I decided to compose my top 5 Must-Haves for expectant parents. I bought a lot of stuff when I was expecting my eldest and while some were lifesavers, some things were hardly used.
Top 5 Must-Haves:
1. Sling/Baby Bjorn - The baby bjorn saved me with both girls (especially my eldest). Ainsley would only sleep during the day in the baby bjorn for the first few weeks and when I had Juliet, I needed my hands free. My advice would be to wait until your baby is born and then pick out which carrier your baby prefers. I bought a sling for Juliet and she hated it so I sold it.
2. Breastfeeding pillow - if you are going to breastfeed, a good pillow is essential for saving your back. I started with a jolly jumper pillow which was too soft. My Brest Friend was fantastic. It gave me great support and was very firm.
3. Baby's First Journal - now I know this is my product but a journal to log your newborn's feeds, sleeps and diapers is essential for the first few months. I would have been lost without this. It definitely, helped me get to know my daughters' needs quickly.
4. A good diaper cream - even for kids with the best skin, a diaper rash is sure to appear at some point. The best cream I found is A&D Cream which is not sold in Canada. I actually make the trip to the US periodically and buy tons as I have found nothing else that works quite as effectively.
5. Large Receiving blankets - Swaddling your child in small receiving blankets is impossible. I actually made my own 1 meter by 1meter and it was the perfect size. This didn't cost much. I just went to a fabric store. You can buy larger swaddling blankets in stores but you have to look out for them.
Now for the Top 5 Biggest Wastes of money (for me):
1. The Swing - borrow one if you want to try it, neither of my girls liked it
2. Bumbo Chair - neither daughter like it - another one to borrow
3. Cradle - We bought a pack n'play which is very useful so we could have just used this instead of the cradle
4. Burp clothes - my girls did not spit up - they threw up - A folded up receiving blanket will do just as well and even better for the big spit ups
5. Bottling supplies - we bought all the bottle paraphenalia and had at least a dozen bottles, but them my eldest didn't take the bottle - my advice is to buy a few bottles and then if you child will take the bottle then invest in more
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ReplyDeleteJust wandering in from the MBC. It's nice to "meet" you!
ReplyDelete(BTW, I'm now following you!)
=)
Funny, I could not have lived without our Bumbo. Maia looooooved it!
ReplyDeleteThe first time I put Juliet in it she looked at me like I was nuts. The 2nd time she started screaming. I tried it one more time after that with the same result and gave up.
ReplyDeleteAinsley was not quite as angry but would only last for about 2 minutes. She started sitting by herself very early anyway.
I advise to borrow one first and make sure your baby likes it before spending the money.