Reddit mentions: The best baby bottle-feeding supplies

Crib mattress - Just make sure it's firm, fits your crib tightly, and highly reviewed. You don't have to spend a ton on one. I think we bought a $50 Sealy and it's gone through three babies without showing any signs of wear.

Bouncer - I used one of these for a reflux baby and it was awesome. My second and third slept in their crib from birth, but it was still nice to have something light and easily transportable to put them in while I was cooking or doing other chores. Lots of parents rave about the Rock N Play for a bassinet substitute. For that, I used a cosleeper type thing. I like it because we travel to visit family a lot and it's easier to carry and set up than a pack n play. It's good to use until they start sitting up or crawling.

Bottles - I personally prefer Dr. Browns. They were the miracle bottle for my babies, and with this specially made dishwasher basket getting them clean is super easy if you have a dishwasher (I wouldn't have them if I had to hand wash every time though, that's kind of a pain). However, you might find your baby prefers something different, especially if you mostly breastfeed. Don't make a big investment in one type of bottle until you know your baby will like it.

Misc. items - If you are formula feeding, do yourself a favor and get one of these pitchers. Also, I don't know how anyone survives without a Boppy pillow. And like /u/glory87 mentioned, skip the glider and go with a rocking recliner, sleep deprived you several months from now will thank you. Personally, I have loved my cloth diapers, but that's a whole other investment and something I'd be happy to talk about if you want to hear about it. If you can spare the money, I love my video monitor. It's one of those things you don't really need, but are wonderful to have.

Swings and play yards - Only one of my three babies liked the swing. And even then, she could have done without it. If you have a colicky baby or one that's otherwise difficult to settle, it might be worth it. So my personal experience says wait and see, and if you do end up finding you need something like that, just go out and buy one then. I've never used a play yard. I liked play mats like this one for tummy time.


The biggest thing is that newborns only really eat, sleep, and poop. If you've got boobs/bottles, a crib/bassinet and some pajamas, and diapers, anything else can come as you find a need for it (Amazon prime shipping is pretty amazing for those instances!).

I started liquid formula with breast milk supplementing after my LO's first day due to a low supply. I understand the failing feeling and I still feel that way at times when I stopped pumping at 5 months. It's hard but as most people say, fed is best. Honestly, having to formula feed is probably the best outcome for all in my situation. My child had no problem transitioning at daycare since she was used to the bottle and having others feed her. I get depressed with little sleep so I could have others help do the overnight feedings once I stopped pumping. You'll feel guilty for some time but you really shouldn't. You are doing what is best for you and your child.

I can't answer the questions about WIC, but here are some tips and answers to your questions:

-Powder formula is not sterile. There are varying ideas if you should give powder formula to a newborn or wait until they are a few months old. I always err on the side of caution, so I did not begin powder formula until LO was 4 months old. I used premade liquid formula up until that point. Your doc can best advise when to start powder formula.

-You keep the liquid formula at room temp until you open the container. Then it needs to go into the refrigerator. Your baby will probably be OK with eating at room temp (mine was until her first cold and then she got picky) but any that is from the refrigerator will most likely need to be warmed up. Again it depends on your child's preference.

-It is advised to not use a microwave to warm a bottle. It can create hot spots though as mentioned here some people just make sure they mix it around. I haven't ever used a microwave and don't intend to. I either use the hot water method you described or use my bottle warmer. I have this bottle warmer: https://www.amazon.com/Dr-Browns-850T-Bottle-Warmer/dp/B0035LLG2W/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1484580287&sr=8-1&keywords=doc+brown+bottle+warmer It was great at first though now it is a bit temperamental 7 months in. I use distilled water for the warmer. I just pop the bottle in the warmer and then go do a diaper change while the bottle is heating up.

-I still warm the bottles with powdered formula due to my child's preference described above. She will gag if it is not warmed up enough. I also pre-make bottles of formula and keep them in the fridge so that I don't have to waste time making one when it's the middle of the night or LO is hangry. When you switch to powdered formula, you can buy a formula pitcher to do a big batch at a time so that you aren't making each bottle every feeding. https://www.amazon.com/Dr-Browns-Formula-Mixing-Pitcher/dp/B001I481LM/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1484581617&sr=8-1&keywords=formula+pitcher is awesome.

-I had a few samples of bottles. My favorite are the Philips Avent Natural. If you use this one, pull the nipple all the way up into the ring until it is flush with the top. I had months of leakage until I figured out that I wasn't making the bottle correctly. You will find out which one works best for you & LO.

-I started out with 4 bottles and now have a total of 11. I decided that I didn't want to spend time washing bottles several times a day and now just do it once at night.

-As previously mentioned, your child will maybe want more milk in a few days to a couple of weeks. You will need to watch for hunger cues for your child to know when she is hungry. She will keep seeking out the bottle after it is empty or maybe even try to root at your breast. Mine would cry after the bottle was just given so I knew she needed more than advised. She started to drink 3 ounces after a couple of weeks.

-This wasn't one of your questions but it's my best advice: BURP YOUR LO OFTEN!! Stop after every ounce to burp your baby in the first few weeks, and then later halfway through the feeding until your child is old enough to burp themselves. With the combo of a bottle & formula, your baby may get gassy. Save yourself hours of screaming by trying to burp her as often as possible.

-I used Similac and then switched to the Costco powder brand about a month ago. I'm in Canada and the Costco brand up here is basically Enfamil. In the states, the Costco brand is basically Similac. It's way cheaper and ingredients are almost the same.

-Sign up for the Similac strong moms rewards program if you stick to Similac. You can get coupons for money off of your formula (can be used with the liquid cans) and eventually free formula coupons. I believe Enfamil has a similar program but I never looked into it. I would just receive their coupons in the mail a lot too.
Just like you would with a dog switching to new dog food, you would want to slowly switch over to any new brand to avoid stomach upset.

Feel free to p.m. me any more questions you may have. I also find the Similac website gives pretty good advise on how to formula feed.

Good luck!!

I accidentally hit save, here are some more items you might want to register for:

Corner bumpers more of a concern when baby starts moving, but if you get it out of the way now you don't have to worry about it later. Same goes for plug covers and cabinet locks! Furniture anchors are a must-have, too. I haven't registered for those yet, need to figure out how many we need.


Pack'n'Play portable playpen, changing station, play mat, and bassinet. Even if you don't travel much, I think it will be handy for taking baby around the house while I do chores. They come in all kinds of designs, this one just stood out because of my nursery theme.

A glider or rocking chair, dresser/changing station, and crib. I don't have recommendations for these because I got mine as hand-downs.

Baby monitor I'm going with middle of the line video, because the audio only ones aren't much cheaper, so why not? I'd like to be able to peek in on baby and make sure he's okay without constantly disturbing him by entering the room. These come in all ranges with all kinds of features, so look at a few to figure out what you want.

Bibs. I love these because they have food-catchers. Mess will still happen, but it looks like these will at least lower the amount.

Infant soothie pacifiers

Breastfeeding pillow for sitting up Probably superfluous with the other one, but I like that it straps around your waist, cushions your back, and has pockets for drinks/snack/phone.

Pacifier clips, so you aren't knee deep in pacifiers that keep falling on the floor

Butt paste. I've heard a lot about this from other moms, apparently it's the best diaper cream.

Butt spatula admittedly I felt silly with this one, but the reviews are raving. Butt paste gets everywhere, and it's water resistant so an utter pain to clean - especially under your nails. On top of that, this makes sure you get a nice, even layer for baby's comfort.


Breastfeeding scarf! I think this thing is so neat, especially with a winter baby. You can wear it like an infinity scarf, but it'd big enough that when baby is ready to eat it will cover both of you comfortably! There are a lot of different styles, I picked a black one and a grey one just so they will go with any outfit.

Graco glider soother I picked this because I thought it was neat, then I saw a bumper with post partum advice list it on her must-have rundown.

Diaper bag! I went for the backpack style so DH and I could both comfortably use it, and honestly I don't want to deal with baby in one arm and an over-the-shoulder bag on the other.

First aid and grooming kit

Bottle sterilizer, because screw trying to hand wash them

Bottle warmer, no microwave/boiling water and guess


Bottles!

High chair. I picked this one because it is a 4-in-1, it adjusts from infant all the way up to toddler booster, so I know I'll get my use out of it.

Puj tub - it folds into your sink to be a warm, soft bathing surface for baby, and then when you're done you hang it flat in the shower, bo fuss, no mold!

I also registered at Target and BRU for some variety, some things that I don't have amazon links for:

Travel system.... I absolutely want one that is a carrier, clicks into a car base or a stroller. Getting two bases, one for each car, and the stroller base, would probably still be cheaper than buying two car seats, a carrier, and a stroller, and with these systems you don't have to wake baby up with every transistion.

Various cloth products, swaddlers, burp blankets, bath towels, bibs, etc. These are everywhere so just pick whatever suits you! I'm not registering for any clothes just because I know everyone is going to see "the cutest little onesie" and get it regardless.

Diapers! You can never have enough. I'd get a couple of packs from each size range. Don't open them until you know how big baby is, so you can exchange any that start too small.

Toys galore. Again, people will give you these registered or not, but if you see something that really strikes you, throw it in there! Jumpers and playpads are good to pick out.

Nursery decor - if you haven't gotten it all yet, black-out curtains, crib set, sheets, matress protectors, diaper genie, changing pad, laundry hamper, mobile, etc etc.

Books! Instead of cards, I'm going to ask people to bring inexpensive books with their personal note to baby, that way he can keep their messages as he grows. I put a good amount of books between $3-$6 on my registry for this, so hopefully we won't get a million copies of the same book.

This turned into an epic novel, but I hope it helps you with some starting places! Check out the reviews and similar products on things I linked, hopefully it will lead you to some things you like!

If you do s registry through Amazon they have a great walk through thing that goes through different categories and sub categories of things you might need or want.

I'm not a first timer so here are a few things you may want to register for aside from what you already have :

• crib, crib sheets. You may want to get a mobile although you probably won't use it at first.we use this one and love it. You can use it even after baby sits up or begins to stand
  
  
• you may want a bassinet or something similar since Most parents want their baby close to them for a while. We had a bassinet but hated it. In our old house it only fit at the end of our bed so I'd have to get up and by the time I did my husband would be awake too. This time around we're getting an arms reach co sleeper. You can use it as a bassinet or attached as a consleeper. It's more compact than the bassinet we had and the sides fold down which is awesome as a co sleeper. If you decide to get either you need a couple sheets for that
  
  
• stroller
  
  
• swing or bouncer. My kids always hated bouncers but loved the swing. It's seriously a life saver. We still have our swing but are also getting a rock n play this time around. It folds almost flat so we can easily bring it with us when we go see family and I'll easily be able to bring it around the house.
  
  
• bathtub. You'll most likely want a tub for the baby
  
  
• baby monitor. We have a summer infant camera one we love
  
  
  
• crib mattress. We use Serta. We had a safety 1st one for our second and it was a piece of garbage. It lost its shape and started to get stained and have an odor from being spit up on and things like that.
  
  
• mattress pads- id recommend 2-3
  
  
• swaddle wraps if you plan to use them
  
  
• a thermometer, nail clipper, maybe gas drops
  
  
• shopping cart cover- won't be used right away but my daughter loved to put her mouth on the cart 😑
  
  
• Bottle brushes and drying rack
  
  
  
• high chair- won't be used right away. Mine was able to lean back (I have a graco one)
  
  
• changing pad. I use the keekaroo peanut. It's pricey but so worth it in my opinion. I don't have to deal with covers or changing them in the middle of the night if they get soiled. I just wipe it down and done.
  
  
• baby carrier- I've tried the babybjorn and moby. The babybjorn was really uncomfortable to wear. The moby was super hot to wear. I ended up buying an ergo and love it.
  
  
• bottle warmer: some people say this isn't necessary. We got one when my daughter had to be on special formula. The thing is the formula when mixed was extremely bubbly. It would solve her one digestive issue while giving her extreme gas making her uncomfortable. I read online that people had the same issue so they'd pre mix the formula and put it in the fridge. The thing was my daughter would throw up cold formula. So we got the boom bottle warmer. I realized how convenient that was for nighttime feedings. So now I plan on doing the same thing. Pre mixing bottles for st night then heating as necessary. It's not fun or easy mixing bottles at 2am.
  
  
• pack n play. We have one that has a changing area and bassinet. Honestly we probably used it once like that. We didn't really use it again until our kids were a couple months older. I'd put the playmat in it and let them play on it while I'd vacuum the room or tidy up.
  
  
  Things you shouldn't register for:
  
  
• clothes- if you register in a store like babies r us i wouldn't register for clothes. Most people like to pick out their own outfit. It's also very difficult to find the exact thing someone wants
  
  
• more than one car seat. You probably will only end up using one car seat. I'd only say get a 2nd base if you and someone else will be switching off doing daycare drop offs and pickups
  
  
• formula maker- I mentioned pre making bottles earlie. You can just shake them or use something like this. You don't need a crazy expensive keurig type formula maker. Everyone I know who has had one ends up saying it was a waste of $ and doesn't work right.
  
  Hope this starter list helps!

I've seen and appreciated my fair share of vaginas, and probably your fair share as well. And my appreciation has been appreciated. That's why I can be so adamant about the utter stupidity of making silly predilections out of vaginal characteristics.

One of the great things about being a man is that we have created the freedom for ourselves not to objectify women and create long lists of specifications that they must have for us to be attracted to them or to be able to love them. One of the greatest things about being a man is that we have the capacity to appreciate and love women for who they are. Both unfortunately and currently there are few better ways to appreciate their diversity and individuality than by appreciation of their vaginas.

When we start objectifying women and coming up with various and sundry detailed specifications for "our perfect woman," we are literally emasculating ourselves. We literally turn ourselves into women - objectifiers who carry around detailed mental checklists that we compare against the women for whom we are shopping. And there can be no greater symbol of that emasculation and feminization than the line on your spec sheet marked vaginal characteristic preference.

I mean c'mon, vaginal characteristic predilection has gotta be the most bitch-ass thing since Mr. Milker.

• The NICU should provide a pump and bottles if you're not able to breastfeed in the NICU. It depends on your circumstances whether you'll be able to breastfeed immediately. Hopefully someone who's been through a NICU experience can tell you more about that.
  
  
• They sell breastmilk storage bags specifically designed to store milk. I use the Lansinoh ones because I have never had one leak on me. To thaw it, run it under warm water. NEVER MICROWAVE. Some babies are picky about the temperature of the milk, some aren't. You'll have to learn what your baby will drink. Always be sure to test the milk on your inner arm or upper lip to be sure it won't burn baby. There are also bottle warmers out there, but I've never used one.
  
  
• Assuming you're able to stay with baby after the birth, you should be able to start breastfeeding pretty much immediately. In the early months, you'll want to pump every time she takes a bottle to help keep your supply up. Kellymom.com has a good page on how much milk baby will need.
  
  
• The best bottles for breastfeeding varies from baby to baby. If you can, try to avoid bottles until baby has the hang of breastfeeding. If you can't, look for bottles that have nipples with wide bases and slow flow. I ended up using Playtex Drop-Ins because Dad and I both work full time, my daughter hated EVERY kind of bottle anyway, and they were easy to clean. If you can't get baby to take a bottle, consider training him/her to drink from a cup or straw. My daughter started drinking from a straw when she was about 7 months old. As soon as she figured out straws she refused bottles.
  
  Poke around on the site kellymom.com. It's one of the best breastfeeding sites out there, very down to earth, with lots of good advice. Also see if you can watch some videos of how to latch and what a good feeding looks like. I love the videos at this site.
  
  Breastfeeding is hard at first, and it often hurts, but the rewards are wonderful. And always remember that the most important rule of breastfeeding is feed your baby however you need to. If it means formula, so be it.
  
  edit: clarity, also I can't get that one link working.

:( That does sound hectic. My registry is kinda all over the place because I've already bought a ton of stuff, but just some suggestions of some things (FTM so no idea really if these are good or not, some were recommendations from friends, some were recommendations from various online resources).

• car seat, extra base if you have more than one car, and stroller
  
• baby carrier - I got the ergobaby 360 with infant insert but the Lillebaby 360 is also super popular.
  
• swaddles - aden & anais seem to be hugely popular.
  
• bathing supplies - washcloths, bathtub
  
• first aid kit supplies - NoseFrida, nail clipper, thermometer
  
• feeding - bottles, sterilizer (some people told me I had to have it, some said it was totally unnecessary), bottle cleaner brush, drying rack (seems like everyone else loves the Boon grass, but I don't have the counter space!) You can get a pump through your insurance if you plan to breastfeed, I ordered mine through Aeroflow. I ultimately chose the Spectra S2 over the Medela PISA because it's a closed system, which apparently means less chances of bacteria getting into the system and thus easier cleaning.
  
• burp clothes - I was told to just get a ton of cloth diapers to use as burp clothes, and to have them everywhere.
  
• diaper pail - I have two friends who say this is good enough, so I went with it. They also said to use doggie poop bags to contain the smelly diapers.
  
• humidifier
  
• Boppy for nursing
  
• Backpack style diaper bag
  
• baby may need a more convenient place to be set down other than the crib, something you can have near you in the kitchen, shower, whatever. Popular options are the rock n play, Boppy lounger, or a pack 'n play. I plan on getting the Chicco FastAsleep pack 'n play because the crib/dresser/changing station is on our 2nd floor, so I figured this could double as a changing station/napper on the first floor.
  
  Lucie's List is probably the best resource I found online.

I too made the decision to use formula for my physical and mental wellbeing and I have had no regrets.

• Ask your pediatrician what formula they recommend and see if they have samples. We were able to get 6 cans, which lasted us the entire first month. It was nice to not have to worry about buying it and now we use Amazon and have a subscription. We use Gerber Gentle and have had no issues.
  
  
• The Dr. Brown's Pitcher is awesome. We make up the full days worth in the morning and it's so fast to fill up bottles. You really could use any pitcher but the way this one stirs, it helps reduce bubbles, which lead to gas. It makes it easy to pour out an extra half ounce or ounce when she's still hungry, instead of having to guesstimate on the powder serving.
  
  
• Which leads me to the next thing, a food scale. Not technically necessary, but it makes the measurement of powder more exact. The containers say to use "one scoop" but that can vary in amount depending on how compacted the powder is when you scoop it. We just use a food scale and tare it out to 0, then stop when we get to -9 (the amount for a 2oz serving of Gerber). It makes it easy when mixing up the pitcher, after a few calculations. We are mixing 24 ounces now so we just scoop until the scale says -116. Easy peasy!
  
  
• We empty out the pitcher at night for the nighttime bottles, and keep them in the fridge. LO takes cold bottles like a champ so we just walk down the hall and grab one. Alternatively, you could make them up with water and take the formula can to your room and mix them as needed. We use bottled nursery water but if you have a decent water supply, with clean water, you can use tap. Boiling is also an option but I find that tedious so I'd rather spend a few bucks on bottled water.
  
  
• As for bottles, we use Munchkin Latch and Philips Avent. I think I prefer the Avent but my husband prefers the Latch.
  
  
• We also have the Boon Lawn, Twig, and Oxo bottle brush. I highly recommend all of them! The twig is great for hanging pacifiers or the little blue vents on the latch bottles.
  
  I hope that helps! I nursed for 5 days, pumped for 1, and then called it quits. It was absolutely the best decision for me and my family but I did get some flak for it. Don't let anyone make you feel bad about your choice!

I didn't breaatfeed for the same reasons. Everyone told me my milk would come in, and that I shouldn't pump but instead should apply cold compresses and take allergy medicine (benadryl at night, pseudoephedrine during the day) to dry out.

In the end, my milk never came in. That may have been due to my medications though, but there's no way for me to know.

My hospital provided unlimited formula and nipples for the duration of my stay. I switched brands after we left and had no issues. I brought some of my own just in case and didn't end up needing it.

At home I make a pitcher from 2 cans of concentrate every day and a half and keep it in the fridge. I pour a fresh bottle every time and feed her cold. When we go out we bring ready to feed bottles and a clean nipple and feed at room temperature.

Buy these bottles:

https://www.amazon.ca/Gerber-Graduates-First-Essentials-Bottle/dp/B00CXVJKB4

They are cheap, with a slow flow nipple and the nipples screw on the ready to feed bottles, making your life easier. I keep 15 on hand so if we skip a night of dishes we still have bottles in the morning while we run a load.

Oh, as for the types of formula, as I said I use concentrate at home and ready to feed when out. Concentrate is easy to prepare and not that expensive, in fact brand-name concentrate is cheaper than brand-name powder. The issue is that generic brand powder is the cheapest of all. Personally due to my health issues I won't use powder until baby is 4 months old but plenty of people do without issue. I use concentrate with pre-boiled water.

ETA: everyone is bringing up the skin to skin after birth...IMO this really is irrelevant to formula feeding. If your birth goes well you should definitely do skin to skin, it's a really positive experience and great for bonding. You can let the baby suckle a bit and honestly getting colostrum isn't super easy. I did it and it was great, the highlight of my birth experience. I didn't bring a bottle out, she got fed after I was wheeled to my postpartum room. The nurses set me up with formula and everything.

Not sure how old your baby is so I'll start at the beginning - for my son, as a newborn we used the 2oz ready to feed bottles. You store at room temp, open, screw on a nipple, and serve. Toss the whole thing when you're done (each pack of 8 bottles only comes with one nipple though, so unless you save/wash/reuse you'll want to stock up on the nipples, too).

Once he hit the 2ish month mark we moved on from the Ready to Feed and we had a few options:

If we were going to be out and about for a few hours I'd fill up one or two of these formula dispensers with pre-measured scoops (3 per section of our formula brand) to make a 6oz bottle, and bring along bottles prepped with 6oz of water (we used bottled or jug water). Then it's just a matter of dump and shake. My son would take room temp bottles, but if you need to warm a bottle on the go something like the Tommee Tippee Travel Bottle Warmer works well.

If we were going somewhere quick and I'd just throw formula and a bottle in my purse and I liked these single use formula bags. Same thing as above - I'd fill with 3 scoops and carry a 6oz bottle of water.

In terms of daycare, our facility could not (by law) mix formula. All bottles had to be ready to serve. So on daycare days we'd use the Dr. Brown's Formula Pitcher to mix up enough formula for five 6oz bottles. 30 oz of water and 15 scoops of formula go into the pitcher, churn, then pour into bottles. Bottles then went into this cooler bag with an ice pack for transport, and were then stored in the fridge at daycare until warmed and served. I love and recommend this bottle bag as it's got the top compartment too, which is great for sending along bibs (if your kid spits up half as much as mine did you'll LOVE this feature) or snacks once kiddo is old enough for them.

At home I was all about dat Brezza Lyfe. Loved this bad boy. It's my formula baby BAE. The latest version just came out, too, and can be found here.

Here's the rest of the pictures 😁😁

https://imgur.com/gallery/Q03hZZk

Top Five

In the living room

Graco SnugRide Click Connect 30 Travel System
Graco SnugRide Click Connect 30 travel system

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Graco-FastAction-Fold-Click-Connect-Travel-System-Bennett/374308673?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222228237510206&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=m&wl3=283899052272&wl4=aud-566049426705:pla-539613311477&wl5=9003876&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=374308673&wl13=&veh=sem&gclid=Cj0KCQjw1pblBRDSARIsACfUG10R9JBufXv4b1xe6xeFntXyvAzYwQKzGB07mpet7ccLlbFaEL0MxMIaA

(We'll probably have the stroller in the car most of the time)


Evenflo Versatile Play Space, Cool Gray

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072LTSWND/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_2zNPCb6QQMGHB

(Usually comes with a sixth panel, but we wanted to save space until we needed to add it)

Our room sharing set up

Bassinet was handed down to us all put together, and I can't find a link sorry!

Night Lights for Kids, VAVA Baby Night Light, Bedside Lamp for Breastfeeding, ABS+PC, Touch Control, Timer Setting-Pink

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HSTL75K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_MCNPCbBNG4FR6

(Not pictured)


Ubbi Money Saving, No Special Bag Required, Steel Odor Locking Diaper Pail, Gray

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00821FLSU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_byNPCbWY1Z2F8


Honeywell Mistmate Ultrasonic humidifier

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Honeywell-Mistmate-Ultrasonic-Humidifier-HUL520B-Black/37690122?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222228027316373&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=m&wl3=43910449232&wl4=aud-566049426705:pla-84286515392&wl5=9003876&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=37690122&wl13=&veh=sem&gclid=Cj0KCQjw1pblBRDSARIsACfUG12UXQFyrKBbTM4Eq7IlBEg7IxwOorzgvPuFbH8x7isxW8BIMyNhJ_QaAk4HEALw_wcB


Munchkin Laundry Hamper with Lid, Grey

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077PTSZVK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_6hPPCb84MDT0G


Super Strong Folding Step Stool - 11" Height - Holds up to 300 Lb - The lightweight foldable step stool is sturdy enough to support adults & safe enough for kids. Skid resistant and open with one flip

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LZ0VCQD/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_TINPCbBERP8HJ


Her side in my closet


South Shore Litte Smiley's Changing Table, Chocolate

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BFJ9S1C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_JANPCbP4FX2PG


GAGAKU Baby Diaper Caddy Organizer - Baby Shower Basket Portable Nursery Storage Bin Car Storage Basket for Wipes Toys Tote Bag

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DBXH1BP/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_3MNPCbDNHVK1V


Munchkin Warm Glow Wipe Warmer

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CNOIQ2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_LJNPCbGX20KF4


mDesign Soft Fabric Dresser Drawer and Closet Storage Organizer Set for Child/Kids Room, Nursery, Playroom, Bedroom - Rectangular Organizer Bins with Textured Print - Set of 4 - Linen/Tan

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071P9GPV4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_czNPCbQ2QWJHZ

mDesign Soft Fabric Dresser Drawer and Closet Storage Organizer, 8 Section Divided Bin for Child/Kids Room, Nursery, Playroom, Bedroom - Textured Print with Solid Trim, 3 Pack - Gray

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06ZYC4439/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_MNNPCbH4F8YGB


Modish Labels Baby Nursery Closet Dividers, Closet Organizers, Nursery Decor, Baby Girl, Deer, Floral Antlers, Flowers, Woodland

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06WLQ8B5C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_nBNPCbR1DRJ22


AmazonBasics Kids Velvet Hangers - 30-Pack, Pink Polka Dot

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FXNAD6U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_.HNPCbRTDQ9P5


For the kitchen

Philips AVENT Microwave Steam Sterilizer

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007VBXKG2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_mMNPCbGSZ1NJY


Boon Bundle Feeding Set

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KGPWGZJ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_fQNPCbJJKFAD7


Gourmia Jr. Single Baby Bottle Sterilizer and Warmer, Digital Display, Dishwasher-Safe Removable Parts, JBW150, ETL-Certified

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JZ991WH/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_TQNPCbAMJZFRJ

Not Pictured items

Rustic Wood Frame Gray Felt Letter Board 10x10 inches. 440 White & Gold Letters, Months & Days Cursive Words, Additional Symbols & Emojis, 2 Letter Bags, Scissors, Vintage Stand. by whoaon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CKT6S6G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_qRNPCbYJZKZF8



Fisher-Price Auto Rock 'n Play Sleeper, Aqua Stone

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Fisher-Price-Auto-Rock-n-Play-Sleeper-Aqua-Stone/39577511?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222228031612947&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=m&wl3=55217708312&wl4=pla-113855432192&wl5=9003876&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=39577511&wl13=&veh=sem&gclid=Cj0KCQjw1pblBRDSARIsACfUG10bahlDvXNs66-ReAkUjjQSfucHTHxORdYUyZ92T0oddQGzOtGb360aAoXjEALw_wcB


Fisher-Price Bath Tub, Rainforest Friends

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BUO464Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_txPPCb7ZEHWCC

If you have a Costco, their brand of formula is identical to Similac and it's much, much cheaper. My son has been on it since a month old and has done perfectly well with it.

As for outings, I take bottles with water in them and the diaper bag dispenser of powder formula measured out. I'm sure somebody linked it already, but it is usually a round container with three compartments and a lid that rotates so you can pour out one section at a time. Super handy, I use it often. This is what I have...the single one is nice if I know he'll only need to eat once when I'm out.

Another thing I recommend for home is the Dr. Brown's Formula Mixing Pitcher for mixing up a day's worth at a time. Around a month he should be eating anywhere between 24 and 32 oz, possibly more during a growth spurt. My son was at the top end of that, but he's leveled out to 34 oz a day at 6 months. Anyway, this really helped prevent wasting any formula because you can pour out 2 oz, and if he finishes it, give him 1 or 2 more. It takes a bit of time to figure out how much he wants at once, and sometimes it will vary a lot because he's still little, but overall he'll get pretty regular for a bit before he starts needing more at once.

Also, feel free to come join us over at /r/FormulaFeeders. It isn't the busiest sub, but we're a helpful bunch of you have any other specific questions! :) Congrats on your little one!

We went through this and I remember how absolutely draining, time consuming, and stressful it all can be. Our daughter turned out to have tongue and lip ties that the first LC missed, but even once those were clipped it took about 6 weeks of pumping, bottle feeding, and practicing with and without the shield for her to get the hang of nursing and transfer enough milk to ditch the bottles/shield. You should feel totally empowered to go completely with bottle feeding if that works best for you but if you do want to stick with it (for me the convenience of being able to EBF was a big incentive), here are some tips that helped me:
-buy a couple of those dishwasher bottle part basket thingies (like this and run your parts through the sanitize setting on the dishwasher each day if you have one. Stopping washing things by hand was a big time saver for us.
-These heated in the microwave before each pumping session and worn around my flanges while pumping helped me let down more easily and use a lower setting (less pain) on the pump
-See if there's a time of day that your baby has an easier time latching and stick to practicing then. Our LC told me that later in the day they can get more easily overstimulated and frustrated so I avoided trying to get her to latch then until she was good at it.
Hope that helps and good luck! You're doing so well and whatever ends up being best for you will be great!

Sunday Funday.

Okay, some of you may think I'm lying, and this is not my fun item, but it is. I really like doing dishes. It's my favorite chore. It is silly, but I get joy out of stacking them in the dish washer, stacking them to dry on the counter, etc. So this bottle drying rack would bring me great joy to hang my (future) son's bottles on when they're dry! (I'm due this winter!) THAT'S FUN, OKAY?! Don't argue with a pregnant lady!

Bottle Drying Rack!

I don’t use the Dr Browns bottles but I use the Phillips Avent Naturals and four fit really well in this bag . It says it can hold six, but I’m assuming that’s six narrow bottles and not the wide ones. My LO usually eats 3 bottles at daycare, but I pack a fourth just in case.

For my daycare, they ask me to mix the formula at home. I use the Dr Browns pitcher and mix it up the night before, put it in the fridge over night and take it to daycare in the morning. They have a fridge (since mixed formula is good for 24 hours), and it works out just fine.

Double check with your daycare/provider and see what they prefer. Also- I almost spent the money on fancy bottle labels (because they were cute lol), but my daycare has specific labels they wanted me to use and give me for free. Your daycare may have some similar so it’s always good to check in with them first.

Good luck! ❤️

Mom of an EFF baby here as well!

I wanted to breastfeed but I could only get maybe an ounce at a time to come out, so we formula fed even in the hospital and switched to it full-time after about a week. Luckily, no one in my family really made any comments about it! On our last day in the hospital before we left I asked them if I could take home some formula and they gave us about 4 or 5 of the 6-packs of pre-mixed formula. After that ran out, we started using Enfamil and then switched to Costco's brand, Kirkland, for formula. It is less than half the price and literally the exact same product! My son had no issues on it at all.

I'm not sure if I'm just fortunate or if this is normal, but I just slowly stopped breastfeeding my son and my boobs just kind of slowly stopped producing any milk at all. That is probably due to my low supply, though.

We originally mixed every bottle on our own but found that it made the formula way too foamy and it gave my son a lot of gas. We then bought a formula pitcher and it was awesome! It mixes it so well so all the formula is dissolved. So we would mix up the total amount my son could drink in a 24 hour period (since mixed formula is only good for 24 hours refrigerated) and then put it in bottles, then heat each bottle up in a bottle warmer. I do know some moms who say their babies were fine with cold formula, but my son never liked it. But if your kid likes it, go for it! That will definitely make things easier.

A few months later I saw a Baby Brezza on Facebook Marketplace for like $75 and it was literally the best purchase I ever made! It was amazing when my son would wake up in the middle of the night screaming and I would literally press one button and a bottle would be made in less than 20 seconds.

I didn't see it on here, so I will chime in as well. You should prepare by getting a shower chair and handheld shower head if you don't already have one, and a extended toilet seat. These are all available at Home Depot/Lowes.

Getting up and down will be very difficult for the first couple weeks. My wife breastfed/pumped/supplemented initially, so my job was to wake her up, get her up, get the babies, change them prepare the supplement while she fed them, feed them that while she pumped and put them back to bed(change as necessary).

Same thing goes for you and her, sleep whenever possible. Also for us, we had someone come for Care.com originally to help her shower/change the bandage but instead had them do light housework/organizing. We went sent home with a ton of formula and samples. On the first day she organized everything in the pantry, washed the dishes, etc. She was only there a couple of hours and we did it for about a week. It was a really life saver for us.

Also, something you can do now is cook and freeze meals. We got the cookbooks, but this http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/freezer-cooking/

is just amazing. The baked Ziti will last you two days. Meat balls, awesome. Our neighbors brought over meals, but we used the freezer food with our latest baby. It is just something that you can do that will help and show her you are working too. A foodsaver is helpful thing to have as well.

Lastly, buy this https://www.amazon.com/Dr-Browns-Formula-Mixing-Pitcher/dp/B001I481LM/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1502202074&sr=8-1&keywords=dr.%2Bbrown%2Bmixing%2Bpitcher&th=1

Good luck. It is an amazing ride.

A lot of people use bottled, especially past the 2 to 4 month range, and I have never heard of any ill effects, but I think the WHO recommends boiled. Their recommendations are super stringent and I probably don't follow them all, though. They can be found here: http://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/micro/PIF_Bottle_en.pdf

You can prepare a whole day's worth and keep it in the fridge even with their strict guidelines, though. For daycare, I prepare them the night before in individual bottles, but there are also some nice products to make it even easier, like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Dr-Browns-Formula-Mixing-Pitcher/dp/B001I481LM

For feeding on the go, I will often put the boiled water into a couple of bottles in advance and keep the formula powder separate, and then just mix it together when it's time for a feed. Or I use plain bottled water, but my baby likes her formula to be pretty warm. The boiled water usually stays warm for quite a while, so a feed even 3 or 6 hours after leaving the house is above room temperature.

Dr Browns all the way for us. I've tried Avent, Born Tree, Playtex,..you name it, I've tried it and I find Dr. Browns are the best. They also make a bottle warmer which isn't essential, but it does save time.

Here is the Dr. Browns feeding set I got from my registry and it's great - has everything you need:

http://www.amazon.com/Dr-Browns-Polypropylene-Natural-Newborn/dp/B001IXYOD2/ref=pd_sim_ba_1

Here's the bottle warmer:
http://www.amazon.com/Dr-Browns-850T-Bottle-Warmer/dp/B0035LLG2W/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1335786939&sr=1-1

Good luck! :)

I'm the father of my first 1.5 month old. We have several products that no one should live without.

MVP:

http://m.target.com/p/fisher-price-newborn-auto-rock-n-play-sleeper/-/A-16386093?lnk=rec|mwebpdph2|viewed_bought|mwebpdph2|16386093|1

Close second:


http://m.target.com/p/halo-sleepsack-100-cotton-swaddle-navy-pin-dot-small/-/A-14258213

Third:

http://www.amazon.com/Dr-Browns-850T-Bottle-Warmer/dp/B0035LLG2W


Last and most certainly not least:

White Noise Free: sounds for sleep and relaxation by TMSOFT
https://appsto.re/us/nlQDr.i

There is also a Google play version of this app.

We have "heavy rain pouring" playing on my old nexus 7 about 75% of the day. It is the most amazing thing I've ever seen. It instantly calms her down.



I would love to help more. I can give you my Amazon baby registry if you'd like. I can tell you what you should and shouldn't buy off of it. Let me know if I can help.

I "gave up" on breastfeeding day 2 and stopped pumping after a less than a week. We've been EFF ever since. I have so much to say, this will be long.

Day and Night Feeding

Formula needs to be used within 1 hour if it's touched baby's lips regardless of temp, 2 hours if untouched at room temp and 24 hours untouched in the fridge. If you can get your kid to drink cold/room temp then that will help a lot with wasting.

• During the Day at Home I just bought the Dr. Brown's Formula Pitcher which has been really awesome because I mix a couple bottles worth and pour. My son goes from 0-100 real quick so mixing bottles at the moment he needs them was stressful for me.
  
  
• During the Day at Work I bring one bottle to work and just wash it with hot water in between. Use soap if you feel the need. I use formula dispensers to pre-measure formula and it takes up a lot less room than a canister of formula in the diaper bag. Saves on time too. This also helps for when you're out and about, just fill a bottle with water before you leave home.
  
  
• During the Night This I experimented with quite a bit. At first I was going to the kitchen to make a bottle whenever he woke up to feed. Then I would pour pre-measured water in the bottles and mix in the room. Now I pre-mix bottles for the night and keep them in the fridge and just retrieve them when he wakes up. This has been the fastest, most efficient way for us because our kitchen is not far from our bedroom.
  
  Bottles
  
  
• We have 6 bottles total - three Playtex VentAire and three Dr. Brown's Bottles. The VentAires we use at night and the Dr. Brown's we use during the day, usually with the filter.
  
  
• I try to sterilize the bottles once a week but usually I just let them soak in soapy hot water and then rinse with hot water, sometimes using a bottle brush. You can also use the dishwasher but we don't run ours often enough.
  
  Dealing with Reflux
  
  
• So this has been super hard for us to deal with and I think we have a pretty decent system set up. Most babies spit up but some babies get reflux and it sucks. We have tried different formulas to find one that he seems to like the most and we can tell by his poops (his seem to be similar to breastfed babies), wet diapers, and how much he spits up. We also use rice cereal in his bottles during night time feeds. The bottles we use are geared towards helping with reflux. We also do not burp him often; We only burp him if he seems fussy about air that needs to come out. We noticed that we would burp him and he'd throw up a lot. He seems much happier now that we don't burp as often.
  
  Final Thoughts
  
  
• As far as I know formula feed and breastfed babies are no different. I am still able to bond with my son by maintaining eye contact while feeding. He is a happy little boy and he's getting the nutrition he needs. It's helped me be a more sane mother as well, which is something every baby needs.

Even if your wife is planning to breastfeed, have formula on hand just in case. I'd recommend the ready-to-feed (RTF) stuff that comes in the little bottles (like this). That way you don't have to worry about your water source, or washing/sterilizing bottles. You can get individually wrapped nipples for them, too (Amazon link). One of the other commenters said you have to refrigerate the RTF formula, but that's only true once it's been opened.

If your wife *is* planning to breastfeed, i'd recommend a manual breast pump and/or a haaka in case baby has trouble latching and she wants to express milk. They have electric pumps with battery powered options, too, if you want to look into that. (in this case you'd obviously also need bottles and a way to wash/sterilize them).

Obviously diapers and wipes too. Another thing is we do so much freakin laundry, which, in the event of an extended outage, wouldn't really be possible. So more onesies and swaddles than you think you need and burp cloths/rags in case you have a spitty baby.

Some items we Amazon Primed in the first week or two that we didn't know we needed: simethicone gas drops, probiotics, vitamin d drops, velcro swaddle, different size pump flanges, slow flow nipples, saline spray/drops, miracle blanket swaddle, and a partridge in a pear tree.

Newborn babies are hard, and I hope you don't have to deal with a hurricane at the same time! Praying for calm weather in your area!

• Ferberizing works - It's really rough at first, but once it kicks in you will be so glad you did it.
  
• Get a dishwasher basket if you have a dishwasher. Walmart has them. You can wash binkies in that thing too.
  
• Always have desitin and aquaphor on hand. Aquaphor works great on minor rashes, desitin for the more serious. I really recommend having a set for home and a set that stays in the diaper bag.
  
• You are going to wake up at 3 AM and have to get out of bed to feed your child. It is frustrating and it is awful, but it is a fact of parenting. I would work out an arrangement with your SO to take turns for maximum sleep time. If you are breast feeding, make him get up and bring the baby to you. Share in the pain and neither of you will feel like they are doing all the work.
  
• Whatever your stance on breastfeeding, hear out the lactation consultant that will be offered free to you by your hospital
  
• Look in your area for first time parent classes. They give you some AMAZING information and the classes are usually really cheap - and a great boding experience for a couple.
  
• If you are not a patient person, you will need to learn patience. Kids test the limitations of our patience, and when you are sleep deprived, it is so easy to get overwhelmed or angry.
  
• Talk to your SO and manage their expectations on house chores. They are going to have to step it up. You should be sleeping when the baby is sleeping, instead of up and making sure your place is spotless. It's not a vacation. Taking care of an infant is work.
  
• Let your SO have time alone with the baby. They need to bond one on one, and you are going to need to get out of that house once in a while. Also, do not feel bad about leaving your baby with your SO or the grandparents. This separation was very difficult for my ex. The baby will be fine.
  
• Don't let pride get in the way of accepting help. If a relative offers to cook or clean, let them. Any little bit of help will make your life that much easier, and you need that in an environment where stress is going to be high and sleep is going to be low.
  
  EDIT: Thought of one more.
  
  If you have a Costco or Sams Club, get a membership. Buy your diapers and wipes in bulk. You'll easily pay for your membership in savings.

We recently did a trip with our 4-month-old, and it was fine! I brought her chair and SnuggleMe pillow that she sleeps in. I LOVE the sit-me-up chair, and it's lightweight and folds up easily, so it's not a hassle to travel with it. It was good to pop her in when I was getting ready and to bring her in the bathroom with me. The hotel had cribs available and set one up in the room for us. To bring all the stuff up to the room, I used a ring sling and asked for a luggage cart that I loaded up. Backpack on my back. You can unload everything and then put baby back in the carseat and go park.

If you're pumping or using bottles, you might want to have an AC adaptor for your car and bring travel size soap and an on-the-go drying rack and bottle brush. I also brought a small fan for LO, since I've dealt with a lot of wonky AC units in hotel rooms.

Ask for your room to have a microwave and fridge! I would order from Ubereats/GrubHub/Favor or something like that instead of room service. Or if the hotel has a restaurant, call in your order to pick it up downstairs and save some $$$.

Good luck!

1. Don't buy (many) baby blankets or rattles - They are the #1 and #2 things people will give you as gifts
   
   
2. Buy this thing - Dishwasher Basket - it will make your life a lot easier when you're trying to clean bottle parts
   
   
3. Use Amazon Mom and Subscribe and Save to buy diapers and wipes - they have a pretty good price to begin with, and with Mom and SS you'll save an additional 20% - just don't forget to cancel the subscription after your order!
   
   
4. If you're buying disposable diapers, don't buy very many Newborn (NB) or size 1 diapers, they grow out of them quickly. Buy a lot of size 3 diapers - they stay in size 3 for a long time (They start wearing them around 16lbs and don't stop until about 28lbs)
   
   
5. Start looking for and buying diapers and wipes NOW, don't wait, buy it now when you see a good deal
   
   
6. Make sure you're comparing prices at the per diaper or per wipe level, not just per box
   
   
7. Luvs or store brand diapers are just fine 99.9% of the time, you don't need to pay through the nose for "name brand" diapers

We offered it cold from the fridge, or room temp. Made night feedings a bit easier.

Things that worked for us (2 kids, both formula-fed after 3 months each due to PPD):

mix a batch of formula for overnight, if you're using powdered. Protein shake mixer cups work wonderfully for that.

Don't warm bottles past room temp - makes it easier if you are out and can't warm a bottle.

Powdered and liquid ready-to-feed formula apparently do not taste the same to baby. My son will not drink RTF formula, only powdered.

for on-the-go with powdered formula, you can use small containers for formula like this one.

Coupons - most manufacturers have some sort of coupon program. Enfamil and Similac bith regularly send out $5 off coupons.

watch for deals - Babies R Us and Target often have good ones.

Dr Brown's wipes - if you are out and about, use 'em to clean a bottle instead of carrying 87 bajillion bottles or trying to do dishes.

Get the least complicated and most readily available bottles your baby will accept. Least complicated means fewer parts to wash, readily available means replaceable if one is lost/broken/whatever.


Good luck, mama!

We have a bottle rejector, too. Mine will take it from me best, not my husband. We tried everything (bottles, temp, me in house, out of house, and more!)

It turned out to be a trust issue. She is not used to being comforted in this way by other people, so she screams. Someone told me it can be a biological instinct - don’t consume food from new/untrustworthy source. Bonding helped us - skin to skin time and baby wearing with dad. Also having one of my shirts (dirty) over his shoulder so she can smell me has been successful.

For several weeks she just didn’t eat while I was gone. I am only away 5 hours, so our pediatrician was not concerned. She said some babies just wait for mom and nurse more later. It’s ok if she takes a little or none at all. This made me feel better. She pointed out baby goes 6+ hours at night.

One more thing - ours did ok with como tomo and I thought it was as good as we would get, until we tried Lansinoh mOmma bottles. She actually latches to those!

I have a Dr Browns Formula Mixing Pitcher as well as a Nuk bottle warmer. Can I just say that the pitcher is probably one of THE best purchase I made? With how much LO eats (my guy is 7 months now) it makes feedings super convenient. Plus, it does a great job mixing the formula - I'm amazed at how LO's formula never has any lumps in it when I use the pitcher. If you couldn't tell, I highly recommend going this route - it makes feedings convenient and is much more cost effective than a Brezza.

If you are in the US, call your insurance company and see if they participate in the free breastpump program (most do). I used 4 and 8 oz bottles. For the sterilizer, I love love love the microwavable ones. Simple, cheap, and I use it after every feeding. Much easier than running the dishwasher constantly! Here's the one I have.

I got these to pump into from my Spectra https://smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00ZETWYLA?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

Personally I like to pump into bottles at work and when I get home I do "milk management" where I transfer into feeding bottles (we use Dr. Browns) or bags for storage/sending to daycare. I do this because I want to end up with 4oz bottles for baby.

I like having 2 sets of everything so I can pump at work, bring it home, and have another set for the best day just in case everything doesn't get washed.

If you will be pumping often (I'm 2x a day at work) I highly recommend the simple wishes hands free pump bra.

If you want to get doubles of items you can get everything on Amazon lol.

I have 8 week old twins at home, and most of the day it's just me. I pump and fortify. I use the Dr. Brown's pitcher to get bottle prep done. After sterilizing I put them in the fridge and use this warmer to start to warm the bottle while I change the baby. We have this basket to take where we need to change them.

I work to keep them on a 3 hour schedule during the day, and if one wakes up early the other one gets woken up after I am done with the first baby. Generally I try and keep them on a 30 minute offset to give me time to devote to the one I have awake.

I keep them swaddled, and use the twin-z pillow that another person linked to help prop them up a little after feeding. We have baby boxes that they sleep in, and during the day I keep them out with the blinds open to start to establish a day and night routine.

Get a mini fridge upstairs, a second bottle warmer and set up a feeding station there to make things easier. or simply feed them room temp bottles. For help with dispensing forumla there are these individual formula dispensers, or one's that have 3 chambers. You can put the water in the bottles, and then add the forumula powder as needed. Our house is one story, so at night if husband is home and has to work I use the guest bedroom as my night changing station.

Your doing awesome, it's a lot to adjust to, and you will learn more every day. If the schedule gets off, it's fine they will survive which is the game plan at this point.

Formula is expensive, have you signed up to get samples, or the formula checks?

https://balancedbreastfeeding.com/the-breastfed-baby-that-wont-take-a-bottle/

Basically you just have to keep trying. At this age it probably doesn't matter if you are there or not. You could probably try yourself. I got my daughter to take a bottle first. She didn't seem to care if I was around or not. You want to offer her a bottle as often as possible. Try different milk temperatures. My daughter will only take it if it's really warm. Offer it before she gets too hungry when she is calm and happy. Sometimes it helps to breastfeed a little, then slip the bottle in her mouth. Don't force it if she's unhappy. Just keep trying and eventually she'll get it. Sometimes babies prefer a certain type of bottle. The Lansinoh mOmma Breastmilk Feeding Bottle

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H0DH2OM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Mq-Ozb8V1D5B5

is recommended here a lot. We tried 6 different bottles and that was the one she likes the most. Try not to stress too much! It takes time to learn how to do something new. She'll get it! Good luck!

We were talking about breastfeeding, and how I'd like to wait at least a month with just the boob, before I pump and use a bottle to help trade off feedings.

DH goes.. but, how am I going to help during that month? My friend was in the room and mentions the strap on boobs for men that he can wear. His face as he yelped.."I have to wear boobs?!" was amazing.

Mr Milker, Now Men Can Breastfeed https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BJLSD3U/ref=cm_sw_r_fm_apa_HyCKzbK59QW9A

We went through the same thing. Our son was SUPER particular about the shape of the nipple and wouldn’t take anything that wasn’t very similar to the Doc Browns. We found that the Enfamil Disposable Nipples are similar to the Doctor Brown’s. They screw onto a standard sized bottle, and worked well with these Medela Bottles .

Eventually we got tired of buying the disposables and got these Evenflo Classic. Baby immediately took them and we’ve been using these for 3 months now. Super cheap and WAY easier to clean! Hope this helps!

So since she might be drinking it out of a cup instead of bottle, which will be more difficulty to shake, you might want to get the mixing pitcher and make enough for the day to store in the fridge. It's absolutely fine to store formula that has been mixed but not drank out of in the fridge for 24 hours! So you can mix a set amount, store it, and pour out however much you need. I do sometimes microwave our bottles, which is not recommended because it can form hot spots. I just make sure I mix it really well afterward and squeeze a little in my mouth to be sure it isn't too hot. Roo hates cold bottles and Aoife might not like them cold since she's used to body-temp milk!

Our schedule is like this:
7, wake up
Between 7-8, bottle (6-7 oz)
8, breakfast (eggs, oatmeal, whatever)
10, snack (Cheerios, fruit)
11-1, nap
1, bottle (6-7 oz)
2, lunch
4-6, nap
6, bottle (4 oz)
7, dinner
9, bedtime bottle (6-9 oz)

Sometimes he'll have another 4-6 oz bottle in there too, and sometimes he'll have a midnight bottle. You might want to start her at just 4 oz or so since she isn't used to it, so that you're not wasting too much. If she finishes it, give more! She should probably have between 24-32 oz at this point, depending on how much solids she gets down in a day.

You're supposed to dump formula after they've drank out of the bottle/cup. Sometimes we will put it straight back in the fridge, and add it to the next feeding. I hate wasting, and so far he hasn't gotten sick.

I sterilized everything once, when we first bought it, but now we just wash things by hand. I use tap water to make his bottles since we have very safe water.

If you're going out and about, they make cool little containers that you can bring along a premeasured bit of formula. Like this. And I'll pack some bottles filled with water, so I can just dump the powder in when he gets hungry.

I think that's all for now! If I think of anything else I'll pop back in :) Good luck! It might be a rough week or two, but it's never been super easy for you anyway. You got this!!!

Dad here. We've been alternating since almost birth our two month and a half baby.

Hadn't had any issues with him not interested in nursing, and honestly, I really enjoy having the opportunity to feed him :)

We use Avent bottles, the 4oz ones. With #2 nipples. Also, it's a real life saver to have a practical sterilizer. We use this one:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Philips-AVENT-SCF276-01-Steriliser/dp/B003P9WSVW

Now it seems they have a new model, probably this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Philips-AVENT-Electric-Steam-Sterilizer/dp/B0057ECYS0

You load the bottles, nipples and whatnot, and 6 minutes later they are ready to use.

At first it's kinda stressful measuring everything and getting the logistics in order. But after feeling like a master Chemist for doing your first few bottles, you'll get the hang of it.

Enjoy :D

A parent of toddler twins here.

An Amazon prime membership.


The munchkin diaper pail Munchkin Arm & Hammer Diaper Pail.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002V92XAS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_aHujxb4ACN1VM

And if you're doing formula the Dr. Brown's formula mixing pitcher have been great.

Dr. Brown's Formula Mixing Pitcher https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001I481LM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_tIujxbJ68A4J8


Congratulations and good luck!

Kind of tangential, but for any bottle feeding moms-to-be that might be reading this, you don't have to mix bottles individually!

Dr. Brown's makes a cool formula mixing pitcher that is affordable and makes night-time bottles a breeze (I swear I don't work for them!). I make one 24oz pitcher in the afternoon, which lasts almost all day. All I have to do at night is pour 3-4oz in a bottle, and use hot tap water to warm it up for a minute or two. It saves a few steps.

Like others have said, there are benefits and drawbacks to both options. ;)

The washing is insane! If I had to do it over again, I’d prioritize replacing our dishwasher and kitchen sink faucet before baby arrived. I hate them both.

Really like this basket OXO Tot Dishwasher Basket for the dishwasher, we also have the Munchkin one and it falls over when you open it, we pretty much have to take it out of our dishwasher to load it., and we spend more time lining up the nipples to get them all to fit.

If you end up bottle feeding you’ll want 2 baskets and at least 10 bottles if you wash every day. They use 7ish in a day and some will be in use while the washing is done. (My son had lip tie, tongue tie, and wouldn’t open his mouth to latch... success breastfeeding isn’t necessarily about how hard you try.)

If you end up using the breast pump a lot (I’m an exclusive pumper) just immediately pull the trigger on buying more sets of pump parts so you wash less often. Some bits wear out over time and you have to eventually replace them anyways. Buy more immediately and it will be longer until they all need replaced.

Finally, bottles that come in 5oz size are better because you can use them longer. So if it’s a toss up that’s a clear winner. Don’t buy many 8oz bottles, they won’t need those until they’re down to drinking 4 or less bottles a day (eventually bottle fed babies have larger meals farther apart.)

Yeah, like others said use one of those dishwasher baskets for the nipples, lids and other random parts.

Something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Munchkin-Deluxe-Dishwasher-Basket-Colors/dp/B000RI8Y30

As for the bottles, I either wedge them in between a tall glass, or wedge them right up against the dishwasher basket. Our basket is on the top shelf, right between those vertical posts. So I just sort of move the basket a little, put the bottle on the post, then put the basket back on it.

You still get some bottles flipping and flying all over, but trust me you're just starting down the path.

Just wait until you get to the small plastic kid cups that just love to fly all over the dishwasher.

If I decide to pump exclusively after maternity leave, I am going to go with the Spectra. Specifically the Spectra S2 if they're still available (the first and third gens haven't had as many great reviews as the second).

Personally, I am going to breast feed and manually pump during my 6 week leave. I bought these breastflow bottles that I'm hoping will allow hubby to feed baby during the night with my pumped milk and not inhibit baby's taking to the nipple. I'm still contemplating how long I am going to breast feed. I believe I am going to try a combo approach closer to the end of leave and slowly wean baby off of the breast as he will have to be transitioned into day care.

Spectra has some excellent reviews, though, so I would really look into their products if they're covered by Aeroflow. There are two STMs that I work with who tried both Medela and Spectra and opted for the Spectra pumps. The biggest thing for me was the reviews about how quiet they are as I don't want to be announcing to my whole office that I'm pumping, you know?

Honestly, road trips when bubs was under 1 year were so much easier than they are now at 1.5. He gets bored much more easily now, and needs much more movement. If your kid is active, I agree with the other posters that it really helps to stop every couple hours at a rest stop and let him run around in the grass and fresh air for a few minutes.

As for the formula, could you just fill some bottles with water, then use a formula dispenser when it's time for a bottle? Something like this: https://smile.amazon.com/Munchkin-Formula-Dispenser-Combo-Colors/dp/B000RFCXIK/.

Good luck!

Yeah, it was a pain in the butt trying to wean him from it, but we did it in one day. He was like 3 months old by then. Hopefully you can find a way that works better. We also used the breast flow bottles which seemed to help correct his latch. http://www.amazon.com/The-First-Years-Breastflow-Bottle/dp/tags-on-product/B001R1SOSG

What organisms are you planning to work with?

(tl;dr read refs 1,2,3; google "baby bottle microwave sterilizer)

1) If you are considering culturing environmental samples, read the diybio.org "Ask A Biosafety Officer" responses to the questions about culturing samples http://ask.diybio.org/questions/.

2) In general you should familiarize yourself with the CDC's Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) 5th Edition (pdf direct link) if you are not already.

In particular, Appendix B—Decontamination and Disinfection (pg 326) defines and reviews principles of sterilization vs disinfection.

An interesting and useful project would be to measure effectiveness of one or more "diy-friendly" alternative sterilization/disinfection tools + procedures. One way to start researching how to design such an experiment could start with reading the BMBL (at least the appendix B and related sections) to learn conceptual starting points & technicals terms. Van Doornmalen 2008 (ref 3 below) is a good review to learn more.

microwave baby-bottle steam "sterilizers"

Now, with that said, I'd like to suggest another set of consumer products that might be useful for home lab disinfection: baby bottle sterilizers https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007VBXKG2. In particular some are designed to be used with microwave ovens. They are usually plastic containers with an internal rack for holding the bottles along with a resevoir for water. The microwave is used to vaporize the water into steam. Unlike lab autoclaves, these are not pressure vessels and so the pressure & temp of the steam is at ambient and thus not capable of true sterilization.

However, it may be that the incident microwaves compensate for this to some degree - or not. Lit review + research required! Here is a PubMed search for relevant MESH terms ("Disinfection/methods"[MAJR]) AND "Microwaves"[MAJR]. It seems as if there has been some research into using microwaves to disinfect dentures and toothbrushes.

more lit

3) Van Doornmalen, J., & Kopinga, K. (2008). Review of surface steam sterilization for validation purposes. American Journal of Infection Control, 36(2), 86–92. doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2007.02.002 (scihub)

4) ANSI AAMI ST55:2016 - Table-top steam sterilizers - FDA supplimentary information sheet

5) FDA.gov: Recognized Consensus Standards - Specialty Task Group Area: Sterility Standards; Title or Keyword: Sterilization. 1-119 results.

Just FYI, if you have the right bottles and formula containers, mixing powdered formula while out and about is not that bad.

We use these Playtex bottles when we're out an about. I use them because a) they don't leak with the lid on b) they are wide necked so adding formula is much easier and c) the disposable lining makes clean up when we actually travel a lot easier.

And we use this formula dispenser. I can't recommend these enough. They are fantastic.

I just make sure that I have premeasured water in the bottles before heading out and premeasured formula in the dispensers. And then I just dump formula into the bottle, screw the nipple and lid back on shake and feed. Before we settled on this set up, I found preparing formula complicated too, but as long as you have a widemouthed bottle that doesn't leak (this is the key) and a good formula dispenser it really isn't that bad.

Gerber first essentials

https://www.amazon.ca/Gerber-Graduates-First-Essentials-Bottle/dp/B00CXVJKB4/

They are slow-flow, and also have medium and fast flow for later when your baby is older. They say they reduce air intake. I also have Avent wide-neck anti colic bottles and I haven't noticed any difference in air intake between the two, so it's good for me. They are easy to clean, with a small nipple. The nipple also screws into standard ready to feed formula bottles, so great for when you're out of the house!

Oh, and they're $1-$2/bottle. Easy to stock up! When you're formula feeding you want a LOT of bottles on hand, I like having 15-20 available.

We love the Comotomo bottles. They have a really wide low nipple and my little girl easily goes back and forth between breast and bottle. The bottle is all a soft silicon, so when she's able to hold and squeeze, it will fee more like a breast! Good luck.


Comotomo on Amazon

I have a bottle sterilizer which has been a lifesaver. And it makes using distilled water on the altera nebs way easier. I wash everything at the sink from the tap, shake off the excess after washing, put them in the steamer, and use distilled water as the steaming water. So far it’s worked well. I haven’t had any build up of hard water on the nebs b/c the steam really soaks them.

Wish I’d known about bottle sterilizers years ago, I used to stove top boil too. This is the one I have, I highly recommend.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0057ECYS0/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1518004654&sr=8-1-spons&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=bottle+sterilizer&psc=1

This pitcher is super awesome! If your baby doesn't mind cold formula it's so easy to mix up a days worth and pour bottles as you need them. I just buy those large water jugs and make 24oz at time with that pitcher. This is what my set up looks like (pitcher is in the fridge)


https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001I481LM/ref=sxts1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1472843090&sr=1 http://i.imgur.com/Tm8AhUa.jpg

Yeah, just follow the instructions. My experience with formula is that you can pre-mix if you use within 24 hours. You can also get premixed liquid that keeps longer, but it costs more.

If you are mixing your own, I highly recommend picking up a formula mixing pitcher, it makes things way easier, especially as baby grows and needs to eat more. We had this one from Dr. Brown and liked it.

When I first opened the package of the bottles I ran everything through the dish washer. For the smaller parts I used [this](oxo tot dishwasher basket for bottle parts & accessories, teal https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0771FFJ21/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_dh.KDbK004XYF) so that all the nipples and plastic pieces wouldn't fly all over.

Once the dishwasher finished I let everything air dry on the counter using a bottle rack.

After that I found it much easier to handwash bottles in hot water with dawn soap using a bottle brush also from oxo. Same with the little plastic parts and nipples. I know some people prefer to sterilize each time but I never bothered - hand washing and letting them dry on the counter was perfectly fine for me. My kiddo is almost 2 and healthy, and I'm expecting #2 early next year and plan on doing the same thing.

Please do yourself a favor and get this ..

Dr. Brown's Formula Mixing Pitcher https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001I481LM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_hx.-yb6J461M9

It makes dealing the formula SO MUCH EASIER!! You make the whole days worth in the morning and then just pour as needed. We found out about it when our daughter was 5 months and it was great !

Ok and as for your wife .. I think you need to be blunt a " honey , she's my daughter too, I love her and would never do anything to hurt her , I may a mistake and have learned from it. trust me "

Thats what worked for me and my husband - mama doesn't always know best and isn't the only one that can take care of the baby but sometimes we need to be reminded of it.

We have had the hardest time getting my LO to take a bottle as well. She drank from them successfully until she was 6 weeks, and then she just flat out refused. Tried several different brands, I would leave the house, we'd get the grandparents to do it, all would involve either hysterical crying or her just tonguing it around like she didn't know what to do with it. We tried every day for three weeks and the most she would ever take was a couple of ounces. I was freaking out about going back to work, not to mention having to bring her everywhere I went in case she got hungry - I literally had my IUD placed while she was nursing.

I heard Lansinoh bottles were good for babies that had a hard time with the transition, so we tried that, and she latched on immediately the first time and drank the entire bottle. Such a huge relief. This is the one that worked for us. Hope it helps!

Good fit for all is the Kiinde Kozii Warmer ! Super easy to use and will accommodate bottles, frozen milk pouches, and food jars so you never have to microwave. It heats with water vs steam which prevents hot spots.

On the downside, it’s really expensive and can take a while to learn how long to warm things to the perfect temp (I had a lot of too hot and too cold things in the beginning).

Overall, worth it for us, but warming in a coffee cup full of hot-ish water will also do the trick.

Dunno if this is what you were looking for, but I make large batches in the Dr. Browns pitcher and it's way easier than trying to get a scoop into a bottle. It makes mixing really easy and it has a little spout for pouring out your bottles.

I also use comotomo bottles and was travelling last week, I bought the oxo travel bottle rack and I loved it so much. It came with it's own brush, I also had an empty tiny sample bottle of Aveeno baby lotion that I washed out and put dish soap in and it fit perfectly inside the rack. I think you could get away without sterilization if you are in the US, I just used the hottest water at the end to rinse.

Here is the link
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0771JS51X?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

Yeah, a simple microwave sterilizer like this is cheap and convenient: https://www.amazon.com/Philips-AVENT-Microwave-Steam-Sterilizer/dp/B007VBXKG2

You sterilize everything. You can see all the different pieces in the linked product. I mean, you can probably skip sterilizing the caps since they don't touch either the milk or the baby's mouth, but it's really easier to keep everything together. I basically used my sterilizer as a storage device for all the ready-to-use bottles after sterilizing. Take one set and leave the rest in there, covered up and clean.

As for the brands, Philips is Dutch, Nuk and Tommee Tippee are British, and Tomy (Boon Nursh) is originally from Japan.

This is all you need: https://www.amazon.com/Dr-Browns-Formula-Mixing-Pitcher/dp/B001I481LM

I boil water and keep it in a glass jar for when I need to make a new batch of formula. I use this mixer and make 32 oz (as much as it holds) and I'm set for the day. Thankfully my girl likes cold formula, so I don't even need to warm it. Just pour it in a bottle and I'm good.

Don't judge. I took out the rack on the top. It works great because it keeps it together and I can see what's in there. I keep my butane, cutters, lighters, bottle opener, and matches in it. Works great. As a note, we never used it for its intended use.

My son is 3 months old and formula fed. Just hand wash and dry the bottles between uses, and you'll be fine. We've never sterilized them or boiled water. And look into a Dr. Brown's Formula Mixing Pitcher. It is an absolute lifesaver!

A few things to think about --

Although there generally isn't harm to suckling on a pregnant woman's breasts, if your wife is at all going to have a high risk pregnancy, you may want to avoid suckling while she's pregnant as there is a chance that the oxytocin released into her body could cause her cervix to soften before it's supposed to. La Leche League suggests that women in high-risk pregnancies wean any existing children. For the rest of us, it's more than likely safe.

Obviously, no breast feeding for the first few days/weeks after childbirth, as the colostrum your wife will produce needs to be saved for the child.

In general, once the child is born, you can drink your fill after the baby is full.

While your wife is pregnant, practice your latch.

Here's a really helpful sticky post from Fetlife on adult latching and other topics.

1. The First Years Breastflow bottle is helpful for adults hoping to practice the vacuum/suction motion required for a proper latch. It's difficult to "trick" this particular bottle into releasing fluid without having a rhythmic latch. Drinking 3 - 5 ounces of fluids in the Breastflow each day should help in building tolerance and tone for suckling. Most adults will find this a bit tiresome and frustrating at first.
   
   https://www.amazon.com/First-Years-Breastflow-Bottle-Ounce/dp/B001R1SOSG?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0
   
   
2. When initially beginning to latch-on to the breast, the suckler should gradually build their tolerance, as tired muscles do not maintain a solid latch. When the adult suckler's mouth and jaw become fatigued, they typically adopt a "lazy latch", meaning without realizing it, they begin to lightly use their teeth for a bit of natural leverage. No one wants to develop poor habits, so start with short periods of suckling.
   
   
3. The instructional latching videos created for mothers of nursing infants are still helpful for participants in ANRs. Adult sucklers need to ensure their upper lip strikes the breast just above the nipple, with the majority of their mouth falling below the areola. The action of coaxing the milk from beneath the areola, versus trying to "suck it from the nipple", is also consistent in all nursing relationships.
   However, since an adult mouth is much larger than that of an infant's, an adult suckler will not be able to duplicate the nipple placement explained in traditional latching videos. A baby's mouth is so compact that the hard and soft palates consume the majority of its structure. So, the adult nipple obviously reaches a great distance into the infant's mouth or well into the soft palate.
   
   The adult mouth has a much larger surface area, and the size of the hard and soft palates vary greatly, making nipple placement a much more variable factor. Since there is no scientific data regarding adult suckling, the exact nipple placement in an ANR is always going to rely on trial and error. EARLY communication is key. Discomfort should be immediately discussed and patiently problem solved. Remember, once poor habits develop, it's more difficult for the adult suckler to learn new strategies than it is to develop successful ones early on.
   
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zln0LTkejIs
   
   
4. Pay close attention to body placement when problem solving latch difficulties. When working on latch problems, try to be side-by-side. Take time to make sure you're comfortable. The suckler is frequently too high on the nurser's body, so if there's continued latch discomfort, the suckler should move down towards the nursing partner's feet until the partner expresses greater latching comfort. It may surprise the couple how low the suckler is eventually placed before the latch feels right. Also, the suckler may have to switch sides before nursing the second breast. Sometimes a latch is not comfortable nursing both breasts from the same side; its just an inconvenient truth. In addition, EITHER the upper OR the lower breast may feel more comfortable being nursed on one side or the other; this too varies. Try to be flexible and start without preconceived notions until the latch feels free from discomfort.
   
   
5. Latching can feel uncomfortable during the Newman-Goldfarb protocol and during certain phases of the menstrual cycle. Higher levels of estrogen can cause nipple sensitivity for many women, which complicates the process of achieving a comfortable latch. If a normally painless latch feels uncomfortable, consider current estrogen levels as a potential cause.
   
   
6. Lower milk levels can contribute to a much less comfortable latch. The early stages of establishing a milk supply are generally some of the most difficult phases of latching. However, the more the glands and ducts develop, the more successful latching becomes, and the less discomfort suction causes. Hang in there! Use breast gel packs whenever possible to relieve discomfort and don't let those nipples crack. This is the time to lather on the nipple cream.

You can make a 25 hour supply of formula (however much your baby will eat in that time frame) and keep it in the fridge. This one is great: Dr. Brown's Formula Mixing Pitcher https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001I481LM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_l-EdBbTNZRKMW.

I live in Texas and we do not have to boil water, we just use filtered tap. If the water in your area is a concern you could use bottled water.

Also see if your baby will drink the formula cold. Ours did and it was great because we didn't have to warm it.

My hubby and I invested in two of these : https://www.amazon.com/Dr-Browns-Formula-Mixing-Pitcher/dp/B001I481LM for doing formula for our twins: we always boil our baby water and have a clean jug filled with water waiting in the fridge and one jug of premixed formula which is about 2.5 feedings for two babies who are eating between 6 and 8 oz a bottle. (but you can pre mix whatever amount works best for you) and it is good in the fridge for up to 24 hours (not that it ever sits that long).

That way you can pour a bit more formula into a bottle if baby decides to eat more after what you already gave him without having to fresh mix it on demand.

We get the Target Up & Up Advantage (generic for Similac Advance). It’s $21.99 for the 35oz tub and often buy them 3 at a time to get the $10 gift card. Also, in case you don’t have one already, a formula dispenser is a lifesaver for on-the-go.

The Phillips Avent sterilizer is the best invention ever. Give the parts a wash, throw them in the thing, thing goes in the microwave for two minutes and it’s done! Saved me a TON of time over these three kids...


Philips AVENT Microwave Steam Sterilizer https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007VBXKG2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_D9U2DbZ5C4KQE

I just have two cats. Your animals may be different, but our cats were VERY suspicious of the baby when we brought him home. One cat was kinda curious, and the other was pretty terrified of him. Generally, they didn't come near him. They're only just started to show interest at 6 months.

Nursing chair: We didn't use one, just used the couch or a wooden rocker with a cushion in the chair and a blanket over it for comfort. The cats don't care for it, but they do sleep all over the couch and shed. I laid blankets where the cats normally lay, and just washed them frequently.

Crib: I found cats in it before the baby came, and I would immediately spray them with a water bottle or shout at them to get out, and they quickly learned it was off-limits. To be safe though, I shut the door at night. If baby is rooming with you, get the animals used to not sleeping in the room ahead of time. The Pack-N-Play is where our baby spent most of his early nights, while we took shifts with him on the couch. There was no way to keep the cats away, but whenever we were awake, we enforced that they were not allowed in it, again with the spray bottle or shouting at them. They never jumped in while baby was in there, so I felt safe enough to sleep for a few hours at a time.

Diapers/Laundry: We prefer an open laundry basket for our dirty cloth diapers, as the smells air out better in the summertime. But in the winter, we started out using a pail liner instead of a step-to-open trash can. We use disposable wipes, and keep a tiny step-on trash can for those. I don't have dogs, so I don't have much experience there. The cats, of course, aren't interested in anything dirty.

We did have a problem with one of our cats stealing pacifiers and bottle nipples and chewing them. He's a weirdo and likes to chew silicione. So we got 2 dishwasher baskets. One to run in the dishwasher. The other, we leave on the counter and lay a dishtowel in. We put all our clean bottle nipples, pacifiers, anti-colic valves..anything my cat would be tempted to chew, we put in there and closed it. We have this OXO Tot one and this Munchkin one. The cat can't open them up to steal anything. The plastic parts he's less interested in, we place in the Boon drying lawn, and it works out just fine. He is also obsessed with formula and would knock the container onto the floor. We had to start storing it in a kitchen cabinet. My cat is just an asshole though. My other one is an angel and doesn't get on the counter.

​

One thing I do love for disinfecting baby toys and areas the cats may have been: PURELL Multi-Surface Disinfectant. It's safe for babies, pets, and food-preparation areas. The scent is very light and pleasant, and it's come in handy a lot.

The First Years Breastflow is supposed to be very good and somewhat similar to nursing. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001R1SOSG/ref=cm_cr_asin_lnk

But to be quite honest there's a good chance that he's just not ready yet and you might have to postpone your trip. My daughter refused cups and bottles as well and it wasn't till she was a year that I could go anywhere without her. I'm not saying that you should feel guilty for wanting to get away Lord knows I sure did, but sometimes you have to play the cards you're dealt.

I have friends who use room temperature water to mix with formula and they don't heat it. I don't know anyone that uses cold formula/breast milk BUT that doesn't mean it isn't OK, I just haven't looked it up.

You could keep a bottle warmer in the nursery as well. Pull a bottle out of the fridge and warm it up right there.

We got this one at our shower:

http://www.amazon.com/Kiinde-Kozii-Breastmilk-Bottle-Warmer/dp/B005G3QSF2/ref=sr_1_13/177-4806909-7112715?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1411055897&sr=1-13

Are you crazy? If you're warming bottles then you NEED a bottle warmer. You'll be kicking yourself. Make sure to get one with a reservoir for water (so you're not filling it every time with water) and also some sort of timer that you can set. I got this one and loved it.

http://www.amazon.com/Dr-Browns-850T-Bottle-Warmer/dp/B0035LLG2W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422596386&sr=8-1&keywords=dr+brown+bottle+warmer&pebp=1422596343323&peasin=B0035LLG2W

Formula Pitcher! It allows you to mix enough for a whole day at a time and keep it in the fridge.

I was just thinking about the breastmilk thing this morning... I leaked for 9 weeks and I really wish I had asked a doctor for help because I couldn't even stand holding Baby Boy to my chest for 6ish weeks. Whatever you do, don't pump! Tight sports bras with cabbage in them will help, but there's a medication that the doctor can prescribe to dry you up. (I suspect it has terrible side effects, but next time I'm going to ask for it.)

I don't know your circumstances, but I'd encourage you to post logistics questions on the main page. Everyone here is really helpful.

Yep, this pretty much covers it! I just want to add that this pitcher has been one of the best purchases we've made since starting formula. Before our baby was at least 7 months old, we were boiling and cooling our tap water before mixing a day's worth of formula. Boiling probably wasn't necessary, but I was a paranoid ftm. I used bottled water here and there, both boiled and unboiled (I never really knew if boiling was necessary with bottled either), but we ended up just using cold tap water after a while. I've always heard that using warm/hot water from the tap can increase the chances of lead and other mineral contamination.

This is the one we have. It's about $30 and I feel like it was a great investment. You tell it how many ounces and what type of bottle you use and it knows how long to warm it up and it keeps that setting every time. So I just have to push a button and it heats it up just right. The only downside is that the tommee tippee bottle are really fat so they don't fit in the warmer, so I warm the milk in the medela storage bottles I pump into. Pump and store in the fridge, throw it in the warmer, then pour the milk into the tippee bottle. Makes 4am feedings a hell of a lot easier on a tired momma. :)

Get something like this for formula. If you're breastfeeding, I just got used to feeding in public. I would find a quiet spot and get down to it. I've found Starbucks or hotels always have restrooms with changing tables. Nordstrom has the most amazing women's lounges with quiet areas for feeding and changing. You can buy something on your way out as a thank-you.

Comotomo bottles in 2 packs are on sale on Amazon today - both the 5oz and 8oz. $15.85 for 5oz and $18.79 for 8oz. Both of these are historically low prices.

I actually bought a singleton 5oz last week (grrr, regretting it now) just to see what it was like in-person and am really pleased with it so far! Obviously no guarantee that baby will like them, but I know these are popular bottles that tend to be more expensive.

Get one of those formula mixing pitchers. Makes it a lot easier to pour and heat easily at night! https://www.amazon.ca/Dr-Browns-925-Formula-Pitcher/dp/B001I481LM

It's basically an oversized baby formula dispenser in a cup, right? Is there room in the outer cup for a mixing ball or some other kind of mixer? If not, it's less functional than those items separately, because you aren't going to put the dispenser back in a dirty cup so you still need room for both in your bag. If it does include the mixer, I could definitely see a market for it, especially those who don't know about formula dispensers because they do work great for protein powders and such.

This is great advise! I’m in very similar situation. There are some stores called ‘once upon a child’ that have tons of great used stuff cheap. Or just Kijiji.

Stuff we bought new:

• carseat, because the damn things expire now
  
• stroller that works with said carseat, so clips into the stroller without having to pry them out of one seat into another. This is handy when its fricken cold out and your trying to get in the mall.
  
• crib sheets
  
• bottles, pacifiers (your supposed to throw out soothers every 3 months, babies wear then out apparently)
  
• we ikea’ed a new crib, which wasn’t crazy expensive but should have gotten used.
  
• baby bath chair thinger, didnt want one full of mold.
  
• breast pump, cause yea, ew.
  
  Everything else we pretty much got given to us by friends or bought used. Toys, vibrating chair/rocking chair thing, play pen thing.
  
  We never did the special diaper garbage bin. Just got another smaller kitchen garbage pail works fine? Some people swear by those, I don’t see why.
  
  If you take anything from this thread at all, i’ll tell you what is fucking solid gold though.
  
  This fucker right here:
  
  https://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B007VBXKG2/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1511826669&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=bottle+sterilizer
  
  Fuck boiling everything in big pot or dish washer on high heat. 4 minutes in the microwave to sterilize all the baby gear.
  
  

This is absolutely correct. We use this one from Kiinde: http://www.amazon.com/Kiinde-KK-R1-NA-Kozii-Bottle-Warmer/dp/B005G3QSF2. Takes about 3.5 minutes plus there is a huge added benefit - the rhythmic ticking of the timer actually soothes our daughter while we wait.

Just hope she doesn't find the mr milker bras...


Edit: I only know of this because my FBIL#2 intercepted this package my FMIL bought and promptly returned it and told her she bought a fake item when it never showed up


Thank you FBIL#2. That guy deserves his own holiday for all the shit he has stopped

Just a disclaimer: I don't intend this to be a product endorsement, nor is it an "I'm a better parent than you" face-rub. This is an alternative to boiling that I use, that theoretically can reduce the risk of burns.

I sterilize everything by running it through my dishwasher in one of these things. I have not had one pacifier, nipple, breast pump part, or little rubber tip to the snot-sucker ever escape from this basket.

http://www.amazon.com/Kiinde-Kozii-Breastmilk-Bottle-Warmer/dp/B005G3QSF2/ref=sr_1_6?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1414291120&sr=1-6&keywords=bottle+warmer

We have this and it is amazing.

Double secret advanced PROTIP for you and /u/daveed2001: Buy this thing. It's marked on the side in oz and ml and it's got a sweet impeller thing so you don't have to shake 32oz of formula and drop it on the floor, and it prevents air bubbles in the formula which reduces gas.

We weigh our formula out on a kitchen scale too, which makes it a lot easier to get right when it's 2am and dammit the baby needs eat and I forgot to make food and crap was that five scoops or six?

These 'disposable' nipples were recommended by our LC and worked for my son. They fit on a standard medela bottle, and you can use them several times (at least 10?).

I ordered a 21mm on amazon
Also, If you are going to work- I grabbed these bottles which fit my spectra - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ZETWYLA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s01?ie=UTF8&th=1

A bottle sterilizer steam machine! [Link] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007VBXKG2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_HeKGybYWPYJN2)


There are better ones that you plug in but this has good ratings and is cheaper


Especially with 2 babies, you'll have bottles and lids and other pieces of them everywhere but never have any clean. There are microwaveable bags as well for really quick sterilization or for when you're visiting someone else

Sterilizing really isn't necessary. But if you want to and have a microwave, you can use that to sterilize stuff. http://www.amazon.com/Philips-AVENT-Microwave-Steam-Sterilizer/dp/B007VBXKG2/ref=pd_cp_ba_1 or http://www.amazon.com/Medela-Quick-Clean-Micro-Steam-Bags/dp/B00D2WFBC0/ref=pd_sbs_ba_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0891J0HYQX2AA9ZNZWMK

I just use hot soapy water and a bottle brush if I'm not using the dishwasher. Everything gets clean enough.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ZETWYLA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s04?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Hopefully something works for you!

We do Dr Brown's bottles and their bottle warmer is great, not sure if it fits the Avent bottles but it should - http://www.amazon.com/Dr-Browns-850T-Bottle-Warmer/dp/B0035LLG2W

Just because you're working 2 jobs I hope you don't expect her to do the household chores (and later baby care) by herself. Remember there's nothing more manly than cooking for your woman. And why should women breastfeed?

My LO started doing the choking/coughing this week while bottle feeding. I found that she needs to burp whenever she does it. Of course she throws a fit an gets super fussy because she still wants to eat but still needs to burp. Once she burps she starts to eat again fine.

If you want to slow him down while eating and have more of a "breast" like eating experience I would suggest the Breastflow bottle as it slows them way down. But it's also kind of an annoying bottle. You can't get all of the milk out when feeding. But it's the one our LC suggested when we were still trying to BF.

We used our changing pad (Keekaroo) and the dresser topper it fits into literally every day, many times a day up until my first was potty trained a couple of months ago. She’ll be 3 next month and we’ll continue using both for #2. We’ll either paint the topper to match the new dresser or maybe won’t bother. I would consider both invaluable while many think it’s a total waste. 🤷‍♀️

Also, for the record, the bottle drying rack has also lived on our counter even beyond bottles. It’s been handy for drying pump parts, sippy cup pieces, straws, the small cups we use now, etc. I like something like this one better than the grass one everyone talks about though - more vertical space for the same footprint and more practical in my experience.

The best bottles I've tried are Comotomo bottles with Y cut nipples...no modifications required. I've never liked any of the adult bottles. I prefer adult pacifiers, however...

Could you premeasure everything? Like put the water and herbal mixture in the bottle then have the formula mix in another container? I had something like this that I measured out the formula powder into. Then dump the powder into the bottle and shake vigorously. Took the hassle out of explaining it.

Im not sure what's on your list, and it's a PIA because I'm mobile, but my couple recommendations,

I thought a diaper genie was a waste of money.

And those bottles with the disposable liners were amazing if you bottle feed

We use this to mix formula. No bubbles, and you can make multiple bottles at once. It was a game changer for us. Well worth the $11!

https://www.amazon.com/Dr-Browns-Formula-Mixing-Pitcher/dp/B001I481LM

I think there might be a solution for this, get one of these. I have a newborn, I have not tried this yet (my wife would kill me if I mixed up baby stuff with beer stuff....), but seems like it should work.

They have larger Lansinoh bottles on amazon! https://www.amazon.com/Lansinoh-Breastmilk-NaturalWave-Resistant-Anti-Colic/dp/B00H0DH2OM/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_75_tr_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=J7AR94KGT33GNQVW1FXK

You can use any of the Spectra compatible bottles. The only thing that changes with different flange sizes is the funnel part on top. I have these bottles.

We put the bottles on the top rack and have this dishwasher basket for the nipples and rings of the bottle.

Munchkin 80103 Powdered Formula Dispenser Combo-Pack (Colors May Vary) https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B000RFCXIK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_DCZyCb82T3ZPF

Having the two options (single and multi) was definitely handy.

Not sure where you are located, but here in Canada, President's Choice makes their own version that I have seen in Loblaws.

Oh, also, don’t forget to pack supplies to wash your pump parts (small container of dishwashing fluid, and something like this: https://www.amazon.com/OXO-Tot-Drying-Bottle-Brush/dp/B0771JS51X/). I carry some Medela wipes in my bag too, in case I’m out all day and can’t wash the parts (https://www.amazon.com/Medela-Accessory-Convenient-Countertops-Resealable/dp/B005MQW60O/)

If your kiddo doesn't yet care about bottle temp. Dr. Brown's pitchers are worth their weight in gold.

https://www.amazon.com/Dr-Browns-Formula-Mixing-Pitcher/dp/B001I481LM/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1504903356&sr=8-1&keywords=dr%2Bbrowns%2Bformula%2Bmixer&th=1

We make 2-3 pitchers once per day for my twins and then throw them in the fridge. We just pour and go when it's time for a bottle.

Enfamil makes 2 oz. nursettes. It's what my hospital used for my son in the NICU. They have disposable nipples that you just screw on to the nursette, then feed. That way, you don't have to worry about washing bottles in a hospital room.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Enfamil-Newborn-Formula-Ready-To-Use-6-2oz-Nursette-Bottles/16940596

https://www.amazon.com/Enfamil-Slow-Nipple-12-count-Count/dp/B004TON9BK

We had a long journey from fast flow bottles in the NICU to breastfeeding with no problem. The double nipple bottles (Breastflow) were a huge help for us. They make the baby both suck and squeeze, mimicking the nursing motions. Then we did a nipple shield and slowly weaned off of that. It took about 3 weeks before he would breastfeed without any extra stuff. Now he switches back and forth without any issues.

One thing I've found is sometimes my nipples deflate when he's trying to latch. I tug on them and get them to perk up so he has something to grab on to. It seems to help when he's frustrated. Also try different ways to hold your breast, her head, etc. Different pillows (i.e. Boppy vs. bed pillow) can make a difference too.

Try not to put extra pressure on yourself. It does take time and practice.

EDIT: I remembered something the lactation consultant had me do. Start out with a bottle and give her a little snack so she isn't freaking out. Then try to breast feed. We did this same method to wean off the nipple shield and it worked great.

Military brat on both sides of the family :3 plus my grandfather was part of the troop that went in to libertize Auschwitz so that's cool.

We just had a baby and of all things we didn't think to get this is the biggest hassle to not have. I keep drying the bottles on the window sill.

We keep a spinning dish rack on the kitchen table. She only takes three bottles a day, so we don't have many.

We use this.

We used to boil everything until the day I left everything boiling on the stove and forgot it. All of the nebulizers melted together into a colorful slab of plastic.

Philips AVENT Electric Steam Sterilizer

https://www.amazon.com/Philips-AVENT-Electric-Steam-Sterilizer/dp/B0057ECYS0/ref=gbps_img_m-6_f45d_ef99b5bf?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=c624455a-ed52-4f78-9f81-675ed6faf45d&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-6&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=13887280011&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=2HAGPYTTX86K3ZQ7VZ78&th=1

This is just the first one I found, there are others too.

Munchkin Deluxe Dishwasher Basket, Colors May Vary https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000RI8Y30/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_2EDszbHC4962J

I bought this guy: Philips AVENT 3-in-1 Electric Steam Sterilizer https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0057ECYS0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_GOu6BbVTANBMP

HHere ya go! It doesn’t have a drying option, but after doing tons of research this is what we chose. The price can’t be beat.

I'm using this one and it's one of the most convenient baby products I own https://www.amazon.de/Philips-AVENT-Microwave-Steam-Steriliser/dp/B007VBXKG2

I bought the Dr. Brown’s formula mixer pitcher and it’s been a life saver! I’ve never heated up bottles for my LO and he doesn’t seem to mind at all.

Pick up one of those “cages” that are used for baby bottle tops/nipples.

https://www.amazon.com/Munchkin-Deluxe-Dishwasher-Basket-Colors/dp/B000RI8Y30

I use either isopropyl alcohol and soak things in it for 20 mins or my baby's old microwave bottle sterilizer if it's not metal and won't melt.

Ya, that. The early stuff is mostly about you.

That said, you could get him this.
http://www.amazon.com/Milker-Now-Men-Can-Breastfeed/dp/B00BJLSD3U

Search for breastfeeding simulator or breastfeeding dad or similar.

I know nothing about this particular item other than it came up on a Google search.

https://www.amazon.com/Milker-Now-Men-Can-Breastfeed/dp/B00BJLSD3U

I would put the premeasured water in the bottles and send the measured formula in in one of these formula dispenser

Things I haven't seen mentioned in the thread:

• Dishwasher cage (lots of bottles to wash)
  
  
• Baby monitor
  
  
• Kangaroo Pouch or Mobi wrap?

Third option over microwaving and boiling: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0057ECYS0/ref=mp_s_a_1_4_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1499322817&sr=8-4&keywords=bottle%2Bsterilizer&dpPl=1&dpID=41XNHFJUOYL&ref=plSrch&th=1&psc=1

I never sterilized bottles; in the US, at least from the pediatricians we have gone to, boiling isn't recommended anymore - just washing with hot soapy water is enough. But I know from seeing similar questions in /r/formulafeeders and /r/beyondthebump that the "rules" in the UK and other countries are different.

For us, again, we never sterilized our daughter's bottles or the water when mixing her formula. We used tap water and bottles with liners so we didn't even have to wash anything other than the nipples (and for those, we washed with soapy water and, a couple of times a month, ran them through the dishwasher).

> making up emergency ones on the go thing?

Don't do that. On all formula containers, they explain how long formula will "last" after being mixed.

If you need to take formula on the go, they make pre-mixed liquid formula. But, all we did was keep a small container of formula powder in our daughter's diaper bag, a bottle of water, and a clean bottle/nipple with extra drop-in bags (as mentioned above) in her diaper bag if we needed to feed her on the go.

We got a little rack/basket for the "plugs" and nipples, and run the "straws" with the tableware in the dishwasher. Collars (the white plastic rings) go in the bottom of the basket, with any binkies.

The basket goes on the top rack. Bottles themselves get put upside down on the bottom rack near the center for 1) better washing and 2) maximum possible distance from the heating element.

Now, I used to clean them by hand but that was such a pain in the butt, and it dried the hell out of my hands. Once we were able to jump to milk (and I could stow the formula mixer) I just gave up with hand-washing. I don't miss hand washing at all.

But you can buy a bunch on amazon if you want to have a store of them. You have no idea how hard these were to find the first time I was looking for them, because that's ALL my kid would take for awhile... anyway, here's a link! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004TON9BK/ref=cm_sw_r_em_apa_i_GFYrDbRCG68P8

I use an avent electric sterilizer.

The way you sit or even sleep may be the cause. Try to massage them throughout the day. When I was plugged up, I would massage the area constantly and push towards the nipple. It would be painful and it took more than a week, but finally went away.

These three brands are the ones I have seen recommended, because they mimic the breast the most closely. They claim to limit colic and nipple confusion.

• Adiri
  
  
  
• Breastflow
  
  
  
• Born Free
  
  
  I have heard that this type of pacifier is nice, because it can't be upsidown in their mouth, and it has that little tab on it so that your baby can't easily get it in it's mouth sideways and get it stuck. It's also made of one single piece of medical grade silicone, so none of it can break off and choke your baby.
  
  
  Personally, I'm not putting any pacifiers or bottles on my registry because I don't know if I will actually need to use them or not. I figure people have doing just fine without them for hundreds of thousands of years, and if I have them around I might end up using them just because I have them.

It's been awhile, but for me it was a Baby Bottle Sterilizer.

I hated boiling bottles and then if you forgot to do it, there were not clean bottles. Such a pain with a screaming, hungry baby!! I had it sitting there and when it got full, I automatically started it up, so never went without a clean bottle. ;-)