Well the due date is sneaking up on me... and i feel like im not prepared enough... almost like im forgetting something or dont have enough of something... theres really only a few more things that i really need to get.. such as diapers and the bath time stuff.... But do i really have enough of everything else?
[b]How many receiving blankets is enough?
Onesies?
blankets?
Sleepers?
Crib sheets?
Pacifiers? If i chose to use em?
Bottles? just in case?
Anything else you guys can think of that would be good to have on hand or stocked up? Let me know! Thanks ladies!
i found having extra pacifers were a good thing because evry time i turned around i couldnt find one. bibs are good too. dont but to many of one size diaper though they grow so fast! good luck!!!
Im not the best at crib-stuff, because I didnt own one till he was six months old, BUT
onesies, I swear I went through like three a day, and I used recieving blankets for everything., so a whole bunch?
And baby-gowns (just make sure the arent the old ones with the tie string those are dangerous)
And a sling, I would marry my sling if I could.
I never needed to buy newborn diapers, The pack the hospital gave me was enough, then he went right to size ones, so dont overstock on one size because they grow quick.
If you are nursing, a good pump is very useful to have.
a baby monitor
breast pads--i liked the cloth ones best
i second the idea of a sling...so much easier than a baby carrier
i also liked the bouncy seat. i could set him in the middle of the table while i was eating and talk to him.
and mama, stop stressing! I know it's hard not to be freaked out by the impending labor and prospect of caring for a baby when they start to seem so close, but don't forget to enjoy this last bit of pregnancy! I order you to go get your favorite pregnancy snack, put on your comfiest pajamas, and watch a good movie or curl up with a good book. So many of us miss those days of feeling kicks and waddling around, enjoy it! :)
I'm due in 3 weeks and I feel like I'm not prepared either.
I think alot of the clothes and stuff depend on how often you do laundry. I'd suggest atleast a dozen onsies. I've heard that you can go thru quite a few with diaper blow-outs and spit up and stuff. I'd suggest a couple hooded towels. You can wrap the baby right up in them until you get them dressed. My brother is 5 and he still uses the ones he had as a baby, by choice. A pack of cloth diapers are good for burp cloths and cleaning up spit-up. You aren't supposed to use actually blankets on babies because of the SIDS risk. One or two for using on the floor or when going out is all I am planning on. I have about 5 crib sheets, which I think will be plenty.
I do suggest a thermometer and some vasaline. Having a couple packages on wipes on hand is good, too. I won't have to buy any for a long time because most people bought me a pack of them at my baby shower.
You might want stock up on some pads for yourself for after the birth. That way you won't have to go out and buy them the first week if you don't feel like it.
I agree with Julie, enjoy the last bit of your pregnancy.
I would say for diapers about 3 dozen infant prefolds, and about 12 covers, because that breastfed baby poo is runny, and will get on the cover more now than it will later. The infant prefolds are usually good until about 4-6 mos, then you can just switch to the premium size and probably not to have to move up in size again. You will probably want about oh 9 doublers or so. For newborns you don't really need many doublers, because they don't sleep for long so they won't really be in a diaper for that long. I use disposeables when we are out, but only until I get a wet bag.
I would say about 12 onesies, or more depending on how often you want to do laundry. I usually have about 4 cribsheets, and I have a TON of recieveing blankets, like I'd say I have about 48 recieveing blankets, you probably really don't need this many, but I've had 3 kids and they accumulate. They're great for everything, even an emergency diaper (yes I've done this before). They're good bibs, changing pads, spit cloths, towels, ect. You can use them for everything I swear.
something that helped me a ton was a boppy (any type of nursing pillow will be fine) i brought mine to the hospital with me, and im soooo glad i did, we still use it to this day (kiddo just turned 1 last week), it also helped with positioning my daughter after i had my c-section so she could nurse well.
I suggest a lot of onsies as well, you can never go wrong with too many socks either. BUT I think about 6-12 pairs of socks are good b/c they grow out of them fast as well, but I had DS in socks almost everyday. Hats are good also. You shoudl get about 4 pacifiers because they are extremely easy to misplace. I was never comfortable with the pcaifier holder u attach to them b/c it isn't too safe but it does come in handy when u r actually holding, or really watching over baby. As for recieving blankets, I didn't use all of mines really. I guess two or three per bedding item is good... ie. 2 for crib, 2 for bassinet, 2 for playpen =6. What I do suggest are thick blankets for when you go out, maybe 2 or 3. Washcloths were always handy. I had like 4-5 crib sheets, 4-6 baby towels and it was good for me. If u have a washer at home thoough u don't need too much. What I do suggest though is a lil contraption my friend told me about. It's like a curved mat u can use to place baby in after a bath. Like if u take a bath with the baby u can place him in the mat when u need to get out... she said it was extremely helpful when her daughter was an infant.
How many receiving blankets is enough? I didn't really use em so a couple?
Onesies? 12 at least and 1 or 2 preemie outfits (you can always return them later if your babe is big)
blankets? 5-6
Sleepers? 5-6
Crib sheets? I never used my crib so the same sheet is on it as when I set it up- lol
Pacifiers? If i chose to use em? If you are going to breastfeed- no- don't have them in the house- they are tempting to use and can cause problems with your baby's latch. Wait until he/she is at least 6 weeks old before introducing them
Bottles? just in case? NO, no and, no. I wouldn't have bottles or formula in the house if you are going to breastfeed. It interfers with breastfeeding- formula comanies know this and that's why you'll get free samples. I gave mine away. It takes time for you and baby to get the hang of nursing. There will be frequency days where that is ALL your baby will want to do is nurse- it's very tempting to give them a bottle of formula. I would eliminate the temptaion of formula and bottles entirely.
Anything else you guys can think of that would be good to have on hand or stocked up? CLOTH DIAPERS I agree with AW- get 3 dozen infant prefolds and 4-5 covers and if you decide not to use em- you can sell em. Most moms discover if you have access to a washer/dryer clthis much easier. If you are breastfeeding you don't have to rinse poop off until your baby starts on solids.
I STILL don't rinse poop off even though Kayla gets mostly formula. Never have rinsed it and probably never will. It all comes out in the pre-rinse. Now if it's a turd I will dump it in the toilet, and Kayla has had turds before because of chronic constipation, but thats a whole nother story.
SOCKS! I still loose them all the time, and at that age, they just kick them off-- in the grocery store, on walks, I would go through a pair or two a day (but I'm a bit disorganized as well).
I would second the no pacifiers. Zoe didn't use one until she was 1.5, and then it was only because our roommates baby used them and she wanted to as well. But, if you can avoid it, that's great!
Are you cloth diapering, or regular diapers? I would stock up on them, which ever you're doing.
Bibs or burp clothes, Andrew has always used them and especially when he started teething(4 months) he always had one on.
Dont overload on recieving blankets. I did and had about 30 and at a time maybe used 3-4. So maybe just get a dozen or even less.
Kell-I did the same thing, i had a ton of recieving blankets but he didnt like to get swaddled after the 1st week!
I second the onsies! They poop on them all the time. I had a swing, and it worked wonders. Whenever he was fussy he would fall asleep in the swing. It was great. Um... i dont know if you already have one of these, but a head rest for in the car seat, cloth diapers, (even if your using disposables, they can be used for wiping up spit up) a boppy is great, i got a few of those pads that you can put under them when changing or sleeping so if they poop or pee sometimes you dont have to change the sheets you can just get a new pad, um... thats all i can think of right now, if i think of more i will let you know! Also, listen to Julie she knows what she is talking about. If you end up forgeting something, you can always send someone to the store. DONT WORRY!! :D
I'm due in about a month and was wondering the same things...my sister in law has a three month old and the thing that she swears by is the vibrating bouncy chair- it stops her crying and puts her right to sleep. It plays obnoxious new age music, too, but that can be turned off.=) Good luck to all you other expectant mamas.