Question #1- Do you have a preference or opinion about foam vs spring crib mattresses?
Question #2- What brand of diapers did you use for your newborn? How many newborn size diapers would you start out with?
Question #3- I plan on breastfeeding (not that things always go as planned), but what feeding products/materials do I need to have on hand? Do I need to have formula and those things anyway?
That's all for now. Not that those are my only questions, but I'll spread them out over the next few weeks.
THANK YOU! I really appreciate your words of wisdom!
7 comments:
Julie!
Keep sending the questions. I had a million that I asked all my close friends before Shi came along.
So, answer 1: Shiloh has a spring mattress. (we don't have a preference. It just looks comfortable.)
Answer 2: Cheapest brand... Parent's Choice :) If I remember right, she went through probably 6-8 diapers a day when she was first born... for a while.
Answer 3: A good breastfeeding pump (electric, double capacity ;); good bottles (I used the bottles that don't require bags, but many moms like the bags); burp cloths (I swear by the cloth diapers... they're meant for diapers, but you use them as burp cloths... they're super thick and absorb so well. You find them everywhere. They come in 10s or 12s I think); also need a great hooder hider--they come in cool colors now (I had the one with a rim at the top to be able to look at her while feeding ;).
... I know you only asked three questions, but I thought I would tell you what I couldn't (or can't) live without as a mom:
- baby car mirror (that allows you to see the baby when you drive)
- video monitor
- baby wrap (we used--and continue to--it all the time! a real lifesaver. Shi slept in there all the time)
- (hooder hider and burp cloths as previously mentioned)
- itzbeen timer (because i'm type A...:)
Annie xoxo
#1-no opinion. I believe that babies like to be as comfortable as us big kids,.. so get whatever is more squishy.
#2-Pampers. I LOVE the swaddlers for newborns. They are soft on their precious new skin and there is a yellow strip down the front that changes color when the diaper gets wet,.. it makes it pretty easy.
#3-I needed LOTS AND LOTS of Breast Pads,.. when your milk comes in,.. watch out! I used the Lansinoh and I loved them. I didn't feel like you could see them through my shirts. Also,.. a good pump. If you want to do mostly full time breast feeding,.. just get a little hand pump for when you are super engorged or want to leave for an hour or so,... The electric ones are expensive and if you plan on doing it full time,.. why spend the extra money!? I always had one little container,.. but they will give you some at the hospital if you ask for it.
DEFFINATLY get a hooter hider,.. here is a good website for cute ones for only $10
www.undercovers.com Promo code: Christmas
You are just going to be the cutest little mommy! I can't wait to see this baby!!
Ok...not that i am a pro...but here is what i think
#1 - we got a cheap-ish mattress and put a foam pad on it...all the kids seem to like it just fine
#2 - even though they are the most expensive, my favs are the pampers swaddlers because they are very cloth-like and soft and it just feels good to put them on. on the practical side...unless you babe has very sensitive skin or is prone to diaper rash, the cheapest brand are the best (why buy the most expensive just to poop in??) if you have a "hrncirik"-sized baby...they usually stay in the newborn size for about 3 jumbo packs of diapers...2-3 weeks. for example...all of my babes were 13 lbs (at least) by 1 month so well into size 1
#3 - boppy (nursing pillow) you can totally borrow mine if you want (i also have 3 covers for it), nursing pads are a must....i agree with your friend...the lansinoh ones i gave you are the absolute best, burp clothes...my favs are also the cloth diapers and they are really the only ones i have found that work if you have a barfer, i have a double electric pump you can borrow if you'd like (old but barely used, i'm just too lazy to breast feed and pump), and i have a plain pink hooter hider you can have if you want it (a must), the hospital always gives you formula samples which will be there in an emergency so i wouldn't bother (i also have a stash if you want it)...also, i had a little boob issue and bought this $50 nipple cream from a compounding pharmacy that cures just about anything...you are welcome to that just in case also!
i can't wait for her to arrive...what if she is 12 lbs??? so cute, little butter ball!
one more thing - i recommend having a big package of "diapers" for yourself...most women bleed for 3-6 weeks after birth and you can't wear tampons (even if you wanted to). you will want thick and long (ones you wouldn't normally buy) and some underwear to strap them to...larger than your normal size or it will be depressing...i got 2 sized bigger and they were still tight!
Hey Julie! Everything that has been said is what I would have said:
Mattress: we used a spring, but I have no preference
Diapers: Pampers Swaddlers for the first couple of months. If you want to save money and your baby's skin isn't super sensitive, my favorite "cheap" brand is Luvs. We usually get the big box of Huggies at Costco.
Feeding: I always wished I would have spent the couple $100 and got myself a good pump. I just kept buying the cheap ones and ended up spending as much for those as I would have for one good one. It is so nice to have some milk stored in the freezer for times when you need a break or you can't be there to feed the baby.
All the other advice that was given is what I would say as well. One thing I WISH I would have known for all my children is how to put them to sleep. With my first two, I was just clueless and didn't realize that there was a way to train children how to sleep on their own. I just thought they were born good or bad sleepers. Granite, some are better than others, but still, you can train a baby to sleep well. I know that now (sigh). With Ellie, I started to figure it out and she was my best sleeper. Matthew, on the other hand, has been extremely difficult, partly because he's stubborn, but mostly because I've been soooo busy with the other three and it has messed up his sleep schedule. We are just in the middle of trying to retrain him and it is not fun, believe me. The best books I've found are Happy Sleep Habits, Happy Baby and The Baby Whisperer. They both offer advice that compliments the other and helped me understand the whole process.
Anyway, sorry for the novel. I wish I had received any advice as a new mother. You are going to be a pro, Jules. No worries.
Hey Julie! Same advice on most stuff as everyone has said. For the diapers, Jane had so many blowouts that we switched to huggies and it helped. I just got sick of her clothes being STAINED!
We are so excited!!
i TOTALLY feel you on the worries... today was a bad day thinking i had diabetes... still won't know until Thursday. they said it was high. but of course no one told me i shouldn't eat many carbs the day before. anyway, for a few baby tips like these, my input is through my sister's blog (click on Nat & Jeff). She has a few top items! Glad your baby is growing fast.. mine too! Ahead of schedule! =)
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