AWvsCBsteeeerike3 wrote:Thanks for that tip.... there's a levena monitor on sale for $100, pass.
There's so many more decisions just getting ready for thisl ittle guy than I realized. Holy moly. What baby monitor? What color paint for the nursery (not my decision) what pattern (also not my decision, thank goodness), what crib (apparently, this is a big decision...do you get one that you can upgrade to a bed or do you get a cheaper one that is only a crib...), changing table or just a pad to put on top of the dresser? What kind of diapers? How am I supposed to know? I was 1 last time I wore one.... Breast pump. Those things are like $400. WTF. Oh yeah....which one. What type of bottle. What type of bottle nipple. What type of pacifier. Are you going to use a pacifier? Blah blah blah. Car seats. Strollers. All of these are apparently big deals and affect one another. I can't imagine buying stuff was this complicated when I was a kid.
I'm so ready for this kid to get here so we can stop worrying about the stuff we 'have to have' and just take care of him.
Yeah, you are getting into Babyworld 2012, a strange and almost impossible place to navigate. My wife spends as much time on a new moms message board as I've spent on GRB, where people discuss their experiences with all of these products. Just because something is sold at Babies R Us, it doesn't mean it's not total crap, or unsafe. Case in point, the Levana monitors, which apparently changed their factory and have been awful quality ever since.
My experience so far (our kid is 14 months old now, so on the verge of going from baby to toddler):
-sign up for Amazon Mom. I think it's sexist that they don't offer Amazon Dad, but that's life. You get free amazon prime - and you will use it. But you can do subscriptions for things like diapers and wipes. They give you a big discount and free shipping, and you can set up how often you want those items delivered.
-Get a snap n' go stroller and the carseat that works with it. The stroller folds up easily in the trunk, and the car seat snaps right into it. This is great for when you're going from car to store, and your baby is asleep.
-You'll probably also need another stroller that steers better and is better for distances. I think the best ones are the ones that fold as flat as possible to fit in your trunk. We got the
City Mini and it's great for that.
Pumps are expensive and annoying. If your fiance (i think fiance right?) is going to be working, she'll probably have to get one. They make hand pumps but they take forever.
We got a crib from Ikea that is not convertible. The important thing is that if you get a crib sheet set with a bumper (the cloth lining that is supposed to go around the inside of the crib), don't use it. I don't know why they even include them. They are a choking hazard.
In my experience, you can set out to have a pacifier-free child, but if you need one, you're going to be powerless to do anything about it. If it's the only way the kid will sleep, forget about it. The kid gets a pacifier.
I think a changing table is worth it. You're going to be using that thing a lot. A lot. And generally it's harder for the kid to roll off of a changing table than a pad on a dresser.
You're in for a ride. I hope your kiddo sleeps better than ours has!
