Photo by M. Nota

I need your advice! We’re getting ready to register for baby stuff and I’m overwhelmed with all the choices. Can you please answer the following or give me any advice you think will be helpful?

1) What tools/items/stuff did you get for your baby either early or later on that you are so glad you got?

2) What did you think you needed that you never used and wasn’t worth getting?

3) Recommendations for breast pumps? Bottles? Strollers? Car seats? Baby carriers (slings vs. bjorns vs. whatever else)?

4) Any opinions on cloth vs. disposable diapers? I was surprised to read on several web sites that cloth ones don’t turn out to be very much cheaper once you factor in supplies and laundry, so I guess it is more an environmental choice?

5) What else???

My answers:

1. Glad I had: Ring sling. Rocker/glider with foot rest. Good birth, breastfeeding, and parenting books.

2. Didn’t need: never had a crib and never missed it.

3. Breast pump: Medela Pump in Style

Bottles: Not that I could ever get my babies to take a bottle, but I would look for glass bottles like Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow Glass Bottle 2-Pack, 3.5 oz or at least BPA-free bottles like BornFree Plastic Bottles Triple-Pack 5oz 3 Pair

Baby carrier: Maya Wrap Organic Baby Sling. I wish I had learned how to use a wrap in addition to the ring sling.

Car seat: Britax Marathon Convertible Car Seat

4. Cloth diapers are way cheaper than disposables especially if your sister hooks you up with her stash. You can also buy used, plan to use them for more than one baby, and sell them when you are done. You can save money on laundry by washing every other day and line drying the diapers as is best for them anyway. In the end it didn’t come down to cost vs. environment as much as I was more comfortable putting cloth against my baby’s skin than paper diapers and their chemicals (not that I don’t use disposables occasionally).

5. What else? I wish I had prepared more for the birth than for the baby. You already know my opinions on my home versus hospital births:

Labor Day Meme
A Safe and Satisfying Home Birth and Water Birth: My Story
Cost of Giving Birth at the Hospital or at Home
Ten Advantages of a Home Birth

Your Thoughts

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