I currently have 5 friends who are expecting babies. Some are about ready to have their babies, some are just in the beginning months (bless your hearts!) I have a few friends with teeny, tiny newborns as well.
I've been getting lots of emails with questions about baby things, products, pregnancy, etc. I often ask myself why I'm being asked and then I realize that "Oh yeah, I've had three...I guess I might have some opinions on the matter."
So, without further ado, Baby Stuff I Can't Live Without.
If you are a woman in your childbearing years you should be taking these daily. They strengthen your uterus making labor easier and the recovery quick. While most women will tell you that the afterbirth pains are worse with each delivery, my third was the easiest by far. I was taking two capsules every day until the last three months of pregnancy, then I took four a day. I shudder to think what my posterior labor would have been like had I not been taking these. As it was, a posterior baby, with bad back labor was done in only 5 1/2 hours. Not too bad. The after birth pains were almost non-existent. Take them. You'll thank me later.
Cushy, soft, and so absorbent. Prefolds are easy to make, but if you have your hands full (like me!) and don't own a sewing machine (like me!) buy these. Lexi wears them daily.
Aaaah. The Bumbo! It makes the occasional visit to restaurant possible and gives you two free arms during meal time. (Well, not really, because you have to feed the baby with one arm and feed yourself with the other...) We love this.
4. The Walker
I realize the walker has had bad rap in the past few years, but I have two of my three girls have been very independent from the start. Having the walker has been a lifesaver. I don't think I would know how to raise a child without one. (I don't own this particular brand)
I'll be honest, this gets painful to wear after about 30 minutes. As I mentioned above, I've had two very independent girls who simply refused to face in when being held. From two weeks of age the cradling stage was OVER. They wanted to see, go and do. I recently purchased the Ergo which is known for not being painful in the shoulders, Lexi is still too small for the Ergo, so in the meantime it's the Bjorn. I wear her while washing diapers, cooking, folding laundry, you name it!
And now, Baby Things That You Don't Really Need:
1. Teethers.
Wash, peel and freeze a whole carrot instead.
2. Baby food in jars.
It looks and smells gross. Make your own whenever possible. There are always exceptions.
3. Strollers. That's if you live in Paraguay. There are hardly any sidewalks here and the ones that are here are not friendly to strollers. If you live elsewhere, go ahead.
4. Electrical socket covers, weird things that keep doorknobs from turning, rubber safety gadgets that keep cabinets from opening...etc.
Train the baby to obey your commands starting from six months or so. Otherwise, if I come to your house I won't be able to open any doors or cabinets. :)
Your turn. What one baby product can't you live without and which one did you buy and then later realized you would never use?
