[blparent] Questions about purchasing baby items

[kate02 at bellsouth.net]

Thank you Amber.  Good example of never say never.

Kate
  
-------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "Amber Boggs" <amberboggs at socal.rr.com>
>
> Dena, This is the best email i have ever seen braking down things that a mom 
> will likely need. Thanks for taking the time to post it. I really hope that 
> Angie got to read it before she left the list. I wil lask her off list and 
> let you no if she did not so you can mail it to her.
> Rick says he wants to keep it around to look at again. LOL Even though we 
> did it once, Its always good to think it over again.
> You no, I so stressed over having a baby bath that would work. I actually 
> baught two different kinds, and Have only used it once when he was first 
> boarn and had a slight fever for like an hour. Other then that he has always 
> been in the shower and bath with us. I laff at myself for being so stressed 
> about it.
> Where as I thaught I would never use a changeing table, and almost did nto 
> get one. And come to fidn out, I would never be with out the thing! SO one 
> never truly noes on some things, but other things are just apsalutely 
> required.
> Amber.
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Dena Wainwright" <autumnrose21 at gmail.com>
> To: "NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2009 11:16 AM
> Subject: Re: [blparent] Questions about purchasing baby items
> 
> 
> > Hello.
> >
> >
> >
> > Since I did the whole newborn thing not so long ago, I have a number of 
> > thoughts...
> >
> >
> >
> > We did do a theme for Elise's room. We didn't go totally over-board with 
> > diaper stackers, curtains, etc., but we did choose sheets, a night light, 
> > a lamp, and a quilt that match. Part of this choice was because my husband 
> > is sighted, and wanted a theme he liked, but the things we chose are 
> > tactile as well. One brand we found particularly tactile was Kidsline. 
> > Keep in mind, though, that the baby can't use anything other than a fitted 
> > sheet in her crib until she is at least a year old.
> >
> >
> >
> > When buying things for the baby, we divided our list into things we 
> > absolutely had to have when she came home from the hospital (a carseat, 
> > diapers, wipes, shampoo, soap, lotion, clothing in small sizes, etc.), and 
> > things we wouldn't need for awhile (a high chair, baby gates, baby dishes, 
> > etc.). This made things feel a bit more manageable, and gave us an 
> > opportunity to save some things for our Christmas list, and do some 
> > research into some of the products we were interested in.
> >
> >
> >
> > In terms of giving medicine, I think your concern about how to do it 
> > accurately is a valid one. All of the suggestions you've gotten are great 
> > ones, and I have to say that I disagree that newborns shouldn't be getting 
> > meds. In our case, we have given Elise Gripe Water, gas drops, and acid 
> > reflux medications. You just never know what your baby will need.
> >
> >
> >
> > As far as a carrier goes, I would suggest something that is more versatile 
> > than a sling. Slings can be great for newborns, but once the baby gets 
> > heavier, and wants her arms and legs to be more free to move, a sling can 
> > be challenging. I would suggest a wrap, because it gives you the option to 
> > carry the baby in several different positions, and distributes the weight 
> > more evenly. I have a fabulous description that I was given on another 
> > blind parenting list that explains how to wear a newborn in a wrap if 
> > you'd like it. If you do choose a sling, I would advise against wearing 
> > the baby in cradle position. A very experienced baby-wearer I know 
> > cautioned me against that position, as the baby's airway is easily cut 
> > off. Instead, I would wear the baby with her tummy facing your chest 
> > (something I can explain how to do if you'd like).
> >
> >
> >
> > In terms of adapted items, I have a talking thermometer, a color 
> > identifier, and Braille board books. I also did some organizational 
> > things, such as pinning outfits together, only buying white socks, and 
> > putting clothing of different sizes into separate bins.
> >
> >
> >
> > What I've learned is that strollers are a highly personal choice. I went 
> > out and got a stroller with swiveling wheels and a reversible handle. It 
> > is a very nice (and expensive) stroller, and it pulls very well. However, 
> > it is very heavy, and is one of the most unintuitive things we own. I have 
> > a Graco carseat frame that I like much better, but it doesn't pull as 
> > well, and is only good as long as Elise fits in her infant seat. The Sit 
> > 'n Stroll is very cool, and will be great for trips in cabs, airport 
> > travel, etc., but I agree the baby needs head control, and that it 
> > wouldn't be a practical everyday choice. I do think the best thing for you 
> > to do is go and try out as many strollers as you can. Pick something you 
> > like to pull, and something you find easy to fold, unfold, and use.
> >
> >
> >
> > Here is a list of things we use the most. Hopefully I won't forget 
> > anything.
> >
> >
> >
> > Baths:
> >
> > Lotion, shampoo (Elise has a lot of hair), comb, soap, towels, wash 
> > cloths.
> >
> > We used a baby tub for the first few weeks, but now we just bathe Elise in 
> > the tub with me, and that's much easier. Also, she loves floating in my 
> > arms in the warm water. If I had it to do again, I probably wouldn't have 
> > bothered with one.
> >
> >
> >
> > Eating:
> >
> > Bottles, mesh dish washer baskets, breast pump, wash cloths, bottle 
> > warmer, nursing bras, breast pads, nipple cream, breastmilk storage bags 
> > or bottles.
> >
> > I would suggest that you not buy very many bottles of a particular brand. 
> > We had to try four different brands before we found one that didn't 
> > aggravate Elise's colic.
> >
> > Some people love nursing pillows, but because I pump exclusively, we never 
> > really used ours for its intended purpose. It did work well as a way to 
> > keep Elise elevated when her reflux was bad.
> >
> > Also, people will try to sell you bottle sterilizers. We just boiled 
> > things in a big pot, or used our dish washer (it is new so it gets very 
> > very hot).
> >
> > Whether you choose to have formula in the house is a widely debated issue. 
> > We did decide to have it around for supplementation, and I'm glad we did. 
> > There's nothing like a screaming baby at 3 o'clock in the morning when 
> > your milk hasn't come in yet to make you wish you had extra food around.
> >
> >
> >
> > Changing:
> >
> > Diapers in different sizes, wipes, change pad, change pad covers, paper 
> > towels, diaper disposal system (we picked one that used regular trash 
> > bags),
> >
> > Diaper rash ointment, nail file/buffer for those fast growing baby claws, 
> > a nasal aspirator.
> >
> > One thing we find helpful is that we use those small diaper sacks. They 
> > are a bit more expensive, but we put the really disgusting diapers into 
> > them before throwing them into the diaper genie. This keeps the diaper 
> > genie much cleaner. The other thing we do is spray the diaper genie with 
> > deodorizing spray when we change the bag.
> >
> >
> >
> > Toys:
> >
> > Newborns really don't play with toys. Elise liked to look at mirrors and 
> > lights, and she loved anything that made noise. Now that she's starting to 
> > kick and grab, she loves her baby gym and her hanging bells. She also has 
> > a set of wrist rattles and a little stuffed animal with a rattle in it 
> > that she loves. The other things that are really helpful are her crib 
> > soother (we have a turtle with an aquarium in its belly that plays various 
> > classical melodies), and her swing. Again, every baby is different, but 
> > that swing has literally kept us sane because it was one of the only 
> > places she would sleep when her colic and reflux were especially bad. Her 
> > bouncy seat, on the other hand, she could very easily do without.
> >
> >
> >
> > Other things we use a lot:
> >
> > Somewhere for her to sleep. She outgrew her bassinette pretty quickly, but 
> > we love her Pack 'n Play. We just got a really simple one, with no change 
> > station, vibration, music, etc. Elise also sleeps with me quite a bit, as 
> > when she is really fussy, being near me is one of the only things that 
> > calms her.
> >
> >
> >
> > Receiving blankets. We use them for everything: burp cloths, change pad 
> > covers, blankets, etc. I put them down on things that are harder to wash, 
> > in case of spitting up or other messes.
> >
> >
> >
> > Clothing. Initially, simpler is better. We use a lot of those warm PJ's 
> > with feet. They keep her warm, and are easy to get on and off. There are 
> > tons of adorable baby outfits out there, but they do outgrow things very 
> > quickly. Elise has outgrown things that she never even got a chance to 
> > wear. Also, buying some cheaper clothes is a good idea. We have had a few 
> > instances where the diaper explosion has been so bad, we literally threw 
> > the clothing in the trash. Also, there are days where you will put your 
> > baby into four different outfits because of spitting up, diaper messes, 
> > etc.
> >
> >
> >
> > If you live in a colder place, I would highly recommend a Bundle Me. We 
> > absolutely love ours, and use it every time we leave the house. Sleep 
> > Sacks and Swaddle Blankets are nice, but they aren't essential. Elise 
> > hates being swaddled, so we don't really use them. Again, you'll learn 
> > what your particular baby likes.
> >
> >
> >
> > Some kind of diaper bag. We just use a back pack. It is amazing how much 
> > stuff you need to leave the house with.
> >
> >
> >
> > My biggest piece of advice is be flexible, and don't buy too much of any 
> > one thing. You'll learn as you go, and figure out which items are most 
> > useful for you, and which items you and your baby like. There are things 
> > that I bought, and I look at them now, and think "that is the stupidest 
> > thing I could have spent my money on." There are other things that I am so 
> > thankful I have, and still other things I didn't think of, and had to go 
> > out and buy after Elise was born.
> >
> >
> >
> > I know it feels so overwhelming. You want to have everything your baby 
> > needs, but you don't want to go over board. I found it easiest to break 
> > things down according to tasks, as I did above. However, for the first 
> > several months, you will be spending all of your time feeding, changing, 
> > and bathing the baby, and putting her down to sleep. Those are the things 
> > to focus on initially.
> >
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> > Again, I would suggest not going crazy with toys, as you will learn what 
> > your baby likes. For instance, we bought several pacifiers, and Elise 
> > hates them.
> >
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> > _______________________________________________
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> > 
> 
> 
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