Breastfeeding: A lot of women say they “can’t” breastfeed for whatever reason. Almost all of those women are wrong, it’s that they didn’t try hard enough. There wasn’t always formula to use instead of breast milk! That being said, breast feeding is NOT easy. It takes a lot more time then formula and it sometimes hurts (if it does use some Lansinoh, it helps a lot- the pain goes away!). Pumping is even worse (in my experience- I didn’t do it a lot and had a nice breast pump). Your body wants to hear crying, it helps you produce. When you pump, you don’t have this. If you’re planning on going to work full time, I wouldn’t plan on only breastfeeding. If you’re planning on solely breastfeeding, I would reonlinemend signing up for the different formula onlinepanies and they will send you free cans. This way you have some on hand for those times when it would be nice to have some. I breastfeed 95% of the time but it’s nice to have formula on hand so if we go to our in laws, I don’t have to breast feed in front of them, I can have them give her a bottle. I get a little break and don’t have to “show off” in front of people :p. If you’re breastfeeding, get a cover- it doesn’t have to be expensive (I got Munchkin brand on clearance for $6) but it will be nice. A blanket is not the same- unless it has a strap to go around your neck. With a strap, you won’t have to worry about it falling off.
Formula: If you’re planning on doing formula (I reonlinemend breast feeding, but it’s not for everyone) sign up for the formula onlinepanies right away! It took 2-3 months to get anything from them after signing up. Formula onlinepanies will send you checks that you can use like coupons and get much better deals on formula. I personally wouldn’t buy a store brand (only because with how little I use and with good coupons, name brand is about the same or a little more), but even my doctor reonlinemended Target brand- and it’s a LOT cheaper than regular price Enfamil, Similac, or Gerber. Target.online/coupons occasionally has coupons on formula also- including Target brand.
Baby Food: Don’t buy a food processor just for baby food. At about 4 months you can start using baby cereal (don’t buy much) and then shortly after you can use baby food and by 8 months, my baby was not eating baby food any more. My baby ate breast milk and regular food. If you’re planning on buying a food processor and want decide to get it sooner to use it for baby food- then get it, but otherwise, it’s not worth it to spend $80+ on a food processor you’re going to use for 3-4 months. I think I bought about 10- 2 packs of food and that was it. It was a stretch to use it all. I bought a number of boxes of cereal, and I still have a few boxes left. My baby’s 22 months now. Don’t bother buying much of the special finger foods. At the beginning of eating foods, it may be necessary, but after a while, Cheerios are just as good. I would reonlinemend buying some though because it’s nice to reuse the containers!
Disposable Diapers: Generally when people have problems with diapers, it’s for one of two reasons, either they’re putting it on the baby wrong (girls the front of the diaper can be lower then on boys), or they’re in the wrong size. The size of diapers doesn’t have to do much with their actual weight, it’s much more about how much they are peeing (except probably newborn and preemie size). I wouldn’t buy ANY newborn diapers if you have a history of large babies in your family. Size 1 diapers start at 8 lbs and hold a LOT more pee. There’s not much difference in size between newborn and size 1. My baby was born at 8 lbs 13 oz and wore newborns for about a week. If your baby gets a rash while wearing a different brand diaper, it’s not necessarily the diaper- it may be circumstance that they get it then. Give each diaper brand a chance- at least a week. I didn’t have any problems with any brands with either of my children. As for sales, I’ve heard that under $.10/diaper is a stock up price. I almost never find this- at least not for larger sizes. I would say that $4.50/pack or less is very good. Target brand is cheap and I believe Walgreens brand is cheap too. I couldn’t personally find good deals on Amazon.
Cloth diapers: When some people think of cloth diapers, they thing of prefolds. Oh my, I could not do that! Cloth diapers don’t have to be that much work! I don’t have a lot of experience with cloth diapers, but I have used them. I actually bought Babyland diapers on Ebay. I watched for good deals and got them as low as $.99 with insert. I think these diapers have done pretty well, better than expected. I mostly have problems with my 2 month old leaking pee. I actually think these hold in poop better than disposables because I bought one size diapers and so they are larger. They’re not much more work then regular diapers. I would reonlinemend pocket diapers or all in ones because it is easy to just toss the poop in the toilet. With my two month old I don’t even do that, I just wash it and it onlinees out fine but once she starts eating food other than milk, I’ll have to start flushing it. One thing people think of when they think of cloth diapers is all the extra washing. I only do about two load extra a week (maybe 3). Those loads are NOT onlineparable to a regular load. All I do is throw it in the wash, take it out of the wash and separate out the covers, hang the covers and throw the inserts in the dryer to dry. You have to stuff the diapers again, but there’s not all the folding of a regular load. I don’t mind washing the diapers at all and I do NOT like doing laundry! My son started to leak with the microfiber inserts after a while so I got BabyKicks Premium Hemp inserts: https://www.amazon.online/BabyKicks-Pack-Joey-Bunz-Premium-Large/dp/B001NAAQRS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334692656&sr=8-1. These made a huge difference! I was spoiled by disposable diapers initially so I would NOT put up with having to change a diaper every two hours. I don’t change them much more often with cloth then with disposable, certainly not every 2 hours. I’ve finally decided to try some more expensive diapers- not that expensive though, I don’t have that much money, so I’m trying the Coolababy diapers (also off Ebay). I decided on these because they are still lower priced and I’m buying the ones that have the double gusset. I’m thinking that will make a difference in use. I still waiting to get them in the mail (they take about a month). A LOT of websites reonlinemend not using the cheap Ebay ones, but give them a chance! You’re not going to waste much money if you only buy a few. If I had more money, I would probably get Thirsties All in Ones. All in Ones means no stuffing and I like that the Thirsties onlinee in two sizes so hopefully they would fit better and longer. I haven’t actually tried these (way too expensive), but these would be the first I’d try.
Gear: You don’t need nearly as much gear as there is on the market. These are the musts:
A chair of some kind. The $20 or $30 ones at Target are fine. If you get one that swings, your baby may get used to that and only want that.
A high chair of some kind. I got one that attaches to the table and I love it. My son can eat right with us and there was only about 3 months there where I would have wanted one of the reclining kinds. That is not worth $100 to me. The attach on kinds are much cheaper than the stand alone ones and take up less room.
A floor mat for baby. I’m way too concerned about putting my baby on the hardwood floor or on the dirty carpet and the floor mats aren’t very expensive. I got mine at Once Upon a Child for about $20.
A baby monitor (if you live in a two story house). We had people living in our basement with our first child and never used the baby monitor. With our second, it’s nice to have it so we can hear for sure if shes crying- it’s hard to hear her downstairs. Our baby monitor was less than $20 at Target and it works fine. You don’t need anything fancy. A video might be nice, but not worth $200.
An exercauser is really nice. A boppy is nice for breastfeeding- although it’s kind of awkward at the same time- and is nice for propping up your child when they’re a little older.
Clothes: You don’t need as many clothes as you think is what I’ve learned. My two year old has so many he doesn’t wear. Also, buy at garage sales! This is the cheapest way! I’ve bought very few clothes new. At garage sales, I typically buy things for $.25-$.50. I did learn from experience that you should be willing to spend more on a few really nice things for holidays and special ocassions or else you may have to make a Once Upon a Child run a week before Christmas for a nice Christmas outfit. But even with that- it’s not a big deal.
Cribs: I know drop sided cribs were recalled, but don’t just assume that means they are bad. I did research on drop sided cribs and decided to keep mine because I LOVE it. Drop sided cribs were recalled for ridiculous reasons, poor use, and idiots (in my opinion). I’m so glad I got my hands on one before they disappear. Do research on it and make your own decision. If you decide to get one, I do think that it is more susceptible to wear so you have to make sure you have it assembled correctly (with ALL pieces) and that you check it frequently. Whatever you decide to do, make sure it is in good condition. I also bought a bassinet, it’s nice to have the baby right in the room with you when they’re waking up frequently during the night. Use onlinemon sense, if it doesn’t seem safe, don’t use it.
Car Seats: Buy the best you can afford! Don’t use any one else’s unless you would trust them with your babies life and trust them that it hasn’t been in a car accident. If you do get one from someone, make sure it’s newer- it should have a date stamped on it somewhere. I can’t remember if it’s a manufacture date or a stop using after date.
Baby bedding sets: Oh my, these are such a rip off! You’re not even supposed to use bumper, all you need is a sheet and a blanket! I keep diapers under the bed- I don’t want to have a dust ruffle in the way of getting to them! A sheet is $10 regular price at Target, a blanket is $20, why would you spend $50 or $100 or more on a set? You can get matching ones at Target. I don’t need 8 things on my baby’s bed.
Wow, I just spent way too much time writing this!
