Calling All Moms - You Gotta Help Me

Denise, thanks!  I actually thought the diapers would cost more, but what do I know??? 

I have a feeling that the Amazon cart is going to get a big workout over the next year...

Most of the things on the market today didn't even exist when I had mine, but I'd have to say the one thing that was absolutely a must for me was a nice comfy rocking chair ... a nice upholstered one with big arms and a high back.  Maybe a Lazy Boy recliner/rocker.

Joyce

denise m

I was going to say the same thing. Young parents can always save and budget (or forgo) for the frills but you always need to buy diapers.

Au contraire!

Re-useable nappies are a cheaper option long term, and they aren't as cumbersome and hideous as they used to be!

There's plenty of info on the web if they are interested in making the saving.... this is just the first link I pulled up:

http://www.bubhub.com.au/info/articles/eco-friendly/reuseable_modern_cloth_nappies_the_planet-friendly_alternative_to_disposable_nappies.shtml

Something I hope to invest in for next time is a sling, so I can wear my baby some of the time....  I did have a carrier type thing for Will and he loved it!  But it was quite cumbersome and I found it tricky to get the hang of when I was by myself, with all the straps and things.  It was generally something we only used when we went out for the day and didn't want to be encumbered with a pushchair.  I'd like to have one just to wear at home.... There is almost nothing nice than a newborn baby snuggled against you, happy to snooze, or watch you do housework, while you potter about doing daily chores or what have you.

I made a hamper-type thing for one of norms cousins when they were expecting.  I just got a big box and when I did my weekly shop, I added a couple of baby items that were on offer.  Sometimes when I was out and saw a bargain I'd pick it up.  By the time the baby was born, I'd collected quite a bit of "stuff"....  A couple of t-shirts, a silver photo frame, a gro-bag, a pack of muslins, a little hat and a pair of scratch mitts, some talc, baby bath bubbles, shampoo, nappy cream, a little thermometer, some dry hairspray and antibac hand gel for mum and some of the things you don't want to discover you need at 2am.... teething gel, Calpol, gripe water....  It worked out just a few ££ a week for me and they said it was the best present they had.  I also leant them my TENS for use during labour and she said it was a LIFE SAVER!

Out of all the things I had when I had Will, the best money I spent was on a pack of muslins.  They are soft and absorbent, great for using as bibs or just to mop up spills, leaks and spit-up... and they wash up pretty good too.  The best gift I had was a set of about a dozen babygros (onesies?), all in white or cream.  I used and used and used them!

Chuffy

Re-useable nappies are a cheaper option long term, and they aren't as cumbersome and hideous as they used to be

Well Chuffy you are going to have to convince me on reusuable diapers. LO! I tried using nappies for my !st. He was always wet and would wake up at night needing a change, especially as he got bigger and consumed more milk. One pee and off they came usually along with his sleepers and what ever bedding he was lying on. They did make wonderful dust rags and burp clothes however. 

 I have no idea as I haven't used them, so I am not the one to convince you - just throwing it out there for consideration if the cost of disposable nappies is an issue.

As far as I can make out, there's 2 parts to the nappy.... the outer part, which is waterproof (protecting the clothes or bedding) and fastened with velcro or something, and then the liner, which is absorbent and flushable and goes down the loo with the waste.  Then you can get "boosters" to go in the nappy, for extra absorbency at night.  Does that sound like the nappies you used?  I know my sister used "reusaebles" (ie. terry towels and safety pins) with her eldest and they were a complete nightmare and not like the ones available now at all.... but they did get used for mopping up all kinds of baby spillage for ages afterwards, so it was money well spent I suppose! 

When I had mine, disposable diapers were totally useless.  I didn't have a washer or dryer so my mom got me a diaper service for a year.  I remember they were prefolded with a nice thick area down the middle.  All I did was rinse the dirty ones and put them in a diaper pail that went out on the front porch every Moday.  The diaper service came by, picked up the dirty ones and left me a bundle of nice clean ones. At the time, I don't think the diaper service was any more costly than buying disposables.

Joyce

 Ugh, I remember my kids waking up and being soaked up to the neck in spite of rubber pants.  That was really miserable in the winter.  Disposables were just coming out, but expensive, however I bit the bullet and bought them anyways.  Best invention ever!

Congrats!!!!!!  Being Grandma is the greatest!  I have 7 ages 2 to 19. 

My daughter and daughter in law loved their Pack n Play.   I spent the first 4 days alone with my 3 year old when she was born as her Mom had to go bck to the hospital very sick, my son stayed with her at the hospital and my sweet Addison was stuck w/ me :).  

The thing I loved the most was a Cuddle U see below.

They didnt have this stuff when mine were born but this was the best thing.  You wouldnt think a 6lb baby wouldnt  get heavy but they do

 Ya, I loved my boppy pillow.  It was wonderful especially on those nights when my eyes would close of their own free will during 2 am feedings.  I didn't have to worry about dropping Kelci. 

I used cloth diapers for a bit with Kali.  We didn't have any issues with leaking really.  They've come a long way, and for some babies, its really the best way to go for sensitive skin issues.  One of our old members, Liv, used to make her own I think, and her babies wore them.  The biggest issue I had was having to do laundry every 2 days.  Perhaps I didn't have enough, because I only had enough to last about a day and a half and then I had to do another load, which wouldn't have been bad, but at the time I lived in a 3 floor townhouse, and the changing area was upstairs and laundry was in the basement, so I got lazy.  Now I would use them for Kelci, but she's in daycare, and they don't "do" cloth at daycare, not that I blame them.  And to do it just for the weekends seems silly to me.

 As the mom/step mom of 6 and now nanny to my 7 month old niece, the pack and play is the best thing. Of everything they have brought down that is the most used item.

 Most of the moms I'm talking to here are lovin' the pack and play.  Are there different brands?

One of the families I used to babysit for used cloth diapers.  She also made her own baby wipes.  The diaper did not soak the clothes or bedding as I recall.  The baby wore these rubbery panties over the cloth diaper.  My main gripe was removing the diaper pins.  When it's wet they are hard to pull out and I was always afraid it would scrape or stick the baby!  I didn't know how to fold them so if I had to do a change I was allowed to put a disposable diaper back on.

I might try it someday, I guess it depends on what the cost is to wash and sanitize them.

All great idea's. And big Congratulations.

Here is mine. Check out the first 3 items.

http://www.mypreciouskid.com/home-safety.html

I was told you can never have to many receiving blankets. And the cloth diapers make great burping towels.

 There are lots of different brands of Pack n Plays.  And most of them are good.  Ours is Eddie Bauer and I got it at a garage sale for like 10 bucks I think.  Best money I ever spent!

I would instead watch for features.  Mine has a basinet feature, which I think most do.  with mine that just means the floor of it raises to the mid point, for easier access to the baby.  But some have an actual basinet that go across and sort of cradle the baby.  Some have change tables built in.  Mine has a top, which I found nice for taking it outside in the summer.  It made for a nice shady play to keep Kelci when she was teeny(she was an August baby).  Some have mobiles, or storage pockets, vibration, you name it, they've made it.  LOL.  

Liesje

My main gripe was removing the diaper pins.  When it's wet they are hard to pull out and I was always afraid it would scrape or stick the baby!

Most modern ones have velcro or poppers