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Thread: Baby Stuff

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    Default Baby Stuff

    I need help please. First time mom and Im scared of everything lol. I'm obviously going to research car seats and cribs and everything but recomendations would be greatly appreciated. I don't have a lot of money and Im having this baby pretty much by myself so any help I can get about good brands or anything would be fabulous. I have nothing and need everything.

    Thx in advance.

  2. #2
    Featured Member Laurisa's Avatar
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    Default Re: Baby Stuff

    I'm pregnant with my first child, a boy, and I feel you! Being pregnant can be scary, and it's almost as if you have a ticking time bomb inside of you if you were unprepared from the start. I have a two-year-old brother so I got lucky and was able to score free clothing for age 0-18 months, an infant car seat, a stroller, a baby bathtub, and some toys, but I still had/have stuff to get.

    Here is a basic list of everything you need before you give birth:
    - Crib (You can purchase a bassinet if you want, but you'll be fine if you can't afford/don't want one)
    - Infant car seat (If you really cannot afford to purchase one by law the hospital must give you a new one when you leave after delivery)
    - Seasonally appropriate clothes (i.e. jacket if you're due in winter) You should have clothes for at least age 0-3 months ready and possibly some clothes for 3-6 months if you can afford it. Babies grow out of clothes fast, so secondhand stores/mom to mom sales/craigslist are the way to go!
    - Bottles (even if you are planning on breastfeeding having a few is a good idea for when you pump)
    - Pacifiers
    - Diapers and wipes! Stock up early!
    - Formula if you are not breastfeeding or are breastfeeding and formula feeding
    - Appropriate breastfeeding accessories if you are breastfeeding (nipple creams, breast pump nursing bra, nursing pads)
    - A swing or a bouncy seat to put the baby in for entertainment/freeing your hands up
    - Sheets/bumpers for the crib
    - Diaper bag
    - Ointments for rashes
    - Bottle cleaning accessories

    What you will need at some point during your child's infancy:
    - A baby bath (you can use the sink for starters)
    - Baby shampoo and lotion
    - A high chair
    - Some toys to keep him or her entertained

    What you may want before/after you deliver:
    - A stroller
    - Lots of toys/dvds/books
    - A carrier (like a body sling or something)
    - Baby motrin/other medications your pediatrician has approved

    Now, if you are low income you can sign up for WIC and medicaid. Medicaid will help cover your prenatal expenses/prescriptions and delivery costs. Your child can get medicaid once they are born if you meet the income requirements. WIC will give you healthy food during your pregnancy, nutrition information, access to help with baby items, and formula/infant cereal/baby food/tuna fish once you give birth. You can receive WIC during your pregnancy and until your child turns 5. It's not a whole lot of food but you get a decent amount of formula for the first 6 months!

    Diapers are hard to get for free, but you can find churches that have programs to help with diapers. Ask your local WIC office for help with finding them.

    Craigslist and mom to mom sales are great for used/cheap baby items. Churches hold a lot of mom to mom sales and even indoor garage sales during bad weather/cold temperatures. You can also find community baby showers at churches for low income mothers where you get free stuff!

    Ask friends/relatives with older children for hand me downs. Many times people have things in storage they've forgotten about/have no use for and are willing to give away for free or dirt cheap.

    If you need more help just PM me!
    -Laurisa
    If you are willing to do for one year what other's won't, you can spend a lifetime doing what other's cant.


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    Default Re: Baby Stuff

    Wow Laurisa, I almost want to cry. Thank you so much!!!

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    Default Re: Baby Stuff

    Not a problem, I also forgot to mention one thing you will need before delivery, and that is a crib mattress!
    If you are willing to do for one year what other's won't, you can spend a lifetime doing what other's cant.


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    Default Re: Baby Stuff

    Hi Dancing_Angel,

    I've never had the experience of raising a baby, but one place I found that is good for saving money in general, are dollar stores. I recently went to one and bought some products I needed, and the total came out to about 1/3 of what I probably would have paid at a regular store. Here's one that looks like they have a number of products for children and babies:

    http://www.dollartree.com/health-per...c242/index.cat

    It looks like they sell in bulk on the internet, but you can buy individual products at one of their stores.

    You can probably save money on diapers by using reusable diapers. Here's the site for one company that makes them:

    http://www.happyheinys.com/

    I hope everything goes well for you and your baby!

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  9. #6
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    Default Re: Baby Stuff

    I have a couple of things to add/amend to Laurisa's list. First off, I'd skip the Pacifiers, they just cause issues later on and most bf'ed babies don't like them anyway....plus you'll get one or two in the hospital so you can see if they are something you want to use (trust me, I had to fight with the nurses to keep them from giving my kiddos a paci.)

    Get the stroller/baby seat combo. You'll NEED that one, badly and right away.
    Skip the nipple cream and expensive nursing bras pads. They suck and I did better with regular bras, you just pull your boobs over the top. I found pads and nipple cream unnecessary and I wasted a TON of money on that stuff, that you can really buy later if you need it.

    Oh, and the hospital will more than likely give you samples of nipple cream/bottles/formula. Check and see what your hospitals baby package includes.

    Do NOT buy crib bunting of any kind. It is expensive and while cute, they contribute to SIDS. A simple sheet and a sleeper sack is the goods you need.
    "I hear you calling and it's needles and pins. I wanna hurt you just to hear you screaming my name...You're poision. but I don't wanna break these chains.... I wanna love you but I'd better not touch."

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    Default Re: Baby Stuff

    Laurisa great list!!

    I nursed my daughter for 7 months (she's 2 now) and I'm gonna have to say the breast pads and nursing bras made things a lot easier for me. I also have this apron-like thingy you put around your neck that covers the baby for nursing in public. It's the best invention ever!!! I'll never get rid of it! I also had this thing called a boppy pillow that's shaped like a crescent and goes around your waist to support the baby while nursing her. I used it to prop her up when feeding her solids too since she was a little unsteady.

    Some of the things my daughter really loved were: the Rainforest swing that swings side to side and front to back, the Rainforest jumparoo, and her bouncy chair. I would suggest getting a pack n' play eventually, you never know when it'll come in handy. I had one in my living room and used to lay her in that to nap. When she was big enough and I had a few things to do, I would let her sit in it with a few toys and didn't have to worry about her crawling all over the place and getting into stuff! Another thing that she and I really loved was a sling carrier (I think by infantino) that cradled the baby but left your hands free. My daughter would never let me put her down so I used to have to hold her in that while washing dishes, clothes, using the bathroom, etc. lol!!

    A great set of books are What to Expect when you're expecting, what to expect the first year and what to expect the toddler years. They'll answer any and all questions you may have. Babycenter.com is a great informational site as well.

    I had wic for my daughter her 1st year so that helped a lot. Most of my baby expenses were diapers and wipes!!

    Dancing Angel what state are you in and what are you having? You can PM me if you want. I have lots of girl baby clothes and shoes I can send you and depending on where you're located I have a bouncy chair and the Rainforest swing I was telling you about that hubby doesn't want to get rid of (he wants to save it for the next baby) but it's just been sitting here for 2 years and I'm not having another baby anytime soon!

    Good luck, I'm excited for you!!!

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  13. #8
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    Default Re: Baby Stuff

    You should also keep in mind that every parent has their own idea about what you should and shouldn't have. Some moms swear by pacifiers and rattles, some won't let their kids near them. If you like something and it feels right, use it, if not..don't!


    Walmart and Aldi's have discount diapers. Aldi's are the cheapest I've seen. They are okay for about 2-3 hours of wear during the day, but I'd buy a pack of pampers for him/her to wear at night or you'll have soaked sheets!
    If you are willing to do for one year what other's won't, you can spend a lifetime doing what other's cant.


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    Default Re: Baby Stuff

    date safety-wise...
    Last edited by GrlWithTheMost; 04-04-2011 at 10:28 PM.

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  17. #10
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    Default Re: Baby Stuff

    Quote Originally Posted by Laurisa View Post
    You should also keep in mind that every parent has their own idea about what you should and shouldn't have. Some moms swear by pacifiers and rattles, some won't let their kids near them. If you like something and it feels right, use it, if not..don't!


    Walmart and Aldi's have discount diapers. Aldi's are the cheapest I've seen. They are okay for about 2-3 hours of wear during the day, but I'd buy a pack of pampers for him/her to wear at night or you'll have soaked sheets!
    Yes!! The cheapos are great but do sometimes leak at night...and they don't have cutouts for the umbillical cord either. Pampers with the little cutout for the bellybutton were what we used at first. Of course you are going to be up about every 2-3 hours for nursing the first bit, and will prob have to change them once every night at first regardless. We now buy Huggies from Costco. They end up costing less overall, because no leaks and extra laundry/ruined clothes.

    Oh, and I hope I didn't come across as preachy about paci's. I don't think they are the debil like some mom's. My oldest did take them for a few weeks, but quickly lost interest (but although he nursed I HAD to have bottles with him while my youngest REFUSED to take a bottle, even when sick, I had to use an eyedropper to force pedialite). I was just being honest about things that in my experience, she may or may not need. Some mom's need paci's/bottles/breastpads/slings, some don't. (For instance, I couldn't stand the fabric edges in the flaps for nursing bras...they hurt my boobies bad, but I wish I would have had the nursing cover thing, it was a fight to keep a blankie over them while nursing in public.) If the OP is on a limited budget, it may be wise to hold off on some things and buy when/if needed.
    "I hear you calling and it's needles and pins. I wanna hurt you just to hear you screaming my name...You're poision. but I don't wanna break these chains.... I wanna love you but I'd better not touch."

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    Default Re: Baby Stuff

    Ty ladies! You are all awesome! I so appreciate all this advice! I feel very lost right now!

    I will not be breastfeeding at all so it sounds at least like that will also save me a little bit of money for the moment.

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    Default Re: Baby Stuff

    ^^If you are on a limited budget, I'd definitely recommend at least trying it. With Tyler who was about 60% boob 40% formula, we spent around $80 a week or so on formula. We were in NJ at the time and things can be more expensive there than in some areas, but that was also 6 years ago. Plus middle of the night feedings are MUCH faster if you're nursing than fussing with bottles. I've done both and damn, I hated dealing with bottles, they are a major PITA.
    "I hear you calling and it's needles and pins. I wanna hurt you just to hear you screaming my name...You're poision. but I don't wanna break these chains.... I wanna love you but I'd better not touch."

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  22. #13
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    Default Re: Baby Stuff

    I second that^^

    Breastfeeding is way more economical than formula feeding. While you can get free formula from WIC, it is only enough to cover the first 6 months of feeding. After that you'll be on your own. If you breastfeed you will need to invest in some creams and nursing pads (plus a few nursing bras..picked mine up today) but the cost of formula will fall surpass those little odds and ends. The biggest expense will be a breastpump, but even an automatic hands free breast pump from Medela is only $249.99 which is far less than the cost of 6 months worth of formula. You can rent breast pumps from hospitals too, which is another cheap option if you want to see if you're actually going to use them. They have breastpumps for sale for cheap on craigslist, and a lot of them are still in their original packaging!
    If you are willing to do for one year what other's won't, you can spend a lifetime doing what other's cant.


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  24. #14
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    Default Re: Baby Stuff

    I know I sound like a broken record advising to wait and see what you need, but I really wouldn't waste money on an expensive pump till you know if you need one. I pumped with a $30 cheapie with Tyler and used it a lot. So before I had Ethan I invested in the most expensive Medela model and ended up only using it a handful of times because E nursed exclusively and refused to take a bottle.
    "I hear you calling and it's needles and pins. I wanna hurt you just to hear you screaming my name...You're poision. but I don't wanna break these chains.... I wanna love you but I'd better not touch."

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  26. #15
    Featured Member Laurisa's Avatar
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    Default Re: Baby Stuff

    That's why I recommended she rent one from the hospital. Buying a manual breast pump works too though!
    If you are willing to do for one year what other's won't, you can spend a lifetime doing what other's cant.


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  28. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by Laurisa View Post
    That's why I recommended she rent one from the hospital. Buying a manual breast pump works too though!
    My first wasn't a manual, it was an electric, but only did one boob at a time and took about 20-30 min to pump as opposed to my Medela which took around 5-10 min. Renting is something I considered, but they only rent the medical grade ones.for women with breastfeeding issues or those that have adopted, so they are mega expensive. My hospital wanted around $100 a month or so, and I had to supply all the tubing and supplies, which was another $100 or so.
    "I hear you calling and it's needles and pins. I wanna hurt you just to hear you screaming my name...You're poision. but I don't wanna break these chains.... I wanna love you but I'd better not touch."

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    Default Re: Baby Stuff

    breastfeeding is cheaper and it is also better for your baby. there are many nutrients found in breastmilk that formula lacks.

    the one thing i stress to my new mom friends is LEARN TO SEW. it will save you tons of $$$ when you can make cloth diapers (better for baby's skin, the environment and your wallet). diapers can be made out of your old clothes. my friend did this. you can also buy bigger clothes and take them down as baby grows. you can also make crib sheets out of old sheets if you can sew.

    you can also make nursing bras from cheapo ones as well. all you'll need is a package of snaps and a grandma bra (full coverage, no underwire, no padding).

    i would get a playpen versus swings and cribs. my friend had one and put a mattress in it at night for the baby. not the best, but better than nothing and it can be used as baby gets bigger, unlike swings and bassinets. it was better than the dresser drawer my friend's mom slept in as a baby.

    if you're real broke and cant afford dvds, my friend and i used to go on youtube and have his son watch old sesame street that way, since the tv didnt work half the time. very fun way to revisit your childhood. you can pm me for links.

    if i think of anything else, i'll let you know...

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  32. #18
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    Default Re: Baby Stuff

    ^^I love these tips and want to add again...breastfeeding is FREE!! You really don't even need any of the special bras or anything, they'll just irritate your nipples anyway. Nursing bras and breastpads are stupid, tbh. They just annoyed me.
    "I hear you calling and it's needles and pins. I wanna hurt you just to hear you screaming my name...You're poision. but I don't wanna break these chains.... I wanna love you but I'd better not touch."

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    Default Re: Baby Stuff

    Thx for the tips ladies, I understand formula is expensive but I won't be breastfeeding so breast pumps and bras and creams will all be unnecessary.

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    Default Re: Baby Stuff

    Since you already have decided against breastfeeding then I would definitely sign up for WIC to get assistance with formula. After your six months of free formula bliss runs out then you can go to local "baby pantries" that are usually open for 2-3 hours per day Monday-Friday at one or more churches. They will have items like diapers, baby food, clothing, and formula to give to you depending on how much is available.

    Churches have so many unique programs all over the country. Some offer free classes and will give you baby items upon completion, even items like a crib and a car seat if you start early enough in your pregnancy. It's all out there, you just have to find it!
    If you are willing to do for one year what other's won't, you can spend a lifetime doing what other's cant.


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    Default Re: Baby Stuff

    I'm not expecting, but I wanted to add for the OP - when I do have a baby, I won't be breast feeding either. I'm not sure what your reasons are, but I, physically, can't.

    There are lots of good formula's out there, so spend some time researching which one you want to use. Powdered is the least expensive, by far, and it's easy to take with you (you can just mix it with bottled water). Once baby gets a bit older (10 months or so), there's "Toddler Formula" becasue baby will need different nutirents as he/she grows.

    Also, if you don't want to breastfeed (or can't) don't let anyone intimidate you or try and convince you otherwise. There are some pro-breast feeding groups out there that are really forceful and almost cruel when it comes to breast feeding, and often times they stick around the hospital and lecture you. A girlfriend was literally harassed by La Latch League about breast feeding after she told them many times its not what she wanted to do. Made her feel like shit for not breast feeding her son.

    Congrats on your new babe and good luck!



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    Default Re: Baby Stuff

    Quote Originally Posted by 4everresolutions View Post
    I'm not expecting, but I wanted to add for the OP - when I do have a baby, I won't be breast feeding either. I'm not sure what your reasons are, but I, physically, can't.

    There are lots of good formula's out there, so spend some time researching which one you want to use. Powdered is the least expensive, by far, and it's easy to take with you (you can just mix it with bottled water). Once baby gets a bit older (10 months or so), there's "Toddler Formula" becasue baby will need different nutirents as he/she grows.

    Also, if you don't want to breastfeed (or can't) don't let anyone intimidate you or try and convince you otherwise. There are some pro-breast feeding groups out there that are really forceful and almost cruel when it comes to breast feeding, and often times they stick around the hospital and lecture you. A girlfriend was literally harassed by La Latch League about breast feeding after she told them many times its not what she wanted to do. Made her feel like shit for not breast feeding her son.

    Congrats on your new babe and good luck!
    I had a friend who couldn't breastfeed. The lactation consultant really was mean to her and tried to grab her boob to feed her baby after she said she wasn't nursing (my friend told me this). I am not planning on having kids in the near future if at all, and have no plans to breastfeed if I do. I was bottlefed and didn't hurt me. Some breastfeeding advocates make those who bottlefeed feel like unfit mothers and that's wrong.

    To the OP: my brother and sister in law just had a baby. They recommend those bouncing chairs for the baby (forget the name). Also, go to garage sales and buy clothes there. I know new parents want to buy the best, but babies outgrow clothes so fast. Good luck and congrats.

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    Default Re: Baby Stuff


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    LOL. .........
    Last edited by GrlWithTheMost; 04-04-2011 at 10:28 PM.

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