Most Useful Item for your Newborn? (ideas, teenagers, boys, chores)

[twoincomes]

Mom. And Dad, too.

[EvilCookie]

My Brest Friend nursing pillow! I know, horrible name but the best nursing pillow ever, way better than boppy, it really saved me when just getting the hang of nursing and then keeping it hands-free.
Bassinet or co-sleeper next to our bed
A carrier or sling - I thought the baby Bjorn would be indispensable but actually I barely used it, but I hear the Ergo is way better and comfier
Baby gym
Bouncy seat
Sleepers! Babies go through a LOT of clothing changes
Pacifiers, extra sheets and receiving blankets, drool bibs were all used a lot.


What I didn't get much use out of:
- changing pad for the dresser - never used it, too much trouble esp in the middle of the night, just changed him on our bed on a waterproof pad
- crib for the first year, he slept in the co-sleeper next to us
- cute baby blankets and crib bumpers - it's considered a SIDS risk
- baby shoes and 'real clothes' that weren't sleepers or onesies in the first 2-3 months

Never had and didn't need:
wipe warmer, diaper genie, boppy, bumbo seat

[Coldjensens]

The all mighty plug! Hands down winner there.

[Coldjensens]

Second place - receiving blankets. Third, Doorway jumpers.

[marie5v]

Originally Posted by UnexpectedError

I'm getting to the stage in life when friends and family start having babies. I know that there is an endless list of essentially useless items for infant care, but I'm wondering what you considered surprisingly useful when you had little ones.

So what was something you didn't realize you'd need so badly? And along the same lines, what is something you got that barely got used?

Most useful items:
1.large changing pad with extra covers that we could put anywhere. Didn't think we'd need it at first bc we had a changing station, but it was great to have something we could put anywhere, like on the floor, which is where we ended up changing him the most. We used it for a long time.

2. motorized swing - didn't think we needed one, but it was the most important thing. If not for the swing, I'd have spent all day, every day rocking him so he wouldn't cry.

3. Bottle brush - about two dollars, didn't think I'd need it at first, and the baby is now 5 years old and doesn't use bottles, but I still use that brush when I do dishes. So useful. Great for coffee thermos.

4. Huge box of newborn diapers and wipes. I didn't put it on my wish list, but someone gave it to me at my baby shower and thank god they did. Naturally, when we came home from the hospital we hadn't actually gotten around to buying any diapers and wipes, and didn't really understand what to buy anyway. Same people gave us a tube of Desitin. Another save.

5. You can never have too many blankets.

6. Likewise sleepers, onesies (various sizes), burp cloths, wash cloths.

7. Monitor - as someone pointed out, you can use it for years. Make a good one-way intercom for the home office, too.

8. Swaddlers. Some people do and some don't, but it definitely worked for us.

Totally useless things we wasted money on:

1. Diaper genie or similar - seriously, don't bother.

2. Pack and play - never used it. Not once. Maybe the diaper changing part, but that's it. Baby slept in a co-sleeper next to our bed, and then our bed. Come to think of it, never once used the crib, either (good thing crib converted to bed - he uses that now).

3. really cute, but uncomfortable clothes (tiny shorts, tiny button down shirts, tiny sweaters, etc. - really, the onesies and sleepers are it for a while and after that it still has to be comfortable).

4. bottle sterilizer. Doesn't actually clean anything - you have to clean it first, then sterilize. I'm pretty sure that's not necessary, and anyway our dishwasher has a steirlize setting.

5. high chair - didn't need this until about a year (don't know why we thought we needed it before he was born), and probably could have used a little booster with tray or something instead after that. Minimal use.

6. Toys. Babies don't seem to be interested in toys, no matter how cute.

7. Mobile. What is this for, anyway? Looks dangerous to me.

8. Fancy bedding, pillows, crib bumpers, things that look nice but have no real use.

[somebodynew]

Originally Posted by OhioChic

For breastfeeding moms I couldnt survive without my boppy pillow.

I second the boppy.

[marie5v]

Originally Posted by OhioChic

Also if your going to buy diapers ask the mom ahead of time the brand she wants, alot of people got me huggies and I only use pampers. Sure alot of stores will let you trade them in for another brand but its such a hassle it would be easier just to ask first.

Good point about diaper brands. I also only used Pampers - but as a first time parent I had to try all the brands first, so I was happy to have whatever people gave me. I didn't even think to buy diapers before the baby was born - if someone hadn't given them to me, I don't know what we would have done.

[rrah]

It's been awhile since mine were little ones, but I recall the bouncy seat being used a lot with both kids. One loved the swing, and one hated it. For the one that loved it, it was a lifesaver. I didn't think the dozen cloth diapers would be useful because we used disposables, but they really were handy for burping clothes and cleaning up spit-up. I still use them today for house cleaning tasks.

[EvilCookie]

Originally Posted by marie5v

Good point about diaper brands. I also only used Pampers - but as a first time parent I had to try all the brands first, so I was happy to have whatever people gave me. I didn't even think to buy diapers before the baby was born - if someone hadn't given them to me, I don't know what we would have done.

I think if you're going to get diapers the Pampers Newborn Sensitive are the superior brand to all others, jmo though.

[partizanka]

Here is Sleepy Wings I was talking about