Shopping for Baby

Having a baby can be expensive these days.

Every where I turn there are "fancy pants" baby products that I feel like I just "have to have."

And it's just not true.

I was overly giddy about shopping for a baby -
as most new Moms are.
But of course I worried about spending too much and
how would we cram it all into our shoe box of an apartment?

James and I agreed that we wanted to try to find the perfect balance between having relatively nice products while still saving where we could.

Our goal was to really buy products that would

1. be helpful

2. be affordable

3. save space and

4. be long lasting

I set out to accomplish the task.

I learned a lot along the way.

Made several spending mistakes.

And am definitely still learning.
I am no expert by any means.
Just your average Mom trying to make sense of all these gadgets and products.

I am typically not a product guru so it has been a big challenge for me.

After having several college friends call me trembling over the task of shopping/registering for a baby

I thought I would share what I have learned.
But mostly I want this for my records.
It will be fun to look back on it in later years and will help me prepare when we have more children.
My Mom is always telling "they didn't have that when I was a Mom."
I wish I had a list of the things she had when I was a babe.
Surely it would be almost comical now.
I can only imagine what they will come up with by the time I have grandkids.

1. Puj Tub :: If there is one single product that I would recommend - it would probably be this one. It is designed by moms for moms and it is wonderful. It lays completely flat on your wall (I just have a nail that I hang it on in my laundry room), and folds into a tub that fits into the sink. It drains water so it is always clean and warm and it dries in seconds. Annie loves bath time because of this thing. I am hoping she will fit in it till 6 months, when I switch her to sitting in the tub by herself.

2. Angel Care Monitor  :: this was a big splurge for me. In the beginning I could not get Annie to sleep on her back. As hard as I tried she would scream and squirm and it just wasn't happening. I was terrified and decided to get this monitor that sounds if it doesn't sense the babies breathing. I will admit, it helped me sleep easier in the beginning. But after about 3 months she would move herself to the corner of the crib and the pad couldn't sense her. The beeping would sound and I would bolt into her room. Because I am paranoid - I still like the gadget. It is nice on nights when I am worried about her being sick etc. But I don't love it. Most nights I find myself turning the sensor pad off because we have had so many false alarms. I leave the noise sensor on and call it good the majority of the time. It is definitely not a must have. I think going with a cheaper, simple sound monitor is probably the most sensible way to go.

3. Dr. Brown Pacifier :: I don't know what it is about this pacifier but we can't live without it. It was recommended by a friend and I mostly went off of her recommendation. Bu I also like that it doesn't have the hanging handle and is just a little more simple looking. Plus it has a little vent in the middle that is supposed to help minimize the pressure inside the babies mouth. It was designed by a pediatric dentist - and since I come from a family of dentists, I found that particularly appealing.

4. Bright Star Swing :: Since we are limited on space I was really worried about a swing. We had several friends that bought the big fancy swing and only used it for the first 2 months. I just couldn't get myself to spend the money and store it after only 2 months. (However, a lot of people swear by that puppy - so, again, it is personal) Our friends actually gave us this perfect swing. It is relatively small and can lay flat for storage. Because of its size I am able to move it around the house easily. If Annie is awake and I need to jump in the shower - I strap her in and put her right next to the shower. She loves the sound of the water and often times it lulls her right to sleep. I highly recommend this swing if you are cramped on space. It has worked wonders for us.

5. Maximum Strength Desitin and Lotrimin AF :: I had a crash course in diaper rashes after Annie went on antibiotics and got a terrible rash. My goodness it looked miserable. A friend had previously recommended the anti-fungal foot creme Lotrimin AF and I thought she was out of her mind. I was certain that was too powerful for a baby. But when I called the doctor they told me to run out and buy some. The doctor ordered little to no wipes and then a Lotrimin AF smothering followed by Desitin. The crazy bumpy, raw rash was gone in two days. Needless to say, I swear by having these two products on hand and wish I would have had the Lotrimin in my medicine stash beforehand.

6. Boppy Pillow :: I think most nursing Moms swear by this thing. I even brought mine to the hospital and it worked wonders. I don't really use it now that Annie is older but it was worth it for the first few months. I searched and searched for an affordable cover. What a waste of time. No one ever sees me nursing - so who cares what the thing looks like? I picked up a cheap cover from Target and am certainly glad I didn't splurge on the expensive pretty ones. The cover is definitely a good place to save.

7. Blue Booger Sucker from the hospital and Arm and Hammer Baby Saline Spray :: If you can - pick up an extra blue booger sucker from the hospital. Despite the fact that everyone told me this, I was sure my sucker from target would work the same. False. The magical sucker from the hospital is the only one that works. We had quite the stuffy nose over here and the saline spray made it so much easier to clear it out. Just another thing I would be sure to have in my cabinet for when the time comes. Follow the directions the back and you will be smooth sailing.

8. Johnson & Johnson Nursing Pads :: Thank heavens for this invention. I think I went through 3 boxes before I didn't need to use them anymore. I tried two different kinds and these were my favorite.

9. Sophie the Giraffe and Lamaze Black and White Book :: Sophie is so hyped up - and I must admit that she is worth the hype in the Barker home. Annie loves that squeaking rubber giraffe. We also love the Lamaze Black and White book. She has used it since she was about 3 weeks old and it's still a hit.

10. Graco Snugride Carseat :: The carseat is simply an inevitable cost. And boy are we grateful for those safe seats. We like this seat. It will last until she is 35 pounds or just too big for it. It seems to be one of the "middle of the road" seats as far as cost goes. The reviews were great. It is light and comes in several gender neutral colors. (I didn't want a seat with characters on it). We bought this headrest for it for the newborn phase and this seat has served us well.





11. Medela Breast Pump :: This is one thing I didn't think I'd need but now I can't live without. (Who knew?) Around 3 weeks I felt like Annie had really gotten the whole nursing thing down so I gave her a bottle of pumped milk. I didn't want her to get lazy with nursing. But on the other hand - I did want her to take the bottle when I needed a night out with James or a little Mommy break. We have the double electric pump. Some employers/companies will pay for all or a portion of this pump. Check with your insurance or your employer to see if they pay for anything like this. A friend informed us of this and we only ended up paying for a small portion of it because of a lactation program benefit. (Again, who knew?) If your insurance/employer doesn't cover part of the cost - I would still consider paying for this pump. It has definitely helped me stay sane while nursing. In the long run the cost of this pump could save you a lot of money on formula.

12. Aden & Anais Swaddle Blankets :: These are the best. They make great shower gifts so you are bound to wind up with quite a few. We don't use them as much now - but they were lifesavers in the beginning. I think I have 4 blankets and that seemed to be the perfect amount.

13. Bumbo :: We love the Bumbo but I really wish I wouldn't have payed full price. One of my friends just bought one at a consignment store for $4, which is a nice price cut from $35 on Amazon. They can easily be cleaned and are always available on craigslist or at kids consignment sales. I think this is a must have item - but definitely don't think you should pay full price. There are great deals out there and a lot of people are looking to sell their Bumbo. Find a friend you trust and see if they would be willing to sell it to you for $10. Clean it up with some clorox wipes and save yourself $25.  I wish I would have saved on this one.

14. Double Stroller :: The stroller is one item I think you should splurge on. Man these things can get expensive - but it sure is nice to have a stroller that you like. While shopping for a stroller we were told that most parents end up buying two or three strollers. So we decided to take our time on this decision. We talked to a lot of people and decided on getting the City Select. It is not the most affordable option - but it will work as a double stroller if we are lucky enough to have #2 in a few years. We figure this will actually save us money in the long run. My carsesat attaches to it and I am able to use it as a grocery cart because of all the storage. It isn't the best long distance jogging stroller but for what I do it is perfect.

15. Baby Bee Shampoo and Wash and Lotion :: It has worked well for us. No rashes. I am going to try the Medela stuff this go around just for kicks. But we have really like the Baby Bee - and the price seems better than some other organic soaps.

16. Diaper bag :: This was probably my biggest blunder. The first go around I bought the Boxy Backpack from Petunia Picklebottom. I know some Mom's love it - but I was not one of them. I didn't like the velcro flap. It was too hard to get open with just one hand and the straps always seemed to be clunking around. Thankfully, the store I bought it from took it back in a jiffy in exchange for another bag. This time I opted for a big vinyl bag that is simple and easily opens. I like having a shoulder strap as well as short straps. Go for a big opening, a material that can be wiped down, and something that doesn't involve noisy velcro.

17. Belle Trousseau Bows :: This is a great site with soft bows. I have several friends/siblings who love these bows. They aren't big and frilly and are really easy to match with any outfit. Watch for sales. Occasionally they are buy one get one half off.

18. Crib via Zulily or Wal-Mart :: I searched and searched for the perfect crib. I like sleek modern lines but don't like the price of most modern cribs. I ended up finding one for super cheap on Zulily. I also like some of the cribs they have at Wal-Mart. Several friends told me not to spend the money on an expensive cribs as some babies bite holes in them anyway. So I went for a crib that I really like but won't be devastated if I have a little muncher on my hands.

19. Swaddlers Diapers :: We have really liked these diapers. I order everything using Amazon Mom. Praise that shipping. These diapers especially came in handy when I was monitoring wet diapers in the beginning. I have only had a few blow outs with these and haven't even dared to venture into another diaper category.

20. Ikea Highchair :: We just bought this chair and I love it. I think it is a steal of a deal - just $25. High chairs are going to get messy and I think this one looks pretty cute anyway. So far it is a hit in our house.

If you made it this far - I applaud you. Hopefully this will help refresh my mind in a few years. Like I said, I am no expert and am still looking for baby toy recommendations and baby food product tips. Any suggestions?

Overall, we splurged on a few items (pump, diaper bag and stroller) but for the most part we have tried to keep it relatively simple around here. We haven't bought all the fancy bouncers, swings, excersaucers, wipe warmers and the like. As my Grandma told me, "my kids played with mason jar lids on a string - and they turned out just fine." Isn't that the truth! With baby gadgets in the future - I am going to try to stick by that motto. And to all my cute pregnant friends - I sure hope this helped! Happy registering!