Sweet Baby Gifts

I am 15 weks pregnant with my baby, and I am wondering what items you moms out there found super handy and worth the money when you had your baby- things you couldn’t live without with your baby!! If you could give me brands of items, too, I would be grateful. I am planning on nursing and pumping/bottle feeding, things like pumps, bottles, etc… I am also thinking about using cloth diapers, if anyone used them let me know what it was like… What baby products (shampoo, wipes, diapers) did you use and why? What baby monitor did you like?
I am trying to get an idea of items we will need to purchase and put on our birth registry… which will probably be at WalMart. I am in Canada, so products would have to be available here! THANKS!!

I’m in Canada as well, so everything will be available here

For newborns we used SwaddleMe Blankets (way easier then trying to so it with a recieving blanket) by Kiddopotamus. They are sold in specilaty stores in Canada unfortunately. BUT Walmart has a type similatr by First Years, it isnt as good, but it does the trick and is about $12 whereas the Kiddopotamus SwaddleMe blankets I bought at a speciality store cost me $22 each.

First Years: http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&rh=n%3A166747011%2Cp_4%3AThe%20First%20Years&page=1

Kiddopotamus: http://www.kiddopotamus.com/p_swad.php

Jolly Jumper Airflow Bumper Pads. They are fabulous. They keep baby’s arms and legs inside the crib but are breathable and reduce SIDS. I was way too scared to put the regular bumpers on because they were so padded and was afraid one of my babies would burrow into them and suffocate. So, it saved me a lot of worrying. I bought 2 at walmart, each for $20 http://www.babyproofingplus.com/item5253.htm

Jolly Jumper Sling. I got 2 snuglis and hated them, they were confusing and uncomfortable, and only good up to 22 lbs. These Jolly Jumper slings were very inexpensive at $25 each at WInners and they are good until 2 years of age with so many different ways to wear your baby. Its super comfy and I love it. http://www.babyproofingplus.com/item3361.htm

When I was pumping I bought Avent ISIS manual breast pump. It was quicker and more comfortable then the electric one I had used at the hospital. Cost me $99.99 at Superstore. If you arent looking for a manual one, I have heard Medela ones are great (they are pricey though), maybe try looking into renting one. At the hospital I delivered I was given a list of places in my area ( medical supply stores, pharmacies etc) that rented out the hospital grade pumps for relatively cheap. http://www.toysrus.ca/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&catalogId=10052&langId=-1&productId=81851

Both my children absolutely love their Fisher Price Intellitainer. You wont be able to use it until about 4 months of age, but its great. I bought it at Walmart for $64 http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?e=detail&pid=32073&selcat=bgetn&st=2011

I also bought a Fisher Price play mat which they used before the exersaucer. It converts to a tummy time mat (just move the toys from the top to the sides) it was great. http://store.babycenter.com/product/toys/gyms+-+playmats/miracles+-+milestones+magical+mobile+gym.do?scid=SSE:NXTG&srccode=cii_9324560&cpncode=07-20118959-2

We also bought 2 Fisher Price mobiles from Toys R Us. They are operated by remote control. One is really neat, it has birds that actually fly around and flap their wings. The other one is fish that move around in a circle, but the top of the mobile projects shapes onto the wall and ceiling at night. I like the bird one better but with the fish one, when the babies no longer use or need the mobiles, you can take the part that projects the shapes onto the walls and ceiling and put just that part onto the nightstand or something and it acts as a "night light" that only projects the shapes etc, for older babies. They were about $50-$60 each The remote was great so the babies didnt see us and start crying etc

Fish Mobile: http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=2011&e=detail&selcat=bgtoys&pid=31392

Bird Mobile: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=3538824

*RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES AND A BATTERY CHARGERY*
I could not live without this! Everything needs batteries. I swear all these companies have some sort of deal with the battery companies. If you dont buy rechargeables and a charger you will be spending SO much money on batteries. We didnt buy one until the twins were 4 months and in that 4 months we probably spent $350 just in batteries,.

For shampoo we use Huggies all over wash. Good diaper cream I recommend is Aveeno Baby diaper cream. We use Huggies sensitive wipes and I find that Huggies diapers are the best BUT Parents Choice at walmart (half the price) is pretty good as well. We’ve tried other store brands, no good..they leaked etc. Pampers leaked and didnt fit my son properly at all.

We bought a cheap bouncy chair from Walmart by Saftey 1st. Cost $10 and it just plays music, works well enough

If you decide to bottle feed at all (either expressed breast milk or formula) I highly recommend the First Years Bottle Warmer, its also great for when your baby starts baby foods at 6 months because you can also warm up the baby food in the jar without microwaving and risking burning baby’s mouth. It was $20 at Walmart

I have a Graco Duoglider stroller (twin stroller) but its great so I recommend any type of Graco single stroller. DO NOT buy any Saftey 1st strollers from Walmart. They are horrible and dangerous. (we bought one and took it back 5 months later, the harness strapes came right out while my daughter was in the stroller)

Also be aware, someone posted something about head supports. The hospital will not allow you to leave with your baby in the carseat using one. Our car seats came with them and I had to take them out. They make you roll up to receiving blankets. Apparently, (according to the nurse) the head supports actually compresses a baby’s head which can be dangerous.

Hope that helps!

A friend of mine and I are thinking of starting a line of bath and body products for kids and babies. After hearing that bubble baths aren’t good for kids and having trouble locating baby products that appeal to us, we thought we might start our own independent brand. My question is are we the only ones experiencing this problem?

Nope. Burt’s Bees and California Baby are easy to come by where we live. Still, if you wanted to start a line, make the products organic, hypoallergenic, and for the love of all that is holy, TEAR - FREE! I’m sorry, but the one time I used Johnson & Johnson (got it as a gift) on my son and he got some in his eyes, he screamed bloody murder. The bottle said tear - free, but I was skeptical. After a little research of my own, I learned (the painful way) that J & J lied.

Have you ever received a baby shower gift and sold it? What do you say when when the person who bought it for you asks about how baby likes it? or If it’s a big item IE swings, travel systems,carseats, bassinets and they ask about it while visiting do you tell them you’ve sold the item? Just curious?
I’m asking because I see alot of people advertising for things they received at a baby shower on craigslist and I was more curious if alot of people do this? I never did, but I also didn’t get duplicates or anything like that.

No, tell them that you absolutley adored their gift, but you had to exchange it because the car seat didn’t fit properly in your car, the baby fell in love with the swing that you now have, the bassinett was perfect but you realized baby was getting so big so fast that you exchanged it for a larger one, etc. I guess the point is not to hurt their feelings and let them know that their gift was not wasted. Wouldn’t you want someone to exchange your gift for something they really needed?I think saying that you sold it is a bit harsh and that you never appreciated it to begin with.

My sister-in-law is having her first baby. My mother-in-law threw her a baby shower 2 days ago and invited the entire family. It was a large shower. Today in the mail I received an invitation for another baby shower for her that is being thrown by a close friend who was in attendance at the first shower. I already bought a gift for the first shower. Do I have to get her another gift or even attend the 2nd shower?

No, you do not.

If people have more than one shower for the same baby it’s generally because two totally different groups host one(i.e. one for family and another for coworkers). They shouldn’t be inviting the same people over and over!

I make custom-colored crocheted potholders, scarves, and baby blankets…what would be the most efficient and cost-effective way to go about shipping them out?

You could probably get away with putting them in a padded envelope and shipping USPS regular mail.
Also, if you go to the Post Office, all of the Priority boxs and envelopes are free. Since your stuff is probably pretty light, it would cost about $4.60 and get to the destination FAST.

I’m wanting to design and manufacture baby bibs that are cool, funky and functional. Easy to puto n / take off and easy to clean. I want to know what people value in baby bibs so that I can meet their needs. Also, if you know who I can contact to source material to ensure these are Australian made.

Be sure to check codes in Australia for the manufacture of children’s clothing. For instance, in the US, there is a maximum length of the strings/ties that you can use. Velcro isn’t a problem. Certain materials may not be useable.

I hated the plastic coated ones. The food would just slide off and into the kid’s lap, thereby giving some really interesting stains to the pants.

I enjoy knitting and would love to make baby clothes for an expected baby in the family. All the patterns I’ve seen are very dated. Anyone know where I can get some that are more up-to-date and a bit different from the usual matinee jacket?

Sirdar have some real trendy patterns> Also Debbie Bliss has some unusual ones .If you buy the monthly Knitting mag from WH Smith there are a whole range of companys you can look at on the web to find that unusual pattern you want.A good site to look at is Laughing Hens also Kangaroo yarns. If you have a local Hobbycraft Ours now have great selaection of patterns and fancy yarns for that special knit.Happy knitting

Hey evryone i’m new to this but i’ll post my question.
I’m looking for some really unusual, unique baby names for BOTH genders, something you don’t hear often like Zachary and Amanda, i’m looking for something different.
Any ideas?
Help please.

Raphaela
Svenja
Katja
Cornelia

Sven
Giovanni
Marcel..

I’m in the process of buying clothes for my first baby, due in June. How many onesies do they go through in a day? How many onesies should I buy? Should I buy newborn size or 0-3 months size?

Thanks!

Many babies are never in newborn size clothes and most aren’t in them for more than a couple of weeks. I would recommend getting 0-3 months size. They’ll be a bit big but not for long. You will probably need at least two a day with a day here or there of using 3. I always had my babies in onesies. I loved them.

I want a store that offers a good variety of hip / cool baby clothes. I do not want a store that only sells on the internet. Any suggestions?

hip as in ?