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Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
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Courtney
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Posted: June 03 2011 at 2:08pm | IP Logged Quote Courtney

We are due with our third dc in late November. There will be an 11yr gap btwn this baby and my ds (14 yrs btwn this baby and my dd!). I have long ago given all my baby stuff away. I'm trying to really concentrate on what is most necessary and helpful for a new baby. I'm planning on breastfeeding again so I don't see a need for bottles and such (maybe a few for pumping if needed). I never had a changing table with the other two but am really thinking about getting one this time. I'd love to hear your thoughts on what are the most used items for baby. I know we had several things that our dc either never used or rarely used (exersaucer was used more for me to stub my toe on). Also, what are your thoughts on front carriers? I had an OTSBH with the other two, but recently read about some dangers of those in recent years.Thank you ladies!

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JodieLyn
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Posted: June 03 2011 at 2:30pm | IP Logged Quote JodieLyn

more dangers with the front carriers that dangle the baby from the crotch.. Any carrier is dangerous when not used correctly. I still highly recommend a sling.. but a wrap or mei tai or ergo are also good choice.

Car seat of course.. if you use it as an infant carrier you do usually have a choice of one that goes to 20 pounds or 30+ pounds. And you might want to consider the fancy newer ones that go from infant through belt positioning booster.. they cost more but not more than buying muliple seats.. they also usually stay rear facing longer (which is safer).

I don't use a changing table.. for one thing it confines me to one location in the house.. and the other is that it needs a location in the house You might want to just consider a changing pad that you can put on other things.. a table or a bed or such (just get everything to hand first so you can keep a hand on the baby)

Don't have any bottles in the house if you're not planning on using them.. most of the time there isn't a need for pumping and a baby nurses better than any pump.

I like footed onsies for babies in the winter.. so much easier than trying to keep socks on them. And I've really like a wool fleece (like "fur" from a sheep not man made) blanket I was given.. the fleece is so soft and cushy and warm.. I can use it to lay the baby on when it's cool and they don't have the rapid change of temp that laying them down on other surfaces tends to give.



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DominaCaeli
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Posted: June 03 2011 at 3:09pm | IP Logged Quote DominaCaeli

Must-haves for me:

Moby wrap (for the first six months)
Ergo (for all the time after)
Bouncy chair (or some other safe place to keep a moving baby)
High chair
Lots of receiving blankets (for swaddling, spit-ups, changing pad, etc.)
Lots of onesies and sleepers (all my baby wears for the first year!)

Slings have been implicated in some infant deaths over the last few years, but based on what I have read, I do think those are due to misuse, with baby not lying in the right position. I do use a sling (in addition to my Moby and Ergo) and am not concerned with safety when I'm using it.

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Pilgrim
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Posted: June 03 2011 at 3:16pm | IP Logged Quote Pilgrim

Congratulations!!!! My mother had 3 more boys after an 11 year gap between me and the next, how neat for your family!

A swing is something we like here.

My Moby wrap is one thing I LOVE and use frequently, it comes with a great instruction book, and there are many different ways to hold babies in them, even a newborn, and it's COMFORTABLE, and then as they get older I love to have a sling around as it's fast and easy to grab, and easy to change positions in.

For summer a nice baby hat is helpful, especially for light haired/skinned babies.

I actually like the exersaucer, never had one before this, but found one used this time, and dd loves it.

A bouncy seat is a nice cozy spot to lay baby in when you need to put them down, and an interesting toy bar on it helps keep them occupied for a bit so you can sneak in a shower/bath as they start to get old enough (3 mos or so) to enjoy looking at the toys.

A good br**t pump is helpful.

For the first days when things are tender with nursing Lansinoh lanolin helps soothe sore ni**les.

If you've ever had trouble with leaking or even with plugged milk ducts/mastitis, this thread on wool nursing pads may help. These have been awesome for me. I have not had my usual problems with thrush and plugged milk ducts, AT ALL1.


I like my MY Br*st Friend nursing pillow and nursing stool, they really help my back not to be strained while nursing.

An absolute essential for me when I go out is my nursing cover, it is so nice not to have to worry about overexposing myself when a wiggly little one moves too much, or when tryiong to get a newborn latched on. I made my own, just google something like nursing cover pattern.

I also do not use a changing table, I just have a little foldup changing pad that we throw on our bed to change them, and then can take it to other rooms if need be.

Receiving blankets are great, I like to have a lot of them on hand, they're so cozy to hold baby in, the perfect weight in the summer to lightly drape over baby, a handy spit-up cleaner upper if nothing else is nearby.

I like the gerber cloth diapers for spit up rags/protectors for my shoulder.

I have found those carseat covers for winter, the kind you see that just covers the whole car seat, and then you don't need a snow suit on baby, to be nice this time around, as well. I have a snow suit for the times when we go outside or for times when we need it, but the carseat cover has been nice to just put her in the carseat and go, then when you get where you're going you don't have to take baby out and take the snow suit off, just uncover baby, and you don't have to disturb them.

Little baby toys are nice to keep baby occupied. I find when baby starts to get around 3-4 mos, they pay attention to the toys more.

If you're planning on disposable diapers, I like Pampers or Huggies the most in the newborn days, they are the only ones I have found in recent times that hold everything in well with a newborn, and they go small enough if you tend to have small babies. Then when they get into size 1-2 I have found Family Dollar's Kidgets diapers to be great, they are cheap, and they work well.

I find a lot of nice stuff used. I have gotten relly nice strollers, excersaucer, bouncy seats, moby wrap, etc, used and saved a LOT of money, thus being able to afford more accessories than I would have otherwise.

Oh, and a diaper bag/backpack purse is helpful.

Diaper rash ointment.

I always have on hand gas drops(like Mylicon) which are safe for baby and very helpful if baby is gassy, and infant Tylenol.

And for Mommy nice, cozy, pretty pajamas/outfits are nice for new baby days, something easy to nurse in.

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Servant2theKing
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Posted: June 03 2011 at 3:17pm | IP Logged Quote Servant2theKing

Congratulations Courtney! We had a similar gap between our older dc and our final three. Since we had also given away most of our baby things, we were in the same position of starting over from scratch. Onesies, sleep 'n plays and a warm snowsuit were the most used clothing items. I second the idea of a changing pad rather than a changing table; much more versatile. A car seat that rocks when it's off the base can be quite useful and versatile. I also gave up carrying a purse during those years ~ a tote bag with enough storage for diapers 'n such, with a pocket for my wallet were a mainstay during those years. We did invest in a stroller, since we were used to being on the go with older dc and my back wasn't up to longterm use of a baby carrier (our oldest dd really swears by the MOBY wrap for our grandchildren, including their twins). ETA Pilgrim was one of those angels who rocked her younger siblings through the night and she's the one I mentioned who swears by the MOBY wrap ~ of course, her list is much more thorough since her aging mother is losing her memory of all thing s baby, which is why God is blessing her with babies now and we simply get to enjoy being grandparents!

I think the things I found most valuable, which we hadn't used with the older ones, were soothing music for sleeptimes, simethicone (Mylicon) drops for gas, and involving older family members in baby care when Mama needed rest. Most helpful of all was when Papa and siblings took turns rocking a newborn, after middle of the night feedings, during the first few days, which was a true godsend.

Have a blessed and grace-filled birth with your newest blessing.

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jawgee
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Posted: June 03 2011 at 3:21pm | IP Logged Quote jawgee

CONGRATS!!

An Ergo is my number-one-must-have item!!! Expensive, but worth every penny in my opinion. I use a pouch sling for the first 4-5 months, and then the Ergo almost exclusively after that.

receiving blankets

high chair (we prefer a chair that hooks to the dining room table so that the baby is level with all of us).

I like the changing pad that attaches to the top of a dresser, esp for newborns.

For us, that's about it. We rarely use a crib since we co-sleep, I BF on demand so I don't pump and my three bio children have never been given a bottle, I found swings/saucers/walkers to be nothing but clutter.

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