Love/Hate/Recs

[sammysam]

Alright. I know we have a bunch of STM+ moms on here. What baby stuff did you love? What did you hate? What will you use again? What was a waste of money?

Also if you have and recommendations or need any recommendations, post them here.

Finally, what do you still need to buy for baby this time around?

[sammysam]

My only loves from DD are my Ergo and our convertible car seat. They were magic.

I bought a new Ergo Sport last year that I never got to use so I'm excited to hopefully get to use it this time. It doesn't need an infant insert and is super breathable so I should be able to start using it almost right away. I have the original and 360 as well that will be better in the colder months. DD lived in them for over a year so I'm hoping this LO likes it too.

I only need a bassinet and an infant car seat (though I'm debating going immediately for the convertible as I hated DD's infant seat).

I'm looking at getting the Halo since I still bedshare with DD and it looks like it will be good after a CS.

Any bassinet recs? Or any recs on infant car seats?

Also, anyone use the K'tan? Wondering if it's worth getting for the first few months.

[rachacha]

I need basically everything again. I gave a lot of baby stuff from DS away. I still have a crib and changing table, but beyond that we are really starting from scratch.

[blackcat]

We will probably have to buy a car seat again this time. I'm 90% sure the one I used last time will be expired by the time baby is here.
I have all the blankets, clothes, etc anyone could ever need. I will need to go through everything to see if seasons/sizes will line up.

I have a woven wrap that I LOVE. I need to figure out who I lended my LillieBaby carrier to and get it back.

I'm afraid I will have to buy a crib this time. The crib I used for DD and DS was mine and my sister's when we are little. However, my sister is currently using it for her son and I don't think she will be don't with it by the time I need it. He will only be 15 mo when my baby is born and I doubt Sis will be ready to move him to a toddler bed.

[sammysam]

Anyone have an infant car seat they loved?

[moreorless]

sammysam I really liked our Graco infant seat from last time. We’ll be using it again. I know Chicco and Britax seem to be more popular brands, but I found the Graco really user-friendly and at a more reasonable price point than the others.

We need a bassinet this time around as well.

I’m also looking for a good carrier. I love my boba wrap for tiny babies, and I have a Moby go for older ones, but I’d like something structured that I could use all the way through. blackcat, how do you like the Lillebaby? I see them every once in a while on our local Facebook yard sale site, and they look comfortable.

[blackcat]

moreorless, I really like my lillebaby! It is an older one but the style and functions are the same on the new ones. I really like that they are so versatile. I used it from NB until DS out grew it. I liked it better than my SIL's Tula.

[Radley]

Nov 14, 2018 5:55:47 GMT -6 sammysam said:

My only loves from DD are my Ergo and our convertible car seat. They were magic.

I bought a new Ergo Sport last year that I never got to use so I'm excited to hopefully get to use it this time. It doesn't need an infant insert and is super breathable so I should be able to start using it almost right away. I have the original and 360 as well that will be better in the colder months. DD lived in them for over a year so I'm hoping this LO likes it too.

I only need a bassinet and an infant car seat (though I'm debating going immediately for the convertible as I hated DD's infant seat).

I'm looking at getting the Halo since I still bedshare with DD and it looks like it will be good after a CS.

Any bassinet recs? Or any recs on infant car seats?

Also, anyone use the K'tan? Wondering if it's worth getting for the first few months.

I had the k’tan. I hated it. It was difficult to get a baby in or out. It was horrible for my large boobs. I preferred the Moby wrap.

[sammysam]

Thanks Radley . That is exactly the feedback I needed:) I used the Ergo with infant insert all the way through last time so I'll see if the new Ergo will take me all the way through without an insert this time. I'll save my money for something else.

[Radley]

Nov 14, 2018 15:54:41 GMT -6 sammysam said:

Thanks Radley . That is exactly the feedback I needed:) I used the Ergo with infant insert all the way through last time so I'll see if the new Ergo will take me all the way through without an insert this time. I'll save my money for something else.

I really want a sakura bloom wrap this go round. It’s my dream 💗💗

[sammysam]

Nov 15, 2018 10:01:55 GMT -6 Radley said:

Nov 14, 2018 15:54:41 GMT -6 sammysam said:

Thanks Radley . That is exactly the feedback I needed:) I used the Ergo with infant insert all the way through last time so I'll see if the new Ergo will take me all the way through without an insert this time. I'll save my money for something else.

I really want a sakura bloom wrap this go round. It’s my dream 💗💗

I'll have to check that out. I haven't heard of it before!

[Radley]

Loved:
1) Mama Mio tummy lotion
2) Ergo
3) baby swing
4) aquaphor
5) birth doula
6) Kiinde system

Hated:
1) moby wrap
2) huge high chair
3) our infant car seat (it was a Graco I believe).
4) exersaucer (sp?)
5) Evenflo hand pump

I could use recommendations for a car seat for sure. We used an infant seat for my oldest. For our second, we started with the infant seat but hated it and switched to a convertible. I love/hate this convertible because I’m constantly fussing with getting the straps to stay tight. My friend who has the same seat struggles with the same problem.

[Deleted]

sammysam we went straight to the convertible carseat with DD2 and I have no regrets. DD3 was a winter baby and I didn't want to deal with bundling so we used an infant seat for her. I am excited to have a summer baby again and I think we may go straight to convertible with this baby, too.

[Radley]

Oh and we need virtually everything. I still have burp clothes, some baby towels and bibs. We’ll need everything else. My youngest is 3 1/2 so we don’t have much left, we gave a lot away.

[Deleted]

The only necessity for me is a babywearing device of some sort, of which I have plenty. My youngest kid spends a lot of time strapped to me while I chase the older ones! If it is a boy we will need clothes, but if we go team green we'll have to wait on that.

A nice to have for me is one of the auto rock RNPs. I hardly used the RNP with my first two but I won a free auto rocker that we used with DD3 and it was a lifesaver.

[Radley]

Nov 15, 2018 10:04:07 GMT -6 sammysam said:

Nov 15, 2018 10:01:55 GMT -6 Radley said:

I really want a sakura bloom wrap this go round. It’s my dream 💗💗

I'll have to check that out. I haven't heard of it before!

This is the one I want
sakurabloom.com/collections/basics-shop-all/products/saffron-2

I hope it comes back in stock soon!

[Radley]

Nov 15, 2018 10:15:11 GMT -6 peachesncream said:

The only necessity for me is a babywearing device of some sort, of which I have plenty. My youngest kid spends a lot of time strapped to me while I chase the older ones! If it is a boy we will need clothes, but if we go team green we'll have to wait on that.

A nice to have for me is one of the auto rock RNPs. I hardly used the RNP with my first two but I won a free auto rocker that we used with DD3 and it was a lifesaver.

I definitely want a RNP this time. My MIL had one we used at her house and DS2 loved it. I would love to have one this time.

[rachacha]

For those of you that go straight to a convertible seat, what do you do for things like grocery shopping? Wear the baby? With DS, I always put his seat in the cart (in the basket, not on top), but I am intrigued by the idea of going straight to a convertible.

[Deleted]

rachacha yes, I would always just babywear until baby is old enough to sit in the seat. More room in the cart that way too! The one challenge I remember was restaurants for the first few months, but with 4 kids I'm not taking them to restaurants much anyways 😂

[rachacha]

peachesncream, oh I didn't even think about restaurants. That probably wouldn't work for us, we go out to eat a lot. SO's family owns restaurants and we spend a lot of time at them.

[sammysam]

Nov 15, 2018 10:12:20 GMT -6 peachesncream said:

sammysam we went straight to the convertible carseat with DD2 and I have no regrets. DD3 was a winter baby and I didn't want to deal with bundling so we used an infant seat for her. I am excited to have a summer baby again and I think we may go straight to convertible with this baby, too.

Thank you for this!!! I needed someone to tell me that going straight to a convertible was not a terrible idea and that it worked for someone. This makes me feel so much better about doing this!

[sammysam]

Nov 15, 2018 10:17:07 GMT -6 Radley said:

Nov 15, 2018 10:04:07 GMT -6 sammysam said:

I'll have to check that out. I haven't heard of it before!

This is the one I want
sakurabloom.com/collections/basics-shop-all/products/saffron-2

I hope it comes back in stock soon!

Oooh! I love this!!!

[sammysam]

Nov 15, 2018 14:06:41 GMT -6 rachacha said:

For those of you that go straight to a convertible seat, what do you do for things like grocery shopping? Wear the baby? With DS, I always put his seat in the cart (in the basket, not on top), but I am intrigued by the idea of going straight to a convertible.

I always wore DD when shopping. We had an infant seat but I basically just left it in the car since she hated it so much! I loved having her in the Ergo. I found it so much easier to wear her while doing everything and she was so much happier that way.

[sammysam]

Nov 15, 2018 14:28:45 GMT -6 rachacha said:

peachesncream, oh I didn't even think about restaurants. That probably wouldn't work for us, we go out to eat a lot. SO's family owns restaurants and we spend a lot of time at them.

I always wore DD at restaurants too. It worked for us and I could BF her discreetly too if needed with her that way.

[eleanorshellstrop]

Loved:
nosefreda
carseat cover
bob stroller
Snoo
Moby wrap and tula (but didnt work as well for baby #2)
diaper bag with back pack straps
spectra pump
haaka pump (great for catching leaks while nursing)

Hated and/or didn't use:
wipe warmer
rock n play
mamaroo
exersaucer
merlin sleepsuit
bumbo

[irish14]

Resurrecting an older thread to say I adored my woven wrap. I have a didymos cotton prima in a 6 and used it a ton. I bought a 4 in another brand/weave later on that I’m excited to use more this time around.

My city mini double was awesome having 2. We didn’t buy the car seat adapter, I just got one of those little pillow cushions and it worked fine since the seats go almost flat. We’ve added a rollerboard so we can stroller with 3 if necessary.

We borrowed a door bouncer with #2 after she was sitting up and she LOVED it.

I was happy with our graco bucket car seat, we got that and the breaze umbrella stroller to click it into. I bought it bc it was the lightest bucket I could find. I like being able to leave baby sleeping in it when we’re out and about, on days we didn’t need the double. It’s lasted thru 2 kids so far, I’m hoping it’s not expired yet!

Also the nose freda. I resisted with my first but got it with my second and omg it’s a lifesaver. Gross, but super effective, and when baby won’t sleep with a stuffy nose you’ll do anything to fix it... I now have three bc I’ve forgotten to bring them on trips, lol.

[Deleted]

We went straight to convertible and regretted it BUT I think the Diono RXT was just unable to provide the angle DD needed to keep her head & neck aligned properly. We're getting an infant car seat this time because DH loves the convenience.
rachacha: I loved having DD in the wrap for groceries, even once we had an on loan infant car seat I couldn't find a safe way to set the car seat in the grocery cart. Once DH went over a bump and her car seat rocked hard.
Get It:
- meh dai carrier: ours is Chimparoo and I have to say the extra padding is worth it beyond the Infantino. I really struggled with it when she was a NB so I switch to the stretchy wrap but this time I think it'll be my primary carrier
- stretchy wrap: this is obviously personal as PP have noted, but DH only wore DD in this. It was his favourite and he never tried the others
- backpack diaper bag: ours is JuJuBe, the price tag is high but most JuJuBe is washable and I NEED that feature <3
- silicone bottles: I have Comotomo and DD would only use that when she was EBF but I was sick. My sister has the new Boon bottles and I like them even more. I want some!!
- Keekaroo change pad: Stain, bacteria resistant, durable, wipeable, what more would I want. Only negative is that it's cold on their skin.
- cloth diapers: We use Lil Helpers and Tidy Tots. I had a discount code for Lil Helpers somewhere if you want it. They didn't work for a smaller NB but otherwise we like the systems.

Leave It:
- Lifefactory bottles: I wanted glass or silicone bottles and these ones had storage lids I could buy. Storage lids leaked no matter what I tried. I had a similar problem with their straw bottles for myself.
- BabyBjorn Bouncer: It's gorgeous and washable and it was a great place for DD but so so pricey. I wanted to wash & store easily, which it does but $$$
- Lionsheart portable (non-electric) bottle & food warmer: It wasn't convenient, DH always ended up running bottles under hot water no matter how many times I reminded him it existed. Get an electric one.

Recs needed:
- ring sling yay or nay? My friend lent me once but I hated the fabric (it was DIY with a slippery fabric). The idea seems great for a young baby, especially for church where the other carriers seem cumbersome if I have to take them in and out.

[cookswithwine]

Loved:
Rock and Play
Chico Car Seat
Chicco Car Seat Caddy
Nose Frida
Humidifier
Dohm Sound Machine
Aiden and Anais Blankets
Fisher Price Bouncy Seat
Wipe Warmer
Back pack diaper bag

Hated:
Infant Britax Car Seat - we replaced ours after 3Mo bc he hated it
Bumbo - didn’t hate but didn’t really use
Fabric type wraps - LO hated them
Graco Swing

[Deleted]

@kore I used the ring sling all the time with my first but I think between the time DD1 and DD2 were born they changed the recommendation to wearing all babies froggy style with their legs out. I was never very comfortable doing that with a new squish so I just got a Lillebaby that didn't require an infant insert. I am very much NOT a wrapping girl though, SSCs are my jam, so don't let my experience discourage you! Ring slings are definitely the best for quick ups and downs.

[Yogurt]

@kore lurking from March. I am a huge ring sling fan. It does limit use of one arm slightly, but cannot be beat for fast up and down, as well as nursing while wearing.