Having just birthed my first child, I have been subject to this phenomenon. There have been few people along the way to offer guidance. Mom: "Oh, it was so long ago...I don't remember" or "We didn't have those when you were little." Having learned by experience and being the good person and parent I am, I am sharing how to navigate the peddlers of ware you encounter during this time. They are out there in droves, extending their grubby little hands for the money you relinquish out of guilt and an honest desire to do right by your kid.
I will tell you essentially, what I've found necessary and what I could pass on during my precious one's first year of life.
TRAVEL SYSTEMS
First of all, I must admit that I am a person very susceptible to trends. This may explain the first item on my list that doing it all over, I would have bought! I happened to miss the memo on this item's popularity and for this reason I didn't get one. I'm talking about these really cool travel systems wherein the baby seat fits into a light minimalist frame. It allows for easy mauevering in and out of the car and into stores. One can avoid the car seat hop with an ever increasingly heavy infant child. Also you don't have to get a huge stroller out of the trunk and labor for 15 minutes trying to remember-or learn-how to unfold it to put said baby seat in it. I've only seen them in black. Very cool and modern. When you want it to be a stroller, you just click in the bassinet instead of the car seat and voila! Bassinet style, front or rear facing, this is the only item that I've been envious of. A friend just had a baby girl and what did she roll into the house? One of these lovely contraptions of course. I caught myself staring at the stroller more than the baby! And this episode ended with a promise to myself that I'm getting that stroller if I have another one! There's a good reason to have a child. I can barely keep myself from buying one now, but I already have two. That's right. The stroller I do have works for general use, but for walks and runs I recommend a jogging stroller for a much smoother and faster ride. And I do recommend this as walking/jogging is a good way to get your postpartum workout in and calm a fussy baby!
Now my husband wanted us to buy everything new, but come on...I'm not rich yet. Until then I think it is reasonable to buy some things used. There are a plethora of websites of people selling things they no longer need. Offer Up or Let Go, for example. We bought the jogging stroller on one of these. There are also mom exchange stores, where moms sell their lightly used items and these items are then sold to the public at a reduced cost. You will find that some items the baby just grows out of so quickly he hardly got to use them. These stores are good for that type of thing. For example, we bought a high chair, booster seat, various toys and glass bottles at this type of store.
GLASS ONLY HERE
I must say that looking back, I would have loved if someone told me how superior glass bottles are to plastic! The milk seemed to leech into the plastic after a certain amount of usage, no matter how much I cleaned and sterilized them. Also they had a funky odor after repeated uses. I don't have this problem with glass. I also don't have to worry about any chemicals getting into the milk from the plastic, BPA or otherwise. They just feel cleaner. Many are sold with silicone covers to prevent breaking from little baby tosses. They are pretty cheap too. Especially the Evenflo classic, which is not as stylish or modern as other brands but a traditional design as the name suggests. I get by with five 8 ounce and five 4 ounce bottles.
Speaking of the natural route, you may get the idea that I am one of those cloth diaper parents. I tried it, once, literally. It was too messy and too much trouble. Like one of my coworkers said, "We used cloth diapers in my day because we had to." I'm sure it would be good for the environment and my wallet, but it is so easy just to change the baby's diaper and throw all that mess away. I wish I was the type of mom who used cloth diapers, but reality check, I am not.
BABY SWING
Ok do this: Invest in a baby swing. It doesn't matter what kind. Get a swing! Depending on your budget and once again, style factor, you may opt for the mamaRoo. It has like seven different swinging motions and a super cool design. I have heard these are great but the baby will outgrow it very quickly. In fact, there is a 20-25 lb weight limit on most swings. We were given a classic type forward backward swing; "Classic" meaning linear only movement. It worked wonders when nothing would calm our baby. 99% of the time he would fall asleep in it and we could then put him to bed. This was good for about his first six months. Then he became too heavy and it no longer would push him. He sinks into the chair like a stone to the bottom of the ocean. But my husband puts him in it and swings him himself. Well worth the money we didn't pay. Thanks Debbie!
See a theme here? Often you can get the same function accomplished between item A and item B, but the item you ultimately purchase may have more to do with style and how you view yourself as a parent than what the item actually does. You want to be a cool and stylish parent. Just because you have a kid doesn't mean you give up on who you are. The manufacturers of these products are depending on your image, perceived and real, to sell their products. "I'm a good parent, but I'm cool too..."
BABY GEAR
The only other item I feel is essential is a baby wearing/carrying device. These also come in many different styles, shapes and forms, and all a matter of personal preference. I got the Chimparoo as a gift. And after looking at the website, I was surprised by its price point. But it gets the job done. From itty bitty newborn to my hefty 9 month old. It has forward facing, back facing, and hip-carrying positions, all I am able to use on my own without too much fuss. They keep your baby close to you, which should be the point of all this baby stuff and what often gets lost when shopping for and buying baby gear. Don't forget about the baby! That's what all this is for! Whatever helps you have more time, energy and support to care for your child is worth it.
But keep it like the stylish lines of the new travel systems and even updated glass baby bottles: minimalist. Don't worry about the nursing pillow, nursing bras, homemade baby food systems, baby wipe and bottle warmers and baby spas.
Another gem to pick up: Accept gifts from friends and family, seek out a deal, buy used if you feel comfortable doing so. Your baby closet will fill to overflowing! But most of all, take advantage of the most precious product that only you can provide: Love. Enjoy your baby!
TRAVEL SYSTEMS
First of all, I must admit that I am a person very susceptible to trends. This may explain the first item on my list that doing it all over, I would have bought! I happened to miss the memo on this item's popularity and for this reason I didn't get one. I'm talking about these really cool travel systems wherein the baby seat fits into a light minimalist frame. It allows for easy mauevering in and out of the car and into stores. One can avoid the car seat hop with an ever increasingly heavy infant child. Also you don't have to get a huge stroller out of the trunk and labor for 15 minutes trying to remember-or learn-how to unfold it to put said baby seat in it. I've only seen them in black. Very cool and modern. When you want it to be a stroller, you just click in the bassinet instead of the car seat and voila! Bassinet style, front or rear facing, this is the only item that I've been envious of. A friend just had a baby girl and what did she roll into the house? One of these lovely contraptions of course. I caught myself staring at the stroller more than the baby! And this episode ended with a promise to myself that I'm getting that stroller if I have another one! There's a good reason to have a child. I can barely keep myself from buying one now, but I already have two. That's right. The stroller I do have works for general use, but for walks and runs I recommend a jogging stroller for a much smoother and faster ride. And I do recommend this as walking/jogging is a good way to get your postpartum workout in and calm a fussy baby!
Now my husband wanted us to buy everything new, but come on...I'm not rich yet. Until then I think it is reasonable to buy some things used. There are a plethora of websites of people selling things they no longer need. Offer Up or Let Go, for example. We bought the jogging stroller on one of these. There are also mom exchange stores, where moms sell their lightly used items and these items are then sold to the public at a reduced cost. You will find that some items the baby just grows out of so quickly he hardly got to use them. These stores are good for that type of thing. For example, we bought a high chair, booster seat, various toys and glass bottles at this type of store.
GLASS ONLY HERE
I must say that looking back, I would have loved if someone told me how superior glass bottles are to plastic! The milk seemed to leech into the plastic after a certain amount of usage, no matter how much I cleaned and sterilized them. Also they had a funky odor after repeated uses. I don't have this problem with glass. I also don't have to worry about any chemicals getting into the milk from the plastic, BPA or otherwise. They just feel cleaner. Many are sold with silicone covers to prevent breaking from little baby tosses. They are pretty cheap too. Especially the Evenflo classic, which is not as stylish or modern as other brands but a traditional design as the name suggests. I get by with five 8 ounce and five 4 ounce bottles.
Speaking of the natural route, you may get the idea that I am one of those cloth diaper parents. I tried it, once, literally. It was too messy and too much trouble. Like one of my coworkers said, "We used cloth diapers in my day because we had to." I'm sure it would be good for the environment and my wallet, but it is so easy just to change the baby's diaper and throw all that mess away. I wish I was the type of mom who used cloth diapers, but reality check, I am not.
BABY SWING
Ok do this: Invest in a baby swing. It doesn't matter what kind. Get a swing! Depending on your budget and once again, style factor, you may opt for the mamaRoo. It has like seven different swinging motions and a super cool design. I have heard these are great but the baby will outgrow it very quickly. In fact, there is a 20-25 lb weight limit on most swings. We were given a classic type forward backward swing; "Classic" meaning linear only movement. It worked wonders when nothing would calm our baby. 99% of the time he would fall asleep in it and we could then put him to bed. This was good for about his first six months. Then he became too heavy and it no longer would push him. He sinks into the chair like a stone to the bottom of the ocean. But my husband puts him in it and swings him himself. Well worth the money we didn't pay. Thanks Debbie!
See a theme here? Often you can get the same function accomplished between item A and item B, but the item you ultimately purchase may have more to do with style and how you view yourself as a parent than what the item actually does. You want to be a cool and stylish parent. Just because you have a kid doesn't mean you give up on who you are. The manufacturers of these products are depending on your image, perceived and real, to sell their products. "I'm a good parent, but I'm cool too..."
BABY GEAR
The only other item I feel is essential is a baby wearing/carrying device. These also come in many different styles, shapes and forms, and all a matter of personal preference. I got the Chimparoo as a gift. And after looking at the website, I was surprised by its price point. But it gets the job done. From itty bitty newborn to my hefty 9 month old. It has forward facing, back facing, and hip-carrying positions, all I am able to use on my own without too much fuss. They keep your baby close to you, which should be the point of all this baby stuff and what often gets lost when shopping for and buying baby gear. Don't forget about the baby! That's what all this is for! Whatever helps you have more time, energy and support to care for your child is worth it.
But keep it like the stylish lines of the new travel systems and even updated glass baby bottles: minimalist. Don't worry about the nursing pillow, nursing bras, homemade baby food systems, baby wipe and bottle warmers and baby spas.
Another gem to pick up: Accept gifts from friends and family, seek out a deal, buy used if you feel comfortable doing so. Your baby closet will fill to overflowing! But most of all, take advantage of the most precious product that only you can provide: Love. Enjoy your baby!
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