PolkMoms.com

Okay you seasoned moms; let’s help the new moms to be. What would you buy for a baby and what do you think was a waste of time and money? I found a compilation on AOL that gives a "you can do with out list when expecting a new baby.”

I am not sure if I agree with everything on the list, you all can tell me what you think.

It said to nix the wipe warmer. I guess it is a luxury, but especially if you think you will have more than one baby, I think it is worth it in the long run. My kids love their warm wipes!

Think about it! Moms please add what items you think are a must for a new nursery and what you really can do with out. Give multiple responses on the same item so moms can thumb through this with multiple opinions on the same item. Diaper genies, cloth diapers, playpens etc.

http://shopping.aol.com/baby-nursery?ncid=AOLCOMMshopDY...204801765x1200215418


I would vote (and you guys can disagree) to forgo a baby tub. I had one for Ethan and used it once. It was in the way (I felt like I was tripping over it all the time) and I just liked giving him a bath in my regular tub with less than an inch of water in it. He could lie on his back and wave his arms and legs so cute.

Shawn, this is funny! I was just going to post this exact thing! lol I just read this, when I saw your thread. We LOVED our wipe warmer! It is especially great for having boys, otherwise a shower may ensue.

I just saw your comments about the tub and bath. We used one in our sink with our older son for a bit and with our younger son he was way too big for one really. We used it all of a couple times maybe and then we got one of those suction cup seats that turned around and he enjoyed that.

i have to disagree with you both with the baby bath tubs. i went 2 months giving my new born baths in the tub. i used to sit in the tub and lay her on my legs. then my husband would come and grab her and i would finish my bath. 2 months later my mom gave me a baby bath tub. i loved it. it was in the way a little bit but it was worth it for the convenience for me.

i also had a pack n play that i got no use out of with my first child. but i think with this next one i will use it more, just to give the baby space from the older child.lol.

the wipe warmer i only used it plugged in for like a month then gave up. i still use it but not plugged in.

the one thing i loved is those mesh feeding bags. when brooke was small i put tones of fruit or ice cubes in them and just let her suck it out. i wasn't worried she would choke and she got to eat fresh fruit.

Courtney, you must've miss understood mine.

I used one for our older son in the sink (it folded nicely and was put underneath the sink in a cabinet) and with our younger son he was just too big for it is why it didn't work for us and could sit up completely on his own very early (2 months old), so that is why he went into the seat style one as early as he did.

I think they are good for ease of bathing, wet wiggly babies can be slippery! I liked using ours in the sink because I didn't break my back bending over the tub (I have long standing back problems). And, our sink looks out over the yard and we would draw his attention to things outside. It was a really great bonding time for us. Once into the seat style, we read books and played a lot.

The seat we kept and didn't donate is in our garage because it doubled as a step stool! So, we have gotten use out of it beyond.

I didn't know about the mess bags until after ours were beyond needing something like that. I thought they looked like they'd work well. I am now glad to know someone who actually used them.

We had a pack-n-play, too, it became a toy box. lol I eventually went to donate it at Good Will, who told me they didn't accept those. There was another lady there donating and she stepped right up saying her daughter was due soon and she'd take it!

I gave her the pack-n-play (manual, too), including an old fashioned wooden high chair, bouncy seat, one of those circle seats with the flat bottom that spins around for play with toys all around, a diaper genie (including some bags) and clothing. She was thrilled and I was as much so knowing someone would get use of it all.

Courtney, I think it is great that you stepped in with your baby bath experience. Some new moms may mirror your thoughts or mine. So it is great to get mixed reviews. I love it

I agree on the Play pens/pack and plays. I had a very nice and expensive one with Ethan. I never used it. Some people live and breath by them. For me, there was never a real need to have one. I didnt have one at all for Ryan and Lilly and didn't feel I was missing out.

Come on moms, we need more must haves

I have the bath tub that was giving to me when Felicity was born- we kept it cause we knew we planned on another- jsut didn't plan on 4. lol.. anyhow- it has a baby lay down side as well as a toddler side. We also have one of the suction cup seats that the baby can sit in when he gets bigger.

The wipe warmer- we used it for a month but then got rid of it- it seemed like we'd forget to add a little water to the both and the last like 15 wipes would dry out and be burnt looking.

I do have a pack and play- we have limited space and used it with Bryson for the bassinet then put him in it as if it was a crib- seemed to work just the same and seemed safer as he couldn't get his arms or legs stuck in the crib like the girls did. Not to mention when we go somewhere we can pack it up and take it so the baby has his bed.

We love our swing and little bouncy chair. The bouncy chair that we have is for babies as well as toddlers so its well worth the $30 bucks at Walmart.

We had a bottle rack and never used it- now we just have a plastic basket that we set everything in- Oh and burp clothes- we just use receiving blankets or hand towels- Hand towels seem to work the best- and you can get then for less than you can blankets or burp clothes.

Sorry if I went on--- I'm sure I could still be going... I've learned from kid 1 to 4 that there are a lot of things you can save your money on.

Hi all--
1) I've haven't ever used a wipe warmer with the 2 boys. Can't comment on that one.
2) The pack 'n' play is awesome. We used ours with both boys (and will be using it again for the new one in August). The newborns stayed in the bassinet portion for a couple of months in our room before moving to the nursery. We have used ours a whole bunch. Definitely worth it for us! We don't feel we could have lived without it.
3) The baby tub - a must in our hosue as well. We have one that fits over the sink for when they are brand new. Then we transitioned to the big tub by placing it perpendicular to the tub and the boys could have a bath together. (One in the big tub and one in the baby tub.) Loads of fun! Plan on using it again.
4) A must for us: My Baby Bjorn! My boys traveled everywhere in it. I haven't ever tried the slings, but others swear by those as well. The Bjorn gave you the use of both arms back the little one was still close. We even bought x-long straps for my husband as he used it alot too!
5) Another "can't live without": A baby carrier frame/stroller. I borrowed one with 1st baby and bought one for my 2nd. Plan on using it again. The carrier (I have a graco) pops right of the base in the car right onto the frame of the stroller. I have the graco specific frame. I think the universal one is called a snap and go or something like that. It has a huge basket - an additional +.
6) And - I can't imagine breastfeeding without a Boppy! We also used ours as a prop-up pillow when they were really little.
7) A bouncy seat is a staple in our house. My kids haven't liked the swing, but the bouncy seat was a God-send.

As far as clothes and such, my kids lived in onesies, rompers, and the like. Hats and socks just didn't go over well. Oh - you will need receiving blankets. They double as anything!!

I could go one, but I think I just made a new mom spend ~$500. If I think of more, I will add later!

oh yes the baby car seat/ stroller. i couldn't live without mine when we had a newborn. that carseat carrier fit in everything. it fit perfect on shopping carts, the stroller, some resturants like sweet tomato has a push cart that they fit perfectly on. i think i could go on and on with how useful that is.

everyone i have talked to loves there boppy. i only used mine to help sit the baby up i got it to late to try to breast feed with it.

i also have a swing thats like a 3 in 1 swing. it goes from a vibrating seat to a swing to a rocking chair. we used that thing from day one and our 2 yr old is still using the rocking chair part. she's going to hate when the new baby comes. she will have to give it up.

one more thing i don't know if anyone else felt this way but i would not get a basket for the dishwasher for nipples and such. the couple times i used it the bottle nipples seemed even dirtier when they came out. i always washed them by hand.

I could not live with out as a baby mom was our Fisher-Price Calming vibrations chair. It is great when your baby has reflux they can be sat up, plus my babies always liked to be sat up so they could look around and see the world better.

Ryan and Lilly still love their seat. Courtney you may want to consider getting a new chair for the new baby. I read in an article that older children could resent new babies if you give them items that still frequently use. I decided to buy another chair, Ryan had one and Lilly had one. Ryan loved sitting beside baby sister in his chair. It was almost bonding and sweet for them to have the same chair. It is a long story why I dont have both chairs now (hubby did it) but I wish I still did! Ryan and Lilly fight over the one chair all the time and they are 4 and 2 now. Since they will use them so long, it is worth it to me and if anyone knows of someone with one that wants to offload one, please let me know, because I need one to fend off daily World War III's.

My Must haves:

1-Wipe Warmer! I wasn't sure how big of a difference it would make, but after changing in the hospital without one and then coming home and using it...what a difference! And warm wipes even get paint and mess off of you toddler with less elbow grease.

2- BOPPY! If you are going to breastfeed it is a necessity. Saves your back and arms. It also doubles a good pillow for baby when they are learning to sit up and for tummy time!

3- Baby Tub - not a necessity, but since others mentioned it... I liked being able to put the baby tub on the changing table and getting her at my height. Saved from so much bending and back pain. It also had a cute shower feature that moved to the "big tub" with us.

4- The Microwave Bottle Sanitizer! - you can steam sanitize your bottles and nipples in the microwave! I breastfed mostly so didn't use too many bottles. If I had used more, they would not have fit and then I probably would not have liked it so much.

5- BABY SWING! oh my, what a godsend. I would recommend the ones that switch and rock back and forth and side to side. I had the "Fisher Price Aquarium" one, since we did all fishies, but it was great with lights, mobile, songs, ocean sounds, it really saved me on many nights with the newborn!

That's just a few.

Oh yeah, and I must agree that cutesy clothes and shoes are just not important in the beginning. I had a summer baby and she wore onesies and t-shirts for what seemed like forever.

Shoes and socks were always coming off and she still is not a fan of them at three!

TONS OF BURP CLOTHS - my favorite were cloth diapers.

I also agree that a Baby Swing is a necessity. My boys loved it. Sometimes, it was the only way I could get my youngest to fall asleep.
I never had a wipe warmer, but I think it would have been nice because my oldest one would cry during diaper changes, and we figured out that it was because the wipes were cold - I used to rub the wipes in my hand first to warm them up for him. Also, I do think the baby tubs are very nice to have - I always used them.
I very rarely used the Pack-n-Play. I found it to be a waste of space.

I have a 2 1/2 month old son and I have to say that he loves his baby bath and swing.
I love my pack and play because I take my son to work with me a lot and it is very nice to have something I can pack up and keep at work.
The stroller and carseat (GRACO) is the best! I couldn't live without it.
You should definately get some type of play yard too. My son has one that he can play with on his tummy, without it he screams when you put him on his tummy.