25 Things You Do and Don't Need for Baby

Sorry it's been so long since I've done a post or given an update on the pregnancy! Unfortunately, not much interesting has happened so not much to write about! But just in case you still have to have an update, here you go!

17 Weeks
Weight Gained: Exactly 0 lbs. Nada.
Cravings: Still lots of fruit and sticky fingers.
Aversions: None at the moment! *knock on wood*
Symptoms: Fatigue and MAJOR round ligament pain! I'm dying!
Maternity Clothes: Still none. My belly has not grown a centimeter in the last month! Gah!
Movement: I've been feeling flutters every now and then : D!
Gender: BOY!!!
Name: Brennan

So that's pretty much it! Like I said, not a lot of change. Anyway moving on! Now that I'm a seasoned mom ;) and I'm preparing for my second baby, I'm not quite as easily influenced by all the fancy gadgets on registry checklists, and can easier decide what to get and what not to get. So I thought I'd make a list for all the new moms out there to make it easier so you don't waste money on things you will never use, or so you don't miss out on items you will definitely want to use! Hope this helps someone out there!

What to buy...and not buy... for baby!

Buy:

• Summer Infant Swaddlers- Seriously these things are a LIFESAVER! Quinn slept so much better when he was swaddled and yes, you will get good at swaddling pretty quickly once baby is born, but swaddling with a blanket is a pain! It's hard to get a nice tight swaddle that will stay in place when baby moves around, especially with receiving blankets or other blankets that don't stretch. And if you have a large baby like me, it will be hard to find blankets that are big enough! Plus there is nothing that will give you more anxiety than thinking of the blanket coming loose and suffocating baby! Trust me. Buy the swaddlers.
• Swing OR Bouncer- This one's important so pay attention. Most babies do not like BOTH a swing and bouncer. It's usually either or. My suggestion, buy the bouncer since they are usually pretty cheap and easy to find used on ksl or craigslist (plus they're really nice to have for strapping baby in when you're doing stuff around the house since it's easily portable), and then borrow a swing for the first few weeks after baby is born. If the baby likes the swing, fork out the money for one. Swings are SO expensive, and Quinn never used his! He just cried when I put him in it! Lucky for me, my mom found one at a garage sale in good working condition for really cheap so I didn't have to kick myself for spending tons of money on something we didn't use!
• Rocker or Chair- I'm having a hard time putting this one on the buy list because they are SO expensive and seem like more of a want than a need (and I probably still won't buy one for this baby unless I find one used for a good price), but let me tell you. I really wish I had one with Quinn! I can't even tell you how annoying it is when the baby wakes up at night and you have no place to feed them so you end up going all the way out into the living room to sit on the couch! It's really inconvenient! So ya, this one probably isn't necessary, but it's definitely appreciated!
• Baby Carrier or Wrap- I'm going to tell you a secret. Babies want to be held. All. The. Time. Shocking I know! But seriously. I was given my baby carrier at one of my showers (I think it was Rachel Mills... THANK YOU!!!) and it was so convenient! I could just strap the baby in and go about my life getting everything done! I didn't own a wrap but I hear they're amazing, and it seems to me those would be really good for when the baby is still tiny and can't support their little head. I will likely be buying(or making) one for this baby!
• Baby Bathtub- This one is another that almost went on the Don't Buy list, but I will honestly probably be buying one this time. Normally I would say it's totally pointless because the baby will grow out of it so fast, but I had one of those mesh bath seats that just sits in the bathtub, and it was kind of a pain to use. I felt like it would be so easy for him to roll off so I would hold onto him the entire time I bathed him and it's really hard to wash baby's hair one handed! I don't know, maybe that's a silly reason to buy one, but they're really not that expensive and isn't peace of mind worth $18 ??? Ok, I don't know maybe I'll end up changing my mind on this, we will see.
• Binky Strap- So simple and small, yet so many moms don't buy them! They're like $5 at Target, and they're cute, plus they cut out the need for pacifier wipes or those binkies that close when you drop them(yes I admit I bought one of those and they are kind of cool, though not cheap) so I'm pretty sure that investment pays for itself ten times over.
• Pack n Play- I cannot stress this one enough! I did not purchase a pack n play with Quinn because at the time we were poor and living in a 1 bedroom apartment so there didn't seem to be a need, but now that I'm in a bigger place, will have 2 children possibly napping, and I know how ridiculously hard it was to get Quinn to sleep when he's not in a crib, I will DEFINITELY be buying one! It's seriously at the top of my list. It's so nice for letting baby nap in another room since our boys will be sharing, and it's essential for vacations or even get togethers with family because no naps=DEATH... or at least that's what you will look like by then end of the day. Tip: Look on KSL or Craigslist!
• Umbrella Stroller AND Regular Stroller- This probably seems excessive and expensive, but it's really nice to have both. I love my nice big Graco stroller my mom and MIL bought for me because it's so nice for big outings like to the zoo or aquarium, etc. It's got cupholders, and snack holders, and a big basket on bottom for diaper bags, lunches, jackets, or whatever else you don't feel like carrying around but.... it's heavy... and big. Which is really inconvenient in places like the mall or stores where they literally leave NO room to push a big stroller between displays. You don't need anything expensive, just a cheap $20 walmart umbrella stroller will do.
• Dishwasher Basket- If you have a dishwasher, this one is a must. Other wise, you will have bottle nipples all over the place and melted to the bottom of your dishwasher. Unless you're breastfeeding exclusively, then you can just ignore this one.
• Food Processor- This is a little on the pricey side, but it will save you a lot of money! I don't know if you've ever walked down the baby aisle and looked at how much those cute little containers of baby food cost, but it's a lot and it adds up fast! Plus for all you mommas out there who worry about what's in the baby food, this is perfect for you! Good news is, you really won't need to make this purchase until you're baby is further along in their first year.

Still hanging in there? Sorry I know it's a long post but this is stuff I wish I had known with my first!

Don't Buy:

• Bottle Warmer/ Wipe Warmer- Seriously these are so pointless and I'm so glad I didn't buy either of these for Quinn. Most babies could care less if their butt is wiped with a warm or cold towel. And as for the bottle warmer, you won't need this if you're breast feeding, and if you're not, breast milk is room temperature anyway so why would baby need warm formula? Room temperature water from the tap will do.
• Cute Burp Cloths and Bibs- There are so many cute little burp cloths and bibs out there to buy and it's so hard to resist, I mean come on, they've got little ducks and monkeys and whatever else on them! But if we are being honest with ourselves, is it really going to matter what they look like once their covered in spit up and food smears? No. And you will be kicking yourself for buying them after the first time they are used. Go to target and buy the pack of 10 plain bibs for $13. As for me, I will be making my own burp cloths but if you can't sew, you can get those for cheap too.
• Bassinet- This one is hard because even I'll admit, bassinets are SO adorable and precious! But your child will fit in it for like 2 months. And they're expensive. Use a pack n play instead! Most pack n plays now come with a feature where you can raise the bottom up so it's just like a bassinet. And if you get a really nice one, they also have an attached changing area which is great if you have baby in your room for the first little bit but don't have a ton of room. That's like 3 birds with one stone... bassinet, changing station, nap time and travel crib. Bam. Done.
• Boppy- This is a really useful item, but it's also not necessary. You will definitely want something to prop up baby while you're feeding, especially when you're half asleep during night feedings, but a pillow or two works just as well and is much cheaper. Tip: I feel the same way about pregnancy pillows. A few pillows strategically placed will do the job just fine.
• Changing Table- I'll admit I would LOVE a changing table. They just look so cute and organized in baby's nursery! But they are really expensive and when you're trying not to break the bank, and you have 2 kids sharing a room and limited space, a changing table is a luxury you can't afford. Instead use velcro to attach a changing pad to a dresser and use a drawer or baskets on top for storing diaper changing supplies. And if you don't have a dresser or room for one, put all your diaper supplies in a basket and change baby on the floor or a bed, because is that really so much harder?
• Baby Powder and Oil- Do we even know what this is for? I don't. I bought both and used neither. At least not for their intended purposes. (Can anyone say dry shampoo???)
• Diaper Pail- The idea of these seem really great, but I'm really bad at changing my bathroom garbages, so I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be much different with a bedroom garbage. And I don't care how well they say it can keep the smell in, dirty diapers stink! Let's just all be less lazy and throw our diapers away in the trash.
• Fluffy Blankets- I would buy one or two for trips out in the cold to keep baby warm, but don't be like me and go buy 10 million of them. Because you won't use them. Besides babies aren't even supposed to sleep with blankets in their crib.
• Expensive Bedding Set- I think this one is probably the hardest to resist, but they are sooooo pricey! Plus, bumper pads aren't recommended because of the risk of SIDS, that cute little matching quilt will be folded up and thrown on the ground whenever baby sleeps, and those absolutely adorable ridiculously overpriced sheets will get peed on withing a week. So skip the bumper pad, sew your own sheets (they're so easy to make. So easy), and if you must, buy a cute but not so expensive blanket that will still get folded up and thrown on the floor whenever baby sleeps.
• Bumbo- I'm guessing there will be a few people who don't agree with me on this, but even if you don't buy your child a bumbo, I promise, they will still learn to sit up. Crazy I know. And if you bought a bouncer like I suggested, you probably won't need this because your child will learn to sit up before they outgrow the bouncer.
• Special Baby Detergent- This really is totally unnecessary and pretty pricey. Instead look for a regular detergent that is free and clear which means it doesn't have any dyes or perfumes and won't irritate baby's skin.
• Bath Thermometer- Because it's just so hard to stick your finger in the water and see if it's too warm.
• Mobile- Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't baby sleep in it's crib? Which means it's eyes are closed? Plus it get's in the way.
• Lots of Pacifiers- No matter how hard you push and fight and try to force your child to take a binky, they just might not. Quinn loved his binky all the way up until he discovered fingers were just so much better. I bought probably 10 binkies. So instead start with 2-3, and if your child loves the binky, then go buy 10 more because trust me those things get lost SO easily!
• Stuffed Animals- Unfortunately I got sucked into the black whole that is stuffed animals, and now Quinn owns at least 50. If I could go back and do it all again, I would buy one sentimental stuffed animal for a keepsake and then abstain for at least 6 months. Because they just take up way too much room and you will have no where to put them since they can't go in baby's bed, and your child won't give them the light of day until that point anyway.

I hope this list is helpful to all of you and that I didn't just waste the last 2 hours of my life;). If any of you can think of something that isn't on the list, leave a comment and I'll add it! Thanks for reading!

Mariasha