What are the "essentials" when it comes to baby gear?

Have you purchased things for the baby's nursery and then realized later that it wasn't an essential purchase?

Pooks
(taking notes)

Hmmmm..... it's been 8 1/2 years since I had to put together a nursery.... Let's see if I can remember...

Crib (and possibly a bassinet or cradle for the first few months... but most likely that will be in Mommy & Daddy's room), changing table, glider-rocker (for Mommy so sit in while rocking the baby), diaper pail, a little laundry hamper for those delicate little clothes, baby monitor, diaper stacker, bureau for those cute little clothes...

Ok, some of those things may not be "essentials"... Like, for example, the crib and cradle and even a "co-sleeper" we bought, turned out to be money we shouldn't have spent... as our son ended up in the our bed (we ended up doing the "family bed"). And when he napped during the day, it was in the play-pen (play yard, porta-crib, I don't remember what it's called now).

More NON-essential things... OF COURSE you must spend extravagant amounts of money on adorable little decorations, wall hangings, curtains, crib bedding/comforters and anything else that is remotely related to the rooms "theme" !!

True essentials would be, of course, diapers, wipes, diaper rash cream, burp/spit-up cloths, onsies, etc.

Then, outside the nursery, stroller, carseat, high-chair (but that can wait a few months) bottles (if not breastfeeding, or so Daddy can feed baby expressed breast milk - which would involve purchasing a breast pump), playpen/porta-crib.... and so many more things that we all can't "live with out" that to one may be an essential, but to another be a wasted expense!! (I remember purchasing way to many of those "had to have" things....like slings and carriers to help carry baby around, and a thermometer that was a "binky" to take baby's temperature gheeshhhh).


Anyway.... I'm sure there's more.... and I'm SURE one of the more "recently Mommed" ladies here can probably help you out more !

=)
Danielle

Thanks for the tips and for the link! It's all very helpful information; I'm making a list of things to get even though the due date isn't until January! :-)

I don't think you can start too early!

You can stock up on baby books too, the board book type (TJ Maxx has great deals), and books dedicated to raising children. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends several books, and this section of the book store can be very overwhelming when trying to figure out what kind of parent you want to be, or I should say what kind of parenting style you want to adopt.

Good luck Pooks! Many congratulations for a happy and healthy pregnancy!

Mary

What you want in your house depends a lot on your lifestyle. For instance, it makes some sense for a SAHM to have a different style of carrier for every possible activity, while one who is going back to work probably only needs one. A mom who plans to breastfeed on demand could probably get by with a manual pump and six-pack of bottles, while one who knows she will bottle feed most or all of the time probably needs a top of the line double-electric pump, a warmer, a sterilizer, storage solutions, and a kagillion bottles.

I'm kind of a minimalist, and there is very little I would buy again for the second time around.

I wouldn't buy a single use bassinet or cradle unless I had plenty of money, room, and wanted it for the occasional photo-op and heirloom possibilities. The Pack'n'Play bassinet insert was perfect. I also used the Pack'n'Play diaper changing insert far more often than my actual changing table. Eventually, I changed all diapers on the bathroom counter anyway.

I wouldn't buy any kind of motorized swing or bouncy seat until I had a chance to try one with my baby to see what she would like. My daughter didn't spend more than thirty minutes total in her swing, and I felt the bouncy seat was a little redundant when her infant carseat served the same purpose.

I wouldn't buy another high chair. There are great booster seats that are easier to clean and hide when you aren't using them, and I think they are better for teaching older babies and toddlers how to be civilized at meals.

A few things I definitely would buy again are a Tiny Love mobile, a good baby tub, a convertible crib, a monitor, a pair of Lilypadz, a wrap-style carrier, and a good travel system. Also, as Danielle said, I would spend ridiculous amounts of money on unnecessary trinkets, doodads, and frou frou to decorate the nursery.

Looks like I've got it all figured out for my next baby. Anybody know a nice man? ;-)

Like the others, it's completely your preference. The things I couldn't have done without include:

Convertible crib
Boppy
Bouncer seat
Dual receiver monitor
Aquaphor
Multiple stages bathtub
Floor gym
Bjorn

The things that ended up being unnecessary were:

Clothes hamper
Changing table (we used the pack 'n play until Kid got too big and then the floor/bed/couch/whatever works)
highchair
swing