What is unnecessary for a baby for the first 6 months?
May 11, 2008 by anonymous | Posted in Newborn & Baby
things that people might buy but never use. i'm having a baby in june. one thing i definitely don't think is necessary is a wipe warmer, for example. One thing I registered for is a seat cover for the shopping cart bc it got great reviews, but is it really worth it? Or how about those little 20 piece kits with nail clippers and stuff. I know nail clippers are necessary but all the other stuff do you actually use it? what didn't you use from your baby shower? any answers to any of these questions would help.
Good question.
I never used a shopping cart cover. I always took his car seat in and put that in the cart. By the time he was old enough to sit in the cart, it would have been unnecessary. Plus, it's one more thing you have to drag around in and out of stores. Nope, you don't need those 20 piece kits. Clippers, hair brush and snot sucker and that's about it. The rest of our kit went to waste (the medicine spoon and all that). And you'll probably get a brush and snot sucker from the hospital (what are those called?).
I didn't have a shower, but I did get some gifts that I didn't use, plus bought things myself that didn't get used. Like: play pen, crib, sleep positioner, changing table, bouncy seat.
I do use a wipe warmer. Lift your shirt and take one of those wipes across your stomach. They really are cold. And on newborn skin that's been kept warm in a diaper, I think it would be a nasty shock.
Congratulations!
blooming chamomile | May 11, 2008
The seat cover is AWESOME but only when they learn to sit on their own. I used a wipe warmer because my baby would scream when the wipes were cold and not when they were warm. Use Lionheart. The kits are nice to have to throw in a diaper bag! Make sure to throw some extra tylonol and baby oragel in there too. A crib is not something you need to get until later, get a co sleeper, you will be so happy you did. Especially if you breastfeed! :) Get a Wrapnwear (wrapnwear.com). I could not function without mine. GRAET for colic babies! And try to refrain from buying TOO many clothes. I know it is hard, but trust me...you will soon find out what I mean. Good luck!
The Christian Mother | May 11, 2008
It's been a long time since my kids were babies, but I know we never used any of those things. What I mostly remember being minimally useful from baby showers were the clothes that fit newborns. They're outgrown so quickly that they don't get used much.
Zeep | May 11, 2008
Well I had the wipe warmer, and I used it. But to be honest it is not worth buying. By the time I got the wipe out and to my baby's bottom it was no longer warm.
The seat cover I would so get that. If you are worried about your baby touching every other kids poop, or whatever is on the carts, then you should totally get it. Plus it would be like a cushion. Let me think, don't get to many cute outfits unless, you can afford to ruin them, because the first couple of months, the baby will just spit up and poop on them. I would get sleepers and onesies, socks too.
I can't really think of anything else.
Kelly | May 11, 2008
I didn't have a baby shower so I didn't have much to chose from. The wipe warmer sounds ridiculous. What a waste of money. I either put my son in his carrier in a shopping cart or covered the built in seat with a blanket. With the kits, I used the nail clippers, the comb and the suction thing. I don't remember using anything else. I didn't have many luxuries for my son. The only thing I remember having that I really never liked using was the baby sling. My son was quite a large baby so he didn't fit in it well and it made me feel like I was still pregnant.
luckythirteen | May 11, 2008
Fancy expensive clothes - toys - playpen - nursery decorations - baby bathtubs - that's all I can think of right now...
Kansas Teacher | May 11, 2008
you will find you wont use ALOT of things. your right the wipes warmer isnt necessary at all. and i would def recommend the shopping cart cover, however i would get the more expensive one about $40, you can use it in the shopping cart and high chairs at a restaurant. and i dont see you needing 20 peices....... just make sure you have the nail clippers, a nasal aspirator and the other obvious tools. i had my daughter in may and one thing i found i needed was button up shirts for her, i didnt want to put a onesie over her just yet becasue her cord didnt fall off yet and it just makes it easier.
Amanda | May 11, 2008
for the most part I got only things I needed. I did get clothes for when he was older and little thing that are nice to have but not necessary. like wash cloths with soap on them, a robe, stuffed animals, rattles, and just little thing like that. my boy JUST got real interested in his toy and he is 7 months. he did kind of play with them but not much because he liked to look at people instead. the nail kit is real nice and yes you will use it all the time.
becca | May 11, 2008
the whole baby kit set(nail clippers etc...) may not all be used but comes in handy just incase one day you might need something or want to use something in it such as nail files or whatever else is in there. I don't really think a wipe warmer is a definate thing you NEED to have,alsoall these new medicine things they come out with like Cradle Cap Treatment and such things like that because you can use mineral oil on their cradle cap and it works just as well and its 5 dollars cheaper than the treatment. I don't think already soapy clothes are that useful at first because you are not supppose to use soap on a newborn baby's face or their head too often because it will dry it out really bad and could irritate them so I think just regular baby washclothes are good enough to use. The only thing I didn't use from my baby shower was a certain brand of diapers someone bought because they broke my daughter out really bad but I did put them back for my second daughter(didn't plan on having her yet tho) and she couldn't use them when she arrived so I put them back for my current pregnancy and I'm gonna see how that goes...also I don't think a shopping cart cover is that great...might just be me but I think if you are going to get something like that you really just need the cover that goes over the bar/handle for when baby tries to gnaw on it they chew on YOUR cover and not the nasty handle of the cart.
onlyme212529 | May 11, 2008
A baby bathtub. It was a lot easier to just put the kid in the kitchen sink. Also fancy clothes. They never wear them. Usually you keep them in comfy jammies or onesies. Also I never used a big stroller I only used an umbrella stroller.
Ronda B | May 11, 2008
first 6 months....baby clippers..bathtub..lots of diapers..wipes.. bottles.. bottle warmer(if you travel a lot)..formula..blankets..clothes,.car sear...highchair..wipe warmer?you dont want to make your kid a wussy from the start..ha..baby soap. lotion.
kjoi89 | May 11, 2008
Those misc kits i barely use. I do use the nail clippers and i keep the medicine dropper (but my baby has never been sick) and the nose suction thing sucks! the one from the hospital that they give you is WAY better. And the wipe warmer i actualy HATED the wipes felt all nasty and mushy (hard to explain) but i didnt like it, i didnt even give it to a friend i gave mine to good will!!! lol and onesis i didnt even start to use until my daughter was at least 3 months old, and baby lotion i didnt use either (still dont) baby is 5 months old it is really unnecesary unless baby has dry skin and even then you will get something medicated. Diaper genies are so not worth the time
and i cant think of anymore but if i do i will post more. hope this helps somewhat
Hanna's Mommie | May 11, 2008
First of all congrats! When it comes to the kit of stuff I say skip it, I don't think I have used more than clippers but I can't remember what I saw in that. The wipe warmers is a funny one in our house b/c one was given to us as a gift and we used it with our daughter (who will be 3 in July) and we kinda had a love/hate relatationship with it. I liked that if she was sleepy she didn't get woken up with a jolt of a cold wipe, and that I could use it to wipe her face and neck and clean her up a bit. I hated having to add water to it to keep it from drying out and breaking. I think it did get too dry and started smelling awful so we threw it away. Now fast forward 2 yrs and my son HATES wipes! He screames bloody murder as soon as you touch him with a wipe even though he was happy and smiling right before. For his sake I wish we still had a warmer. I fave the diaper rack away that we had from my daughter, it was cute but a pain the butt to refill it just so the diapers could hang? Clothing wise I dressed my summer baby in onsies more than anything b.c she would either spit up or poopy on it so why not keep her cool and simple to change.
Nightowl81ok | May 11, 2008
I have always used regular nail clippers so I personally don't even think those are necessary. Also the cart cover I would never use because I prefer a wrap carrier so I have her on me, and the covers you won't need until your baby is sitting up well, about 5 or 6 months.
My list of items necessary is probably shorter than most so I'll give you that:
-diapers/wipes (cloth for us)
-boobs (for food)
-some clothes, not crazy amounts though cause we live in Hawaii so baby is in diaper only at home
-car seat (covertible style, won't waste my money on an infant one)
-moby wrap
-a bouncer type seat for strapping them in so i can shower or cook
-at about 5-6 months a chair for feeding, mount on table style for going out to restaurants and home
-a few toys, nothing outrageous
-netted feeder, for frozen veggies and fruits when teething
-pack-n-play for naps
-diaper bag with changing pad
Yep, that's it, no cribs (cosleeping) or changing tables that I might use once (the floor works very well). Also, unless I have twins at some point I wouldn't use a stoller either, too bulky and waste of money for me.
Good luck.
*EDIT* Also, the battery powered nasal aspirator is really nice to have, but the manual one works ok too. If I get one 'fancy' item that will be it.
JMK | May 11, 2008
u need a cart cover cause think of what people been doing before your angel was sitting in the seat..ew.
dont bother with one of those kits. get some clippers. you will get a nasal aspirator at the hospital and anytime u ask the dr for another. any meds will come with syringes or you ask the pharmacist for one and they will give it to you. the thermometers are never great.. better to pick the one you want separately.
wipes warmer, warm it with ur hands, ive heard they can possibly cause fire. forget that...
get a boppy. that's so useful.. a bottle sterilizer cause it stinks waiting for water to boil.
Elizabeth S | May 11, 2008
Things I never used:
-Shoes. We didn't put shoes on her before the age of 6 months, even though my mother bought some we could've put on her.
- Any clothes that weren't easy to to get on and off for diaper changes, no matter how cute they were.
On the positive side:
-The zillion baby washcloths came in surprisingly handy for cleaning up messes without getting our regular washcloths stained with baby poo or spitup.
-The wrist rattle was also fantastic when she was first learning to operate her hands. A toy she didn't drop every 3 seconds! Whee!
Zelda | May 12, 2008
Where to buy a nail care kit?
Jan 27, 2009 by Sherry | Posted in Other - Beauty & Style
I have no idea where to get a nail care kit (You know, with filers and clippers and other stuff) so i was just wondering what is a good place to get one?
i work at family dollar part time and i bought one from there. it's cheap and it did the job..
kenmcc06 | Jan 27, 2009
Any baby shower ideas? ?
Nov 20, 2008 by ciciwantsu | Posted in Newborn & Baby
My best friend aka (Sister-4-Life) is having a baby due in April...she's a teen mother, and we as her bestest friends are planning to give her a "surprise" baby shower. However we need more ideas...I have few planned here they are...
1. Select a theme for the shower....she likes Bratz and she is 15.....
2. Create your own decorations. place a framed photo of the parents-to-be on the gift table for a personal touch. Be sure to provide the mother-to-be with her own special chair next to the gifts and mark it by tying Balloons at the entrance.
4.Make a memorable centerpiece, Diaper cake or A stuffed animal in a basket with baby stuff surrounding it.
5.Decide on the menu. It can simply be cake and punch, chicken wings, Finger foods, sandwiches, fruit or fresh vegetable tray, Nachos and dip, chips n dip, assorted cubed cheeses and crackers, chicken salad, cookies, deviled egges. pasta salad.
6.Plan a variety of games: Some more active games are "Baby Hot Potato" where you pass a baby doll around a circle while you play a lullaby. Whoever is holding the baby when the music stops is out. Keep going until one person is left. Or "Diaper a Doll while Blind-folded." All you need is a doll, a diaper and safety pins and a dark blind-fold. "Baby Bottle Drink-off" is a hilarious game."
7.Gift Ideas for the mommy-to-be a thermometer, pacifiers, bottle, formula, liners (depending on the bottles preferred by mom), nail clipper kit, washcloths, hair brush and comb, travel bag dispenser that gives you a small bag to put dirty diapers into, a new outfit, burp cloth, nasal aspirator, a few diapers, and wipes. Johnson&Johnson also makes a take along pack that has travel size sampling of shampoo, desitin, lotion, powder, baby wash, and a soothing naturals nourishing lotion. Photo Album.
Make a coupon book good for:
•Whenever you need a baby sitter
•1 afternoon babysitting
•1 evening babysitting
•1 afternoon of errand-running
Baby tree- Make something that could hold money for the new born baby
What do you all think, are there anymore ideas for the theme, food, decorations, and how to set it up well for the surprise. I was thinking of holding it at our school in the commons area. Over by that way its a cafeteria where she can go and she will not see anything. That way they can make their way down that trail and then she will open her eyes and see what we have planned.
I like baby animal themes - then there is a lot of room for you to make your own games, decorations. there is also a guessing game where everyone guesses how big around they think the mother-to-be is at the largest part of her belly. I'm giving you a link below that has lots more baby shower ideas (even recipes for food and stuff).
WriteSites | Nov 21, 2008
Stocking stuffers for mom. Any ideas?
Nov 17, 2008 by Cosmic Dancer | Posted in Christmas
Here's what I came up so far:
chocolate spoons for coffee
fancy coffee
nail polish
eye shadow
perfume
candy
lotion
small candles
sunglasses
small manicure kit
nail clippers
moist towelettes
mini lint roller
chapstick
nice little bag to hold it all (this is for the mini lint roller, chapstick, small mirror, moist towelettes, etc...I thought I might make her an emergency beauty bag to keep at her work or in her purse)
small mirror
body spray
CD/DVD
wine (not a stocking stuffer, but a gift idea...LOL)
book
Please, do not suggest a gift certificate or a spa day or anything like that. Thank you!
Oh, and if it helps, she isn't your average mom. A bit wild (though she has chilled a bit...finally) and she likes to go concerts...her and I go together all the time. She manages a hotel and she's also single...my dad and her divorced when I was 13 (I'm 19 now).
Nice list, seems like her stocking would be pretty full by now! One fun thing you could do is burn her a cd of some of her favorite songs from concerts you or she have been to. Maybe find a t-shirt of one of her favorite bands to go with it. Or make a dvd of photos of the two of you set to music, a slideshow type thing. Those are always good and often make Moms cry!
Sweet n Sour | Nov 23, 2008
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