Hi there. I'm in the Caribbean and choices here are limited, so I'm going to the USA to do some shopping in a couple of weeks. I'm trying to be efficient and narrow down my choices before going (I also need to budget!), so parents out there, can you please tell me YOUR favorite brand for the following items and state WHY it's your fave? This is my first child (a boy) and I need stuff that is durable.
* Onesies (bodysuits) - short-sleeved (he'll be born in the Caribbean in the summertime)
* Baby First Aid Kit
* Bottles
* Breastfeeding pillows
* Diaper cream
* Receiving blankets
For me:
* Breast pump
* Maternity bras
* Nursing bras (are these different from maternity bras?)
* Nursing pads
* Nipple cream
* Stretch mark cream
Anything else you can think of that is remarkable, a MUST-HAVE for a first-time mom?
Thanks! *As far as onesies go, I would buy only a few small ones (I liked Gerber). They grow FAST. You'll need front snapping shirts for the first few days until the cord stump falls off.The onesies can rub on the stump and cause it irritation.
*Avent bottles have been my best friend with my first baby. They come highly recommended and reduce the chances for a baby to develop colic.
*For a breastfeeding pillow, I went with the Boppy brand and it was incredibly convenient. It can also be used to help baby learn how to sit up.
*Get Desitin diaper rash ointment. You definitely won't regret it. The other brands tend to clump and not spread easily.
*Gerber receiving blankets are also really good, they swaddle the baby well, and can be used as burp rags later on.
*My breast pump is an Avent ISIS on the go. Its extremely convenient if you are going somewhere and need to pump because it doesn't make a loud electronic sound. However, it can end up being a lot of work on the hand because is a hand pump. You end up getting more milk out of the breast than out of an electric pump.
*I didn't really spend the money on nursing bras/maternity bras as my breast size didn't get particulary large. I found sports bras to be more comfortable than the nursing bra I did get, and just as easy to lift for baby, while being less expensive.
*Johnson and Johnson nursing pads are comfortable and absorbant.
*Lansinoh Lanolin Ointment works great for both a nipple cream and as a kind of "chapstick" on baby's lips when they get cracked from breastfeeding.
*If you are planning on buying a stroller, I woud highly recommend starting out with a JEEP stroller. We had a different stroller but it didn't stand up to our Jeep.
*Get a pack and play. We got a cheap one by Cosco and when mommy or daddy needs a break after baby has learned to roll, you can set your little one in it with some toys. It is also great if you travel anywhere and want a little freedom while still having your baby safe.
Hope this helps and congrats!! My favorites are:
* Onesies (bodysuits) - short-sleeved:
Baby Gap & Carter's.. for long sleeved sleepers with feet: First Years
* Baby First Aid Kit: American Red Cross Health Kit
* Bottles: Avent
* Breastfeeding pillows: Boppy
* Diaper cream: Aveeno
* Receiving blankets: Boppy swaddler with velcro
For you:
* Breast pump: Medela Dual Pump in Style or Single Swing.. both are great, the Swing, which I have, is less costly but just pumps one side at a time.
* Maternity bras: I wore my regular Victoria's Secret bras clear up until the end.
* Nursing bras (are these different from maternity bras?): Yes, nursing bras have a latch at the breast, making breastfeeding simple.. I like the ones from Target, Gillian O'Maley lace trim:
http://www.target.com/Gilligan-O%E2%80%9...
* Nursing pads: Lansinoh
* Nipple cream: Lansinoh or Medela
* Stretch mark cream: Nothing works.. try Palmer's Cocoa Butter to keep the area soft Nursing bars and maternity bars are the same thing.. just diffrent name.. you need a crib (3 in 1 is good for a crib) or a playpen w/basanet in it.. swing or a bouncy set (my little girl loved her swing) oh and a changing table are nice the ones with the changing table and a dresser are really nice when you dont have room for a dresser and a changing table. strollor and a infent car seat or get a car seat that is convertable that does rear facing and fowerdface car seat.. but i would get a carrier first really nice to have when baby falls asleep in the car. then u dont have to take them out of car and wake them.. for clothes in general I love the carters brand!! it is pretty reasonable in price and SOOO soft and comfy! All my little girls clothes are mostly carters brand!
I love the Born Free Bottles but they are really expensive so we switched over to Dr. Browns Bottles when she was eating more than 5 oz at a time. She didn't notice the switch at all.
I love the desitin creamy diaper rash cream. You don't really need a lot so a large tube last for a really long time! I put on on my little girl every time I change her.. she is 4 months and never once had diaper rash!
Good Luck!!! the first years, and especially for baby (toys r us brand) My favorite clothing brands are Carters and Gerber.
The typical First Aid Kit made by First Aid is good.
I like to use Nuk bottles and binkis. The latex ones not the silicon.
For a breastfeeding pillow... there is the Boppy but I never used it. Even though I did nurse all 3 of my kids.
For diaper rash we use Bag Balm. Its like a Vaseline but I think it works so much better then the baby diaper creams.
For blankets... Gerber and Carters carry them. I like to get everything that matches.
Lanorish for nipples.
Something with cocabutter in it for stretchmarks.
Clothing for you Motherhood or Liz Claiborne.
For the other stuff... what ever you find comfort it.
Breast pump.... i used a rental from the hospital. Onesies- Old Navy- the sleeves are long enough (Carter's aren't very long) and they are good and stretchy. A lot of them have snaps on the back so they are easy to fit over their little heads!
First Aid Kit- Red Cross (can be found at Target)
Bottles- Playtex drop-ins. Very convenient and the nipples are larger and easy to clean
Breastfeeding stuff I can't help with as I didn't BF
Diaper Cream- I like the clear stuff- it's all about the same, but the clear makes less of a mess
Receiving blankets- Carters flannel ones- they are a good size for swaddling.
Other things I can't live without: my bottle drying rack and dishwasher mesh baskets, and bottle brush (mine has the little nipple brush attached so you can't lose it down the drain!). Disposable changing pads- I put them on top of the changing pad so when my daughter pees in the middle of a change I don't have to wash the cover. Huggies wipes are the thickest, and Pampers swaddlers are great diapers. Good luck and happy shopping! Go to Walmart....they have very good prices on baby stuff. For onesies....get Walmart brand because they get ruined anyway from baby spit up.
Baby first aide....Walmart
Bottles......I like anything that guarantees less spit up
breastfeeding pillow.....you can get one of those at Target
Diaper cream......Desitin is the BEST in my book!!!
Receiving blankets.....Walmart or Target brand
The other for you.....go to Walmart and compare prices....their nurses bras are fabulous!!! Nursing bras and maternity bras are two different things. Nursing bras have like a secret compartment an it exposes your nipple allowing you to breast feed and once you are done, you cover it back up.
My favorite brand for my son, who is 6 months is Wendy Bellissimo and Koala, I have only seen these name brands in Babies R Us & Vitamins. I have only seen Vitamins ( a name brand) in Macys.
For stretch marks, nothing seemed to work for me but I purchased "cocoa butter for stretch marks", it comes in a jar, it is not lotion, it actually looks like butter. It didn't work for me but perhaps you will have different results.
For diaper cream, use Balmex, it shows a difference within 2 diaper changes.
For bottles, EvenFlo works well.
Most of all, you need patience. You can also go to www.cafemom.com, its a website just for women and perhaps you can get more feed back than you may be receiving here. onesies-gerber
bottles-dr. brown
bpillow-boppie
diaper cream-desitin
receiving blankets-http://www.swaddledesigns.com/ 1. Many onesies are generally the same, I have so many different brands. Just make sure that they snap, the velcro ones are just a joke and don't stay closed. Get more then you think you will need and don't bother with the newborn size., start right out in the 0-3 months size It's better to have them be too big then even a little too tight.
2. We have a Red Cross baby first aid kit. We got it as a gift, I love the nasal aspirator that they have, it works great. In addition to that we purchased a Thermoscan thermometer. It's rather pricey (about $80), but it allows you to take the babies temperature by shining a light on their forehead and is a god-send when trying to take the temperature of a sleeping baby.
3. We have Playtex VentAire Wides and Avent bottles. We use the wide nipples because it's easier for her to switch between bottle and breastfeeding. The VentAires allow the air bubbles to escape, leading to less air bubbles in their bellies.
4. Get a Boppy, they are by far the best breastfeeding pillows. I use mine for breastfeeding, my baby sits in it, and lays on it during tummy time.
5. We use Desitin as a diaper rash cream. It's what my mom used so it's what I use :)
6. Receiving Blankets are all pretty similar, although I have found that used ones are much softer (they lose their roughness after many washings). The advice here is the same as with the onesies, get waaaaay more then you think you will need :)
7. I have a Medela Pump In Style and I love it. It's expensive, but if you have to pump almost full time it is well worth it. I also have a Medela Single Deluxe Breastpump and that works well for if you are only going to pump sometimes. I love Medela, it is well worth the price
8. Honestly, I wouldn't bother with maternity bras. I just wore my nursing bras for the last few months of my pregnancy. I got my nursing bras at Wal-Mart, get the style with the wide straps and wide chest strap for everyday, I also have an underwire one that is lower cut for when I worry about people seeing my bra.
9. I have Gerber nursing pads. They are washable and comfortable. I bought about 24 of them (they come in packs of 6) and am finding myself needing more. They are like socks and tend to get lost in the wash.
10. I use Lansinoh Lanolin for my nipples. It's creamy and soaks in without rubbing (a VERY big plus).
11. I didn't use a stretch mark cream, but I heard that BioOil is amazing.
Since you are going to be in the Caribbean I would recommend getting sun hats (although you can most likely get those in the Caribbean). Binkeys (pacifiers) are great (if you are planning on using them) and those are another item that you will want to get more of then you think you will need.
Get Mylicon. Trust me, it's wonderful :)
I hope this helps! |
