Camcorder - ubnfortunatly we never had one till just recently, its built into my D90. But that hasent stopped me from getting some GREAT pictures over the years.

Anywho thats my 2 cents on what I used and didnt use