[blparent] questions about baby products

[Angie Matney]

Hi Jan,

There's some great information in the message below from Sarah. I want to 
offer one minor correction though: You can actually use different bottles 
with different pumps. As I write this, I'm pumping (hands-free) with my 
Ameda Elite pump into two Medella bottles. I like the small Medella bottles 
because I find them pretty easy to read, with the tactile ounce markings. 
They also have markings at the quarter-ounces, whereas the Ameda bottles I 
have only have half-ounce markings.

I really like my Ameda pump, but I have never used a Medella, so I have 
nothing to compare it to.

Best,
Angie


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sarah Johnson" <sjohnson331 at gmail.com>
To: "'NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List'" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2011 10:45 PM
Subject: Re: [blparent] questions about baby products


> Hey Jane,
> I know you said to email you off list, but Erin asked about cloth
> diapers too, so  I thought  it might be easier to send this to the list.
>
> As far as breast milk storage bags go, it has been my experience that you
> have to get the storage bags or bottles that are sold for the type of pump
> that you have. As in a Medela pump only works with Medela storage bags. I
> personally had a Medela pump and found  that I liked the bottles better 
> then
> the storage bags. it was harder to tell how full the bottle was while
> pumping, and after  they were frozen, but I found that they held up better
> then the bags... But that is a personal  choice. As for BPA, or Bisphenol 
> A,
> it is an additive to plastics that is an estrogenic   and so can mess with
> children's hormones.  So in general a good idea to avoid BPA things when 
> you
> can, but definitely when you are talking about bottles  or milk storage
> containers.
>
> A mini co sleeper is a piece of furniture  which  attaches to the side of
> the bed, so your baby can sleep in his or her own little protected space,
> but still have it be a part of the bed. The most  popular one in my
> neighborhood is the Arms Reach co sleeper, which can also be turned into a
> self standing basinet for when the baby starts to sleep alone.  If you are
> looking for something that actually goes in your bed to protect the baby
> from being rolled over on, you might want to look at the snuggle nest. We
> used it and liked it, although I was glad to get it out of the bed as soon
> as my daughter was old enough to roll over herself, and was out of the 
> woods
> as it were as far as SIDS goes, because the snuggle nest did take up a lot
> of room, and left the parents with less bed real estate then optimal.  I
> think this is why so many people like having the arms reach co sleeper,
> because instead of taking up space in the bed it adds a little bit onto 
> the
> bed- which is flush with your mattress- so the baby has his or her  own 
> bed
> atached to the parent's.
>
> And cloth diapers... I could write whole treatises on cloth diapers- how
> much I love them, the types I like, and the brands... But very briefly... 
> I
> use fitted diapers, pockets, and flip diapers. I have liked different ones
> at different times, but  when my  daughter was tiny I loved having fitted
> diapers. . They look just like disposable diapers, but cloth, and they 
> need
> a water proof cover. Kissaluvs were my favorite for that stage, but there
> are lots of brands that are very good. Now I use mostly one size fits all
> bum genius pocket diapers. They are more expensive (like around $15 each
> new) but  they are very adjustable, and seem to hold up really well. I got
> most of my diapers from cottonbabies.com, but have found great deals on
> nickysdiapers.com and diaperswappers.com. I am also lucky enough to have 
> two
> cloth diaper stores close by, so I have been able to go there to get (and
> touch) several new and used things. It was an investment up front, but 
> even
> with the cost of washing them every couple of days, it is significantly 
> less
> expensive then buying disposables would have been. Anyway, I would be 
> happy
> to write you more if you like off list, but the short answer is that I use
> cloth diapers, recommend fitteds or pocket diapers as good   options, and
> recommend cottonbabies as a good starting point for those who might be
> looking to learn more about cloth diapers.
>
> And as for the diaper bags? I would second Erin's recommendation for a
> backpack style diaper bag. I have a regular shoulder bag style diaper bag,
> and while  I like it, I frequently find myself using a smaller and lighter
> bag which does not get in the way as much... Especially when I am carrying
> my daughter in a  sling or in her Ergo... Which is pretty much all the 
> time.
>
> Anyway, hope this helps, and good luck with the registry. Sounds like so
> much fun!
>
> Take Care,
>  Sarah, mother to 15 month old Isla
>
>
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